Ely Turned 2!!

 We celebrated Ely's 2nd birthday on Saturday. I couldn't decide if he should have a basketball cake or a football cake or a baseball cake because he seems to like them all, so I decided he could have all three. McKenzie helped me and of course made it turn out great! We had a "funfetti" sheetcake on bottom, a yellow cake for the basketball, and a chocolate cake for the football and baseball.

 Ely seemed to like it, so I was happy!

 I just love my "big man" Ely. He is FULL of energy and loves to play and run and laugh and be silly. He is talking more and more every week. He runs up and gives you great big hugs when you get home for the day and it just makes you feel so loved!

 Ely is definitely all boy!! He loves to throw any kind of ball, and has a pretty good arm. He is very good at tackling and wrestling and can play pretty rough sometimes! He loves to go anywhere with Brian - they make a great pair. And, we can't go to Grandpa's house without taking a ride on the fourwheeler.

 My Grandma Knoeppel is visiting my parent's right now. She lives in Kansas, so we don't see her often enough! It was so fun getting to spend some time with her.

 We had a surprise party for Grandma's 89th birthday. She had no idea and it was so fun!!

 The grandkids all gathered around while she opened her 89 presents!

If I could ever get a picture of these 4 cousins looking at me at the same time, it would be amazing!! They are all so cute!!

Lexington, Kentucky

Brian is the president of a national honor society (Phi Upsilon Omicron) he is in at ISU. This year they had a conference in Kentucky and Brian got to go. I figured he would not have as much fun if he went alone, so I had to go with him! It was so much fun!! Of course it was weird because we left the kids with my parents for over a week, so it was awful quiet!!

 We walked to this park. It is full of statues of horses and plaques that talk about people who have a lot to do with thoroughbreds and horse racing and stuff like that. It was crazy flying in to Lexington and seeing all the houses that have big horse barns and riding arenas and great big fields with maybe one horse in them! It was very pretty and green.

 We thought this was a funny little statue!

 Our hotel was right by Triangle Park, which is right by the Lexington Convention Center, which is where Rupp Arena is, which is where the Kentucky Wildcats play basketball. The fountains at the park were pretty and they would light them up at night. By the way, I'm 19 weeks pregnant in that picture!

This horse was in the lobby of our hotel. They had painted horses like this all over Lexington. 

Sugar Beets

Earlier this year Eva got a card in the mail from Grandpa Anderson. It came with a little baggie of sugar beet seeds. He told her to plant them and water them and see how they grew. So, she planted the tiny seeds in the little patch of dirt that runs along our driveway. We have watched them grow all summer long...and had lots of people ask us what we were growing!! Those sugar beets grew really well, despite the fact we only watered them a few times. Grandma and Grandpa were over a couple weeks ago for Eva's primary program, so Eva and Grandpa dug up the sugar beets and Grandpa took them home. Of course, he paid her for all her hard work in growing them!!

And, this week my dad is out digging his acres and acres of sugar beets. Good luck!!

Have you ever tasted a sugar beet fresh out of the dirt. When we used to hoe beets when we were younger, I remember we would occassionally chop one open with our hoe and take a bite. Really, they don't taste great, but I would eat it if I had nothing else. So, before Grandpa hauled all the beets back to the farm, I cleaned one off so everyone could have a taste. Eva thought it tasted pretty good!

Just Cuz Half Marathon - You should sign up!!

Anybody want to do a really easy half marathon?? I just signed up for the Just Cuz Half Marathon. It is November 3rd. It is practically all down hill and is a really fun race!! So, if you don't have other plans, sign up here http://pocatelloparksrecreation.sportsites.com/Player/HomePlayer.aspx. It makes it even funner to have friends in the race with you! And, don't worry about being fast or anything...I will be 24 weeks pregnant, so who knows how much I will actually run! I'm sure I will be walking several of the 13.1 miles!!!!!

Ely's New Shirt

 And, look how cute they are together...

Ely & Grandpa

Ely just loves to hang out with Grandpa! They had fun at the Anderson Family Reunion this past weekend. I just had to post this picture.

I guess this is kind of a July recap...

Ely and Adam

 Ely and Adam in the wagon, Kevin on the tractor. Aren't Becky's boys so cute!!

 Eva and Ely at the 4th of July parade. I know, looks like he is almost as big as her!!

 Eva and Ely before the Joint Jaunt 10K

 All of us after the 10K. I swear it was 90% uphill!! Thankfully Brian pushed the stroller most of way. I thought our time was pretty good considering - 1 hour and 3 minutes.

 Brian, Eva, and Ely before Brian did the Blackfoot Triathlon. He did great considering a week before he wasn't planning on doing it, and he was getting a really bad cold! 1 hour and 30 minutes.

 Ely and Lindsay at the playground.

 Lindsay, Ely, and Eva on the big slide. It was great to have the playground there to entertain the kids while waiting for Brian. And, thanks to Aunt Mel for coming, too!

 Ely helping Brian get ready for his bike ride after coming in from the swim.

 Later that day we went to visit our friends, the Colliers, who were in town visiting their families. The kids got to ride a horse and they thought it was great!

 Eva LOVES horses, so she was pretty excited when I told her we were going to go see horses!

 Eva helped Lindsay while Tavon got to ride. Thank you Lynette and Lindsay. It was so great to see you!!