Daddy left again on Sunday for London. He has been a busy traveler lately for work and we miss him lots.

I think you were wanting to go with him on this trip...you fit just perfectly in the suitcase. With this being the 2nd trip overseas in the month of October,we are getting along pretty well. I only work 8 hour shifts so that I am able to take you to daycare and pick you up. Still to this day I have a hard time dropping you off. I know you are in good hands with JoLynn and have lots of fun, but you just can't put the tears away for momma when i drop you off. Daddy gets home on Sunday night and we will be anxious to see him again. I'm sure you are looking forward to your wrestling matches and flying game you 2 do... we love you daddy!

center grove orchard...

This past weekend we went to the apple orchard. We couldn't have picked a better day to go as far as the weather goes.

You enjoyed riding tractors again this year...

I'm thinking next year you will be big enough to reach the peddles. That's probably the reason the sign says for ages 4 and up. You are still just a little short for them.

After the tractors we went over to see the animals. The goats were a bit close to you and scared you...lots of tears. You had NO interest in feeding them so dad had to.

You LOVED the big slide. You went down with me, dad, and grandma j several times.

You tried to mow a little bit, but the sucker was heavy... unsuccessful.

Your favorite part of the orchard was the giant jumping pillow.

Dad jumped around with you like a kid and you giggled...

and giggled! Dad would jump pretty hard and make you go flying! Pretty entertaining to watch you two... We bought lots of goodies at the shop including delicious honeycrisp apples, an apple slushy, and apple spice doughnuts.

henry doorly zoo 2011...

Last weekend we enjoyed a little time away from home at the henry

doorly zoo in Omaha. Grandma and grandpa g met up with us Friday

morning. The weather was beautiful and we were arrived when the

gates opened so we avoided the crowds.

We spent 5 hours there and probably didn't get to see everything. The

zoo is enormous! Beckham had a great time, but it did take about a

half hour to warm up to the animals.

We started off near the giraffe's where you were a little unsure.

They were quite close with a fence separating, but you still were

nervous.

It took a little of daddy's smooth talking to convince you that everything

was ok. We were able to watch them have breakfast...eating anything in

site...grass, leaves, tree bark, etc.

Of course we had to feed the "fishees" at the zoo.

We spent several quarters on the bridge...watching you throw

food down to the fish. These fish looked like they were fed well as

they are HUGE!

Another favorite for you was the "waterfalls".

You love water and any waterfalls we encounter.

Oh "hi" zebra...

It took some major bribing to get you to leave the water area.

We enjoyed all the animals...

including this cool guy in the desert! He poses so well.

******************

We had a great time and were glad to have grandma and grandpa

join us. We stayed over night in a hotel and got to do a little

swimming too! It was a short little getaway, but well worth it! We

will definitely go back again!

state fair 2011

The weather was perfect the week of the state fair. Usually its 100

degrees and higher the 10 days of the fair. We enjoyed a beautiful

Saturday evening spending time with the animals and admiring all

of the "ka kas" (tractors).

The "duckees" were a hit...

along with the all of the different looking "ka koos"

We were kind of in love with this little guys hair-do.

We then went in the barn with all of the baby animals.

You loved the baby chicks...

and you were a little scared of the bigger animals (cows and pigs).

We spent close to an hour sitting on all the different tractors.

After the animals and tractors it was then time to take in the fair food!

Although we didn't go crazy this year, we of course had to share a

glass of fresh squeezed lemonade.

You liked...

This is a random picture...

you were a big helper taking the "hair" off the corn for supper!

We are off the Omaha Zoo this weekend...pictures to follow!

enjoying our summer days...

The last few weeks we have taken several trips to the park. We

used to be able to just walk down the park, but now that we are in the

rental the Burley has come in handy. When we first bought the Burley

this spring i thought to myself...this will probably just sit in the garage

and collect dust much like my bike has the last several years.

I have proven myself wrong...we love our Burley bike rides!

You beg and beg

and beg

to go on "bike rides and go sweening"

Its about a 5-10 minute bike ride to the closest park with a swing,

but is well worth it. The problem is you nEvEr want to get off the

swing. You could swing for hours. It usually takes a little bribing

to get you off!

You are still obsessed with Thomas and have quite the collection

of tracks set up in our living room. This morning you were admiring

the catalog and picking out which track you want next. Tidmouth

shed is next on your list...you told me about it all morning. At one

point you went and got your shoes on thinking we were just going

to run out and buy it...silly boy.

Yesterday at school, you had to say good-bye to one of your teachers,

Adriana.

She always told daddy every time he picked you up about how good of a

boy you were and how much she enjoyed taking care of you. She told

us that you and Harper are good friends and spend a lot of time playing

together. She said you nap next to each other and you always wake up before

her and just stare at her until she wakes. When we ask you about her at

home the only thing you say is, "harpa gone home". Harper does go home

before you and you must say that everyday at school...how cute!

Here is a picture that was in the card that Adriana sent home.

It appears by your bedhead that this was taken after your nap.

We will miss Adriana!

Well its state fair time here in Iowa so we are hoping to head to

the fair in the coming days. Hopefully we will get some good

pictures to post!

birthday party, duckies, and fishies...

Last weekend we went to Charlie's 3rd birthday party. It was 115

degree heat index and most of the party was outside and involved

water...thankfully. You loved playing with all of the kids, but chickened

out on the water slide. You had more fun watching the other kids do it.

You loved the water table, pool, and of course the swing set. Cheese Beckham... well at least Jenna participated.

You gobbled up your pizza and even saved a bit of room for the

cake. You made friends with "odid eeya" (Olivia) and when it was

time to leave you waved and said, "good bye odid eeya". So cute!

I am now able to bribe you to the mall with the ducks and fishies.

You love feeding them bread.

You are just amazed by all of the fish they have in this pond.

We now never throw bread away at the house...

we are always saving up for the next trip to the mall to

go "see the ducks and fishees"

Puzzles, trains, and moving...

Its has been a little crazy at the Wilson house the past few weeks.

We moved last weekend into our rental home. A big thanks to our

parents for all the help! We are living a simple life here at the rental.

Nothing on the walls and most of our belongings remain in boxes in

the garage. Our day and nights now consist of puzzles, swimming,

play-doh, thomas, and drives out to the house to see the progress.

We drove out to the house today and took some pictures. We

have walls on the main floor! It was fun to visualize where everything

will be. Beckham loves seeing all the tractors! We have driven out

so many times that every time we turn the car around to come

home he says, "all done".

This is what our floor looks like currently.

Lets just say I can't wait to have a "playroom" for all of these toys!

We are now living in a town home just a block away from our old

house, which made for an easy transition. Beckham adjusted well

to the new house and still remains in his crib until he discovers how

to get out if it.

So our life the next couple of months will be driving out to the house and seeing progress!