BOO!

So some very brave people snuck into our yard last night to deliver some goodies...we are pretty sure it was the triplets who live behind us, but Kona was going crazy barking. The girls were not deterred...they know Kona, but still, I'd be afraid of that bark at night. Anyway, they left some fun treats for the kids and we got a chance to do some sneaking around ourselves this evening. We had some close calls, and Nina was so afraid of being caught she wouldn't get out of the car till I carried her on the last one. That was a sight...me running down the street with Nina in my arms. But, it was fun and we got our hearts beating!

Saturday

We were due a good productive Saturday to catch up on yard work and prepare the place for the colder weather. We were very fortunate today. The weather was sunny and brisk and drew us all outside after our late breakfast of omelets, fruit and toast. I had errands to run and things to do inside, but they went undone. The girls will have to wear their summer sandals one more time to church. We all worked in the yard most of the afternoon with the kids doing jobs like hauling sticks and picking up little pieces of chewed up trash and toys that Kona has strewn all over the property. They worked hard and later in the afternoon when their friends came calling over the fence, they played hard. We had the whole neighborhood here at dusk.

Zig and I (mostly Zig) got a lot done in the yard and it's really beautiful right now with all the changing colors. I cut back a lot of the plants and shrubs for winter and alternated my work with naps in the hammock. Zig never stopped, of course, and was busy hauling loads and loads of leaves and other yard waste to the compost pile. This is his "yoga" he says. I came to appreciate the ATV as more than Zig's big toy. It makes the work so much easier and fun. We were able to haul so much in such a short amount of time because there was no tarp and dragging piles across five acres. We just loaded the piles up and drove to the next one. I took the kids on rides all over the property in the new trailer Zig bought a couple of weeks ago. After scoffing at this surprise purchase for several months, I must say, not only is it incredibly useful, it's a whole lot of fun!

Mostly it was just good to be home, to be working together, and to feel the satisfaction of a much better looking yard at the end of the day. I figure it's more lasting than the satisfaction I feel after cleaning the house, because the little ones can't tear up the yard near as fast as they do every single inch of the house. Everyone got a good long bath tonight and the before Sunday "treatment" and all collapsed into bed, Zig being first. Gotta love Saturdays!

Let's Play!

Seeing Orange

We had some perfect fall weather this weekend making conditions just right for a pumpkin patch outing. We ventured over to Serres Farm in Sammamish and the kids spent a couple of hours choosing pumpkins, running through the corn maze, finding gourds and picking sunflowers. There were lots and lots of families out enjoying themselves and it was such a nice thing to observe. I loved how Sela and Nina both combed almost the entire property (several acres) before picking their pumpkins. I always look for the Cinderella pumpkins or really oddly shaped ones but the girls stick to the traditional pumpkins, perfect for carving. Sela's was huge and I could barely get it in the wheel barrow. It was a great afternoon...the only drawback is I can't kick this sickness I've had all week and when we finally made it home I felt completely exhausted. I slept 14 hours last night trying to shake this thing and I'm off to do the same thing tonight.

Goodness Grapes!

Conference

There is much turmoil in the world right now politically, economically, socially and the list continues. My heart has been a little heavy lately just trying to sort it all out. I don't think I have ever looked forward to a general conference more than this one. Each session fed my soul. I was so lifted, calmed, and encouraged hearing our amazing leaders speak. They were inspired, full of Christlike love, and motivational. Prayers were answered and comfort was felt. My testimony was strengthened. I feel so grateful to have the gospel in my life and all I could think of after conference was the song "Where can I turn for peace?" It's the gospel of Jesus Christ and I appreciate this gift more and more each day. The missionaries teaching my parents when we were young has changed the course of our lives and will continue to do so for many generations. The gratitude I feel to them and my Heavenly Father is truly beyond words.

The highlights for the kids were the mounds of homemade donuts, listening to the Sister Dalton's talk, and the primary choir!

Tomorrow

I remember Mary Asplund, a friend and a mother I admire, shared this piece of wisdom at my baby shower for Sela..."There are good days and crummy days being a mom, but one thing you can almost always count on is if you have a really bad day, the next day is always better." On many occasions I have thought of her words and I have come to see just how true that is, particularly this week.

The beginning of the week was just frustrating. I kind of felt like the Flinstone cartoon where the family is in the car forever spinning their feet and the car doesn't go anywhere. Well, that's how I remember the cartoon, anyway, and that's exactly how I felt this week. So many things to do and I just spun my wheels. Well, I got things done, but I resented the appointments and time spent as they were energy drains. Sela and Nina were both sick at different times, and for some reason lots of bickering in our house, in the car, and at the dinner table. It felt like something was off. There are lots of things I have patience for in mothering, but arguing and bickering is not one. I can't stand it. I feel like all the work I do at home to create peace is being sabotaged when this happens.

And then tomorrow came. And my dear little Rollin couldn't possibly have delighted me any more with his constant laughter, loves, growling, and frequent requests to "smell my tinky feet, momma!" If ever he had a perfect day, this was it. Even the fact that he stuffed all his orange peels down the bathroom drain and clogged it completely up (strange child), didn't bring even a grimace. The dancing while standing on the toilet seat and whizzing almost drew a scolding, but instead I just had to laugh. It's pretty darn funny and you better believe it will come back to haunt him when he's a teenager! I hugged and squeezed, cuddled and tickled this boy all day long and the more belly laughs I heard, the happier I became. My ambitious plans for catching up with all the laundry and organizing the whole house and garage didn't pan out, go figure, but we've enjoyed the day and even the light drizzle of the rain outside.

Nina was also a delight, though a sick one. She woke up with a fever and laid on the kitchen couch all morning asking Rollin politely to "please talk soft." She perked up in the afternoon and ventured outside and attributed her feeling better to the fresh orange juice she sucked from her plate full of orange slices.

Sela will be home soon and Zig wants to do something really special for the kids tonight. They behaved SO well last night when they had to all go to sleep (and not come out once!)so he could have an important conference call without interruption. I was out for a much needed dinner with friends.

Bring on the weekend already!



















Pumpkin ice cream at Theno's Dairy. Pure bliss.