Better late than never!

It's been a busy week so I am just now getting around to posting Halloween pics.

Savannah and her Daddy carved 2 highly anticipated jack-o-lanterns while I worked a fundraiser.

Proudly Savannah showed off her work while acting the part of a scarecrow.

Fall festival at our church allowed Savannah to reunite with her favorite festival pastime...the giant slide. From the first time she toddled up that latter a couple of years ago as a mini trick-or-treater, it was love at first slide.




It's also Daddy's favorite.

Savannah modeled her red hair while I talked to Cassie and Bec.

Savannah having pink eyeballs painted on her face.

October 31st, 2008

After this pic was taken Savannah made a mad dash to see all the sweet older ladies a block over. I love trick or treating. We indulge in the rare opportunity to visit with new and old neighbors. Most of us are out walking about in the evening or sitting on our front porch. And these are the people we see often. But there are those in our neighborhood who can't get out or lead hectic lives and I am grateful there is a holiday that brings them out.

A few days later the candy fairy came to harvest the candy she needs for the year. In preparation for her coming, we packaged up our extra candy and set it out on the porch. The next morning we found she had graciously left us a surprise. It was the DVD, "Land Before Time," which happens to be one of my favorite movies from my childhood. Happily, it is now one of Savannah's.

Our last day

Our final day in Colorado was full of celebrations. Granny Smiles turned 80 with a lap full of great grandchildren competing for her attention as they proudly showed her their handmade cards.

The girls helped Grandpa make sweet potato pancakes which was enough to make anyone laugh. There is no telling what we actually ate that day. Every time Grandpa turned his back someone stuck a little something extra into the batter. Notice Ella's finger in this shot.

This is my Retro Wednesday photo by the way since it looks old. The kids and Granny Smiles enjoyed dressing up for the monumental birthday pic.



The afternoon was filled with relaxing and just enjoying each other.

Grandpa and his only Grandson in their matching train ride-ready hats.

Granny Smiles' birthday is also she and Papa Mel's wedding anniversary.

Happy birthday and Anniversary Granny Smiles and Papa Mel!

We love you both very much!

Now let's eat some cake!

Lovin' the leaves

Cousinly love. Granny Smiles' back yard.

You know you take to many pictures when you can see the leaves moving continuously, frame by frame.

Start...

...and finish.

Sweet Burton.












Who needs a man made playground in their backyard? Just rake up a few leaves and provide something for them to jump off of into the leaves. They will figure out the rest.

Yummm. Tastes good.

Good fun with Great Granny Smiles.

Notice Savannah is posing the next jump.

"Bury us! Please!"

"Let's bury Grandpa!"

Back to my trip report...

Although Ella is dressed as if she were going shrimping on the gulf, in her mind she was all decked out for a trip to Ouray. Yes, after one day at our destination it was time to get out of the house. This crew does not sit still for long.

Savannah happily put on the coat and boots she had been begging to wear all summer.

In Ouray we perused a variety of stores. Savannah was impressed that the shops in Colorado sell "really cool" rocks. Dawn and I stumbled upon a unique local toy store. The kids played contently while we shopped for an hour. Meanwhile, Grandpa kicked back and enjoyed the moment.



After shopping for quite a while the kids, mommas, grandpa, and great grandmother all needed rejuvenation.

Savannah had read (a million times) the previous week, Curious George Goes to the Chocolate Factory. You would have thought we entered to the gates of Disney World when she saw the bountiful truffles laid out! The Mouse's Chocolates and Coffee is known for it's indulgent hot chocolate. On a brisk fall morning, who can resist that? Hot chocolate, mocha this, and chai that for everyone. And don't forget truffles too!

We experienced John Denver's Rocky Mountain high via high blood glucose levels!

The girls were exhausted from the shopping once they came down from their sugar high. On the way home to Granny Smiles' house, Ella thought she would kick back and relax with a movie. Tiredness blinded her from the fact she could not hear the movie.

Simple Woman's Daybook

For today, November 3, 2008

Outside my window...night has arrived and my neighbor is oddly enough, clapping. Maybe they are calling their dog???

I am thinking...of my to-do list for the week and our plans for the upcoming holidays. I'm ready to finish up my Christmas shopping and Christmas card list so I can kick back and really enjoy the season once it arrives.

I am thankful...for my dad inviting Mark and I to the Tony Bennett concert last Tuesday. It was like viewing a museum of history live before our eyes. He is still awesome. I think all three of us had a memorable evening.

From the kitchen...beef vegetable soup, sweet potato biscuits, and soon I will make fudgey walnut cookies for a meeting I am hosting tomorrow night.

I am wearing...pajamas, as always.

I am creating...a few exciting work projects.

I am going...to work tomorrow for a couple of hours and then I'll finish up most of my Christmas shopping. Oh, and to vote!

