October!

 Pumpkin Patches are my favorite.
The kindergarten field trip was one of the best days this month. 
The kids were so fun, the weather was gorgeous! It was a great day, a special day! 
Nearly 100 kinders, teachers, and some parents went on this field trip to Country Cousins in Othello.

I get myself worked up at how fast time is going. 
Merit is talking colleges a bit. 
Willem is onto basketball season. His 8th grade football season flew by.
Hazel is really loving fourth grade. She had a wonderful 10th birthday!
Oren is getting used to kindergarten. He is so unique, so fun, such a good friend...
Sometimes the day feels so long and sometimes he gets worried about things.
He loves down time and he loves play. He has been nervous about computer lab... I have to say he, in a very brave way, is working through the hard stuff and is really enjoying the good stuff, like choice time. Choice time is where they learn through play. His teacher facilitates this in an amazing way. His letters and sounds are sure clicking too.

 Uncle Phil and Grandpa Jim came to visit.
We love the time. 

Today we met our new nephew Baer. 

What a sweet baby with two awesome parents - 

Kelcy and Brandon had their baby.

Hazel Jane

so much kindness

such an animal lover

This girl is ALMOST TEN! 

Wishing time to slow down

Oh how we LOVE her! 

Happy Friday!

My friend Maria inspired me in the after school snack department. I was so excited!
Oren comes home SO HUNGRY!
He does not like to eat a lot at lunch. When I pack his lunch in the morning, he looks over it and says things like "that's a lot to handle" or "I'm not really feeling that."
Oren is a funny kid; precise, smart, and he likes order. He is very kind. He does not like loud noises, chaos, and new situations.
The lunch room has taken some getting used to for Oren. It is loud, bright, a bit chaotic - not the most ideal place to have a calm lunch. His attitude and anxiety regarding this, however, is getting better. But he does come home very hungry!
So, more fun snacks after school will be a goal! And about once a week we cruise into McDonalds for a Happy Meal after school. :-)!

I have been quite inspired this week by teachers, by friends, and by some blog posts.
I am reminded how daily prayer and encouragement is so important!

Praying for our kids and a love for the Bible. Praying too for protection of their mind and their body.

 Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.


Psalm 119:47
I shall delight in your commandments...


2 Thessalonians 3:3
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you...







likeabubblingbrook.com inspired me this week in prayers for our kids but also in the recipe department



ohhh and she had this pumpkin brownie recipe that had me drooling.
Let's be honest, I usually like recipes with six ingredients or less. This one could stretch me

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies

3/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup cocoa powder
1/2 cup chocolate chips
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 - spray a 9x9 baking dish with cooking spray
Combine flour, salt, and baking powder, set aside
In another bowl, cream together the sugar and butter, then mix in the eggs and vanilla
Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients
Stir together
Pour half of this mixture into the other bowl

To the first bowl, fold in cocoa powder and chocolate chips
To the second bowl, stir in pumpkin puree and the spices

Pour the chocolate batter into the baking dish and spread in an even layer across the bottom. Then pour the pumpkin batter on top and spread in an even layer. 

Bake in pre-heated oven for about 45 min.
Cool before serving

Yesterday I started on this post and had to leave to go work concessions at the volleyball game (if you read my blog and saw a half written post and recipe, whoops, that's why!)
Running in circles a bit this week!

I haven't made these brownies yet! But I am sharing the recipe! There will be a follow up post after I make them and if you make them and love them (or don't) let me know!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Turner's Pumpkin Junction!

My very FAVORITE time of year!

And we, of course, have to go back! Hazel was sick this day and Merit was at the movies with friends. If I remember right, Vance was making some yummy soup back at the house.
Willem, Oren, and I had a blast! Friends own this cute little patch! Maddie is in Hazel's class and TJ is in Oren's class. The Turners live just three miles from us!

Merit's birthday monkey bread!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MERIT!!!

 We love making memories with you!! 
You are such a great kid!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

17 is gonna be great!

October 13

One hundred emotions today

Ever have days like that?

Hazel yesterday morning:
"Mom, I did not sleep very much last night and my throat really hurts."

But she did not wake me up, not once.
I struggle with sleep. I sometimes tell everyone it is getting better to try to train my brain to think it is. hmmmm
My kids know this and they try REALLY HARD not to wake me up! :-)

Hazel got up in her cute, cozy pjs yesterday morning after telling me about her rough night.
Starting this time of year, I love cozy pjs!
I felt her head, she was hot. She also had a spot on her wrist that looked infected. It was a bug bite or a spider bite she had scratched. I called walk in and the wait was an hour and a half. We went to Urgent Care instead, the wait was an hour. She does not wine or fuss. She read Matilda while in the waiting room. She has strep throat and we need to treat the wound on her wrist.
She got lots of rest today, popsicles too and she is cleared to go to school tomorrow IF she feels well enough.

Oren asked me today "what was your mom's name again?"
I gulped, stood still, my eyes were wet, "Karen" I said.

Merit saw so many pictures of Grandma Karen by the time he was Oren's age he sometimes thought he saw her in town. We would see someone that resembled my mom and Merit would say "look! It looks like your mom."
When he was three we were standing in line at Safeway. His eyes were huge. He pointed to the lady behind us and said "That's yours mom."

