8 is great!!

8? Really? 8? So hard to believe it was 8 years ago that this bouncy baby boy made me a mom. I remember it like it was yesterday! His birthday was on a school day and he had gymnastics that night so we had to push off most of the celebrating to the weekend. He is getting really hard to buy for so after school I took him to the toy store and let him pick something out. He also had money burning a hole in his pocket to spend, so he came away with this giant monkey, a new board game, some headphones, and a dress up archer costume. Not sure what it is with stuffed animals and my kids ( I despise them) but they LOVE them! I even threw 4 garbage bags full of them away before we moved! Anyway, I guess there are worse things out there to love right? 

After gymnastics we did eat out at one of his favorite restaurants, "The Chicken Coop" It really doesn't matter where we eat, he always orders the same thing, chicken strips! 

Friday night he took his best buddies from our old neighborhood, Duke and Hunter to SkyZone. This is an indoor trampoline place and dodge ball court. They had a blast and were soaked in sweat afterwards! Luckily Jeremy was their taxi driver while I drove the other 2 kiddos around! 

After Skyzone, we headed to pizza ranch to stuff our faces, then back home for some Scratch Cupcakery. If you have never had these amazing little packages of sugar, they are to die for! 

Saturday morning, Darcie, Jill, Carter and I went horseback riding at Jester Park. Carter has been wanting to do this for a long time! Darcie checked into it and you had to be 8 or older to ride, so perfect! It was an absolutely beautiful morning for a trail ride around Saylorville Lake and Carter did great on his horse, Chief. Chief was actually the naughtiest horse of the bunch, but Carter did his best to get him to behave! 

So I haven't ridden a horse in like, 15 years and my golly my hips, butt and back hurt so bad after that hour long ride, I wasn't so sure I would ever walk straight again! 

Carter's Favorites: Year 8
1. Favorite food: walking tacos or chicken nuggets
2. Favorite color: Yellow
3. Favorite sport: Baseball
4. Favorite team: Huskers
5. Favorite movie: Expendables 2
6. Favorite thing about school: " Well it certainly isn't lunch"..recess I guess
7. What do you want to be when you grow up? : Baseball player
8. If you could go anywhere on vacation where would you go? Disney world ( yes I know, maybe next year!)
9. What is your favorite thing to do? Play outside with friends.
10. Why are you special? Because I am me! 

As I am typing this, I think about how much Carter has grown and changed and how it makes me so happy, yet so sad. He and I really don't get to spend that much time together as Jeremy tends to taxi him to all his events while I manage the other two. They obviously share more interests than he and I do, and he and I often butt heads on many things as we are more alike than we know I think. At times, I feel like he has moved on from needing his mom, doesn't want me around all the time, but then I am reminded how much hasn't changed, he still wants tucked in at night, often wants me to sleep with him, asks me how my day was, still sleeps with his baby blanket, and often asks me to do things with him like play catch, go to a movie, or ride bikes. I guess change is good, we can't control it, but it doesn't have to control us! Happy birthday buddy! 

Football frenzy!

Ahh..it has finally arrived! Cooler weather, open windows, and yes FOOTBALL! As we all are excited for this season, none of our teams have done very well yet! Jeremy and Carter's beloved Huskers fell last weekend badly, our Alma mater ISU is 0-2 and Carter's flag football team is 0-2! None the less, we will continue to FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT and do a little praying for some wins! 

Freeman/Buscher Cy/Hawk party! Luckily we are all Cyclone fans!

Carter wanted to give flag football a try this year and by default Jeremy ended up being the head coach! I love this picture as it shows typical Jeremy, studying every play, making sure everything is in order. I have to remind him that these are 7 and 8 year olds and the goal is to have fun, not win the Superbowl! His team is somewhat bad new bearish..:) It could be long season! 

Coach Freeman wondering what just happened as the opposing team scores another touchdown!

Carter breaking away for a touchdown! So far he has scored the only touchdowns for the team! 

Case says these games are interfering with my nap time! 

A much needed R&R!

