Crafts,Creating and Costumes...Oh my

It was a long week. One that meant I needed the comfort and love of my family. My husband and girls have been such comfort to me and we have been doing some really neat things. One of our most favorite things to do right now is play school. We have these really cool old school desks thanks to Nana. They are the perfect size. Sarah will point to the chalkboard and request your participation by asking you "what that is?" mommy. I love it. The Bean tries to copy her and that brings, well pretty much rolling laughter...

We have also been making our own puppets. Out of kits that is. This mom isn't that talented.

 

I really can't believe that we are going into the last week of October. The weekend weather sure didn't seem like it. It was so nice. We opted to enjoy some of that summer like weather today. Nothing like getting one more weekend of our swing set in before the cold weather starts. And with warm weather, you have to have ring pops....

And even though the weather is warm and sunny, the leaves and surroundings still remind us that it is time for Halloween. My girls are so excited. They have been practicing their "trick or treat". It is going to be great this year. I was telling my mom today, if I could freeze time right now I would. They are so much fun and so energetic. The bean is talking up a storm. Interacting with them seems to come so easily now. And watching the two of them interact, well that is just amazing.We have the best time together. Here is a sneak preview of our butterfly and cupcake this year.

We have a pretty low key week ahead of us. Hope to get back to some normal routine. I sure miss him like crazy. But I know that he is looking down on us and he is so proud. Because our house is full of love. And memories of him.

Music Class

We started a new music class. It is THE BEST. The four of us go and we dance and sing and play the coolest instruments. Ms. ReaAnne is so wonderful. She is energetic, funny and so talented. My Bear LOVES her. She is contagious. Her smile is so real and she is always in a good mood. Did I mention how much we like her?

I look forward to this day all week. This is such a fun time for my girls. They express themselves and feel free to just dance and play. I never realized how much little ones can learn from music. They are showing new skills each and every class. Repetition says a lot.

 

 One of the things I like best about the class is the interaction we as parents have with the kids. Our participation is just as important as theirs.

Oh, I have a great story to end this post.This evening, my heart just lept out of my chest as I watched my Bear go over to her sister. See, at the end of every class we sing the "goodbye song" and towards the end the lyrics say "So, how 'bout a hug for your mom and dad OR THE PERSON WHO TAKES CARE OF YOU" My Bear looked at me and looked at her dad and with a wink marched right over to her sister and gave her a big hug and kiss. Good Gosh, I think I melted right then and there. I love those girls so much it hurts sometimes....



Pumpkin Pickin

I love the Pumpkin Patch. Whether the air is warm or cold and rainy(which was our case) it still yells "fall". The colors of pumpkins, corn, and apples are so vibrant and bring the beauty of where we live out to it's fullest.

It was our Bear's very first pre-school field trip and we all went. As a family. It was so much fun. Mostly watching the girls explore and find the "perfect" pumkin and "perfect" apple. The apple trees must have been expecting the little kids. The branches fell to a perfect height for all of the little kids to get the experience of picking their own apple. So much fun. And the pumpkin patch, well just like the apple trees, those vines were full of the most perfect sized pumpkins for those little bodies to pick up and show off.

 

The hay ride was no boring event either. All of the kids and parents laughed and told stories about our old hay ride experiences. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know the other parents. Daddy is the homeroom coordinator this year, so we will be in touch with these same people a lot throughout the year.

At the end of the trip we were all ready for our warm cars and the quiet tunes of "The Wheels on the Bus". What a fun day. Many more to come I know.  Our house is now decorated with the perfect "fall" decor which will be the scene for some sweet costume shots in the next couple of weeks.


Hope you find lots of colors in your yard this time of year. And lot's of love as well.

Girls Just Wanna have Fun!!

It has been a while since my last post. We have been busy including a quick trip to Leesburg for a wedding over the weekend. It was wonderful and the weather couldn't have been better. We always love a reason to get all dressed up. They were so pretty. Even if they are mine.

This evening we played. Hard. We shook our sillies out. We jumped. We laughed. We just enjoyed the fact that we were in fact back home and so happy to be here. My girls are home bodies. They get that from the both of us. We love our home and we love sharing it with them. Don't get me wrong, being in that hotel room with both of them sleeping and breathing right on top of us was heaven,but the reality of it is, we ALL sleep better when we are in our own rooms. But, here's to the next trip when we pile up in that king size bed all warm and cozy. Anyway, back to this evening. These girls just wanted to have fun. And they did.

The Pumpkin Patch trip with pre-school is this week. We are looking forward to that and can't wait for the hay ride. Happy Week!!

They Call Him "Papaw"

 Of course, he has other names too. Mel, Butch, Dad, Pappy. But my Bean and Bear, they call him Papaw.

I know this is probably a weird place to put this. I have shared these feelings with him, but I want to write them down too. So they will always be here. For my girls to see. So they will always know how much he loves them.

 

I remember the day the Bear was born. He was on his way home from Duke. He made it, just in time. And he was there to greet our first love. And I was SO happy he made it. He was also there the day the Bean was born. Pacing those hospital floors just like he was the new daddy, waiting to meet this new life. See, he has had this mean disease called cancer since I was growing the Bear in my stomach.  But he has fought it. And hard.... And over the past three years, we have had him. The girls have had him. And he still continues to fight. Because that is just who he is.

  I have learned so much from him. How to love, appreciate, smile, accomplish, you name it. I know it didn't seem like it for many years, but as he was teaching, I was listening. I absorbed it all to use in later years. Thank goodness.

  In the past month, his health has deteriorated. Very much. So much that I know his time here on earth with us is coming to it's end. And I am so sad about that. For so many reasons.  Reasons I don't have to tell you. I am sure you know. My heart hurts the most for my girls. The selfish part of me wants him to be here to see them grow. To

teach them like he taught me. But I also know that his heart is wrapped up super tight in those blankets my girls take to bed every night to comfort them. And that makes my heart hurt just a little less. Just look at the love....

From new life, to ending life, and the in between.  He has been there. And out of all of those names he has had over the years, I call him Dad....... All my Love.