Soldiers and Rappers

Our FHE (family home evening) lesson was about putting on the whole armor of God. It went really well. Tony gave a great lesson and talked about us standing together as a family and fortifying ourselves against the evils of the world and how to protect ourselves against temptation and despair and being prepared. Good job hon, it was one of the best lessons we've ever had, actually. We collected armor for the young'uns and Conner was looking soldieresque (do you love my liberal use of the English language?) Really ready to face the world there kiddo. A shining beacon during dark times. Now because each child needs an equal chance to put on that armor of righteousness we also collected (leftovers) for the other child in our family. Nothing says preparation like rain boots, a bicycle helmet, and brother's old basketball shorts. In fact when all was said and done, she looked a bit like MC Hammer (does that date me or what?) That's either a shield or one serious piece of bling!


What has been your favorite FHE? You know you want to tell me...besides I love new ideas!

Baby Bird

Need I say more? Excuse me while I go dig up some worms to bring back to this nest...

Love Is A Many Splendid Thing

First off, my brother David and his darling Beth got married on Thursday. What a beautiful couple and what a beautiful day. Now I have friendly children, right? They saw the love between these two people and wanted to find a piece of this happiness. My charming son met a sweet little girl and the two instantly hit it off. Check out the pic of my boy and check out the eyes, the hands.
I think he's smitten... Never one to be outdone, my girl CC decided to get in on the action. She and a little friend circled each other for a moment. CC had a beautiful corsage and I thought for sure the two would get into a fight over it. Thank heavens for my brother in law and his camera, cuz the next thing I know the two gave each other a big kiss. Now everyone had had a lot of punch to drink...CC was pretty high on frosting. Still, love can be spontaneous and what better place than a reception, a celebration of two souls beginning life's journey together to bring out those moments of affection for another person.

Witchy Woman

Remember the playwright I met this summer? Tony got over it, but he did get kind of friendly with a gal on a bench tonight.
I don't know, but I am thinking cute couple. Maybe I should move over... Ok we were going to go to the pumpkin patch, but my brother is getting married on Thursday and they are having pumpkins at the luncheon for decorations, so we are good on the pumpkins. So tonight we decided to head on over to Gardner village. Conner was navigating when we got there... "Mom we are heading southeast" and upon seeing the flattened witch against the silo "Mom, is she going to get in trouble for being up there?" CC was in witchy heaven. They have a witch using the outhouse and CC pointed at her and said "POTTY!" (Hallelujah, maybe we can potty train her early....honey, if the witch can do it...) She saw some ducks and geese and ponies and little baby boys and went after all of them. If you haven't been there yet this year, check it out. They've added a lot and it's well worth it. If only for the photo ops!

The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

I absolutely love this time of year! I love the fall colors, the harvest decorations. Halloween is a favorite for me. I am always looking for new pumpkin decorating ideas and I know a lot of you might be too. A friend had this link on her blog and there are some amazing ideas for this year's pumpkins. I am a very visual person and I love colors and textures. These pics were some of my favorites that I saw. What are your favorite ways to decorate you family's pumpkins?


Here is the link.

Happy decorating! If you have a fun idea or do something wild and crazy this year with your pumpkin, post pics. Now I just need to go to the pumpkin patch and get some!!

Now That's Refreshing

So I have this parent's handbook. I wrote it. The first rule is that I am no longer a mommy after 8pm. Now before you say "Rachel that is awful!" let me make my case. The first rule helps me get up the next day. The first rule helps me follow all the other rules I have written like not going crazy, not medicating myself with chocolate (well that rule gets broken, so that doesn't count) giving my best from 6:30 AM to 8 PM. I ADORE my kids, but when it's bedtime, it's bedtime and I don't look back. Give me all the hugs and kisses you can, but Sianara, Au Revoir, Buenos Nochas it's Daddy and Mommy time...it's mommy recharging when let's be honest, sleep is not enough to do that, not really. It's reconnecting to the essence that makes me ME. Writing, reading, chatting, creating, listening, pondering, laughing, remembering. And when 6:30 AM comes again, I hold the little ones close, grateful for every second with them... because I feel refreshed again. (DISCLAIMER:) "Refreshed" at 6:30 AM may be pushing it just a bit....

A Fairy Tale

Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess. She was having a bad day. There was much crying, head butting and attacking of inanimate objects in the land. Her royal nursemaid was on scullery duty and the distressed princess began to relax. She climbed into the apparatus for cleaning off caked on foodstuffs and began pulling out the dirty goblets and placing them back into the cupboards. The weeping and wailing had ceased and the nursemaid was happy. Now the nursemaid realized after capturing the sheer moments of joy, that the royal dagger was near the princess as she worked so please do not call all the king's horses and all the king's men. It was promptly removed and the princess was unharmed...until she head butted a drawer.