A man can love many things ...

Hey, gang. Once again I'm slow to post a blog entry and yes, once again my Google Analytics show how fickle you all are. (I'm not sure who is my follower in Taiwan but would it kill you to tell a friend or two? I have business deals I'm trying to pursue in your neck of the woods.)

The past couple of weeks have been hectic. I've been on the road so much I felt like Bon Jovi in the glory days (talk about loving a many things!!).

Missing as much class as I have means lots of homework. With Thanksgiving coming up I had to get my turkey done so I had a place on my classroom bulletin board. So, here is proof that I care about my education and am working towards a good future. (The rest of this blog is basically me screwing around and having fun. As mentioned earlier, I'm trying to close a deal in Taiwan so I'm trying to show how well rounded I am.)


Friday, Nov. 4 the family got up bright and early to head to Champaign, IL for a wedding. Grandma's sister's daughter was tying the knot and nearly every Palzkill from both coasts and in between was going to be there. I love hanging out with that side of the family!

Sometimes in life having to pee leads to amazing discoveries. On our way I really needed to go and Mom found the closest exit. Guess what was there?! Five Guys! None of us had been before but you can bet your sweet Tonka that we'll be back. We loved it!

Dad was so happy he just about blacked out. (I had to put on my really, really cute face to get him to share a fry.)

Finally, after a long drive we arrived at the hotel. After taking Uncle Eric up on his nice offer to help with luggage and greeting everyone I changed and headed to the pool with Grandma Kathy. Look at the cool life jacket she got me!

I was nervous but she was very patient with me and had lots of toys for me to play with. What's not to love?

Drat. Time to get out of the pool. Next on the agenda? The rehearsal dinner. Mom really struggled with my outfit and said more than once that she'd love it if I had a waist.

The dinner was at a wonderful old theater in downtown Champaign. How cool!

I loved that we got a tour backstage and I could see how everything worked.

It was wonderful of Aunt Jeanne to invite the Millers to this fun evening. (That's her, next to her blurry husband, the coolest guy I know in Illinois.)

I loved hanging out with Howie and he had lots of fun stories to share. (He was sitting next to Jeanne, his blurry wife, the woman on his right.) I loved the fact that he volunteered to teach me all about horses when I got a bit older.

I also loved the cake I got!

Sam and Vicki from Massachusetts were there and it was good to catch up.

After calling it a night everyone headed back to the hotel. Dad and I slept while everyone else hung out in the lobby and played cards. The next day was a blur of trips to Rural King, eating out for lunch, napping and getting ready for the wedding.

Mom and Dad said that I was old enough to start submitting photos for Life 'O Pierce so gave me the camera. Look how nice they looked at Melissa and Matt's reception! I love my parents!

Uncle Eric was an usher at the ceremony and enjoyed himself at the reception.

Papa and Mom hung out while Grandma Kathy helped with the cake. I love seeing these two laugh together.

Here's a photo of Dad later in the evening.

The next day we headed over to Jeanne and Howie's to say goodbye before driving home. They were nice enough to put out the toys for me and I got to practice building on the nicest workbench I'd ever seen.

On the way home it was like a parade. Grandma and Papa's van followed by Mom, Dad and I then Uncle Eric brought up the rear. Everyone headed to Denmark except Dad who headed home in a quiet car to a quiet house and a quiet few days. Uncle Tim stopped by and I really enjoyed farming with him. I love Uncle Tim!

During my time at Grandma and Papa's house I also got to visit my buddy Clayton. We shared a lot of laughs.

Did you know that the grocery store in Ft. Madison had school bus carts?! Awesome!

Cuddling with Grandma Kathy reading a book?! Love it!

Also, there is nothing better than cooking pancakes with Grandma Kathy! Yum!

Grandma and I had some banking to do and while we were at the bank in Denmark I got to watch the guys work on the building. (Awhile back a customer tried to add their own drive thru lane. Oops.)

This is Papa and Uncle Tim's new cherry picker. I love it. Nobody else seems to know what they are going to do with it. All I know is that I'd love a ride!

Before we left, Uncle Tim said he needed more weight on his tractor. I volunteered my 31.5 pounds, but apparently, my approach to attaching it wasn't practical.

It was good to finally be home and to see Grandma Maggy again. I love my grandmas!

To cap off the week I got a much needed haircut at Becky's. She actually fell for it when I threw out the "turnabout is fair play" line and let me work on her hair for a bit! (I suspect she may have fixed it after I left.)

That's it for this week, folks.

I'm off to join the Occupy Pierce's Pillow protest.

Night, night!

Halloween

I know it's an odd way to start out this week's update but Mom, Dad and I have gotten into this little game we play after I take my shower. Mom wraps me up really tight in my towel and I walk from the bathroom to my bedroom. While I'm wrapped up I take on my alter ego ...

