Peter's haircut and first lunch with kids

I took Peter, Natalie, and Elaine out on Wednesday to get Peter's hair cut for the new school year. We went to Sycamore Mall's Style America where there were two "eager" women waiting for business. It helped that they had toys for Natalie to play with although she seemed more interested in what Peter was doing and running around me in crazy circles. It was all good because she gave the hair cutting ladies a chance to get a good look at her hair color - apparently a rarity.

After a successful haircut, we went down to Panera where I had only hoped to grab lunch to take home. But with Elaine asleep from my rocking her during Peter's haircut and the kids behaving so well so far, I decided to take a chance and enjoy lunch there. It turned out to be fine as Peter and Natalie enjoyed the bagels they chose (blueberry and asiago cheese respectively) and I got to eat my whole lunch. Well, except for the berries Natalie swiped from my salad (as caught in the one photo I managed to take), I had my whole lunch!



What ended my first solo lunch out with the kids even better was that after putting his trash in the garbage can, Peter stopped me from heading out and said he had to go first. Another success in a public bathroom and another success for mom on her own with the 3 kids!!

Big brother Peter

Peter has been exhibiting his great big brother skills. Being his second time, I guess Peter knows what to do to with the little ones.

He loves to play with his baby sister Elaine whenever she's on her baby gym, providing her with extra entertainment. I often hear him greet her with a "Hey ya' bebe!"

He also wanted to help feed her. Up until today, I've just nursed her without bottles. Well one morning after Elaine slept over 8 hours, I had some milk pumped in the fridge. So, as to not waste the "liquid gold", I had Peter feed Elaine her first bottle. What a moment!

Aunt Melissa and Uncle Jason's visit back to Iowa

Our friends Melissa and Jason came from Reno, NV to visit family in Belle Plaine, IA. Melissa's mom held a BBQ for their friends to go visit them since their time was limited.

Of course, they have become Aunt Melissa and Uncle Jason to our kids. Peter and Natalie were so excited to hear that we were going to see them on Friday. We told them earlier in the week. Ever since then, they've been counting down the days - in their own special way. On Thursday morning, Peter exclaimed, "Just one more sleep!!!!" It took us a while to figure out what he meant by that, but it turns out that he figured that they only had to go to sleep one more time before it would be the day we'd see Melissa and Jason. Then, Friday morning, Peter announces with glee "IT'S FRIDAY!!!" He was a little disappointed when we told him it would be later in the day, but still remained excited. What a patient little boy!

Our first drive to Belle Plaine was a fun experience. As the roads got smaller and ended up to be just gravel, it got real "country" for us "city folks". Who knew there exist a road named "xx Ave"?!?! Melissa's mom's house and the surrounding land was SO "Iowa" to me: an old country home with the red barn in the back, next to a field with cows and a train track amidst the wide open country with no other building standing tall. I LOVED it!

Here's Natalie enjoying their swing set next to the beautiful red barn. So picturesque!

Uncle Tanner, Peter and Natalie all had a bit of the swing action! Looks like they're all having great fun!

We all had a great time with good food and our good friends. Peter and Natalie had a blast every time a train would come zooming by! I could have stayed there forever just for them to see more, but they got to see at least 4 trains. It was so different and more exciting because the tracks were so close to the house and the trains were going much faster than they do going through Iowa City. Trains in Iowa City are often "sleeping" so imagine how happy the kids were that these trains were wide awake!

One last hug for Uncle Jason...

and kiss for Aunt Melissa...

before we headed home...

with the sun setting on our visit with our friends and our Iowa farm experience.