HaPpY HaLLoWeEn !

 Although this is not my favorite holiday the children sure do have fun!

They have been so excited for Halloween! 

They get to dress in a costume AND get candy!

Sam loved digging in the pumpkin and cleaning it out!

Ava was our other volunteer!

Katie made it very clear she did not want to carve a pumpkin...

And here she is, carving a pumpkin!

Thanks Kate!!

Ellie was very excited about carving this year too!

(I helped her a little)

And Sarah carved a pumpkin, too!

They did a great job!

Yes, we only did three pumpkins, 8 would be way too many!

They kept talking about how many Halloweens they have been home for!
Anna- 6
Sarah- 4
Emma and Ellie- 3
Ava- 2
Sam- home for 2 but only celebrated 1 because he was having surgery in Cincinnati last year.
Abby and Luke- 1

The children were so excited!

Including the big kids!!

And then, of course they each wanted pick with the littles!

(Katie's turn!)

(Luigi and Kelly's turn!)

(Astronaut Mark's turn!)

The children took the photography session as well as could be expected!

Then were ready to get on with the trick n treating!

So Katie and I were left to pass out candy!

Except there weren't any trick or treaters at our house... 
 : - (

(We live on a little private drive with 4 other homes. Obviously the children nowadays are much more savvy, they know how to get the max amount of candy while traveling the least amount of distance!)

Thankfully,

our own little 8 children rang the doorbell when they were done and we gave them candy!

If your in the area PLEASE stop by!

Fall Fun!

A couple weeks ago the kids did some raking for us!

They had no intentions of bagging up the leaves!

Instead they had their own plan!

And it included having LOTS of fun with those leaves!

So they gathered as many as they could and then . . .

they spent the next half hour throwing them in the air and jumping around in them!

Even one of our puppy dogs got into it!

You can hardly see her! 

She is in the middle, buried in leaves!

I am trying to be a more fun Momma.

But of course when I saw this...

 "bath night" immediately came to mind!

On bath night, we divide bath duties and conquer the large task looming in front of us.

Sarah and Ellie can shower by themselves!

If Hubby is home he does the two little boys!

I do the three little girls (soon to be 5 little girls).

Jim, Sarah and I take turns washing Emma's hair. 

(Sarah actually likes to do it!)

Then I get Emma set up in the tub. She is learning to do most of the bath herself.

So thankful that she is making baby steps in the right direction!

Can I have your feedback regarding-

At what age can children shower by themselves? Just wondering your thoughts?

This is my favorite pic!

It makes me smile!

Privacy Window Film Tutorial

My sister recently bought a new house (full tour to come soon) and they are slowly working on making it "theirs." The other day I drove up for a visit and noticed that you could see all the clothes hanging in her laundry room from outside the house. Uh, not what she wants the whole neighborhood to see! I told her that they make privacy window film that would still let light come in, but prevent her neighbors from seeing their laundry. She didn't hesitate to have me to work on this project for her.

She had already taken down her laundry before I took this shot, but you can get a little peek inside the arched window. (Sorry for all the phone pics, I forgot to bring my good camera.)

This is the view from inside the laundry room.

I pretty much followed Young House Love's directions from when they used a similar product on their first house's basement windows and door. My brother-in-law picked up a plain frosted film and a textured film. We decided to use the plain one on the window and we'll use the textured one on the sidelights of the front door at a later time.

First thing to do is trace around the window and cut out a piece of the film, about an inch or two wider all around.

Next, spray the window with a solution of water and a little dishwashing detergent. I had a GILA Window Film Kit from when I had done this to a window in my own home so that is what I used. Spray liberally!

I couldn't get a picture of the next step, but you just peel back the paper from the film and place it over the window. Because you cut it bigger, it doesn't need to be lined up perfectly, because you will trim the excess anyway. Just do your best to center it and you should be fine.

Use the "squeegie" from the kit or any old credit card will do, and starting from the center, smooth it across to the outer edges to get out all the air bubbles. Don't worry if the edges aren't completely flat yet.

After the film is smooth, use a razor blade (your own or from the kit), and get in real close to the window frame. Get in to the space right where the glass meets the frame and carefully slide your razor blade and slice off the excess.

After: privacy + light!

It's not totally opaque so you can see shadows when something is directly in front of the window, but all least her neighbors won't get a free show anymore!

And since we all love a good before and after:

Another quick and easy project with lots of impact!

p.s. I'll be linking up with Sherry, Katie, Sarah and Carmel as part of the Fall Pinterest Party.



Linking up:
Home Stories A to Z | House on the Way | House of Hepworths | At the Picket Fence |

A weekend of UPS and DOWNS...

When I last left you we were jetting off to Denver to meet Caitlin's parents- Deb and Dan!

When I sat down in the plane I was next to a beautiful smiling young woman. I wondered right away... Okay God is this going to be a flight where I quietly pray and then do my sudoko puzzles OR do you have plans for me?

