Pumpkin carving

I'm sure Joel doesn't quite feel the same about rain as I do, but I've welcomed it the last few weeks.  It's meant having help with the girls and Daddy being home!  We've had a few days of "normal" life during the last few weeks and it's been nice. 

The guys have been busy in the fields for what feels like the last year. 

Jim, Ryder, Joel and Drake (the week before Jim's stroke)



Drake and Papa Jim in the combine

Drake, Joel and Ryder

Jim had another stroke a few weeks ago, so Joel's been responsible with getting the rest of the crops out.  We're very fortunate that Jim got medical treatment quickly and that it didn't turn out worse.  He wasn't feeling well the day before and ended up waking up Rita and going to the ER early Saturday.  After determining it was a stroke, they airlifted him to Peoria, which is where he was at after his stroke a few years ago.  This stroke was the opposite as the last one, and the bleed didn't get any bigger, so he was able to get out of ICU after a day and then came home the next day.  I know Ainsley was very excited to see her Papa Jim when he got home.  She kept telling me how Papa Jim was at the doctor because his belly hurt.  Because, everyone knows every time you go to the doctor it's because your belly hurts!

On his way home!

Jim has been following everything the doctor's told him to do after his last stroke, and they even told him after this time that he was one of the healthiest stroke victims they've seen.  His only restriction is not operating heavy equipment, but it hasn't stopped him from being in a tractor chiseling.  They've been very fortunate and have had lots of people helping them during the last few weeks.  They only have a few more acres to get out and they'll be done for the year.  Everything should be out of the fields tomorrow!

It's rained a few times during the last few weeks, and Joel carved pumpkins with Ainsley (and Lily) one evening.  Ainsley wasn't too sure about sticking her hand inside of it, but did eventually pull some of the seeds out.  It was one at a time, so it was slow going!  Lily just sat beside them and took it all in. 

 

Fall Fun

With Joel in the fields, the girls and I have been spending a lot of time at home.  

We did end up taking a few walks to the park during the last month before the cooler weather hit.  Ainsley perks up and asks to go to the park as soon as I mention going for a walk.  They've taken the corn out of the field around the park, so now Ainsley can see the park from our yard and asks to go over all the time.

She loved pushing me in the swing

Ainsley loves to help me in the kitchen, and we've been doing a lot of baking.  

I was making supper one night and turned around to find Ainsley holding the stick of butter and eating it.  When I asked her what she was doing, she replied:  "Eating cheese!"  I've caught her once more with the stick of butter in her hand, so I have to watch where I lay it now!


 

I get asked the same 3-4 questions every night now.  Ainsley usually starts asking them around the same time every evening and it's always in the same order.  1.  Is it getting dark?  2.  Is it bed time?  3.  Am I going to Lisa's (tomorrow)?  and if I answer "no" to #3, 4.  Am I staying at girl's house?  It's so funny.  Ainsley will watch for it to get dark and know that it's supper time, bath time and then bed time.  Bath time is so much easier now that Lily can sit up and Ainsley enjoys having her sister in the bath tub with her.  For the most part, they get along good.  The only time I have issues is when Ainsley takes Lily's toy, but that's expected.

The girls got baths in Grandma's sink one night

 

Ainsley loves reading to Lily and their newest favorite activity is getting all of the stuffed animals, pillows, and blankets from Ainsley's room and putting them in a pile on the floor to play.  I never know where I'll find these piles.  They play in Ainsley's room, Lily's room, our bedroom, and the living room.  Ainsley even tried bringing them all down to the basement one day, but I had to draw a limit somewhere!  Ainsley will usually tell me that I'm not allowed in the room while they are playing, or if she's reading Lily a book.  Lily loves all the attention, and I love peeking around the corner and watching them. 

Having a tea party

I was able to pick all of the animals up for a few minutes (along with the girls)

We were able to see the triplets a few weeks ago.  They sure keep their Mommy and Daddy busy.  They're rolling and crawling everywhere!  We tried getting a picture of the five kids, but mine weren't having anything to do with it.  I have to say the triplets were angels compared to my two!!!

This cracks me up...Ainsley and Lily both cry the same way!!!

 

Their faces here even look the same, and Lucy's starting to get tired of it too!

Ainsley is growing up so fast and amazes me at what all she knows and remembers.  Her imagination is growing and she loves to read.

Dr. Ainsley checking out patient Mickey

  

She's been busy making her Christmas list from catalogs that have come in the mail



 

Playing day care with Drake and Lani....I think they were just picking on Ainsley!



Ainsley found one of her old hats while I was going through clothes one day.  She thought she needed to wear it.  She sure has grown a lot since the last time she wore it!

Ainsley 9 months

We're still working on potty training, but we're not getting very far.  Ainsley would much rather read books and count while sitting on the toilet than actually going to the bathroom.

Counting to 10 on her fingers

Thomas, Jamie, and Hudson came home a few weeks ago for Aunt Barb's funeral and we let the kids play for a few hours at Mom's.  Playing consisted of both Hudson and Lily grabbing each others clothes, ears, or whatever else they could get and pulling!

Thanks to Uncle Tanner for pulling up Ainsley pants and tucking her shirt in.  Thanks to Mommy for only having mismatched clothes in the diaper bag for little sister....

Petting the deer with Uncle Tanner

Ainsley was excited to get a package in the mail from Aunt Doris one day.  She couldn't wait to rip into it!

I've got to spend a lot of quality time with these two girls the last few weeks while Daddy's in the field, and I love watching them grow together.  Of course, they both still get very excited as soon as Daddy walks in the door, but while he's gone I'm the favorite!