Life of Late

       It's a simply beautiful October Saturday. The tree outside our front door has lost most of its leaves, but there is still enough color to make the world stunning in Fall's glory. The ground is crunchy with leaves and the garden's harvest is being brought in...Tomatoes, carrots, and cabbage oh my.

Stopping by to visit Daddy at work. Future lumberjack in training. 

We spent last Saturday out at the Farm so that Luke could help his dad with the new barn. 

This guy makes my heart happy. 

Cross section of a carrot. 

Enjoying the sunshine with Uncle Jordan

This guy LOVES it outside. 

He's not crawling, but he can scootch himself. Apparently this corner is fun. 

Moments when your heart just might explode, a good kind of explosion. 

You know Ephraim has been around when you find surprises in your boots. 

 Boys in ball caps

Happy Birthday Irindee

I was making supper the other night and I was heating up some oil in a pan. I must have gotten it too hot, because when I went to add the can of beans I was planning on cooking, flames shot up and spread out under my cabinets. I went into "panic, you just burnt down your kitchen mode!" and went screaming through the house for Luke, with Buirlen strapped to my back. Moments later when we both got back to the kitchen we found that the flames had subsided to just a tiny one in the pan and that it had all looked worse that it really was(thankfully!) Anyway...

Autumn really is spectacular!

Last weekend, we headed to Duluth so that Jordan could pick up the motorcycle he was buying. Road trip!

Buirlen discovered the joy of swinging. He giggled and giggled. 

Hang on it's going to be a wild ride. 

Mom says, "Let's gently blow on this dandelion..."

Buirlen's all like, "Actually, I think I will eat it..."

"ICK!"

Checking out Uncle Jordan's new bike. It met with his approval. 

This week, my friend Katy and I decided to adventure to a town about an hour away to do some grocery shopping at Aldis. It was a lovely sort of adventure and we laughed at the fact that we must be getting old since going grocery shopping out of town was something we were quite excited about doing. 

Of course a post grocery shopping ice cream cone was in order. Ax thoroughly enjoyed his. 

And so, life and all it's many adventures, both big and small, continues on. Happy Saturday!

"Keep your face always towards the sunshine and shadows will fall behind you." ~Walt Whitman

Family, Weddings, and Road Trips

      Last week, My Love and I hit the road after work on Thursday. My youngest brother Mick, was tying the knot with his fiance Payge and so we were headed for a weekend with my family. We had decided to head out Thursday night and stop at Luke's sister Anna's to spend the night. We pulled in late and as we were doing so, Luke began to notice an unpleasant sound coming from the car.       Unfortunately, the axle was just about broken, fortunately, we were at Anna's house. So, Friday morning Luke and Travis(Anna's husband) took the car to the local mechanics and they set to work on fixing it. It ended up taking a lot longer than we hoped and so we didn't make it to the rehearsal like we had planned. I am thankful that we were with people we loved however, because if we had had to wait around with nothing to do all Friday, I may have gone bonkers.

We checked out a local coffee shop. Gregory, Bea, and Anna

 Bea

 Margaret 

    We missed the rehearsal, but we did make it to the dinner. After the dinner my family loaded into our various vehicles to head to my parents home a half hour away. We were cruising down the highway when we were suddenly thumping and bumping. Luke pulled off to the side with dismay. We had blown a tire. Thankfully, my parents were right behind us, so they pulled over as well and Dad helped change the tire. We realized the irony of all this car trouble happening to the newest car we own, the one that shouldn't have problems. Oh well. 

    Saturday morning we got spruced up and headed to the Church where we hung out, took pictures, and spent time with family. All of my siblings were there(something that rarely happens) as well as both sets of my grandparents and 2 sets of aunts and uncles. I quite enjoyed it. 

My brothers. Mick(The groom) Jesse, and Jordan

My daddy, looking all spiffy, and myself

Mick and his new wife Payge...Or Mr. and Mrs. Shearer(Photo credits to my dad Rohn)

Mick and Jesse(Jesse was the best man)

My Dad and Mom...Rohn and AmyJo(Photo credits Aunt Janelle Shearer)

Mick, Payge, Grandma Shearer and Grandpa Shearer(I have no idea what was so funny, but I love this picture. Photo credits to Aunt Janelle Shearer)

Grandpa and Grandma Shearer and Lydia

Jordan and I

Luke and my Uncle Dan

    Not only did I get to see my family, but my dear friends Amanda and Emily were there with their families as well. It is always great to see them. They are my oldest friends(Meaning, our moms were friends before any of us were born and hours of our childhood were spent together) and we don't see each other nearly enough. We took a group picture and I'm so glad we did. It made me think of another group picture we have from when I was like 13 years old. 

2016

Amanda, Lydia, Emily, me, Jesse, Mick, and Jordan

2003(ish)

Back row: Amanda, me, Lydia, Emily

Front row: Jesse, Mick, and Jordan

    At the reception they had a s'mores bar. However, instead of going to said s'mores bar, Jordan decided to roast his marshmallow over the tea candles on the table. It required a lot of concentration. 

 Lydia and Claire(Emily's daughter), me, Amanda, Jordan and Emily

Claire and I. 

Emily and I discussed how awesome it would be if my baby is a girl. Because, Baby Williams and Claire will be just about exactly as many months apart as Emily and I are. A true friendship in the making. 

Speaking of Baby Williams, he or she is getting quite big. Tomorrow is my ultrasound and I can hardly wait to find out if it is a boy or a girl. I've also started to feel some occasional kicks and it puts a smile on my face!

Happy Thursday!

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you as you are to them." ~Desmond Tutu