Snow Day!

I am SO thankful for Skype! We've been chatting with Dan, who's in Denmark for business, whenever possible this week. It's so amazing to see him and hear his voice! The 8 hour time difference makes it tricky though, but never fear, I have only gone to bed before 1 AM once since he's been gone. He'll be just getting up when I'm just going to bed. Strange!!!

The good news is that my older 2 kids have been the best helpers this week. I had to laugh when I came downstairs for breakfast on Tuesday and Corey had started making lunches. His drawings crack me up! I asked if that was his hair or a crown and he said it's his hair. Okay then.

Claire, on the other hand, has been tough this week. She won't nap since we took away her pacifier and is almost always grumpy and tired by dinnertime. Before the Binkie Fairy came, she took a nap every day, like clockwork. I want my happy Claire back and hope I can get her back on track!

It is pretty ironic that while Dan is gone, we had a huge snowstorm that dumped about 18" of white stuff in 2 days. I am grateful that I bought a SNOW SHOVEL. School was cancelled today due to the snow, so Ashlyn and Corey went out and played in the snow for over 2 hours in our backyard. Claire was out there with them yesterday, but didn't seem to like the feeling of her cold hands in the warm tub afterward. She held her little purple hands under the running water and said "Ow! Ow! Ow!" Corey even helped me shovel the driveway. Here's hoping that the novelty of snow doesn't wear off anytime soon!

This is my covered back patio! The snow has blown in and blanketed everything. I took this picture on the first day of the storm. We ended up with about 18" total!

I thought it was hilarious that after Ashlyn found out that volleyball practice was cancelled, she ran upstairs and threw on her thermals under her volleyball shorts and went out in the snow. Brrrrr!

Punkins!

I really missed carving pumpkins with Dan this year. He's always so enthusiastic and doesn't mind digging out pumpkin guts. Nonetheless, we carved pumpkins on Wednesday because Halloween is approaching fast. (We missed you, babe!) I have these flashing red electric lights that go inside that look so spooky and cool...

Corey & Ashlyn carved their pumpkins all by themselves this year. Corey carved a spooky tree and Ashlyn did a witch. For some reason Claire just liked licking the inside of the lid of the pumpkins.  Eeeeeeeeewwww!

I am a big pile of salt(?)

This week I've had a small change of heart. I've had some moments of clarity when I've felt so loved and close to my Heavenly Father. I know I can't keep looking back to where we've been and wishing things were still the same, because they're not. I should be better at change than I am, apparently. Ironically, this is not the first time I've struggled with a move and missed where we just moved away from. One of these moves, maybe I'll learn:-)

I've enjoyed reading scriptures together as a family before the kids go to school. It's nice that school begins later so we actually have time before we all rush out the door. Last week, something Dan read got us talking about the story in the Bible of Lot and his wife. For a little refresher, Lot was instructed by God to leave the evil city of Sodom before it was destroyed. Lot's family had been living among the wicked, yet while they were leaving, Lot's wife turned back to look upon the city and was turned into a "pillar of salt." This struck me, though I'd heard the story many times before.....

I have been wanting Colorado to be something it's not, or maybe that it's "not yet." I've longed for my friends in Arizona and California and could've been trying harder to make new friends here. I compare our new ward to our old ward and am unhappy with the comparison. I have been feeling sad and lonely and have wished things were different. I have been looking back over my shoulder at my past life, even when the Lord has provided a wonderful new life and new opportunities for us here. I should be a pile of salt, no doubt! Now, please don't think I'm comparing Gilbert to the evil city of Sodom! Quite the opposite...yet, I know now I need to look forward instead of constantly looking back.

I've been re-reading parts of Deen Kemsley's book Trust in the Lord. Many of you may know the author's brother, Vicki Parry. In part 5 of the book, he talks of "The Path of Simplicity." He begins the chapter with the quote, "Christ will magnify our small, faithful efforts, transforming them into moments of overwhelming joy." (pg. 65) I absolutely love this:

"But as I listened to the voice within, it lifted a burden off my shoulders, testifying that there is a time to strive and a time to stop striving. At that period in my life, it was time to stop striving so hard and simply do the straightforward tasks at hand." (pg. 67) ..."If we listen, we can all find this voice within us, a voice that will place us on a specific path of purpose and meaning the Lord has prepared for each of us. As we walk down this path, we'll find it's largely paved in simplicity. At times, God may call on us to preform great feats- difficult tasks that require all of our faith and might to fulfill. Often, however, he'll call on us to perform simple tasks. From these acts, he can transform our small offerings into eternal deeds that we could never accomplish on our own." (pg. 68)

I know I need to focus more of my energy on the most important things: my amazing husband and kids and my faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know with a certainty that we are here in Colorado for a reason. We have a comfortable home and Dan has a job, which, especially these days, are huge blessings. Friends will come eventually, I hope. I will keep doing the simple things, like going to church, cooking meals, playing with Claire, doing laundry and helping my kids with their homework. I will appreciate where we've been, but will try to look forward to where we're going...

