Eating Out

We have concluded that we have eaten out a lot in the past few weeks. Alex confirmed this by the conversation below:


All 6 Hart members plus Grandpa Hart eating at Culvers...

Mommy: Wow, we don't remember what it is like to eat at home, do we?
Alex: I do. We drive through the drive through and take the food home!!

Grandpa Ken Visits!!!

Matt's dad, Grandpa Ken, came to visit us last week. It was wonderful to see him for a full week! We did lots while he was here...but the main reason (aside from seeing the kids) was to help us with a few house projects. Our main project was to remove the wall dividing the kitchen and dining room. We were hoping that it would be possible and when done, that it would open the space up and lots of light would shine through. Of course any project in this house always ends up being more work than necessary...we've heard plenty of people muttering "hmmm" followed by "don't think I've ever seen that done before!" while working in our house...it is helpful to know that it wasn't Matt or I that did the original work!!

Here is the wall before demolition...

First problem - concrete mix and drywall!!! Yes, concrete on the walls! What a mess and so hard to cut through.

Drywall down (notice the dust/dirt)...

2x4s gone... Support beam up...

Becki's dad plastering the drywall...

All finished - for now.

Next step is to prime & paint, then put up pictures. After that...maybe pull up the carpet & finish the hardwood floors underneath??

A BIG BIG thanks to our dads for the wonderful work of their hearts & hands to get this project completed. We love you both and can't say thank you enough. Also, thanks to Becki's mom for watching the kids so there was a bit of sanity during the construction!!

We got out of the house on Sunday to head to Iowa City to letterbox. We found 7 boxes at FW Kent Park. A beautifully carved series by Maude...and very clever...all in a beautiful park! Highly recommend this series!

The Missing Music Box

Here is a conversation from our house this past weekend...(a little background...Will had brought up a wind-up music box and had been dancing circles in the kitchen)

Will: Mommy, where music box go?
Mommy: I don't know.
Mommy: Alex, do you know...(she's in the front room coloring)
Alex: No
Mommy: Alex, do you even know what I was going to ask?
Alex: You were going to ask if I knew where the music box is. (hey...I guess they do listen sometimes!)
Mommy: Maddie, do you know where...
Maddie: NO!! I know NOTHING!
Mommy: (between stiffled laughs)...Um, Maddie, are you sure you don't know where the music box is...
Maddie: (silence...then gets off couch and walks over to a blanket in the corner, pulls out the music box and presents it to Will)
Will: (very happily dancing in the kitchen once again!)

Pumpkins & Parades

We've been busy doing our traditional Fall activities - usually including our family pictures, the annual Halloween parade and the pumpkin patch.

Annual Moline Halloween Parade

Our weekends have been busy with work, pictures, etc...or it has been rainy. It isn't much fun going to a pumpkin patch in the rain! We were finally able to get to the pumpkin patch the week that Matt's dad was here. We had beautiful weather and headed out Monday afternoon after school. Many of the "activities" at the pumpkin patch weren't available since it was a weekday...but it was beautiful and not busy, so that was nice!!

The kids LOVED the corn maze!

Doesn't it look like the goose is talking to Katie?

Family Pictures 2009

Trains, Trains, Trains

I purchased this Thomas train carrier at Goodwill last week for Will...he LOVES it and carries it around everywhere. The first day he got it, he walked up to me and said "Mommy, look!! I have a Thomas purse!". Poor guy - that is what happens when he lives with 4 girls!

Here is one of Alex's latest creations...

Milwaukee

We took the BIG plunge...we took all 4 kids on a weekend getaway...hotel & all! Matt had said (a few months back) that there was going to be a letterboxing gathering in Milwaukee the first weekend of October. He was wanting to go and take the girls with him. I haven't done many gatherings for 2 reasons...

1. letterboxing is mainly Matt's hobby. I enjoy it and I have really enjoyed getting to know some wonderful people...but it really isn't my "thing".

