A day feeding the ducks...

We live in an AMAZING place...people riding bikes everywhere, people walking, running, you name it!  But one of the coolest things about this area is the two lakes we have...North Lake and South Lake.  At North Lake you can take small boats out on it and at South Lake you can walk around the lake, fish and feed the ducks...and thats what we did.  We met up with our best friends the DeGraffs and took a walk, played catch and feed the ducks!

Seth and Syd'a are best friends...

They can just sit and talk for hours...

They talk about EVERYTHING...

They follow each other everywhere...

Josh being a pill and chacing the DUCKS...

Fly away duckies, be free...

The kids found this tennis ball while we were walking

and decided to play catch, right over Teresas and my head!

We feared for our lives many times and the ball came sailing at us...

Josh thought it would be fun to throw it right at me...

Austin throwing the ball...

 Brenna getting ready to catch it...

Then the keep away game started...

Teresa proves MOMS are QUEENS of the WORLD...

Its the most wonderful time of the year...

I've said it before and I'll say it again, (I sound like Popeye the Sailor), but I really do love this time of year...Starting in October till December.  Life does get crazy but its so much fun!  I love decorating my house for each important holiday!!

I love dressing my kids up for Halloween and doing our traditional night.  The day starts with cooking the traditional meal...Stew and dinner in a pumpkin!  It cooks all day! Then at around 5:00 its time to get the costumes on and any scary make-up that needs to be added. (Yes, I put make up all over my boys)!  Then its dinner, in costume cuz people might knock on the door while were eating and you have to be ready!  Then its off to trick or treat!  We have so much fun going around as a family!  After trick or treating we head home and its time to sort the candy, and of course eat some!  HELLLLLOOOOOO thats the whole point of trick or treating...the CANDY!!  While we are doing that we watch Hocus Pocus!!  We've been doing this since Cayla was little and its all the kids have ever known!! 

The next day its up with the Halloween decorations and the Thanksgiving ones!  And of course its time to start listening to CHRISTMAS MUSIC!!  And watching CHRISTMAS MOVIES!!  I'm not trying to leave Thanksgiving out but there just really isn't any songs or movies that go with the holiday! 

The day after thanksgiving comes the funnest day of all...BLACK FRIDAY!!!  Now I don't go crazy spending money, but I love it cuz I'm with my friend Teresa having a blast...years ago I use to go with Kimmy when we went up to Idaho and it was a blast...when I stayed in town, I'd go with mom and again, had a blast!!  I just love spending it with crazy, fun people!  Oh and best of all "people watching".  Black Friday is the best day to people watch!  Just saying!

Then when I get home and I'm tired and worn out, its time to put up the Christmas decorations!!  I love decoration my house at Christmas time!  I watch the same movies over and over and I listen to the same songs over and over!  ITS GREAT!!! 

For the last 10 years or so we've been taking the kids to the Forgotten Carols.  Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas if we didn't go!  Its like not having Christmas Music and Movies...and anyone that knows me knows I love my Music and Movies during this time of year! 

Then Christmas eve comes...all the family at my house for the biggest feast you've ever seen!  Just looking at it you'll gain 20lbs but oh is it sooooo good!!  And of course the traditional one gift  that you get to open that night and as always, since I was a little girl, its PJ's!  After everyone leaves its time to set the goodies out for Santa.  Sometimes our family gets a little crazy and we leave things like Rootbeer floats and things like that for Santa.  Don't think he gets tired of milk and cookies all the time! 

But then the part I hate about Christmas...some how I always have good intentions but I don't get the gifts wrapped so I'm up till sometimes 4 in the morning wrapping gifts.  I know you'd think I would learn by now, but I haven't! Someday!!

Then Christmas morning. The kids are always up by 4 or 5 (sometimes I would worry that they would catch us taking gifts down, but so far they haven't).  But they get up and they are allowed to open their stalkings!  Then they can play, watch TV or fall back to sleep till DJ and I get up around 6 or 7. 

Then its time for me to get the traditional breakfast cooking, cinnamon rolls and monkey bread!  Then while thats cooking off to open presents and trash the already trashed house! 

It takes days before we recover from this mess! 

Then its New Years Eve!  Something we started with Cayla and have just kept going...we prepare a meal, like from Christmas eve, with chips and dips and crackers and cheese.  Put a blanket out on the floor in front of the TV...get some movies and we stay up munching and watching movies till after midnight!  What a great night we have!  Its fun to see who stays awake til midnight...then at midnight we pop the sparkling grape juice and toast the new year!! 

Then the sad part really comes...its time to take the tree down (Forgotten Carols)...I try and hold  out for as long as I can...maybe even til Feb 1st but I do try!  I just love my tree so much I don't want to take it down! 

It really is the MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!!! 

Why Women Cry...

A little boy asked his mother "Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm a woman," she told him. 

"I don't understand," he said

His Mom just hugged him and said, "And you never will."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does mother seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason," was all his dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.
Finally, he put in a call to God. 

When God got on the phone, he asked, "God, why do women cry so easily?"

God said, "When I made the women she had to be special.  I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet gentle enough to give comfort.  I gave her an inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times comes from her children.  I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going when everyone else gives up, and take care of her family through sickness and fatigue without complaining.  I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her badly.  I gave her strength to carry her husband through his faults and fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart.  I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife, but sometimes tests her strength and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly."

 "And finally, I gave her a tear to shed.  This is hers exclusively to use whenever it is needed.  You see my son," said God, "the beauty of a women is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.  The beauty of a women must be seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart -the place where love resides."

Let November be a NEW START...

I don't want to complain...(NO laughing- I NEVER complain - I just voice my opinion, LOUDLY!)...because I know what happens when you complain about the trials in your life...they get worst! Yes I said it, so I guess I'm in trouble!  I know the Lord isn't doing it to be mean, its to teach us something!

But October and September were kind of yukky months for our family! So November is a BRAND NEW MONTH and things have to be better, RIGHT?!?!? (Humor me, ok)

I mean really, still no fixed truck, hubby was in TWO...count that...one, two car accidents this month, things going on with the military (don't worry he's not going over seas), another kid possibly might have Asthma now (not sure yet) but hes been sick and coughing like crazy (I think his lungs might fall out), plus lots more...............BUT I'M NOT COMPLAINING CUZ I KNOW HOW THAT WORKS!!!