on how I was spoiled this weekend

Friday 12:30 PM, and ready to go. 

But, actually, Aidan himself had packed all a full two days earlier..after receiving Grandma Kay's Wednesday invitation to spend the night on Friday.  One backpack full of toys.  One Aidan bag.  One Davyn bag, fully equipped with a knowing four pair of undies.  Because, well, Aidan is a knowing big brother.  And one extra anxious for his sleepover with Grandma and Papa.   In which I'm sure they were spoiled. 

But this is about my spoiling.  

We dropped the kids at 5 pm.  Ate at Cheesecake Factory.  Came home and crashed (seriously better than a movie these days).  Woke up at 9:30 the next day.  Cheesecake for breakfast.  Reading in p.j.'s in bed until 1, followed by - you guessed! - a nap.  Boys dropped off at 5:30 by Grandma Cyndee.  Staying up late to watch ASU win!  

Lazy Saturday means my Monday will, of course, now involve extra cleaning and laundry, but there are no regrets from this girl.

It's grand to be spoiled now & then.

201

I just happened to look down at the post counter tonight.  This is #201.  And it will definitely be a random offering.

First, a preview of what Davyn will not be for Halloween:

The boys have had their costumes for so long now that they've finally given up asking about trick or treating.  When I told them today that Halloween was in only six days, they were stunned.  And thrilled.  Halloween has not ever been my favorite holiday, but I'm loving the glimpses of it through their little eyes. 

Mandi & I did manage to get some Halloween baking done for Visiting Teaching and neighbors.  We've made these broomsticks for the past three years now.  The sweepy part of the broom is a very yummy brown sugar/butter cookie.  And then, of course, there's the chocolate & pretzel combo:

 

We also made these cursed ghost petits fours.  Damn that Martha.  These were far more complicated than they look.  And, yes, we were nearly cursing after an hour (plus!) of ghost glazing.   

 

But, these were my favorite:

 

Pecans on the bottom, topped with homemade caramel (Mandi's..yum!), chow mein noodle legs, melted chocolate & chocolate shavings.   Very delicious little spider turtles. 

My other busy doing of the month was FHE packets for our exchange group.  And I had Jim busy this time around as well.  He is seriously the best when it comes to my random whim-ish projects with no purpose.  This time around he used my scroll saw to make puzzles that went with one of my stories.  The lesson was on accepting others, and starts with a story about a new animal at the zoo who is teased and scorned because he is so different than the other animals.  Well, he cries, and the other animals come to realize one by one that he's not so different than each of them after all.  

I love doing our FHE packets twice a year, because it truly keeps me mindful of teaching my boys gospel principles more frequently.   

Davyn is OBSESSED with puzzles lately, so once these were all cut & painted, he was my tester, making sure each fit together properly.  I bought him a puzzle at Target the other day and he sat doing it over & over for two hours when we got home.  Aidan would have never managed such a feat of stillness at this age (or now!).  But D's concentration skills are crazy for his two years. 

One more D moment I've been meaning to record:

 

We visited my grandparents a few weeks ago.  The other three kids were off running, but Davyn loved on Grandma Jones plenty.  He kept bringing her books and talking to her about animals and shapes.  A sweet bonding to behold.  I clearly remember two of my great grandmas, and cherish those memories.  I'm grateful that my boys have the influence of so many Great's!

 

spt: black & white

 

the simple tangle of my days

coping

 

I've been lamenting D's arrival at the proverbial "two's".

But this post-tantrum picture made me pause.
In realizing that it's as difficult for him as it is for me.
This whole "becoming" business.

from gardening to sickness and back

Yesterday's gardener is today's bedbound cougher.  D has croup.  As of 12am this morning.  And as bad as I feel for my boy, I will admit to loving the "I need mom" of his ailment.  Because I need him.  And these 100% cuddle times.  Who wouldn't want to cuddle a boy who immediately gives a hoarse "thank you" to the nurse after a steroid shot to the right (bum) cheek.

My stomach is knotting, however, over the fact that I had four extra children at my house yesterday.  Two were Shanon's, who is 56 months pregnant and hosting a double birthday party in two days.  They don't need to be sick.  The other two have a mom who has been in the hospital for a week and a dad who is working hard to maintain the norm for them.  And they don't need to be sick either.

So I'm hoping my D didn't give out too much germ-spreading love yesterday.  We spent a gorgeous outside day digging in dirt.  The perfect way to occupy 6 littles for a few hours.  We dug out and tossed the remains of the plants I gave up on in the summer heat.  And even managed to plant some new seeds.  Two pots of basil.  I can't get enough of it and am dreaming up plans for an actual vegetable garden to accompany my random herbing.   I'm hoping to work out the kinks and work myself up to the actual work of transforming part of our yard for February's planting work {we just had a gardening class for Enrichment and I think I was bitten by the bug}.

 

 

This picture of the Scott boys with their guests cracked me up.  Of course they had them working for them...despite the fact that they easily outweigh those two littles by double. 

And, if you haven't guessed by now, my boys don't. like. wearing. clothes.

So, not caring to really fight that fight, I've been buying longer & longer boxer undies in an attempt to appease onlookers.