"May-be some-day you could be...as spiritual as me!"

This is a song from Sons of Provo (which I think is one of the funniest movies EVER made- hey, it's just my opinion) which I have been thinking about today. I feel like my shorties running around the house have been humming it as they play.

The other day Jo got out her doll with a Velcro body- you know, one of those you can dress yourself. She carefully thumbed through the available clothes and pulled out a little tennis outfit.

"Now my doll needs to go to the temple!"

"She does?"

"Yeah. She needs to go to the temple and get married." I guess since the tennis outfit had a skirt it could double as a wedding gown.

So Jo gallops Ms. doll over to our bookcase behind Maggie's swing. This bookcase is wonderful. I love it. Ryan made if for me a couple of years ago. The chillins also love the bookcase. It serves as anything and everything they might need. The doctor's, school, work, hiding place, the long level plains in which their dinosaurs roam. ETC. This particular day it was the temple. Jo said a few words for her doll and then announced, "She needs a prince!"

Well of course she does! So Jo rummaged through her toys and came bounding back out with a prince.

There's the handsome devil. All ready for his wedding of the century. Jo is no respecter of species.

I couldn't hear the ceremony but after it was over Jo announced that her doll could go home. And she did, leaving her prince forgotten at the temple. I'm not sure she understands marriage... we'll keep working on that! All laughs aside, I was so happy that she knows people should be married in temples. That's where she plans to get married. And she can absolutely recognize a picture of a temple.

Yesterday evening we watched The Testaments together as a family. The kids really paid attention, asking very important questions which Ryan and I answered as best we could. We were impressed at the light their spirits came with and the light they eagerly seek already. This morning after Jo woke up and had breakfast she turned to me, "Can we watch the Jesus movie?"

Of course they could. I turned it on and they watched almost the entire thing without moving. Again, they would occasionally ask me questions. They were especially concerned when the Nephite prophet was murdered and, even more so, when the Savior was crucified. Why were the people hurting them? It is a difficult thing to explain to myself let alone my young children. I feel so strongly the need to teach Jo and Atticus who Christ is, what He did for us, and why we need Him. For them to know He loves us. That He loves them. I am grateful to have the gospel. We have every answer available. The Truth available. My hope is that I can come to know that Truth more fully, that I may teach these sweeties Who to look to.

Halloween 2010

Halloween was a blast. The weather was unfortunate. In fact, I started to cry when I thought we weren't going to go trick or treating. Cry. Like a 7 year old. I really like Halloween apparently:). But the rain eventually let up and I was smiling again.

Jo's been saying for the past 3 weeks that she wanted to be a Panda Bear Princess for Halloween. A panda bear princess is a panda bear who then dresses up for Halloween as a princess. The costume has Jo's name all over it. Then about a week ago we mentioned painting her face to look like the panda bear and Jo was all done. All done with the costume and with trick or treating. For some reason she's really scarred of paint and make up on her. After a lot of explaining and practicing she finally struck a compromise with us. She would be a panda bear princess and go trick or treating if we did not paint her face or make her hair look like panda ears. So she would just PRETEND to be a panda bear but actually look like a princess. Here she is, pretend panda bear dressed like an actual princess (Did you follow all of that?).

Atticus was a car of course. I made the costume. I thought it was pretty cute. Thanks to Jen for the idea!

And Maggie was a toothless but still predator-like tiger.

I know exactly what you're thinking- run! hide!

Ready to Go!

I was Davey Crockett. Ryan didn't think the pictures captured the scruff very well, but I assure you, there was facial hair.

Aiming for the kill.

And Ryan went as himself.

We debated whether or not the machete could come. Finally we concluded that as long as he didn't actually use it, the weapon would be alright on his back.

The kids had SO much fun trick or treating! And Ryan and I had a lot of laughs. We ended up going around with their friend, Pearson, who lives across the street. Atticus was a machine. He just ran, pushing through anyone in his way. Unfortunately his high-quality, homemade costume broke down almost immediately. The muffler fell off on the way out the door, the first string broke after the first house, a wheel rolled away two more houses down the block, then the next string went, then 2 more wheels. Finally I took it off and just let him be a cute little boy in an orange sweater (eventually I stopped back at home and got him a cape and sword). It was awesome watching Tic though as the car fell apart. After the second string broke he just picked the box up and carried it (still around his body) while running to the next house. Ry and I were laughing pretty hard. It was very cute and so Atticus- strong and determined, strongly determined, determined to be strong! Jo was also excellent to watch. When the door would open Jo would say "trick or treat" as quick as she could, drop her bucket in front of the person, and step back. Like she was saying - Fill me up! Loved it. Loved it all. Happy Halloween!

