Booting Summer Out the Door

I am so glad today is September 1st! I can bring out all my fall decorations without feeling like I wasn't giving summer a fair chance at all. I am done with summer, bring on FALL!!!

There are so many great things I love about Fall, so today I give you my top 10 Things I Love About Fall List:

10. Going to the zoo and staying all day because you aren't dying of heat exhaustion

9. Crunchy Leaves

8. Seeing all the colors change

7. Playing in the leaves with the kids

6. Doing art projects with leaves, pumpkins and acorns

5. All things pumpkin and fall decor

4. Picking apples at the orchard and then baking apple crisps with the kids

3. Soups, stews and honeycrisp apples!!

2. Visiting the pumpkin patch (probably more than once)

1. Cooler weather and my most favorite holiday THANKSGIVING!!!

Yes, I know I shouldn't love the cooler weather over, well, everything else but I do!! I love the mornings when it's a little brisk. I can sit on the porch with a cup of hot tea or take a walk. I love the way fall smells too. No need to tell me I'm strange, I already know it. There is just something about fall that is just plain wonderful!

I am already gathering all my soup recipes and finding new ones. I am already thinking of all the great projects the kids can do for school projects centered around fall and Thanksgiving. I am pulling out the pumpkins and other fall decor this weekend. I will also be putting together a new fall wreath (my finally just gave up and died after last year).

What do you love about fall? What are your favorite things to do in the fall?

Now, if it wasn't 102 degrees today . . . . . . come on weather, cooperate!!

I Finally Gave Up

Daniel finally got his first hair cut! I did it actually about a month ago and boy did it ever need it.

I just loved his soft little curls and I didn't want him to lose that baby look. But when I had him in the tub and he looked like this, I knew it was time!! At least he still has soft curls, they just aren't so long!





Here is the finished product. . . .


I feel him getting older. Now I see it too.

Having Fun In the Story Fort

Whew, what a week it's been. We have been running around so busy and working in the house. So this post was actually supposed to go up last Saturday, but alas, it didn't.

In my quest to come up with fun things to do at home and ways to incorporate Samuel into our school day I had the idea for a story carpet.

The story carpet is simply four yards of fleece, one yard each of four different pieces (two girly, two boyish) and they were cut and tied together to form a large rectangle.

So the story carpet is finally finished and in use---AND WE LOVE IT!!

We have story time on it, we do flash cards and then of course Mama also decided it would be great to use for the Story Fort.

Every Friday is Fort day. Its a fairly new tradition, started last Friday. We told stories, sang songs, played games like I Spy, we counted, sang ABC's, counted by 2's, 5's and 10's. Mama also allowed lunch to be eaten in the fort. Typically a big no-no, eating in the living room, but you gotta live a little. A little bit of education going on and a lot of fun!

It was a great day. The kids had a blast.


Samuel in the fort. That afro is small compared to what it looks like all picked out.


Makiah in the fort, wild hair and all.


Daniel sitting in his bumbo. He joined us in the fort for stories and singing and then I looked around and . . . .

this is what I saw. We had completely wore him out. He was picked up and laid down for a good nap.


And then after all the fun, they even napped in there, even Makiah. She only takes a nap every three months unless she's sick, so it was a blissful afternoon.

At the end of the day we picked up the pillows and folded up our fort, but the memories linger. Sam asks everyday if we can build the fort.

Story Fort Friday was a huge success and will now be a tradition. Fun and educational is a happy combo.

I'll be back tomorrow with more great pics and talk of corn. You won't to miss it.

Edited to add, that yes Samuel is only in a pull-up and Makiah is wearing her umbrella pj's. . . what fun is a story fort if you can't be comfortable in it.

Boy Meets Chicken

So we went to visit family over the weekend, and during that trip we stopped in one little town where my Dad's sister and her husband live. My uncle is currently raising designer chickens. So he asked me if the kids and I wanted to go see the chickens. So we jumped on the cub cadet and headed up to where the chickens are housed.

When we reached the coop, Uncle Bear and Samuel go in and begin feeding the chickens. Sam just walks right in, like he's lived around chickens his whole life. Sam loves animals and apparently chickens are no exception.