I am so much busier now than when I just had Merit. I don't share about my mom like I once did either.

Two of our kids have October birthdays. Merit will be 17 tomorrow! 17! and Hazel will be 10 on the 21st! Double digits! Time is certainly marching on and leaves me with many emotions.

This fall the sickies have entered our house already. Oren and Hazel are fighting things off. Willem and Merit are steering clear of the germs, trying there best anyway. Vance and I are chloroxing and hand washing like nobody's business.

We had two appointments for Merit's back Friday. He is doing everything he is supposed to do. One leg is still longer than the other. The hope is that it isn't, really. And that once things are aligned and everything is working right his legs will be the same length and his lower back won't suffer like it is now. He really wants to remain active.

We hit two pumpkin patches in two days! Yesterday, just Willem, Oren, and I went to the one not far from here. Turner Junction! It was so fun! And we love the Turners. Maddie is in Hazel's class and TJ is in Oren's class!

So many thanksgivings! Pumpkin patches, outdoor fun, watching these siblings interact (I love it), church this morning, and our dear friends from church, October goodness, and birthdays to celebrate.

Country Cousins!!

Autumn

 Autumn is my favorite.

Monday Evening

I picked Willem up from football, after having done a photo shoot at McCosh.
Nice lighting, polite girl - -
I told Willem we were going to the library.
Somehow, we really lucked out in the kid department. I still thrift many of Merit's and Will's clothes (no complaints). I can drag them to the Health Pantry, Grocery Outlet, the library, the thrift store, and they don't complain.
Merit has helped with grocery runs and kid pick ups since he is not playing football.
Basketball will get busy soon and his evenings will look a whole lot different.

I am not sure what I was looking for at the library. But I find I usually find it, even when I don't know what it is.

On the way home, the Autumn light was just perfect. October should have at least 40 days. :-)

October Weekend

October lighting, pumpkin patches, fall candles, photography, walks, hikes... this is such a fun month.

Merit and I headed to Spokane first thing this morning. It was a BEAUTIFUL day for a drive! Dropped Merit off at Gonzaga Prep HS for some baseball work and I met Shelli at Anthony's. Anthony's is so delicious! The lunch, and of course visit, was just what we needed. We headed to World Market after... and were inspired.
Old friends, and by that I mean friends who I have had for a long time ;-) are treasures. 
I purchased a couple of fun items thrifting that will probably end up at the Favored Farmhouse.

Friday I walked/jogged at Hazel and Oren's jog a thon. It was fun! It is such a great fundraiser and the weather turned out beautiful for the event! Hazel and Oren did a great job.
 I worked concessions at the Friday night homecoming football game. This was so busy and it made me have SO much respect for those who work regularly! 
Yesterday morning I was just a little part of Car Care at church. In the afternoon I took family pics, then headed to my dear friend Lisa's to take homecoming pictures, after that Vance and I went to the Ripple to celebrate our friends with October birthdays. So fun! Dinner, drinks, and laughter
Vance, Willem, Hazel, and Oren hiked with Nellie today to help her prepare for an upcoming hunting trip.
Home at 6 and you know what I am in need of? A weekend! But that has come and gone! ;-)

Life on Crab Creek

Yesterday afternoon at 3:00 I was soooo tired. Merit was going to have a few buddies over for dinner and to watch baseball play offs. Oren was and is still under the weather - it's been five days. I was trying to muster up energy. Yesterday evening went well. I got my second wind! Hazel baked and decorated pumpkin cookies, October is here! Oren played and checked in with the big boys in the loft. :-)

The sunshine streaming through the windows this morning is so pretty.

But I just ran out of steam again. A hard boiled egg, my coffee if I can find it and a tall glass of water and we can see if I can be productive! Today is the first day in a LONG time that I don't have anything from 9 a.m. - 1:45 p.m. I am thankful for the sunshine, a quiet house, and no running till after 1.

Warriors play today! They are such a fun team to watch! I love watching Wild Will! 

Since December, we have been seeking care for Merit's lower back. We started with chiropractic. It helped, but there was still stuff going on. We have gone to two different physical therapists. Both good, but the second one seems to be getting more to the root of the problem. I suggested a September of rest. So he shot around but did no scrimmages or games (basketball). We hoped and prayed the rest would heal what was happening.

The physical therapist said no amount of rest could fix what he has going on. Muscle groups over compensating for others - some things sort of stopped working after an injury last December. :-( So, we keep up with the physical therapy, I think it is slowly helping. We wait and we pray. 
Tonight is the first official night of open gym. I hope he can play without it hurting. 

This school year is off to a positive start. Oren is a tired kinder kid but his teacher is fantastic! Hazel is loving 4th grade and Nova! She goes to Nova on Tuesdays. Willem is enjoying being an 8th grader, he keeps me laughing and smiling. He is so smart. Merit is really liking his sign language class, his English class too. 

I am taking senior pics and family pics here there and everywhere and love it! I find I am overbooking my weeks a bit though. Time to slow it down a bit. 

HAPPY OCTOBER!