Happy Halloween?

One struggle we have as parents is deciding how to handle Halloween. For most it is a harmless holiday where you run around dressed up in funny costumes and get sick on candy. However, it's not that for everyone and that is where we struggle.

Growing up, both my husband and I didn't do much for Halloween. For me it was very rare to dress up and trick or treat but it wasn't like I was told that it wasn't okay either. We've sort of gotten away with doing nothing with our kids up until these past couple years when our oldest started school. Of course at school everyone talks about what they are going to dress up as and all the dreams of huge bags of candy begin to formulate in their little heads.

A local church offers an "alternative" called the Hallelujah Party. So for the past two years we have gone there with our kids. It is a mass chaos of kids playing games for "tickets" which can then be turned in for prizes and candy (selecting prizes seems to take about as long as the games for our oldest!) So that's great and all but it still doesn't answer the questions of a 7 and 4 year old, wondering why mommy and daddy don't like Halloween very much when the rest of the world seems to love it almost as much as Christmas.... Maybe by next year we will have some good answers ;)

We decided to go to the Hallelujah Party again this year. I had told the girls that we would go to the party but probably not dress up this time as I couldn't think of anything we had on hand for my oldest to wear. But, 1/2 an hour before the start of the party an idea popped in my head and when we left we took along with us to the party: a cheerleader for the Miami Dolphins, a flower girl for a wedding - though she identified herself as a "wedding girl" (she wore a dress I wore when I was a flower girl at the age of 3) and what I would call an old fashioned lady on a Saturday night, complete with pink hair curlers.

Endless falling leaves.....

So the house we bought is in the "old well-established" part of town. This means very large trees (beautiful!) and TONS of leaves in the fall (also beautiful but lots of work!). Our driveway, sidewalks, and yard were hidden under a vast amount of colorful leaves. The rainy weather has made it difficult to get out there to rake and clean things and they just kept piling up. Last night a good friend came to our rescue with his handy dandy rather large riding mower and he and my hubby managed to get everything picked up except for where the pool used to be (and that is neatly raked into the big hole in the center!) However since the yard was being mowed rather than raked the kids made their own pile before the guys started and I managed to get a few pictures as well. The sun was already setting so the colors are rather grayish. Oh well, I'm sure there will be more leaf picture opportunities as only about half our leaves have fallen!

Sabbath

So these past months my husband and I have been talking a lot and wrestling with "Sabbath" and what it means. He studied this topic for a message he gave this summer and then some more for a discussion night for youth group. Also in God's perfect timing, the book chosen last month for my book club I am in was entitled "Sabbath" We have learned it is such a wonderful gift from God to be commanded to take a day off! So rather than demanding our girls to take naps every Sunday we are making effort to do things as a family, to celebrate God's blessings, his creation and focus on our relationship with Him.


This past Sunday we had a beautiful sunny fall day and decided to take advantage of the warmer weather (finally! after having so much rain and SNOW the previous week!) The girls were initially not too thrilled when we told them that this park was different as it didn't have playground equipment. They were thrilled however that they would be excused from the previous requirement of naps on Sunday. When we got to the park however, their kid sense of adventure kicked in and they seemed to love every minute we were there and are begging to go back every day.
It was wonderful and while we continue to wrestle with how to do "Sabbath" (especially when Chad has to "work" on Sundays as part of his job) this felt right. Praise God for his gift of Sabbath.
We hiked the trails and discovered a lot of things... we found a huge rock and wondered how it got there when there are no other "rocks" around, we found a slide (yay!), we saw a lot of deer and other animal tracks, (Shannon was hoping to find Zebra tracks though), we saw a snake, a dead squirell (a bit disturbing actually), and gorgeous vistas of miles of farmland ready to be harvested.



on the big rock

Peek-a-boo!

the littlest explorer, lagging far behind ;)

 because she stops to point at everything :)

looking for zebras

extrememly happy to not be napping

Birthday Girl

7 years ago, our first precious daughter arrived. changing us forever. giving us a new title and role as "mommy" and "daddy."

she first celebrated her big day with grandpa and grandma because we were in LA for a convention. she was a bit sad at first when we told her we wouldn't be there, but handled it like a trooper and we planned a special day to celebrate after we came back. so last saturday she got to invite 2 of her friends from school over for the day. lots of playing, crafts, some cupcakes and a few presents = a perfect day for our 7 year old :)

First Day of Preschool!

crazy.

she can't be this old already.

but she is, whether I am able to admit it or not. and she is more than ready. she took it in stride today, like it was no big deal. didn't seem nervous, just excited to be doing something other than staying home with me (sniff sniff). i am glad though that she is not clinging to my leg and screaming, not wanting to go to school. she is eager to learn and that is a blessing.

AND it leaves me with an afternoon of quiet (insert happy dance).... 2 in school and 1 napping peacefully. ahhhh, breathe in the silence.

well that is how it is supposed to be. i was quite excited to enjoy my first afternoon of peace. however, after miss preschool was dropped off, i took a few moments to stop at some garage sales since they were "right there." (I really am on a mission to find the most fabulous find for dirt cheap to furnish and decorate my house with) on the way home, my youngest fell asleep in her carseat for a MAXIMUM of 2 minutes. so when i deposited her in her crib at home she decided that 2 minutes of nap is the same as 2 hours and is now hollering for me to get her out. i don't think so little one. mommy is going to win this battle and a 2 minute nap isn't cuttin' it. not today.

every day is dress up day

My middle child is a rather complicated creature. She is a "feel the wind in my hair going 90 miles an hour" kind of girl, not a lot of fears, loves bugs, being outside barefoot, and yet she is a girly girl through and through. She LOVES to dress up and will wear dress up clothes all day long, every day (I have to remember that when I am shopping for her, the girl just doesn't need very many clothes cause she is always wearing dress up stuff). Her laundry pile is always the smallest and usually the same few of her favorite outfits (ie: skirts and play dresses) are in it. In fact the only time she will wear something different is when we are going out somewhere and I make her.
Well after we moved and I started unpacking things I discovered a bag of little dresses my mom had kept for me that I wore when I was young for various occasions. I snapped this picture of her wearing a dress that I wore at age 3ish during my first trip to Holland to celebrate my grandparent's anniversary. My older sister had a matching one as well. We were *super* cute, I think :)

15 Years

It has been 15 years since Dad left for Heaven. Nearly half my life has been spent without him yet he remains one of my biggest influences. I feel so sad when I think of all I haven't been able to share with him. He never met my husband, wasn't there to walk me down the aisle. He has not been able to hold and snuggle with my 3, soon to be 4, baby girls. He can't give me advice on big life decisions, visit me and see my new house (or any of the homes I've lived in). I can go on and on. However, what does that accomplish but self-pity, regret, and sadness? Dad has spent the last 15 years with Jesus! How glorious and wonderful this time for him must be. I can only imagine. He left behind him a legacy of faith. His impact in my faith life is larger than anyone else's. There are so many characteristics about Dad that challenge me to live for Jesus. I am comforted in that we did not say goodbye 15 years ago but "see you later." And as my little ones run around my feet as I write this I know that a part of you lives on in me and in them. Thank you Dad for the years we did have on this earth and making the most of them. We are blessed and continue to be blessed, praise Jesus.