filled with great joy and great sadness.
this morning my brother had a baby girl. perfect little new life; Laura Claire. we rejoice together.
and this afternoon my sister-in-law was going to be married. the wedding is cancelled, and now we grieve together.
advent is over but i am still waiting.
for fullness, completeness, for undercurrents of peace that rise up and overwhelm. for shalom.
and i'm still singing,
O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
and
Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s Strength and Consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear Desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
blessings on you friends and your journeys of fullness and emptiness.
aimee
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Too much of a good thing?
I think I've mentioned before how much the kids like a couple Bible story DVDs we picked up at House of James. Well if you were a fly on the wall in our house you might hear the following.
As two kids walk hand in hand down the hallway, or ride make shift horses, "We're going to Caanan"
"Why are you beating me" Balaam's donkey to Balaam.
"Save me from my brother" Eva said this while on her knees with her arms raised to heaven, she was Jacob, fearing Esau's wrath.
"I'm Potiphar" ...just so long as no one tries to be Potiphar's wife.
"I'm Peter, I didn't catch any fish"
"I put you in a rock" this is a creative insult, usually vigorously shouted with a shoving hand gesture. This came out of hearing the stories about Lazarus (or Lazaruff as Eva adamantly declares) and Jesus in tombs, or as our one book says, "holes in the rock". So I figure it's along the same lines as, "I wish you were dead". Of course without actually knowing what that means. But they do understand that being put in a rock is not a good thing.
And to top it all off,
"Go away Satan!!!" said to mother and brother alike. Not good.
There are many more Bible moments around our house but these are the few that come immediately to mind.
A non-posed real life moment (emphasis on moment) when being a mom of three is wonderful and easy. Most of the time it is wonderful, not often easy, and sometimes both. I called Lance to come snap a few photos.
My favourite sweater for Anders. Mom picked it up at a thrift store. I feel like Bonnie made it!
As two kids walk hand in hand down the hallway, or ride make shift horses, "We're going to Caanan"
"Why are you beating me" Balaam's donkey to Balaam.
"Save me from my brother" Eva said this while on her knees with her arms raised to heaven, she was Jacob, fearing Esau's wrath.
"I'm Potiphar" ...just so long as no one tries to be Potiphar's wife.
"I'm Peter, I didn't catch any fish"
"I put you in a rock" this is a creative insult, usually vigorously shouted with a shoving hand gesture. This came out of hearing the stories about Lazarus (or Lazaruff as Eva adamantly declares) and Jesus in tombs, or as our one book says, "holes in the rock". So I figure it's along the same lines as, "I wish you were dead". Of course without actually knowing what that means. But they do understand that being put in a rock is not a good thing.
And to top it all off,
"Go away Satan!!!" said to mother and brother alike. Not good.
There are many more Bible moments around our house but these are the few that come immediately to mind.
A non-posed real life moment (emphasis on moment) when being a mom of three is wonderful and easy. Most of the time it is wonderful, not often easy, and sometimes both. I called Lance to come snap a few photos.
My favourite sweater for Anders. Mom picked it up at a thrift store. I feel like Bonnie made it!
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Advent: Come, to our families, to our friends, to us
All who are thirsty
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep (we sing)
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come
As deep cries out to deep
As deep cries out to deep
One significant Advent season I sang this song often. As a prayer I would sing it, inserting the names of loved ones. Come to _______, Come. This advent season I am praying it again.
Come to us, come.
Come to us, come.
In advent I await his arrival. And I know he came. But today especially I am longing for the redemption and wholeness that his final coming will bring.
Come Lord Jesus Come.
All who are weak
Come to the fountain
Dip your heart in the stream of life
Let the pain and the sorrow
Be washed away
In the waves of his mercy
As deep cries out to deep (we sing)
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Come Lord Jesus come
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come
Holy Spirit come
As deep cries out to deep
As deep cries out to deep
One significant Advent season I sang this song often. As a prayer I would sing it, inserting the names of loved ones. Come to _______, Come. This advent season I am praying it again.
Come to us, come.
Come to us, come.
In advent I await his arrival. And I know he came. But today especially I am longing for the redemption and wholeness that his final coming will bring.
