Fall

Can you guess who the boys are going to be for Halloween?




I actually kept a flower alive all summer and spring and it's still going strong! Normally I kill all growing things, so I feel extremely successful! I did have a Gerber daisy that was doing quite well but Kris overwatered it when I was visiting my family in Missouri back in August.




The weather here has been gorgeous! We have spent many afternoons outside. The boys, in particular Liam, love to drive their cars around the cul-de-sac. Kale is such a dangerous driver already. I am scared for when he is 16! He is too brave!
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Out-of-Control

I will be the first to admit...my children are OUT OF CONTROL!!! Especially this one! I just don't know what to do with them sometimes. Parenting is such hard work. I feel like it is never ending time-outs, threats, and consonant harping, and I hate it! One of the ladies that I work with told me that teenagers are not hard as long as you do the work with them when they are small. I am working--I am definitely working, but I still feel like my kids are crazy!

 

Liam is so dramatic. He is definitely already in the "terrible twos" and has been there for sometime. If he does not get his way, he goes into instant melt-down mode (as seen above). We normally take him and put him in his room to calm down, and that helps the current situation, but it doesn't stop him from melting down 10 other times during the day. What am I going to do with these two??!

So Proud!

So proud of my hubby! He was named chair of the Transportation and Logistics Group for AWEA--which is the American Wind Energy Association. This the group that helps to influence laws associated with wind. He will be making a big speech to over 1,000 people in a few months in Vegas. Here's the blurb that AWEA sent out about Kris:

Introducing our new co-Chair:

After years of hard work as a co-chair, Vikash Patel will be stepping down this fall. We've solicited input from Vikash and Jay, as well as some AWEA staff, and are happy to announce that Kristopher Helling with Alstom Power has agreed to co-chair the TLWG with Jay.

Mr. Helling has 12 years of logistics experience working with project cargo as a shipper and a carrier, with 8 years focused specifically on Wind cargos.  Mr. Helling joined Alstom Renewable Power in 2010 as part of the company's acquisition of Ecotecnia, a Spanish wind turbine manufacturer, and entry into the global wind turbine market.  Mr. Helling's position at Alstom is of Global Logistics Manager and he is responsible for all transport of the wind turbine cargo for the company, both international and domestic.  Mr. Helling received a BA in Transportation/Logistics and Spanish from Iowa State University in Ames, IA in 2001 and a M.B.A from the University of Houston in Houston, TX in 2011.  He currently resides in Richmond, VA and is married with two children.

 

A Recap of September

We are trying very hard to get "back in the swing of things." With Kale going back to school and mom going back to work a few hours a week, it's been hard. The beginning of the semester is always extra busy for me...not to mention, we do a few different mom's groups, which have started this month as well. I sure miss the flexibility of summer!   This little man is a painting machine! And he doesn't care too much if he gets it on his paper...


We have continued to have a few very hot days, so we have gotten creative on the inside play time. The pool is closed, so it leaves us few options outside. I believe this week is supposed to cool down though.

We spent some quality time at the Children's Museum, which remains one of our favorite places to go.



Liam can swing in a big boy swing! We have gone to the park a few times recently and that's all he wants to go. He will swing for 30 minutes at a time if we will let him.   While we were at the park on this specific occasion, there were about 8 pre-teen girls there. Oh my gosh, girls are mean! I was listening to their conversations--makes me grateful to have 2 boys! Talk about drama!
Our good friend, Adeline, came over to play the other day while her parents went out for their anniversary. She was an absolute angel and Kale LOVED having her over. We played outside and Kale even let Adeline drive the car. We had a delicious dinner, then Kale and Adeline watched Lion King and had special snack of popcorn and M & Ms.

 

 

 

 

Liam loves drenching himself in the bathtub. I think he is attempting to wash the shampoo out of his hair, but he doesn't get quite high enough...

Sunday Morning

On Sunday, we got the boys all ready and headed out the door to church. I think they both looked pretty handsome! Kris HATES it when I have Liam wear overalls, but I think it's an adorable look for a little one!

 

 

I have to get on my soapbox for just a second though...Kris and I have started attending a church that we both like. The children's ministry is great, we enjoy the music and sermon, the facilities are wonderful, and there are tons of various ministries to get involved in. However, I have a couple of questions, when did it become acceptable to be fashionably late for church?! Kris and I are always seated a few minutes before the service. When the service actually begins at 11 a.m., there is next to no one seated. Within 5-10 minutes of the music beginning, the entire congregation is full! Why can't the people milling around outside the sanctuary make it to their seats in time?

