Kids Creation

My kids have had school off for 2 days. I had fun things planned--the park, the library, Halloween craft, pumpkin patch...well if you saw the last post it has been raining since yesterday morning. So I starting to worry that I would have to come up with more ideas besides the library. Then as I finished the dishes and the tidying I looked outside this morning and saw this:


What you can't see is that it is totally raining. They were making bike paths and then a labyrinth with rakes and the blower. At one time I looked and saw Jordan holding the umbrella over Abby while she raked and then vice versa. The leaves are just from Saturday when we had picked up ALL the leaves and burned them. Now you look out and can't even see the grass again. I really wasn't kidding:) They played for a long time not having a care in the world that it was wet. No wonder Peter Pan never wanted to grow up....:)

Trunk or not...

Tonight was our ward's trunk or treat but seeing that it had rained since morning we found classrooms and the kids went door to door inside. You could see the costumes better and no one was cold:). Our neighbors went with us and we all had a great time. They had soup for dinner and it was probably the first time I came home with a completely empty pot. Thank goodness my friends share their recipes with me:)!


Addie totally got into the process. I didn't see her as I was the "passer outer":) but both Dave and Linda said she was hilarious and wasted no time figuring out what she needed to do. Dave said as long as they had the pot of candy down where she could reach it, she just kept reaching in and getting more pieces:) At the end I said "did you have fun?" and she had a big ole smile and shook her head lots of times (heheha!) And when I tried to take her costume off she threw a BIG screaming fit!!! Love that girl.

Boo at the Zoo

Not only are we spoiled to have a free zoo but this year we got to go trick or treating there too. And in case you were wondering, the animals were not dressed up:)

On the housetops, on the ground...

This is the leaves after they have been picked up already 2 times. You can also see the many leaves still in the trees ready to come down. Needless-to-say this is just the beginning:) I will admit that while there are many things I want to change about this house, I love looking out and seeing this:

What can I be learning?

So with all of life's experiences there is something we can learn. Our van has now been in the shop for over 3 weeks. For months it has been doing this weird thing---in the middle of the highway it will jerk and down shift. Obviously, not very safe. I had taken it in and they couldn't find the problem. Then we noticed a trend. It happened most often when it was raining or very wet. So seeing that our warranty on the transmission was of course expiring and the wet winter weather approaching I waited for a rainy day. Three Thurs. ago. I packed up the girls and we started for the shop. It took longer than usual of course because I didn't want to ruin the engine. Thankfully they finally could see something wasn't right. They told me it would be awhile so I probably wanted to go somewhere.:) Dave just happened to be in a meeting at the time. So I walked 2 miles in the rain (yes this is true I measured it on the way back) with an umbrella, no sidewalks in some places with two little girls. I am so glad I now have a story I can tell my kids like the one "I walked to school and it was uphill both ways.:)"haha Two things I am grateful for: 1) even though it was wet, it wasn't too cold yet. Otherwise we probably wouldn't have made it. 2) Addie fell asleep--this proves that miracles have not ceased (and no I am not trying to be irreverant).
Three weeks later and the verdict has been the fuse box. Simple fix, right? Obviously not. Chrysler no longer makes this part anymore. So they called around different salvage yards. They have had 4 different parts and none of them work. One leaves the wipers on, another the ABS lights etc etc. Last week it got better as we called and they told us that a tech had taken it out to drive it, turned it off and it would NOT start....they had to TOW our van back to the shop:) Now as of Friday they have found another one----this one from INDIANNA--they've depleted all the closer yards. So we're praying this one works.

I am not complaining as I have realized lately that we think we're having a trial or test until the real thing comes and then we realize what we thought was a trial, well, just wasn't. Even though it has been inconvenient I recognize that it could be WAY worse. I know things happen for a reason and we can learn something from them. Here are a few of my thoughts on our lovely situation:)

I'm grateful that besides Dave's dad's heart attack this week I haven't had any stressful demands to be anywhere (although we missed a chance to celebrate b-days with family:(). (And we're really grateful he is recovering well). I'm grateful that when our truck starting making a bad noise again (the 2nd week) that Dave could fix it again so at least we have ONE vehicle:) and that he had it fixed right before we got the phone call about his dad so he could go be with his family. I'm forever grateful for neighbors who have been so giving of their truck (while it has crushed my ego dramatically) so I could get my kids to school and back. I'm grateful to be reminded that Heavenly Father knows of our situations and reminds us that it truly is because of Him that we get anywhere or are able to accomplish anything, even the simplest things as taking kids safely to school. I'm grateful for the experience to practice my patience as I know it is a virtue and not one that I can say I have mastered yet:) And today as I was thinking of what I could learn from this I thought--maybe it's endurance....so until next time I post and can say "all is fixed", we will just be learning.:)

Happy Bday Magic House

I know I've posted pic's before but seeing as this is our family journal I can't exclude another fun trip to the Magic House. This time our cousins joined us. Even though we've been there before there is something new of different each time we go.

Can you see Haley's "bug eye" glasses? So funny. We definitely did a sterile wipe down after.

Sisters

It has been so fun for me lately to watch these two girls grow into bosom buddies. Now that the older kids are in school and Addie has grown up they have discovered each other and it brings me lots of smiles throughout the day. Just today I heard them putting their babies to bed and I knew I should grab the camera.:) I love listening and watching them play games and interact. Although Addie doesn't talk much she will totally come and get Megan and let her know she wants her to play with her. They dance, dress up, play babies, dishes, hide in closets, play animals and on and on. I truly have the best job in the world.
This was the first time I braided Meg's hair even though you can't see it very well.



This is what we look like 95% of the time. Meg is a girly girl and I love it:)
And yes, they are even partners in crime--haha!!! Megan was totally getting into the snack bin and Addie was hoping for some:) It was funny because when I first saw this Addie was turned around as if she could help by pointing to where the "goods" were located.

Pumkin Patch Field Trip

Ms. Wiessman's class

It amazed me that you can be in the middle of a big city and still find a pumpkin patch! Seriously the car behind is on a major road. I was so glad too because last year when I asked, no one could tell me of one. This had a troll bridge and treasure hunt we unfortunately didn't get to do:( and panning for gold, an egyptian hay pyramid (again we didn't get to do) Seriously I'm not trying to sound negative but I was surprised at how much we had to "be careful" so no one would get hurt. I guess it's a good thing I'm not a teacher:) I loved being able to go with Haley and it was nice to meet other mom's from her class. Haley is way excited to decorate this baby!

The Rest of September

Here are a few highlights from the last few weeks:<

We've made a go-cart and played with friends.

Dave got taken down in a demo about self-defense at our Emergency Prepardeness Fair.

Haley and I got to attend CAMP READ-A-LOT at her school with camp songs, smores and flashlight reading. This was a really cute idea.

Dave fixing the truck---more to blog on the vehicles;(
We attended a parade for Breast Cancer Awareness. This truck goes around the country and survivors sign it.
This is near the end but I'm telling you what..there is nothing like a hometown parade. The kids had a sack full of candy to bring home!
I've been busy on my to-do list. I'm happy to say that until yesterday when I saw another adorable idea I am pretty much caught up on the wood projects:)haha Here are cute clothespin magnets.
I loved this idea displaying Pres. Hinkley's 9 Be's.

It may not look like much but I'm serious when I say hours of painting. I did more than what is displayed and I learned why people sell vinyl and not finished projects:)haha. I love the Spooky in the middle---It actually glows in the dark!