Lessons from a Tree

Sometimes when I'm driving, I like to look for trees.   

Not just any tree, but trees that stand a lone.  

 You know, when you travel somewhere and for the most part, see nothing but wide open field;  but then all of the sudden- there's a strange, out of place, tree that changes up the landscape just a little bit?    

Those are the trees I love.    

   

For example, whenever I drive to Calgary, there are two trees in particular that always catch my attention.   (I pass by one just before I approach Ft.Mcleod, and one just after Claresholm.)    I love both of those trees because though they seem to have sprouted up out of no where, they've found a place for themselves and are absolutely unmovable.   I love the way these trees withstand the wind that beats relentlessly upon them day after day.   And I love the way that even though those trees stand alone - they stand so tall and majestic.         

I recently came across this poem and it makes me love trees even more!!

The Oak Tree

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the Oak Tree's leaves away.

Then snapped its boughs

and pulled its bark

until the Oak was tired and stark.

But still the Oak Tree held its ground

while other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing Oak?"

The Oak Tree said, I know that you

can break each branch of mine in two,

carry every leaf away,

shake my limbs and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see

they are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

of just how much I could endure.

But now I've found with thanks to you,

I'm stronger than I ever knew.

Chocolate Factory

My sister Jewel married into the best family!   (actually, so did I for that matter;)    

I say this about Jewel though because she married into a family of Chocolate Makers!!!  

I am pretty much convinced that the perfect combination of relatives would consist of at least 1 doctor, 1 mechanic, 1 dentist and 1 expert chocolate maker.    As a result, I have made it clear to my children that they will have to either Become or Marry any one of the above. 

  (Naturally, they are free to chose for themselves, within the parameters of that stipulation;)

ANYWAYS- back to the chocolate.

Thanks to Jewel's Mother in law, who then taught Jewel, who then taught me - I now know (sorta, kinda, in a really amateur type way) how to make CHOCOLATES!!!    Eeeek!!!!

Beautiful, tasty, homemade chocolates.

All of my siblings got together this weekend so that we could learn and do this together, under Jewel's expert tutelage.     

It was awesome!

Us girls got to visit. 

My Brother helped when needed. (someone had to take the pictures right?)

The cousins all played.  (mostly with Crystal's dog Kit)

At the end of the day (literally as midnight approached) we all went home with our equal share of chocolate.   

(Though I'll admit, it was maybe not as equal as they all thought, because I pretty much ate my weight in sugar with all the "snitching" I did throughout the day:)   

We've heard stories growing up of how our Mom would make chocolates every year, and how good she was at it, so it felt extra special to be able to do this together.

I'll admit, I did reach a moment when I was so tired and sick of dipping that all I wanted to do was light Jewel's kitchen on fire, but looking back - I'd do it again in a heart beat!

(Make chocolates that is, not burn her kitchen down:)

Love doing things like this with mes soeurs!

 (That means "my sisters" I just thought it would be much cooler to say it in french:)

******

PS:  Jewel and I got together to package ours up all nice.   Here's a pic of the final product, ready to give away!! 

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PSS:   On another note, I recently won this awesome framed printable from AshleyBennett Photography!  

It came with 6 printables that I can change throughout the year, and I LOVE it.   

Never again can I say I "don't ever win anything";)

You should follow her Facebook page or Blog.    Her photos are stunning!

75 years

Last weekend we drove to Raymond to visit John's Grandma and Grandpa Hardy.   

They are turning 96 and 97 years old respectively, can you believe it?!

It was fun to chat with them for awhile.   

The kids LOVE getting Jelly Beans from Grandma's jelly bean machine.    

Grandpa Hardy is tired often, but always perks up whenever the kids ask for a hug. 

  He gives the best "Puppy Dog Hugs" EVER!

It's remarkable to think of their heritage, and all that they have accomplished in their 75 married years.   

Pretty amazing if you ask me!

John's many personalities

The other night John came home from work with a packet of his school photos in hand.   

In it was THIS 8x10 photo (which I think is soo handsome by the way) as well as several extra wallet size pictures.

I immediately pounced on the 8x10 picture, and carried it off for safe keeping, threatening to hang it on our wall above the piano next to the kids' school pictures:)    

The kids immediately pounced on ALL of the wallet size photos, each child pleading with John to let them have one of their very own.    I imagine John must have felt flattered, as he divided out those wallet size photos to all four kids, telling them that they could do whatever they wanted with them.  

 Perhaps they would lovingly hang one on their bedroom wall, or take one to school to show off to their friends?   

