Dee's Halloween Party

Dee invited us out to the country again this year for

her Halloween party. She's such a

good hostess!! The kids

had a great time.

Here are all of the kids.

We were missing a few from last year because

they are now in school.

Next year, five of these little guys will start school!

There were also a few new additions.

Aaaahhhh....sweet!

Em and Em

Aisy

Gage

Dawson

Orin

The kids played several games.

They loved to play "pass the ugly gourd"

and musical chairs.

Pass it on fast!

I love how Dee invites the Grandma's too!

A houseful of three generations.

Mummy dogs...

...and worms.

Yum!

The kids got to go trick-or-treating throughout the house.

It's great practice for Saturday!

The kids love to decorate their

pumpkins or gourds with stickers.

Emmalee's goal was to cover the entire surface of the pumpkin.

Thanks, Dee!

Pumpkin Patch

We visited the pumpkin patch on Friday night.

The first thing Emma wanted to do was ride the barrell train.

However, she didn't want to ride it alone.

Ryan was very kind to ride it with her...although, the

expression on his face tells us that this just might be the last time.

So sad to think that he's outgrowing these kinds of things!

Me and Em waiting for the hay ride to start.

Bob and Ryan

The rule was that they had to

carry out the pumpkin that they picked.

Bob felt sorry for them and carried it them the rest of the way. :)

Emma loves the haybale maze.

Here's Ryan pretending that he doesn't want to be in the maze with Em.

Once he figured out that he could chase her,

he looked much happier!

Jane Market Bag

After what seems like a long break, I'm back to sewing.

Yesterday afternoon, I decided to make something for...me!!

I've been meaning to try the Jane Market Bag

for quite some time. It was so easy to put together...

I love how she has you make the handles and the square bottom of the bag.

I took it to the Pumpkin Patch, and it worked

great for holding my purse, my camera, our fresh mini-donuts

and an extra jacket for Emma.

I see more of these in my near future!

our family loves to play games. we have enough games to fill several bookcases.

some of them are quite involved and some are simple.

our favorite this week is Monopoly Jr.

remember how long it used to take to play a game of Monopoly?

we love this version of the game because the games go quickly and

it can be played with someone as young as three.

Ryan loves to be the banker,

and Emma so enjoys making piles with her money,

counting it and counting it again.

the most that is due another person on each turn is

four dollars, so it's not difficult at all for little ones.

Em's favorite part is pushing on the little guy's

head to see how many spaces she gets to move.

(we did have to teach her to use just one finger and not her fist...poor guy!)

~~~

Christmas is coming soon...it is, it really is!!

with both kids birthdays within days of the holiday, I'm stumped this year

with what to get them. we love to get them things that will get played with

again and again in several different ways.

does anyone have any favorites they'd be willing to share?

Fabulous Fall Weekend

What a beautiful weekend it was.

Saturday found Ryan at the airport with Uncle Max working on airplanes

and Em and I heading out to the country for a horse birthday party.

(Bob spent a restful weekend at home...those will be in short supply soon!)

Emma's dear friend Ember celebrated her

fifth birthday with some friendly cowpokes and the

cutest horse cake I've ever seen.

Click on her name up above in blue for a much

more imaginative description of the party than I can

come up with!

Dawson and Gage

Isn't it cute?!

Em and Em

There were a couple of bank robbers running around.

The cowpokes out looking for the lost horses.

Remey

All of the horses are rounded up!

Happy birthday, Ember!

Ember holding up the owl nightgown

from me and Em.

I love to see boys being boys!

Gift bag with legs.

Em and Dee Anne

Checking out the tic-tac-toe game.

Sunday morning

Mom and Dad came over for dinner on Sunday.

It's been so long since we've seen Dad that he was

able to grow a full beard! Neither of the kids

have ever seen him with one (the last one we remember was

in 1998 when Bob and I got married); it was funny to

watch Emma look at Hop, trying to figure out

what was on his face.

(The photos of the Mom with the kids are on her camera).

Is it easier...

to ask for forgiveness than ask for permission?

~~~

So, here's what happened?

Last night, Bob asked if I'd get him some

Chicken Tortilla soup.

Bob rarely asks for anything other than what I normally

buy, so Emmy and I set off this morning to our

local, friendly Fred Meyer store after

dropping Little Guy off at school.

~~~

We like to make a quick stop by the kids' book section, pick up a

few and let Emmy look at them as I drive her around in the cart.

This keeps her contained and entertained while I shop.

Great for both of us!

~~~

Now, if you know me, you know that I like to save money!

My favorite place to shop is Goodwill and some of the

wonderful consignment shops here in town.

So, since Freddies was having a 70% off of the lowest clearance price

sale, I had to look at everything, right?

(Say, "Yes!")

~~~

Furthermore, if you're my husband, you know that I have just enough pairs of shoes...

I don't collect shoes. But you also know that most of my dress shoes are

from when I worked in an office (1998-2002).

And I love boots!

~~~

So, there I was going through the shoe aisle...

when I saw them!!!

I've always wanted a pair of brown riding boots.

But there was only one pair.

But...oh wait...they're in my size!!

And they are brown.

And they are leather.

And they fit.

And they were normally $100.

And they cost of $20 now!!!

How can I pass that up?

Obviously I didn't!

~~~

So, when I got home I e-mailed Bob to tell him what I'd done. Yes, it's only $20, but I have a terrible time spending money on myself...I always feel guilty. I explained what I had done...

and here's his reply:

SHAME ON YOU!!!!!

But the soup makes it ok.

I guess I still love you

So, in the end, I have the perfect pair of boots for me at an awesome price, Bob said it's o.k. ,

and I remembered the soup.

Ryan decided that he'd like to join Cub Scouts.

After a couple of weeks, he thoroughly loves it.

He's excited to spend more time outdoors and

loves to work towards earning his patches.

Since Ryan was having his photo taken,

Emma had to have hers taken also.

She's been listening to Ryan memorize his

Cub Scout stuff, so now she'll stop in the middle of playing

and recite a made-up Cub Scout pledge.

It usually contains, "When I'm old enough, I'm

gonna be a Brownie and sell cookies!"

We took a walk to Ryan's school this past weekend

to enjoy the sunny Fall day.

Bob and Ryan enjoyed a game of soccer.

Emma made a couple of new friends

and played on the play structure.

Love days like these!