Stephanie's Nashville Wedding

Steph and Chris were married this past weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. It was a beautiful outdoor wedding at the Cool Springs House in Crockett Park. They could not have asked for more perfect weather....it was a sunny, fall weekend with temperatures reaching 70 degrees! Steph looked amazing in a beautiful dress made by her aunt. The wedding ceremony was flawless and all the guests had a great time at the reception. We enjoyed every part of the weekend except for the long drive back to Iowa on Sunday. Fortunately, we had Angela and Chad with us to keep us company....and to keep us entertained! We were so excited to get home on Sunday night to see Jack....3 days away from him is a long time!

Getting ready

The beautiful bride!
Buck and Princess!

The bridesmaids (notice my baby bump!)

The ceremony

Steph and Chris exchanging rings

You may kiss the bride!

All smiles!

The wedding party

Another cute couple!

Cutting the cake

On the dance floor

Carroll's Pumpkin Farm

Jack and I visited Carroll's Pumpkin Farm in Grinnell this morning with Steph, Kaiya, and Grandma. Jack and Kaiya had fun checking out all the attractions. Jack was mostly interested in the tractors....imagine that! The kids also had a lot of fun jumping on the giant pillow....Jack was all smiles! After we left the pumpkin farm we met Great-Grandma and Grandpa McCulla and Uncle Dennis for lunch in Grinnell. Jack was so exhausted by the time we left that he was sleeping before we reached the interstate!

Jack and Kaiya on the tractor

Milking the cow
Feeding the goats
Jack and Grandma on the wagon ride

Steph and Kaiya

On the giant jumping pillow

Kaiya rolling down the giant pillow and Jack trying to follow

Steph and Kaiya chasing each other in the trike barn

Riding in the wheelbarrow

Cute kids!

Jack with a mouth full of goldfish crackers and Kaiya not wanting to smile for the camera!

Happy boy!

Jack and Mommy!

Emmersen Faith

My beautiful new niece, Emmersen Faith was born on September 26, 2010, weighing in at a whopping 5lbs 15oz! I finally got a chance to drive down to Kansas City this weekend to meet her. Emmersen is such a good baby....she rarely fusses and sleeps a lot! Avree is very proud of her new sister and is always trying to help out. Emmersen is still too hard for Avree to say....so instead, she calls her "baby Em." So cute!

Adorable!

Surprisingly, Avree wasn't too interested in holding her baby sister this time. She wanted to be playing with Jack!

Avree and Jack were having a lot of fun playing in the basket. They were being so cute and funny together that I just had to grab my camera!

Avree saying "cheese!"

Avree is trying so hard to keep Jack from getting up.
Not sure what is going on here!
Jack trying to show off his strength. Avree is not impressed.

Silly kids!

Weekend in Ottumwa

This past weekend, the Johnson Family visited our good friends, Ryan and Amy Van Maanen. They recently moved into a beautiful house on an acreage just outside of Ottumwa. On Sunday, we visited Amy's grandparent's farm so Jay could ride horses. We also thought Jack would like to see the horses, but he was more interested in all the tractors!

Bogey was a muddy mess after swimming in the pond!

Jack was having fun trying to walk in Alyvia's cowboy boots!

Jack and Mommy in the big tractor

Cowboy Jay!

Amy and her two oldest children on the horses

Jack and Miley playing in the tractor

Jack's turn for a horse ride!

He cared more about the tractor!

Jay showing off his riding skills, bareback!

Jack found another tractor!

I think its nap time!

Jack and Avree at the pumpkin patch

This past week, Jack and I visited Matt and Brittany in Kansas City. (I think Brittany wanted the company while she is anxiously awaiting the arrival of baby #2 (due on 9/26). We took Avree and Jack to a pumpkin patch on Tuesday night and they had a great time. There weren't too many people at the pumpkin patch that night, so we practically had the entire place to ourselves. Jack and Avree had fun seeing all the animals, playing on the different toys, walking through the corn maze, and riding in the tractor wagon. I think Jack's favorite part watching the maintenance guy drive the gator around. He has become obsessed with gators ever since riding on his cousin Joe's toy gator. (I guess I know what is going on his Christmas list!)

Jack and Mommy on the wagon ride

Avree and Jack trying to feed the goats

Jack on the barrel horse

He spotted the gator from a mile away and then had tunnel vision!
Jack showing Avree how to drive the gator

Brittany, Avree and Matt on the tractor ride

Jack's busy summer

"Mommy and Daddy have kept me so busy this summer!"

"I have been busy mowing the yard..."

"...taking girls out on dates in my new car..."
"...digging a hole for the pool..."

"...and driving the boat at the lake with Uncle Brian."

"And just when I think I can't get any busier, Mommy tells me I will have to help out with the new baby next April!"

Go Hawkeyes!!

The Johnson family is excited for the 2010 football season!! This is one of our favorite times of the year. We are hoping for great seasons for the Hawkeyes and the Vikings!!

My boys dressed in black and gold! Go Hawks!