A Chicken and A Pirate

Costumes this year were easy.

We found Lily a chicken costume in her box from Karla,

and Ollie was deciding between a fireman and a pirate--but had everything for both. Last minute--the pirate decision was made.

Did you know that chickens can be especially helpful around the house?

The chicken was trying to help the pirate with his earring.

"Arggghhh!!!" (and his hook...)

Happy Halloween!

Chambers Rocks

So I bought this book, "My Utmost for His Highest" a while back. Like maybe 10 years ago.
I've picked it up multiple times throughout the years and have read some...but it is always too deep, too challenging...and I put it down.

Late this summer I picked it up again and WOW. I am LOVING it. It is incredible how deeply profound and surprisingly (and some frustratingly!) simple it is. Oswald Chambers ALWAYS comes back to Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross. Always.

Today I read this: "I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing." (Did you have to read it again? Don't worry--I think I read it 3 times before I finally got it.) That reiterates some things I've been learning and processing and wondering about...to be honest--I have no idea how to word most of it, and I usually butcher anything relatively deep that I try to write...so I'll spare you.

But it makes me think too, about these conversations Ollie and I keep having. He asks lots of questions about heaven. I am trying to answer as honestly as I can, while keeping it at a level he can understand. I try to always add that heaven is where people go who "know" Jesus. (Of course, I'm meaning that at an intellectual/experiential/knowing level...but how do you explain that to a 3-year old???)

These are some excerpts (It just took me 5 tries to type 'excerpts' correctly!) from the rest of the devotion:
(He says it all better than I can...so I'll let him.)

"I am not saved by believing; I realize I am saved by believing.
It is not repentance that saves me,
repentance is the sign that I realize what God has done in Christ Jesus.
The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead of on the cause.
... I am put right with God because prior to all, Christ died.
...Sinful men and women can be changed into new creatures,
not by their repentance or their belief, but by the marvelous work of God in Christ Jesus which is prior to all experience.
...The supernatural becomes natural by the miracle of God;
there is the realization of what Jesus Christ has already done--"It is finished."

Chili and Cinnamon rolls

Are what we're having for dinner tonight!!! Hooray!!!

But before you think I'm baker-extraordinare, I have to share the EASIEST cinnamon roll recipe EVER with you. It's virtually fail-proof!

EASY Cinnamon Rolls

Combine in bread machine...
(oh yeah, did I mention you need a bread machine? That's where the 'easy' part comes in!)

1 3/8 c. water
1 1/2 T. vegetable oil
2 T. molasses
1 1/2 t. salt
2 c. bread flour
2 c. flour (or wheat--but for cinnamon rolls--I use white)
Make a little well in the top, then add 2 t. quick rise yeast

Set bread machine (I do whole wheat setting...cause I usually make wheat rolls with this recipe), then turn on!

One hour later (after it's completed 2 kneading/rising cycles) take dough out.

Roll it out, spread melted butter all over. Sprinkle cinnamon on top (generously!).
Roll up, and cut. (Floss or string works well!)
Put into greased pan, then let rise for 1 hour.

Bake 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

When cool, frost with your favorite cinnamon roll frosting--we use cream cheese frosting!

DEEEE-licious!
(and you can do it, I promise!)

Playtime

Lily is starting to enjoy playing in one spot for more than a minute. She loves to play legos with Ollie (but this often ends in screaming) and has really started to love play-doh. And she finally isn't eating it!

She has also started to color more. It's fun to see her attention span grow!
I am trying to take pictures of her playing and videos of her talking (since she's doing that SO much more now!) but everytime I try, she'll say, "No Mommy, All Done!"

This was ONE picture I got before she wouldn't look at me anymore...

Ollie is VERY into lego...and can entertain himself for a LONG time building combines, the CN Tower, trains, balers, cameras...

He is also still into dressing up...

Here he is fighting fires...

And here he is preparing for his space ship flight. (?????)
That's what he told me, anyway.

It's hilarious to see what these two come up with!!

Some Random-ness

I found some pictures in my file of things I haven't blogged about:

What do you do when you run out of sand in your sandbox? Fill it with DIRT!!!

A fun picture of Joel and Lily....

Ollie was a worship leader again. This time out on the front porch. I'm sure the neighbors appreciate that!

I'm bringing Lily over to the 'dark' side. Muh, ah, ah, ah!!!!!

I have a new...

Nephew!!!

Elias Newton Johnson
10lb 4oz. 22.05 inches.
Born at 12:32 10/18/10

Yippee!!!

Guess Who Came to Preschool Today???

The firemen!

Oliver was so excited for this day...

They brought the big truck...

Dressed up in their full gear...

And then let us climb into the truck.

Oliver even had his class picture taken!

And now, I will be hearing about this day and explaining things to him for the next 5 weeks.
"Mom, why did the firemen put on all his gear?"
"Mom, why do you have to roll out of bed?"
"Mom, Why did they turn the siren on?"
"Mom, why did we climb through the truck?"
"Mom, can I put on my firemen gear?"

Actually, at lunch, Ollie explained to Lily all about the morning. It's hilarious to hear her ask him 'why' and have him explain it all to her.

I love his inquisitive mind.
This makes me so happy to seem him learn and grow.

Papa's Pumpkin Patch

We had heard good things about Papa's Pumpkin Patch--it is close to our house, has a good selection of pumpkins, fun activities for kids, and best of all--it's free! So we tried it out late this afternoon...and we LOVED it!

It WAS free, and not only that--the kids had a blast, and we got 7 gourds/pumpkins for $10!!! Can't beat that.

It is a bit unusual that we're visiting a pumpkin patch in shorts and T-shirts--but it's also unusual to have ninety degree temperatures in mid-October!!!


Here's our obligatory 'here we are at the pumpkin patch' shot:

We grabbed a wagon and cutters and headed out to the field of pumpkins.

Ollie helped pick the pumpkin and cut it...

as well as carry it back to the wagon.

Then we headed to the shed with the kids activities:

This was a giant old corn shaving 'thingy'. (Obviously, I have a rich farming heritage in my family...) Oliver LOVED it and literally spent the entire time using it. He called it 'farming'.

Silly faces in the flower boards...

Apparently Lily didn't get the 'don't wear your prettiest shiny shoes to the dusty old farm' memo...

But wow, did she love this giant corn tub. She played in this the entire time.

There was a cute little beanbag throw toy that Lily tried for a minute or two...

We finally headed up to the front where we rode the long slide. Daddy went on a few rounds with the kids, until Oliver got brave enough to go alone. We couldn't pull him away!

We had such a good time. We will definitely try this place again next year!!!

Baking Cookies

I am finally letting Lily 'help' me out in the kitchen.

I KNOW I started this earlier with Ollie...

It's just that it's SO much easier to do things alone.

And she isn't to that 'helpful' point yet.

But I'm trying. Every time I do dishes, she wants to do them with me...so I pull out a towel and prepare for a spill.



This particular day, she helped with cookies. She stirred fine, and only tried to taste the cookies twice. Eventually, though, she was banished from the kitchen. Since the cookies were for guests, I couldn't let her keep touching them...

(If any investment club boys are reading this...I am PRETTY sure you didn't get any cookies that Lily touched...and baking them takes all the germs out, right?)

Holy Sweet Potatoes!

Joel dug up a sweet potato this evening, just to see how they were coming along. He was pretty sure we wouldn't have a super crop this year, just because of how everything in the garden has been. Last year we had a 5-gallon bucket full--they lasted us into February!

Needless to say, we were shocked when this is what he dug up... FROM ONE PLANT.

I don't think we'll starve this winter.