Come Lord Jesus Come.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
tagged
So Kristal tagged me. I'm supposed to open the fifth folder in my pictures file, then open the fifth picture there and post it and explain it. So here it is:
This was taken on our 4th anniversary (May 11 2006), just under a month before Elijah and Eva were born. I had just gotten my new camera and Lance took a few photos of me.
So I followed the directions and didn't really like the photo that came up. Hmmm. "Well, some other people who've been doing this little tag thing have been opening the fourth folder and fourth picture, so maybe that might come up with something better" I thought.
Umm, yeah, so this is the floor of our basement of our last house. I'm sure you're very interested to see the subfloor, the studs and the corner of our furnace.
I liked other peoples pictures better.
So now who to tag, because actually it is a kind of fun and random thing:
Celia
Robyn
Avey
Melanie
Shannon
Of course you can choose not to. But if you do, feel free to select the fourth file and fourth picture or the fifth and post both or one. Hope you get something better than a floor.
goodnight.
This was taken on our 4th anniversary (May 11 2006), just under a month before Elijah and Eva were born. I had just gotten my new camera and Lance took a few photos of me.
So I followed the directions and didn't really like the photo that came up. Hmmm. "Well, some other people who've been doing this little tag thing have been opening the fourth folder and fourth picture, so maybe that might come up with something better" I thought.
Umm, yeah, so this is the floor of our basement of our last house. I'm sure you're very interested to see the subfloor, the studs and the corner of our furnace.
I liked other peoples pictures better.
So now who to tag, because actually it is a kind of fun and random thing:
Celia
Robyn
Avey
Melanie
Shannon
Of course you can choose not to. But if you do, feel free to select the fourth file and fourth picture or the fifth and post both or one. Hope you get something better than a floor.
goodnight.
December
Here are some shots of us playing outside in December...
December 4th
December 11th
Eva and Elijah aren't quite old enough to use the camera so I had to catch a reflection of Anders and I in our van window.
And on December 14 winter unexpectedly arrived. We have all been loving the snow, which has stayed for days now - truly a unique thing for our area. It had begun to melt and then we got a big dump (for us a big dump is 3 inches). The kids woke up and said, "It's winter again" "it's wiwy snowy out dare" (it's really snowy out there).
And then, unrelated to the weather, but too handsome not to share, Elijah got a haircut. Here he is watching sesame street clips on the internet (thanks Celia for tipping us off to that).
That's all for now.
Aimee
December 4th
December 11th
Eva and Elijah aren't quite old enough to use the camera so I had to catch a reflection of Anders and I in our van window.
And on December 14 winter unexpectedly arrived. We have all been loving the snow, which has stayed for days now - truly a unique thing for our area. It had begun to melt and then we got a big dump (for us a big dump is 3 inches). The kids woke up and said, "It's winter again" "it's wiwy snowy out dare" (it's really snowy out there).
And then, unrelated to the weather, but too handsome not to share, Elijah got a haircut. Here he is watching sesame street clips on the internet (thanks Celia for tipping us off to that).
That's all for now.
Aimee
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Advent: Come deliver and fill
Because of God's tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.
Luke 1:78,79
Yaweh always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
Yaweh helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads.
The eyes of all look to you in hope;
you give them their food as they need it.
When you open your hand,
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
When you open your hand
When you open your hand
you satisfy
you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing.
every living thing.
Yaweh is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
Yaweh is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
Psalm 145:13-19
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Sunday Benediction
Arm outstretched reaching to pass on small gift
prompted by his ever present cardboard sign and perpetual poverty
as my car passes him our hands meet
mine, clean white mom hands for cradling babies and wiping up spilt milk
his, deep, creased, cradling grease and dirt
I give two coins and
receive the words,
"God bless you"
as my morning benediction
and I don't want to wash his blessing off my hands.
prompted by his ever present cardboard sign and perpetual poverty
as my car passes him our hands meet
mine, clean white mom hands for cradling babies and wiping up spilt milk
his, deep, creased, cradling grease and dirt
I give two coins and
receive the words,
"God bless you"
as my morning benediction
and I don't want to wash his blessing off my hands.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Bright Spots
The past couple of days have been very grey in all ways. We are sick again. Lance is neck deep in studying for finals. It has been pouring rain. But there have been some lovely bright spots recently.
