Home for a visit!

Megan took yesterday off so I left for Iowa Thursday afternoon for a visit with Grandpa.  It is good to be home and I am using the time here to clean house, wash bedding, make some meals for Mark when I leave again, etc.  He and Craig are very busy with the harvest so he has no time to do any of these things when he gets home at night.  Harvesting is going well but there have been some challenging fields of downed corn to deal with.  Considering the tiny, and I mean tiny, amount of rain we had during this growing season I cannot believe we are getting yields that are actually "okay" considering this drought. 

I am enjoying my time spent with Ryan.  He is almost 4 months old now and such a good boy.  I have zero problems with him and we seem to just enjoy each others company.  Drew is still playing in his first year of flag football and he ran for another 45 yard TD last Saturday.  :-)  He is a speedy little runner but I wouldn't call the defense on these teams tough.  :-)  It is so fun to watch him play.  Kayley is involved in gymnastics and I have watched her sessions a few times, too.  It is going to be hard to pull myself away from these three grand children come Oct. 20th.  That is the problem with doing something like this....I get WAY too attached to them.  But on the bright side for me, I am flying there for Thanksgiving then Mark and I are flying to Peoria after Christmas to spend some time with them when the kids are off from school.  We usually go for Drew's birthday on Jan. 15th but now that he is in school we thought coming when they have the holiday week off would be better.

Happy Ryan

He loves looking out the patio door!

Sox, Ryan and Kayley

My cute little grandson

This is the life

Drew's Kindergarten school picture

Aren't I cute?

Drew's touchdown run, from "far" away!

Fall is in the air

It's a very crisp day!  I know many people are thrilled about this cooler air but me, not so much. I still love summer the best!  It will save everyone a few bucks on the AC bill but warmer weather may come back shortly.  Hope so.  :-)

I am still babysitting the sweetest little guy in the world and playing on a daily basis with Drew and Kayley.  Those two are trying their best to keep me young!  Drew either wants me to pitch to him, throw football passes or have Olympic volleyball in the basement.  Sandwiched in between all these sports is time spent learning sight words and reading beginner books.  He seems to love kindergarten but lunch is definitely not the highlight of the day.  Sometimes he takes his lunch but I cannot see Megan having the time in the morning to make it like I am doing.  He will just have to learn to eat the dreaded school lunches! 

Mark is busy into harvest now.  Surprisingly, there is a bit of corn and soybeans to harvest.  I really cannot believe there is anything out there after the drought we went through.  I wonder what they do to these seeds that they will grow in such an arid environment!  Mark also said his knee is doing great and that it no longer bothers him during the night.  Yay!

Ryan is such a good baby.   He eats, he plays, he sleeps.  Repeat this several times per day and grandma is a happy camper watching her grandson.  He is "trying" to please his mommy and sleep through the night and makes it several times per week but other nights he wants to visit with her occasionally!  Hopefully he will turn that corner very soon so everyone gets a full night's sleep.  He is almost there.

I am going to continue babysitting until Oct. 19th and then will head back to Iowa, only to pack up the car and head to our home in Arizona to seed our winter lawn!  Oh well, nothing for me to do on the farm now anyway as all my flowers are pulled and the garden is just about done producing.  Time to get ready for our winter together in Phoenix.  I am dreading leaving these three grandchildren but must admit I am looking forward to my time in the desert.  I am missing my beautiful hikes and all the things AZ has to offer Mark and me!

Some pics and videos of the past two weeks:

Ryan having a conversation with Grandma:

Offensive player of the game.  45 yard TD run for Drew!

We are off to the park

Kayley enjoying one of Andy's garden carrots! 

How cute is this little man?

Ryan in his new shirt and shoes

Drew is now into FB since T-ball is finished.

Had to throw in another of my newest grandson!

Granny Nanny comes to life once again!

  I officially have that title since August 20th, when I came to Peoria, IL to babysit our newest grandson, Ryan.  He is a sweet little thing (aren't they all?) and I am loving my duties.  Megan had to return to work after maternity leave ended and we decided a couple more months at home before day care began was just what Ryan needed.  :-)

It has been a hectic two weeks.  Kayley (age 4) started Pre-K and Drew began his school days as a Kindergarten student at Hickory Grove Elementary.  He was a little "iffy" about Kindergarten and the whole bus riding thing, but after two days he was in the groove and loving his new role as student.  They are growing up quickly!

Megan and family and I took off for the farm for the Labor Day Week-end on Friday.  It was fun but too short.  Matt also drove to the farm for the week-end. We did our usual golf cart rides, lawn mower rides, picking tomatoes, hitting baseballs and ending with the rodeo parade.  The kids had a great time and look forward to another visit to the farm next summer.

Some pics and videos from our past couple of weeks....

Uncle Matt with two of his favorite kids!

Drew waiting patiently for the bus

Ryan waiting for his dinner

It took him a LONG time, but Drew finally made 20 baskets

Kayley playing on Grandpa's big tire

Matt and Drew hauling in the candy

Kayley and Drew loved the parade.  So did Andy....

Their candy waves

Kayley discovered a very old rocking horse in the shed and fell in love with this horse