Corn maze and Harvest Festival...

Saturday we did something that I hope will become a yearly family tradition...Ken & Sky and Sky's daughters joined us and we went to a corn maze and Harvest Festival at Anderson Farms.  The older kids enjoyed doing the "Sudoku" part of the maze, where they located checkpoints in the maze until they were exhausted. It was beautiful, but a little slow, because Claire insisted on walking the entire time.

(Left:) Claire and Ashlyn found 2 Wooly Bear caterpillars, which Claire kept in the pocket of her jacket! The bigger caterpillar kept climbing out of her pocket and Fantasia wanted nothing to do with them.   (Right): Fantasia and Corey consult the map about which direction to go next.

I'd never been to a corn maze before, and this is the biggest in the state of Colorado!

The kids also milked a "cow," played in the kiddie mazes and playground. We warmed up a bit with a hot funnel cake and Kettle Corn. Claire fell asleep on the couch right after dinner. We all slept really well that night!

Butterflies in my kitchen!

I am a bit of a science geek and am doing my best to raise my kids as such. Ashlyn recently ordered Painted Lady caterpillars and we've all enjoyed watching them gorge themselves, triple in size each night, and eventually spin cocoons. After waiting for a week for them to emerge, it finally happened last Thursday. Claire and I were the only two home when the first one slowly crawled out of his cocoon and showed us his amazing transformation. All 5 have hatched now and are happily drinking sugar water and juice from oranges in a small habitat on our kitchen counter! Unfortunately, it's too cold to let them go outside (we had SNOW again today) so they will subsist in our kitchen for the next few weeks.

30 Meal plan...

I seriously think I have AD/HD. Really. I have so many ideas running around in my head and I have lots of energy (usually only after about 9 PM, but it lasts all night if Dan doesn't make me go to bed). I do have quite a few half-finished or un-started craft projects in my office right now that I am publicly committing to finish.....SOON. Super Saturday from last year, anyone???

I am on such a craft kick lately. You'd think that after surviving the recent Relief Society Holiday Craft Night that I helped organize, I might need a break from my glue gun, but NO. I have to get most of my Christmas gifts ready before Thanksgiving this year, so I am working hard on some Christmas craft projects, gifts and organizing my home. I think that homemade gifts are thoughtful and personal. I sure hope my gift recipients agree! One project that I LOVE and thought I'd share is the "30 Meal Plan" by some great chicks at Nannygoat. It's so practical and after the chaos of actually doing it, I think it will make my life much easier! I think I will actually have a tough time narrowing it down to just 30 favorite dinner recipes. Yes, that's probably another sign of my self-diagnosed AD/HD...I rarely make the same thing twice. My poor kids and husband are good sports to let me experiment with my cooking! Here's the link to the "30 Meal plan" post and my favorite fall quick bread recipe for my Mom's PUMPKIN COCONUT BREAD that I made last week:  http://littlenannygoat.blogspot.com/2009/05/what-heck-it-30-meal-plan.html

Title: PUMPKIN COCONUT BREAD

Description:

Moist bread that is almost better cold a few days after you make it.

Ingredients:

2 cups pumpkin

5 eggs

1 1/3 cups oil

2 cups flour 

2 cups sugar

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp soda

2 (3oz.) pkgs of coconut pudding (regular COOK type, not instant)

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Directions:

Combine pumpkin, sugar and eggs and beat well.  Beat in dry ingredients.  Stir in nuts.  Pour into 2 well-greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.

Number Of Servings: 2 loaves

Sports update...

