Girl Scout Party!!

Day 30 of the Autumn Challenge!

 

Last night was the Girl Scout Halloween party. The older girls organized activities for the younger girls.  It was great fun. The kids had a ball.

After school Hannah and I whipped up her s'mores bites to take to the party.  They were a hit.

Mikayla and Anna worked tirelessly on finishing the infamous pants costume... It turned out great!

Hannah of course was Elsa. Her she is being transformed into a mummy by her buddy Julia.

I just love this group of girls. I feel so blessed to be a part. And even more so now that I get to hang out with Jess ever Thursday night since Josie is now a daisy. :)

Life is good. God is good. =)

Day 29...

 

The second to last day of the challenge...

The Simple Woman's Autumn Challenge

Fall running... LOVE it! 

It's my sister's birthday!! She's one of my favorite people.

There are no words.  Sisters are the best.  I would be lost with out her. <3

Happy Birthday Laura!!!!

Daybook

FOR TODAY October 28, 2014

Outside my window... is a chilly grey fall day.

 I am thinking... I can not believe October is already drawing to a close...there is rumors of snow coming on Friday.  I am doing my best to not believe it. :P Today got off to a rocky start...just a million little things going wrong....from finding the evil cat peed on Ryan's backpack to loosing my contact before I got it onto my eyeball.  But I refuse to be defeated!! This is the day the LORD has made and I will be GLAD in it!!

I am thankful... for such an awesome party on Saturday.  It felt so amazing.  It was so fun and it felt like perfection.  Since it was at my mom's house, my girls came with.  Hannah assisted me with the recipe. =)  We made a delicious new recipe.... Sausage and Peppers Brunch Pizza.  A definite keeper.  I have added it to our menu for Christmas morning.

In the kitchen...   Hannah wants to make these for her girl scout party on Thursday night... and so we shall...

 

S'mores Brownie Bites  photo credit: The Pampered Chef

I am wearing...
Adorable new blue flats I found at the thrift store last night! I have been wanting new flats for a really, really long time...  I came across these ones for 4 bucks.  Bonus: They are my favorite color!! They look brand new! Pretty cute, right???

I am creating... I made Hannah's Halloween costume on Sunday afternoon.  I am dreaming about sewing Christmas jammies for the kids in November.  In years past it has been my Black Friday activity. =)

I am going... to enjoy this season.  Thank you Father for this glorious day to be alive.

I am wondering... has it really been THREE years since I sewed my kids new Christmas jammies?? For real? I must do so this year!  And socks...everyone needs Christmas socks! :D

2011 (Apparently they declined a group picture that year...there WILL be one this year)

2010

I am reading... Mary Poppins. =)  The kids and I watched Saving Mr Banks a couple weeks ago {highly recommend}.  It left me itching to read Mary Poppins. We finally made it to the library on Friday afternoon where I scoured the children's shelves until I located it.

I am hoping... to keep moving forward



I am looking forward to... whatever the day holds.

 I am learning... that I can do things I used to think were impossible.  I remember back in early 2003...I went to my first pampered chef party and wanted to become a consultant so bad.  I didn't think I could do it.  A year later I signed up.  Its been kinda a rocky road.  But Saturday, being a consultant, having a real live party felt like the most natural yet awesome thing in the world.
Yesterday at Office Max, I had an fantastic day.  Nothing out of the ordinary happened.  I just enjoyed every minute.  I actually thought how much I LOVE my jobs....repeatedly.  I love being with people, chatting with customers.  Helping people.  My best friend says I am actually an extrovert trapped in a quiet person's body.  As I slowly become more comfortable in my roles... I have to agree with her.  Its hard to change, to grow...but not impossible.  I never thought I would be a runner.  I never thought I would run a half marathon.  One day I laced up my shoes and started...one step at a time...Last May I completed my first HALF MARATHON!!!!!

I am pondering... how to be more hospitable.  Monday started a new study at SheReadsTurth.com  This one on Hospitality.  My mom is one of the most amazing examples of hospitality that I know.  {As evidenced by her party on Saturday.}  I want to be more like her.

A favorite quote for today... my best friend posted this quote on her instagram the other day...

 As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, 

everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. 

They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness 

-- just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it;

 just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; 

the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.

-Laura Ingalls Wilder

 One of my favorite things... Castle. <3 <3 <3 Last night the pup and I shared a bowl of popcorn, snuggled in my favorite quilt, watching Castle. LOVE Monday nights!!



A few plans for the rest of the week: thinking about going to a political debate tomorrow night at the high school.  My friend's Participation in Government class organized it.  I really want to be more informed...this might be a step. Thursday is the Girl Scout Halloween party.  Friday night- helping out with the party at Church. Saturday is currently wide open! That never happens :D

A peek into my day...

