Apparently, I misreported what Mike shot out in SD. In actuality, he shot 1 doe with his bow and 2 antelope does with his rifle, and his friend Matt shot 1 doe with his bow and 1 doe antelope and 1 buck antelope with his rifle. The deer were shot out in Vermillion on Matt’s turf, then they headed out west by the Black Hills to get the antelope.

On their way out there they passed the center of the United States, so some pictures were taken there.

Here are Mike and Matt proudly displaying their antelope.

Immediately upon his return to Wisconsin, Mike put all us Hawley girls to work with grinding up the meat from his prizes. A few years ago Jake was kind enough to gift us with a meat grinding attachment for the Kitchen Aide, and it works fabulously. It took us the rest of Monday and most of Tuesday to finish all the grinding. I calculated that each package of ground meat had anywhere from 1 to 1 1/2 pounds, and we ended up with about 56 packages of meat. Therefore, our freezer now has anywhere from 56 to 84 pounds of meat (this isn’t including the deer meat we already had which was given to Mike a couple of months ago). Mike had also pre-cut out all the meat appropriate for steaks. On Tuesday night I cooked up some antelope steaks after marinating them in red wine for a bit. Let me tell you, those pieces of meat were very tender and succulent. I’d liken them to eating New York strip steaks. YUMMY!

Here’s what our deep freezer looks like. The middle row is what we already had. The top is the ground meat, and the bottom row has all the steaks. I’d say I won’t be purchasing any red meat for some time.

Now in other news. The other night while Mike was still out of town we (or I) decided to go to Luigi’s Pizza Kitchen for dinner. It’s touted as having the best pizza in Kenosha. On the way there I turn into the side parking lot. It looked full to me (I didn’t realize that the side parking lot connected to the front parking lot), so I exited out onto a residential street to turn around to go into the front parking lot. Here’s the conversation between Annie and me that proceeded:

Annie: Where are you going? Luigi’s is back there.
Me: I have to turn around to get back to other parking lot.
Annie: Oh.
Me: Wait a second. How do you know that Luigi’s is back there.
Annie: Remember, Mama, when we tried to eat there one time, but it was closed. We ended up eating somewhere else.
Me: ?!?
Me: {A few seconds later and starting to laugh.} How would you remember something like that? If I recall, that happened when we first moved here. I didn’t even remember that.
Annie: {Shrugging.}

Another time where Annie never ceases to amaze me with her memory and remarkable sense of direction was on the way to a birthday party for one of Annie’s classmates. We were just exiting the highway.

Annie: No, Mama, you’re turning the wrong way.
Me: I am? No, this is the right way.
Annie: No, it’s back the other way next to the mini golf place (we went there for her birthday in August).
Me: I know, it’s this way.
Annie: No, it’s the other way.
Me: {After a couple of minutes of driving and realizing that Annie was correct, I turned around.} I guess you were right, Annie. Mommy needs lots of help when driving, and I’m glad I have you for that.

Then another time. Driving home from the grocery store and approaching a stop sign. We have 2 choices: we can either turn left at the stop sign and then turn right into our neighborhood’s back entrance, or we can go straight through the stop sign and turn left into the front entrance of our neighborhood.

Annie: Mama, go straight. That way is so much faster.
Me: {Flabbergasted.}

Here we are at Luigi’s. I just had to get some pictures of the girls because this was first time since having kids that I could sit in a restaurant and not have to constantly be answering kid questions, scolding, cleaning up drink spills, forcing squirrelly children into their seats, or just going out of my mind in general. My babies were totally focused on drawing their pictures for most of the time. It was pure paradise.

Friday brought a busy schedule of events for the girls and I. Both of the girls had field trips at pumpkin farms, and I attended with Mimi. Annie was sad that I wasn’t planning on going with her. I told her it was because I always went with her on all her preschool field trips, and this was Mimi’s first school field trip. She was fine with it after I explained it that way. Although Annie is going through this very egocentric stage where she gets her feelings hurt quite easily when someone other than her gets a compliment or affection. For instance, if I kiss Mimi’s boo-boo, then Annie will say something like, “You don’t love me anymore?!?” She even pulls the “You don’t love me” card when I’m scolding her about something. It’s tiring, I tell ya.

Anyway, back to the field trips. I don’t have many details about Annie’s adventure other she got to go on a hayride, pick a pumpkin, and go in a “corn pool”. Apparently, the corn pool was a large, wooden box with dried corn kernels in it, and the kids took off their shoes and played in it. That sounds kind of relaxing, actually.

