Either brown or green

This is our fall. It was 85 degrees just four days ago and the girls were swimming. The water was just cool enough that they had to keep on the move. In and out of the 70 degree water. It was sunny and nice.

Today was the first real feel of the new season. I have yet to see leaves in any colors other than brown or green. But they are falling, and falling and falling. I think all the raking I did today qualifies as an official workout too, right! :) Keith and I have decided mowing this yard negates the need for a gym membership. The picture of the leaf piles shows only half the back yard and the front is equal in size. We've been told it takes until January for all the trees to be completely bare.

We enjoyed a nice rain this evening with a fire burning in the fireplace. It was just right to take the little chill out of the house. Hope everyone is enjoying this harvest season. I saw pictures that my friend took just about an hour from us and the colors were just amazing.

Our version

This fun and super easy craft is our take on fall color. I started making these when I taught preschool. I love them so much that we make some every Autumn.

We color regular coffee filters with markers, squirt them with a water bottle, then cut out a leaf shape when dry. I put them all around the house and on the windows. We will get some real leaf color but not until close to November. I can't wait that long. Our leaves looked a bit more tye-dye this year because the girls used less brown. They wanted to use the other colors more :)

It's Jared's day

Happy Birthday to my sweet son. He turns 20 today, oh my! We had a very nice dinner with him and Linsey last night. They are so cute.

The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Psalm 19: 7-10

They like to jump.....

and play in the giant corn 'pool'. It was the funnest activity at the pumpkin patch. It was kind of like playing in the sand but not so messy. The kids and adults were throwing it, burying each other in it and as you can see, jumping into it. I couldn't believe the girls were doing flips into it. They were on their second jump when I took the picture. I was a bit worried that it wasn't safe so that was their last jump. I put my arms deep into the corn and it was cold under the surface. There was an umbrella shading one corner. This is where I decided to sit after taking a ton of pictures. It was actually very relaxing.

{ Madison, Kaprianna and Aimee doing a flip into the corn}

The girls did come home with some kernels in their waistbands:)

Wise men

Our first president, George Washington said, "It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible."

John Adams, our second president said, "The Bible is the best book in the world." He also believed, "Suppose a nation in some distant region should take the Bible for their own law book, and every member should regulate his conduct by the precepts there exhibited...what a utopia; what a paradise this region would be."

We made it out!

Just a little glimpse of our day. We visited a pumpkin patch that claims to have the world's largest corn maze ( 43 acres). It was HUGE and I must take their word for it. Let's just say, give us ladies a map and we will get out (legitimately or otherwise:). I am off to get some rest as tomorrow is my day to be in the classroom at school. I hope to post again this week with some highlights of the day and more pictures.

Slowing down

Things have been so very busy for us lately. Our back to school routine was put on halt this week due to Pastor's Conference. We are used to this break and welcome it. However, my cell phone makes my 'office' too portable, and other commitments have made us feel the need to slow down mid-week. Keith was gone for dinner tonight so it was a great opportunity to make dinner just for us girls. We love fettuccine alfredo with salad. I have Starr to thank for this delicious, rich, recipe that turned out just perfect. While I made dinner, the girls were upstairs playing. I decided we all needed to have a special time at dinner tonight. They came down to the dinning table set with three places and candle light to eat by. They were very excited. I had music playing from the next room and it was very relaxing. They said it was better than a restaurant because we were in our comfy clothes and we got to choose the music. I reminded them that we get to wash our own dishes too :) I take pictures of everything so of course I have a picture.

Proverbs 16:24

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.




This is a picture I took while visiting the butterfly habitat at 6 flags. So many beautiful colors!

A thank you

To my all loving Saviour, my gracious Heavenly Father, I thank you. I praise you for giving me my husband. Twelve years ago today, you joined us in marriage. Thank you for blessing our marriage and allowing us such joy in our children. All in your precious name, Amen.