Nope.   

Apparently the kids had other plans in mind.

Like this:

Well done Nate!  His best scribbling to date:)

And this:

(courtesy of Jessica)

And This:
(love the african/tribal feel to Sam's artwork:)

And last but not least- This:                       

(I found Abby's photos of John the next day.  She'd taped these photos to a piece of cardboard, with a string tied at two ends and hung it up on her wall.)    What you don't see is that above each face was a caption/name. 

  (Killer, Lady, and Evil Santa respectively;)           

I'll admit, this all had me laughing so hard as I gathered more and more of these pictures from various hiding spots.   

But it's got me kinda nervous too.

I'm pretty sure there is not a picture in this house that is safe from them now!

Thanksgiving Poem

I found this poem at the bottom of Abby's backpack today.  
Her teacher apparently had the class right about their "senses" and all that they are thankful for.

I LOVE it, and even though Thanksgiving is over, I may still hang this on my favorite quote board.  Turkey and all!!!

Thank You For...

Thank you for all my tongue can taste.

Crispy rainbow trout cooked on the grill,

My Grandma's yummy pumpkin pie,

Hot chocolate on a cold, winter eve.

Thank you for all my eyes can see.

A horse galloping across the beach,

Two polar bears wrestling in the snow,

My Dad returning home from work.

Thank you for all my nose can smell.  

My Mom cooking chocolate chip cookies, 

Apple blossoms on the tree in my backyard, 

Marshmallows roasting over a fire.

Quotables

In my room, beside my bed, hangs a cute decorative wooden frame.
And IN that frame, hang many of my favorite quotes at any given time.   (I LOVE quotes:)
It's funny how some quotes mean something to me at one point in my life, and then are later replaced by something that has come to mean more.  

At any rate, I thought I'd share a few of the quotes that are hanging in my frame at this particular moment:


******

QUOTE 1:

This quote has been on my wall for awhile, and it always reminds me that whenever it feels like the world beneath me is "giving way" -  to calmly trust.    I love the image of a bird perched on the frailest of limbs.  
 
Be like the bird who, pausing in her flight awhile on boughs too slight, feels them give way beneath her, and yet sings, knowing she hath wings.
-Victor Hugo

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Quote 2: 

I always look to this thought whenever I need to stop thinking of only myself.
(so basically, I pretty much look to this thought a LOT, and should probably think of it a little more still:)

"When I get sad, I stop being sad and be AWESOME instead.
True Story."

*******

Quote 3:

This following quote was shared by our ward Relief Society President in a recent sacrament meeting talk.   I literally got chills as she read it.   CHILLS!!!   Oh how this thought brings peace to my heart.

"He has an infinite attention to spare for each of us.  He does not have to deal with us in the mass.  You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being He had ever created.  When Christ died, He died for you individually just as much as if you had been the only man in the world."
 - C.S. Lewis

*********

Quote 4:

I recently came across this quote and loved it so much, I had to slap a picture on beside it.   Nature truly does put me at ease.    In a very literal way it "sets me aright."  Usually when life gets feeling to busy or crazy, I know it's time to go for a drive;)

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QUOTE 5:

I'm pretty sure that there is nothing worse then Fear.   For that reason, I love this reminder that this quote gives, that great things come when we face our fears head on.  


"We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face... we must do that which we think we cannot."
Eleanor Rooseveldt

Oops:)

Somehow in the midst of my busy afternoon, I forgot one of the cardinal rules in my home.    

It's a well known fact that our little Nate likes flour.      He likes to feel it, poke at it, play in it, roll around in it, throw it and if we'd let him - he'd probably bathe in it.  

   He's fascinated with the white powder.   

Why I ever turned my back on Nate, ...or our 2 gallon bucket of it is beyond me!

I've got no one to blame but myself:)

Post Dinner Game of Clue

We were THRILLED tonight when Grandpa stayed after dinner for a quick round of CLUE.  

The kids LOVE this game, and I'm surprised at how strategic Sam and Abby are when they play.   

John was as cocky as ever, and declared often that he was "about to wrap this game up" any minute. 

I was as impulsive as ever, and made my official accusation much MUCH too soon.   

Every single kid declared that they would NEVER be my partner ever again.

Luckily, Grandpa Max surprised us all and won the game before John had the chance to:)

For the record, it was Miss Scarlet, in the Hall, with the Candlestick.

(It's always Miss Scarlet:)

Snow Days:)

This weekend it snowed.

A lot!

