The Iowa Rudes

I spent the first weekend of October visiting the Rudes in Des Moines. We had a fabulous time! Gorgeous weather lended itself to a visit to the pumpkin patch. We also spent time playing at home bouncing around on my bed, "playing guitar", hanging out in Quinn's fort with glow-sticks, eating yummy soup, sharing sour worms, reading, splashing in the tub and listening to fireworks!


Quinn and his guitar (anything he can strum along to the music on becomes a guitar)


Chillin' in the highchair





Unbelievable blue eyes!


Goofball





Using the glowsticks for some drumming! He's a musical kid - dancing, singing, drumming, guitar - he loves it all!


Getting ready to head to the pumpkin patch


Sweet girl


Q and Mom check out the go-carts


The twinlets playing


Cool dude!





Look at the cute pumpkins we picked!


So cute!


What a smile!





Q's first pony ride


Meg said even though he looks so serious he was having a good time








Ooooooo!


Playing in the big corn pit - diggers, shovels - Q was in heaven!














Q-man picked his pumpkin





More family cuteness!


Aunt D and the kidlets





All of us


Tub time - bubble beards





Smirk!


Happy Q

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Stillwater, MN: A Spiker-Bohlen Adventure

We spent Labor Day in Stillwater, MN with our friends Harmony and Adam. Though the day was overcast and a bit windy, we spent most of it outside!

We walked along the St. Croix, wandered in and out of little shops, had lunch by the water, went wine tasting and took a slew of silly pictures. (as always, click to enlarge all the pictures - some of them are definitely worth it!)


Gotta love the camera timer!


Dana and Harmony.


The Bohlens.


Girls.


And again.


Reminiscent of engagement pictures.


The Spikers.


Goofball!


Lunch by the water.


Ryan claims I've got a wingspan like Scottie Pippen - what do you think?


$0.50 provided entertainment for all of us!


A mini version of the much beloved candy shop that we frequented during my childhood in Hayward, WI!


Cool buildings.


Another angle.


For some reason this just cracks me up!


St. Croix Winery.


Cheers!


1...2...3...JUMP!


Aaaaand he sticks the landing!


A less adventurous jump!

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Home Make-over: Shutter Edition

This has been the year of outside home improvements. You've seen the landscaping and here's the most recent addition - shutters!

My parents visited for 6 days and we always utilize my dad's handyman skills when they come. I took a day off work and played assistant to my dad.

We're really happy with the end result. The house looks more finished and I think we're done with projects for a while.


Before. (Before everything actually - no shutters, no landscaping, no potted plants!)


After.


Love it!

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Bye Bye Birdies!

In a previous post I mentioned I was working to revamp and old lamp. It's done and has already been used by our most recents guests (my parents)!

Note the stunning design before. And lovely pleated lamp shade. A little all-purpose spray paint and a new lamp shade = much improved! It was more expensive than I had originally anticipated (lamp shades aren't cheap!) but it was still less than an entirely new lamp. Plus it kept me busy and out of trouble...


Before.


Just so you don't miss the true fabulousness of the birds.


Much better!


In the guest room.

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Twins Game with the Schmidts

We headed back to Target Field last week with our friends Ben and Katie. We planned this outing back in April or May and the day finally arrived! We had fabulous seats and a dry (albeit chilly) night! Unfortunately, the Twins lost in the 13th inning! They'd been ahead for most of the game and they blew it in the late innings. So frustrating! We did not stick it out until the end but it lasted long enough to catch it on tv when we got home.

Despite a sad ending, the Twins are still leading the AL Central. YAY!

(all the pictures are from my phone and aren't great quality)


Go Twins!


It gets cold when the sun goes down!


Sitting in the front row!


The view.


Our fellow fans.

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