Thanksgiving in Illinois 2013

 

Madelyn wore some new outfits like this purple one

on our trip to Champaign Illinois for Thanksgiving.

Aunt Judy and Uncle Bill's family at the farm.

 Grandma Carol and Grandpa Dave's family at the farm.

 Aunt Lynn and Uncle Al (their cat Moe was not available)

Aunt Donna and Uncle Mike's family on the farm.

Madelyn at two months and her cousins - Nathan, center, at 6 months with his arm around her;

and Natalie, right, at four months looking over to see what is going on.......

 We stayed overnight in a motel in Champaign and the four boys were together a lot. Here Mason shows the three from Atlanta a video on Grandma's phone.

 Here the pack has pizza with Grandma and Madelyn.

Grandpa finds it easy to get them to make faces in the mirror.

They had light sabers at the Cracker Barrel that the

ninjas played with while waiting for Thanksgiving lunch. 

Nick and Natalie actually got a turn to hold Madelyn a few times.

 Grandma Carol and Mason take a time out at the farm.

 Caleb absolutely loved little Madelyn. 

 Our "chin" boy at the Cracker Barrel with his parents.

 Aunt Colleen got a lot of baby time, too.

 Madelyn entertaining some of her fan club - Auntie Tammy and Cousin Hudson.

 Photo opportunity with Uncle Andy



Uncle Andy got "roasted" for his impending 40th

birthday next month. Here he gets a card and

black duct tape.



November 14th at Wastewater Farm, Making Snowflakes in the Woodshop, and Self-Portraits

 Grandpa took Mason and Grandma Carol to the Wastewater Farm

to ride a combine and see all the corn harvest activities. Here is a picture

Mason took from one of the combine's "buddy seats". The other

machine is unloading corn on the go into a 1000 bushel grain cart.

 A close-up of the other combine.

 Unloading on the go in Mason's combine.

 Mason with grandma and Ag Equipment Operator Ryan Bean.

 One of the two old John Deere Combines - almost 15 years old but in great condition.

 Mason helped grandpa with snowflakes this year.

 His job was to grab an unfinished snowflake from the stack,

 Put it in the sealer bath,

 and watch while grandpa fished it out and

 wiped it off for drying. After more sanding the snowflakes then get a couple coats of polyurethane.

 The boy took 146 pictures at Wastewater and another 35 of himself....

 Just the age to try out different expressions.

 Some more different than others.....

 He laughs at himself a lot.

 A good 50% of a 3-year-old's expressions involve the tongue.

Remember this is only a fraction of the ones sorted through....

November 9th Daravia's Birthday Party at Arnie's

 We met at Arnie's Bakery Restaurant, the family's
traditional birthday party hang-out since Colleen and
Natalie were Mason's age. Mason goes for the quality
part of the cupcake.......

 Chocolate frosting boy.

Birthday girl is 18 and going to Ferris next year. She
enjoyed Mason's antics.

Halloween 2013

 Madelyn was a adorable Koala bear for Halloween.

Mason was a dynamic Jake (The Disney Neverland Pirate).

Mid-October Madelyn Photos

 Grandma Carol feeds Madelyn breast milk in a bottle. She

likes it that way so she can suck it down faster. She gained

12 ounces her second week.

 Looking around from grandma's lap.

 Grandpa Dave makes a good pillow.

Posing with a new outfit. So big!

September 26th New Family Picture at Hospital

The new family at the hospital. Hopefully mom and Madelyn will come home tomorrow! The big

brother is ready to have them all home!

September 25th Mason has Pre-School Field Trip to Post Family Farm

 The kids swung down from bales into loose straw.

 Getting to know a baby goat. 

 Wandering around in a post maze.



A hay ride out to the pumpkin patch.

Looking over the selection of pumpkins.