On Friday, it even snowed enough for the School Division to cancel school!    (Sure, the kids were already home anyways because it was a PD day,  but it was an added bonus to get to have John home to:!!!)   

We spent much of the weekend lazing around, ...shoveling snow, ...catching up on some reading, ....shoveling snow, ....doing crafts, ...and... shoveling snow.     It's been pretty great.
(except for the part about shoveling snow:)

Due to the fact that it looks and feels like we live at the North Pole, the kids felt inspired to set up our Christmas Tree.  They begged and pleaded for the better part of a morning, and I finally caved and agreed to let them set up one of the trees.     Of course, it was the usual over - the - top cheesy kind of moment as the kids sang and danced and laughed while they worked.    Nate was adorable as he clearly doesn't remember much about last year, the whole "Christmas Tree" thing was new to him again:)    Jess and Sam actually got along and worked together (which happens only once a year;) and Abby hovered over it all, telling the others exactly what to do, only this time, in a nice kind of way;)    

It was really quite entertaining to watch.

It made me laugh as I was photographing the tree after they'd all finished decorating it.   My eyes instantly went to the strangest ornament ever, and I immediately burst out laughing.  

Do you see it?     

Jessica had removed the socks OFF of her feet, stuck hooks through them, and lovingly hung them on the tree, right next to her home made snowflake and popsicle stick reindeer!   

She was soo pleased with herself!!!

 

Sam, on the other hand, could not get over the fact that Jess had done that, and absolutely refused to come near the tree until Jessica removed her socks.    He was dead certain that those socks were going to ruin the tree by giving it "the smell of Jessica's Stinky Feet!"

Of course, Jessica had to fire back in defense, with an equally funny insult.

And just like that - the good feeling was gone;)

We had fun yesterday playing outside for a bit.    Sam wasn't particularly happy until he discovered he could kick a huge cloud of snow at me.   (funny how kids get a kick out of torturing their parents:)   We learned (a little too late) that Sam had forgotten his snow boots at school, and decided that his running shoes would be sufficient for some play in the snow.

I almost started to cry when we got home sledding and he asked me to take his SHOES off!
They were absolutely frozen SOLID!    He said it felt like he was walking home on rocks the whole time!  (gee  I wonder why?)
Seriously, we could have taken his shoes and played some curling with them, and I expect he'll have full blown pneumonia by tomorrow as a result:)    

Nate surprised us by LOVING the GT racer.    He wouldn't even let us ride with him, but insisted on going down the hill alone every time.    He also insisted on being pulled UP the hill every time too, which John must have loved:)

Well, that's about it for this week.    The snow has helped to slow us down a bit, and it gives us a good excuse to just hide out in our cozy home and be together.   

We're sure looking forward to a Holiday Monday!!!! 

Lazy Lazy Morning

I love being lazy, especially in the mornings, and my whole family knows it)

So on Thursday morning, when we woke up and remembered that there was no school, the kids instantly began pleading to be able to make a big breakfast.   

Too which I HAPPILY agreed, because it meant I could lay in bed a few minutes longer and listen to the melodic sounds of eggs splattering on the kitchen floor, and milk being spilled, ...and kids fighting over who gets to stir what.

Abby did a pretty good job of delegating out the responsibilities.

Naturally, she was on pancake duty, as she's already mastered the task.   She does a great job measuring out each ingredient and this time, she even took the time to use frozen blueberries to make faces in each pancake.    

Sam was in charge of stirring the bacon, (which was organic- I was so thrilled to have found it:)!     

He was slightly nervous about getting splattered, hence the oven mitts:)

Jessica's job was to stir the eggs.   Unfortunately, it was also her job to crack the eggs, which we likely won't ask her to do again any time soon:) 

Part way through the breakfast prep John joined in to make one of his killer breakfast smoothies.    (Hint: we've discovered the key to an amazing smoothie is pineapple.  You're welcome:)

We all feasted on a ridiculous huge breakfast, before the kids scurried off to begin their day of play, and John rushed off for his PD day meetings at the school.

There I was.  Alone.

Just me and 3,458 dishes, measuring cups, and utensils to clean!!!  

(I'm thinking it probably would have been easier to just cook it all myself:)

When dinner time makes me laugh

Dinner time yesterday made me laugh.

Which makes this post one worth writing, because on most days - "Dinner Time" makes me cry:)

(think: four kids complaining about what I made, while Nate undresses at the table, while three glasses of milk get spilled, WHILE my Father in Law looks on)   

That's what dinner time is usually like. 