Melanie came for a visit last week. The kids are crazy about her and were enraptured by her animated reading of this Beatrix Potter book (a note about Beatrix Potter books - they are so wordy and foreign and old and at time inappropriate for small children - yet, because of their small size and the cute animals, Eva is crazy about them. Lance and I usually try to avoid them, but tonight I read 4 in a row) Look at how Eva has her fingers wrapped around Melanie's. It was lovely to have her join us for part of our day and to reconnect.
Then today there was a knock on our door. I assumed it was the road workers and that they wanted me to move our van - this has often happened this fall. I opened the door and was shocked to find Celia and Adlai! What? We have lived here 5 months and this is our first drop-in visitor. I have been missing home (yes Steven, Camrose feels like home) a lot lately and this is one of the things I miss. Friends and family just dropping in, or atleast knowing that they might. Here it's pretty much guarenteed that no one will drive 30 minutes to drop-in. But today it happened - and not only did Celia drop-in, but she brought just what a sick mom needed - homemade soup with buns! Now I know that Adam is in finals and Celia is looking for any reason to get out of the house so he can study ... so that may have prompted her visit ... but I'm pretty sure she likes us too. The kids just love Adlai, though it takes a while for them to warm up to the idea of sharing. And Elijah often tells her, "NO you may not hit" after she has accidently hit him with her excited flailing arms.
No photos of today with Adlai, but here are a few, thanks to Celia, from when we visited the Aquarium last week.
I think my baby is ready to go to sleep now. I sure am. Goodnight.
Aimee
Melanie came for a visit last week. The kids are crazy about her and were enraptured by her animated reading of this Beatrix Potter book (a note about Beatrix Potter books - they are so wordy and foreign and old and at time inappropriate for small children - yet, because of their small size and the cute animals, Eva is crazy about them. Lance and I usually try to avoid them, but tonight I read 4 in a row) Look at how Eva has her fingers wrapped around Melanie's. It was lovely to have her join us for part of our day and to reconnect.
Then today there was a knock on our door. I assumed it was the road workers and that they wanted me to move our van - this has often happened this fall. I opened the door and was shocked to find Celia and Adlai! What? We have lived here 5 months and this is our first drop-in visitor. I have been missing home (yes Steven, Camrose feels like home) a lot lately and this is one of the things I miss. Friends and family just dropping in, or atleast knowing that they might. Here it's pretty much guarenteed that no one will drive 30 minutes to drop-in. But today it happened - and not only did Celia drop-in, but she brought just what a sick mom needed - homemade soup with buns! Now I know that Adam is in finals and Celia is looking for any reason to get out of the house so he can study ... so that may have prompted her visit ... but I'm pretty sure she likes us too. The kids just love Adlai, though it takes a while for them to warm up to the idea of sharing. And Elijah often tells her, "NO you may not hit" after she has accidently hit him with her excited flailing arms.
No photos of today with Adlai, but here are a few, thanks to Celia, from when we visited the Aquarium last week.
I think my baby is ready to go to sleep now. I sure am. Goodnight.
Aimee
Advent
yesterday I lit our advent candles, reminding the kids that they are about Jesus and his birthday. the kids know that when all the candles are lit it means it is Jesus birthday. as I was getting the meal ready I heard Elijah exuberantly singing, "Happy Birthday to Jesus" while staring at the bright burning candles. Advent will be less than contemplative this year, with so many small children, but I will at least daily remember as I light the candles that Jesus birthday is coming. I can't possibly forget that with these little ones reminding me.
a couple days ago we were talking about what to give Jesus for his birthday. After thinking for a while Eva thought we should give him a bottle. An appropriate gift for a baby. Later when reading the Christmas story the idea of giving him a bottle came up again. Elijah, drinking a sippy cup of milk said, "I give him MY bottle. He drink milk" and then, "Jesus got BIG hands". I suppose for a newborn to hold a sippy cup he would need to have big hands.
a couple days ago we were talking about what to give Jesus for his birthday. After thinking for a while Eva thought we should give him a bottle. An appropriate gift for a baby. Later when reading the Christmas story the idea of giving him a bottle came up again. Elijah, drinking a sippy cup of milk said, "I give him MY bottle. He drink milk" and then, "Jesus got BIG hands". I suppose for a newborn to hold a sippy cup he would need to have big hands.