First Snow

This week was the first snow of the year! As soon as we could we got on our boots and ran through our 1 or 1/2 inch layer of snow in the yard. The kids were in heaven. I was grateful Mags slept most of the time so we could enjoy a snowball fight.

We also made the littlest snowman in the whole world.









Later that day: Mags is still freaking cute.

Septober

If my honey were to die today I think I would forever remember him as he is in this picture.

He's so freaking handsome. I just had to say it. He's attractive.

I love the fall. Our neighborhood has HUGE trees in most of the yards with TONS of orange and yellow leaves piled high below their branches. I love it. I love the cool air. I love that sweaters have been pulled out again. And Halloween! I'm sad that we can't be with any family this year, but still. HALLOWEEN.

And I love that my birthday come just before Halloween. Because sometimes I've been really lucky to receive holiday decor as gifts. This pumpkin was from Mama Strong last year. Love it.

And my Mom gave me these witch shoes last year. She's so sweet! I mentioned once that I wanted to collect witch stuff and since has found a witch gift each year. Love them. Kind of wish I had shoes just like these!

Maybe we'll be home and will actually give candy out this year:). That would be a first. I hope the little churchlynns enjoy trick or treating. But I'm worried. Jo just notified me that she no longer wants to be a panda bear princess. She doesn't want her face painted, she doesn't want to be silly, she does not want to dress up and get candy. As of today she wants nothing to do with it. Does that mean I can be a panda bear princess and take her trick or treating place? I'm willing.

We carved pumpkins a week ago for FHE.

They started growing hair out of their mouths and melting disgusting fluids onto our counter tops. So they are now in the garbage. Actually by now they're at the local landfill. But here they are before their mutations took over.

Ryan's pirate is pretty sweet. I named mine "Bella" because she can't quite close her mouth and looks a little like she's grown some rabbit teeth. Ry asked Jo what face her pumpkin should have. Sad. A sad face. What kid chooses that?

She was pretty stinkin' cute carrying around her tiny pumpkin for the next few days.

And here's Maggie in the super-cute Halloween onesie Jen sent her, complete with ballerina socks, also sent by Jen.

Another thing I absolutely love about fall is the harvest. We don't have a garden or fruit trees, but we know nice people who do. We've been given apples, tomatoes, peaches, plums, and peppers. I just finished drying lots of the apples. So yummy.

And FYI- Ryan did not go to school dressed in the below attire. It was crazy hair day and when he refused to wear the shown wig I posted it for his students to see. Boring old Ryan. The pictures were from the Strong Family Halloween Party a couple of weeks ago.

Happy Septober!

I heard it was crazy hair day at SJHS...

Does anyone have a memory eraser?

A lot of people say children don't remember much, especially young children. I'm really hoping this is true. Today while I was talking to Mom on the phone Jo ran in and grabbed my hand, "Mama! Mama! We found dolls! Come on!" So I let her lead me down the hall to an open box in Maggie's room and a grinning Atticus. They had found their Christmas present: a box full of dolls and doll house furniture. This will be accompanied with an actual doll house as well... so they didn't see the whole thing. But I was still pretty bummed. They wanted to play with their found treasure, of course. And, of course, they couldn't. So I hung up with Mom and told them both that we had to put the dolls away. "Why can't we play?", Jo asked with tears forming.
"Because they're a present."
"For what?"
Sigh, "For Christmas."
Eye's perking up a bit, "For me?"
"Yes, Jo. For you."
So the secret is out. Here's where I'm hoping Jo's memory won't be so good. But I'm feeling slightly pessimistic. The other day when putting a sweater on Jo she started complaining, "I don't want to wear this jacket, Mama. It's scratchy. It's scratchy like the green jacket." There's only ever been one green "jacket." A wool sweater that Dad's grandma, Nana, made and we stole from Mom and Dad's house. Jo never really wore it because she always started whineing if we put it on her. She was about 18 months to 2 years old! And she's 3 1/2 now! Crazy. Then just barely, as I was putting our vacuum away, Jo runs past and says, "We don't have a green vacuum anymore." She kept running as my jaw dropped. We haven't had a green vacuum since our FIRST apartment. And we moved from that apartment when Jo was 2 months old. CREEPY. And here is my super-memory-girl wearing Maggie's 0-3 month old pants. Is it wrong that they fit perfectly like cute shorts?

She might be my favorite

We moved Maggie into a separate bedroom last night. And she slept NINE+ hours without stirring! Almost 8 weeks. 9 hours. I love this girl.