2. If I go, ALL the kids go...and I end up entertaining all 4 kids all day long...it would be easier to stay home!

The more we discussed this gathering, the more we thought it might be a fun family trip. We do so many day trips, but we have never done a weekend trip with more than the girls. So, we decided to give it a try. I was able to get a very good rate on a hotel suite for the weekend so that settled our decision!

Leaving Friday right after school...we got rained on the whole drive. Our original plan was to stop in Janesville, WI to find a few boxes and play at some REALLY cool parks. We ended up not playing due to the rain, but did find 3 boxes. We stopped at the McDonald's with a play area and the kids were able to burn off some energy. We continued to head to Delafield (our hotel). Matt made a few attempts to find letterboxes in the dark with no success. We arrived in Delafield around 9:30 with 4 tired kids (who were now VERY excited and full of energy to see the hotel room, etc). We unloaded (3 trips!!) and got the kids in bed...we knew it would be an early morning for all of us.

The next morning arrived with no rain. It was cold & overcast...but no rain! We got dressed, ate breakfast and were out the door around 8:30. We drove to Minooka Park in Waukesha, WI. It is a beautiful park with lots of trails. From what I understand, there were over 60 boxes planted for the gathering!! Matt decided that he would rather stay at the shelter and meet everyone so I took the kids on a hike to see the pond. We ate lunch, visited with friends and headed out to do some quick letterboxes in the area. Before leaving, Atomic Beans talked Matt into hitting a longer trail to find a few boxes. The kids & I found a big hill at the park to run up & down while Matt went hiking (if you look in the upper righthand corner, you will see Matt & Atomic Beans finishing their hike). Walking backwards up a smaller hill.

While driving in town to find some quick indoor boxes (thanks for the clues Pitties!), we came upon some canadian geese. Matt stopped to let one goose cross the road. Evidently it was taking too long for Will...out of the back seat, we heard a little 3 year old voice, "just hit him Daddy!"

After finding the few indoor boxes, we found a historical marker for Caroline Ingalls (the mother from the Little House on the Prairie books). Much thanks to Wi Hi & Martini Man for your directions. We didn't find it right off and stopped to ask 3 or 4 people...none of them knew about the marker! We finally found it and got some pictures of it. Just before stopping, we noticed the car was making a noise when we hit bumps. It sounded like something was loose. Not good!! While stopped to look at the marker, I investigated our van. Come to find out the hood had been popped!! While we were saying our goodbyes at the gathering, the kids were already in the van...I believe one of the twins was in the front seat so we can only assume that is when the hood was popped! We said a prayer of thanksgiving that God protected us and that there was nothing wrong with the van (after we heard the noise). We did have a good laugh as we quoted Tommy Boy (after their hood popped up all the way!),

Richard: Hey, I was just thinking, when we stopped for gas this morning I think it was you who put the oil in. Tommy: Hey if you're going to say I didn't put the right kind in, you're wrong. I used 10-W-30. And besides, motor oil would have nothing to do with this accident. Richard: True. But you can't latch the hood too well, IF YOU DON'T TAKE THE CAN OUT

While looking for the historical marker, we drove by a new elementary school with a huge playground. We decided we HAD to stop and play...and take our slide pictures! There were 11 slides at this park!! Wow!Getting back to the hotel, we swam and ate pizza than headed to bed.

Sunday. We woke up early again and started to pack up the van. We were going to meet PackerBackers to letterbox with them for the morning. We enjoyed our time with them and found 4 boxes and missed 1. We played in Rockport park (Peace Park) in Janesville - isn't this park cool!!

Our last stop for the day was this park outside of Rockford. We were able to snag one last box for the weekend while the kids played.

We arrived home around 8, got the kids in bed & unloaded the van. It was a long weekend and we are still paying for it almost a week later with crabby, tired kids. Hopefully this coming weekend will be a slow, quiet one...good for naps!!