Trick-or-Treating in Indiana!

We've had some very COLD days already this fall... but as of this week, it's pretty nice outside. Cool, yet just right so that the kids can play outside with just a jacket on and not get too cold at all.   

Today after school they came home and played on the deck for about an hour with me.  Olivia and I kicked the soccer ball back and forth while Paul Thomas rode his trike.

He has never once complained that it's too girly - he doesn't care that it's pink and purple hand me down from Nora... He just loves to get on it and GOoooo!

"Hey!! Just don't kick the soccer ball in my path pweeese!!!!"  

 I think Olivia could kick the ball back and forth all day if I stayed outside with her.  They did soccer camp for a week last summer and I think by the next season they'll be ready to play on a team.   

 

So while I was playing with Olivia and taking photos of her at the same time, I look over my shoulder and this is what I saw happening....  Paul Thomas taking a "break" :/ on the hand rail!

 

We didn't wait for David to get home from work to go with us downtown for the Town's Trick-or-Treating.  I called him before I stated getting them dressed and he left work and met us downtown.

 

 

 

Do you even realize how hard it is to get them to pose for a photo??  They are excited, and can't stand still and it doesn't help that Paul Thomas has on a 4 foot wings attachment and keeps knocking his sisters...  I tried my best, and kept clicking.... and clicking...  Nora was very patient with the twins.

 

 

 

Here we are downtown.  They had about 3 or 4 blocks of the main street blocked off and it was one huge street party with all the businesses on both sides of the streets giving out candy to the kids!

Santa was even there and he and Paul Thomas Danced together in the street doing the "Cupid Shuffle"

 

  

 

And the kids had a BIG TIME playing with these!  

 There was a pirate boat (like a tailor/float attached to a pickup parked in the middle of the street)  The kids climbed it and slid down the slide dozens of times. 
 
   

And sitting all around were 5 gallon buckets of soap and sticks.  Have you ever seen those HUMONGOUS BUBBLES???  The ones that are about 4-6 feet big??  Well we got to try making some and it was one big wet mess, but fun!

Can you spot my 'lil gobblins??? 

Love from Indiana!

 

What true sacrifice can I make for Lent?

I've contemplated over giving up facebook yet again for the 3rd year in a row for Lent.... but sorta wanted to do something else... something new... but can't think of anything. In past years I've drank only water for 40 days, given up using the elevator when I was in college and lived on the 6th floor, no chocolate.... and several other things...

But for this year, a *real sacrifice* for me would be to give up using the computer all together for leisure time. I don't watch a lot of TV, instead I enjoy reading blogs and commenting... Sure, either David or I have to use the computer to make sure the bills are all up to date and paid... but this year for Lent, (starting tomorrow, Ash Wednesday) I'm gonna give up my time at the computer! 

That includes Facebook both computer and my phone, so if you need to contact me, text or call me or email. I'll read those on my phone and reply.  I will surely miss Blog Hopping the most!  I may just have to bag up my laptop and tell David to stick it in his truck for the next 40 days to help my temptation! lol

I'm hopeful that this year's Lenten Journey will be one of the best yet. May each of you reading this also enjoy this time to prepare our hearts for Jesus this Easter. ♥ to all of my facebook and blogger quilting friends!!! 

See you again in April after Easter!

Love from Indiana!

Has it really been 15 years??

15 years ago tonight, David and I said "I Do" to a life together as Man and Wife.  We choose 2/21 because both his mom's parents, and dad's parents (both sets of his grandparents) also married on February 21st :)

How can time pass so quickly??  How is it that I can remember so much from some of those years, and yet have ave no recollection to some of those years in-between???  I know that it was a long wait for us to become a family - 8 years waiting for our first baby and then, BAM within 3 years we had 3 kids!  Life since then has been so fun, and challenging at times, but so worth the wait!

I'm so thankful God choose David for me and the kids.  He is truly a great, great man!!  I love him so much.  Thanks David for putting up with me this long and being my best friend..... I hope we have many more years together! 

Wow - I had to log back in to edit this and share two more photos.  Just a few moments after I posted this, there was a knock at the front door....  Are you Mrs. Minor?? the girl asked.

Thanks to Olivia having my camera in her hands, you can see my reaction after bringing them into the living room and setting them down on the marble coffee table. ;)

Thank you David!!!  You totally caught me off guard and totally surprised me! I've forgotten how long it's been since I received roses, but the feeling is the same as I remember.... I'm a little bit giddy now :D  Thanks again honey.  I love you always too!

Love from Indiana!

Trick or Treat...

Love from Indiana!

Memorial Day weekend, a time of gratitude

 I received an email full of Memorial Day cartoons - but these were the two I liked best.  This weekend's holiday is a time of gratitude for all the ones that gave us something we can never properly repay them for. Our Country's FREEDOM. 

Thank You!

Love from Texas!

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

I saw this photo posted on a friends blog and loved it! The egg baskets remind me of my mother. She and I along with my grandmother, Momma Newt, took a basket weaving class once when I was about 10 or 11 and for about 2 years my mother made lots of egg baskets just like these - same sizes and color which she dyed herself using a mixture of walnuts and sometimes tea to stain them.

For Easter that year she gave all of her nieces and nephews their very own egg basket to use. I wonder if anyone still has theirs?

I however did not get one for Easter that year, as I had made my own in our basket weaving class... but of the few larger egg baskets around the house I knew that one day one of them would be passed down to me. When Momma Newt died, I did get the one that she had made in our class. For it was her first, only and last ever basket to make.... quilts were her specialty. ;)

I know Barry, my oldest brother, has one of the egg baskets that mom and I worked on weaving together - I did the fancy work on the handle and around the main band for her since that part was easier for my smaller hands. It was the prettiest basket that we ever made - lots of details.

I wish I had a photo of it as it really turned out beautiful and Momma was so very proud of it. Now some 20 years later - As a mother myself I can see why... being proud of your child and the sentimental value of something we made together... sorta like a mother's love woven into her child. ;) If she were still around I think I'd pick up the phone and call her and ask her if she still remembers when... and I'm sure she'd say yes.

Just wanted to share a little something with you. When I saw this pic it reminded me of those times. ;) and for good memories I am thankful! Hope you and yours have a very Happy Thanksgiving!


Love from Texas!