Monday's adventure

Madison was invited to Aimee's b-day party at 6 flags. Mia and I decided it would be a great time for us to go too since she had never been. Not officially a party crash as Mrs. M offered us her extra tickets from the girls who couldn't make it. We had a great time! The park is so clean and easy to get around. Mia and I met up with all the party girls a few times. Once was to ride the White Water Safari. We all fit onto one 'boat'. I was a bit nervous because I have a history of being the wettest passenger at the end of any water ride. History did repeat itself! I was the one who got the waterfall down my backside and the water splash to the front. If that wasn't enough, there is a spot for spectators to put a quarter into a water squirter and push the pretty red button. Well the water got me square in the face. I couldn't help but laugh and give the spectators a thumbs up :).

Mia and I went directly to the ride we renamed the hairdryer. It is the scrambler ride. Our hair was dry by the end but not our clothes. Mia's favorite ride was the wooden ark. She went on it five times. She and I are not too fond of scary rides. Madison on the other hand loves them. I was excited to take Mia to the shark exhibit. I remember taking Jared there 16 years ago when it first opened. The tunnel would have a line waiting to see the new attraction. Well, 16 years later, it seems to have run its course. Mia and I were the only ones going through the tunnel! Sharks are so amazing to me. I still think it is neat to see them so close. And the saw nose shark just confirms how amazing God's creation is.

We saw the girls again at the dolphin show. The day was lots of fun. Mia and I headed out a bit before the park closed. The birthday party continued to dinner at The Olive Garden and then swimming until 10:00 pm. Mrs. M is the greatest wouldn't you say. She can throw one great party!

On a side note, I wanted to share some old fashioned goodness that still exists in the world. I went to our favorite little organic farm today to get my fil his newest favorite fruit (yellow flesh watermelon). As I entered the little stand I noticed that there wasn't anyone there, anywhere. I looked around and saw a sign that read, "We are operating on honor pay today. Choose your items, weigh them, and put your money in the red box." The little red box was on lock of course. May sound kind of silly but it sure makes me feel good to know that a trusting nature still exists.

The girls don't go back to school until the first week of September so we took advantage of a weekend away. We always enjoy making a trip to Bodega while visiting SR. The craft stores were a great place to hang out while waiting for the fog to burn off at the coast. We made our way out just about lunch time. The temperature was nice in the little town of Bodega, about 75 degrees(about 15 degrees cooler at the ocean though). We walked around just a few minutes and the girls found the wild blackberry bushes. They tried enough that we needed to find a place to wash up. We came back into town to do a little shopping before dinner. I got a call from Keith. He was finished with his first day of a golf tournament and I was expecting to hear how he placed. He always calls me right after a round to give me an update:) His news was even more exciting than his placement. He hit his first hole in one! I was so happy for him. He hit from 195 yards on the eighth hole. How fun!


The girls and I went to church on Sunday and finished up with some fun. I love being in church. I really missed our church even though everyone was so nice at the church we visited. So glad to be home, and so tired. We got home just in time for another adventure yesterday. That is another post. God is so good and blesses us more than we deserve! The last picture I took out the window while Keith was driving.

Yummy

This is some of the fabric for our Christmas projects. It is just gorgeous! The bright colors are, well, yummy!

In it not of it

James 4:4-10

Ye adulterers and aduteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy
of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,the spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Clense your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Loosing teeth and innocence

"I suspect that you are the tooth fairy mom."

I couldn't find the fabric I was looking for...

but this basil cord with tiffany blue lining is pretty cute. It's reversible! I couldn't resist putting my bee brooch on for fun. I have the BEST secret sister at church. She bought me the sewing magazine that had the hip little bag pattern in it. My mom came for a visit just in time to get some fun sewing and craft projects underway. With my mom's help, we got the bag made in an afternoons time. We took a day trip to do some fabric shopping and found really cute prints for the girls' skirts. Mads and Mia have started collecting all the supplies needed to make the Christmas gifts that they have decided to make. I did find the fabric that I was looking for and can't wait to try making a skirt! Practice, practice.