Walking to the park

The weather has been getting better & better so Abby and I went to the park yesterday.

Dandelion wishes....



Pretties....

Winter Wonderland

The trees and bushes are beautiful this morning.  I think it's from the "freezing fog" we had earlier this morning. The trees and bushes are coated in ice and everything looks like it's made out of snow. Now it's snowing really lightly. Such a beautiful winter day...and I'm so glad to be inside curled up with my pooch.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Yesterday we took a trip to Jonomac Orchard for some fall fun. We were hoping to pick apples, but they were all gone just a few hours before we got there. We had a great time picking our own pumpkins (They were on 3 for $10!) and taking a wagon ride. We also had some yummy hot apple cider and our daughter took a ride on the apple train.

Berry Picking

Some photos from Saturday when we went raspberry picking at a local farm.

Wind Farm

We have a wind farm nearby our house. And by "nearby", I mean we can see it well on a clear day. I know it caused a lot of controversy before it went in, but I think it's beautiful. It looks like giant pinwheels.

Josh went on a 20 mile roundtrip bike ride a couple of weeks ago and snapped these photos of the windfarm. I really like them and today feels like a good day to post something that makes me smile. So, enjoy...

Friday Fall Fotos

It's been cold, windy and rainy too many days this week. Yuck. The leaves are so beautiful though.





These were all taken at NIU today on my walk to class.


Have a nice weekend!

Today

Last night Abby was up throwing up for a few hours. She's totally fine now thank goodness! This morning we took her to the orthopedic doc and her bone is healing...they see new bone growth. So happy! Luckily Josh called in today and was able to stay with Abby so I didn't miss one of my long days of school.


My Dad seems in good spirits. Tomorrow is the first CT scan since his treatments began so I'm very much hoping for some positive news.


I have my tenative schedule picked out for spring. I register on November 4th. I have to go and declare my political science minor and talk to my advisor to be sure I'm on track. I'm scared of getting bad news and nervous about fitting it all in but onward I march.


In pictures....

Me (see how life has beat me down...I look tired despite Starbucks and makeup, LOL)




Around campus:
Creepy skeletons...




More pretty leaves...





The end.

Scenes from my day...

Walking around campus yesterday, I saw...

Lots of cute & creepy squirrels either burying their nuts or chasing each other.






the end

A visit

Josh's uncle visited us last night from South Carolina. Since we live so far away from each other we don't get to see his side of the family very often. It was really nice to see Uncle Stanley.

Sorry for the grainy camera phone picture quality.





In other news, it's really beginning to look like fall around here. The corn is really high and things are turning from green to golden and red.

Not just a cupcake, *the* cupcake

Awhile ago, my sister and I noticed this bakery for the first time in Sycamore. It doesn't look like much from the outside. It's in an older strip mall kind of tucked away. Once you open their door, you are transported to baked good heaven. Since that 1st time we sampled cupcakes from Sweet Dream Desserts, I've been back many times. I've tried the mini bread loaves, the cupcakes, the cookies, and the cinnamon roll. It was all heavenly. My favorite is the cupcakes though. Picture a Hostess chocolate cupcake, now imagine that cupcake tasting a million times better...that's a Sweet Dream cupcake.

Abby's 7th birthday

Saturday was Abby's 7th birthday! We celebrated with a party for her and her friends from school at Land of Wonder in DeKalb. I highly recommend having your daughter's party there if you are in the area. The rates were reasonable and the director was so nice and professional. The girls got to dress up in princess dresses, have a little bit of makeup put on and/or nails painted and choose dress up shoes and accessories to wear. Then they had a very cute little tea party, danced and played games. There was a little area for opening gifts and Abby got to sit in a special chair while she opened her presents. She had such a good time and she felt so special. Below are the photos from her party.




the birthday girl!








opening her gifts....






Abby and her Aunt Cassandra....

Planting Daisies

I have quite a few pictures to post, but the last couple of weeks have been so busy that I don't seem to get around to them all.  So my goal for today is to get caught up.

Last Thursday, Abby's girl scout trip went to plant daisies at the retirement home in Sycamore.  I went along and helped.  It was a lot of fun. 

Here she is planting her daisy plant.



Here is the troop!

Our town

I'm a busy little bee posting updates today (3 in one day...hot dog!). This is probably because I'm basically snowed in with 2 children who are actually behaving today. If you disregard the fact that they keep telling each other to shut up that they are "lame" that is. Abby and I are baking cookies, which this year means sticking dozens of break-n-bake cookies on pans. I do actually plan to make frosting for the sugar cookies from scratch. Don't give me too much credit, it's an easy recipe. LOL.

I wanted to share some photos of our downtown area. I love our little town and it is little. It's so little that if you don't pay attention, you'd easily miss it.

The train tracks cut the town almost in half.

Sheep!


We have very long trains that come through town every day.


One of the farms we pass on our way into town.