Monday, December 8, 2008
our twins
sometimes I peek in to find moments like this. if I watch for too long they tell me to go away. So I peek in quick and act like I'm just passing by and not really interested. but I love it.
perceptive
Today while setting up our mangled IKEA kids tent (anyone have an extra pole, our tent has recently been tackled and came out on the bottom) I was getting frustrated with the kids as they kept trying to get in before the poles were in place. Finally it was almost done (if you can call such a goofy sight done) and I said, "Sorry I'm so grumpy".
Eva said:
"I'm sorry for you too" followed by,
"I'm a little bit grumpy too" I asked why ...
"My kids won't listen" she said.
Yes, I can understand that one might get grumpy if their kids don't listen...
And now the tent is out of commission until we get a new pole.
Later Eva was retelling stories from our new bible story DVD. She said her favorites were the snake one and the donkey one. I got her to explain the snake one - I didn't know if she meant Moses and his rod becoming a snake or Eve and the snake. Turns out she was remembering the one with Pharoah's guys turning their staffs into snakes and Moses' snake swallowing up the other snakes.
But then I was corrected.
I said, "Oh the one with Moses' snake swallowing the other snakes?"
"No, not Moses, it was Aaron's snake" Eva said.
I was sure it was Moses...but then began to doubt... I checked it out.
Exodus 7:10-13
10 So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. 11 Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: 12 Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs. 13 Yet Pharaoh's heart became hard and he would not listen to them, just as the LORD had said.
It was Aaron's snake. Oh boy she keeps me on my toes.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Self-medicating
Life with a husband in gradschool, toddler twins and a little baby is hard. But there are a couple things I've discovered that help:
"The rich, intense flavour of our dark chocolate is balanced with the sunburnt sweetness of organic roasted currants and the toasted, nutty crunch of organic chopped hazelnuts."
"Chock full of toasty pecans, fresh rosemary and dark and juicy Thompson raisins, you won’t be able to get enough of these tastebud-tantalizing crisps! Amazing on their own, these crisps are even more fabulous when paired with soft cheeses like Brie, St Andre, Cambozola and Boursin."
Both are new discoveries since moving to the coast (or the "Raincoast" - euphemistic isn't it, trying to gloss over the months of endless grey we are embarking on). Both are not cheap. But compared to some people's habits they're pennies.
We are all in various stages of a cold. The kids and I are on our way out and Lance is on his way in. I hate being sick. The worst is over for the majority of us so that is good.
Today it's sunny and hopefully after naptime (and hopefully after actually NAPPING) we'll get outside and try to soak it up and save it for a rainy month.
hope you are well.
Aimee
ps. got out to the Vancouver farmers market today. Lance's eyebrows went WAY up when he saw the amount of carrots and apples I came home with. Guaranteed we'll eat them all in the two weeks between now and the next market. We can't seem to get enough of sweet carrots (Forstbauer Farm carrots) and crisp new apples.
"The rich, intense flavour of our dark chocolate is balanced with the sunburnt sweetness of organic roasted currants and the toasted, nutty crunch of organic chopped hazelnuts."
"Chock full of toasty pecans, fresh rosemary and dark and juicy Thompson raisins, you won’t be able to get enough of these tastebud-tantalizing crisps! Amazing on their own, these crisps are even more fabulous when paired with soft cheeses like Brie, St Andre, Cambozola and Boursin."
Both are new discoveries since moving to the coast (or the "Raincoast" - euphemistic isn't it, trying to gloss over the months of endless grey we are embarking on). Both are not cheap. But compared to some people's habits they're pennies.
We are all in various stages of a cold. The kids and I are on our way out and Lance is on his way in. I hate being sick. The worst is over for the majority of us so that is good.
Today it's sunny and hopefully after naptime (and hopefully after actually NAPPING) we'll get outside and try to soak it up and save it for a rainy month.
hope you are well.