Today though, it was so unusually funny to me:

First of all, I had NO idea that my kids found politics so riveting.   

During dinner I set up our computer so that John, Max and I could watch the election results as they came in.     What I didn't expect was that every single one of our kids would be glued to the screen to:)   Occasionally Sam would rush back to his plate to inhale some noodles (when we demanded it),  but then he was right back to the computer constantly refreshing the page to make sure results were as up to date as possible:)    When numbers would change, Sam would absolutely freak out, ensuring everybody (probably within a two block radius) knew which candidate was in the lead.     

This continued throughout the entire evening, right through snack time, and right past bed time.   Abby was awake as the final results came in, but poor Sam fell asleep beside me while listening to the live coverage. 

Seriously.  Their interest shocked both John and I, and I'm convinced they just loved the fact that there was a race going on:)

It also made me laugh when,  after dinner,  we caved (for the third time since Nate's birthday) and lit a candle in Nate's dessert and sang to him all over again.   

He loves it.  And the rest of us go along with it because it's easier then arguing with him;) 

(Perhaps he's like me, and likes to celebrate his birthday all month long?)

Abby came home from school yesterday with a brand new recorder that was assigned to her in music class.   She's officially got "recorder homework" now - which is awesome right!!!   All I can say is that I am so thankful for her wonderful music teacher who made the class learn a few notes before they were aloud to bring instruments home.  Apparently, her teacher didn't want the kids driving their parents crazy:)!!! 

After supper, as the kids poured over the election results - Abby sat on the stairs and serenaded us with every song she has learned so far.   ("Hot Crossed Buns" repeated a gazillion times:)

As a side note, she sure is enjoying this new instrument, and is trying her very best to take care of it.   I had to chuckle a little when I went in to tuck the girls in bed and found that Abby had meticulously placed her recorder in it's "special spot."

Are you kidding me?    

I'm sure she meant nothing by this, but it has inspired me to begin preparations for our next Family Home Evening lesson immediately! 

Nice Abby;)

Oh, and this next thing isn't really funny at all (unless you get a kick out of the notion that I fed my family a whole foods, organic kind of meal consisting of little more then Rice Noodles, Shrimp and Butternut Squash?)   Considering they are all ridiculously carnivorous - I kinda do find it funny:)

Luckily, my family LOVED it and they didn't even realize that there wasn't half a cow on the table for them to eat,  it was that good!

Go HERE for the recipe.

Potty Training Woes

I've been trying to potty train Nathan.   

 I use the term "trying" very lightly, because I basically plop him on a potty, rig up a movie just beside the bathroom door for him to watch, and then....I leave him alone.      I know, it's pretty sad to think that after having four kids, this is the best I can do. 

Are there better ways to go about this?  

Probably.

But when it comes to potty training - there is no such thing as a good way, that's what I say:)  

Sometimes  though, I'll admit, I leave him a lone for a little too long and he ends up getting bored (even with a movie playing nearby) and begins unravelling the toilet paper, virtually covering our entire bathroom floor with a pillowy blanket of two ply.  

One day it was particularly funny, because I'd come upstairs to find that he'd once again begun playing with the good ol' TP - only this time it had rolled into his room and under his bed.   For the life of him, he could not figure out why, no matter how hard he yanked, that roll was not coming back out from under the bed.   

 It just kept unravelling....   

Sigh.  This is all so very cute right?

And I really am a good Mom right?

Okay-forget trying to reassure me and just tell me what works, as I've clearly forgotten how to do this. 

Just how exactly do you potty train a three year old?!!

The Feast

Several weeks ago, our Bishop stood in front of our ward and told us all that throughout the weeks to come we'd all be enjoying a "Feast."   What he was referring to was the sequence of meetings we would be having throughout the month of October.    It began with General Conference, continued with Stake Conference a week later,   and concluded by attending the live Broadcast of the Calgary Temple Dedication.     (If you ask me it was feast enough to not have to battle a rowdy crew of kids during sacrament meeting, or try to maintain reverence in Primary....but it ended up being much much more then that:)

In the dictionary the definition of the word "Feast" says  that it is "to experience something with gratification or delight."  Truly, this past month was just such an experience for me.   

Below are some of the thoughts that I took delight in over the past few weeks.  They are things that I am scared of forgetting, because I know that it is exactly what I personally needed to hear.  

