Doin' the Robot!

Several years ago we shared this post where Joshua is Rosco the Robot.

This week, Joshua and Anna Ruth showed off their dancing skills.

Enjoy and you're welcome!

Patch da Pumpkin

What is October without a trip to the pumpkin patch?

Our faithful readers know we visit the pumpkin patch most years.  You can revisit those trips here, here, here, and here.

The horse swings were a hit! 

Anna Ruth would have stayed on this all day if she could have. But the last Saturday before Halloween proved to be a busy day at the patch and kids were lined up waiting their turn.

Joshua tried to run in the barrel but got so tickled with his falling that he could hardly walking in it.

Anna Ruth rocketed out of the slide.

 The corn box is always a favorite. Corn ends up in every pocket, sock, shoe and underwear but when else will you ever get to play in huge boxes of corn kernels?

4 feet tall and growing!

a protested 3 feet tall

Riding the "train" was on the top of our to-do list. Anna Ruth was ecstatic about it until it was time to take off. Dave and I waved and encouraged Joshua to hold on to her. She quickly quit screaming and was even smiling when they came back to the station. 

Happy Fall from the Nolens!

Bone Crushers

Joshua loves playing soccer. He was excited to learn that he was on the same team with a friend from last year's team and that in the absence of a coach with any soccer experience, Dave would coach his team. 

Joshua's team is sponsored by the local radiology clinic and so it was only fitting that they call themselves the Bone Crushers.

Celebrating a goal scored

Joshua loves his soccer friends

One game was extra special because 2 church friends were on the opposing team.

goalie

kickoff

Dave and Amelia: 432 month update

Dave and Amelia both turned 432 months this week!  My how time is flying by! 

Dave is working at the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library. He is editing an annotated edition of Grant's memoirs and is the reference librarian for the department.  Dave continues to serve on the session at church and recently took on the role of soccer coach for Joshua's soccer team. Dave is a good sleeper and has been known to snore.  Dave's favorite foods include: roasted broccoli, stuffed peppers, and beans and rice. Dave loves to play legos, watch/talk Star Wars and watch music videos on youtube with his kids.

Amelia is working part-time at church, a local hospital and for a campus ministry.  She loves getting to pick the kids of up from school in the afternoon. Amelia is a good sleeper too, in fact has been known to fall asleep during the later kickoff football games (Amelia never snores!).  Amelia loves to cook, spend time with people and watch the food network.  She also loves playing baby dolls, painting little girl toe nails and is trying to learn enough about Star Wars to talk to her son and husband.  

We are grateful for birthdays at our house!

Peek A Boo!

Reading Time

You will probably have to turn the volume up to hear this video.

Joshua loves to read and Anna Ruth loves to be read to...they make a great pair.

visit from the grans

The Nolens came to visit us before school started. 

We always love to have them in Starkville.

It was so very hot outside that we spent most of our time playing inside.

One afternoon we went to the pool and enjoyed swimming, splashing and laughing.

Gran read a lot of books to the kids.

 Buddy and Joshua enjoyed some ice cream at the Book Mart.

And we celebrated Buddy's birthday with chocolate pie.

We hope to see Gran and Buddy again soon!

see another new blog post below...

Vacay 2k15 part 2

We spent a couple days in Birmingham before heading home from vacation.  The kids loved it for several reasons...1. we stayed in a hotel 2. we ate out for all meals and 3. we did super fun stuff.

First, we went to the Lego store, which was a hit with Joshua and Dave. 

We also went to the McWane Center.  As you will see from the pictures, both kids had a great time.

Anna Ruth's Diner

under water

Joshua's Auto Repair

Nolen Fire Department

Anna Ruth launched an aerial attack of plastic balls on unsuspecting water table players below.  She thought it was hilarious.

tons of Mr. Potato Head pieces 

Anna Ruth's favorite place in the whole museum.

petting a sting ray (the sharks wouldn't come close enough for us to pet them)

Then we went to Vulcan park. It was hotter than hot but we enjoyed seeing the city from way up in the statue.

the elevator riders
(or as Anna Ruth says, "alligator" riders)

the stair climbers 

And to cool off we went to Steel City Pops where Joshua posed like Vulcan with his popsicle.

snuggled up watching cartoons in the hotel bed