Let's solve a mystery

Who is Stella dressed up as?

Answer: Daphne, from Scooby Doo!

Stella was VERY excited to dress up today for school.  She told me, "Mom, Daphne is all about fashion.  She's a fashion girl."  And who better to dress up as a fashion girl then the one and only, Stella Parsons.

They had a class party this morning, complete with pumpkin shaped cookies, dirt and worms in a cup (oreo cookies and gummy worms), crackers and cheese, chips... This afternoon they'll parade through town and then it's the Harvest Party tomorrow!  Whew, let the Fall festivities begin.  

She'll be missed

Last Saturday Sean and I were able to go down to Seattle and say goodbye to our sweet sweet friend, Tori. She has up and left. Back to Nebraska she has gone. We're going to miss her. Even though we didn't get to see her a whole lot while in Seattle, just knowing she was close was such a treat. A ferry ride and an hour and a half drive sounds better then a ferry ride and a 3 day drive. I was really hoping and praying she'd meet her husband here in Washington so she'd be here forever. Don't worry, my prayer now is that she'll meet him in Nebraska but that he'll be from Washington :)

Karen and Tori put on an awesome party. Even Liz flew in for the weekend! We watched some football - Go Huskers! And yes, I'm the only lame one who didn't wear her Nebraska sweatshirt. If I could rewind that day I would go back and dig under that pile of clothes that was sitting in my closet and find my red Nebraska sweatshirt and put it on. But I can't do that. And so you're stuck seeing me in a gray shirt and navy sweatshirt. Karen made some awesome taco soup and some delicious caramel corn! There were bowls of candy set around wherever the eye could see - junior mints, starburst, twizzlers, almond joys...it was awesome. During half time we went down to the local farmers market and got some pumpkins to carve. One thing I love about these girls is we have fun no matter what we do. It was a fun day, but definitely bitter sweet.

And just because this song reminds me of Tori from that day I thought I'd leave you with this little version by Nataly Dawn.  It's fun and quirky and hopefully makes you smile.



You'll be missed, Tori.  I love you!

Fall is here

Carving pumpkins...

 

Jonah wasn't crazy about using his hand to grab the pumpkin "guts"

 

Ava, on the other hand, loved it.  I think she had her hand inside the pumpkin the whole night.

 

Notice - hand still in the pumpkin :)

 

Pictures with the pumpkins.  Which is more like comedy central...

 

...between the cat

 

...Ava holding up her shirt??  uuhhh...her belly looks like a 4th pumpkin.  Wow.

 

It's always a fun little challenge to get them to look at the camera at the same time.

Fall colors...

 

Jonah, Ava and I went out to English camp before we had to pick up Stella from school.  It's a pretty spot.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I'll be doing...

If my blog is quiet, it's because I need to finish this sign asap.  So if you don't hear from me, it's because I'm painting and painting and painting...it's kind of a long verse. ;)

Now I'll leave you with a few sneak peeks of what's to come...

Ava

 

Jonah

 

Stella

(If you're thinking Ariel, you're wrong.  Think along the lines of a favorite cartoon about mysteries)

Okay, that's it.  See ya - bye.

His name is Jonah

And he likes to play his "re-tar" (guitar).

And his favorite song he loves to sing is Forever, by Chris Tomlin. When we sing it at church, he'll look over at me and smile.  And then he sings.  He sings loud.  I caught him on the back porch the other day, sitting on the steps with his guitar, singing Forever.  Oh man, it nearly killed me it was so cute.

 

 

 

 

 

His name is Jonah... And I like him a lot.

enchanted

Driving on the way to school this morning, Stella says to me...

"Mom, I wish I could sing and talk to the birds and have them come sit on my finger."

I love her.

*photos edited with coffeeshop actions. 

Practice Makes Perfect...

...or at least that's what I'm hoping!

We went to Steve and Kelli's this past weekend and I was able to practice on my nieces and nephew. I'm thankful Kelli coerced them into letting me ;) I don't know why they wouldn't want their photos taken, they are all beautiful. The lighting wasn't ideal, it was a bright sunny day and a touch on the windy side. We made due with what we got though, and besides I had to go catch a ferry so beggers can't be choosers.

 

 

And of course a photo-shoot with me wouldn't be complete without some jumping pictures :)

 

 

In Ava's Room

There was a whole list of things I should have been doing today. Although, for some odd reason I just couldn't resist taking pictures of this little pixie-girl, Ava. She was looking cute and I thought I'd try and capture her while she was playing in her room with her favorite baby. She was all over the place - the bed, the floor, running out to talk to "No-nah" (Jonah) and then back again to me and her baby saying "oh baaaaby, oh baaaby..." She's cute.  Although, I should say she's cute by day and trouble by night. Later, after these shots were taken, she was playing upstairs and somehow managed to climb on top of her changing table. She then proceeded to pull EVERY last wipe out of it's bag and then, to top it all off, covered herself in vaseline. Fun! She's a pistol, that pixie-Ava, a real pistol.

I *Heart* the Weekends

Saturday...

Stella started soccer a couple weeks ago. She has practice after school on Thursday's and then games on Saturdays. She's had two games so far. We haven't won one yet, but we're getting better! :)  Go Pink Panthers!! I think she might take after her mom. I just don't understand the whole - dribbling with your feet - I'm more of a hands-on type of girl.

And see, she does take after me.  She's smiling.  I was told ALL THE TIME that I smiled while playing basketball.  What can I say, we're just happy people.

 

Sean has high hopes she'll take after him though.  Stella got a turn at playing keeper.  Here he is giving her some pointers.

 

Praise the Lord she didn't have to make any saves.  It's a little intense watching your child play sports.  This is new for me.  Sean only had to say "easy Sara" a couple of times ;). 

Sunday...

 

After naps we decided to go on a little family outing.  First stop, South Beach to see the sparkly ocean.  Stella and Jonah played on the drift wood, climbing and exploring.  Ava stayed near Sean and I and threw some rocks in the water and managed to get both feet wet. :)

Our next stop was just down the road to the Lighthouse.  Jonah loved it there.  He loved running through all the trails.  He's asked, oh I don't know, like a thousand times to go back. :)

 

 

I'll be coming back to this spot if I can ever get my kids in some cute outfits when I actually have my camera with me.  The ocean back ground and the long, lovely colored grass....yep, it'll be a good spot.

 

 

 

Stella and her - no teeth - smile.  This is how she smiled for her school pictures.  I was bummed, I wanted her to show off her missing teeth....retakes...

 

Self timers.  Wow.  I'm pretty sure the reason I look the way I look - hand on hip?? - is because I had to hurdle a small fence and then sprint to my spot (like 100 times) in 10 seconds.  So yeah, that's self timers for you. 

 

 My Love, aka Spider Man.

Awwwww....there's those teeth.

Ready - Set - JUMP! 

If you've never tried to take a jumping picture, you should.  I know I look like a tub of chub, but it's fun.  It makes you laugh.  Go on and try it.  If you want to be like me and do it in front of a lighthouse, better yet! ;)

 

Time to go home.  "Hurry up slow-poke.  You can't catch me!!"  Stella, talking to me.