Top Tianism

Sunday we had the missionaries over for dinner ( Okay, it was more like an hour of torture for them.  Not only did they have to endure Tian and Trace in show off mode, but we served venison...) and we were lucky enough to meet a new elder who just arrived in Des Moines fresh from the MTC.  We were asking him the usual list of questions: where are you from, what do think of Des Moines etc etc.  We asked if he had any brothers and sisters and he replied he had 7 brothers.  Tian immediately stood up and said," Then you must be Snow White!!"

Needless to say, his companion couldn't stop laughing and I am sure it is the name that will follow him fo rthe next 2 years.

Des Moines Sculpture Garden

A sculpture garden just opened in downtown Des Moines and the first sunny day over 40 we ran to check it out.  It was incredible.  We spent about 1 1/2 hours and everyone seemed to enjoy it.  I didn't think Tarce got too much out of it  ( since e spent mos of the time hearing me say,"Remember don't touch. Come back Tarce.  Trace get up.  Stop rolling in the grass. etc etc ")until he came to tell Tom about it.  HE remembered almost all of the sculptures and details about each.  I was impressed.

This was Trace's favorite...the giant Spider.  The artist created this in memory of her mother...I am hoping Trace was not thinking the same thing

My favorite.  It was hard not to touch this one

. As you can see Trace really want to kick the letters he knew...

Tian loved these guys

Tian wandered away and stood staring at this one tilting her head...hmm maybe she is a future art critic. Trace was more interested in "what is that bunny eating"

Ty said he liked this table and chairs because it made him think of Medieval times

 The coat reminded me of the Narnia books

What's a day at the park without a little pushing match :o)  They were both laughing so they couldn't get up.

Freezing in October

Great tree in Perry

Tian

We survived the Cross Country Team pasta dinner at our house this week!  It was actually VERY easy.  Every other year we have hosted we have held it at the park, and I was dreading how this one was going to turn out since it was too cold to have the dinner outside.  The kids were great and we had fed all 20 of them, had the kitchen cleaned up by 6:00!  It was great!  They are a nice group of kids.
The team did okay at the meet.  NOt as well as they had hoped due to some injuries .  Each runner had to place in the top 20 to be All District...unfortunately Trevor finished 21st.  I still think he was great.  After a week off he still ran it in 18:32 which is close to his personal best of 18:02

The kids had a great time chasing around and climbing trees.  The weather didn't help either in fact, we watched the JV finish from the car.  IT was cold, damp and drizzling.

Tian cried until Tom let her climb...she looks like she is enjoying it huh?

Ty in the tree

The kids tried to stay warm.  Ty had the little ones running then come back to tackle him....he looks a little frightened here :o)

Saturday we visited a homesite in Northern Missouri.  Tom is working on helping a friend sub contract his own home.  It is a beautiful site and we decided to come an see if we could find an Amish store - no luck :o(

All in all it was a good week and we are hopeful we may see the sun this week.  It peeked through the clouds today ( Sunday) and little Squirt ( orange kitten) has been following it around all afternoon.

Tianisms of the week:

Tian looks at her dad square in the eye and asks if if she will HAVE to kiss her husband on the lips when she gets married.  HE replied that he thought she would.  We were expecting some squeal of disgust, instead she looks at him eyes shining and squeals,"I can't wait."  We are worried....

Tian has been consumed ith getting married this week - who is she going to marry, where will she live, will I still make her food and clean the house ( that was a rude awakening for)  SHe also named her first child: Joanie....

Trace is too busy saying how much he hates everything.  "Hate "is definitely the word of the week and no number of timeouts can deter him.... I am hoping thi a healthly experession of his ecurity with us.  It is, isn't it?

Wyoming

Sorry for the gore...Trevor got an excellent 5x6 buck .  The buck in the back is my mom's. She got it without leaving the house :o)  There aren't many pics because we left our camera at home for Tom to document the house he finished last week.  It looks great. Here are a couple pictures:

WE had a great time in Wyoming driving my parents crazy.  Tian and Trace never stopped talking or running.  Leah came with Paige - her 2 1/3 month old new baby.  Poor Paige.  Tian and Trace LOVE her.  She is absolutely beautiful and I am not sure if she has any hair left  because Trace couldn't stop rubbing her head no matter how much we threatened him.  WE made my dad wonder how he ever survived 6 kids especially at dinner wih the usual spilling of he the drinks, falling of chairs, whining and crying for more before they had even started eating....

Look what Tom did while we were gone. The slate left from the renovations in Wisconsin that got moved by mistake is now...on our front porch!! I can't wait to get the stone installed on the wall ( I know always just one more thing!)