... a super hero named BABY BURRITO!!!!

Anyway ... Wednesday Westminster's high school kids had a family Halloween night. All of the older kids put on games and there was a lot of candy. I'll definitely be back! Here I am at the first game I tried. (Dad kept making jokes about fishing for Jesus but I was actually just fishing for candy and toys.)

I wasn't sure who this dude was supposed to be but the "drop clothes pins in a vase" game he and the snow princess were running was a lot of fun and I did well.

And, let's be honest, you couldn't have a "family-friendly" church-sponsored Halloween event for us kids without horseshoes.

The grandparents were awfully nice and I got two Halloween cards this year.

Friday was a fun day at school. Lots of treats. A parade. A party ... and Mom! It was fun having her volunteer to help my teachers.

There was story time.

Here I am taking my swipe at a pinata we had at our party after the parade.

And, while I wasn't the one who busted it open you can only imagine the pandemonium that ensues when a pinata breaks around a dozen two- and three-year-olds.

I've been taking a lot of pictures lately but keep forgetting to aim up. Huh ... I need to work on that.

Dad and I went to church on our own this morning as Mommy wasn't feeling very well. (She's fighting the same cold Dad and I are. Ugh. Our family is a lot of fun to be around right now if you're into hacking, wheezing, snot and phlegm.)

After church and some piano we headed off to the pumpkin patch for a family outing.

I was able to pet a nice cow. She seemed disappointed that I didn't have any corn but hey, you can't always get what you want and I didn't have hamburger on my breath so she should be happy, right?!

I also took Mom and Dad on a hayrack ride out to the field. Once we got off the wagon there were some cool things to do. Here I am (with Mom's help) racing the pedal cars. (As you can see, I am totally destroying the woman behind me.)

After several attempts this is, sadly, the best we could do for a pumpkin patch family photo.

Then Dad and I took some time to survey the land and pronounce it good. (Before catching a ride back to the barn.)

Mom was hoping for a Christmas card photo but I just wasn't feeling it. I needed to get back to farming.

A little known fact ... all the best farmers drive using their right wrist.

After the pumpkin patch we came home and I didn't take a nap. I did manage to Skype with Grandma Kathy and Papa and they thought I had lots of energy. Soon enough it was time to start trick-or-treating. Mom dressed up like Mom. Dad dressed his belly up like a pumpkin and I was Pierce the garbage man!

One of our first stops was at Will's house. He's the coolest dude on the block.

Steve and Carolyn were very generous with the candy!

And a last stop on Allison ... Debbie's house! We then rushed to the Dillons, a couple of other friends and then Grandma Maggy's.

A spider and a garbage man!

Mom and Dad were so proud. My trick this year? Touching my brain with my tongue. Yeah, me!

The night was capped off with snacks and some nice conversation with Grandma Maggy. I was tired but trick-or-treating 2011 was a lot of fun and a great success!

I hope y'all enjoyed your own monster mashes!

Pierce

Two weeks are better than none!

Sorry, readers, for the missed week. Hopefully this update covering two weeks will make up for it.

First, I have to show this great shot of TWO garbage trucks crossing right in front of our house! What are the odds?!?!


Mom and I watched the Fletchers kids for awhile when they had a day off school. Grant is so much fun, and he can read now!

I think his brother and sister enjoyed watching us, too.

I've really got into talking on the phone. In fact, I surprise Papa and Grandma Kathy almost daily with a phone call. But, my attention span is still quite short so the calls are kind of short - just an update on the daily status of our farm operations.

They resurfaced the road a few blocks away so we went to watch. There was lots of equipment to watch.

And then I came home and recreated the scene with my own rollers and uniloader!

Grandma Maggy came over and we caught up over dinner and presents mom and dad brought back from London.

Last week mom and dad introduced me to Great Harvest pizza in Ames - and Asa came along, too!

This week mom went to Chicago with Grandma Maggy for a quick trip. Grandma Maggy was a great tour guide and had lots of stories to tell along the way .... including showing this house where dad lived when he was even younger than me!


They also met up with cousin Ellen and had dinner with her. Three Miller gals in downtown Chicago at night ... what could go wrong?


Mom took me to our local library this week, and I picked out three books.

But, I was more interested in the equipment outside than the books inside.

Yesterday, I strolled while mom and Grandma Maggy walked in Race for the Cure (and daddy operated as chauffer). There was pink everywhere - on people ...

on cranes ....

and even on garbage trucks!

Last night the Fletchers came over for dinner. Grant and I had a great time - playing ....

and building a fort ...

and decorating Halloween cupcakes ...


Here's a video to take us out on (Thank you Cleveland, Good Night!) ...

Pierce