I took a few extra days off over Labor Day weekend to recharge my batteries. Mom, Claire and I headed north to God's country, Ely, MN. It had been a few years since I had been up there and forgot how much I enjoy this little piece of heaven. My aunt Corinne and uncle Jim, retired to this little gem of a place a few years ago and always love to have company. It is more of a retreat than a vacation. You sleep in, eat a lot of food, showering is optional, makeup is prohibited, and most of all, you have to enjoy just sitting outside and enjoying the beauty. It was so fun to hang out with my best girls! The first day mom and I had scheduled massages and pedicures at the pebble spa. I got my first hot stone massage and probably will never have anything else ever again! The staff were really sweet to Claire while she waited for us, giving her a warm animal wrap for her shoulders and plenty to keep her occupied!

 After getting pampered, we hit up the local shops for some treasures and some lunch on the patio. 

Although it wasn't all that warm up there ( which was a NICE relief from the 100 degree heat wave we were having in Iowa) Claire insisted on taking a dip in the lake! I watched from the chair with a sweatshirt on! 

My aunt has a "craft room" so we took advantage of it and got crafty! I brought things to start Case's baby book (yes start!) mom worked on some craft show projects, and Claire colored this shirt with fabric markers! 

She also entertained herself with the bins and bins of Barbie dolls she found! 

The second night we went up to Orr, Mn to the Vince Shutte bear sanctuary. It is an open sanctuary where bears can come and go, no fences, and basically can get a meal! The workers walk amongst the bears putting food down for them. They had a special treat the night we were there, strawberries and yogurt chips! I think we saw around 50-60 bears feeding that night. Lots of cubs in the trees waiting for their mama's to tell them it was safe to come down! 

Day three found us out on the lake for a leisurely boat ride with Claire at the helm! 

That night Jim fired up the fire pit for a good old fashion weenie and marshmallow roast! 

We had to head out the next day and make the long 9 hour trek home. Claire did great in the car and instead of asking how long til we're home, asked how long til we can go back? We'll have to plan another trip so I can get Case's baby book done before he graduates from high school! 

Bittersweet moments

The day finally came, after many set backs, our new house was done and we had to say goodbye to Florence Drive. This is the neighborhood we have called home for 10 years. This was our first home as a married couple, the home we brought our 3 babies home to. Our awesome neighbors who will be everlasting friends, hosted a going away party for us. It was one last time for these kids who have grown up together to play together. We will ( and do!!) miss all of them dearly. 

Moving day finally came and with the assistance of Two Men and a Truck, we put our lives into a giant truck. I was skeptical they would get everything in the truck, but sure enough they did. These guys rock..earned every penny I paid them! 

They started before I got back from taking Carter to school so I didn't get an "empty" picture, but this is the end result! Room to spare! 

Moving day also happened to be the first day of school. Not had we intended or planned it in any way! I think my stress level that week was sky high. But, many things were out of my hands, and of course everything fell into place. Carter started second grade on August 14th at a new school, Walnut Hills Elementary. I was beyond nervous for him. He seemed okay, saying it was kinda like going to kindergarten for the first time, not knowing anyone. I took him to school and we quickly found his teacher. His teacher is a new grad 

(makes me more nervous) but so far Ms Winter has proved to be excellent! The second day Carter rode the bus from our new house ( made me nervous as well) as he is the only kid to get on at our stop and has no clue what our neighborhood looks like. I gave the bus driver a long lecture that morning about making sure my precious boy got off at the right stop! I think Carter was probably rolling his eyes at me! Anyway, he made it home and on time!  

This is the last picture we have of a kiddo on the front step of our old house. Sounds silly I know, but this makes me sad! :( We truly were blessed with the best neighbors in the best neighborhood in the area! 

I'll post some pictures of the new digs soon! 

The Great Iowa State Fair!

It really should be one of the 7 wonders of the world in my opinion! The older two and I spent sun up to sundown exploring the Iowa State fair. The kids loved every minute of it (except when we were minutes away from witnessing a baby calf being born..too many questions with "that's gross" as the comment to my answers. So glad I grew up on a farm to better help my kids understand the birthing process...:) 

We didn't try any new foods on a stick this year, and stuck to our old favorites, ice cream from the dairy barn, corn dogs, fried snickers on a stick, warm donut holes, frozen lemonade and cheese curds. 

I remember doing spin art when I was a kid at the fair..it only cost 50 cents then! 

Little hands on the farm!

Turning in their crops for a special treat at the store! 

This year the butter sculpture along with the butter cow was Abraham Lincoln which in one of Carter's favorite people! Unfortunately the line was so long that day, we only got a glimpse of him and no photo! 

Until next year great fair! We will miss you!