precious prayers

I never want to forget this:

"Lord thank you eighty SO's for heaven."  -Graham, age 7

Water Works

tiny tears!

Millie is almost 20 months old.  She want to do everything Bubba and Sissy are doing...which sometimes leads to bumps and bruises...and tears.   I have learned that one of the easiest ways to settle down a fretful, otherwise inconsolable baby is WATER!  :)  I turn on the faucet and she just watches it run over her fingers, wiggles it around and even sometimes tosses a little on momma which she thinks is hyterical!  It has worked with all three of our little people.  I know when I hear "Wa.  Wa!" baby girl is asking for a little water therapy.  :)

Trunkin' and Treatin' 2011

In our household, October 31 means three things:

1.  Put on your favorite dress-up costume

2.  Trick your trunk in style ;) 

{and last but certainly not least)

3.  Eat lots of yummy treats in the church parking lot with friends and family!

 Reece was a competitive double dutch-er (inspired by this movie on Netfl*x)

 Our "monster" truck...and Dan sportin' his best monster truck driver get-up...ha! A little background on Camille's costume:  for several months now, she calls every dog, well everything on for legs for that matter, a "good girl".  I guess because we're often calling Charly a "good girl".  :)  She even has a favorite sleeping buddy she's named the same.  We went to the outlet mall with Nana and spotted this costume on clearance...she LOVED it!  She wore it around the house and endured it's fuzziness in the muggy weather last night.  I wish I had taken a pic when I came back from the bathroom to find her "mmmmm-ing" with a big tootsie pop in her mouth.  That little puppy was sticky head to toe.  Her first "treat"... see what happens when Daddy's in charge??  ;)

Our "good girl" :)

 I wasn't able to get a good pic of Graham in his Clone Trooper costume because he was busy running around with his buddies.  He enjoyed every minute of the bounce house, obstacle course, ice cream, hot dogs, popcorn, cotton candy, oh and he didn't miss a trunk either!  :)  For the last few years, the kids chose 10 pieces of candy each and traded the rest for a little something special.  Today, we went through this little ritual and Graham says "Mom, you better make this a good trade, because I worked hard for 2 hours to collect this candy!"  Well, alrighty then!  I might have to come up with a new angle next year "sweeten" the deal.

  Reecie was happy to treat the trunk-lookers...she has been looking forward to this job all week!

 Dan's design won the judges choice award....a free {much-needed} carwash!  He drew out a plan and   used a hot knife tool + foam insulation covered in spray paint to create this silly monster. 

 Mater meets Sesame Street monster??

Daddy and his girls

The annual trunk or treat cousin picture.

 This was the best out of about 10 snaps! ha ha! I love how big cousin Colton is snapping at Camille to get her to look at the camera :)  

We're already thinking about how we want to trick our trunk for next year!

For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.  Ephesians 5:8-9 NLT

New Friends

Tonight we spent time with our new friends, Hadiqa and Ayesha.  These young women are international students from Pakistan, spending a semester in an exchange program at a local university.

Our pastor for missions connected us with them to be a "host family".  He told us that 80% of international students never step foot in an American home during their time here in the U.S.  We feel like it is such a unique opportunity for us and for our children to get to know these sweet ladies and broaden our worldview at the same time.

We shared a lovely "American" meal and lots of laughter at California Pizza Kitchen  :)   I feel honored that Hadiqa and Ayesha shared so honestly about their families, culture and Muslim faith and we were able to do the same.  Our friend Rebecca joined us and it was so neat to listen to these young women relate to each other.  They told me that as their host family I am their American Mom.  I love that, what a privilege!  I am happy to have children who know how to go potty by themselves.  ;)  ha!  Our daughters thought they were so beautiful.  Every time I looked up, they were staring and smiling at them.

Women like Rebecca, Hadiqa and Ayesha give me hope for the future.  They have a passion to grow and learn about people, other cultures, and other points of view.  It is a beautiful thing!   I pray that God would be glorified in their lives and for generations to come.

Sweet girl, you said the funniest thing tonight.  I just had to get it down!  :)

You like to have me as a potty pal when you have to poop.  I know this is TMI but it's true!

So I sit in front of you, on the edge of the tub, and witness your "movement" accompanied by a little casual conversation.

Hannah Reece (while making):  Mom, do you know what?

Me:  What darlin'?

Hannah Reece:  The pee always comes out first, then the poop.  It always happens that way.  You know how at the airport, you always have to let the other people go first before you, even if you are running late?  That's how it is with pee and poop.  Even if I have to poop, my pee comes out first.

:)

Pumpkin Patch

 Graham and Hannah Reece spent the night with Nana and Papa last night.  The kids had a 4 day weekend with a couple of days off on Thurs. and Fri.  so they were ready for some fun and a change of scenery, I think!  This morning, Nana and Papa took them to breakfast at their favorite little spot on Ft. Myers Beach.  Then Nana took them to the pumpkin patch and for lunch a playing at McD's.  They can always talk Nana into McD.'s happy meals!  ;)

The kids picked out pumpkins for themselves and a baby one for Camille.  I'll have to add a picture of their pumpkins later.  They "decorated" them with sharpies.  :) 

While the kids were away, Dan and I vascillated between relaxing and trying to make the most of the time to get a few house projects accomplished.  I moved the living room furniture around (this seems to be a trend for me when the kids are away) to make a designated play area for Camille.  Now I have a clear view of her in her play kitchen while I'm cooking/cleaning-up in the kitchen.   I know it sounds weird, but organizing a cleaning really is relaxing to me!  Dan watched football, cleaned up the patio, tidied up the garage and was terribly thrilled to help me move the furniture *again*.  ;)   

I think Camille is growing, she slept for 14 hours last night!  From 4:15pm-6:15am!  That was a treat.  Dan and I enjoyed a few late night episodes of Parks and Rec on Netflix.  We are hooked on that show!

Fall weather hit Florida late last night with a cool front...the high was 87 today.  That qualifies as "brisk weather" in these parts, ha!    I am in the mood to make something with pumpkin in it....maybe this?  

Source: tasteofhome.com via Sarah on Pinterest

On Coolness

This morning, Graham walked into the kitchen and said,

"Mom, I need to tell you something."

"Ok, baby, what is it?"

"If someone is cool whenever they are little, when they are a grown-up, they are so worried about being cool that God makes them not cool.

It can be a punishment if cool is the only thing you think about.  'Cause then sometime that person will learn that being cool  isn't the main thing in life."

"Wow, Graham, where did you learn that?"

"I think I learned it from this (pointing to heart), not from this (pointing to head).