It’s Tradition!

There are a whole  bunch of things that are tradition for us around this time of year.  One of them seems to be having a little soldier walk in the school costume parade!

(Every one of my boys has gone as a soldier at least once.)  My little guy’s fall party was Friday, and it was so much fun to go play games with his class.  I like being a homeroom mother.  :)

Our own fall cookout took place on Saturday.  The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful time with friends gathered around the campfire.  Unfortunately, my pictures of the evening all came out fuzzy.  So just imagine a whole BUNCH of people gathered around that fire pit laughing and carrying on over bowls full of chilli.  :)  And don’t forget to imagine a yard full of hooligans running around with flashlights and keeping the neighbors up. 

This pumpkin did not get carved.  He decided to deflate the morning after we brought him home!  We have never had that happen before!  Too funny!   I guess it was all the warm weather we’ve had lately.  Anyway, from the top, he looks marvelous, doesn’t he?  Lol!

At our cook out, we did little “scratch off” crafts in the shape of pumpkins, ghosts and cats.   When they were finished, we hung them on a tree and watched them dance in the wind. I bought them on sale after Halloween last year from Oriental Trading and I’m really glad I did!  They were a big hit! (I need to remember to check their sales again this year!)

What a fun weekend!

Tonight is our annual fall hayride.  I still have to get the trailer ready, but I think I have everything gathered.  I’m hoping my older boys will be in a helpful mood when they get home and offer to pull the bales of straw out of the barn for me.  :)  Hoping is the key word!  Lol!

Have a wonderful and safe time with your kiddos if you trick or treat tonight!

Fall In Indiana

The other night, my husband and I spent time on the porch simply enjoying the colors of fall.  The dark clouds and blue sky made the perfect backdrop for the golden leaves.   

This is looking towards the pond in the back of our yard.

Here’s another view, not zoomed in as much.

Then, if you looked just slightly to the left, you would see this.  Pictures never quite do the vibrancy justice.  But it was pretty!

My husband has the skid loader out to replace a leaking hydraulic hose.  But it’s color is perfect, isn’t it?  Lol!

It was such a quiet evening.  Cool and calm, and beautiful.

Of course we weren’t alone. 

There is always at least one cat who insists on being included.  :)

I’m so glad we added the two porches onto the house last year.  We are certainly enjoying them!  And this year, it will be wonderful to host our annual neighborhood bonfire Saturday and have the porches for people to hang out on as well. 

In fact, I’m off to go decorate for it right now.  We like to put a few fall-themed things out, along with some party lights.  You have to have party lights, right??  :)  I’ll try to post some pictures later in the week.  We’ll see if my internet connection cooperates.  It has been more down than up lately. 

So tell me, what is your favorite fall decoration?  Maybe it will give me some more ideas!!!

Still Enjoying Soccer!

Yes, we’re still a soccer family!  In fact, there are now three boys involved.  :) My Little Guy joined a YMCA team this fall. 

He has absolutely loved it!  That’s him in the navy shirt.

We were a little afraid he might play too aggressively, since he plays like a badger with teenagers at home. 

However, not to worry, he’s a totally different kid on the field!  It’s a riot!  We sit on the sidelines yelling, “GO GET THE BALL!!!!!” and he glances over like we are C-razy. 

My older two sons have played offence on their team this fall. And they LOVE it.  In the past, they have held mostly defensive positions.  It has been a complete joy to watch them develop as players. 

Soccer takes up a huge part of our schedule.  I don’t know why I haven’t shared more pictures and stories from our adventures.  Probably because they hate it when I take their pictures. 

Unless I can sneak one in at practice with a zoom lens like this…

Or this!  Lol!

Our Fall Break Highlight

Sunday, we went to see a college soccer game.  The IU (Indiana University) men’s team played Michigan State. 

My little guy looked totally adorable in is soccer shirt and IU hat.

By the time I got out my phone to take a picture, his older brother had turned my “adorable fan” into gangster.  Lol! 

We had a wonderful time at the game which ended in a tie!

This fellow above had my boys in awe.  He could throw the ball CLEAR across the field and land it right in front of the net. 

What a fun day!

The young men on those teams have worked very hard to earn their place.

I wonder if I’ll be sitting there watching one of my sons play some day…  It’s a fun thought.  :)

So there you have it--an update on what’s been taking the lion’s share of our time.  How about you?  What dominates your schedule these days??

I Dare You To Top This

Or not.

I once made a candle in day camp.  That makes me an expert in all things candle, right?

Wrong. 

Yesterday, I melted down a jar candle to insert a new wick.  I’m not even sure if that’s possible.  Or if you have to use a special kind of string.  Usually, I Google things like this.  But, I reasoned, who needs instructions to melt wax and hang a string in it?   

Um.  Apparently me.

As I was removing the jar from the hot water bath, I lost my grip. 

An understatement, wouldn’t you say?  Lol!

It was the kind of thing where you freeze--openmouthed,  and stare wide-eyed at the carnage thinking “NO I DID NOT JUST DO THAT!” 

It looked like a scene from C.S.I.

All of my utensils, which were hanging on that wall, received a thick coat of wax.  So did several prescription bottles, my son’s cough syrup, two plastic cups, a potholder, a pretty little basket with a fabric heart, and my grandmother's hand-painted trivet. Not to mention my hands.

The boys immediately loved it.  They wanted to keep it for a Halloween decoration. 

I, however, in the horrified panic that ensued, began wiping at the mess. First my grandmother’s trivet.

Then the medicine containers, cups and the pretty little basket.  Ugh!

The utensils were awful.  The more I wiped, the more I worked the now hardening wax into every little crevice.  No doubt, we’ll be tasting “Cinnamon Apple” forever.  (It’s not toxic, right?)

