Grandma Widmer's Cinnamon Rolls

Grandma teaching Reid how to make the twist just right
Look at all those rolls... 59 to be exact
Grandma's magic touch

I don't think I am exaggerating when I say I have the best mom ever. We are always blessed with yummy treats when she comes to visit. I enjoy baking too, but it is more fun when mom is here. We have certainly done a lot of baking during some of her visits. I don't think my kids could decide which they like better, Grandma's Cinnamon Rolls or Pies. Unfortunately with so many mouths around here to eat her treats, they never last long. I can't think of anything much better then one of these rolls while they are still warm from the oven.

YUMMY! YUMMY!

We LOVE Grandma's Cinnamon Rolls!!!
Delicious!
Are you hungry yet?

PARTY TIME!!!

Avery wanted her cake shaped like an A and frosted in her favorite color
Autumn requested her full name Autumn Renae on her cake
The best part... opening presents

Once again we were blessed to have lots of family here to celebrate Avery & Autumn's birthday. 3 sets of grandparents were here, Grandpa & Grandma Widmer, Grandpa & Grandma Schlabach, Grandpa & Grandma Hoyt plus aunts, uncles and cousins of course.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls!

Yesterday we celebrated Avery & Autumn's birthday. They were so excited when it worked out for Grandpa & Grandma Schlabach to come up on Saturday and bring their cousins Summer & Joya along to spend the night. Once again I was reminded just how different girls are then boys. It took them until midnight to stop all the talking and giggling and go to sleep. They were all up bright and early to get all dolled up for church. They all looked so pretty I had to take a photo. And of course, Avery & Autumn wore new earrings to church. It has been 6 weeks since they got their ears pierced.

Josiah ~ Proud Car Owner

Does he look happy or what?

You know your kids are growing up when they start buying their own cars. Recently my boys have been spending lots of time online looking up cars for sale on craigslist.com. Finally after a few phone calls he found one he wanted to take a look at. So last Tuesday we made a road trip to Cedar Rapids and that quickly his search is over. At least it is over for a while. I think it is only a matter of time until he makes an upgrade, but until then he is excited with his 1999 Mercury Cougar.

My Babies Are Turning 9

The proud new Dad ~ September 30, 1999
Too precious for words
Jensen and tiny little Autumn ~ 3 lbs
Simon and Avery ("the big one" ~ 5lb 12oz, that's not big)
My Girls ~ 5 months old

How cute is this picture?
The girls enjoy the yummy frosting on their cake.

Words can't express how excited Jensen was to get two little sisters.

Most of the time they really do love each other!

How can it be that in a couple of days Avery & Autumn will be 9? I am amazed how quickly the years have flown by. Then when I really stop and think about all that has happened in 9 years I am really AMAZED! God is good, he is faithful and I have been blessed! I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as I enjoyed my trip down memory lane once again. Lucky me, with all my kids I get to make that trip almost every month.

Reid's New John Deere Hat

The much loved old John Deere hat
Does he look better to you?

I know this may seem like a silly post, but there are a number of people who had told Reid he really needed to get a new hat. Well, today he did. He loved his John Deere hat. He remembers when he got it with Grandpa Schlabach, some 7 years ago when he was only 4. He liked wearing it and looking like his big brother Simon (see picture below, Happy Birthday Simon). We agree, he looks much better in his new hat, but he will miss the old, beat up, falling apart one. It will go into his baby box for safe keeping. It is funny how some of the smallest things in life can mean the most to us.

Des Moines on Bikes ~ WOW!

Jesse, Caleb, Rob, Randy, Reid, Elijah, Simon and Josiah
Elijah, Jesse, Randy & Rob ready to go the last 4 miles from Barnes & Noble to Scheel's

These are a few pictures from this Saturdays bike ride. Last Saturday Randy, Josiah, Jesse, Simon, Caleb, Elijah, Roger, Drew, Rob & Logan biked from Jefferson to Des Moines (62 miles) on the Raccoon River Bike Trail. Emily drove the sag wagon. Peg & I along with the rest of the kids met them for supper and to bring them back home. They all had a great time, even Caleb who had to end the ride 12 miles short because of a crash. That is why we wear "nerdy" bike helmets. Since they had so much fun they wanted to bike somewhere again this weekend. This time instead of riding to Des Moines, they rode the trails around Des Moines. They loaded up the bikes in our trailer and drove to Des Moines and rode 40+ miles in Des Moines. Those making this trip were Randy, Josiah, Jesse, Simon, Caleb, Elijah, Reid & Rob. Roger, Drew & Logan had other plans and had to miss this ride.