Lucky girl

Yesterday I celebrated my 30 something birthday and felt so blessed to have another great birthday. The day started out with a gift from Elizabeth:

The kids had a book fair at school last week and she brought a few dollars to school so she could buy this book for me. She had already read it so she was able to give a brief synopsis of the book. How cute of her to plan ahead and think of me!

A good friend, Cesily Tippetts, sent dinner home with Elizabeth Monday evening from piano lessons so that I wouldn't have to make dinner last night. It was delicious and so nice not to have to cook! Thanks, Cesily!

Justin made me this big chocolate chip cookie cake (he LOVES baking cookies) and Aaron and the kids decorated it for me. They were very proud of their work!

Aaron and the kids all gave me something I can't believe I wanted...a wheat grinder! Of course Aaron thoroughly researched them and this one is supposed to be very quiet and has a capacity of 20 cups! I've been borrowing one from a friend the past few months so I'm happy not to have to bother her anymore.

Tomorrow Cesily is taking the kids during lunch so Aaron and I can go out to lunch. Wow! We haven't been out together since we were in Idaho last August! What a wonderful day and I feel so blessed to have such great family and friends! Thanks for all of the phone calls yesterday too!

Pumpkin carving

Last night Aaron and the kids carved their pumpkins for Halloween. The kids thought it was so fun, except for the part of having to clean out the pumpkins. Will asked Aaron if he could do that part of it next year. They started with a big spoon, but found the hand worked better at cleaning it out. The only problem is it feels disgusting and is messy! That part they didn't like!

They all drew their own faces on the pumpkins and Aaron carved them out for them. They were thrilled with the results...

Fall Festivities

Fall has to be our favorite season. Here's why:

• Soccer
• College football
• Halloween
• Cooler temps (but not too cold yet!)
• Apple picking
• Pumpkins
• okay, leaves are not so fun when you have an acre and a half full of trees
  

Last Friday night we went to the fall festival at the park in Warsaw with some friends. They had a little petting zoo which the kids loved and we were able to go on a hay ride.

Saturday and Sunday was General Conference so we stayed home and watched/listened to conference. It was great to spend the whole weekend together as a family and we enjoyed lots of good food too! Aaron and the kids made "buckeyes" on Sunday (rolling peanut butter balls and dipping them in chocolate). The kids have been begging to make them for weeks.

Justin is playing soccer in the city league here and Will and Bruce play at the YMCA. It makes for busy Saturdays, but it's fun for them. Will has scored at least one goal every game so he thinks soccer is pretty great.

Thursday I took the three younger kids to pick apples with some friends. They had so much fun running through the corn maze and the pumpkin patch. It was 75 degrees and beautiful. We are loving this indian summer while it lasts!

Happy fall!

World's Worst Mom!

Bruce came home yesterday from pre-school and informed me that it had been his turn for show and tell that day. I told him I was sorry I forgot to send something and told him he would have to pick something out for Thursday. He proudly replied, "that's okay Mom, I showed them my coat!"

Aaron and I got a good laugh out of this as we tried to envision Bruce presenting his jacket to his class. Perhaps he showed them all of the nifty features: pockets, a hood, a zipper... The sad thing is it's last year's jacket and it's even getting too small on him and it was dirty! I wonder if he modeled it for them or if he passed it around to the class like they usually do the fun toys so that everyone can see!

It's times like this I wonder how I am going to keep track of another child and I have to wonder what the teacher thinks of this poor boy's home life!

A Town With Backbone: Warsaw, Indiana

The Early Show on CBS did a special on Warsaw back in 2006.