Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday to you.
Happy Birthday dear Kendall.
Happy Birthday to you.

I won't tell how old your are but it rhymes with
dirty
sturdy
nerdy
birdie
purdy
ok, enough said.

We love you and can't live without you!!!
Happy Birthday!!!!

Joel, Oliver, and Lily

Oh, Lily Mae...

You are SO....

mischievous
funny
sweet
strong-willed
stubborn
cuddly
precocious
messy
verbal
silly
smart
clingy
independent...

...You are something else.
But we're SO glad you're ours!

He's Ba-a-ack!

Santa made ANOTHER appearance at our house! This time he was decked out--the beard and everything.
And when Lily sat on his lap, he asked, "What do YOU want for Christmas?"

"Cheese," was her answer.
Maybe next year, Lily. Maybe next year.

Car Mat

Joel and I are big on toys that allow our kids to play creatively. We love blocks, legos, books, puzzles, art supplies, cars, playdoh, etc. We might have even given away a toy or two that made noise. :-)

Joel's aunt gave us a wonderful little car mat for Oliver that she found at Et Cetera. But it quickly started peeling off. (And Lily might have been a major part of that...)

I had just read a book on creative centers (for preschool) and one idea was to MAKE a car mat with a sheet. You just add a simple road and train track, and allow the kids to play with cars, trains and blocks on it. I loved the idea!

So the next time Lily started destroying the mat, I just let her.
We pulled it all off...
And made a simpler mat!
Then we made block houses and garages...

and even a few trees. (Just put little twigs into clay and let harden)

Now we have a little village that can be used however we want--and really encourages their creativity! And these blocks from Joel's Uncle Ed are entertaining for HOURS!!!

Friendship

A month or so ago, Jess asked me to read a book and review it with her. The book lover that I am, I jumped at the chance!!! And I'm so glad I did. It was a great book.

I really needed this book. I felt like it was a perfect way to continue on the journey that I had been on in the last year--struggling with things in my own heart, feeling that I don't know HOW to be a good friend, and dealing with lots of insecurity, too.

I feel like I am in a much healthier place with relationships than I ever have been. But God has had to work on parts of my heart that weren't so pretty. I care too much what people think of me, and not enough of what God says about me: that I am His dearly loved daughter, created just the way He wanted. I'm realizing that He wants my heart. Fully. And I now know that, when I am right with Him, I am in a much better position to love and be loved by others.

I have WONDERFUL friendships with ladies who love the Lord and me. But I haven't always been the best friend, or been the most vulnerable person. I'm hoping that I can do that better. And this book gave me some real practical advice for nurturing relationships with those that I love.

I'd encourage you to read it--even with some of your good friends. It's an easy read, and a great way to deepen your friendships. And check out the whole week of book reviews here!

Today...

we are enjoying the sounds of the marching band.
We are so lucky to have a drummer in the band HERE at our house!

And two 'hot off the press quotes' from this week:

"Oh my goodness gracious. This is a tiring world."

(and after falling out of bed Sunday...)
"Ollie, did you fall out of bed?"
"Yeah. The bed just shook and it knocked me out! Silly Bed!"

A November to Remember...

This has been a PERFECT fall. (minus the drought) Warm temperatures, little wind, and a garden that produced veggies into November! I can't believe it.

(Lily is eating tomatoes off the ground. Hey, she's happy.)

Here Lily is eating raspberries of our bushes...only, there aren't really any ripe ones. I think they're shriveled up ones.


But it was also GREAT for playing outside!!! A favorite past-time of both kids is riding their bikes. They just ride all over.

This particular day, Ollie was the trash man, and was picking up leaves and pulling them behind him.

Lily really just likes to go as fast as she can and then run into something. Like Joel's truck.
(This picture just cracked me up because she's actually POSING for me!)

Ollie and his workman outfit. His new cowboy boots are on him EVERY WAKING HOUR. He LOVES them!!!

Thankfully, we're STILL enjoying warm weather even today!!! I am totally fine with it sticking around another few weeks!