Aimee
ps. got out to the Vancouver farmers market today. Lance's eyebrows went WAY up when he saw the amount of carrots and apples I came home with. Guaranteed we'll eat them all in the two weeks between now and the next market. We can't seem to get enough of sweet carrots (Forstbauer Farm carrots) and crisp new apples.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Good News
The kids have been very into the Christmas story lately. We got a new book about Christmas. Their favorite parts are the journey to Bethlehem - which they recently re-enacted while riding horses on a merry-go-round at the mall, "We're going to Befeham, it's far away". They are also enamored with the shepherd and angel portion of the story. Here's a peak into today.
EVA: I don't have good news
MAMA: I do, Jesus is born
EVA: Where can I find him
MAMA: In a stable lying in a manger
EVA (leaning over baby Anders): He's here. (then in a whisper) we knelted down quietly and looked at the baby
ELIJAH: He's in a MANGER!
mama begins changing Anders' diaper
EVA: Jesus did a poop
then, while Anders/Jesus is being changed, and mama is already mentally drafting this post Eva full on punches Jesus in the head. angry mama and screaming baby soon follow. oh dear.
EVA: I don't have good news
MAMA: I do, Jesus is born
EVA: Where can I find him
MAMA: In a stable lying in a manger
EVA (leaning over baby Anders): He's here. (then in a whisper) we knelted down quietly and looked at the baby
ELIJAH: He's in a MANGER!
mama begins changing Anders' diaper
EVA: Jesus did a poop
then, while Anders/Jesus is being changed, and mama is already mentally drafting this post Eva full on punches Jesus in the head. angry mama and screaming baby soon follow. oh dear.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Beary Beary
I'm not the only mama around here. Eva is quite the mama too. Here she is wearing Beary Beary in her very own sling - made by grandma Kathy.
This new template is done by the same girl who did my last two. I wish I had done the drawing myself isn't it great? I'm still setting things and up and a couple links every so often. I don't get much extended computer time these days.
We've been having trouble with the older two kids waking up at night ever since Anders was born. This has been very frustrating. We expected the newborn to be waking up at night, but not the previously fine sleeping toddlers. Well the past couple of nights have been good. Neither two year old needed parental attention and the baby nursed a couple times, but that's easy since he's in bed with us. In fact, the last two nights I did not even leave bed. That is a luxury I have not had in almost a year. I didn't even get up to pee like was the case during the entirety of pregnancy.
Anders smiles now and it is a real treat.
This morning after I got in the car to head to church Elijah said to me, "you a little bit crabby mama?". I don't know how he could have known. Lance had buckled all the kids in and I was running around gathering up a few last things and I was crabby but thought I was over it when I got to the van. Somehow he picked up on some residual crabbiness. So I had to be honest, "Yes, I'm a little bit crabby". Perceptive children we have. Yikes.
Okay off to bed.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
working on it
Hi folks. Just getting this new template up and running. links will appear soon. don't worry, i haven't cut you off!
aware
Eva is very aware of people's emotions. She just looked across the table at her brother Elijah and asked,
"Are you a grump?"
he said no, but she was right. He is a grump right now.
We are off to the park. Thank goodness.
"Are you a grump?"
he said no, but she was right. He is a grump right now.
We are off to the park. Thank goodness.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Musical Extravaganza Tonight!!!
Okay, so late notice, but that is so like me (I forgot to mention in the last post that the train costumes were made so at the last minute that the blue one was quite dry when we left the house).
Tonight Lance is playing as part of a CD release show for our friend Jeremy's newest CD. Lance will play a short set of his songs and then accompany Eisenhauer (Jeremy's band) on trombone. Friends Sheree Plett and Jonathan Anderson will also be playing some of their music.
A perfect show for a fall night. The music will be thoughtful, melodic, melancholic yet hope infused, and very beautiful.
Mom and dad are taking care of the kids for the day - whoohoo! So Anders and I get to go to the show.
It's $10
Tonight
Doors open at 6:30, show at 7:10
at Pacific Theatre (12th Ave and Hemlock St, Vancouver)
see you there!?
Saturday, November 1, 2008
I don't do halloween...
but do actions speak louder than words?
