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october

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last week i took talby to the nursery while annie was at school.
it was a last minute thing.
i didn’t have my camera.
i seriously felt sick about it.
and you can see why.
4 days later i took annie back when talby was at school.

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it was even better.
on talby’s day the pumpkins were still in boxes from the truck.
on annie’s day they were so displayed so beautifully.
it was just so pretty.
with both girls we spent over an hour each time
looking…
touching…
marveling at god’s creations.

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there were so many mums just waiting to pop!
all the mounds of flowers everywhere around us.
in every fall color.
the pumpkins were in all shapes and sizes.
i wanted this big one but couldn’t justify the cost.

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annie picked out this little one first thing.
she carried it the whole time.
she loved to feel each one especially the big bumpy ones.
we counted and stacked and rolled and compared pumpkins.
they had gray/blue, some were almost brown, almost red,
almost yellow and the white.
one variety is called the cinderella…how cute is that?
and then another is called hubba hubba.
it is so funny to hear annie say hubba hubba.
don’t you love the twisty twirly dried up vine?

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isn’t it mysterious how plants grow?
fascinating to me.
we bought 2 purple mums…i hope.
we’ll see when they open.

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if i had an extra $750…
i might buy this fountain.
(and then craig would have a stroke and i’d have to return it.)
it was pretty neat…complete with moss.
i bet that part is free.
and this statue…look like any one to you?

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it was such a wonderful way to spend a morning.
twice.
we came home with these baby pumpkins…
as much as her dress could hold.

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welcome fall.

melissa @ the inspired room - Your pictures are always so pretty and inspiring!
I love to pop by and see your sweet kids and the wonderful photos you share!
Thanks!

traci - beautiful fall photos. looks like a fun day – times two!

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happy birthday to me

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yesterday.
such a nice birthday.
after church i picked for us to go to pizza hut.
(not many choices in our town)
we hardly go there and very rarely go inside and sit down.
and the kids love to do that…
a diet pepsi in a big glass sounded good.
and there was no mess at my house!

i got to open my present.
we all guessed what it wasn’t.
it’s not a pumpkin.
it can’t be a set of pots and pans.
it isn’t coffee…too light.
it isn’t a pizza…too small.
it was much better.

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i have no idea how to even turn it on.
but it will be fun to learn i am sure.
oh…my husband is funny.

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before the day was over lauren had my headphones out & on her iPod.
i will have to keep them in a safe spot…
away from grabby hands.

we had birthday cake.
made by the kids and dad.
very yummy.
love the pink and brown too…they picked that.
it was a super sweet birthday.

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thanks everyone for all my gifts, phone calls and emails.
i feel special.

melissa @ the inspired room - Happy belated birthday. I got the same gift for mother’s day! I had no idea how much I would love it, but I really do!

kristin - oh, happy birthday.
i think it’s hilarious that we had pizza hut take-out for my birthday supper tonight and then i read this.
with candles lit and a bottle of wine, it did feel fairly festive.
may this year be full of sweet sounds, indeed.

elizabeth holder - happy late birthday – mine was 3 days ago – so we kinda have that incommon – anyway – have a great week

traci - happy birthday to you. hope your day was as wonderful as it sounds. you will love your nano!!

Danelle - happy birthday!! I use my iPod daily. You will love it.
I wish mine said Hot Momma on it too!

traci - what an awesome present and HOW COOL that your family made your cake and didnt buy it!!!!

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chicken pot pie

as part of my new chore system
the kids have to help fix dinner once a week.
i thought they’d be mad.
i was surprised.
it’s their new favorite part of dinner
when it’s their night.

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scott chose chicken pot pie…
we made up the recipe.
it tasted okay but scott loved it.
we made one with peas and carrots
and one without.

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i made this big chart of dinner time chores
to make sure they all helped and things got done.
and it turned out to be a treat for them.
i have always kicked them out of the kitchen when i am cooking.
it just overwhelms me…
but that was when that they were all “helping”
(and fighting, talking, sword fighting, singing, spilling, whining..)
now it’s one on one each night.
picking the meal, making it, and having time with mom.
very cool.

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camm - I have been reading for a while – LOVE your blog! LOVE your house! Do you mind sharing what the new chore system is? I am always looking for the one that may work with my 2 girls!

kristin - dreamy.
what do your other kids do?

traci - This is a GREAT idea!!! Several yrs ago I volunteered at a very lg. foster home that had 15 kids! All the kids (from 3 on up) had chores to do. I would go in and feel sorry for this little five yr. old pushing a vacuum and offer to take over. They would get very exasperated and say “This is MY job”. This happened several times until I FINALLY learned they WANTED to feel important and needed to have a vital part of the family.

traci - looks yummy!!!