****** 

Elder Uchtdorf's talk was a beautiful reminder to me to use my time each day more wisely.   I am always going through my days, wasting time while complaining that there isn't enough of it.   Go figure:)    The most profound thought that I got from his talk titled "Of Regrets and Resolutions"  was this one:

"I think of our Lord and Exemplar, Jesus Christ, and His short life among the people of Galilee and Jerusalem.  I have tried to imagine Him bustling between meetings or multitasking to get a list of urgent things accomplished.   I can't see it!

Instead I see the compassionate and caring Son of God purposefully living each day.  

 When He interacted with those around Him, they felt important and loved.  He knew the infinite value of the people He met.   He blessed them, ministered to them.   He lifted them up, healed them.   He gave them the precious gift of His time."

As soon as I heard President Uchtdorf, I too tried to picture, in my own mind, a time in which the Savior perhaps did "hurry" about.   But it is such a silly notion, and goes against all I believe Him to be.   I instantly felt a little bad for all of the times that I literally rush and run around acting like all the things on my to-do list are so very important, when really they just simply are not.

This talk makes me want to slow down.

To notice more around me, and to just BE.

(Be more calm,  be more aware, be more in tune, and be more kind.)

In short BE more like my Savior.  I know that if I would take that one message to heart, it would have a profound and tangible effect on the atmosphere of my home.  

*****

Elder Holland will always always always be a favorite speaker of mine!

His talks are not the type you can just read.  No, he is a speaker who must be listened to, or better yet Watched!  This talk titled "The First Great Commandment"  is definitely a must SEE kinda talk.  

Not only is Elder Holland and amazing story teller, but I love how he takes a scriptural passage that I have heard my entire life, and brings it to life, making me see it in a new way.  

Favorites from this include:

"What I need, Peter, are disciples- and I need them FOREVER!

I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs.    I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith.  I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do.  Ours is not a feeble message.  It is not a fleeting task.    It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history.  It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world!"   

I am not certain just what our experience will be on Judgement Day, but I will be very surprised if at some point in that conversation, God does not ask us exactly what Christ asked Peter:  "Did you love me?"  I think he will want to know if in our very mortal, very inadequate, and sometimes childish grasp of things, did we at least understand one commandment, the first and greatest of them all.  ....He may remind us that the crowning characteristic of love is always LOYALTY!"

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The theme at our recent Stake Conference was The Rescue and our leaders desire is that we all will notice those around us who are in need of being rescued.   Though I LOVED all of the talks that were given, there was one question that was asked during a talk that has continually stood out to me.   It was this:

"What are you willing to do for a miracle?"

I loved this question and find that I ask myself this several times throughout each week now.   When I think of all of the things I want to change, or all of the people I know who desperately need rescuing - it has helped to ask myself - what am I willing to do?

Of course, the key is then to go and DO IT, which proves to be much more challenging for me:)

******

I absolutely love this time of year when we can listen to our Prophets and Leaders and then try to implement the things that we have learned.   I've forgotten so much of it in the past few weeks BUT I'm grateful for what has remained.   

The Gospel is true.

I just really need to be better at living it!

What Friday Night looks like at our house

We take our Friday nights VERY seriously around here.   

Here's how a typical family movie night goes down:

1.  We clean the house.   (a clean house is a MUST for this type A personality:)

2.   Abby helps set up the hide a bed

3.  Sam and John make the popcorn (two separate bowls because they can never agree on seasonings)

4.  We spend approximately a gazillion minutes trying to agree on what to watch

5.   I make apple cider

It's pure perfection!!! 

Back to Back Birthdays

I still remember three years ago trick or treating with the kids, amidst serious contractions, walking from door to door but wanting nothing more then to call it good and go home.   

Every house we went to, someone would joke and ask "when was I ever gonna pop?" (I hate that phrase:)    John would then joke back about how determined he was to keep me walking all night long if he had to, so long as it induced labor.   

John really REALLY wanted to share his Halloween Birthday with our little baby, and it was quite apparent that that was a distinct possibility.   

Unfortunately, I couldn't quite make that happen for John, as Nate decided to arrive in the wee hours of November 1st.    

Still though, it's pretty fun to celebrate these two boys so close together.  

 With Halloween carnivals, trick or treating, John's Birthday and then finally Nate's birthday....it really makes for a Week of  long PARTY!!!!

