The Bishop Diaries: Our Top Moments of 2017, Part IV

In July it was Mom and Dad Bishop's 40th Anniversary!

We celebrated with a pool party full of family, food and fun.

Grandma and Grandpa B, Deb and Greg, and Trisha, Justin, Kellen and Madden came into town from Fairfield to join in the celebrations. We had a perfect sunny day and it's safe to say that a good time was had by all. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad! Cheers to 40 more - we love you!

HOUSE RENOVATIONS

One of my favorite things we have done so far in the way of making our house a home was to take our old porch and make it our new retreat. Check out the before and afters!

When we moved in, this is the room at two different angles-

Construction is under way...

The final product? We are in love!

We love fall more than any other time of year because of the awesome fall festivals that we go to each and every year. The day that we went to our first festival, it was so hot that we could barely believe that it was fall. We had a lot of fun shooting corn cannons, going in mazes, picking out pumpkins and playing in the fort. We will be back next year, Country Corner!!

Our second attempt at enjoying a pumpkin patch with Grandma and Grandpa was basically rained out from the time that we got there. The owners were waiting to see what the weather was going to do so they let us do a few things, but unfortunately it started massive thunderstorming after about

fifteen minutes so we had to get out of there.

Next year, pumpkin patches!

Jackson's class field trip was to a pumpkin patch - and on this day we had great weather. We got a tour of the Dennhart Pumpkin Patch and each kiddo got to take home their very own pumpkin that they picked in the patch. We have had such a great experience with Jackson's preschool - so much fun!!

Jackson had a Halloween Trunk or Treat party at his preschool church, so we went there on Halloween and Grandma and Grandpa came with us. The kiddos had fun playing the games in the gym and then we had some munchies (including a decorate your own cookie station) before going home. Thanks for coming along, Grandma and Grandpa!!

Jackson's teacher, Mrs. Gritton

We stopped over to see Papa after the party so that he could see the kiddos in their Halloween costumes!

Jax got to dress up as two different things for Halloween as we went to a party at the library, a festival at a local park coupled with a Halloween event at Hyvee and then trick or treated on Halloween. He picked an astronaut (and I picked the most adorable outfit ever - a marine). I saw it last year for the first time and since my dad had been a Marine, it tugged at my heart strings. This year, I ordered one and sure enough, Papa teared up when he saw Jax in his dress blues.

First up was the Hyvee Party. Jackson got quite the reaction from everyone and a few Semper Fi's from retired Marine Corps soldiers. One guy even came over and asked for a hug (wearing his Semper Fi hat and sweatshirt). It was beyond adorable.

We went to Prospect Park for their Halloween Party and guess who we ran into there fishing? YOu got it - Papa. Since we were early, Jax got to fish with Papa a little bit before the sugar rush of the candy walk.

We met up with our friends Callie and Macy at the park fest and got some yummy candies. Again, it was so hot that the bonfire and hot chocolate stand had no visitors, but I'll take this warm weather in late October any day of the week.