I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I have posted a blog entry here. Slacker!  Anyways, this week/weekend is the Morton Pumpkin Festival.  We always go to this but this is the first year we are actually “Potters” while this is going on.  We plan on taking part in most of the festivities like locals should 

Last night we brought the kids out to the Big Wheel races.  Drew loved it.  He drove around on the big wheels all night and did his practice warmups.  It was basically a billion kids driving around and ramming into each other.  Chaos.  Once the races started they each got one shot to fly down the long race track.  Drew came in 3rd I believe and was very proud of himself.  He got a nice looking ribbon.  Alyssa on the other hand wouldn’t have anything to do with it.  I think she was tired.

So tonight we are probably going out there to enjoy the Pumkin Festival food.  Then Thursday night is the “Kiddie Parade” that we will visit.  Followed on Saturday morning by a run and the parade.  Fun weekend ahead!

Anyone else heading out to the Pumpkin Festival?

It’s been a busy summer.  We’ve celebrated Alyssa’s 3rd birthday and enjoyed watching Bryce grow up a bit.  Drew played in soccer and tball at the Morton Park District while Lissy did some ballet/dance.  Sarah is just trying to keep up with all the kids.  And Ryan is just working, Getaway Games and playing with kids.  Several of you have asked for some updated pictures so here you go.  Enjoy and would love to hear how you all are doing?!?!

It’s Alyssa’s 3rd birthday! I took the day off of work today so myself, Sarah, Drew and Alyssa could go have a fun day with the birthday girl. Grandma Knuppel is coming in to watch baby Bryce while we head out to Splashdown in East Peoria. Fun! Hopefully will have some nice pictures of the birthday girl when we get back.

Join me in wishing her happy birthday!

So what do you do with no electricity these days?  No blogging! No Cardinal game on TV… Or the radio!  No lights.  No air conditioner.  No NOTHING.  We were without electricity for just 5 hours tonight.  The kids thought it was awesome as they are infatuated with flashlights.  So they shined those things til the batteries were nearly dead.  Going to bed was a bit difficult as the kids love a routine.  But they finally got to sleep and our lights came back on around 10.  So, what do I do… Blog about it.  Funny how much we depend on electricity in our lives.  I was trying to explain it all to Drew and he just didn’t quite get it.

Alyssa did dance/ballet, whatever you call it this summer. It was only 4-5 weeks long and once a week so not a lot. She would like it one week and hate it the next. Typical for a 3 year old I guess. Anyways, overall I think she enjoyed it and look at how cute she looks in some of these pictures. She is growing up already

Back a few months ago a bunch from our small group decided we were going to run the Morton Pumpkin Festival 2 mile run. Yeah, I know… 2 miles is kinda weak. But hey, it’s not as easy as you think for someone who doesn’t run much anymore

So for the last few weeks I’ve been training (running) to be in shape for this race. I like to set goals and I like to meet my goals. So I set a goal of finishing this 2 mile run in 15 minutes. That’s just 7:30 per mile - no biggie right? Well, not back in the day. Back in college we were force to run these in like 13 minutes max! But now, I’m strugglin. I haven’t time myself much but I’m pretty sure to date I’m sitting at around 17 minutes or so. My brother Rodney and I went running today through Morton and finished 3.25 miles in 27:30… Not bad I guess. So, I have a month or so to shave that down to 15 minutes for 2 miles. Can I do it? I’ll report back as the training continues!

Our Friday and Saturday were pretty uneventful this weekend. Which was NICE! With Sarah’s parents and our parents out of town, we had our Aunt Dana come in and watch Bryce on Friday night while we took the other two kids out for a “special evening”. Aunt Dana loves babies and has basically begged to watch him anytime Thank you!!!

This was nice to get out and about without the baby for a change. It was like old times. We took Drew and Alyssa to the Park and then out to Culvers for some Ice Cream. Fun! Bryce was good for Dana so that was great.

On Saturday we didn’t do much. I mowed which was much needed. Then we had the Stock’s down to play in the water and grill out for lunch. Those kids love playing with each other. Afternoon was nap time and then evening was the “Hannah Montana / Miley Cyrus Best of Both Worlds” concert on the Disney Channel. Woohoo! How was your weekend?

So we ventured back to Pekin last night for “Dragon Land family night”.  Dragon Land is a water park in Pekin that my kids love.  They have a special on Tuesdays and Thursdays that your entire family can come from 7:00 til 8:30 for $7.50!  Pretty good deal when 3-4 of you go.  So I took Drew and Alyssa out and we had a blast.  The kids really enjoy swimming. Drew is becoming pretty darn good at it and he was big enough to go down one of the “big slides” by himself.  Alyssa clung pretty tightly to me but she was all smiles all night.  Afterwards we made a Sonic stop for some chocolate milk shakes and a Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Sonic Blast.  YUMMM!  We’ll probably be back there next Tuesday now, too bad Bryce isn’t old enough, yet.

So we’ve always heard that going from kid number 1 to kid number 2 is the toughest.  Going from kid number 2 to kid number 3 is supposed to be a “walk in the park”.  Not so much the case here.  When Alyssa was born we had a pretty easy time with the adjustment.  Now, with Bryce here, it seems as though things are a little tougher for many reasons.

1) We are outnumbered. Going anywhere is a chore and a half trying to keep kids rounded up.

2) Someone is always in need of something.  Just ask Sarah!

3) Our 3 year old daughter has really started “Acting up” since Bryce was born.  She loves the baby and acts nice towards him.  She doesn’t really publicly state that she is upset, but she wants ATTENTION!  She has drastically changed into a needy/whiney girl over the past 4 weeks and the new baby is the root cause I’m sure.  Hopefully, with time this will wear off.  We try to give her the proper attention but she wants it all the time.

That’s about all the reasons for today.  Anyone else have opinions?  Tougher going from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3?

We had our first “Knuppel Reunion” in a very long time this past Saturday and it was a blast.  A number of the Knuppel family made it out to the Manito Park for good times and good food.  The group caught up on old times, threw the football around, tossed the bags, ate food, went swimming and much more.  All and all a great day.  For those Knuppel’s that didn’t hear, this will now be an annual event.  The first Saturday AFTER the 4th of July will be the date each and every year.  Same location.  Hopefully we can continue to meet up with family and eventually get the whole crew there!  Thanks to Jeff Knuppel for the great pictures you see below: