spThursday

the October wreath I've been meaning to make

I loved Lelly's challenge this week.  But managed to miss out on the Tuesday part of it.  So here I am on Thursday...late on account of my fairly typical self-imposed chaoses.  Yes, there's a long list of things that keep me muddled in the "I've been meaning to do that" list.  

Two falls ago I saw a picture of a similar wreath and have wanted to create one of my own.  It's Halloween without being too haunty.  The supplies were simple:  mini pumpkins from WalMart, styrofoam wreath form and wide silk ribbon from Michael's.  Wrap the ribbon around the styrofoam.  I used an intense glue on the back once in a while to keep it snugly in place.  Then glue on the pumpkins (again, intense glue and overnight drying) and add the bow {which I liked small & long after some experimentation}. 

 

the least of the silly faces I managed

in our photo shoot today... 

and my
{cute & click-happy}
photographer:

 

a boy's view of his parents

Tonight's FHE opened with this prayer from Aidan:

"Thank you that dad could come home and kill black widows and that he is so brave.  And dad goes to work.  And he is a great sword fighter.  And has courage.  But mom just reads books all the time.  And watches t.v. and cuts things out."

That's me in a nutshell. 

 ??!!!

on birthdays and such

My Happy Birthday Choir stood posed, prepped, in front of the phone.  And I dialed.  First the home.  No luck.  Next the cell.  Only ringing and a tone, and I honestly don't know if this is a woman who listens to messages even if they're as cute as what I had in mind.   Could she be at the office?  On her birthday?  Somehow that doesn't seem right.  We sighed and tried.  Strike three. 

But we did find a clue.  Worse news than we ever suspected. 

Jim "heard" she was at the dentist.  Getting a root canal.  On her birthday.  So I sent most of my choir to preschool and hoped the rumors just weren't true.  The chorus will have to wait, but perhaps we'll regale her in another way via blog. 

Happy Birthday, Kay!

So, here are my birthday interviews for your birthday entertaining.
The interviewees, my three favorite men, youngest to oldest. 

 Kay & Davyn

Why do you love Grandma Kay?

D:  Do puzzles at her house.

Grandma Kay is...

D:  A cookie.
{head tilt & wide grin}

Um...ya, I think I'll take over now.  Our D is definitely more physical than verbal and it has long been physically, undeniably clear that he prefers Grandma Kay to anyone (Mandi & Grandma Cyndee being the close second).  At nearly any family gathering, he is soon found sidled up next to Grandma, insisting on attention.  And she offers it aplenty.

 Kay & Aidan

What do you like about Grandma Kay?

A:  Going to her house is fun, and I like to play toys with her and watch movies with her.

       What is your favorite thing to do with Grandma?

A:  Read books. 

What's the silliest thing you ever saw Grandma do?

A:  Herman the worm.

How much do you love her?

A:  40 feet. 

A doesn't remember, but Kay watched him four days a week for the first year of his life while I taught part time.  And she must have been reading to him plenty from the start because I'd often be startled at home when my 8-month-old baby would point and say "clock" or "ball".   Definitely Grandma's doing.

 

Kay & Jim

(and yes, it's pathetic that the most recent picture of the two is our wedding!) 

What do you admire most in your mom?

Jim:  She's committed to the gospel and diligently tries to live it and provide service to those around her.  Through her entire life she has been sacrificing for her family, and especially her kids.

What's your funniest memory with her? 

J:  The only time I heard her swear. 
{I asked what word, but the loyal &*#@! wouldn't say!) 

Describe her in one word: 

J:  Introspective.
{hm...like mother, like son} 

What's your favorite food she makes?

J:  without a doubt, oatmeal bundt cake
{me too! me too!}

In what way did she influence you the most?

J: love of reading.

 I'm grateful to this woman who raised the fine man who I married,
and who is definitely helping me to raise the fine little men I'm blessed to call my own.

We love you! 

first day of preschool

Aidan is always a bundle of nerves when faced with a first.  And his nerves are often manifest in ultra-hyper behavior.  That's what we had this morning, making me realize that my little was truly ill-at-ease.  But no fits came, and I think that's only because his cousins were braving preschool's first day with him.  Yet another reason to be grateful that Mandi lives so near us.

 

Before Jim left today, I overheard this "talk" with Aidan.

"Remember that you're Aidan Scott.
Remember that you're a part of this family.
Remember that you're powerful...and being powerful means knowing how to be nice, respectful and honorable."

I think he could repeat that wisdom to his boys verbatim from now through high school. 

 

the 3 preschool littles with Ms. Jill (A's leaning & eyeing cracked me up here)

 

but, here are a few outtakes from this afternoon that seriously make me worry about our Ms. Jill's future sanity:

 

 

 

 

 

And this - my favorite picture of the day:

 

the hunter or the hunted?

As the boys were traipsing about in the grasses on top of Escudilla, I told them this was just the sort of spot a hungry lion would like...So Aidan (and Jenna!  sidenote:  everyone needs an Aunt Jenna) crouched down in their best lion stances...as I warned them to watch for an unsuspecting zebra lunch. 

 
D was down on all four's, minus his typical lion growls,
so I asked why, and he replied: 

"No, I zebra." 

But the zebra gets eaten. 

 

Still, he insisted.

 And was eaten.

Just what I need!  One more contrarian (one who revels in the state of being contrary) on our family roster!  Of course, Jim showed all the signs of producing children like this.  And my parents claim I'd argue with myself if no one else was around.  I really should have known it was coming...my days are now filled with two tiny independent dependents who desperately vascillate between copycating and "I do it myself". 

 

I like *spirit* in a little, sparks of creative independence, but it definitely comes with a price of *attitude*. 

 

Jim is sure to disagree. 

And add something of his nights with three independent dependents.

We're truly an incorrigibly perfect (perfectly incorrigible?) match

With a child who - of course - wants to be the zebra instead.