Makiah and I stayed outside of the coop. Makiah likes animals from a far and I only like animals in pictures.

So Uncle Bear and Sam begin throwing bread out for the chickens. Uncle Bear said "woo" one time as he threw a piece of bread and every time thereafter Samuel loudly and in a sing-songy voice said "woooo" as he threw the bread out.

Then he chased the chickens around the coop.

Uncle Bear also has ducks in there, so Samuel went very close to the ducks. Then he caught a mama duck and Samuel held it for about three or four minutes before she found her wings free to escape.

Samuel asked me if he could "pwease have a chicken and a duckie to take home wif me?"

A strong and I-don't-think-so no was given and Samuel was sad for about two and a half seconds. He couldn't be sad any longer than that because he was too busy chasing chickens.

Only problem with this BIG chicken adventure--I don't have any pictures of it. I had left the camera in the car.

I guess we'll have to visit again so I can get some pictures. I don't think Sam will have a problem with visiting again.

Fun in the Sun

Saturday we went north to visit with family. We had a great time!! We went and visited with my Mammy, who is wonderful, but wouldn't let me take her picture because she hadn't done her hair yet. Then we headed into town (we were out in the country by the river) and visited with two of my uncles, two aunts, my cousin and her two year old son. We met at the playground to play--the kids ran around, dug in the dirt, played on the playground and we got to talk our heads off. It was fabulous. It was a perfect day weather wise, chilly morning, but warmed up really nice.


Daniel, before he was extracted and passed from one loving family member to the next.


Makiah is the swinging queen.


For some reason Sam was really scared of the slide at first, but once he went down a few times, he didn't want to quit. I am not sure why, he has been down many slides, but this was the first metal one and it was higher than the others.

It was a great day, lots of fun and lots of laughter.

I have another fun story from the weekend, but you'll have to wait until tomorrow.

Our Fire Truck Day

My Samuel is obsessed with fire trucks and firemen. Ever since the fire in our apartment where he watched them climb and in full gear and the lights, and, etc he has talked non-stop about them. So today the library was having a program about fire trucks and firemen and we went. Sam finally got to see a fireman get "dressed up" (Sam quote) and look at all the fire truck stuff. We even got fireman hats. OH, yes, it was great indeed. Here are a few pics of our morning. Sam looks like he is having a dreadful time, but he was hot and tired and was ready to go when we got the hats. He really did have a great time. Makiah enjoyed herself, but was hot so she thought she was going to melt. I am glad it only lasted one hour.



He is intently watching the fireman "get dressed". He kept his hands on his ears for most of it. He thought the sirens were going to go any second.


Makiah is watching and the sirens are blaring.


This picture doesn't really speak "Great times", but we had to have at least one picture with the hats on.


I am exhausted! Give me my blankie and let me sleep.


I just had to throw this one in. I finally caught him smiling and the picture wasn't blurry. If you hadn't smiled yet, I bet you just did.

Well, I am all blogged out. Two posts in one day is more than enough.

The fun is over, it's time for dishes.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Let's go fly a kite
Up to the highest height
Let's go fly a kite
And send it soaring. . . . . .

That's what the kids and daddy did today. After a slaggle type morning they went outside and Hubs broke out the kite and he actually got in the air. Bright sunshine, lots of wind, it just looked like a kite kind of day. Here are a few pics to document the fun. . . .


Hubs is really concentrating on keeping this thing up and he is looking into the sun.


Winnie-the-Pooh has taken flight.


I am not quite sure what Makiah is doing right here, but from that expression and the way her hand is positioned it looks like "Oh the humanity!"


Makiah handling the kite all on her own.


Sam is holdin' (Sam speak) it, but needs a little help from dad.

They are out behind our town house.

They had a great time and everyone had ice cream afterwards.

Good times, people, good times.

My Daddy, Just A Few Thoughts

My Daddy is a great man. I am an only child and yes I was spoiled and still am. My Dad though is wonderful. My dad used to snore. Yes, used to, he now has a breathing machine because of sleep apnea, but as a kid he used to raise the roof. I loved to hear him snore. When I went away to college, I couldn't sleep for the first week, because there was no snoring. That sound was the sound of my protector and he was there, in the house, should my mom and I need him.

