Happy Halloween Traditions

Every Halloween we have our traditional Halloween dinner before going out to trick or treat. We put a fun halloween tablecloth on, use Halloween paper party plates and napkins (easy clean up), and get out the plastic halloween goblets I bought at the dollar store years ago. If I can get some dry ice we have smoking rootbeer along with some other fun concoctions before they head out to load up on candy. We love the fun side of Halloween!

Mummy dogs

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Zombie eyes and monster teeth
(colored deviled eggs and apple slices with peanut butter and marshmallows)

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Brains complete with roaches
(I ordered the mold online)

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Jack o' Lantern cheeseball

Footloose ♪

Hubby and I went to see the new Footloose the other night. It was amazing what a few (or many) years will do to your perspective. When the first Footloose came out (yes, I am THAT old) I identified wholeheartedly with the teens and looked at those parents as ridiculous. As we sat and enjoyed the new movie, I found myself horrified at Ariel's attitude and loose morals. I wondered what Hubby was thinking about the scantily clad actress. I looked over and realized that he was having much the same thoughts as I was. I knew we were both thinking of our sweet little girls at home.

You know you are getting old when although you can remember what it was like to be a teenager, you identify more with the overprotective parents.

Another Funny Conversation from the Back Seat

We were coming home from swimming when I heard this conversation from the back seat of the car:

Freckles: "It smells like mildew."
#1: "You're mildew."
Freckles: "You're the thing that comes before mildew."

#1: "Umm.....water?"

(At this point I cracked up. It felt good to laugh with them.) Then after a long pause...

Freckles: "No, wet dog."

Then we laughed some more. Good for Freckles, thinking of a good come back, although his timing was a little late. :)

One of those days

Today was one of those days when being wife, mother, maid, laundress, Cub Scout leader, summer activities director, gardener, landscaper, lawnmower, motivational speaker, disciplinarian, educator, life counselor, computer graphics expert, television screener, social director, nutritionist, chef, shopper, coupon clipper, boo-boo kisser, librarian, piano practice enforcer, referree, nay sayer, tantrum diffuser...etc...etc...etc... is just more than I can tackle. I'm wishing for a cold drink, a comfy lounge chair, a good book, and some guilt-free quiet.

Woman of God

I was reading this blog in which Morgan is writing her own personal manifesto which, by the way, I think is a wonderful idea and I will be pondering my own. Anyway, I was struck by a phrase she used and have been thinking about for the whole day. She called herself "a Woman of God". We hear "Daughter of God" often in the church. "Daughter of God" or "Child of God" brings to mind words and phrases such as potential, loved, cherished, protected, self-worth, images of a loving Father.

As I thought about what it means to be a "Woman of God", I think of strength of character, courage, power to do good, leadership, compassion, service. I see a woman who stands strong in her own beliefs, testimony, and commitment. A woman who leads out, who doesn't lean on, or wait for others, whether it be parents, husband, siblings, church leaders, visiting teaching companion, etc. She is a woman of action not just intentions. A woman of vision who sees what can be and works to make it happen. A mother of confidence who teaches with strength, love and compassion.

As I consider these traits, faces of women come to mind. These are women I admire, look up to, and aspire to be like them. Among them are my mother and sisters, nieces, neighbors, friends, ancestors, women from history, those from the past and those making history today.

I am a Daughter of God working to become one of these Women of God. I have the examples, I have the blue prints, help, support, love, and confidence of my Father in Heaven. What I lack is focus and daily determination to live deliberately, to take advantage of individual moments...to always remember my goal, my destination.

Little One on Modesty

I was listening in on a conversation from the backseat between the

two girls. They had the Ariel Barbie and Sunshine asked why her tummy was showing. We have been working to teach our girls about dressing modestly and I have wondered how to handle the competing world views. As I scrambled in my brain to come up with an explanation they could understand and accept, Little One beat me to it with a much better explanation than I was preparing. I was ready to dive into the fact that not everyone has the same standards that we do and the fact that the makers of the doll don't think or believe the same things we do etc etc....

Little One's explanation was perfect. "She is a mermaid and lives in the water. If she wore a long shirt in the water it would get very wet and heavy. When she becomes a girl she covers her tummy."
I need to retrain my brain. Perfect simplicity!

14 Days of Valentines

I started a tradition a few years ago that we really enjoy. From the first day of February until Valentines Day, I give the kids a small treat or gift. I just finished putting them together for tomorrow. I try to have all of them ready in advance so I am not scrambling every day. I still have 2 or 3 that I still need to get but the rest are ready! Even though they are almost the same every year, the kids don’t care and they get so excited. One year I even made a giant heart shaped puzzle with a message on it and gave a puzzle piece each day. The kids really had fun using sticky tack and putting it together on the wall. If I get a chance tomorrow before they get home from school, I may do that again this year. This year I found a cut little mailbox at the Target Dollar Spot that I will put them in and raise the flag. I wish I had one for each child to have their own. I will allow them to open the mailbox as soon as everyone is home from school! Here is a list of the fun treat and gift ideas that I use. I just print out the little message on colored paper and cut them into hearts to tape onto the item.

I love your little tootsies! (tootsie rolls)

You’ve always “mint” the world to me! (Andes or York mints)

You always help me out when I’m in a (Crunch bar)

You are the greatest - Bar None! (granola gar)

You Warm my heart! (hot chocolate mix)

Let it be posted, you’re the best! (Post-it pad &amp; pencil)

“Soda” you know I love you? (small can of soda)

Kisses, just for you! or Smootches, just for you!(Hershey's Kisses)

You’re so cheesy, you cracker me up! (cheese &amp; cracker pack)

I couldn’t bear to live without you! (cinnamon bears)

You are my sweetart! (Sweettarts)

I don’t mean to be “gushy” but, I love you! (Gushers fruit snacks)

You make me smile! (Walmart fruit snack smiles)

No TWIX, I love you! (Twix candy bar)

You're worth more to me than 100 GRAND (100 Grand candy bar)

You're EXTRA special to me (Extra gum)

Don't SNICKER, because I love you. (Snickers candy bar)

HUGS &amp; KISSES, just for you. (Hershey Hugs and Kisses candies)

I love your BUBBLY personality (bubbles)

Just POPPED by to say Be Mine (bubbles)

Valentine you make my heart float (bubbles)

I’m BUBBLING over with love (bubbles)

The other tradition we have, is that Hubby brings home a balloon for each of the kids. The kids sure love balloons and Hubby loves to pick them out! What do you do to make Valentines Day special?