Since I was with Mimi for her field trip, I have a lot more to tell and pictures, too. This was Mimi’s first time on an official school bus, and she was quite excited about that event.

I was amazed at how much they had to offer at Green Meadows Farm.

The tour guide started the kids off with a pony ride. Mimi wasn’t that enthusiastic about this because she’s been there, done that. She made sure to tell Farmer Kim, our tour guide, that she had already ridden on a pony.

Farmer Kim next took the kids over to Chloe the Cow, and each child got a turn to milk her. Mimi was more than willing to give it a try.

The farm had tons of animals to visit. The kids were allowed to pet and sometimes chase and pick up certain animals. There were donkeys, pigs, llamas, turkeys, goats, chickens, chicks, bunnies, and kittens. Needless to say, a lot of hand sanitizer was used throughout the day.

Some of the animals seemed to actually like the chaotic children running at them. A couple of them gave Mimi a kiss, namely Dolly the Llama and Mr. Goat. Unfortunately, Mimi was willing to reciprocate each time.

Many people commented at how brave Mimi was about picking up the animals. She went for it every time with much gusto.

After lunch break we went on a hayride. The next stop was to pick out our pumpkins. I wimped out and made Mimi and I pick small ones so that I wouldn’t be stuck lugging around heavy objects. Mimi was fine with settling for just a small punkin, like herself. Finally it was time to head home. I was so tempted to nap on the bus ride home, but I figured I better stay awake at least until the car ride home.

However, this wasn’t the end of our day. Our church congregation had their own pumpkin farm event in the evening which included hayrides, chili cook-off, s’mores, and pumpkin picking. Since I’m part of the activities committee for our ward, I had to purchase and bring 12 gallons of apple cider, arrive early to help set up, and leave after the end of the event to help clean up. I was also in charge of making and bringing marshmallow roasting sticks (I have a welt on my belly fat after pinching my skin between the handle of the pruning clippers…OUCH). Thankfully, Annie and Mimi were plenty satisfied to run around all night with all the kids in attendance so that I could focus on helping with the event. The girls and I were plum tuckered out by the time we got home. I had to sit each of the girls on the bathroom counter in order to brush their teeth while they were half-asleep, and they were not happy when I made them wake up long enough to go potty one last time before bed.

Overall though, we had a wonderful day and the weather was absolutely perfect for all these events–chilly but not too cold.

I know this is already a super, long post, but Mike wanted me to tell everyone that he shot 2 does with his bow while on his hunting trip in SD. His friend also got a deer and an antelope. So we’ll have lots of meat to keep us fed this winter. Don’t look down if you can’t stomach seeing an animal carcus.

As most of you know Mike isn’t capable of sitting still and keeping from getting himself into new “schemes”. The latest of which is canning. He made a statement the other day where he basically said that he’ll be canning a lot of things this winter. I never know whether to just shrug my shoulders and not worry because it’ll never happen or to panic because this latest plot will involve lots of machinery which will take up half my kitchen/yard/garage/basement/living room (click here for example) . In this case panic should have overtook me because my kitchen has been in a state of turmoil the last couple of nights. However, I can’t complain [too much] because the results are truly delicious. We now have in our possession 6 jars full of crabapple jelly with several more on the way. Apparently, there is a grove of crabapple trees on base that have ample supplies of large crabapples. I would never have thought that crabapples were edible or even could be made into something so tasty. Mike is also going to make a small jug of apple cider for us. YUM!

This is what Mike came home with the other night. The laundry basket was nearly full.

The products.

In other news, Annie is now a 2-wheeled rider. She begged and begged us to remove her training wheels from her a bike a few weeks ago but then chickened out from attempting to ride it even with Daddy’s constant assistance. Each day we would try to coax her to at least make an effort. Eventually, she conquered her fear and rode around with Daddy always holding on. They practiced each day, and she finally attempted it without Daddy. It only took a few tries until she was really riding by herself. Annie is now pretty comfortable riding on her own. While I was a church event last night Daddy and the girls rode their bikes around the neighborhood.

Look at her go!

Mimi has gotten really good on her Dora bike, too.

Overheard several times a day in the Hawley home:

Mimi: “I have to go potty!!”
Mom: “Ok, go right ahead. You know what to do.”
Mimi: “I need hellllpppp!”
Mom: “All right, I’ll be there in a second.”
Mimi: (Upon Mom entering bathroom) “I don’t need any help!”
Mom: “Argh! You just said you needed help!”
Mimi: “I don’t need hellllpppp! Go away!”
Mom: (Usually scolding Mimi for that last statement.)
Mimi: (Coming out of the bathroom with her pants halfway up and rolled at the waist.) “I need helllpppp!”
Mom: “Argh!”