I took out my "Kisses from Katie" book and the conversation began... and only ended because the plane had landed...

Angie was marvelous and had a passion for Haiti!

She loves the Lord!

She had been on many mission trips to Haiti and is going back in February.

To be honest friends - MY ears are perked up and I am listening to the Lord.

I am feeling like HE has something to say to me... and I am waiting to hear from the Master!

On with the story-

As we walked up the steps to Matt and Caitlin's new home an energetic smiling woman came out the door and wrapped her arms around me, it was Caitlin's mom! Talk about an ice breaker!!

She was smiling from ear to ear and joy was all over her face! What a blessing to us- to have someone as happy as we are for this young couple!

Truly God is so good and so amazing!

The evening proceeded without a hitch! The 6 of us had a wonderful time and we were so grateful to God to have been able to meet Caitlin's parents and get to know them!

Deb and Dan were wonderful!

And what is even MORE wonderful is how happy Matt and Caitlin are!

Despite the rough start to the weekend we were amazed that we were even in Denver!

On Sunday hubby and I enjoyed a cup of coffee together and went for a drive.

It was so great to have a moment together! 

As we checked out of our hotel room and prepared to drive to Matt and Caitlin's home to spend the afternoon together and eat lunch we received a phone call...

It was not the kind of phone call parents want when they are out of town...

One of our sons fell victim to another young mans wrath and was on the wrong side of this persons fist...

We immediately called an older sibling to help him and get him to the ER. 

Reason #546 why I love having a big family. The other sibs banned together and came to the rescue.

Hubby and I were much to upset and concerned to stay in Colorado, so we needed to back out of the day's festivities and hop on a plane home.

The airlines were very accommodating- praise GOD!

Once again... GOD had a plan...

As I sat in my seat and took out my book, 

yep "Kisses from Kate" (will I ever be able to finish this book?), I saw my seat partners book...

The Bible

Of course I knew GOD HAD A PLAN!

In the midst of my/our turmoil the LORD sent someone to help us!

Seriously friends-

HOW AWESOME IS HE!

WE talked, read scripture, laughed and prayed together.

GOD,

YOU ARE SO AMAZING!

We are home now, our son is home, the siblings that live nearby are home and we are rallying around the one who is hurt both physically and emotionally. Raising his spirits and processing all that has happened.

He has a concussion, neck sprain and is badly bruised.

WE are praying over the situation and praying that those who are in charge will handle it appropriately.

This is an opportunity to guide young men in a Godly way...

We pray that the end result would give GLORY to GOD and healing to those that have been hurt.

Will you pray with us?

Please Say Prayers- Updated

For Ava. . .

In mid August she was diagnosed with HSP. 

The rash and other symptoms would come and go over the last 2 plus months.

This week she had another flare up. This is the worst one so far.  Her legs are covered with purple spots. Her ankles, knees and abdomen hurt and she has a low grade fever.

Now she is having kidney involvement with blood and protein in her urine.

She is with hubby at the Mpls. Children's ER getting fluids and seeing a pediatric Nephrologist. They have done an abdominal ultrasound and other tests, we are waiting for the results.

Please say prayers for her-

For healing(no kidney damage), for comfort and for God's tender loving care!

Hubby and I are supposed to leave early tomorrow morning for Colorado to meet Caitlin's parents...

This probably won't work out now. We are disappointed. We were so excited to meet them and see Matt and Caitlin (it's been too long since we saw them).

We will see what the Dr says and update you.

Praying for Ava

UPDATE-

Ava and Hubby are coming home this morning! We were able to change our flights and we are leaving mid afternoon!

Ava is doing well! The IV fluids were very helpful and all her test came back with good results! 

PRAISING GOD!!

New Photos!

Right after my last post we were blessed with pictures of Melissa!

Be still my heart!

I was beginning to feel like we would not recognize her when we saw her and that I was not bonding to her as much "from afar" because I had no idea what she looked like now...

Her pictures were a year and a half old, blurry and all of our attempts to get updated pics had been denied.

Well. . .

that problem is solved. 

We now have 7 lovely pics of our middle daughter! 

AND. . .

we are completely in love with her!

I can so see her in our family!

I can see her running, jumping, skipping and twirling with the others!

I can see her laughing, playing, and singing with them!

I can see her in her Momma and Babba's arms!

I can see her face peering over the kitchen counter!

and her skinny little body hopping into the bathtub!

I imagine looking back in the van and seeing her in her car seat!

And then later that evening she will draw us a picture, we will have to close our eyes while she counts to 10 (I know it's supposed to be 3) and ta da, she will show us her latest work of art!

Which will then be displayed on the refrigerator for all to see!

Praising GOD!!

For allowing us to raise these treasures!

Praying we can get to our new daughters as soon as possible!

We're coming sweet girl!!