Thursday, November 4, 2010

Stinkin?

Anna’s newest and latest phrase?

Are you stinkin what I’m stinkin?

She’s picked up on Hudson’s “are you thinking what I’m thinking?”  It’s pretty hilarious to hear it!  Especially because Hudson realizes what she is saying and nearly falls to the floor everytime! :)

Monday, November 1, 2010

Merry Christmas-Music!

Yup, folks...it is November 1st. That is the christening of the Christmas music being pulled out, dusted off, and played 24-7. My music-luvin-hubby found out that the cable music channel changed over to 24-7 Christmas at 5 am this morning, and as I groggily descended the steps this morning, my heart filled with joy to hear the soundtrack of my favorite holiday permeating our house. Man, that starts off a Monday right!

Truth be told, Chris has had some Christmas music out since August. Part of the job, ya know? And we have unofficially been periodically listening throughout October, because as Arizonans, we started the listening season with my fall break from teaching. To get you in the mood too, I thought I'd share my most favorite, highly anticipated album to listen too. This will be listened to a minimum of once a day...for sure.

This is a group I have come to love - Everly. The duo is phenomenal. Enjoy the acoustic, soulful, folksie music in this preview they have posted on youtube. You can download the whole 6 song EP for super cheap...it's worth your money for the listening pleasure you will surely feel.

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween!

IMG_3020

Yup…he wanted to be a root beer bottle. And Anna…the infamous “wer-maid”.

IMG_3021
A few pictures from our fun trick-or-treat weekend….Saturday night we had our small group over for dinner and candy gobbling….Sunday we had to put on our costumes again (because they loved them) and just stopped by our friends’ neighborhood for a few homes with them as well.  Enjoy the spooktacular shots..  IMG_8041 IMG_8042 IMG_8046 IMG_8048 IMG_8051 

The crew…Harry, Root Beer, Luigi, Mario, Benaiah the Lion, Cinderella, Ariel the Mermaid and Caesar

IMG_8064 IMG_8074   IMG_3023 IMG_3029 IMG_3033 IMG_3036

IMG_3034

little sisters will NOT be left behind…

what a good big brother….

what great friends and a fun time!  Thanks to everyone!

Thursday, October 28, 2010

quotable quotes

Hudson:  I’m gonna be Root Beer for Halloween!

Anna:  Root Be-Beer?  I LOVE Root Be-Beer!

Hudson: You could be popcorn to go with my root beer, Anna…that’d be cool.

Anna:  Nope.  You be Root-Be-Beer, I’m gonna be a wermaid. (mermaid) :o)

===========

Hudson:  Mom, how do people get married?  Like, why do names change when you get married and do boys ask girls to get married?

(Mommy answers this question to the best of her ability)

Hudson:  Well, don’t worry about Anna marrying anyone.  Cuz I’m gonna ask Anna to marry me because she’s my best friend, and we play together, and I love her very much.

(I hear the collective “ahhhhh!”)

============
Hudson praying at dinner last night….

Dear God,

     Thank you for this yummy food.  Thank you for my teacher Mrs. Smith because I love her.  Please help her daughter to feel better so I don’t have a substitute again.  Thank you for my substitute Mrs. H.  She was nice.  Thank you for Daddy and Mommy and Anna.  Amen.

Happy Hauntings

The not-too-far away wonderland park that we enjoy going to is having their annual October Happy Hauntings.  Last year we didn’t go, but this year’s activities made me wish we had.  As season pass holders, it cost nothing for us to attend, and the kids (and Daddy and Mommy) had a blast.

 IMG_8008

After Sunday afternoon naps all around, we quickly rummaged in our dress-up box and came up with some suitable costumes for trick-or-treating in the park.  It was really fun to see how many little ones (as the park is really targeted toward ages birth-8) recognized Woody and Princess Ariel.

IMG_8011

This is Hugs and Banana’s favorite ride together – it goes in an oval and whips around the ends – they LOVE it.

 IMG_8015  IMG_8019  IMG_8024 IMG_8027 

Where the waterpark is during the summer, there is a trick or treat trail…the park is affiliated with Hershey’s, so there were GOOD candies on every one of these stops!

IMG_8036

Mommy even got to ride the Frog Hopper with Hudson and Anna…only one adult can ride at a time, so I had never gotten a chance to do it – but this time I did.  Man, it was fun!

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

random act of kindness

Last Friday we made our weekly trek to the local Farmer’s Market, which, I assure you, is in all its’ all treats and glory this time of year.  Apples, apple cider, home-grown gourds, pumpkin pies and pumpkin whoopie pies, and caramel apples.  Ahh.  The apple treat that is deceptively not so good for you – despite the word apple in it.

IMG_8002

Hudson, Riley, Anna and I were awaiting Daddy’s return from his favorite stand to buy Amoroso rolls for lunch (a Philly delicacy – true hard and chewy roll that a cheesesteak must be eaten upon)…and we spied the above beauty.  We were marveling at it’s gooey goodness– but just window shopping.

IMG_8007 

You see the pictures, so you know that this is going somewhere good.  A lovely elderly lady saw the four of us admiring the treat and felt compelled to buy it for us.  She didn’t ask first, she bought it for us and then politely asked if she could gift it to us.  At first I refused – I mean, it was the last one.  She bought the last one – where would her Friday dessert be had if she passed it to us?

 IMG_8006

She insisted that I take it for my three children (that must’ve been it, she was overwhelmingly impressed with the 3 children I had with me that were 3, 5, and 6 that were behaving like angels at the moment) and that they enjoy it for lunch.  I love moments like that.  Moments that give you glimpses of Jesus in other people.

So, THANK YOU to the beautiful grandma at Friday’s market.  We enjoyed our caramelly-oreo crumbly-icingy-sprinkly treat.  And we’ll pay it forward.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

to touch…

Have you ever really contemplated the reality, the meaningfulness of human touch?  I mean really, can you imagine going a whole day without touching another human being?  My days would not be complete – well, there are some days when I wish I wasn’t being touched so much by little hands ;o) 

Touch to the human encourages physical and emotional growth.  Scientific studies have shown that human touch is so important that without touch, infants’ growth is slowed and stunted.  Other studies have shown that the power of human touch, just the gentle touch, encourages the body to heal!

This morning I meant to read all of 1 John, but got stuck on the first chapter, first verse.  I think it is AMAZING....this part anyway....

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.   (1 John 1:1)

John wasn't just reporting.  He wasn't just doing the job of a journalist.  He saw it...yea, ok – he was a firsthand eyewitness.  He looked at Him...yea, ok – I can look at the President if I stand on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue long enough.  BUT HIS HANDS TOUCHED?  I got this overwhelming sense of longing to touch Jesus...longing and wishing I could've been there too to touch, to see, to hear.  It's coming.  But may my heart yearn - for that is when I will remember to seek after Him whole-heartedly….and be grateful for His touch on my life daily.