Naturally, I had to make the obligatory carrot cake with cream cheese frosting...in the shape of a ghost... with flaming eyes!   (Ever since John was a young boy his Mom would make him a carrot ghost cake with flaming eyes, and I've always tried to carry that on, despite the fact that my cake obviously pales in comparison to what he got growing up;) 

Nate was a complete menace on his birthday, and literally demanded that everybody remember that it was HIS birthday!!!!   (I suppose, given the fact that he's been asking for the past 364 days if "today was his birthday" he was a bit entitled to revel in the moment. But it seriously got annoying:)

A lot of mothers blog about their kid's when they have a birthday, and share all sorts of wonderful developmental milestones that their kids have passed.  It's always makes for such a sweet read so I figured I'd do that too and share a little bit of who Nate is at this point in his life.   

So...at THREE years of age - Nate can:

*  Say most anything he wants to say, his vocabulary is really quite broad.  

(His favorite words are: No, Dangit, "Ok Poopy Pants," and GET OUT!) 

*  He LOVES to play with kids.  (...so long as they don't touch his toys, but share all of theirs:)

* Can terrorize an entire nursery full of kids.   ...with ease;)

* Can ride a "Big Boy" pedal bike all by himself, and would cruise all the way to his Aunty Jewel's if we let him

* Can say prayers by himself (though I hope God has a sense of humor:)

* He can hide under clothes racks in shopping stores like nobody I've ever seen

* He LOVES animals, and stares out our window watching our neighbors dogs for hours on end

*  He's obsessed with his cousin Dane.

* Can do a somersault off our couch

* He doesn't like to ever be alone

* Can color quite well.  Especially when permanent markers, the wall, or his Face are involved:)

*  He gives the BEST kisses on the cheek 

* He gives the best apologies EVER.   (Practice will do that:)

* at this point in his life, he still thinks the world revolves around him

* He absolutely melts my heart with his big brown eyes!

Happy Birthday!!!!

Halloween Fun, Mixing it up a bit, and a Super Cool Giveaway!!

Yesterday was John's Birthday!    37 years OLD, can you believe it?  

He celebrated by driving his team to Lethbridge for their last league game of the season.   

I tried to be a good wife and I made 15 Halloween cupcakes for him and his team, and secretly recruited one of his boys to deliver them and ensure that Happy Birthday was sung.    Apparently though- the JV boys were travelling with John, and I didn't send enough cupcakes for them, so it ended up being a really lame idea. 

(That's what I get for being a try hard:)    

While John was at his game, the kids had a delightful time trick or treating and they were absolutely enchanted by one of our neighbors, who Nate believed, was a "real live WITCH with a PET WOLF even!"    (technically, it was a stuffed Hyena that her hunter husband acquired from a friend, but I didn't want to burst any ones bubble:)   

We trick or treated for less then an hour, but came home with enough junk food to last a millennium.   As soon as we got home, the kids had to dive into their bags inspecting every last treat and eating a third of it right then and there.    Of course, they insisted on turning on the fire, and watching a Halloween Movie at the same time.    How cozy!  

Oh to be a kid again!!!

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I am pretty sure that I am experiencing some sort of an identity crisis these days, and it is manifesting itself in what I do to my poor house.    It seems like all my free time is spent trying to make changes here and there to our place, and I seem to conveniently wait until John is out of town to do so;)  

     And the other day,  I made John call an elderly woman in our ward to inquire about her home which she will eventually be selling.  What gives?

Why do I feel so unsettled in a house that I really do love?   

Who knows.  

   Until I figure it out though- nothing is safe, and I'm thinking that I probably need to ban myself from Pinterest for awhile.  Heaven knows,  I don't need anyone giving me any more ideas;)

To say John was shocked to come home the other day,  and find our front door a new shade of Avocado Green would be an understatement.    To say he liked it, would be a LIE:)!    

In fact, I think the exact words he used were...."Painting the door is cool,  but that is just not a color you would ever find me wearing.   EVER!"  

I keep waiting for him to come around and like it, but so far it's a no go.   (He is open to a deep maroon color though?)   Last night I asked him to pray that his heart would be softened, ...or at least that he would come to accept that our front door does not have to resemble the clothes in his closet:)    

At any rate- that's what I get for trying to be all cute and decorative.   

(aka:  a "Try Hard":)

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Oh, and here is a link to a really fabulous Giveaway that AshleyBennet Photography is doing.   She's an AMAZING photographer here in town, and she's created the most darling custom holiday prints that can be changed throughout the year.   I LOVE it!    

All you have to do is GO TO HER PAGE and follow the instructions!   

POOF - you'll be entered to win, just like that!

(Disclaimer:   Please don't think that by sharing this info with you that I actually want you to go and enter.   I don't.   I'm simply mentioning this to increase my own chances of winning- not yours;)