Nothing Beats Thanksgiving in Mullen!

I couldn't have asked for a more relaxing weekend then our trip home to Mullen for Thanksgiving. We had such a great trip! Alex loves everything about being at "Drandma & Drandpa's."

Alex posing for a quick picture before we left for Omaha.

A nice third year generation picture.

ANNIE!!! Alex loves my Dad's horse, Annie and of course we had to go see her several times while we were home. Alex also thinks every horse in the world is named Annie.

The first time Alex sat on Annie!
He didn't know what to think of it at first. He didn't hate it, but he didn't stay on too long!
Mom getting to lead Annie around the carrels, with the help for Alex and Grandpa.

This is Alex's favorite toy at my parents. He never forgets it...AND...he also didn't forget that the last time we were home that Grandpa pulled him aournd in the car with a rope. So of course we had to play that game agian!

Chad pulling Alex around in his car.

Alex was having the time of his life!
Just enough time for a quick photo...then he was off again.

I just love hanging out back home in Mullen, there is nothing to worry about and only time relax and enjoy the company. And if your Chad...you got to catch up on some major TV time! I love ya babe! :)

A Little Family Time...

The Kruse family has been able to hang out quite a bit during this Advent Season. We have done lots of things as a family. Here are some of them...

Alex all decked out in his winter "Puttin' Up Lights" Gear.

Alex and Dad on a little break from hanging up Christmas lights outside.

Although Chad looks drunk...I can guarantee you he isn't! This is one of those squeeze together and hope we can all fit into this picture, picture.
This may be the cutest pose over...actually after decorating outside, he settled down to watch a little TV and this is how I caught him sitting...too cute!

Alex putting the Angel on top of our Christmas tree.

Alex loves riding the wheel and Mom is terrified of it, so Dad got to ride with him. This could be on Alex's Top 5 List of things to do!
Alex and Dad getting off the Wheel.

S N O W D A Y! -
T H A T T U R N E D I N T O 3 S N O W D A YS!!!

Alex helping Mom and Dad shovel show during our 1st big snow of the season.

What a little helper! Like father, like son.

Alex and Mom got to spend 3 whole days at home becuase of the snow! Dad got to spend one day at home with us too...but he was not fun because he had to work from his computer the whole day!

Tailgating 2009!

Gotta love our Shives Tailgate! This was before the Oklahoma game, where we dominated the Sooners!! A big Thank You goes out to Gary Shives for all of the hard work and good times he has put in to make such a fun tailgate. Go Huskers!

Chad & Mia
Jessie Shives, Mia & Nicole Shives - I love these girls! By the way...Congrats to both of them...Jessie is now engaged to Paul and Nicole is expecting their 1st child!!!! Yah!!
Jessie and Paul...Doing what they do...whatever that is!??!??!

Chris Shives (the new daddy-to-be!!), Joe Hefflinger (love the smile), Carl Bartholomew & Chad Ruwe

Alex, Paul and Chad...I believe this picture was taken before the shots came out, although it may not look like it! :)

Kim Hefflinger and Nicole

The one and only Mr. Gary Shives, Allison and Alex Shives (engaged too!!) The Crew

Jessie waving the Husker flags to the cars drving by before the game...Just trying to get everyone PUMPED!

Here they come!....I just love the Tunnel WalkBring on the Huskers!
I already can't wait until next year...go get the Arizona Wildcats!

Snow Before We Rake The Leaves??...CRAZY!

Isn't crazy to think we received our first snow before we raked our leaves. Actually we have raked our leaves and mowed our lawn twice since the early October snow...Crazy I know. Here are some picture of our fall fun in the leaves. It has been a beautiful November so far! God Bless and enjoy the weather!

"Helping" Mike and Liz rake their leaves on the day after Halloween.

Truly helping Mike and Liz rake their leaves!

Our neighbors Ali and Emily had a blast playing with Alex all afternoon. Alex loved it just as much!!

Laying in the leaves with Ali and Emily. They just loved posing with him...I bet I took 50 pictures of the three of them!

Alex's offical job was the "leave smasher". He was the best kid for the job, we fit so many leaves into that trash bin!

Happy Halloween!

Alex and Mommy pre-trick-or-treating

Taking a picture with Dad was so much easier...I think it was the talent of the photographer!Our Little Dragon at his school party.
Alex and Mommy trick-or-treating at our neighbors...isn't the little dragon butt the cutest you've ever seen! The front view was just as cute too, with the wide hips. I just loved it!

Ringing the door bell at our neighbor Jacob's house...this was the only house Alex actually rang the door bell and he didn't act too shy. (he refused to say "Trick-or-Treat"). Alex didn't really enjoy trick-or-treating as we only went to about 5 houses, but once we got home that is when the fun began. Everytime he heard the door bell ring...he would go running to the door saying "Trick-or-Treaters!!!" The three of us all enjoyed a nice, relaxful Halloween at home handing out candy.

Snow...on October 10th??!!!??

BELIEVE IT OR NOT....IT SNOWED ABOUT 6 INCHES ON OCTOBER 10, 2009!!!
Just wanted to share some photos of Alex playing in the snow on Saturday morning. He was so excited that it snowed...he was just bummed that he couldn't "shovel". Luckily for Chad, it was warm enough out that the snow didn't accumulate on the concrete!
The first of running through the snow...I know this picture is blurry, but it shows how much snow was on the ground!

This is awesome!
Hurry and take the picture Mom,,,I have lots of playing to do.

Happy Harvest...??!?

The 1st Snowman of the year!

Fall Already??!!??

Seriously my last post was the beginning of August...I am such a slacker!

Well Alex and I are back in school and one of us is just loving it...and it's not me. I do have a much better group of kiddos to work with this year and I am enjoying it...but not totally loving it.
Chad just got a promotion at the Nebraska Medical Center as a Project Leader for the Facilities and Planning Department.

Alex is growing so much and KNOWS so much. He is starting to out smart us and the little things we used to do to change the topic or to get him to avoid something...doesn't work with him any more.

The little dude is just growing up so much. Alex has not had a wet pull up for five straight days...Yeah!
Even as an educator I can't believe that he knows his ABC's (although he may not pronounce them the best yet!), knows most of the basic colors, shapes, and has a memory like I have never seen before! He recognizes who's parents are who at school and he even knows the cars they drive! Unbelievable!

Here is a little update on us and a couple of pictures to make you laugh...enjoy and Happy Fall!

Alex running around "nake" and decided to help Dad hang the new curtain rod.
Cooking with Mom this summer!

Chad & Alex enjoying life camping with Uncle Brian, Aunt Tiff and Papa.
Just watering the lawn like everyone else does...naked!
Have no fear...he knows how to pee on a tree and he's not afraid to do it.

Alex before he lost his pants...helping Nana water the lawn and play with rocks. We went to Mullen to see my parents in August. We all had a blast...Alex especially! He loved being outside in Grandpa's big shop playing with tools, the vacuum, this car, you name it...he found it in Grandpa's shop! Big A - Out for a Drive!
For Chad's b-day his wonderful wife :) got him a tee time at Sand Hills Golf Club in Mullen!

Joining us at Sand Hills were our great friends Chris (right) and Gary (middle) Shives.

I promise to do a better job of updating our blog this fall!