Autumn Walk

While Rick was away and my friend Catherine was here from Brooklyn, we had a picnic and went on a walk at Middle Creek nature preserve. It was a beautiful fall day. Here are some pictures from the day.

FALL

One of the best things about Autumn?........The Winesap apple!!! YUM!

This is What I'm Talking About! (See my last post)

These arrived this afternoon!

It's guys like you, Ricky!

"Oh Ricky you're so fine. You're so fine you blow my mind. Hey Ricky. Hey Ricky. Oh Ricky you don't really seem to understand, you take me by the heart when you take me by the hand." Okay, so the song (If you're old enough to know it) really says Mickey, but that never stops me from singing it anyway. So what's with the flashback to the 80's here? Well, I was "tagged" a while ago to write 5 things I love about my husband and as I sat here to write, that just came out! I like to tease him with it sometimes-and watch out if we are ever somewhere and the song actually comes on the radio! If the tables were turned however, I seriously doubt this is one of those things that he would say he loves about me! ;-D

From the Father-son Bake Off at Scouts

Okay so here goes. I guess I'll start at the very beginning (a very good place to start). We met over the phone (Long story) and I really liked his voice. I think I was mesmerized by it because we would stay on the phone until 4 am. All I knew of him for a week or so was his voice. It remains a favorite-especially when he is away!

As anyone who knows anything about Rick knows, he is a hard working man. Not just in his job, but at home as well. God has given him the ability to fix just about anything from cars to plumbing to appliances etc. He is never afraid to take on a task and not only will it get done, but it will get done well! I love that our boys are growing up seeing there dad do these hard things!

Rick is also an excellent teacher. He continually shows the kids how to do things around the house. But he doesn't just stop at showing them. He has a great ability to tell them the hows and whys of what he is doing so that they can understand. I too have often been the beneficiary of his instruction from cooking and gardening to being wise with our finances as well as questions the kids have asked that I don't have answers to.

They Love their Dad!

He is smart too. I tell you the guy is a walking factoid. I'd hate to play Jeapardy against him and let me tell you, I learned long ago not to make bets with him about who is right about something. He remembers EVERYTHING he has ever read!

Many probably don't see this side of Rick, but he is a funny man! He has the silliest nicknames that no one can quite tell where they came from. I think it took our children extra long to learn what their REAL names were when they were babies cause they were, and continue to be called anything but. He plays silly games with the kids. Sometimes he is just down right goofy!

This is the arctic ocean behind us. We are in Barrow Alaska-known as "The Top of the World" (Or at least that's what everything is called there)

Rick is a generous man. When he sees a need, he is quick to want to help. He has always been so generous with me. He has blessed me with many thoughtful surprises. Everything from bringing home some of my favorite ice cream when he's had the kids out on an adventure to braving the cold and Polar bears to take me to the top of the world in Alaska when he would have much preferred Hawaii! I especially love that he is so willing to serve others by sharing what we have when there is a need.

And finally (but not really all there is), Rick is a gift to me from God. I thank God for him as he is exactly who God knew I should be with! He so balances me out! Where I am up and down/off and on he is consistent and steady. He is often a voice of reason when I am emotionally caught up in a situation or circumstance. He has been a great help to me in my spiritual growth. He helps me to think about what I believe so that I am not just repeating what I hear but understanding it as well. He has often, with just one comment, stopped the flow of sin from my heart which helps me to then think about what I'm saying/doing, recognize my sin and ultimately take it to the cross where I can confess and be forgiven.

So there you have it. Actually I wasn't counting as I wrote and I now realize that I did more than 5 things. Well, that's just too bad 'cause I wouldn't want to change a thing!

Now seeing as everyone I know in blog world has already been tagged, I tag YOU, whoever you are. If you are married and haven't already done this, YOU'RE IT! Even if you don't have a blog it's a helpful and fun exercise in reminding ourselves of what we have been given by such a gracious and kind God.

