Visitors!!!

October 4 to October 10, 2009 Trenton and I had the great opportunity to welcome a few family members into our home! These next few pics and posts are from when Mama, JC, Sarah, and John Curtiss made their first trip to Iowa! We had an amazing time and can't wait for them to come back!

This is a picture of Noelridge Park on a gorgeous day! Our God is an amazing artist! We went to the park to walk through the flowers and feed the geese!

Trying to get a good picture of Trenton, and I got one with squinting eyes and...

another with a fake smile!

Another picture of Noelridge Park

This is a picture of the boys (Trenton, JC, and John) walking back after they tried to catch a squirrel

We used to always go bowling in TN so we took advantage of the bowling alley's good deal and bowled for a few hours!

Sarah cheering herself on

John Curtiss trying to contain all of his excitement ;)

Trenton concentrating

Mama

I love the fact that we have a gazillion balls to choose from!

Sarah is a senior this year so while they were in town we toured a couple of colleges for her to consider in her decision making! This was a sign at Coe College with her name on it.

Iowa Fall Wedding

On September 26, 2009 Emilly Baldwin and Josh Brodeur made a commitment in front of family, friends, and God to love one another. The wedding took place at Palisades Park in Mount Vernon, IA. Emilly is a co-worker of mine that has turned into a close friend. It is an honor to be able to share these memories of Emilly and Josh's special day.

Haley, Bridgett, and Emily

Brooke and Jenny

Table decor

Trenton and I

Jen and Jenny

Emilly dancing with her uncle

You will probably get a nice kick out of these group pictures! Its not very easy trying to get a good pic of everyone at the same time!

Right to left:

Jen, Bridgett, me, Haley, Brooke, Amanda, Jenny, Emily, and Kristi

Right to Left Back Row:

Kristi, Bridgett, Emily, Haley, Jen, Jenny, Brooke, Me

Right to Left Front Row:

Emilly and Josh

Announcements Cont...

Ryan's Surprise!

For everyone in TN we have been blessed to have the capability of using a webcam and skype! These next few videos are videoed via the computer, webcam, and skype! Enjoy!

Daddy's Surprise!

Mama, JC, and Sarah's Surprise! John Curtiss was at a friends house so he had to do his present later!

Rick and Mary Etta Announcement

These are some pictures of Jezebel before we left the house to tell Rick and Mary Etta about their new grandbaby!

Announcing to Rick and Mary Etta the arrival of the babe was quite funny. We put the bandana on Jezebel and let her do the work. We went to their house and they could not read what the bandana said because Jezebel would not be still. I will let you see it all for yourself! Enjoy!

Baby Announcements

As you previously saw, Trenton and I tried to be creative with the ways that we announced to our close family that we were pregnant! Here are the results!

This is a bandana made for Jezebel to wear to tell Trenton's parents.

This is John Curtiss' t-shirt that we sent home with Kristen and Jason. Ryan also got a shirt that is exactly the same.

This is actually Kristen's shirt--we had to trade out sizes so Sarah actually got the white one that Kristen previously opened. This one was again transported via Kristen and Jason.

These are pictures and frames that we made for our parents. Kristen and Jason took one back to Daddy and one to Mama and JC. The other we gave to Rick and Mary Etta when we told them.

Here is a close up of the picture and frame.

Other family members and friends received announcements in the mail that told of our Bundle of Joy and his/her expected arrival!

Decorah Camping

When Kristen and Jason came into town we went camping for a few days in Decorah, IA. There are alot of trout streams in Decorah, which is why we decided that as our location. The following are pictures from camping, fishing, and canoing!

Decorah town limits sign

We stayed at Pulpit Rock Campground. There was a stream and the Iowa River that backed up the campground! It was absolutely beautiful and everyone was very nice.

Looking at a driving bridge and walking bridge over the trout stream that backed up to the campground.

Trenton and Jason fishing the trout stream, heading towards where the stream and Iowa River meet.

Trenton and Jason fishing

Trout Stream

Jason and Trenton fishing

Iowa River

Kristen and Jason

An area we went fishing on a trout stream

Jason and Trenton

Jason and Kristen

Late Sunset taken from the campground overlooking the Iowa River

Kristen and I

Trenton and I

Jason and Trenton

Jason and Trenton

We went fishing on a stream on someones property. They would put these ladders over the fence if they did not mind you fishing there. Here is a pic of an old bus just hanging out on the land.

Kristen wading over to where I was sitting

Some pretty flowers

I do believe my hubby has the world's record for catching the smallest fish! It never fails! :)

Trenton wading and fishing

Trenton making his carp "elephant" face

The rest of the pictures below are from when we went canoing down the Iowa River.

Kristen and Jason getting the canoe from the drop off point.

The smallest frog I have ever seen! They were every where when we pulled over to this one spot to fish!

Jason with his monster small mouth bass.

Kristen and Jason canoing

My bloody walleye that I caught

Again a TINY fish!

The drive home

Scenery on the way home

More scenery with some windmills if you look hard enough

More scenery with windmills