An Angel, Dorothy, and a Gnome

The girls of course had fun at the Trunk-or-Treat. They were so excited and hyper before we left it was hard to get a picture all together. They were running all over the backyard and I had to keep pulling Abby down from the retaining wall. But she did give a cute wave for the picture :) and Sammie has an arm stretched out just in case Abby tries to take off again. They lasted for about 1 second. Just long enough to snap the picture.

Paintin' Pumpkins

Painting pumpkins was much more appealing to the girls than carving them. Much less of a mess too by the way. Olivia said she needed to paint her face on because there was no way we could carve what she wanted to do. She wanted to have blood coming out of the eyes and mouth. Nice, huh? Every once in a while my girlie girl pulls one over on me. Sammie went the cute route which included dots. I had to remind her that less is more before the pumpkin became one large dot. And I painted Abby's pumpkin and I let her hold a brush. I'm not brave enough to let my one year old actually have non-washable paint on her paintbrush. Perfect Family Home Evening and it ended with a scary story (but not too scary)told by candlelight. It involved a haunted house, three sisters, a kidnapping, and a dracula who became convinced that milkshakes were much better than blood. I love the creative minds of my little children.

Just thought they were cute

Sometimes I love it when my girls are doing things together. I just pause and observe. They have a sweet "sister"relationship. Sometimes they get along...and sometimes they don't. They know just what buttons to push, but they are quick to make up. They easily get bored without the other one around and they realize how much they love and miss eachother when one is not there.

Painting Party

Last Weekend we painted. Well, I didn't paint. I watched the kids while my mom, dad, and grandpa painted. Even Sammie helped tape off the baseboards and she did a good job too. They painted the kitchen. No more green. Then they painted the music room. No more ugly dark brown stripe around the the room. They painted the living room. No more peachy beige. Then they painted the stairwell. No more white. Then they painted the hallway upstairs. They just kept going and going and going. I feel like my house is more my own now. Light and airy. Like my old house. I actually just used the same color paint. Why do something else when I know what I like? I love it. And I love family that were so excited to come and paint. It was comforting to have everyone here. The pictures don't really do it justice but it feels better. I promise.

I think I'm ready for another painting party. I already have all the colors picked out.

And I love my new light fixture over the kitchen table. Much better. It's starting to feel more like home.

We had a little rain

It rained a little last week. I let Abby out in it and she was wondering why drops of water were falling onto her head. I'm not sure she quite ever understood what was happening. I love this age. Abby is so curious as she discovers the world around her. I remember being a little girl and learning in the scriptures about how we are supposed to be like little children. As a little child I never understood that. I thought being grown up was so much easier than being a a kid. Now that I'm grown I understand that being a kid means seeing things in a more simple way. It's easier to love, to see the world honestly, to not worry, and to be humble. It means to enjoy life each day and to enojoy each experience as though it were your first. It's the little things that are the most important. Keep life simple. Play in the rain as though you have never seen it before.

Homework

Sammie loves homework. She gets a little packet from preschool each week to work on at home. As soon as we get home she pulls it out. "I got new homework Mom!" She gets right to work doing all of the pages. Me? I'm not such a fan of homework and I'm still not. Actually I think I like homework less as a parent than I did as a student. I enjoy my after school hours free time as much as my kids. But I remember being the same way when I was Sammie's age. I wanted to do everything my older brother and sister were doing and I would make up my own homework. Then when homework became the real deal it wasn't so much fun anymore. Hopefully she will always love homework this much...at least for a few years.

Student.of.the.month.

Olivia was the first student of the month for her class this year. I made sure to keep it a surprise this morning when I went to the assembly at school. Olivia had no idea. She looked so surprised when they called her name. Am I lame that I got a little teary-eyed? Olivia is such a great kid. I think I would have loved to be her friend if I was in second grade. She's silly, kind, imaginative, she tries to do the right thing, and she works hard. I of course forgot my camera this morning. She was beaming with satisfaction after the assembly and gave me a big hug. Way to go Student of the Month!

Family

Sammie: Mom did you know that in Heaven we are all a family? Everybody is.

Me: Um, yeah. Who told you about that? (Thinking that it was her primary lesson)

Sammie: I just figured it out on my own.