Happy Halloween!

 

Crazy Busy

Today and the next few days are just going to be simply, CRAZY BUSY!  But, isn't this what we moms and kids live for?

Today is Ashy's school Halloween party and mixed in is a field trip to the dentist office.

Tomorrow is Abigail's school Halloween party. She has early release so I'm hoping I can take the girls out to get some pre-Halloween pictures of them all dressed up (which will mean I'll be getting the girls all dressed up Friday, Saturday and again on Sunday).  It's also grocery shop time.  I can't put that on the back burner because the food supply in this house is way, way, low.  Not to mention, I haven't even bought any candy for the few trick or treaters that might stop by before we head out on Sunday.

We still need to carve our $2.98 Walmart pumpkins into something spooky and I've really been wanting to make caramel apples.

Saturday is Abigail's last soccer game, a surprise end of the season lunch to the new Subway that opened in Kuna, Cody's birthday party and a Halloween party.

Everything we've been waiting for all month long is finally here!

I've been saying

All summer I've been saying to Ash that she should try riding Abigail's old bike, but I knew she just didn't feel as comfortable on it as she did her little bike (which blew a tire).  And then, Thursday night, after some prompting from her sister, she finally decided to give it another try.  Sure enough, she did great on the bigger bike, starting and stopping all on her own and loving the new found freedom of being a big kid and able to ride around the block.  Now, all she wants to do is go out and ride bikes. Of course this happens right when the nice weather disappears.

 (the girls lined up the cones and practiced weaving in and out of them)

We've lived in our house for 4 years already and every fall I've been saying, "we need to plant tulips."  And every spring I jealously look at the neighbors yards with their blooming sings of new life and kick myself for not doing it.  Well, we finally planted some.  Last week I asked J to pick up a few things at Costco for me (a bonus to working right next to one) and he brought home a little surprise for me.  Tulips.  90 tulip bulbs to be exact!  Thanks J!  I can't wait for spring!

I've been saying at every Saturday soccer game how nice the weather's been and how great it's been not sitting their freezing while we watch, like it was during the spring season.  But, this past Saturday was a whole different story. We were all (Annie, Michayla, Ash and I) bundled up in our winter coats, blankets draped over us, and hats on to keep warm.  I am thankful, we made it pretty far in the season, thanks for holding out as long as you did nice weather.

Last year Melissa forwarded a pumpkin cookie recipe to me and I've been saying I should make those.  Well, Sunday the girls and I decided to do it.

When the leaves on our trees changed colors I was saying I needed to get a picture.  I'm so glad I finally got out there and took one on Friday because by Sunday (due to all the rain) most of the leaves had fallen off.

 

What have you been saying lately?

Little things

Jason asked me the other day, "Do you feel like your life is a musical?"
Ash told us the bathroom was out of toilet paper but of course she didn't just say it, she sang it.  Both girls are always singing, and it's usually songs they make up.  Abigail is big into writing songs.

I bought the first egg nog of the season.  Abigail was so excited to get some 'egg milk' and Ash is now calling it 'wizards milk', due to the witch on the carton.

I made my first batch of apple butter, oh the smell that filled the house, that should be a Scentsy scent.   The best part was delivering it around to a few neighbors.  I picture them all sipping a hot cup of coffee with a slice of apple butter toast, okay that's just what I do.

On Sunday, we took a walk down to the creek with the neighbor boys.  By the end, the kids had a plan to go home and make invitations to invite us all to 'nature church' after dinner.  I'm not sure how they came up with the idea, but it was really sweet.  It occupied Luke and Abigail all afternoon - writing songs, drawing nature pictures and talking about how the 'program' would go.   Next Sunday is Columbus church and the Sunday after that pumpkin church.

I never did mention it (on the blog), last month J and I celebrated our 9th anniversary.

I love the October sky.  I've happened to catch a lot of sunsets this month and am always surprised at the colors that can fill the sky.

Can a post on 'little things' be complete without mention of our beloved dog?  I don't think so.  Jake has a bed in the house, one that I thought would be moved out during the summer.  But it ended up staying inside for his morning, noon and evening visits in the house with us.  It was only kicked out on cleaning days, and times when I just couldn't stand it inside anymore.  Jake liked having his bed outside, but one day he liked having it out there a whole lot more.

We just bought Jake a new bed and this one wouldn't be thrown outside, at least not until next summer.

Look at Ash in her new outfit.  What a doll!  I was informed of the Childrens Place huge $4.99, and once you apply the 20% off coupon I had, that made everything $4.  So I got her boots for 4 dollars, the skirt for 4 dollars and the jacket for 4 dollars.  What a deal.

A Hardworking Man

Jason just spent the last 10 days at home on vacation.

Well, a vacation from work at least.

He had a list of things to get to and get done around here.

You wanna know what I love so much about him?

He's always got a project to do, (this last week it was multiple projects)

he keeps up on the maintenance of our home and vehicles, 

he maximizes the time he has off, or at home, and makes sure his day was productive,
and most of all, he cherishes his time with me and the girls.

We LOVED having him home.
He played with the girls, took them to the park and on 4-wheeler rides, made them his special helpers.
He helped me around the house, did honey-do's for me, watched the girls so I could have some mommy free time, and ran errands with me.

.It was a nice change to the daily routine.

Thanks J for a fun week, and for all the things you did around the house.
I love you!

The Perfect Pumpkin - Take Two

Yep, we went to the pumpkin patch twice in one day.  This time it was Abigail's turn to find the perfect pumpkin.

Abigail had a hard time finding just the right one.  The pumpkin pictured above, was not it.  I wonder, is she more like me, who doesn't like to make decisions, or more like Jason, who would have to get the perfect pumpkin.

Here's how she finally ended up picking one, her and Jason lined them all up and then eliminated them one by one.

 

It was a great family night!  

All except for the moment Ash was screaming and crying over the fact that her shoes and pants were covered in mud.  I wonder if today she'd laugh about it?  Probably not.

The Perfect Pumpkin

Today was Ash's first preschool field trip.

  It was such a beautiful morning to be at the pumpkin patch.
I enjoyed watching Ashy run all around.

Ten.Ten.Ten

 (photo taken with Jason's cell)

1. Jason headed off early to go deer hunting with dad and Mick.
2. The girls and I went to church.
3. We met Jason at mom and dad's.
4. Grandma made pudding with the girls.
5. We ate hamburgers with homemade pickles for dinner out on the patio.
6. My brother called.
7. Jason took the girls riding, they saw the sunset.
8. I walked Jake.
9. We watched some TV together.
10. Jason carried a sleepy girl to bed and I carried a sleepy girl to bed.

Randomness

Is it October already?  

And the 8th?  

Wow, where have I been, what have we been up to?

I'm glad you asked.

Abigail was sick at the beginning of the month. Fevers, cough, sore throat.

While Abigail was home sick she learned how to make friendship bracelets.

Ash is enjoying preschool and loves when it is 'show and tell' day.

I recently made a wreath for fall.

I have burlap waiting to be made into a table runner.

Jason has been really busy at work.  All his hard work paid off, he had a great visit.  And today starts his 10 day vacation at home! 

Abigail has a 5 day weekend.

Ashy got her kindergarten shots today.  She's 38 lbs (50%) and 43 1/2 inches (75%).

Have you seen the (huge) pumpkins at Walmart for only $2.98.  I bought 4 to add to the corn stalks on the front porch.

Abigail and I canned peaches together.

We've been enjoying pumpkin bread for breakfast.

I'm excited for all the things we have planned this month. I'm afraid October will fly by.

And just a side note, Christmas is in 78 days.