Hannah took this picture of my hands as I was typing a blog entry on Sunday night =)

Check out the Simple Woman's daybook and others HERE

Uncle Si

 Linking up with the Simple Woman's autumn challenge

Ryan finally settled on being Uncle Si for Halloween. It cracks me up every time I look at him wearing his mask !

I feel like a real Queen now...

The Simple Woman's Autumn Challenge

This afternoon at Hannah's urging I set to work on the Elsa costume...

She loves it!  This evening she was gushing..."its the best costume ever.  I am going to keep it forever! Unless my daughter wants to be Elsa someday... I feel like a real queen now...I just love the way the sparkles rainbow in the light! It's so perfect!"

It made my heart oh so happy. Made the fabric worth every penny and the time spent, as well to see that beautiful little face alight with wonder and delight.

{Pay no mind to her red tball shirt she had on underneath! We need to find a white or light blue one ;) }

I even made a dress for her doll with the scraps.  Her first matching dress with her "Amercian Doll" {ahem... the Target version}.  Her birthday request: more "matching" American girl outfits.

This morning at church we were issued another challenge to count 100 gifts or blessing between now and Thanksgiving. My heart was so full and happy this morning at church. Mikayla sat with me in 2nd service since she had nursery first. 

I am so enjoying my new class.  I love them all so very much.  Two of the girls also joined me in our pew during serivce before they were dismiss for kids church. My love for teaching has been renewed. I admit I was nervous about a new class... It's always so bittersweet when my kids move up. But I should have known this new class would be just a wonderful. They have all been nothing but a joy.

3 gifts for today: 

Sitting with Mikayla is service

A great Sunday school class; hearing them all recite the memory verse; hearing them pray.

Sewing Hannah's costume, hearing her delight.

What gifts did you receive today?

Count your blessings

Name them one by one

Count your blessings

See what God has done!!

~~

 

 Linking up with the Simple Woman's Challenge

Day 26--

Hannah met a little friend when we went to pick up pumpkins earlier...

Let it go....

 

The Simple Woman's Autumn Challenge

Day 24~

Fabric for Hannah's Elsa Halloween costume 

fall running

day 23:

 

 Linking up with The Simple Woman

{From Hand's Free Mama.}

It was chilly this morning! I think it maybe time to break out some of the winter gear.  Especially a hat or my headband...my ears were FREEEZING! But it was yet another glorious day.  I was a little giddy post run. ;-)









I could have stayed here for hours.

Fall Craft Nite

Day 22:

Fall craft night at school.

Painting pumpkins. Free books. Games. Hand painting. Donuts. Apples. Cider. Seeing friends. <3

Writing cards for our Troops.

Mikayla also volunteered at the hand-painting booth =) She did the spider on Hannah's hand in the above picture.

I love our schools.

10. 21. 14

FOR TODAY October 21...

Outside my window... it is raining

I am thinking...
 

I am thankful... my heart is full.
I am thankful for Saturday night with my friends, our husbands, our children.
One big family of friends.  Laughter. Almost cousins ;)

In the kitchen... chicken soup is cooking away in the crockpot. 

Its a very soup~ish day.  I wish I was going to be home at suppertime. ;-)

I am wearing... this--

I am creating... blog posts, a fuller PC calendar, a successful future, a grateful heart

I am wondering... who I should have chop my hair.  the wedding is over so I can cut my hair.  I want to have a hairdresser I call mine for the first time in my life.  I want it to be someone local... not a chain...one small step towards supporting local small business.

I am reading... still-- Like a Watered Garden,
One chapter left to go in Hand's Free Mama.<-- this book is excellent.

Also I have a new Nicholas Sparks book the Mister gave me for our
anniversary that I am anxious to read.

I am hoping... that today is the beginning of good things

I am looking forward to... the holidays.  For real.  I can't stop thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I am determined to not stress, to enjoy the season for what it is and what really matters.

I am learning... attitude is everything
 

Around the house... I wish I was there! Today is the perfect day to cozy up at home <3 I am envisioning my pooch and the kitties all snug and cozy.

A favorite quote for today...
 

One of my favorite things... The Pampered Chef....seriously love this company.
My commercial I had to write for homework this week...
The Pampered Chef is all about bringing your family back around the dinner table.
We sell high quality kitchen tools and have great easy recipes to help you get dinner on the table.
I'd love to help you bring your family back to the table.

A few plans for the rest of the week: work, work, work. Power club, girl scouts, Pampered Chef Party!! =D

A peek into my day...

 
Linking up with The Simple Woman's Daybook,
 check it out and the other lovely ladies who link up. =)

Birthday dinner

 

Tonight we had Ryan's birthday dinner and cake...

After dinner we played his new Dino-opoly game.  I thought that game would never end!! ;-P