Whew! Where do I even begin? As the title states we have been quite busy these past few days. We had been looking forward to the Labor Day holiday weekend for some time because we were headed to Minnesota.

The first stop on the agenda (other than Mike’s mom’s house) was the Minnesota State Fair. Mike was so envious that he had to miss it last year, so there was no stopping him this year. We made the usual runs to the animal barns, giant slides, dairy building to see the butter sculptures, and several fattening food vendors. The extra 10 pounds I left with were so worth it.

Striking a pose at the fair.

Cowboy Matt and Cowgirl Hayley.

The kids got to pet/feed various animals including goats, lambs, and horses.

The butter sculptures are always a fun attraction.

On Sunday Jake, Mike’s brother, invited us to the Lafayette Club where he’s the executive chef for their annual carnival. Jake gifted us with numerous tickets so that we didn’t have to spend a dime the entire night. There were tons of good eats including the best corn-on-the-cob, mini doughnuts, and ColdStone Creamery ice-cream. The kids had numerous activities to keep them busy, too, such as several bouncy houses, a few inflatable slides, and pony rides. The end of the night was the fireworks show which was probably one of the best I’d ever seen with a finale that seemed to never end. We were very impressed with the entire event and hope to get invited back in the future (wink::wink::hint::hint). Thanks a zillion, Jake!

Of course, we couldn’t visit Grandma Minnesota without also visiting the Minnesota Arboretum. And that we did on our way out of town on Monday. They now have this kewl shrubbery maze that the girls just loved. First they tried out the Jr. maze and then braved the full maze with Daddy. For some reason both the girls have become fascinated with swamps and ask if any body of water they see is a swamp. Fortunately, we got to see one up close and personal at the Arboretum.

Getting lost, ahem, I mean, finding their way through the maze.

Grandma Minnesota and those silly girls.

Cheers! Making a pit stop at the A&W while on our way home from MN.

We got back late Monday night which means I didn’t get as many preparations completed for Annie’s first day of school the next day. Instead I got up at the bum crack of dawn to get most of it done (we failed to get Annie’s homework assignment done though–decorating a choo-choo train and putting her picture on it). Annie was quite ecstatic for her first day of school to officially arrive and even more excited about riding the bus. Our neighbor’s 9-year-old daughter has been sweet enough to make sure that Annie gets on and off the bus each day. Annie returned home with quite a day full of craziness. Apparently, a brilliant student pulled the fire alarm during her lunchtime not letting her finish. The time it took to clear up that mess also ran into her recess time which meant they didn’t really get any time out there. It was a little disappointing to her (okay it was a lot), but I assured Annie that she would get many many many opportunities to eat and play at school. Her second day went just fine, and she’s already making new friends and getting used to her new schedule.

Boarding the bus for the first of many times.

Oh, the heartbreak of losing her big sister to kindergarten.

Hooray! She made it home.

Next up was Mimi’s first day of preschool which was today. Mimi has been waiting for this for many years as she’s watched Annie go. I was happy to see that there are lots of parents involved with the school (this wasn’t the case at Annie’s preschool in D.C.). However, Mimi was a bit upset when she realized that her lunch box wasn’t going to travel with her to school. She got over it pretty quickly though once we got to school as she entered her classroom. I could barely get her to acknowledge me as I was leaving. When I picked her up she had a smile from ear to ear, so she must have had a wonderful first day.

Look how giddy Mimi is on her 1st day of preschool. Will it always be this way?

Like I said it’s been busy around here, but the fun doesn’t end just yet. We had another joyful event this afternoon. The girls started their ice-skating lessons. And let me tell you I had tears in my eyes to see how cute those 2 girls were flailing and falling all over the ice with their little tights and tutus. Annie made real progress in the 1/2 hour there. She was actually scooting around on her own and able to pick things up off the ice. Mimi was quite a different story, but I have faith that she’ll improve within a few more sessions.

This is how it was for the first half of the class, always on their bums.

Annie got a “helper” who looks like she’s about to fall with Annie any second.

Oops! Looks like I was right.

Keep up the good work, Mimi!

By the end of the class Annie was able to pick up objects from the ice. Way to go!

For those of you who have been patiently waiting for pictures of Mike’s new toy, I have no excuse except to say that I just haven’t had the chance to take any pictures. I promise I will make the effort to take some in the next couple of days. Come on people, I HAVE been busy around here.