Kroul Family Farm

We took a trip out to this farm (there are many to choose from). Everything was free...except for the pumpkins, of course.
Caleb experienced everything from the wagon and Mackenzie slept in the stroller.

a hay maze...


a corn maze...

petting animals...


and saying 'BOO'!

We bought a few pumpkins for carving and cooking, saw a huge spider--Justin was greatly impressed--, leisurely explored, and came home.

Family: Isn't it about...

...story time with Daddy! Caleb loves to sit on the same lap that Mackenzie is on, and let's just say Justin is a bit more successful at handling both of them. This is a common scene, though: both kids on daddy's lap while he reads a story. Or two.

...cooking. Caleb has started to love helping me around the house. He's so good about getting what I ask, or putting this where I ask...and he loves to watch me in the kitchen. Here, we're making breadsticks for our Sunday dinner. Since he loves to eat them, I figured he'd love to help make them. I was right. Oh, and that apron...my mother gave to me at my Bridal shower: "Warning: Chef in Training." Glad it doesn't fit me anymore.


...smiling. Mackenzie's first time in the Jumperoo! I wasn't sure when she'd want it, but she loves to stand and jump frankly, it gets tiring! I was so happy to get a smile out of her while she enjoyed this new form of play and exercise. I can't believe she's already so big! She doesn't jump all that much, but she loves to have her legs straight out underneath her.


...celebrating! Justin has loops!! These are those expensive dental glasses that magnify the patient's mouth without causing prolonged discomfort for the dentist from hunching over all the time. These are actually a huge blessing: Loops aren't required until your second year of dental school, but it is good to get them before so you are acquainted with them before you actually need to be using them. Well, we couldn't afford them this year. Plain and simple. We thought maybe in the summer after we know where we stand a bit more, maybe we'd get them a few month early. But, then, Justin got an email from the Dean that a few of the professors had donated their old loops/frames and if you wanted them, email her. He did. It was a first come-first serve basis...but we got them! So, in order to get them fitted for his prescription and make them his own, it cost $205. New loops cost close to $1500. wow. That was (and is) such a huge blessing!! I'm still so grateful for the Lord's hand in our lives.

Family Fun Night!

The local mall has this cool gig every last Friday of the month. The Children's Discovery Museum is free (normally a bit more), the Carousel is free (normally $2.o0 a ride), and you get a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult meal in the food court. We're making it a tradition. It's fun and tiring, but just a great free family time!


Caleb loves the carousel. His first time he rode an elephant...this time it was a horse because that's all that was left. He didn't mind.

Playing the Xylaphone. He loved the music room and was so good at making music. He's started "singing" during Sacrament meeting, which just cracks me up: "La, la , la" in a very monotone rhythm. He also sways back and forth during this chant.


His first time finger painting. I think we walked by this room 5 times before he finally snaked around our defense to enter it. And...that was fun!

So, I'm making a really weird face here...and Caleb doesn't look at all excited to be in the plane. It's actually really cool because he can pedal and the propellar moves. Neat.

Mackenzie just gets carried around in the Snugli while we chase Caleb around. Soon she'll wanna get in on the action, I'm sure.

More about Living here

The people. They are crazy over their football. This is a home game, not even Homecoming. We walked down to the Institude building for a pancake breakfast...and then we walked back. The tailgater here are just crazy. They have to close off the streets because there are so many people. There are cars parked anywhere they can; people charge upwards of $30 for parking if they live close to campus. And the golf course across the street from us even turns into a parking lot; there are even 5th Wheels camped out. The tailgating is just intense. These people LOVE their football team. I've heard that the school even had to change the game times from evening to more morning/afternoon because people would start drinking the night before no matter what time the game started. You could smell it too. It was such a fanaticism I don't think I've ever expereienced. I don't know if I"ll ever get that Hawkeye fever. Maybe I'll get a t-shirt before we leave.

My sweet baby girl. It was a chilly day about a month ago. We've since had numerous days of Indian Summer. We just enjoy being outside when we can.


Caleb with his friend Jack. They are a couple months apart in age and play quite well together.

Caleb in the jacket I made for him. I seriously started it about 2 years ago...thought I'd finish it for his first Christmas. Then when that didn't happen I thought I'd finish it for his 2nd Christmas. When THAT didn't happen it was a full year, to the day, before I worked on it again. And then when I did finally finish it, it wasn't too small or too big...but he was afraid of it. I finally coaxed it on him when he was sick (shameful?). And now's he okay with it. I spent so much time on it, I was really sad that he wouldn't wear it!

This is just Mackenzie enjoying her toy. She's got a little bit of a smile, which is what i was trying to capture, but she always blinks with the flash. She'll get more hair someday, right?

Belated Firetruck Update

This was actullay like way back in September...but I haven't dumped my camera in a while...and these pictures were on Justin's computer so I could just use them without much effort.

This is at one of the Farmers' Markets that happen during the summer/fall.

Our first Saturday after both parents left, we went and visited this bustling event. It was the Kid's Day, and there was a fire truck, a police car, and an ambulance for the kiddos to climb up in, explore, and just get to fully enjoy!

Caleb was so excited to wear a Fireman's hat (really heavy, actually...I am holding it up from the back). And he loved the spinny thing on the front (what is the purpose of that?). We recognized it from one of his favorite internet videos:
Lots and Lots of Firetrucks!

That's also me and Caleb in the police car. There's a few more from this event I'll have to post later (like his delighted surprise at meeting his little boy idol B at the market...and successfully holding his hand out of pure excitement!! Too bad B isn't as enchanted with him...) And even more since then...

At any rate, I knew some pictures were needed (M is about 3 months old here); it's been a while. Still gotta give y'all a tour of our apartment.

Attack Ducks!

Okay, for reals. You read that right.

Last Friday we took the last few minutes of daylight and went and fed the ducks (with pancakes from an Institute Breakfast a few weeks back; they were still frozen...ducks didn't seem to care).

Anyway, we started off trying to encourage them get out of the water. You know. placing some pieces on the rocky bank, tossing a few out into the water so they'd notice them. Those little duckies started to come on up to us. Caleb was so excited! We had to work on throwing the pancakes and not just holding onto it. He had so much fun chasing those duckies around!!

Then...we noticed the ducks were still coming. From all the way across the little pond. Quickly. Eagerly. And they just poured onto the bank where we were. Seriously. I was getting a little freaked out because they weren't scared of us at all. They came so close and I was afraid they were gonna get Caleb's little fingers because he was still holding onto the bread too long.

When we were all out of bread, we just walked to our car. By this point, we'd already walked back most of the way to the parking lot: about 15 yards, and the ducks still followed us with such urgency and they were still coming off the water.

I almost ran to the car. It was fun. Caleb had fun. But man, I had no idea ducks liked pancakes so much.