Happy Birthday Kate!

My dear sweet Katerina. I thank God for the gift you are to me and our family! You brighten every day with your beautiful smile, your many hugs and encouraging words. I so enjoy watching you grow. You have such a heart for praising God which bursts forth in song. I love the many conversations we have during the day about how awesome God is. I love how you offer to help me. I love how you sing so often. I love how you care and have such compassion for others. I love how you rejoice over going to school and learning. I love how you want to show kindness to others so often by giving gifts to them. I love how inviting you are to any who come to our home. I love that I have the privilege of being your mom. I will treasure up these nights when we go through our litany of goodnight kisses after prayers 'cause I know one day soon you will be too old for them. Are you sure you wont stay little for me just a little but longer?

What was I thinking?

Today is picture day at school. So what did I decided yesterday? Well, that the kids needed haircuts before their mops became a part of a permanent record! That's not too much of a gamble the night before pictures is it? Well maybe not, unless you consider where they go to get haircuts-namely my kitchen. And the hairdresser? None other than me! A risky proposition for sure! So with clippers in hand I went to work on Danny. I couldn't remember which size I used on him before so I guessed. It came out quite a bit shorter than I thought! OOPs! Oh well, he liked it, especially when I put gel in it and made it spikey! So then came Kate. I WAS just going to cut her bangs. Well once I got started I thought perhaps I would just trim the back. I trimmed. I looked. Crooked! So I trimmed again. Big chunks and still not straight! I was sweating at that point! So anyway, long story a little less long, her hair is much shorter than I had anticipated and it is still crooked, but I was afraid that if I continued she would end up with the same hair style as Dan! All in all though, I guess they turned out OK! Kate's is actually curling under beautifully! Isn't it wonderful how God can bring beauty from our botched efforts?

So today is Kate's 6th birthday(More on that later). We met Rick at McDonalds for lunch before I dropped her off at school. Another pre-picture blunder! I was wiping dried ketchup from her little cheeks as we were walking into the school! When I was a kid, in every single 1 of my school pictures I had some kind of bump or bruise on my face. My kids will just have ketchup! Today, for a fee, they can "remove facial blemishes". Maybe I should have checked that box on the order form and written "Please remove ketchup stains from cheecks." :D

Happy Birthday Danny!

This picture wasn't supposed to come first, but I can never tell in what order to upload them in!

I am a little late in this post. Danny's Birthday was 11 days ago. I suppose I am still in denial that he is 8!!! Denial or not, heIS 8 and a very big 8 at that. He is getting so tall.

Danny, I am so happy that you are my son. I love your belly laughs that so freely flow. I love your care and compassion for others. I love your tough boy ways-even if I do have to keep buying you new shoes and jeans! I love that you just enjoy trying new things, especially when it involves guy stuff like hammers, and log splitters and stuff like that. I love that little twinkle in your eye and the dimple in your cheek. I love how you care for your sister and how the 2 of you have such a nice relationship. I especially love watching how God is changing you as you grow and how you desire to know more about God. I love how excited you were to receive your own Bible and how you immediately started reading it-(on the bus on the way to school). It is such a privilege to be your Mom and have a front row seat to your life. I am so excited to see what God has planned for you in the coming years! I love you D!

Tyler riding the waves in O.C. NJ

Danny's turn on the board

Kate reflecting

We were at the beach for Danny's Birthday as well as for tropical storm Hanna. It was such a wonderful time! We had 2 beautiful days on the beach and some time playing games in the hotel room while the rains blew through. We rode bikes on the boardwalk, played mini golf at "Gorilla Golf", and had DQ Blizzards for lunch before driving home that Sunday! The kids loved playing in the water and it was pleasantly warm! All 3 were boogy boarding and Ty and Dan started to body surf as well. It was such a joy to see them spending so many hours together enjoying each other in the surf.

Asside from trying to adjust to new school schedules, that's about it here.