Halloween

In my pesimistic attitude toward Halloween, I usually dread this holiday. I can't stand seeing witches, skeletons, kids with axes on their heads, and children dressed up as mean/ugly people. My kids also don't eat candy, so this can get tricky. Well, this year we are going to our fall festival at church as usual, but I wanted to explain to the kids what Halloween is about. With the help of my wonderful husband, I found out some very interesting things about Halloween, that make it not so bad. Did you know the Protestant Reformation began on October 31, 1517 when Dr. Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Slosskirche (castle church) in Whittenberg, Germany? Hmmm... I didn't know that! So, now I am excited about what my children are going to be for Halloween - GERMANS!! My Mom and Grandma brought the girls back these dirndls from a trip several years back. The hat was given to Connor from that trip as well (so we borrowed it) and Mom had these Lederhosen from when she lived in Germany. I didn't have anything authentic for Finley. So I was trying to think of something German that she could wear. I came across a gnome outfit. Researching begins again. When you first look up the word, you find it means short, ugly man who guards burried treasure. But I looked up garden gnome and they first came to Germany in the 19th century and were beneficial for garden growth. What a perfect little symbol for our family - growth ;) So I feel her outfit fits and she doesn't look at all like a short, ugly man!!! She is our little growth statue! So now I have a reasoning behind their outfits, and then I told them the pumpkin gospel. This simply compares a pumpkin to being saved by Jesus. You are picked from the world, washed all the dirt away, cut open and cleaned out, you are given eyes, nose, mouth, and put a light in to show the world God's love. (This is definitely the shortend version of the gospel). So I told them that during Halloween we are to share God's word with those who don't know Him. I am going to print the pumpkin gospel out for our trick or treaters that come to our house to go along with their treats. That way the kids can see how important it is to share God's word.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me, shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12

God is light and in Him is no darkness. 1 John 1:5

The Wedding

On October 16th, Rachel and Paul got married on Crest Mountain in Asheville, NC. It was a beautiful day and the weather couldn't have been more perfect. The trees were gorgeous and the wedding was a lot of fun. We really enjoyed our time with family on our weekend getaway. On Friday, we got there around 11 and ate lunch. We got to see Aunt Peggy and Uncle David which was terrific. Grandpa and Aunt Peggy and Uncle David took the girls to the pool, Matt stayed in the room with Harper and Finley so they could nap, and I went off with the ladies to the bridal luncheon at the Fig. It was very yummy. When we got done, we unloaded our stuff in our room and got ready for the rehearsal. That didn't take too long (it was really cold and windy this day) and then we went to 12 Bones for the rehearsal dinner. Again, we got to spend some wonderful time with everyone including Pastor Kenn and Kim. The next day, we had breakfast, the big kids went to the pool with Matt, and Finley and I got lunch for them. Then Matt took the kids to the room for rest time and I went and got my hair done with Mom and Rachel. After that, it was a mad dash to get the girls and myself all ready. I did it in about 20 to 30 minutes!! We got to the wedding in time, but late - hey it was the bride's fault!! And now here are the pictures of how the evening unfolded!
Right before leaving the hotel. I am with my 1st, 2nd and 4th daughters :)

Rachel looked stunning!! Her dress was so easy to choose. As soon as she tried it on last year, we all knew that was the one. I think she only tried on 6 dresses total!

The oldest nieces and nephews. I love this picture because Oma is in the mirror looking at her granddaughter and great grandchildren!

Harper and Finley joined the party after nap time! Good old Daddy was on patrol of the little 2!

Best Buds!

The feather girls and the ring bearers! Carly and Chloe with Conner and Caleb.

I was a bridesmaid

The feather girls hard at work (don't mind this man's bald head :)

Here comes the bride!! She walked out to the song "Over the Rainbow"

I do!

2 Proud Sisters The ladies - there were 6 bridesmaids total

The guys - one of them got stung on the forhead during the ceremony. When we walked to the back his forhead had a nice wealt!! Poor guy!

Our Growing Family

Kris and Gina's family

Nichole and her girls

(These pictures are a little out of order) Dancing time! All the kids loved dancing. Carly and Chloe especially liked to twirl!

Finley made her rounds visiting. She really liked Uncle David!!

