Thanksgiving

(Okay okay, so I know we JUST celebrated Christmas and I'm about a month late but stick with me while I catch us up! :) If you need a refresher about my goals for this blog, feel free to read this.) 

We spent Thanksgiving 2013 in Hastings with Brad's immediate family and Great Grandmas. Contrary to Michael's face above, we had a great day. (I'm learning that with every child added to the scenario  it becomes increasingly difficult to get a good picture)

 

Mama forgot her camera, but thankfully camera technology on cellular devices is pretty great these days! :) Gordon celebrated his first holiday, at 3 1/2 weeks old, and enjoyed all the cuddles and coos that were freely given him. How cute is he?! Answer: Adorable. 

Side Note: Looking back on these pictures a month later... 

I can't believe how much he's filled out!

Our daddy cooked us an equally yummy and beautiful turkey... 

...while we watched the parade and goofed off. 

I had a lot to be thankful for this year.

A God who loves me, more than I realize. 

Jesus, through whom the steadfast gospel is applied to me.  

A husband who works hard to provide for our family and values time with me. 

THREE kids who are healthy and all-around wonderful (even though their "wonderfulness" is sometimes hard to spot).

The fact that "the Church" is a global entity of people who follow Jesus and is not contained to one location.

A safe move to Michigan from Texas. 

The Lord's provision, in so many ways, as we await the sale of our Texas home. 

Our rental house in Lansing. 

A community of believers in Lansing who love Jesus and live out grace. 

Carving "Punkins"

One lovely fall day, Brad took the kids to pick out their "punkins" for our annual family pumpkin carving "event." (By event I mean: daddy carves them for us after we sketch our designs....it's how we roll) They came home with 4 large pumpkins and huge grins! :) 

Michael kept hugging the pumpkins - he LOVED them. :) 

All set up to help clean them out.

More hugs.

I have no words.... 

Lucy was so curious! She had been looking forward to the activity ever since she saw the first pumpkins of the season at the grocery store!

More curiosity - he looks so cute in an apron, don't you agree? 

When Brad started scooping out the "guts" Lucy's demeanor completely changed - she wasn't so excited anymore... more timid and unsure. 

Michael tried to help, but hates having dirty hands.... 

Getting some reassurance from Daddy. 

Being brave and trying it out! 

Ha! I love her face, she wasn't too ecstatic about the textile experience, but she tried it out and did something she was uncomfortable with - I was proud of her. :) 

Later that weekend (we did some unexpected oven shopping for/with Great Grandma Kidder that afternoon) Brad carved faces into pumpkins for us (he's the expert carver in our house!). Here they are!

Mamma's Pumpkin :) 

Lucy was set on her pumpkin having "heart shaped eyes and teeth" :) 

Brad's pumpkin

Michael's - the grin on his might make it my favorite one. He wasn't too interested in the design, so I got to choose for him. :) 

Happy Fall from the Kidder's house to yours! :) 

A Nursery Rhyme Halloween

Ever since I saw this on Pinterest, I knew Lucy and Michael were going to be Little Bo Peep and a Sheep for Halloween.

Source

Lucy's costume got done early, because she attended a Toy Story Costume Party but I didn't get Michael's done until his afternoon nap on October 31st! (Cutting it close? I know.....)

(I LOVE Instagram!) Her dress was a hand-me-down from a friend at church and I made her little mop cap to match. :)

 Lucy was really excited about getting dressed up and "practiced" saying trick or treat many times leading up to the "Big day."

 I realized after her nap on the 31st that Lucy didn't have a bag or bucket to collect her candy in - so we worked with what we had and covered an old ice-cream bucket in orange paper and "decorated" it with stickers. 

 She did great! Stickers have been a favorite lately. :)

Presenting! Little Bo Peep and her little Sheep! :) 

 Aren't they adorable? 

 I made Michael's hat out of an old t-shirt of Brad's and some felt (for the ears). The body is just an old stained onesie of Lucy's with cotton balls glued on - I knew it didn't need to last more than a few hours, so I didn't sew the cotton balls on. It was a FREE costume! Acctually, both of the kids costumes were free, I made Lu's hat with stuff I had on hand. Love it when that happens!

 This is what we do a lot lately.... we are working on saying words and not spitting - slowly and surely. I think we are getting better. 

Lucy did really well knocking on doors and saying "Trick or Treat!" She then told people to put the candy "In my bucket" and, after I reminded her, said "Thank you!" :) 

  We had our Community Group over for Hamburgers and then a bunch of us went trick or treating on our street. We had extra food for any adults who wanted a burger and of course lots of candy for the kiddos. :) 

 My little sheep

80% of the time, when we get in the car and drive down the street, Lucy says - "I knock on doors and say trick or treat! And get candy on Halloween. I was little Bo Peep and Michael was a Sheep!" She is determined that next year she is going to be a flower (one of her friends was a pretty pink flower) but we will see. :) 

What is your favorite costume from when you were a kid? I was a smore one year! No joke - fluffy white vest and graham cracker hat..... haha! Can you beat that?

Making Memories: Fall Fire Pit

We got a fire pit! It's something we've wanted for awhile, so when we saw a sale at Wal-Mart - we jumped on it! We brought it home and then Lucy and her daddy assembled it and gathered the wood.

 (Notice the ballerina slippers - they are a favorite of Lucy's these days!)

 Waiting for the fire to get started. 

 My sweet kiddos - they make me so happy! 

 Our doggies, I don't think we've introduced Belle yet - but here she is. Baxter has LOVED having a friend again, they have fun playing together. 

 As my Mother's Day gift, Brad fenced in part of our back yard so that the dogs could be contained in their side and the kids and I can have the other side. :) It has been SO nice!

 Lucy named our puppy, "Belle" and it stuck. :) She's a Lab mix and is growing into a beautiful dog!

 My teething little bud - He is so quietly observant of the world around him. 

 Brad was pointing out the lights to Lucy, but what I love about this picture is that she has her legs crossed. :) 

 No fire-pit is official unless it has been used to make SMORES!

 Lucy enjoyed her first roasted marshmallows - but wasn't too interested in the chocolate or graham crackers - she missed out! They were yummy!

 It was such a fun evening - Brad and I brought out some wine and sat and watched the fire after the kids went to bed, a great way to sit and chat about the day. :)

An Instagram pic, proving that I was there! ;)

Do you have any fun fall memories?