Something New

Well, I've learned something new - how to process persimmons! Thank you Larry and little miss Kristen for sharing your crop with us! It was tough to decide whether to make the pudding or the cheesecake, but the Persimmon Pudding turned out great - a mild fruity taste makes it a lovely autumnal dessert. Of course, I just might get back into making cheesecake again now that it's on my mind . . .

Anyway, thanks!

Quote of the Week: Good Friends

God's choice acquaintances are humble men. - Robert Leighton

Evidence of Autumn

Sure signs that we're right in the midst of fall: I'm wearing sweaters, and I feel like cooking again! Soup is back on the menu, and Kyle made the best sugar cookies. They were not around very long.

Our neighbors are back. They seem to be a quiet bunch this year.

Yet another sign of fall: bugs, bugs, bugs! We've been attacked by those little lady bug things, the ones that bite. Towards midday they start to look like rain, they're just everywhere. Kyle was my knight-in-shining-hoodie the other day, and brought me green beans from the garage freezer, since I didn't want to leave the house! They have gotten better since yesterday though. Should be almost done.

I'm so grateful for cool weather and a quiet place to walk! The trees around our house are just lovely. No sugar maples or burning bushes, but the yellows just glow on dark days, and the sumac give us some red.

Hey! What about ME? Scenery is nice and all, but don't get carried away!

Oh yes, sorry sweetie. Is this better?

Yes, thank you.

Speaking of fall and bugs, someone in the family has developed a taste for ladybugs. Literally, I'm afraid. I could sweep five times a day and still be fishing them out of her mouth! At least we know she has good eye sight. Her fine motor skills are also developing nicely.

Family fun.

Enjoy your autumn!

Quote of the Week: Wisdom from Heidi

There has not yet been a movie that even comes close to doing justice to Johanna Spyri's simple yet powerful book. Here's a little piece of theology, comfort and wisdom all wrapped up in one short paragraph.

God is a loving Father to us all and knows what is good for us . . . [God] probably said to himself, "Heidi's prayer shall be answered, but only at the right moment so that she will really be happy. If I answer it now perhaps later on she'll wish she hadn't asked for it, because things may not turn out as she expects." - Heidi

No Big News

Yes, you read that right. This post contains nothing big and no gorgeous pictures, so don't feel obligated to read it. It's just a little conglomeration of everyday stuff for those who care.

Small news one.
It's turning quite fallishly lovely here, when the weather is nice enough to allow us to go outside. About a week ago Kyle, Alaina and I took a little trip out to Walnut Point. Alaina got her first ride on a slide - which she didn't seem to care much about one way or the other. Next year, perhaps . . .


Small News Two.
Alaina and I took a little trip yesterday (another lovely fall drive) and met cousins Becca and Elli. It was so fun to get a chance to chat face-to-face! Elli just finished running a Scripture Bee (entrants had to learn around 300 passages of scripture, be familiar with 6 books of the Bible, etc.) which will send 6 kids on to the national round. It sounds like a lot of work in a very worthy cause! I'm looking forward to seeing the play Becca's directing. I'm sure the time until March will go by very quickly for her! Somehow the camera got left in the car, so you don't get to drool over pictures of us eating dinner. Alaina was a (9 month old) angel, which was nice.

Small News Three.
I've spent portions of the last two years getting to know the lovely lady found in Proverbs chapter 31. She is teaching me so much! I studied her life last summer, and I'm working through it again this year with an emphasis on application. ;-) One favorite thought is that she watches over the ways of her household. It made me think about the patterns that I'm establishing in my household, whether it's patterns of speech or the way I habitually deal with household chores. She has inspired many changes, all for the better!

Well, there you have my small news for now. Don't say I didn't warn you! ;-)

Snitched

I snitched these photos from my Mom. They're so cute I couldn't resist posting them!

Alaina loves kitties! Maybe she'll be a cat girl like Aunt Haley. Although, come to think of it, she likes just about any animal, big or small!

9 Months

What a fast nine months they have been!

Bitty Girl is eating all sorts of yummy food nowadays. She LOVES to eat!

She also loves to take walks with me and is especially excited when Kyle takes her out to watch the chickens!

She likes to feed herself Cherrios, cracker bits, bananas etc, although the slimy foods don't make it in the mouth quite as easily. Our adventures with finger foods have lead to some darling faces.

Alaina is getting her top teeth in and loves to put everything in her mouth.

She claps her hands, gives us kisses when we ask for them and is starting to wave bye bye.

Maybe one of these days we'll figure out if she really knows what all those "ma ma"s and "da da"s mean!

The Cabin

How did October arrive so quickly?
I have some catch-up blogging to do!

Over Labor Day we went up to Gramma and Grandpa L's cabin. I can't believe that it's been two years since we were up last! Alaina got to eat her meals in the same chair her Mom used.

Kyle and Haley both made their signature dishes - Hickory Grilled Chicken and French Fries from Kyle and Apple Dumplings from Haley.

Playing Wahoo! is a favorite tradition. I can't remember who all won at this point . . .

. . .but it sure was fun!

At the Cabin, there's always time for reading!

Start 'em young!

The grill master.

Matthew practices avuncular skills . . .

. . . such as niece feeding.

On the way up and down through Zion we got to visit both sets of Grandparents.

You guys are all such a blessing to us, in many ways!

Fun times for our little family!