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i am so excited for tonight!
i love tv premeire week.
seriously.
there is really nothing the shows could do to disappoint me
other than not record on the DVR.
after my kids are in bed
i will be firmly planted on my sofa
ready for my shows.
i love it.
here are some clips…not that you all have 7 minutes to sit and watch these…but if you do.
at least watch the first one.

but i still miss seinfeld and friends.

amy - was i the only one weeping when the little girl was blinking to her dad?

kristin - we even have drinks and snacks for post bedtime viewing…i am with you.

traci - I miss Seinfeld and Everybody Loves Raymond!!!! I still watch Raymond reruns over and over and over and shush my kids even though I KNOW the next line…LOL…how sad.

Blanca - I am right there with you. I can not wait to see Greys tonight. I’ve seen the office and thought it was hilarious. I bet every office has at least one or two if not all of those characters. I know there are several around here.
Enjoy.
Blanca

Danelle - I absolutely CAN NOT WAIT to see Greys Anatomy again. It was basically the only tv I really watched last fall. What were the other two clips of? That show looks funny!

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silly girl

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funny stuff talby has said this week…

she made a paper of pretend homework
she drew four boxes
inside each box was jelly fish
then she wrote the number of jelly fish under the box.
i said “great job…why did you draw so many jelly fish though?”
“i don’t know…i just felt like it.”
good enough reason for me.

while eating her lunch quietly by herself
she says “Mom…i think you are the prettiest of all the moms”
i said “hmmm….i think you are right.”
ha ha ha

“Mom do you know what is best number of kids to have?”
“5”
“No…it’s 6. let’s think what we would name our next baby.”
“ok…if it’s a boy – Nate and if it was a girl? marla…lainey…meredith?”
“Those names are terrible. i think MILEY!” (hannah montana’s name)

“Mom when i grow up can i dye my hair pink?”
“yes…i guess you could.”
“how about when i turn 6?”

we picked a white pumpkin at the nursery today.
she was helping me carry it to the counter.
i told her “talby when i was five they didn’t even have white pumpkins!”
without missing a beat…“then today’s MY LUCKY DAY!”

what a goofball she is.

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traci - she is so cute and wise!! i am so impressed that you have all these wonderful little conversations documented.

kristin - this reminds me of my naomi when she was a kgner…ahhhhh.

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sick

yesterday the girls and i went for long bike ride.
we came home and i felt funny.
i took talby to school
when i got out of the car i felt terrible.
i laid down all afternoon.
i picked up talby from school but it took all my energy.
laid down on the couch and then didn’t get up for 2 hours.
craig came home and i went straight to bed.
at 5:30.
his mom, his aunt and great aunt were soon to be coming over for the evening.
they were bringing the dinner…so i wasn’t too worried.
what a great host i was.
i came down at about 7:30 to say hello.
then back up.

tylenol PM doesn’t work for me.
it did the firs time i took it
and every other time it has made me jittery and i sleep awful
so that was my night.

i feel better today…just weak and tired.
it stinks to be sick.

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let’s hope she’ll go easy on me today.
i am going to go take a nap.

traci - hope you’re feeling better today!

Barbara @ Southern Lady's Vintage - Hope you are feeling better! Your family is beautiful!
Barbara

Mom - Lorel, Macy and Maya were sick last week, but it didn’t last long. So hope you are better quickly!
I love Annie’s shirt too! Where did you find it?

traci - A lot of people I know are sick!!! What is going on? Sorry you are feeling like crud. LOVE annies shirt…LOL

Danelle - I hope you get better soon. I had the crud and it lasted a week and a half. I’ll say a prayer that you don’t have that!!

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justice league

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i feel safe.
super heros were patrolling the block yesterday.
on bikes.

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sean went through 3 costumes before deciding on this one.
talby asked for help with hers…
maribeth do you recognize this?
isn’t it molly’s old dance stuff?
she is wonder woman (of sorts).
annie was robin…rolled up several times.

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the cape draped across like a scarf…
fashion and safety in one.

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the sprinklers were on…
that can’t stop a super hero.
(by the way…check out that GREEN grass…lookin’ good)

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and then it was time for sippy cups.
and computer.
and stripping.

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karla - Oh cool, your family is in Lawrence?! I love this town, isn’t it great?
thanks for joining in

traci - adorable, happy photos. looks like the perfect day for your little ones.

traci - Looks like such a FUN day!!!! And yes…I did notice that fabulous greeeen grass!!

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