When I was little (maybe 7 or 8) I came outside while my dad was preparing to go on a hunting trip to Colorado, he went every year and he was checking out his bow. I was just amazed. I didn't usually see any weapons, he never just left them laying around, so I thought it was just the coolest thing, that bow. He began to tell me how it worked and showed me the arrow. I was lost through most of it, but he loved telling me and I loved listening to my daddy. I remember thinking how big and strong he looked with his hunting gear on and his bow out. My daddy can be a man of few words, but he always said what was important. I always knew he loved me, he showed me and told me often.

My daddy is older now, and so am I. I am not listening for snoring anymore, but I still know that whatever I need my daddy is there. Hubs is great and I love him dearly, but there is just something about daddy. Daddy's do something that no one else can do.

I thank God today and everyday for a good daddy. A daddy who raised me right, took good care of me, loved me and my mom unconditionally (and still does), prayed for me and is now an awesome grandpa.

I am so blessed.

A Couple of Days in Review

Yesterday was a good day. My parents wanted to spend some time with the two oldest grandkids and so I happily dropped them off with Grams and Gramps and met a friend for lunch. Hubs was meeting with a man in the church, so it was just Daniel and I. I enjoyed my lunch out without children and then we went and bought the gifts for Fathers Day for the men in the church.

Makiah and Sam had a blast. They went and played minature golf. It was Sam's first time and Grandpa was trying to help him and on one of the holes Sam hit the ball before Grandpa got to him and he got a hole in one. Everyone cheered and clapped and Sam told me later that he got a "holey one". Makiah plays well and enjoys golf. Dad actually bought her a real golf club last year and told her he would teach her to play.

After all that excitement we all met back at my parents place and had Father's Day Dinner together (yes, I know it was a day early, but that's okay). We got Dad a silver golf case with his name engraved on it and inside carries ball markers, a divot repair tool and some wooden tee's. He was pleased with it.

Onto Sunday, which is always a crazy day for us. We had Sunday school and church (one service right now) this morning and then we took Hubs out to lunch. Then this evening I worked on the invitations to Open Grill (outreach tool) and on my Family Unity class. Then one of the young men came over and helped Hubs finish the model ship for Open Grill.

It's been a full couple of days and we are entering a three week run of craziness around here. Between church stuff, Family Unity and having to pack to move in two weeks, I am feeling a little overwhelmed. But once the next three weeks are done, maybe things will settle down for a little while. . . . . somehow I doubt it. :)

What a great weekend!

Our friends from St. Louis came this weekend and it has been a fabulous weekend. We have played Wii, shopped, talked and had awesome church services; four great things to do with friends. I have missed them greatly and seeing them has been like taking a breath of fresh air.

We have been talked into going to church camp for a couple of days and so I have a thousand things to do. Friends will be leaving around noon today and then it will be a cleaning and packing marathon.

Just a side note, so far I am LOVING the cloth diapers!!! He is in his third one and it is great!! I am thinking that this is going to be Lovelock friendly after all.

More posting later, I must talk it up some more.

Hope everyone is having a great Memorial Day!! Happy BBQing.

One More Year as a Twenty-something

Today is my birthday, my final year in my twenties. . . . it really doesn't bother me that much.  I am more astounded at the fact that I am actually 29, been married for 9 years and have had 4 children.  TIme seems to move so quickly.  I was making a statement about attending Gateway and when I was going there. . . . . and then it donned on me that it had actually been 10 years since I was a Gateway student.  Since like yesterday. . . . . . okay enough rambling.

So today I have been spending the day with my family and just hanging out.  Today is actually the day we were able to obtain the ever coveted Wii.  So my husband is currently playing with our new toy. 

My husband and I and Daniel are going out to eat and leaving the two older kids with my parents (everyone bow your heads and pray for my dear parents).  Daniel is to little to leave. . well he makes my parents nervous because "he can't tell me what's wrong" (quote of my mom). . so he is going with me.  Taking him to a restaurant is okay, taking the terrific two year old is another story altogether.  My kids are happy about going to Grams and Grandpa's, they will have a better time with them, and Olive Garden will be peaceful.

So not much happening around here today.  Thank ya Jesus.  I cherish these kind of days.