GERMS=HECK AT THE BUSSELMAN'S!!!
Braxton got to check out Humphrey's new daycare last week! He absolutely had a blast there...and proved that he shared quite well with the other kids! He shared so well, that he came home with the flu that 9 others had. Other than his pyloric stenosis when he was a baby, he really hasn't ever thrown up...so it was a diffucult night for us all. He was so sad and confused, and mommy and daddy were heartbroken to see him so sick, but it was short-lived and he was awnry by the next day. Now, we can't say the same for mommy, who got sick Saturday and is still (milking it) . I don't know how these kids bounce back...I feel like a truck hit me! I don't have any good pictures to share..the flu wasn't really something I figured you would all want to see! But, on Wednesday we will have a 1 1/2 year old boy!!!! SO I'm sure there will be some pictures to see! Hope everyone is having a great day and enjoying our last nice days it looks like! Stay healthy...stay away from the Busselman's..:)

ANIMALS are our new friends!!! Braxton has been so attached to taking stuffed animals to bed every night...hey, whatever will help him sleep better we are all for it!!!!!!!! I believe we are up to 7 puppies, one horse, a giraffe, 6 teddy bears, one kitty, a lamb, and the BIG duck! Don't worry everyone, I take them all out as he falls asleep! He looks scared in this picture, but that is his 'PLEASE DON'T TAKE MY ANIMALS' away from me look!Braxton got to monkey around with Grandpa over the weekend...

Brad spent the entire weekend bringing in dirt and leveling it...it is coming together a little more each weekend...good thing because I believe our nice weekends are coming to an end!

Grandpa takes lots of breaks from working on the yard...I am pretty sure he comes just to come inside and play!
We spent our weekend 'monkey-ing' around inside...away from the work!

...and this is what happens when friends let inexperienced friends drive skidloaders.:)
(skid loader being unstuck with the tow truck)

After bringing in many loads of dirt with the tractor, we got the dumptruck, which brought in over 25 loads of dirt...and we will STILL need more!

WANTED: FREE dirt....Please call 920-3529 :)

This gives you a good idea of what the yard is looking like. We will need to add quite a bit more dirt after this settles, but for now, it's coming to an end!

What you cannot see is Braxton riding along with a very large smile:)

The Farm Life...

Braxton and I got a little taste of farming on Monday! I always tease Brad when he takes Braxton to go ride in a tractor, not being sure which one has more fun...but now I GET IT!!! We had the opportunity on Monday to ride in a VERY large tractor and combine!!! WOW!!! What an experience for me! Obviously growing up in town I never really new much about the farming process, and I'm sure I still don't, but I did learn a few things! Braxton and I rode along and did a little "disk riping"???, and then got to ride in the "ombine" as Braxton calls it! HOW FUN!!! The few hours we were in there felt like minutes...I'm sure most farmers don't exactly feel that way! THANK YOU to the whole Bender clan for the FUN night!!! We can't wait to come back and 'play' again:)

I didn't get a very good picture, but this is the tractor we rode in...it was too dark to get pictures of the 'ombine'...

Braxton enjoyed a Sunday afternoon at the Pumpkin Patch by Norfolk...
I was SO shocked that he wanted to ride on this horse....he ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!!!

While daddy was deer/turkey hunting, Braxton seemed to have better luck seeing deer... He even got to feed it!

What a cute little apple tree:)I apologize for taking these pictures in the dark...this view is from the very top level of our yard looking North west...the house you see is Jerry's and the shed is Formaneks...and it will get a drain tube put in this week, along with the gravel and then slowly get back filled...
This angle is where I took a previous picture where my dad, Brad, and Braxton once stood (also where my garden was).I am standing in Jerry's yard looking Southeast and that is our garage with the light on...
This shot is standing in the alley looking West...and that dirt pile will be leveled out...
And another shot in the alley looking further West...
I have had so many people wonder what we are doing in our back yard, nope, it's not a building, not an addition, not a swimming pool, it's just a big ol wall that Jerry and Formaneks get to look at:) I hope these pictures made a little sense, and I apologize because I'm sure someone tomorrow will tell me I was off on my directions! Imagine that! If ya get our way feel free to stop and check it out, we get that a lot:)

Happy Week ahead to all...

...and so the yard goes on...
We are still working on the big yard project! I am glad to say it is nearing the end for this year! With what some would say, a few minor set backs, ( I would say major), we did get the forms up, walls poured, and we will be bringing in LOADS of dirt in the next few weeks and finishing up! With plans to plant a yard this next spring and put up a privacy fence so our little man doesn't fall off a 6'6 wall!!! It was pretty cool to see such big equipment in our yard! Braxton was completely amazed at all that was going on!

This was the huge pump truck we had to order to get our walls done...