 

Also, why is it acceptable for pre-teen children to bring video gaming toys to church and PLAY them all during the music and sermon. Talk about distracting! On Sunday, I couldn't even concentrate because the kid a few rows in front of me was playing Mario Kart and I kept seeing the screen flash and HEARING the annoying music!

 

And finally, if you are sitting behind me, please do not talk to your friend for the entire service...especially during the prayers. Some of us are trying to listen to the sermon. Oh, and clipping your fingernails during the service, please don't!

 

I am not exaggerating any of these things! They have actually happened while Kris and I were in church. I realize these people are not the norm...but still, where did specific etiquette go during church? I am all for laid-back and contemporary, but I believe there is such a thing as "too" laid back.

Trip to Iowa

Kris and the boys made a trip to Iowa to visit Kris' side of the family. On their way home from the airport, they drove through a small town only to find a rascal scooter sitting outside of the local bar. Kris says there's no place like home!

It sounds like the boys had lots of fun on their trip. From what I hear they enjoyed many tractor rides around the town of Hudson. You can tell, Liam already thinks he knows how to drive...

 

According to Kris, the boys were angels on the plane ride. He says Liam slept on both flights (they had a lay over) to Iowa. I think Kris must have drugged him...

All of the cousins...Liam (driving), Nate, Brady, Scarlett, and Kale

On Saturday, many of the extended family members made their way to Dick and Marilyn's house for a cook-out, then they went to the local dairy farm for a tour.

This poor wallaby...

There was a playground at the dairy farm, so when the boys got tired of the tour, they got a chance to play on the swing set.

And look---a tractor just their size!

They even got to eat homemade ice-cream (blue--Kale's favorite) at the farm.

The next day, everyone went to a local water park. Liam was pretty attached to Kris (as I think he was the whole trip), but Kale really loved the water slides!

Such a sweet picture.

All smiles!

In addition to the diary farm and water park, the boys went to the local library to pick out a few books. They also made many trips to the local park and Kale managed to talk Grandma and Grandpa into taking him to see Planes.

On the last day, the boys were treated to ice-cream and a trip to Chuckie Cheese! Needless to say, they had to have been disappointed to come home and have all their action packed days end!

I think a good time was had by all. I was especially glad to see them come home. I really enjoyed my time to myself (it was like a mini vacation), but a week is a long time to be without my babies---all three of them!!

First Day of Pre-K 2013

Kale had his first day of 3 year old preschool today. He was so EXCITED to start school! He has been talking out it for weeks. He was up at the crack of dawn this morning because he wanted to go to school. It's a great feeling to have found a preschool that he loves going to!

Not sure if you can see his shirt, but my friend, Renee made this T-shirt for him. It says "Winfree Rocks" and it has a picture of a guitar on it. (Winfree is his school.) Kale was SO excited to wear his new shirt! All of the teachers loved it...I have a feeling the teachers wouldn't mind having a "Winfree Rocks" shirt! :)

Kales "Cheese" Smile.

This would be such a good picture if only Kale's eyes were open!

Liam had to get in on the picture taking and even wanted to have his "pack pack," as he calls it.

Liam was NOT happy when Kale left for school. Liam had to stay home with our sitter, Briana, and he cried for a good 20 minutes. Next year it will be Liam's turn...

Sweet Brothers

These moments are rare, but do occasionally happen around here. Once in a blue moon, the boys are actually sweet to another!

The other day when Kale and Liam woke up from their naps, Kale decided he wanted to hold Liam. I bet he  asked Liam 50 times, " Liam, do you want me to hold you?" Liam finally relented and agreed to "be held" by Kale.

So sweet! I love my boys!!
One afternoon, we were heading to pool and the boys were walking behind me on the sidewalk. I turned around to hurry them along and found them walking hand-in-hand. Kale always loves to hold Liam's hand, but usually Liam likes to do everything himself, so holding Kale's hand is rare!

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Last Day of Pool Season

We enjoyed a great pool season this year! The boys have really done a great job with swimming and have come so far. I will be sad that the pool is no longer open...it was easy to fill the afternoons by going to the pool. I just hope the boys remember how to swim next summer, since we won't be doing much swimming over the winter.  

 

 

 

 

 
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