Corn Update: Week 17 - Plus a Halloween preview

Back to the corn. Seriously, I can't imagine we're going to be back out here next week. Dry. Ready to pick. A hard frost last night. It's time.

That said, this was one of our most fun visits. The stalks have lost lots of leaves and there was a nice opportunity to step back into the rows of corn and explore a bit. We dug around, looked at how the ears were different sizes. It was fun.

At home, Maya has been feeling pretty under the weather. Her head cold really kicked into high gear yesterday. Very snuffly. Not very good sleep (for anyone). But she's a trooper. And I'm sure she's going to be feeling better today. Last night was definitely better than the night before.

Looking forward to Halloween. We went out last Friday night for a special night of trick or treating in downtown Bloomington.

So I guess it's time to do the reveal on Owen's Halloween costume for the year.

First, here's Maya in some sassy Halloween clothes.

And here's O. #7 in your programs, but #1 in your hearts ...

GO HAWKS!

Dinner Time!

Some big fun last night with some rice cereal and the high chair ...

Corn Update: Week 16 ... plus a Marathon weekend

It was cold and drizzly last night. Owen said -- and rightly so -- "I don't want to go out to the corn."

So this week's picture comes to you from inside the car. The corn is barely visible through the back window. If you listen carefully, you'll hear it saying, "Pick me."

Lots going on this weekend. We all drove to Indianapolis on Friday, meeting up with Grandpa, Nana, and Uncle Daniel for Saturday's Indianapolis Marathon. It was a very fun weekend, giving us time to celebrate Daniel's birthday (I forgot to give you a couple of things, Daniel -- they're on the way), and watching Owen have a hoot of a time exploring the loft area of our room at the Marriott Residence Inn.

Let me tell you, the stairs at our house are nowhere as good.

The race was also fun. I finished 53rd overall in a time of 3:08.41. The best part of the morning, though, was seeing the family about a tenth of a mile from the end and bringing Owen in with me for the finish.

When I ran up, he was ringing a little cow bell another spectator had given him. I said "Come on, run with me," and saw him follow me into the street. Then I looked back to see him stuck there by the side of the road. At first I thought he had lost his nerve and wasn't going to run with me, but it became clear quickly that he was trying to figure out what to do with the bell. He was just standing there by the curb, looking for a place to set it down. Finally, he just threw it, kind of like a sandwich on which you'd just found mold, and turned to run with me.

The last .1 was joyous. He was so focused and it was wonderful to give him a hug at the end.

Of course, Dad was sweaty, so, after lots of hugs, both kids needed a good bath when we got home.

Thanks to everyone for cheering me on.

Before I go, another highlight for me last week. Last Thursday the BCPA hosted Ian Moore, probably one of my top two or three musicians of all time, in our BCPA Underground series. His concert was great. And I enjoyed about 15 minutes with him at the end of the night, where he autographed all eight of his CDs and stood with me for this picture.

Very cool.

Corn Update: Week 15

Hi. A couple of days late on the corn photo. Not much changed, so we're still just waiting for the harvest. Hope we get to see it.

Anyone know who farms at the corner of Shelbourne and Beech in Normal?

Also adding a photo from our visit to the train down at Miller Park.

Owen and I went to the park on Sunday for the Fall Fun day, hoping to take a hayrack ride. We ended up waiting for 40 minutes, but never got to get on. There were two or three pick up spots for the ride around the park and ours never seemed to have any people hopping off. Only 12 people got on at our location while we waited. Then they closed the ride down for the day just after we'd gotten to the front.

Disappointing ... but made better by three or four laps around the vintage locomotive.

Reggie the Redbird Day

It was Reggie the Redbird Day at the Children's Discovery Museum today. Owen, Maya, and I went this morning and were delighted when what was planned as a fun morning of play turned into much, much more when Owen's favorite local college mascot (you're still #1 Herky) arrived to cap off lots of special activities.

There were lots of Illinois State University student-athletes around, helping with activities. And the Zoo Lady, our local face painting wizard, was there.

Owen chose to be a lion this time (making this the first time he chose to be something other than a tiger), and she did a masterful job.

Owen also got a Reggie temporary tattoo (see below), which he worked very hard to show Reggie when we were all in the elevator together at the end of the morning.

Maya, meanwhile, thought it was absolutely crazy to be in an elevator with a giant red bird.

Happy Birthday, Uncle Daniel

We love you!

Joel, Amy, Owen, and Maya

Corn Update: Week 14

A quick visit to the corn tonight ... just enough time to learn how to use nature as a toothpick, just the way Owen's great grandpa used to when he was inspecting the corn on his farm.

It's great getting out to see the corn at this point in its growth. We're both just waiting now for the day we drive up and the field is picked clean. Leaves are starting to change colors in the area. It's warm, but rains are coming and fall -- true fall -- is not far away.

In some ways, the weekend was filled with inspecting plants, including those of the face-plant variety. Look again at the top picture of this post and you'll see a little red scab on Owen's chin. He was out on the bicycle Saturday and managed to go top over teakettle after cruising down a neighbor's driveway, across the grass, and into the back side of the curb. Going over the handle bars and into the pavement, there was a bloody nose, a bite on the inside of his lip, and much sadness.

Thankfully, he loves wearing his helmet.

Owen sprang back quickly. The neighbor kids were a great help, too. They all came over to see him when he re-emerged from the house, with a popsicle to take down the swelling in his mouth. And the Merrill kids brought him some lollipops.

Speaking of the Merrills, earlier in the day, Owen, Amy, and Amy's parents and sister Pam, went out to celebrate Owen's buddy Philip's birthday at the nearby Ropp's Dairy Farm.

There was a hay wagon ride, some cow milking, and lots of fun with a turkey, some baby cows, and the big hay loft.

I stayed home with a napping Maya. I put up the shutters we'd repainted and watched a little of the Iowa football game. We lost, but the ladies were still happy to show off their Iowa gear later in the day.

Corn Update: Week 13.5

The corn update is a bit late this week. Owen's day care was closed for a staff vacation, and we never quite made it up to our field to check out how things were going.

The corn, completely dry now, make a great rustling sound when you're up close. We actually just stood around and listened to it in the breeze yesterday afternoon. It was pretty cool.

Speaking of fun things to listen to, check out the giggles on this little girl.

And here are a few new photos from the week, including Owen's chocolate-frosting impression of Guy Fawkes.

And Maya after she'd pulled herself up in her crib.