November 2, 2011

Wordless Wednesday

Taken Saturday, October 29, 2011








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November 1, 2011

Trick or Treat!

While I despise Hal.loween, Trick or Treating has become something our little development does well. I enjoy being able to let the kids dress up in silly, harmless costumes (no gore or scare factor allowed in this house) and travel with them as we visit the neighbors.  T and I both enjoy walking with the kids, so we let a basket of candy on the porch!  After visiting a few houses, we load up the kids and head to the grands!

Riley did not trick or treat with us, but he would have been hurt had we not included him in the dress up! ;-) Actually, I put the antlers on him as a possible companion to Q's costume!

We try to be "A light in a dark world" and let our neighbors know we care about them. Tucked into the candy bags was a paper with a message "We thank God for our blessings every day, and today, we thanked Him for you." This year, we included John 3:16-18 from The Message at Q's request.  

Now, on to the costumes. E wanted to be a baker this year!  I'm so excited about her costume and what it means to me.  I already had the patterns for a chef's hat, apron and oven mitt and I just had to look online for felt cookie inspiration!

As I was sewing the chef's hat this past Friday, it dawned on me how special this costume was.  My daughter was next to me as I made it, just like she's beside me most times when I'm cooking.  My mom instilled in me a love for cooking and sewing.  And my mom inherited her love of sewing and cooking from her mom, my grandma, who we just laid to rest yesterday.  I related my feelings to E as I made the hat, "You know, E. Your great grandma was a very talented seamstress and a chef in a restaurant.  That makes your costume very, very special to me!"  And she couldn't have been more proud to carry her freshly baked "felt" cookies around the neighborhood!  I hope that she develops her love of cooking and sewing and that it will be something we can do together for many years.


C, my baby, is my wild card!  He choose an Indian costume, that Q wore a few years ago.  I'm not sure why he is making a fist like he wanted to punch me, but like I said...wild card! ;-D  He takes his 'job' quite seriously!
Q, my oldest, and truly the one that takes everything the most serious, wanted to follow in his daddy's footsteps and be an archery hunter (hence Riley with the antlers!)  He didn't want to smile for me either, he wanted the tough guy look, but I broke him!

And here they are, the Hunters & the Gatherers!  No, C isn't yawning, he's being an Indian!

How do you like that snow on the ground?  Pretty sure this is the first we've had snow when Trick Or Treating!
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October 27, 2011

In Memory...

April 18, 1918 - October 27, 2011

Lots of life and laughs in that "-" above!

Grandma, Margaret aka Mike

We will miss you!


4 generations: Grandma, Me, Baby Q and my Mom (summer 2002)
This is an older picture, but one of my favorites!


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October 20, 2011

Still learning...

We got a new camera in August, and I'm still learning it's many settings. I've been enjoying taking snapshots, but I wanted to try to do some different things.  I had fun taking the shots last week at our campfire and wanted to do something similar when the kids found the box of sparklers in the garage this week. 

I didn't get everything right with these shots - since my children are blurry and appear to have no arms - but I'm learning more as I make the adjustments.  Now, where can I buy some more sparklers in October? ;-D



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October 18, 2011

On the Sidelines!

He's not playing soccer yet, like his siblings, but he's cheering on the sidelines and drinking his share of gatorade!



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October 14, 2011

Playing with fire!

Sunday evening was a beautiful evening for a campfire and roasting marshmallows as well as snapping pictures and drawing with flaming sticks!  Elle's heart makes me smile!







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October 13, 2011

S is for School!

This year we are "Exploring Countries and Cultures" with My Father's World.

We started in North America, first studying the US of A.  I think the kids' favorite part was the patchwork quilt project.  I cut 3x3 inch squares and they put them into patterns onto a 9x9 inch piece of black felt. 




This past week we finished up our studies in Mexico.  Concluding our unit with a Mexican feast - complete with chili, cornbread muffins and Mexican flowers made out of tissue paper!







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October 12, 2011

Wordless Wednesday


Having been in the trenches as a teacher in one of the subject areas 'outside' that classroom window, I couldn't agree with this more.
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October 10, 2011

Cape May, NJ

While at the beach last month, we visited the Cape May lighthouse for the first time.  The kids enjoyed being able to compare it to the Currituck lighthouse we climbed in NC last summer. 





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October 4, 2011

Legos!


About 2 months ago, they started building their Lego creations to enter into our town's Farm Show. 

It's Farm Show week and today we are headed in to see their creations on display.  To say they are excited is an understatement.
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October 3, 2011

Flying high!

While vacationing at the beach the other week, we purchased a new kite.


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September 10, 2011

The Creek - after Tropical Storm Lee

First is C's picture from a week ago.  There are soccer field on either side of this creek - with a "fun" bridge in the middle to cross between - or to play, jump, run across!!  In this picture, we are on the side of the creek for Q's practice. 


E's practice is on the other side of the bridge. 

See the bridge?


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