October week 3

The weather has finally turned! We had a high of 70 on Tuesday! Hallelujah! Time to pull out the sweaters and hot chocolate!

Freeman's brother Hans and wife Kristi are moving and are between homes, so they moved in at the beginning of October and will likely be here until Halloween. We are absolutely loving having them here. Every second of it. On Monday we had FHE, Myreel taught the lesson, and afterward we carved a pumpkin to put on the front porch. We took it out to the front porch in the dark and put a candle inside. The children were thrilled. Life really is full of wonder if you have eyes for it.

On Tuesday we had Tyler’s preschool at our place. It was such a fun morning! I had been sluggish about preparing for it, but once the kids arrived, it made the day so festive, and helped us celebrate fall! We made spider crafts, and had popcorn, carmeled apples, and candy corn for a snack. I love the way my home feels when there is a spiced apple candle burning in my kitchen, clean counters, autumn treats, and the sounds of a full house.

Lantana still had their fall festival pumpkins and plant sale, so Wednesday morning Kristi and I decided to take some fall pictures of the kids. The kids LOVED being outside and ran between the flats of flowers and vegetable plants for sale, hauled pumpkins to and fro, rolled in the grass, and chased each other. We got some adorable pictures among the pumpkins and I decided that I absolutely need a great camera. Its just too fun to be able to capture those sweet people.












Thursday was preschool again. This time we only had 4 kids. We learned about spiders, the kids created webs with ropes between chairs and wrapped up (wrapped in rope) the insects (stuffed animals). The kids were especially content and we read aloud for a good part of the time because the kids wanted to.

Oh that Tucker. I love to hold that baby close. I love to run my fingers through his downy soft hair. I love to watch him anticipate the next animal sound I’m going to make by raising one eyebrow and panting. I love looking into his eyes and feeling such a deep connection. I’m humbled by his innocence, I’m softened by his need for me, I’m delighted by everything he does. Isn’t it funny how the world makes it seem so…..pathetic…..to adore your children? When adoring them is THE sweetest experience in life after feeling close to the Lord?

Some kid quotes:
Mom: “Tyler, why are you so wonderful?
Ty: “Because Heavenly Father sent me wonderful. And He sent me strong to help you.”

Anslie to our real estate agent while pulling on her pant leg: “Cathie! Cathie! Cathie! Look! (conversation halts and Cathie focuses on Anslie). My hair covers my ears! (proudly!)”
Cathie: “Oh!....how nice! And what a cute brother you have.”
Anslie: “Yeah, he is cute. His name is Tucker James.”

October week 2

On Thursday Tyler was supposed to go to preschool but decided he wanted to stay home with Mom. So he did. We drew dinosaurs from a book that teaches you how to sketch them. We read 3 chapters in Charlotte’s Web. We had a picnic in the bedroom on the floor on a blanket. I hope he knew how much I love him.

On Friday we went up to Mom and Dad’s farm, Aunt Rachel hosted a Fall cousins party, complete with pumpkin soup and pumpkin cookies, fall crafts, and fun with the animals. It was an incredible fall day, clear, sunny, with an edge of cool. The country spaces are so invigorating. I love a wide horizon, a wide sky, and quiet air. It made me rethink what I really want out of a place to live. I want SPACE for my children to run and play in the dirt.

Sunday the Beehive presidency taught a lesson on unity. They did a great job, I was so proud of them. Sunday night we attended the open house of the new stake center with Freeman's brother, Bryce and his wife Teresa. It was a wonderful meeting, full of the spirit. President Riding, our stake president, talked about the history of the land where the building is built. Early settlers worshipped as a community on the very land where the church sits. It made me feel differently about the place, like I became aware of the holiness of it. We were grateful to Hans and Kristi for watching kids that night.

October, weeks 1 & 2

Oh dear, a month has gone by.

We’ve had some fun Young Women’s activities. We did a modest runway activity. The girls modeled their modest outfits, then we played a DVD of the Young Men talking about modesty and why its important to them, the girls loved that. Then we read the Strength of Youth section about modesty and discussed. We also did a service project at a local underprivileged food pantry. We watched conference together on Saturday as a beehive class and had cinnamon rolls.

Tyler went with Freeman to work a couple weeks ago. He looked forward to it for days. Freeman gave him jobs (moving boxes around, giving him receipts to put in piles) and took him to lunch. Tyler ate it up. What a sweet Daddy.

We enjoyed General Conference, though I must say that kids do increase my anticipation for the conference Ensign so I can actually cognate the messages! The General Relief Society meeting was wonderful. Elder Uchdorf gave a talk that blew me away. It was as if he were talking specifically to my weaknesses.

At the beginning of October Hans (Freeman's brother) and his wife Kristi and their two daughters moved in with us. They are finishing up Hans’ job in Plano and transitioning to a job, most likely in Virginia. With 5 kids 5 and under, our house is rockin’! They have been really fun to have around. We love them a lot.