Mark's Bath Buddy

After enjoying a beautiful afternoon riding motorcycle Mark was ready for a shower. He had quite the surprise when he went to get in! We had a little bat hanging from our shower curtain! To make matters worse this is the bathroom in our bedroom. Think I'll be sleeping with my head under the blankets tonight.

Not what you what to see when you go to pull the shower curtain closed!

We usually don't have to many critters in our house. He was our first bat and hopefully the last!

Mark took him outside where he belongs.

More Harvest Pictures

Harvest is going smoothly despite rain every three days. We finished all our own crops yesterday and are hoping to finish up custom work in the next couple days. Then its on to lots of custom anhydrous and field work.

Saturday we finished up our corn.

The combine is a little muddy, as it has been all fall, just like my kids!

The classic "Get out of my space" fight. Hmmm, what will next year bring with another kid.

Elijah happy to sit on top of the buddy seat next to Amelia.

Today I drove the tractor and grain cart, Amelia was my helper.

Gotta love when your husbands only instructions for the day are "what ever you do don't hit the new trailer." I need more help than that my dear! :)

You know your a farm kid when your afternoon nap is in the combine. :)

Mark working at Mark Jansen's farm.

Another shot at the Jansen farm just before lunch. There's an extra bonus when you work for him, he always brings out buffalo burgers for lunch or supper! Good Stuff!

Autumn Acres

Amelia, Elijah and I went to Autumn Acres last week with several other moms & kids from our church group. Amelia loved playing with her cousins in the different areas. Elijah was very shy until it was time to leave, it only took him 1 hour and 45 minutes to warm up to the place!

Towards the end of our morning I put Elijah with Amelia on this little ride. He loved it!

Amelia trying to do the apple sling shot. It didn't go so well. :)

Everyone's favorite the big slide! This picture is of Rachel & Amelia.

Playing in the corn box.

Elijah playing in a tire tube. Bigger kids pile them 4 or 5 high with someone in the middle then take turns pushing each other over.

Happy Birthday Mark

Today is Mark's birthday! Grandma Boender was nice enough to get him a birthday cake from the bakery were she works. What a yummy Sunday afternoon treat, thanks Grandma!

Making Apple Cider

This weekend we had a chance to use up some of our apples by making cider. A family friend has a cider press, so we brought over a Rubbermaid full of yellow and red delicious apples and went to work. We had snow and two days of freezing weather which made the apples extra sweet. This was the best apple cider I've ever had! I hope to pick the rest of our apples this week to make more!

Mark and Elijah washing the apples.

Elijah making sure dad got them good and clean.

Mark helping Ethan toss apples into the grinder.

Rob turns the press while Mark catches the cider.

Pouring the cider into gallon jugs.

After awhile the kids were done with the apples and moved on the the teeter-totter. They have already requested for dad to build them their own.

Snow

If I heard correctly we set record for the earliest snow fall in Iowa today. I braved the cold this morning to take a couple pictures of our bean field. It wasn't long after, that Ethan and Amelia asked me dig out their winter gear so they could play in the first snow of the season!

Maybe our late group 3 beans will figure out it's time for harvest. Love the green stems!

Overlooking the coalmine.

Beans south of the house.

Ethan making a snowball.

Amelia trying to make a snow ball too.

Harvest Time

Finally posting some harvest pictures!

I want a ride! Six kids in the combine isn't recommended for the entire field, but it is great fun for a short ride.

No boys, the combine isn't a jungle gym.

Ethan in the bean field around our house.

I was wondering why Elijah was so busy picking beans. After watching him I realized that he was taking them out of the pods and eating them.

Amelia, Elijah & I rode along on one of the nicer days.

Unloading on the go.

Amelia riding in the combine.

Amelia watching for the tractor and grain cart.

Elijah enjoying his ride.