A Halloween Party

Our fun friends had us over for their second-annual Halloween party this weekend.

 Everyone else had their costumes planned for week, or at least days.  

We came up with lumberjacks the night before, and I loved how it turned out!

 Chris and I made the axe heads from cardboard boxes.  Pretty simple.

 Jennifer and Joel and Lydia won the costume with their stunning "Bee Keepers with Bee" ensemble.

 Craft Night girls!

And the night ended with a pinata bashing.

Thanks, Chris, Brooke, & Zoie for a fabulous time!

Virginia Creeper Trail

We recently spent a long weekend in Damascus with my parents.

The highlight of our trip was our day on the Virginia Creeper Trail. 

You rent bikes and they drop you off at the top of the mountain, and it is all downhill from there.  For 14 miles!  The most fabulous way to bike, if you ask me.

Chris and I had been on this trail twice before.  The first time, it was the day before we got engaged.  We kept holding hands as we pedaled along, and, of course, that ended in a crash for me!  On this day, we didn't try any of that hand-holding nonsense!

It was the boys' first time on the trail, and they did fabulously.  Especially Josiah.

Caleb liked to cry for a few minutes each time he got strapped in.  Josiah is fake-crying alongside him.

The leaves were at the peak of beauty and we had a wonderful time!

Halloween costume pictures coming up tomorrow!

A Book-Shaped Pillow

The boys have birthday on the brain.

Josiah's was last month, Chris's was last week, and Caleb's is coming up in ten days.

Last night the boys were giving me imaginary gifts in a huge box and I finally asked what was inside.

Caleb said he was giving me a pillow shaped like a book.

 And Josiah said a machine that shows Downton Abbey.

Who knew toddlers could be so perceptive?

These guys might have the makings of great gift-givers!

P.S.  I should note, the boys are not practicing to be underwear models - yesterday we went to play down at camp, and it was so warm that the boys stripped down and hopped in the creek!

Happy 34th Birthday to You!

We celebrated Chris's birthday last night with a Hat Party.

Enjoy some pictures from our evening and an exclusive interview with his sons!

 What is something that Daddy always says to you?

J: On Craft Nights, he says that we can watch a video.

C:  I say, I need some more take (cake), and Dad give me more take.

 What makes Daddy happy?
C:  I don't know.

J:  When I snuggle with him, Momma.

C:  When we make a hat cake for him, and when we dance.

What makes Daddy sad?
C:  I don't know.

J:  When I don't snuggle with him.

What was Daddy like as a child?

J:  He was like a cat.  I mean, he would want a cat.

C:  Go at mine class at church.

 (New birthday chair!)

What makes your Daddy laugh?
J:  What makes us laugh is when he tickles us, and he laughs.

C:  Caleb points to the dulcimer and says, "This makes him laugh."

(Finished hand-made dulcimer from Brother Joel!)

How old is your daddy turning?
C:  I don't know.  What number is him turning?

J:  I say 55!

How tall is your Daddy?
J:  How about 100 pounds?

What is something your Dad is really good at?
J:  The guitar.

C:  When him play the big thing.  And him big.

What is he not so good at?

J:  Not very good at obeying.

C:  Not being good at obeying.

What is your Dad's favorite food?

J:  Hot salsa.

C:  Him like eat chairs.  I got funny joke.  Why the flea in my soup?  Tas that look like the backstroke, sir.

J:  Momma, can I have one?  Why did the flea cross the road?  It wanted to get hit by a car!

C:  I got a funny joke.  Why da mouse cross da road?  Cause it wanted to get to de udda side.

Where is your Dad's favorite place to go?

J:  To his office.

C:  To work on you, Momma Jessica.

How are you and your Daddy alike?

J:  We share the name 'Christopher.'

Why are your proud of your Daddy?

J:  Because he lets me snuggle at night time and he lets me go under his bed.

C:  Tas him do good 'tuff.

Happy birthday, Chris!  We love you so very much!

Stationery card

Jolly Holly Stripes Christmas Card

Customize your Christmas cards this year at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Sitting on the Stove

The boys have discovered my favorite cold-weather sitting spot!

A joke from Josiah:

"Waiter, what's a fly doing in my soup?"

"It looks like the backstroke, sir."

A joke from Caleb:

"What da moose cwoss the woad?"

"Why the turtle cwoss the woad?"

"Tas it want to go to de udda side."

Lost Socks

I have seen lots of ideas like this for organizing your lost socks on Pinterest lately.

 Three clothespins for three lost socks?

I don't think they understand the problem at our house!

Today the boys and I matched 50 pairs of lost socks and still have 39 singles left!  

We would need a lot of clothespins!

Flowers

Caleb has a new adorable habit of picking flowers for me any chance he gets.

 Last night, we had a campfire and both boys were picking flowers for all the 'duls', as Caleb calls girls.  Even Baby Lydia.

Another of Caleb's habits I'm enjoying lately is how he pats me on the face and says, "Oo bootiful, Mama!"

A New House

Lately we have been looking into buying a home of our own.  We would still work at camp, and maybe even stay in Shady Nook in the summer!  The first house that we loved we call The 'UP' House.  If you don't know the UP house, it is from the delightful movie, UP, and it is pictured above.  Our UP house was shaped JUST like this house, with one extra dormer upstairs on the left.  So cute!  It was also on 2.5 acres in a nice neighborhood, had its own woods, a beautiful view, and near the lake.  It also needed LOTS of work!  All new floors, eventually, and much, much more.  Oh yeah, no central heating and air and only one bathroom.  So when we found the house pictured below, our affections quickly shifted.

 This house doesn't have a catchy name like the UP house.  We've called it the New House, but that isn't very accurate because it is actually quite old.  Built in 1923, in fact.  But guess what, it does have central heating and air, beautiful floors, two bathrooms, tons more square feet, and my personal favorite, FOUR fireplaces!  (Not that they work yet, but they are so cute!)  It also has a 'spooky' (according to the boys) cellar and a huge attic.   So this is the one with which we are currently in love.  Chris got to crawl in the attic with an inspector yesterday and survey the scene.  I'll let you know if anything exciting happens!  We should know in the next couple of weeks!

Crafting

Hello again!

 We have been doing a lot of crafting around here lately.

Here the boys are stuffing lots of felt strawberries.  Cuties!

 Fall wreath a la Pool Noodle.

 Jenny Lou's burlap wonder.

 Camera strap covers.

The ever popular apple/pear wall hangings.

Ta da!