theDeiters

Halloween 2009

We had 2 farmers, 1 princess and a Mario and Luigi roaming around Nonny and Papa's neighborhood on Halloween this year.  When you grow up living on a major highway, it goes without saying that you have to use someone else's neighborhood for trick or treating.  This year we were smart and pulled a wagon for the kids when they grew weary of walking from house to house.  We would just roll right up to the house's door and they would jump out to collect their treats.  I do declare, these kids don't even have to work for their candy these days! 
 

Homeschool field trip to the pumpkin patch

We had an organized trip to the local pumpkin patch with other homeschool kids.  It had rained all night and morning but we took our chances and went anyway.  I'm glad we did because the rain held off and we had a great time.

 

There was a covered play area, petting zoo, outdoor corn maze (closed because of the mud), hayride, juice and popcorn all for $3.  Not bad!

Maddie in the indoor straw maze.  Sized just right for small kids.

See the mud all over her legs?  We were at the pumpkin patch maybe 3 seconds before she fall face down in the mud! 

Waiting in line for more juice.

Sammy sitting with friends eating his popcorn and juice.

The boys on the teeter-totter.  Through the mud and rain, it turned out to be a really fun outing.
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

Fishing and dilly bars

Henry went to Indianapolis this weekend for a conference.  That usually means dullsville for me, but we made plans to go to Nonny and Papa's for part of the day.  The kids love going over there because they are spoiled rotten with treats, loads of attention and (Sammy's favorite) the Wii.  They can be mid-tantrum and all I have to say is, "Let's get in the car to go to Nonny's house" and they sprout halos and are in the car in 2 seconds flat.

We were joined by my nephews, which always makes for an exciting (and loud) time.  After lunch Papa took the bigger boys fishing so I went along as the safety monitor.  The boys being near water without life-vests always puts me in a constant adrenaline rush ever since Sammy fell in the pool head first last fall.  I turn into Nazi-mom around parking lots, busy streets and water.

 

We ventured out to a private pond loaded with fish, but didn't have any luck which was unusual.  Sammy caught one little bity guy that was too small to keep.  The boys stuck with it for about 30 minutes and then grew restless with no action. 

After fishing they were sweaty and tired so what better place to hit than Dairy Queen!  They all wanted dilly bars so I bought a 10-pack and headed back to Nonny's house where the little ones were.

 

 

 

It was a good day after all!

Snow snow snow!

On Christmas day we drove up to Mokena to be with Henry's family for Christmas.  Thankfully, the weather was clear and we didn't have any problems on the 25th.  The 26th was a different story!  Chicago had an ice storm and entire cities and interstates were shut down because of the horrible driving conditions.  Luckily, we were exactly where we wanted to be!  All the boys (Big Grandpa included) headed out to play in the snow and ice.  The gals stayed inside and took naps!  Now that's my kind of holiday.

Check out Sammy's RED coveralls.  I had it made by a seamstress and it fit like a glove.  He LOVES them and with his new red shoes he can actually dress from head to toe in solid red.  If you can't beat it, buy RED! 

 

  

Uncle Herb has a way with the ladies!

It's a good think Sammy stepped in to give him some pointers.

The next week we got a dump of snow and ice at home.  The birds were gorgeous against the backdrop of white. 

  

The best thing about snow is the hot chocolate after a fun day of play! 

Sammy fell asleep on the stairs after playing outside.  This one ranks up there with when he fell asleep on the toilet!  Poor kid doesn't get enough sleep rooming with no-sleep Isaiah.  

As far as manure for the garden goes... more is ... MORE!  No problem finding our house anymore.  Just look for the huge pile of manure in the front yard!

Fall is here!

So... it's been a while.  We've been busy, but it's the good kind of busy.  Henry changed jobs and had 6 weeks of vacation between them.  We had a long "to do" list for those 6 weeks and finished about half of them.  I think that's pretty good for me!

He's now back to work and gets home by 5 o'clock every night.  I cannot tell you how happy that makes our little family to sit down and eat dinner together on a regular basis.  AND... then have the entire night to have fun together.  We're slowly getting back into running and take the kids a couple of times a week to a local junior-high track.  We have jogging strollers, but the boys sometimes have other ideas and are let on the loose with glow sticks.  They have a blast.  Maddie will sit as long as the stroller moves faster than a walk.   

Fall is definitely all around us and we've been taking advantage of the warm temperatures.  The leaves turned much later this year, but they are just as beautiful.

Isaiah climbed up in this one for a cute shot.

 

Isaiah racing his cousin around the driveway.  They are both the competitive type which makes for some funny eavesdropping at times.

We were all packed up to go to church last Sunday but decided to head to Giant City State Park instead.  We figured church would be a lost cause since 2 out of 3 kids were screaming and crying before we even left.  I think it was a good decision.  We had a hands-on lesson in God's splendor.

The plan was that Henry would carry Maddie in the backpack but she wanted me.  UGH!

Nightime goofing around....

Daily bedtime reading...

Trick or treat pictures.  Maddie was supposed to be some form of Raggedy-Ann and the boys were (of course) Spiderman... for the second year in a row.  I'm glad they don't care about their costumes!  

  

  

Boy oh boy did they rake it in.  Halloween candy has certainly been upgraded since I was a kid.  They got almost ALL chocolate!  

Here's a couple of pictures since I posted last...

Riding in the trailer.  What you can't see is a bunch of watermelons in the cart with them.

  

Fishing with Papa behind their house. 

  

Does a boy need much else but a few building toys, a box and an imagination?  Here they are in their airplane.  Of course Isaiah is driving.

  

   

We had a good time up north

These first three pictures were taken while Henry was gone to San Antonio a couple of weeks ago.  They were just too cute not to share.

What a rowdy bunch!

We traveled up to see Henry's side the family over July 4th weekend.  Isaiah loved borrowing his cousin Keegan's scooter.  Hmmm.... it made me think about getting one for him for his birthday next month.

Aunt Mariko and her boyfriend Scott, pitched a ball to Sammy.  He's taken up a love for baseball ever since he went to a local minor league baseball game a month ago.

Maddie and her new cousin Sinead.  I'm sure these two will be good friends just as soon as they can talk.

Baby Sinead Deiters.  Irish, Japanese and German...beautiful combination! 

Maddie loved Herb and Bridie's HUGE dog.... from afar.

Henry's baby brother Chris hosted his first family party as his new house.  It is wonderful and just perfect for him.  The house is just the perfect size and he's already decorated with the biggest flat screen tv I've ever seen.  (What more does a single guy need?)  The backyard is very large with mature landscaping, a pool/deck and producing fruit trees.  I was salivating at his apple and pear trees which were enormous.  He's promised me that he won't throw away the apples and pears and will bring them to me.  Right Chris??

We survived another trip home across the state.

This was our first big batch of eggs waiting for us in the coop.  That was about 10 days ago.  Today I collected 25!  Come on chickies!