It's hard to believe that this season of soccer for Corey and volleyball for Ashlyn is nearly done.  Corey has just been on fire the last few games, even though he started the season a bit sleepy. On Saturday, he had a shot on goal that was so hard and fast that it hit their goalie right in the face and gave her a bloody nose.... Ooops! He prefers playing forward and goalie, but he's pretty happy just to get playing time, with such a big team.   After looking at these pictures, I am going to buy him some longer soccer shorts tomorrow! Those short shorts that came with his uniform are not going to cut it:-)

The girls on Ashlyn's volleyball team have made huge progress individually, but still haven't been able to win a single game yet. The good news is that every set has been close and I hope that they can win one of their last games next week...for morale.  Ashlyn's a rock star server and has loves the girls on her team and having her Daddy coach her. Dan's in Denmark for work this week, so he's missing a game and 2 practices. I'm so glad he'll be back in just time for their last game on Halloween!

Witch's Tea and a little pity party...(You have been warned!)

Last weekend, Ashlyn was invited to a "Witch's Tea" at the home of a girl in her school class. She was so thrilled to be included! We bought an adult's witch costume and altered it to fit, since the kids' sizes were too small. Does this officially make Ashlyn a "tween?"

I've worried so much about our kids adjusting, but they always seem to make friends quickly. We still haven't had anyone over to play, besides neighbors and poor Corey really hasn't had a friend to play in the 4 months since we've lived here. Our church situation remains frustrating, since there are so few kids in our ward and we live so far from everyone. I miss having the kids' friends in and out of the house like we did in Arizona. I don't have friends here call me to chat and I feel lonely. There are no birthday parties... no play dates. I'm complaining much more than the kids are, but I keep waiting for something to happen!

In my defense, we attend all the church activities and I've encouraged the kids to invite some kids from school over to play. I've tried to make friends at the park and the library with Claire and I'm attending Book Club with some women from my ward. Life is just so much slower-paced than I was used to. The good news is that my laundry is usually done and my home is often very clean. I'm grateful to have connected with some old friends that live here in Colorado recently, glad that Dan's brother and sister are not far and overjoyed that Dan is almost always home in time for dinner.

I just miss my phone ringing...

"Booville" Halloween frame by Ellen (above) downloaded from Raspberry Road Designs: click here

Still adjusting...

So much has happened in the past few weeks! Fall has gone in fast-forward, due to an early freak snowstorm last weekend, and I packed away most of the kids' summer clothes. We may have taken our last family bike rides last week, but they say here "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes"....

I'm the Assistant Enrichment Leader in our ward and survived our big Holiday Craft Night this week, only to get sick with a fever the very next day! Thankfully, the event was successful and I think everyone had fun. Between buying supplies, gathering sign-ups and money and making the sample crafts, it's been all-consuming this past month. I don't think I truly realized how much goes into planning a "Super Saturday"-type event! I just want to give a huge shout out to anyone who's helped in my wards in the past.  God bless you!

Corey's soccer game was cancelled last Saturday due to the aforementioned snow storm, but Corey enjoyed playing in the snow in our backyard instead! I guess it's tradition to get a big storm sometime before Halloween here, but this one broke all the records.  We had snow on the ground for 3 days. My kids have never lived anywhere with snow, so this is such a novelty for them. Claire even learned a new word... "SNOW."

I have to laugh... When I tell people we moved here from Arizona, I've had several people say things like, "Oh, I bet there are so many bugs and creatures there." If there were, they sure didn't bother us much, especially compared to the bugs and creatures here in Colorado! So far, we've had raccoons in our garbage cans, countless toads, mosquitoes swarms all summer, spiders, beetles, wasps, moths, a pesky mouse in our house and a large bird that crashed into our bay window. A few weeks ago, we had to swerve to miss a peacock on the freeway on our way to church! Oh, and last night the coyotes in the fields behind our house woke me with their howling twice, which is a common occurrence. We are currently dealing with a Box Elder bug invasion that apparently happens every few years. Ashlyn & Corey just pick them up and wash them down the sink! I seriously feel like I've moved to the woods!

Crazy faces, "Neeeees" and a small break from mosquitos...

We've been enjoying this beautiful weather at Corey's soccer games and practices. He's enjoys playing and I've made friends with some parents on the team. Between sports and church, it's about the only way I can find to make good friends for my kids and me:-) Corey tends to make hilarious faces while playing soccer and I've captured a few of them here... 

In other randomness, Claire is absolutely obsessed with horses lately. She usually has a My Little Pony with her wherever we go. This photo is at Borders Bookstore. She had an armful of horses before I could find the latest copy of Goosebumps for Ashlyn. Funny thing is, she refuses to actually say "horse" and refers to all her equestrian friends as "NEEEEEEEEEs." 

The mosquitos are almost gone (Hallelujah!!!) and we enjoy family bike rides often when it's warm enough. I thought nothing could rival Arizona sunsets, but this one might be competition!