Look what Grandpa bought for this winter?

The kids had to ride it immediately. ☺ Thankfully they only went a few feet.

Paigey Pie

Tonight I was sitting in the living room, using the laptop, when Paige came into the room. She had been outside playing with friends, and she must have also been visiting Daddy in the garage because she said to me matter-of-factly, "Mom, Daddy told me that he brought me into this world." Then she left the room, and as she was walking away she yelled, "...and he said he can take me out of it!"

I busted a gut laughing so hard, and when I could finally control myself enough to talk I said, "Actually, I brought you into this world."

"I KNOW!" she said. "That's what I told him!"

It Must Be Fall

Fall has begun! This is by far my favorite season of the year. The leaves have begun to change color and fall off of the trees. It's very pretty.

Yesterday we went to my mom's farm to pick pumpkins. On the way to her home we have to drive down a hill that leads past the Minnesota River. I love this section of highway during Autumn because there are several types of deciduous trees in this valley, and their colors are magnificent.

My mom sent 6 pumpkins along home with us to decorate our steps. A few of them are still green so as my friend Sarah pointed out, "They look like watermelon pumpkins." ☺ That they do, and I like 'em. Now we just need to figure out which figure to carve on them. We also picked a bagful of apples from Mom's orchard. I just love how she has her own produce right there on her farm.

Pumpkin picking and apple harvesting: two of the wonderful activities we get to enjoy during this season. I'm getting anxious for Thanksgiving now. ☺

She said what?!

Yesterday my friend Sarah and I took my girls to watch a historic battle reenactment of the Germans' defeat over the invading Roman army in 9 A.D. The neighbor kids were going and so Paige and Emma wanted to watch as well. Since it was only 4 blocks away we decided it was something to do and so we'd go.

It was difficult to see what has happened from where we were standing so I had to explain what was going on to Emma. Thankfully the event was being narrated as it was going on, too, so we could hear the action as well. Quick summary of the battle: Germans cleverly led the Romans into an ambush, Germans used guerrilla tactics on the invading Romans and thus defeated them. The Roman leader killed himself. Germans win.

So we're walking back home, and the girls had biked ahead of us. We caught up to them and saw them talking to some neighbor girls who hadn't attended the reenactment. Paige and Emma must have been filling their friends in on what they missed because Paige yells back to us in her best singsong, tattletale voice, "Mom!!! Emma said that the guy was killed and they cut off his head and they were showing it to people."

Hey, at least Emma was paying attention, right? *wink*

It just sticks with you

During Sunday School this past week, Pastor Jeff prayed that we would "walk in a manner worthy of the LORD" (Colossians 1:10). He said, "Wouldn't that be a great parting thought? 'Have a good week. May you walk in a manner worthy of the LORD.'" I thought that was just a great idea and a great prayer for all of us. I mean, it encompasses everything. If we're walking/living in a manner that is worthy of our Father, then all areas of our lives will be sinless. It was one of those things that people say that you don't easily forget.

Another example of unforgettable quotes came from our other Pastor, Phil. At Luke's funeral he said, "Don't let your emotions determine your view of God. Let your view of God determine your emotions." Wow. Too often I do just the opposite. And the world especially encourages us in that route. If we're angry with our situation in life then we feel we have a right to be angry with God. But if we are experiencing blessings then we're more apt to thank God and be joyful. But 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us, "ALWAYS rejoice, CONSTANTLY pray, IN EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (emphasis added)

I've never had a flavor they didn't like

Four babies. Three cats. Copious amounts of cat food. You see where this is going, right? All babies love to eat the pet food. They're like moths to the flame; they can't stay away. This morning I took Abigail down to the basement with me so I could put a load of laundry into the washer. I set her down, and instantly she was gone. Where? Well over to the kitty dishes, of course. I fed the cats when Abby and I first got downstairs, and so all three were hunched over their food bowls, chowin' away. Now maybe it's the fact that cats are about the same size as crawling infants, and that gives the babies the idea that, "Hey, those furry things are eating those little chunks, and they seem to like them. I better try them, too." I pulled several pieces out of Abby's mouth, and then I emptied her hands. I walked away, looked back at Abigail, and she was chewing on something AGAIN! Three times this happened, before finally I took her upstairs.

I will have to send a letter to the Science Diet company and let them know that their Hairball Formula is not only enjoyed by felines, but humans as well. ☺

Well, Ma'am, you have a condition called "Phone Envy", but thankfully it's treatable.

The CEOs of cellular companies are geniuses. They offer a great and convenient service to us, and we pay exorbitant amounts to access that service. And then they entice us with fancy phones and gadgets, appealing to our eyes. Oh, and we all eat it up, gladly and willingly. They're so smart: they only allow you to renew your contract every 2 years instead of every year and get a new, cheap, sometimes free phone only at those renewals. I don't know about your phone, but after a year my cell phone ends up looking like something that survived a nuclear blast. I drop it almost every day, usually onto concrete or pavement, and the screen and buttons are worn down and scratched and scuffed. About this time my general enthusiasm towards my phone has worn off. I'm at that point now. I have cell phone envy.

Several of my friends have recently acquired new cell phones, and they are beauties! They have QWERTY keyboards, and they slide in many directions, and they take pictures that are actually bigger than my thumbnail, and they show your texts in the form of a conversation instead of simply "Inbox" and "Sent" folders, and the main LCD screen is 3" big! *Sigh* I want one. "Waaaahhhhh!"

But there is a silver lining! My contract is up soon, and then I get to go shopping for a new phone!!! October, please come early this year. ☺

Survey

Leah tagged me in a survey. ☺ I am supposed to write ten HONEST things about myself. Well here goes:

1. I think I’m pretty fast at completing word finds/searches.

2. I like a little French fries with my ketchup.

3. I will stay up all night reading a book and not notice how tired I am.

4. If I get less than 7 hours of sleep I’m very crabby.

5. I dislike being pregnant.

6. I dislike noise while I am awake, but I can’t sleep without a fan in the room.

7. I LOVE sweets!

8. I like it when my girls’ clothes match or coordinate.

9. I am a messy painter. I get paint all over myself, the floor, trim, you name it!

10. I like my furniture to be perpendicular to each other.

Thanks, Leah!