Halloween

I love this photograph.

I feel like it says so much about my kids ages (and maybe a touch of personality too).

This was taken at our ward party last weekend, about 2 minutes into the donut game.

The game where you can't use your hands to eat the donut on a string.

Zach stands there, no bite thus far, but patiently going at it.

And Lily, well, she doesn't suffer fools gladly.

She's taken matters into her own hands, literally.

Zachary's kindergarten Halloween party was last Wednesday, and I was in charge of the craft.

We made these little owl cookie pops. Fun and cute. (made from a moon pie!)

We spent the weekend in St. Louis for my grandfather's 80th birthday party.

It was a wonderful time.

I got back this afternoon and was feeling horrible.

So sick, I slept for 6 hours.

And now here it is Halloween night.

I'm afraid I won't get a decent picture of their costumes this year,

(maybe I can convince them to dress up tomorrow?)

and tomorrow is November 1st.

I can think of two radio stations that will be playing Christmas music.

This time of year goes so quickly, and I do love it.

She's got a way

I took Roman and Lily to the Deanna Rose Farmstead one more time this year.

Lily got a bottle of milk to feed the baby goats, and she marched right in there.

She wanted to give each animal a taste, but those baby goats, they don't like to share.

She'd say, "That's enough! You are done now!"

She didn't let those baby goats bully her,

"NO FIGHTING!" and, "DON'T eat my sweater!" she exclaimed.

Reminded me of a video from the farmstead earlier this spring...

"DON'T BE MAD AT THE ANIMALS!"

...and Zach, well, he's sad at the end because he's just been pushed (by goats) into their water.

Two Rocks

It was a no school Friday so we made a trip down to Montrose, Missouri to visit Dave's mom and step-dad. On the road I spent the whole time reading Town and Country and Harper's Bazaar Magazines. Just when I thought I'd reached my limit of overly sexed advertisements for expensive watches and perfume...I turned the page and saw a naked man covering his groin with a cologne bottle. No really, I almost spit out my water in a fit of laughter. That man, he's alive somewhere on this globe, and what in the world would he think about fishing, and rifles, and hot dogs, and pears from a tree in the middle of Missouri? Oh the dichotomy. I wonder what a life glamorized in those glossy pages would feel like. I'll be honest, I haven't a clue. But all day long the sky was soft and cloudy and the wind was blowing. The open expanses invited introspection. There are certainly endless ways to fill a day. I feel refreshed and peaceful tonight, so I'm content with the way I filled mine.

young love.

Photographs of my beautiful friend Tiffany and her sweet Ryder.

(two weeks! she looks amazing and I am speechless!)

It's quite wonderful this life cycle we are apart of.

Tomorrow morning I am going on my first field trip where my role is parent volunteer.

I've been on lots of field trips...

as a student

as a student teacher

as a teacher

and now here I am, the parent.

For the first time I get to skip the bus and take my own car.

Finally, I have arrived.

Apples taste so good when you eat them on a farm.

Oh boy. Life is busy...but good.

Today though...today was not busy.

Today was just what the doctor ordered.

Today Zachary had an early release day, and David called it quits too.

We loaded up in the car and wandered around all afternoon.

We visited the Red Barn Farm and snacked on apples.

We found a new-to-us park, played and threw rocks in the pond.

We got thirsty and picked up our favorite drinks.

We went to Nebraska Furniture Mart

(largest home furnishing store in North America...hugeness)

and drove the kids all around in the car shaped strollers...

we pretended to look at furniture, but mostly, we were playing bumper cars...

and riding in the glass elevators.

It was a good day.

I love my family.