Happy Halloween!

Izzy

On the way home from school one day last week, Isabelle said "I told my teacher I have pink eye today".
*Long pause while I stopped the car and turned around to look at her.*
"You did what?"
"I told Mrs. Chase I have pink eye."
"But you don't have pink eye."
"I know."
"Then why would you tell her that?"
"I don't know."
*Another long pause while I turned the car around to go back to school and tell Izzy's teacher that she does not have pink eye.*
I was horrified. Even more so when I talked to her teacher and found out that she had been saying it for three days. Three days! Her teacher kept telling her that Luke and I shouldn't be sending her to school...how embarrassing.

What could top that? Leave it to Izzy to try. I bought the kids silly putty the other day (Remember silly putty? So much fun! I had forgotten that it bounces--and now it even comes in colors). Anyway, this morning Isabelle came into my room to tell me that her silly putty was stuck in her hair.
"Um, mom. My silly putty is stuck in my hair."
"Why did you put silly putty in your hair?"
"Um, well, I was trying to make ear puffs."
"Ear puffs?"
"Um, ear muffs?"
"Oh. Ear muffs. Why would you want ear muffs made out of silly putty?"
"So I couldn't hear anything in the night."
*Pause. I was just waking up and it took a minute to realize that the silly putty had been in her hair all night. Getting good and twisted up.*
"You made ear muffs last night??"
"Um, ya."

Sprinklers

Luke is putting a sprinkling system in our front yard, so this is what it looks like right now:

It is so nice to be married to someone who can do these projects! He is amazing. He had been working really hard, and I hope he knows how much we appreciate all his time and effort. Izzy and Dylan helped by picking up rocks and tree roots. After about five minutes, they decided they were done and took a lunch break beneath the trees. They love playing under the snowball bushes (they think there is a way into Narnia somewhere under there).

It has been a huge project, and it will be nice when it is done. I can't wait until I can post a picture of our new and improved front yard!

Pumpkin Ice Cream Pie

My friend Brooke gave me this recipe, and it was really good! The instructions say to top it with whipped cream and caramel sauce. Luke and I weren't buying into the caramel sauce, because it just didn't seem to go together. What was I thinking? I just ate a piece with the caramel (purely for research), and it was awesome! I just love this pumpkin-y time of year!

Boil
1/4 C brown sugar
3/4 C canned pumpkin
3/4 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp. salt
Let cool. Mix with 1 quart (two pints) of softened butter pecan ice cream and pour into a graham cracker pie crust. Freeze for 3 hours before cutting. You can use vanilla ice cream if you'd rather. Enjoy!

Scary!

Did you know Halloween is second only to Christmas in holiday spending? Consumers will spend over $2.5 billion on costumes, candy, decorations, and party goods. Yes, I said billion.

Confirmation

A few months ago, while blog-stalking, I read a quote that jumped out at me. I have written it down several places, and have even memorized it. I often find myself reciting it over and over in my head:

Now we see through a glass, darkly; then we will see face to face. Now I know in part; then I will know fully, even as I am fully known.

I have always contemplated what life is all about, but lately it has weighed heavily on my mind. We lost a good friend and neighbor recently. It's been almost a year since Grandma Kemp passed away. I worry constantly about my uncle who is alone, and not in good health. Why the sadness and suffering?

But as much sadness and suffering as there is, there is also great joy. I have dear friends that are awaiting a new baby. I see my own children learning and accomplishing things every day. And especially at this time of year, I am blown away by the awesome beauty of the world we live in.

So, where do these pieces fit? Will it all make sense one day? Am I getting any closer to knowing the answers to these questions? Do I strive to make the world a better place, to contribute to society, to truly celebrate all that I have been given? I understand that we must experience pain and loss to appreciate the good things in life, of that I am sure. But it's a lot more complicated than that. If I could just have the answers to my questions, it would be so much easier!

Which brings me to Saturday. I was listening to a talk given by a great man I have always loved and admired. This person does not know me, and this talk was given over the airways to millions of listeners. Which is why I sat in my car with my mouth gaping open when I heard him recite the quote that is so often on my mind. I was alone, but I still found myself looking to the right, and then to the left, as if someone would suddenly appear in my empty car and say--yes, I heard it, too! He quoted your quote! But, no one showed up, and I found myself alone with my thoughts. It was the answer I had been looking for, but it took hearing him speak the words for me to finally understand. Of course. Now, I see through a glass, darkly. I only know in part, but there will come a day when I will fully know.

Weekend Getaway

This weekend, we spent some time with Mike and Lori at thier cabin. It was beautiful up there, and so relaxing! The kids had so much fun. They colored, played foosball, and jumped off the pool table onto Luke. They built forts upstairs and played in the snow outside. And best of all, they were being so good, they didn't really need much supervision. Which left time for Mike and Luke to go fly fishing, and Lori and I to read our books. We ate great food while we were there, and enjoyed being with good friends. After Lori and I took turns reading bedtime stories on Saturday night, the adults settled in for a game of Scrabble. Then Mike and Lori taught us a fun new game called 'Take Two'. On Sunday, we went for a walk, and I grabbed my camera on the way out.

The kids outside the cabin:

The boys were full of hugs the entire weekend:

Izzy and Dylan:

We had a fabulous time, so thanks Mike and Lori! We couldn't have asked for a more perfect weekend getaway!

The Cabin

I was thrilled when Luke told me that Grandpa Kemp's cabin is going to be fixed up and placed at Wheeler Historical Farm. Here's a picture of it now, and I'll make sure to post one when it gets to the Farm. I think both Grandma and Grandpa Kemp would be very honored.