Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween! Mark and Vicki were able to visit us before Halloween and carved pumpkins. The kids had a blast! Thanks you! We also made sugar cookies and went trick or treating before Awana.

My happy little ghost!
Such good smiles, just for you Papa Joe!
Let the carving begin!
Yum Yum...Papa Mark loves to eat pumpkins.
Hayden was a little grossed out this year.

Daddy gets to carve too.

Finished pumpkins.
Papa Mark, Grandma Vicki with Willa, Eli, Hayden.
Hayden's pumpkin inspired by his hat.

Eli's attitude and pumpkin.
COOKIES!
Yum...
Yum..

Mommy's little Pumpkin.
Hawkeye Football Player
Strawberry

Our 3 little Trick or Treaters
Monkey
Candy Time

Happy Birthday Grandma!

My parents ventured down to Cedar Rapids for a weekend filled with conversation, games, good food, and football. Okay, well the football game of Caleb's was rained out, but we still had fun! Oh, and did I mention it was her birthday? Happy Birthday Mom! To an amazing woman, who has more strength and courage to carry on with daily life despite the obstacles than I could ever have. We love you!


Honey Creek Acres

So this year we weren't able to make it to the big apple orchard in Iowa City complete with the tractor ride, but we were able to make it to Honey Creek Acres in Swisher (just a few minute drive from Cedar Rapids). The apples were already picked, but we still had fun. Plus this apple orchard had a bee hive you could view from a glass pane. The boys loved it!











Our new routine...

So this has been yet another exciting week in the Gustafson house complete with soccer on top of our already busy schedule. Hayden started soccer on Monday and will continue this every Monday night for the next 6 weeks. While it may not be the most organized sporting event he has participated in, he loved it! He told me that he can't wait for the next time he gets to play soccer.






A-K is AWESOME! Hayden absolutely loves it. Of course the only information we get out of him is that he eats a snack and has recess everyday. haha. But this last week I was able to go to an A-K curriculum night where Hayden's teachers were able to sit down with the parents and go over the curriculum for the year. This is where I got the real information. So now I can ask appropriate questions that Hayden might actually answer. His teacher also told me that Hayden follows directions. That made me one proud momma :)

This week he got to go to the library. He was so excited that he asked me to read the book he picked out as soon as we walked in the door.....so I did :) Tuesday was Hayden's day to bring a snack as well as bring a toy (or something you like) in the sharing bag to show all your friends at school. Hayden picked out colored goldfish for his snack and he picked out his puppy to show his friends. Funny story behind the puppy. Hayden decided that he didn't want to bring in anything too "cool" because he didn't want everyone playing with it, but he thought his puppy would be safe.  lol  Anyways, he ran to catch the bus that morning after Ted reminded him to bring his snack and sharing bag. He brought it on the bus, and that is were it sat.....the Whole day! Poor little guy forgot it on the bus. Oh well, he got to share about his puppy the next day.






AWANA is AMAZING! It started 3 weeks ago already and Hayden is loving it. Although he has told me that he misses the snacks at the old Cubbies. So far he told me that he is in the Purple group and that he gets to play in the gym. He even gets to see he cousins, even though Reuben and Hayden are in different classes.

This week I had the opportunity to listen to Captain Mark Kelly speak at the St. Luke's PMR retreat. Captain Mark Kelly is the astronaut husband of US Rep. Gabrielle Giffords who was shot in the head at an attempted assassination. It's encouraging to hear success stories from therapy.

That's all for now!

No more maternity leave

My first week back at work was crazy and emotional! Maternity leave is officially over.  Boo! But all good things must come to an end. But those 12 weeks just flew by! Tuesday (8/21/12) was my first day back at work and it was a hard one. A few tears may have been shed. It was hard leaving my little baby. But she, and the big boys, were in good hands. They stayed at the Schlaak's for the day making the day more tolerable. Willa was a good little girl as she ate OK, slept well, and was happy. And the boys came back dirty, indicating the fun that was had. Ted took off one day this week so he took care of all of our babies. My second week at work the kiddos will begin going to daycare 2 days a week.


Ted and to pry this sweet little girl out of my arms so I could make it to work on time.

Then on Wednesday (8/22/12) Hayden started A-K. I can't even explain how excited he was. The bus came and picked him up at our house. When he got on he never looked back. He is just so cute with his little backpack walking to the bus for school! When did he get so old? When he got home he couldn't stop talking about it. He tells me the directions he is given and it seems as though he is a good listener. I couldn't ask for more from him.







Hayden Marcus Gustafson
A-K
Waiting for the bus with little brother.

Off to have a great school year!