Drew's Silly Face

Drew chose, cleaned, and carved his pumpkin all by himself. No help from me. As much as I love to aid in the shaping and carving...."none, MOTHER!"....so, I did what most mothers would...stand back and realize this is probably the last year for him. Although, I don't believe you have to EVER be too old for ANYTHING, at least for the fun things. I always say, laugh if you want, but I vote for "FUN".

Harvest is Full of Plenty of Fun

Friend Kyle & Emily mapping out thier design.
Jaden reaching in for more goo!

Drew is still wandering how he can love pumpkin pie so much when it is so gross!

Misty shows off her 'insides'.

This is just the beginning of the aftermath!

For those who know me, I LOVE the FALL season. So, naturally my family loves the fall season. During this time of year we all start filling our hearts with the reasons for being thankful for all that we have. Just a hop, jump and a skip next door we traveled.We had a great time at our neighbor's garage carving out pumpkins. We had plenty of food, plenty of pumpkins, and plenty of FUN.

The Departure!

What every hospital loves ...an empty bed because of a patient being released! He may have been pampered in his private hospital room, but that wasn't enough to keep him there.
Jaden is getting his port out. Ya-hoo! The first real step to getting outta here!
Jaden scores 1/2 dozen donuts for being in the hospital...didn't have the appetite yet, but big brother had his eye on them.....needless to say, now at home he has LOVED eating them. Yes, he even shared with Drew. (Thanks Ash!)
Can anyone help me get out of here? Still feeling a bit rough, Jaden is chatting with his Dad to see where he is at...he got his release papers and was pretty ready to go home and rest.
Jaden is so excited to get a wheel chair ride from his room to the exit from one of his many nurses. Thanks Shannon!~ "Ya-hoo! I'm outta here!"

Jaden's Appendicitis Journey

After his tireless journey of pokes, tests, and pain. Jaden was admitted for surgery. Dr. Cheney successfully removed his appendicts. It is now 8:15 a.m. and the 8 hour journey has led to relief at last.
We never knew how quiet Jaden was capable of being...actually motionless, but of course, not on his own free will. Rest, is what he needed though...and what he got.
Jaden had requested his actual appendicts, but a photo and the memory of all his pain is what he is taking home with him. Pretty amazing! That Oscar Meyer Hot Dog looking thing in a ziploc is his appendicts in the bottom right hand corner.
Jaden lost more than his appendicts, he also lost his bottom front tooth while at the hospital. Yes, the Tooth Fairy visited, a $5.00 bill was laying on hospital tray the next morning. ???
You can also say that there is an Appendicts Fairy, because we came home with more than we arrived with. Jaden was not forgotten by anyone. With our beloved church family praying, friends and family sending cards and gifts, Jaden was surrounded with love. It is so reaffirming to have all that love surround you. Jaden gives a big "Thank you".

Steam Engine goes Through Scranton

Today we heard the "woo-woo-woo" of a steam whistle going through our busy little rural train town. Usually, every 15 minutes the Union Pacific is hauling through our town with grain, coal, and transportation of goods, but today it was the "Challenger" No. 3985. This was part of the 2008 tour. It will be on display in Boone, Iowa on Sept. 24 from 9:00-6:00pm if you want a up close and personal look at this vintage gem.

Union Pacific Railroad's "Challenger" No. 3985, the world's largest operating steam locomotive, will be on a five-state, 1,750-mile tour from Cheyenne, Wyo., to St. Paul, Minn., to celebrate railroad heritage.Union Pacific's No. 3985, an articulated locomotive with a "hinged" frame to allow it to negotiate curves, is 122 feet long. It weighs more than one million pounds, has six-foot diameter drive wheels and can reach a top speed of 70 miles per hour. No. 3985 was built in 1943 for fast freight service and was retired in 1959. In 1981, it was restored to running condition by UP employee volunteers for special service. The Challenger is based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. This information was compliments of site: http://www.uprr.com/newsinfo/releases/heritage_and_steam/2008/0912_railfest.shtml

Highlight's of Pioneer Days

If only they could of parked this $4900.00 toy at home.
Checking out the antique tractor parade....and there is Papa John.
A pleasant day for going up ...I would of loved to take a ride!
The threshing was a hit to watch for all ages of boys.
Uncle Curt shows off the "United" from Allis.

Down at Papa Johns

Sweet Kylie turns 15!
Jaden can hardly contain himself....he is on a tractor and about to drive!
Drew's interest lies in fishing...he caught the uncle bass of the day!
What was most entertaining was how they got into this flat bottom boat.
Papa John giving Jaden a ride on the WC...always a thrill for him.

Nelson Pioneer Festival

This is the second year we've made it back to participate in the Nelson Pioneer Festival. The weather was beautiful out and the events were fun.
Kylie and I start with endless possibilities!
What should I make?
Kylie made something very WISE...can you see it?
The most darling "Owlbert" you ever saw.

Extended Hand for Harvesting

I do not know how I have ever lived without this fun little extended tool. This is a must for harvesting any kind of fruit....and for only $12.99 at my local Bomgaars, it found a new home.
Nature's gold, but a tad bit sweeter: PEARS!
A few of the required ingredients...not to mention my 25lb. bag of sugar.
Are these sweet? With a bit of help from Roger during the pressure cooker, we have 31 pints!
This is Pear Relish...12 Pints...different, but definately relish. Doing pears was alot of hard work, but very rewarding considering eating healthier requires knowing what is in your food. It sure is a great feeling to know when you are serving up something that it was preserved with your own two hands. I encourage everyone to find a mentor and learn how to preserve. You will not only preserve some great food, but most likely the memories of dear loved ones and the hours they toiled over the stove to give you those cherished gifts of yummies. After using my dear Grammie's recipe for apple butter, it was a walk down memory lane of prior years of her faithful labor of love to me and Roger. And yes, I did make a few phone calls to my dear Grammie while making it (afterall, it was me-Cooking!).

