Day 2: Eager Hands

Today (or yesterday as the case may be!) I am thankful for eager hands. Hands that are eager to help and learn new tasks.  My two beautiful helpers made the job in the kitchen a lot easier and certainly much more fun.  The aroma of crockpot applebutter was our sweet reward.

Day 1: Silliness and Special Moments

Today, I did something fun and a bit silly. I dressed up for the kids Halloween party at school.  My inspiration: Miss Frizzle from The Magic School Bus. I even downloaded the theme song to my phone so I could introduce myself to those who didn't understand who I was. I smiled, I laughed and I made my girls day.  That's a lot to be thankful for.


Day One: I am thankful for silliness and special moments with my girls.

Here are some pictures for good measure.

Emma is a Pirate Princess

"Arrrgh"

Another Pirate

It's not often that a child with a last name that begins with W gets to lead the line

"To the Bus!!!!"

Intent on her craft

Pure elation after her team wins at the mummy wrap

Silliness made this a special moment

Pumpkin Fun Family Night

Tonight was the night to carve our pumpkin and make some yummy cookies. Here are the pictures of our time together.

Emma played a mean game of Carcassonne

Taste test after helping mix cookies

Ready for the oven

PUMPKIN GUTS!!!!!!

Intently drawing the eyes

Lydia adding the rest of the facial features

Scary Harry in all his pumpkin glow

Two beautiful girls!

Fall Fun Day

Last Monday our family headed south to Blackwater Falls. We had a lovely fall day and enjoyed our time together. Here are some pictures of our trip.

We love our Wild and Wonderful West Virginia!

Surviving on smiles, laughs and a whole lot of grace

I must admit, laughter doesn't come naturally to me. I love to laugh and take opportunities everyday to do so, but my natural disposition is not particularly carefree and comical.  Due to current life circumstances I know just how important it is to laugh and smile everyday.  I'm stressed, overwhelmed and a whole lot of other things right now so I am taking a moment to document how I'm surviving on smiles, laughs and a whole lot of grace right now.

Lydia lost her 9th tooth last week. She left this endearing note for the "tooth fairy". It made me smile. I was also dog tired and needed to go to bed early. In order not to forget my tooth fairy duties (as I have before) I went in early only to find out she had just turned off the light and was still awake.  Ah well, I'm glad the note assured me I didn't ruin her fun as she already knows I play the role of tooth fairy.

Lot's of love with a side of extortion!

The girls and I went on a nature walk and had fun throwing rocks, counting landmarks to retrace our steps and using super human strength to break rocks.

I am also grateful that my friends make me smile! My journey to understanding friendship in adulthood has been such a learning and growing experience but I wouldn't trade it for the world. I have women in my life who I can really count on and depend on for the things that really matter. Two beautiful orange mums (my favorite) greeted me at the door this week, a gift from a friend. Her kindness and compassion for me during a very difficult season were a reminder of just how much I am loved.

Most importantly I am experiencing the grace of God in the "daily" of life. The kind notes from friends who care, the encouragements from my children that they love me, the support of a faithful and Godly husband. God is teaching me, molding me and shaping me into who He wants me to be. And though I am in a season of pain and confusion right now I have never had as strong a hope. Hope that is secure because it does not depend on my circumstances or the people in my life but it stands secure in the person of Jesus Christ. I am known, loved and recieved just as I am by the Savior of the world, that truly is a whole lot of grace.

Blessings!

Fall learning #1 - apples

Here are the fall activities we did over the last month.  Great fun learning and growing together.

10 Apples up on top

Apple measurements (they even got to measure mommy!)

Apple Science - Jar 1.Clean apple cut and placed in jar. Jar 2. Apple cut rubbed with our hands (germs) and placed in jar.

Roll an apple tree

Roll and apple tree

Monthly memory verse: "A man gathers a crop from what he sows." Gal.6:7

Fall sensory bin

Parts of an apple

eraser stamping parts of an apple

Books:

• Mr. Putter and Tabby Pick the Pears
• The Giving Tree
• Apple Fractions
• The Man who Sold the Shade
• Mr. Peabody's Apples
• Apple's, Apple's, Apple's

Recipe: Fill a crock pot with cored and sliced apples, squirt of lemon juice and 1/2 c water and let the crock pot do the rest.  Mash or use an immersion blender for the consistency you like.

Homemade applesauce and apple butter. Yummy!