Of course she had to spend time with her Uncle Kris!

And Aunt Gina!

The Cake! It was yummy! The Hummel on top is my Mom's and it looked so cute on top.

The tables

The Goonies

Sometimes a lady just needs to kick off her shoes and dance a while!

The kids were dancing the entire evening! They loved having the freedom to wiggle!

Now this boy had some moves up his sleeves!! Harper came up with all sorts of crazy moves. And notice the WHITE socks. Even with repeated directions to the shoe box where the socks were located, Matt still couldn't find his black ones (and that night I picked them up right off the floor)! Oh well, he did pretty good getting 2 ready.

Here is another one of is awesome moves! I think he has his Daddy's skills - poor kid.

The next day, we had breakfast with Rachel and Paul and everyone else who was around. We then proceeded to pack our room and then went to Aunt Peggy and Uncle David's motor home - or as the kids said "house on wheels." We visited there for awhile and then we all went to an Apple farm. (Camera batteries died at the wedding so no pics for this) It was fun, but there weren't any apples :( We got a couple large grape sized apples from the trees and a couple on the ground, but it was kind of a bust. So we got some apples, some cider to go, and a frozen apple slushie and said our goodbyes to Aunt Peggy and Uncle David. We then came home and were quite tired out from the eventful weekend. We really had a terrific time and wish Rachel and Paul the best of luck.

Bru Bru

Little Miss Finley has decided she has a new best friend. Brutus was given to Harper after his accident last year by my Mom and it was funny that his name on the tag was Brutus (a name my Mom has always called my Dad). Well, Finley has fallen in love with Bru Bru. She carries/drags him everywhere she goes. So Harper has lost his dog. He goes in phases with his dogs: blue dog, Brutus, JoJo, and Frankie. Luckily Brutus was not hot at the moment, Frankie is, so her swiping his dog isn't so bad. But I have a feeling she will never let this dog go!

Little Teachers

Finley wanted to help with some cards the big kids and I were signing, so Carly and Chloe decided that they would keep her busy doing pat pats. They sat their student down in a chair and helped her place her stickers on the paper. She loves stickers and the 3 big kids loved helping (well Harper just sat on his car watching). Finley has alot of little teachers :)

Rachel's Shower

Rachel's wedding is fast approaching and we got to celebrate with a wedding shower last weekend. Rachel is very "natural" so decorating was fun. My vision was birds. She likes this kind of stuff, so I enlisted Nichole, Mom, Dad, and Oma in cutting out lots of birds! I made these mobiles that hung from fishing line from the ceiling. They looked so cute!! I absolutely loved the final product. And the little nests as center pieces were great. Rachel got a lot of great stuff for her and Paul and their new life and I wish them the best of luck.

A finished table
I love this picture! My 3 girls, with my Mom's 3 girls, with my Grandma!

Little Kicks

On Sunday I felt the baby move for the first time! I am 18 weeks so the first kicks are very faint and sometimes not very definite. But, I was sitting in service and the choir was singing, and she started moving! I am taking it that we are going to have another dancer! It is so sweet to feel the baby and life starting to take place! Thank you Lord so much for this little blessing. Thank you for entrusting Matt and I again with a precious life. Help us to raise her up to honor and follow you. We know you have big plans for her so mold her into the perfect person you desire her to be. Amen.

Drumroll Please

Last week, we went for the ultra sound! And we are having .............. A GIRL!! I really thought it was a boy, but, I am never right, so I should have assumed it would be a girl. The kids all thought it was a boy too. They said it was a pattern - girls, boy, girl, so it should be a boy. Now of course they are thrilled about another sister. Matt just laughed. I told Matt that now I don't feel so bad buying 2 of everything for the girls because one set will go to Finley and the other to this baby. Now yes, everyone's initial response is poor Harper, but come on!! In high school when these girls have friends over all the time, who wouldn't want to be Harper!! He will have a nice assortment of girls around at all times. :) I love this picture of the baby because it looks like she is either waving or getting ready to suck her thumb. It is amazing to see our sweet baby - she is the size of an orange here. Amazing - God's miracle of birth is spectacular. So to the 12% of you that voted girl (that was only 2 people and I know that Matt was one of them), you win!!! And no we do not have any names picked out - yet!!