CHRISTMAS 2009

Weather cooperated today so we were able to have Christmas with Nick and Ryan. Ryan is fighting a cold. No wonder with the cold weather and he has to move snow for the neighbor ladies. Oh well thats just part of winter.

POLAR EXPRESS

I took Nick to the Colo Library tonight to participate in the Polar Express show they performed. The kids were given a ticket and entered the train with conductor and all. Joanie, the Librarian read the story to the kids and then there was music, dancing, hot chocolate, cookies and SANTA! After the show they each got to talk to Santa and have a picture taken with them.

JINGLE BELLS SUNG BY NICK!

While redecorating, he sang Jingle Bells over and over and over! :)

RE-DECORATING GRANDMA'S WINDOW

Nick visited this weekend. I have a sleigh with christmas balls and reindeer in my bay window. He informed me that we needed a santa in the sleigh and some rope so he could drive the reindeer. So.... he found a santa on a shelf to use and took some ribbon off the christmas tree which he had decorated that with a couple weeks ago. And wa-la!

IOWA WINTER...& ITS NOT EVEN WINTER YET!!

It looks like the state of Iowa is CLOSED today. Here are some pictures taken from inside so not real good....but then you really can't see that good outside anyway. YUK! I have a feeling its going to be a LLLOOOONNNNGGG winter.

BIRTHDAY

Today I hit the final birthday before the big 50 next year. :(

Last night Nick and I went to HyVee to buy a frosted cake - then off to the frosting isle to pick out decorations and candles. When we got home he was decorating like crazy. He put the words "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA DEANNE LUKE 49" "NICK 5" He covered it in smiley faces, peace signs and flowers and added 10 crayola candles. Then he and I sang to me and he blew the candles out. What fun we had.

HELPING A FRIEND & NEIGHBOR WITH HARVEST

Today a large group of friends and neighbors helped the Torgeson family with their Harvest while Kevin is in rehab at Mary Greeley. It was amazing the turn out. Trucks were lined up at the coop to unload. Quite a site! And as a surprise to everyone, Kevin was given a 3 hour pass from the hospital so Linda drove him around from field to field to see everyone. He wasn't allowed to get out of the car - sounded like he was given very strict orders from the doctors. A bunch of us prepared a roast beef sandwich meal for the guys at noon. It was a great day.

DRIVING COMBINES AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE THESE DAYS!

Nick was up to help Grandpa combine beans. As you can see, he even got to drive the combine. Pictures were taken from my phone so not real clear but he's the yellow standing behind the wheel coming in from the field. So proud of himself.

Great Sunday!

What a nice day we had - NO RAIN! Nick was up and started the day off with a quick game of MarioKart Wii and then out to the shed to help Grandpa wax his 'new' (new to him) orange 'halloween' truck, as Nick refers to it.

Our Little Race Driver

I got to take Nick trick-or-treating last night while he was at his Dad's. We had a great time. Two weeks ago he told me he was going to be a ghost but he showed up as "Jeff Gordon" and proud of it.

FALL

Drove out by Hickory Grove Park last week. Leaves are starting to turn.

TURBINES ARE UP

Slow but sure, the wind turbines around our house are up. I rode to Mayo Clinic with my friend today so Bob took control of the camera while I was gone. I have to say he did pretty darn good. Would you get up on the top of the turbines like this guy? Not me!

WIND TURBINE PARTS ARE MOVING IN!

The wind turbine project is starting to take shape. The size of the parts are amazing. Nick and Grandpa wanted to show just how big they are. They are standing by one of the 3 tubes that make up the base. I also happen to be coming home today and witnessed one turning the corner.

CAMPGROUND

Summer is almost over and we FINALLY took the camper out. We camped beside some friends that have a permanent spot at the campground. Nick came up and stayed with us. We had a great time even if it was one night. We grilled hot dogs, marshmallows and he even did some sparklers. This morning he and Grandpa went fishing and caught fish left and right! Nick would no more get his line in the water and "bam" he'd catch a fish (blue gil, bass and bullheads, which he didn't like at all).

RINGBEARER

Nick was the ringbearer at his uncle Shane's wedding this weekend. Holly had made arrangements for us to pick him up at the reception and keep him overnight Saturday. He was so proud! These pictures are the "after" wedding view - we've removed the tie, untucked the shirt....but he was still proud to be in "his wedding clothes".

FALL SOCCER

Soccer started last night. Nick is on the PURPLE team this year. He does pretty good getting right in there. It almost looks like he doesn't have much for legs with his long shirt and shorts.

NICK'S NEW PETS

Nick came up and stayed with us this weekend. I was "resting" in the house when he came through the back door with his hands cupped together...."Grandma, look what I found!" My first thought and biggest fear was "A SNAKE". He opened his hands and there was a baby toad. He was so proud. So proud that poor Toady1 got dropped on the floor. But Nick scooped him back up real quick. Which made Grandma happy. Then when we got home from 'the neighbors' last night, he found another one in the driveway. So we had to find a plastic box for them. He named them "Toady 1" and "Toady 2". :) Trust me, the "toadies" went home with him and Ryan.

WHAT NEIGHBORS MIGHT DO TO WIN A BET!

We get the "Our Iowa" magazine. They sent tall corn seeds. We planted ours and our neighbors planted some too. Bob and Linda Torgeson have a side bet..."who's corn is taller. They give each other grief, threatening to cut the other one's corn down. Well, we knew that Torgeson's were gone Saturday night so we put 2 'regular' stalks of corn together to make a tall one and went to their house and tied it to their porch. Notice Grandpa's assitant???? Holding the flashlight for him. Linda called this morning - said she ran to her corn patch when they got home at 12:30 this morning to check on her corn. Amazing what growns up will do for fun. :)

Football Friday - We Lost :(

Garrett played most of the game. Came out with about 2 minutes left holding his left arm. We thought for sure it was his collar bone again - but after being checked out by the trainer he was back in.

Colo NESCO Football

Tonight is the first game for this year's high school football. Let's keep our fingers crossed Garrett makes it through this season without an injury!!!!! Found these pictures on CN athletics website.

BAD FOR G'PA - GOOD FOR NICK

Later today Grandpa's mower died in the front yard. He wasn't happy about it but as you can see Nick thought it was great! "Faster Grandpa Faster"