Oh, Baby Jack... We Love You!
Do you notice how he holds on just like a little human baby??
His home is in Katie's room, but he is already roaming the house and making friends with his future wife, Patches. (He has really mellowed her out - she doesn't bite us anymore!)
Goodnight Jack. Welcome Home.
Katie had the wonderful opportunity to tag along with the Young Women on a fun filled activity at a small neighboring farm. They learned to milk a cow, make butter and cheese, pick eggs from the chicken coop and catch an emu, but the highlight were the kittens...
Anna Nelson
Katie, Anna, Hannah and Emmee Brugger all dressed the part.
It was such a hit that a friend arranged for a group of younger kids to go and experience farm life. They all ran out of their respective minivans and jumped on this merry-go-round. I am not sure if all got on or if any fell off.
Here is the majority of the group with the now famous farmer, Brother Rasmussun.
I never knew how badly my Maddy wanted to milk a cow. I really do not have that desire, but I am glad she had the experience.
She got milk!!!
Some of the cuties that joined us - notice how many are holding kittens.
I am thinking this farm was as fun as a trip to Disney Land...
Reagan Spanbauer
Little Miss Emmee caught many a rooster that evening, scared her mama to death.
Spencer, Emily and Audrey Payne
Mike/Brother/Dr. Payne after hours with his kiddos.
McKenna Nelson - isn't she beautiful?
Iris Wilcox, one of my former Primary kids...
Katie discovered this cuddly kitten last time she was here. I have never seen a kitten that was so lovable before. He loved to be held just like a little baby. 
Uh -Oh. I like this kitty. A lot.
I have had another momentary lapse of reason. My girls didn't even ask, it was all me. I wanted that little guy. Brother R. said he was all ours. I had him named Jack before we left the driveway (for his orange fur and it being October - as in Jack-O-Lantern).
Bella has been a bit bored of late. Pat works a swing shift, therefore, sleeping in during the day. I don't get home until 5 p.m. and between the hour and a half that Pat and are gone, Maddy watches her. Judging by the way she jumps off the wall when I get home until midnight, I do not think she is getting the proper stimulation during the day. I told Pat how I felt one day, I told him very strongly how I felt. He came home the next morning with a brand new/used bike (Thank you, Brugger Family!!) and spent all day teaching her to ride it.
Bella is very happy. Mama is very happy.
Not many people can pull the "bike helmet" look off, but I think she wears it well.
Priceless.
We all know about Bella's addiction. We have tried all sorts of interventions. Keeping scissors under lock and key, talk therapy, but the poor child was just born to be hair dresser. She knows it! She is like a Baby Einstein that must refine her skills, no matter the danger she puts other's hair in. Every Barbie, baby, animal or anything with hair has had a haircut, probably more than once. She always begs for more Barbies just so she can "cut and style" their hair. Well, she got the next best thing - shaving Pat's head!! Look at that smile - she was so happy, this small act of kindness on Pat's part made this kid's whole week.
I think she has some serious potential.
She is a very dedicated to her work and is now accepting new clients... 
Katie's favorite animal is the monkey and she acts just like one. Her room has all monkey decor and her clothes are mostly made up of monkey faced t-shirts. You can imagine her joy when she discovered one of our trees in the backyard is the perfect climbing tree. She will hang out up there for long periods of time and yell for me to come and find her.
One late evening, I decided the tree needed trimming. It was about 10 p.m., but that didn't stop me from getting out the pruning shears and going to town. Maddy was at her cousin's, Bella was asleep and I thought Katie was with her friend, Anna. 
Creepy Katie is just like me. She isn't going to let the dark slow her down. She is going to climb to the top of the tree in a Halloween mask that is very hard to see out of. I think I should put a stop to this. I am imagining a broken leg in the near future, but it is just so, well, TYPICAL of our home, that I just let her be.
Anna wasn't far behind (notice her band aids from an earlier wreck on the back of Katie's motorized scooter).
This is seriously scary.
Phew, I thought they would never take those masks off. Apparently they are very hot and stuffy.
It is now 11 p.m. and they are on to their next adventure of building a fort from all the branches I had cut down. 
They wanted to sleep out here, but I thought I should be responsible at some point and made them come in. The next day they went out and stripped all the branches of their leaves and made a tee pee with some old sheets. Very cool.