Halloween at our Contented Home

For those of you who may not know, the character below is Sonic the Hedgehog. He's a video game character. And the following two pictures are Miss B's take, using Dr. Love as her guinea pig:

And here is one who's not so content. In fact, I can see in her eyes that she's thinking about leaving her own treat in somebody's shoe...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN to all my blogging friends!

Happy Birthday!!

Here's a picture from our birthday celebration last night for Miss B and Charlie. Standing with them are their Great-Uncle & Aunt! The distinguished gentleman is my mother's older brother; he and my aunt have been married for 63 years! We were blessed to have them visit with us on their annual journey from Michigan to Arizona.

Also joining in the celebration were a wonderful couple who are both neighbors & friends. After surreptitiously asking Miss B about her salad preferences, Mrs. brought a terrific spinach/mozzarella/tomato salad to add to our dinner of lasagna, italian veggies & italian bread. Banana cake with cream cheese frosting and vanilla ice cream completed the menu. We all enjoyed visiting with one another 'round the table and the kids loved having some of their favorite people celebrate with them.

To Miss B and Charlie: I look forward to each day of this next year to see what growth and change it will bring. You are both truly gifts from God and I love you so very much. I always will, no matter what! * * * Momma

A Random Autumn Day

Here is trusty Jaxs guarding over my mums.

I love this time of year when it's cool out but not really cold (except it was 34 degrees this morning at 7:20!). I love the pumpkins on my neighbors' porches and the rustle of falling leaves and the shouts of the children as they play in them. I love the smell of apple pie baking and the feel of the fireplace when it's lit for the first time. However, I don't love the squirrel or the walnut that he dropped down my vent, thereby blocking it and causing my furnace all sorts of trouble!

Next week Miss B and Charlie will be 14! Sometimes it seems like just yesterday they were toddling around and at other times I can barely remember when they were small. Dr. Love and I were very proud of them this morning when their names' were called for the distinguished honor roll list but we refrained from the cheering and hollering that comes naturally to us--Miss B didn't want to be embarrassed!

And now I'm off the to laundromat to wash a comforter that the cat.......I'll leave the rest of that phrase for you to picture in your own mind.

Leslie

This & That

Well, Dr. Love is out of town until late tomorrow and while the cat's away.....lol
The kids & I just got back from a great time together. After a 5 pm dinner of tuna casserole (Miss B's request) we set out on a surprise road trip. I told the kids we were going to a "sad" place. Miss B sure knows her Momma 'cause she guessed pretty quickly that we were headed to Happy Hollow Park. I can't believe we've lived here for over a year & this was the first time we visited there! It's an absolutely beautiful place with hollows & dales and trails and wildlife. The colors on the trees were breathtaking! The scent of fall was wonderful! There was a great play area too that the kids weren't too old to make use of! On the way home we stopped off at the Silver Dipper--the pumpkin ice cream is to die for!
The kitchen redecoration is almost complete. I'm considering valances for the windows and we're looking for the perfect ceiling fan/light fixture to replace the one currently over the island. I'll get some pictures posted at some point. But since I think C is the only one who reads this blog anyway and she's coming for a visit very soon, maybe no pics :)
We've started our second 9 weeks of school and parent-teacher conferences are this week, along with 2 half-days. Time seems to pass so quickly, today in the mail I received a Nov. issue of Country Living with Thanksgiving recipes! Before long it'll be Christmas and then we'll be on to 2009.
And since I'm such a hit or miss blogger, it may very well be that long before I post again!
Grace & Peace,
Leslie