Landscaping

Let me start by saying that landscaping is tough work.  Pregnancy does have its perks at moments like this, though.  I only did a little bit of shoveling and some picking up of branches.  But, boy was I tired and I know Chad was too.  After five years of having these unsightly bushes in our front yard, it was time for them to go.  They take up too much room, constantly have to be trimmed, and to say it plainly, are ugly.

We have such a little yard and rarely do any type of landscaping, that we didn't even own a shovel! Thank goodness for our Menards refrigerator rebate :)  I think we will be using the few hundred dollars for years.

We still are not 100% sure what we are going to put in place of the bushes, but we are thinking something that at least involves rocks so maintenance is easier and weeds aren't growing everywhere.  At least we got this done before the ground became frozen, which may happen in another month or so, depending upon Illinois' crazy weather.

I forgot to take a true before picture, since we had already removed one big bush at this point.

Workin' hard!

That root was tough! 

Much better! :)

Ponytail

Meredith's hair is finally long enough for a ponytail.  Well, sort of (her bangs aren't quite long enough to pull all the way back).  Her hair is so pretty, but also crazy at the same time.  It's very hard to tame it down and she still doesn't like to keep barrettes or bows in it for very long.  Can't wait until it's a little longer and I can braid it.

Fall Kickoff

Though the official date of the beginning of Fall is a few weeks away, it definitely feels like Fall here in the Prentice house.  Fall is by far my favorite time of year.  As a kid, I loved Winter and everything about it.  Sled rides, playing in the snow, and the possibility of cancelled school!  But, since the Winter storm in February of 2011 and since I have had to drive in the nasty weather, I now say Fall is my favorite (see pictures below in case you weren't in Illinois that Winter):

Chad trying to shovel us out before work the next morning.  What a lovely time for our snow blower to quit on us!  I was 6 months pregnant and was exempt from shoveling (he, he!) :)

At least our mailbox is still standing.

After day #2 of being stranded inside, a tractor came by and plowed us out.  The best $30 bucks we have ever paid :)

Okay, so back to topic.  It feels like Fall around here because we have had several activities start up that remind me of the beginning of school.  Or, at least, these are the closest activities Meredith will get to school for a few years.

First off, Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) began yesterday.  This is my third year in the program.  It is a great women's Bible study that goes very in depth on one book of the Bible each year.  I first went through Isaiah during the evening while I worked full-time and was carrying Meredith.  I nearly made it to the end, but delivered her a few weeks before class was over.  Last year, I went through Acts and Meredith joined me by going to the children's program.  It was a challenge to say the least!  There were probably 10-15 kids in her room in the same age group and class always seemed to fall during her nap time.  She was a trooper though :)  This year, we are doing Genesis which is neat because it's the same year long study my church is going through.  I dropped Meredith off at the toddlers room and like usual (like at church nursery) she whimpered and turned red in the face almost ready to start a full fledged screaming cry.  I told her she would have fun and to be good and headed off.  I hate leaving her like that!  She apparently settled down pretty quickly, though she was happy to see me when I returned to pick her up.  I'm so thankful to find a great Bible study for me, while also knowing that Meredith is learning about Jesus with weekly lessons.  I also find it interesting that in my group of about 10 women, another is due in February with baby #2, one is due in October, and one just had a baby over the summer.  Talk about a baby boom!


In addition to my Bible study, Chad began his Bible study with four other men this week.  It's a great chance for him to fellowship with other men his age.  This week he is also beginning to lead a group of High School Sophomores in a house church.  Meredith and I (okay, I will miss the extra help) will definitely miss him two nights a week, but I know he is making an eternal impact and using his talents.  Now to figure out how I will handle it when we have the next baby....may be a bit of a challenge!  At least my crockpot meals are going well and I keep churning them out during our busy evenings. 

Chad and I are also excited to be going to our first High School football game together (whether it be in Macomb, Flora, or up here) for a date night in a few weeks.  I still think it would be more fun if I knew anyone on the team or even which side to root for (since it's a crosstown rivalry), but as long as I have some hot cocoa, I'll be good!  High School football always signaled the beginning of Fall for me, though I'm more used to it from the Marching Band side than from the spectator side.

Meredith also began Baby Rock through our local library, since it has been out since the Summer.  It's about a 20 minute program geared at babies and earlier toddler age kids and involves the librarian reading a few stories, teaching some sign language,  and of course bubble time.  I didn't have my camera for bubble time, but it looks something like this, except with about 20 other kids:

We are also excited to visit Rader Family Farms this Fall.  I purchased a season pass and can't wait to go as a family on weekends and with friends during the week.  It's a local place that is basically like walking into a Fall festival.  There are pumpkins to pick/decorate, hay rides, tractor pulls, farm animals, and a corn maze to go through.  Have I mentioned before how extremely blessed I feel to live in such an awesome community with so many activities at our doorstep?  Well, if not, I've said it now!  Here are some pictures from their website:

If this doesn't put you in the mood for Fall, I don't know what will!

Finally, this is my second time partaking in this fun, yet crazy activity.  What else could cause me to get up on a Saturday at 6 am?  I guess I should have rephrased that, because that's Meredith's wake-up time seven days a week :(  Okay, what could cause me to get up on a Saturday at 6 am and wait in a line of hundreds of women 45 minutes before the doors open?  The Mothers of Multiples Fall sale, of course!  There is a sale in the Spring and one in the Fall.  During the last sale, I got nearly all of Meredith's summer attire for around $15.  It was awesome!  I didn't find as many great deals this go around, mainly because I didn't find the shoes I was looking for and wasn't super wild about the winter coat I got her.  But, I did get her several outfits for this Fall/Winter, along with a baby carrier for baby #2.  I will definitely have to go to the Spring sale next March, especially if we end up having a boy, because I will need to pick up some boy outfits for the year.  Here is a picture of Meredith and I in the next baby's carrier.  It fits up to 25 pounds, so I thought I would try it out.  Believe it or not, she wasn't that heavy at 23 pounds and my back didn't hurt like it has recently when I lift her.