...had a little mishap with the cement...yep, it's not supposed to be poured all over like that:(

I know it looks like we make our child do chores, but I swear he wanted to help wash off the shovels!!! Monkey see, monkey do--he tries to do everything his father does!

Of course we had to do the hand prints!!! Wouldn't be right to just let cement look normal and smooth.
Braxton really wanted to be Taylor's date for homecoming...he even cried when she left! Ah, chasing after girls already:)

Happy October Everyone!!! It's hard to believe it's harvest time and Halloween is just a few short weeks away! We have been enjoying our B-E-A-U-TI-FUL weather!!! We took our last camping trip of 2010 last weekend. Just as far as Pierce we went, and heard all morning on the radio about a parade in Norfolk, so we thought Braxton would enjoy that! His first parade...can you believe that?! After a few minutes, he caught on!!! He even learned how to fill his pockets plum full of candy!!! What a fun thing to learn:) It was sad to put the camper away, but exciting to know we have one for the years to come!!! Here are some pictures of our busy...a.k.a. awnry son...

So, who would've thought he could do any harm while I vacuumed...

...this is what I turned around to....

...Grandpa Bob and Grandma Jody gave us this great hi-chair before we were even pregnant...(someone was excited)..well, I hate to say this, but Braxton thinks it is time for a new one...this one seems to get 'fixed' by his hammer, or drill almost everyday!!!
On my day off, Braxton spends the entire day with me and we bake and clean...Sounds fun, right?! Well, he got tired of watching me one day, went and got his couch, his stuffed animals that he is suddenly ATTACHED to, and his blanket, and made himself a nice little bed in the kitchen...

...and this was him...before the summersault...

The Pierce Campout!!!

...And so it begins...
It wasn't too long ago that Braxton was 'attached' to mommy and Brad's comment was, "Don't get used to it", and so he was right!!! Brad cannot leave Braxton's sight, and when he does, it makes for a very sad little boy:( That leads to our next problem...Hunting Season!! Brad has this idea that a 17month old can go deer hunting for a weekend!!! He's crazy, right?!! While I think it would be adorable, and fun for them both, selfishly, I CANNOT go that long without my little man!!!(meaning Braxton of course:) I think it is time that I realize this may be my last 'hunting season' with Braxton at home with me. We have agreed that once he is poddy trained, then he can go! (MAYBE) I suppose that will be just around the corner as well...a task that I am not quite ready to start...so, all you parents, if you got poddy training advice, we are all ears!!!
Okay Okay, while I am saddened that he wants to take him deer hunting, I am not that big of a fun hater...I realize the day will come, so I got Braxton the 'gear' to get him prepped...

Totally reminds me of the 'Christmas Story' movie...he really was able to move well in this though:)
I'm not sure how well you can see this, but when I blew this picture up the boy's eyes are EXACTLY the same color...ahh, another traight from his father...I SWEAR someday he will resemble something from me:(

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***HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLY***

***HAPPY BIRTHDAY JACKLYN***

*******GO HUSKERS*******

Saturday the 'guys' worked on the yard again...they got the footing poured and re-bar(not sure how to spell that..but it looks good to me)all put in, and next will be the forms need set up and poured. THANK YOU THANK YOU to the guys!!! It will make my mowing so much easier once this is done, and Braxton will have such a fun yard to play in!!!

Every good man keeps his cooler is sight...and arms reach:)

He looks like a pretty good foreman I would say!!!

...and Braxton even tried to help!!!

This is the progress after Saturday...it may not look like much to you, but it's PROGRESS to us:)

Braxton has been OBSESSED with cowboy boots lately. These are actually Brad's boots from when he was 2!!!

We have upgraded from riding in the little laundry basket...to the big hamper!!! He loves to help with EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that we are doing!!!

Mr Independent feeds himself for every meal and SCREAMS when you try to help him...it was a pretty big bite of jello, but he managed:)

I have been teaching Braxton to give actual kisses, and the only one he will give them to is Brad, and on a slim occasion I will get one, but this morning, he came into the bedroom, with Brad's help he climbed into our bed, gave me a big ol wet kiss on the lips, turned, and gave Brad one too!!! It was the CUTEST thing ever!!! Everyday with him is fun and memories are made, but lately he is really starting to act 'older', I suppose that'll mean the terrible 2's are coming as well. As every kid does....he can do lots, but NEVER is public when you want him to. I swear kids make us parents look like liars! On a good day though, he can 'moo' like a cow, 'sssss' like a snake, 'ruff' like Dozer, as well as say "Do-der", "mommy", EVERYTHING is 'daddy', and he tries so hard to say what you say. This morning I swore he was saying 'manna', go figure, he was reaching at the counter wanting a "Ba-na-na", but I can still pretend he knows my name, right? Well, that was the bragging moment on my son, had to do it:) Hope everyone has a great week!