Shalom Aleichem

So.... I have been going crazy lately because Hayden has been singing a song while clapping and jumping and falling and I had no idea what it was. I seriously have been going nuts. It sounds like shine down shine meeeeee while clapping then a huge jump in the air and falling flat on his back. I kept thinking what are they teaching him at PDO?
Today Hayden was singing a wiggles song I knew and then started singing the song I didn't know. So long story short I figured out the song. It is the Jewish song from the wiggles and at the end of the song Anthony falls in the sand. I was sooo happy to figure this out.
So this adds to my case that Hayden has a Jewish dialect. He says ice cream and it sounds like ice crhhheemmm. Hard to type the Jewish throat scratch sound. And he loves to sing in Jewish.
I also call him my little Jamacian because at time he has a Jamacian accent because he says "shut de door."
So I guess he has a lot of crazy dialects and I am sure once he catches on to what he is doing more will come out.
Silly!

Christmas Recipes

I just got an email from my mom with tons of links to Christmas Candy recipes. I went to the site and there are a ton of recipes for cakes, cookies, candies, etc. You may remember an email last year going around with hundreds of cookie recipes. Thought I would post the link so you all could start gearing up for the holiday baking. MMMMM yummy!
Hayden and I made our first batch of pumpkin bars tonight. He loved the frosting, but skipped out on the cake as he called it. Surprise surprise.

http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/

Pictures

I learned from Sara K to snap my fingers above my head when taking a picture to get Hayden's attention. Hayden likes to copy or mock me when I do it. :)

Here are a couple of random shots. We ordered a card for the camera and it should be here soon. With the current card we get about 10 shots before it is full, so it is a process to dump the pictures after every 10 shots.

Haircut

I finally decided to get Hayden's haircut. I was combing through the tangles in the back, and he said "Ouch mommy, I don't like it." I figured my 2 options were 1) get detangler 2) get a haircut.
I figured that I don't need to get my son detangler, so I decided on a haircut.

Pictures to come....... ooooo the suspense.
We are ordering a card for our new/used camera. Unless my mom figures how to send me pictures. :)

Camera

We got a huge box in the mail from Germany. In true Aunt Ingrid style it had Christmas gifts wrapped for Hayden. She is the queen of planing ahead.
It also contained some yummy smelling fall candles that made my day, her old camera and many other odds and ends. Lets just say that Hayden will have a "new" coat from now until he is five.
Now I can actually get some pictures taken. I am excited about that!

Drive to the Mississippi

Joey got ahead on his homework, so he decided we should take a family day and drive to the river and look at the leaves. Joey's life goal is to travel every highway in Iowa. So we took roads there and back that we have not taken before. Joey was excited to highlight a lot of new roads on his Iowa map. We took the Grant Wood scenic byway from Anamosa to Bellevue. It was an absolutely beautiful sunny and cool day. We stopped in Maquoketa for a picnic lunch at a park with a huge wooden playground. We all had a blast climbing and exploring.

We stopped at the welcome center in Saboula, IA and enjoyed some hot cider. It was in an old schoolhouse and Hayden loved climbing in the old desks. The ladies at the center gave Hayden a pencil so he could write on some paper at the desk while Joey and I took a ton of literature. We hope to do a lot more exploring in Iowa next spring/summer.

Then we traveled across the river so Joey could see an airport he flew to long ago. We stopped at a biker shop on the way back into Iowa. Hayden got to sit on a Harley in the parking lot, and the man started the bike so Hayden could "feel the power". Hayden was in heaven.

On our way home we stopped to visit the Ciesielskis. Hayden had lots of fun playing with Noah and feeding the horses and donkeys. He ran full speed the whole time we were there. We had a great time chatting and checking out all of the work they are doing to the farm.

Hayden loved the car ride. He got to see a lot of tractors in the field harvesting. He kept shouting out "look, combine" when he would see one. Then as we passed it he would ask to see it again every time.

It was a long great family day. It was sooo nice to spend it together. It has been a long time since we had a whole day together. Joey has 4 classes left and will be done by June. I am so excited there is an end in sight. Even though he told me today he is going to get his masters next.

Rorek Kent

I am soooo happy to announce the arrival of my Nephew Rorek! What a great German name huh?!
Ingrid called at 6:00 am and said she just had Rorek 15 minutes earlier. I didn't even get any of the details, it was a quick call. Everyone is fine and it happened so fast that she didn't even have time for an epidural.
I will update with the stats when I get them!!!!

STATS
October 16th
1:15 pm Stuttgart time, 6:15 our time.
8lbs. 4oz.
20 inches long.

Be careful what you pray for....

So lately I have been praying for more energy. Ummmm lets just say that my prayer has been answered above and beyond!!! I have not stopped cleaning for at least a week. Today I was literally pacing around searching for a drawer that hasn't been cleaned out.

I am going to have to find new ways to expel my energy now. Or stop procrastinating and tackle the basement! :)