Reading to the kids…always and forever because maybe by the time my own children don’t want a story read, I’ll be a grandma.

Ethan sick and snuggling with his dog.

Thankfully this was taken by my husband last week and no one is sick anymore.

I found Sarah measuring her doll just like I measure her.

She loved playing with the new Madeline dollhouse….for hours.

We finished up with football season this weekend.  Our boys are superstars.

Rich made me leave the house and go on a date.  😉

I found perfect fitting flare jeans at GAP.

I read this book and recommended it on the blog years ago.  I just picked it up and read it again.  It’s called The Light on the Island, by Helene Gliddon and was just as good the second time around.  Helene was the seventh born of 13 children and spent the majority of her growing up years with her family on an island.  Her parents were the lighthouse keepers.

She wrote about the trees and animals that the children loved and visited, and I took a picture of the description of Puffy the toad to send to my friend Joanna.

I want a pet toad, too.  But in the meantime, I’m going to adopt a tree for my very own.  We have a lot of trees.  Did you know it’s very comforting to hug a nice solid tree?  There’s life inside of it that seems to refresh a person….trees are such nice plant-companions.  With all the appeal of electronics inside, I never want to forsake good old nature, or have my children miss out on the wonders that are outdoors.

Grace’s embroidery.

Right before I got off my butt and cleaned off the coffee table.

Oh, wait, I think it was Ethan who got off his butt because I told him to.

This evening I am making pasta for dinner and taking 13 year old David for a check up at 5:30.  I was supposed to take him at 10 this morning but somehow missed the reminder call.  They had to call me to tell me I missed it.  Thankfully, the Doc allowed me to bring him later and not have to pay the missed-appointment fee.

Tomorrow Caleb has an appointment at 8:30 in the morning and then Sarah at 3:45.

The appointment for Sarah is in regards to a surgery she has to have soon.

I had some anxiety this morning but after praying and working on cleaning, writing snail mail and watching TV with Michael, I took a 2 hour nap which helped a great deal.

Happy Monday, friends!  tell me all your happenings.

“Life is full of beauty.  Notice it.  Notice the bumblebee, the small child, and the smiling faces.  Smell the rain, and feel the wind.  Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”  Ashley Smith