The wall was depressing.  I took a spatula to the now taffy-like wax, scraping off what I could.  Then I scrubbed at the rest with a steaming hot sponge. 

Unfortunately, after an hour and a half of unplanned cleaning, a thin layer of “pink” still clings to the surface in the shape of the splatters.  It will probably never take paint again. We’ll have to live here forever.  Cause who wants a kitchen that’s been murdered? 

You can laugh.  I give you permission.  I had a few giggles myself.

But how incredibly frustrating!  In need of some sympathy, I posted a picture on facebook.  Several friends shared tips that would have been handy to have two hours before.  I’m trying not to feel as dumb as a rock.

When Hot Wax Spills (Or Covers Your Kitchen):

1. Put anything that fits in the freezer for five minutes.  The wax will pop right off.  (SERIOUSLY?? Duh. Why didn’t I think of that?)
2. Take a blow dryer to the wall and wipe with a hot towel. 

That first one could have saved a ton of work!  And I”m hoping the second one helps me complete the cleanup.

However, the biggest thing I learned through all of this, which I will now pass on to you in the form of a Universal Tip, is this:

If there is no (real) blood involved in your crisis, take a moment to post it on face book. 

The comments could save you a boatload of work!  LOL!

Junior High: The Often Neglected Age Group

During the last  year, our community has suffered through several heartbreaking tragedies involving junior high students. 

One little girl committed suicide early last year. 

In March, a boy brought a gun to the middle school and shot a classmate .  I will never forget that terrifying moment when my oldest son called from the chaos just seconds after the shots were fired. 

Then, around the start of this school year, another young girl committed suicide. 

***

Across the country, this age group faces increasingly difficult situations both at school and at home.  Yet, many students are left to navigate the hurtles without the guidance of a caring adult.  Feeling alone, some make desperate choices with tragic results.

As a parent and as teacher, I know you can’t always tell which kids are hurting.  They become masters at hiding their feelings.  So in our community, parents, teachers and youth workers have been searching for ways to make connections with as many students as possible. 

A week and a half ago, our church coordinated a community event we called IConnect.  We held it at the local YMCA and prayed God would help as many students as possible to connect with caring adults.  Adults who could make a difference in their lives. 

As we planned for the event, God moved in the hearts of local business owners to provide much of what we needed.  Through generous donations, we were able to provide a meal for all, Christ-centered entertainment, and lots of fun and door prizes!

Skateboarding is popular among kids in town.  So, we invited a group of Christian teens from Chicago to kick off the event with a demonstration. They were extraordinary!  Just so you know, this jump was successful!  Lol! 

After the demo, a few of these teens shared their testimonies with the crowd.

A whole bunch of young people heard that Jesus loves them for the very first time.

After the demo, leaders mingled with and guided kids through a variety of activities and stations. 

Here is a picture I took of some leaders right before the event started.  That’s my oldest son about to catch the football.  He’s an eighth grader this year.

That sixty-foot inflatable obstacle coarse they are standing around?  That was provided in part by the huge heart and generosity of my friend who rents them out.  The kids LOVED it!

Another highlight was our goobligoop station.  Goobligoop is what we call a water and cornstarch mixture which takes on properties no one can resist checking out!  Mix it in about equal parts to make a thick syrup-y consistency.  Then try punching it.  Your fist can’t penetrate it.  But take a scoop with your hand and try to hold it and it runs through your fingers!  Keep a handful moving, and you can toss it to a friend.  Take too long to throw it, and it will drip onto your feet!  They had a blast with this!

After an evening packed with games and fun, we finished the night with a 40 foot long ice cream sundae trough!

By every account, the event was a success!  No one was hurt.  All had a great time.  And the connections that were formed that evening are beginning to bear fruit!  Praise God! 

Reach out to the junior high kids you know.  Listen, laugh and play a game with them.  Your involvement could save a life!

Friday Funnies: Romantically Challenged

I’m SO glad it’s Friday!  Aren’t you?  One of my favorite parts of Fridays is checking out Kim’s Friday Funnies over at Homesteader’s Heart.  And this week, I have one of my own to share.  :)

My family loves the Skit Guys!  And this skit had my husband and I in stitches!

For more family friendly funnies, join Kim at Homesteader’s Heart!

Have a wonderful Friday, friends!

Five Pictures From My Bus-Stop-Run This Morning

We live on a ridge, and our bus stop is about a mile down our road, just off the main highway.   On our way down this morning, this was the view through the trees.  I’m glad my phone takes decent pictures!

The river mist blanketed the valley under the crisp blue sky.

After we parked at the bottom of the hill, I snapped this shot through my front windshield. 

My son’s friend said it looked like we were under water looking up at giant lily pads.  We all laughed at the thought of a giant frog jumping through them into our world. 

After the kids got on the bus, I went home.  As I pulled into the driveway, I decided to turn around and go back.  The sun was just enough higher that it was making the tops of the trees glow. 

This time on the way down, I got a bonus.  :) 

Just before the big hill, a family of deer was grazing along the road.  I wondered if I could get a picture before they ran.  So I slowed to a stop.They looked up, and then went right on grazing.   They didn’t  care a bit that I was watching them!

It wasn’t until I pulled forward again that they took off across the road and into a field on my right.

I made my way back down the hill, turned around, and saw what I came back for.  This is at the bottom of the same hill, looking up.

I love fall!  And the color show is just beginning here.  :)

How about you?  Do you have a favorite season?

Do you like how I just ignored the fact that I took a mini vacation from blogging?  Lol!  It’s just been a crazy couple of weeks.  I plan to write about some of the things that have kept me so busy—complete with pictures.  Pictures make it all better, right?  :)