I am reading...Innocent Traitor still. It's very good if you like history.

I am hoping...that my career continues to prosper and grow at the rate God intends. I am ready to take on the world but I will look to God for guidance.

I am hearing...SNL Election Blash from the TV.

Around the house...everything is clean and put away (didn't you read? I am having people over tomorrow!) Savannah and the cats are already tucked in for the night. No, I don't tuck the cats in. They do it themselves.

One of my favorite things...fall foods. Pumpkin, winter squashes, apples, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves beckon me to the kitchen. Note to self: there are a few recipes I need to post on the blog. I don't know how I escape gaining an extra 10 pounds in the fall, it's my favorite food season! Perhaps the ideal brisk weather leads me to compensate with more running.

A few plans for the week...work, meeting, AWANA, hopefully a date night, playdate, holiday prep that must be done before I leave town again, and a bunch of domestic stuff.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...

Ridgway, Co Fall 2008

Whoa!

My day began earlier than I prefer due to the lack of my child's understanding of day light savings. Since we were up, we decided to brave the early church service. By saying, "brave the early service" I am referring to the absence of childcare for children Savannah's age. By the time the music portion of the service was over I was ready to head to the nursery and strike up a deal, beg, or administer force if necessary.

Savannah was not "bad," but she is three and three-year-olds require supervision. It's difficult to pour my heart into worship with one eye cocked to the corner monitoring any sudden movements, flying objects, or disappearing children (like when they crawl under the pew and you hike up your skirt and go after them). My bolt over the rainbow into the nursery led me to a pot of gold, Cari. I don't know if she took pity on me or if I ran so fast back into the service that she hadn't the chance for rebuttal. But, she admitted her into the two-year-old class. Savannah did not seem to notice that she was not among peers.

After the service I came back to thank the nursery workers for taking Savannah in in spite of her advanced age. I thought I would explain my ditching my child by telling them I was a water hose that was desperate to reattach to it's source of water but then realized I would sound crazy so I moved on.

Later in my Sunday school class (I teach 11th and 12th grade girls) my analogy came out. God wants us to be water hoses to the world. Anybody can be a water hose but what good is a water hose without a source? I was craving the water source this morning and wanted no distractions. Without it, I would have nothing to spray and I was scheduled to spray at 10 when class starts!

Being blessed in the morning service I had plenty to give when it came time to teach the girls twice today. We had a great class this morning and a fun bible study this evening. It would not have been possible without my rejuvenation to the source first. Glad we didn't wait for late service!

This afternoon I listened to my mother recap she and Doug's meeting with Lori (my little step sister), Aaron (her boyfriend), and Lori's mom. Lori is a 19 year old freshman in college who is now pregnant. Can we say "BIG MEETING?" Yeah it was an important one.

My mother said everyone sat down and begin to talk and she stopped them short. "The Lord just came over me and I knew we needed to pray. It wasn't even my words, it was His words. It was such a strong feeling." She was beginning to get choked up as she described the event.

Instantly I knew what had happened but I asked first, "What time did this happen?" Mom said, "Around 10:45."

I thought the meeting was going to be at 12 so, as I wrapped up Sunday school I revealed to my girls what was going on with Lori so we could pray for them with the other prayer requests. We prayed for that meeting specifically that God's will would be sought and that He would be there guiding them in their decisions. Church starts at 11:00 so, guess what time we were finishing up Sunday school and praying????? Yes, we were praying at the moment the Lord came over her.

Whoa! What a blessed day.

The best part about the day was sharing the events with my girls. Tonight, they all asked how things went with Lori and I told them my mom's story. Their response? "Whoa!" I can tell them bible stories and how it relates to them or we can experience God together as we did today.

I think we all tapped into the water source today cause there is some sprayin' going on!

The Arrival!

On completion of our San Jaun exploration via the historical vessel we headed over Red Mountain to my grandmother's house. The girls fell into a slumber the moment we strapped them into the car so they missed the light snow that accompanied our passage over the mountain.

All clear on the other side of the mountain.

Granny Smiles is happy to see us but not very surprised. In spite of our secret service like efforts, she had a suspicion that plans were brewing.

Savannah is happy to arrive at our destination and try on her new winter gown.

Granny Smiles loved being smothered in great grandchildren.

More playtime.

Ella and Savannah discovered the drawer that holds Granny Smiles' rollers. It was just too tempting. The girls had to play with them.

Burton, I would run if I were you. It won't be too much longer before the girls discover they can dress you up!

Both girls were showing off their curlers as if they had just won Ms. Preschooler USA.

Now that they were pros, they helped Granny Smiles put hers in. They got their feelings hurt a little when she took hers out and got dressed. They missed the purpose of the curlers and thought of them more as decor for their hair.