I won't detail the story that lead to the following costumes. Needless to say my dedication to creativity and frugality and support of my husband and desire to bring joy to my kids resulted in some quick internet searching followed by some super fast constructing and painting.
here they are:
the kids, despite having not napped - AGAIN - had a great time. While we were walking the streets begging strangers for candy a fellow beggar commented that Eva was a little engine that could. I said "Yeah, and he's the little engine that wouldn't" Elijah wouldn't wear the Thomas train even though he liked it very much. I suspected this would happen and is partly why I was all about creating costumes from items we had around the house instead of spending $25 and then having it sit at home. Well Thomas didn't sit at home, he came along - toted by our good sport of a friend Nelson. His wife Terri also helped the evening be a blast by staying home with Anders and handing out our candy so I could go along for my FIRST trick-or-treating experience and be with my kids.
How was it... i liked carving a pumpkin and eating the roasted seeds Lance made. it was fun to see my daughter decked out in my homemade James costume and to see how other people enjoyed our kids. It was neat to be out and about in the neighbor and seeing people. I enjoyed recognizing people that walk by our house daily. I loved getting to see the guys from a nearby group home. They were pretty excited to help give out candy. I liked having supper with our friends and then hanging out after.
But... it still confirmed all that I don't like about Halloween. In no particular order...
SUGAR - too much. I don't like my kids to have candy in that quantity and I don't like handing it out for other kids to gorge on. It is not healthy. And the way our napless sugar filled boy was wandering around like he was on drugs was enough of a confirmation about that.
CREEPYNESS - I am very sensitive to gruesome visuals and concerned for my children's eyes and ears. We don't make a big deal about something being scary, mostly we refer to skeletons and the like as "funny guys". We did skip one house last night because it had a super creepy soundtrack playing. I think sounds can be scarier than gravestones and bones.
STRANGERS - i am shy. I don't like knocking on stranger's houses. Asking for something just adds to the awkwardness
Okay enough about that.
Oh, one more thing, what are we going to do with all this candy?
Hope you're doing well. Now, on to the next season - one I LOVE
ADVENT!!!
I won't detail the story that lead to the following costumes. Needless to say my dedication to creativity and frugality and support of my husband and desire to bring joy to my kids resulted in some quick internet searching followed by some super fast constructing and painting.
here they are:
the kids, despite having not napped - AGAIN - had a great time. While we were walking the streets begging strangers for candy a fellow beggar commented that Eva was a little engine that could. I said "Yeah, and he's the little engine that wouldn't" Elijah wouldn't wear the Thomas train even though he liked it very much. I suspected this would happen and is partly why I was all about creating costumes from items we had around the house instead of spending $25 and then having it sit at home. Well Thomas didn't sit at home, he came along - toted by our good sport of a friend Nelson. His wife Terri also helped the evening be a blast by staying home with Anders and handing out our candy so I could go along for my FIRST trick-or-treating experience and be with my kids.
How was it... i liked carving a pumpkin and eating the roasted seeds Lance made. it was fun to see my daughter decked out in my homemade James costume and to see how other people enjoyed our kids. It was neat to be out and about in the neighbor and seeing people. I enjoyed recognizing people that walk by our house daily. I loved getting to see the guys from a nearby group home. They were pretty excited to help give out candy. I liked having supper with our friends and then hanging out after.
But... it still confirmed all that I don't like about Halloween. In no particular order...
SUGAR - too much. I don't like my kids to have candy in that quantity and I don't like handing it out for other kids to gorge on. It is not healthy. And the way our napless sugar filled boy was wandering around like he was on drugs was enough of a confirmation about that.
CREEPYNESS - I am very sensitive to gruesome visuals and concerned for my children's eyes and ears. We don't make a big deal about something being scary, mostly we refer to skeletons and the like as "funny guys". We did skip one house last night because it had a super creepy soundtrack playing. I think sounds can be scarier than gravestones and bones.
STRANGERS - i am shy. I don't like knocking on stranger's houses. Asking for something just adds to the awkwardness
Okay enough about that.
Oh, one more thing, what are we going to do with all this candy?
Hope you're doing well. Now, on to the next season - one I LOVE
ADVENT!!!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Trip to the park
This is the park we go to on almost every dry day. The street photo is looking down our street on the way to the playground. It's two blocks away and it is an oasis. There is plenty of space for everyone to run around and not get in eachother's hair -- there is usually no screaming! Leaving can be tough but mostly it is okay - they just get a lot of prelude to the actual "it's time to go".
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