Pumpkin carving!!

He totally was not into the pumpkin carving. Started screaming 2 minutes into it so I put him in bed. Nighty-night

Luke is ready to get down to buisness.

Rachel said her pumpkin was so beautiful she didn't know if she could carve it. She got over that quickly....

Will was very exact. He was thrilled that he was allowed to use the carving tools this year.

Bella was not impressed with this whole reaching in a pumpkin thing. She kept gaging...

Rachel really getting into it. Bella in the background still not so much.

Scary vampire pumpkin

scary sharp teeth pumpkin. Willow has jet black eyes really. Kind of freaky

So proud

His took forever. He wanted it to be perfect.

Bella's kitty pumpkin

Alittle scary with the candles

Rachel's vampire.

All out on the front porch

Will's flame face guy. Awesome job.

Scarier with the candles. He was so proud. He told me to put it on the internet. ;)

Scott's pumpkin. He did an awesome job.

Finally Luke's. Just gotta smile.

hurricanes?

     One of my most favorite things of being a teacher (next to the honor of molding young minds and touching the future and all that...) is the call of a snow day. However, note to self, add this to the things I should not do- When phone rings and school is canceled and daughter who is terrified of even itty bitty storms asks "why is school canceled mom?" Do NOT answer "because of the hurricane." Cause then you are in a whole mess of trouble. Then you have to lie and tell her that it is no big deal. It is a little rain. She hides under her bed and keeps telling me to look out the window and tell her when it stops raining. Heaven help us if we do actually lose power.
     For the most part, the kids are over the moon about no school. As was I, until my son told me "we can play games and eat Halloween candy and go crazy all day."  Umm.....  Will and I already have a plan. We (teamwork here) are going to have a nap time tomorrow. This will commence whenever the baby will sleep. Then he and I are going to sneak into my room to read. He is now into Diary of a wimpy kid and I am reading the new Percy Jackson novel.
     I, of course, am hoping for the best scenario here. We get rain and a day off. Keep power and have a nice warm day. It never even occurred to me that perhaps we should "prepare" until schools started canceling a day ahead of time. I had my facebook status say this..."no candles. no flashlights. no make ahead meals or prepping. Just kind of going by the it is never as bad as they say method. BUT we are out of ketchup. My husband couldn't get his coat and shoes on fast enough. ;)"  True story. He did pick up a couple of random candles at the dollar store. Which are burning right now cause Scott thought they smelled good. We are not really good at this whole prepare thing. Kind of like last minute run around like crazy and hope for the best people.


     Other interesting news...I gave Luke a hug tonight and asked him why he smelled of cologne, he looked at me and said "How should I know...ask the rabbi" If you don't get it then you have to watch Madagascar 3. Which is also on our to do list tomorrow.....     

Corn Maze fun

Doesn't this just say it all....... On our way to find spongebob!

On our way in! We are off to look for spongebob and seven of his closet friends. Really the kids just wanted to run around and scream. Sounded good to me.

All Bella wanted to do was find Gary. She was so excited when we found him. I never realized their close relationship.

Pearl!

Rachel told me to take her picture with Squidward.

Daddy helping out.

Little man was not so excited.

Finally!! We found Plankton! We were all thrilled by this point! ;)

Smile pretty!

Looking for the perfect pumpkin.

Rachel said hers was the best...of course

Luke wants to haul them all....again, of course.

She thought all the decorations were the best. Since her mother does not decorate. Hey...we are lucky if I can keep it clean!

playing in the corn!

Burying Rachel. Ahhhhh.......

some cute kids



I do love October! The leaves, the football, pumpkin (muffins from dunkin donuts, ummmm), and weather still has not headed south quite yet. Unfortunately, my health (stomach issues and all) certainly has taken a turn for the worse. BUT on the positive side this is the first weekend in over a month where I have not been sick, crying in pain, or visiting an ER (knocking on all the wood I can find). There were times when I wanted to jot something down so I could remember but just couldn't get here. But again, I also ate today. Which is again a vast improvement. Perhaps, my current medication may help. I certainly would appreciate any prayers your could spare. I go back to my specialist November 19th. Right now we are just trying out some meds. Hopefully when I return we may come up with a better plan of action. Now on to some cute kids!

Seriously? This kid is too adorable. He totally put this look together himself. He likes to look "cool" he says. Look how clean he looks! Of course this is before we left the house.

My boys at the wedding. How handsome. Do not bring up that Will is in a purple shirt. Just trust me.

 Daddy and his girls.

 Two of my heroes who saved the day when I had to exit said wedding. They kept all *5* kids and danced and played while husband took me to the ER. Sigh... Then they took the kids home. Seriously, what would I do without my family?

 The only pic I got of us before we had to leave.

 Playing games....surprise, surprise

 Rachel with her hero

 My boy. I told him to smile. This is what I get.

 And of course my munchkin!

That's a day

This is my Friday night....and I love it. And Will just offered to make me popcorn. Ahhhh...let the nothing begin.  

Is anyone up?

I am not sure exactly when, but at some point in my young childhood my mom and dad decided that I was moving from my comfortable spot in bed with my two brothers to my very own bed. We were still in the same room. My single bed was turned sideways and against the bottom of their queen. Man, did I hate it. I would wait until my mom would tuck us all in. Wait for night prayers. Wait until she shut the door. Then I might try to fall asleep. But more times than not, I would jump out of my bed and into my brothers' bed. I would snuggle down in between them. I hated to sleep alone.

And when the girls got shipped out into the "hall" which was the room beside our bedroom, I would fall asleep comfortably with the light that shined up the stairs and into the room. That light was the tv that my dad had on nightly. I found such comfort in the fact that although I may be falling asleep, dad was up. I couldn't tell you what I was particularly afraid of. But whatever happened, I knew that dad was up and he would handle it.

I thought of that with my own son. He went through a stage where he would need us to fall asleep with him. He would ask "mom, are you still awake? Don't go to sleep without me." He still has problems falling asleep if his brother and sisters have fallen asleep first. He wants to know that someone is up. Someone is watching.

I thought of this as I read Psalm 121.....

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,  the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel  will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going  both now and forevermore.

Thoughts of the boogie man don't plague my nights of slumber and worries of what is under the bed don't have me curling into my husband's back. No. But truth be told, I have real worries. How many times I have I wished I could just shut off my mind and drift off? How many times have the worries of the future stolen my peace and caused me many late nights. And truly, if I am being honest, how many times have I whispered in the dark, "Jesus, are you awake? I need you."

Just like when I was a child, I need someone bigger than me being awake when I slumber. I need someone stronger who can handle it, taking care of the boogie mans of the world, while I dream without a care. How reassuring to know that HE who watches over me will not slumber. He is awake! He is watching over my life, watching over me! Now and forevermore.

This of course does not promise that everything is how I wish it to be. Of course, I can't always see the whole picture. But just the fact that I know my father is up and keeping watch....helps me rest easier.  

bye bye september

Bye bye September. Must say I have never been quite a fan. Whoever wants to say goodbye to toes in the grass and sunshine on your face? But, alas, we must part my fair summer. But with September comes some good things. 

Brothers hanging at the soccer field. Will assures me that Nick is loving it.

Another edition of Big Paul, little Paul. *Go Steelers!*

My little highlanders.

Meet Willow. Because my husband must bring home every stray he finds. She is quite cute. And she is Bella's new BFF.

Soccer!

Can this kid get any cuter? I think not. Ya gotta kiss those cheeks.

Princess Isabella turned 3!

Not particular reason other than...seriously? Too sweet.

I love these socks.

Luke with his orange soccer socks....something ate them. I guess. Don't know actually. But they ain't here.