The Real Fortune

The real fortune of going out for a night of conversation is being able to sit at a table with some amazing women. You will never find these women on the evening news, nor will they take time for themselves to write a top 10 novel, they most likely would give the last of whatever is asked of them if it would benefit someone else. Women who choose everyday to pour all that they have out and into the beautiful gifts they have at home. Mothers who fight against the popular opinion and stay at home and yes, even homeschool their ever redefining-children. One doesn't have to crack open a fortune cookie and read a message to know that the greatest fortune of all is waiting at home for us when we open the door: our most precious, rare & unique family. I am blessed.

Full Moon!

Well, the cow didn't jump over the moon, but I felt like I did. I started with a leap out of bed to get a bit of 'me' time before the routine of boys, breakfast, & school. Then I found 8 cups of apple pulp in my refrigerator that needed to be made into my last of 'this round' apple butter...yes, while still homeschooling. Then after I finished my 7 pints of apple butter, 4 more loads of laundry to fold/put away....I realized it was 1:oo p.m. and ..."MOM!....I'm hungry!"...oh, yeah, lunch time! Another round of food and dishes....threw another load of laundry in and onto our last subject.....Spelling....2:00pm and it is time to mow the lawn! Yippee!!! While that wasn't enough...I believe some of my 3rd planting of sweetcorn is READY...So, Drew who was wanting to mow a little...took over for me....so I could pick, shuck, and cook about 2 quarts, because I wanted to see how LONG it could wait....finished that up and cleaned that mess...then, as if I should of sat down a bit...but ..NO...I decided to start on some pear butter?....Drew still mowing....until I was good and in the middle of pears...decided...he was done! So, set aside my pears shut off the burner...and outside to finish the lawn.....I felt very accomplished, because the lawn was DONE...can you say "Yippee!" three times? Back inside to work on the pears.....oh, my it's almost 7:00 p.m.......switch laundry.....more to fold and put away....it is DINNER time. Grill some burgers, have some sweet corn...more dishes....clean up mess....mill the pears....which actually turned out to be over 16 cups of pear pulp and juice! Tomorrow I will finish that pear butter.....just when I think ...maybe it is time to settle down...."MOM...the MOON, it's a FULL MOON!!!! It's so cool, it is a new moon...can we get the telescope out? Well, why not? So, at around 9:15 pm now, we go outside and take in the awesome closeup sight of the moon. Review some our Science facts that we learned last week....

* Crater = a bowl-shaped hole on the surface of the moon

* phase = one of the different shapes in the monthly cycle of the moon

*ray = one of the lines extending out from a crater

*satellite= a heavenly body in orbit around a planet

*sea = one of the smooth, dark areas on the surface of the moon

*tide= the rise or fall of the ocean surface becasue of the gravity of the moon

Hard to believe the something that is 239,000 miles away can be seen so up close and personal. Well, we took it in and saw the rays from the craters, the texture of the moon from its sides, and saw that it was our brilliant 'nightlight' that God sat in the sky...time for bed! So, without further delay.....we headed to off to showers and the land of nod thinking again how miniscule we really are at times.....and I may not of leaped over the moon, but my day was from one leap to another...and a great finish!

One can Make a Difference

As we build forward, the history of our path will shape and mold our future. I want to pray a blessing over those who sacrifice and devote their freedoms away, so that we and others alike may enjoy our freedoms. One individual at a time, reaching out to our neighbors, strangers, and friends can and will make the world of difference. We do remember 9-11 and the other sacrifices that war brings to those who are oppressed and in bondage. May God continue to bless the Americans and our pledge for Freedom.

Get Your Target.....Aim....Release!

Roger and I just arrived back from a product premiere for Ascential with Steve Michael. It was very informative and enlightening. It has been our family goal this year to promote better life choices in a myriad of avenues within our family. The information that Steve shared with us will enable us to impact our health and wellness. The information will definately aid us in reaching that target we have set. Roger and I are totally jazzed about this steady elevation we are building on.
If you are interested in health and wellness...check it out...We really believe that Ascential is just one amazing tool to aid you in hitting that target. So, check us out at http://www.releasingarrows.com/ and let us help you in hitting your target!

The 2nd Annual Springbrook Gathering

Mckenzie, Avery, Autumn & Benjamin are smiling with the butterfly action.
Autumn and Avery take me on another trail....how many steps this time?
Sheryl and Jensen.....how precious is this?
I'm not sure what the story is here, but I'm sure it is a big one!
Rob attempts to make an apple tart.....can anyone say.....yummy?

From across the county and parts of central Iowa the Hoyt Clan meet at Springbrook state park for a breakfast gathering. This year was even more adventurous as we added a new level to our bike treks. Despite the life threatening treks, the day started off calm and cool with the wood fire smoking and producing sizzling bacon, eggs, and pancakes. No one left hungry, and if they did, it was not because there wasn't plenty of wonderful goods. Always a treat to see cousins that we don't see often and have new playmates for the day. A thumbs up kind of day!

At the Beginning there was Food!

The fire is awaiting the food.
The eggs are almost GONE!
Grandma's cinnamon rolls are a favorite of many.
Rick brings sample of beef bacon .
Roger takes the sample......"I like it".

No breakfast would be complete without homemade goodies from each of our homes. We had no shortage of good food. Let's see...there were bananas, coffee cakes, muffins, cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs over a wood fire, pancakes, sausage, bacon and good old coffee, milk and juice. It was a joint effort that countless families do when getting together to feed an army. All I can say is, " let the tradition continue!"