Happy Halloween

This kid...

sat in the middle of the back seat as we drove home from town yesterday.

This kid kept tapping my elbow with his toes.

This kid was giving me "toe kisses." I got hundreds before we got home.

Kissy sound, kissy sound, kissy sound,

"I love you!"

Over and over and over.

Last night Tyler came home from work with a quad. He just had to practice driving it before taking it to work today. So we went for a moonlit quad ride around the ranch.

All 5 of us.

It's a hard job,

but somebody's got to do it.

A little fire,

a few marshmallows,

some chocolate chippers,

and delicious background music.

Perfect.

6 going on 16?

The time that elapsed between picture #1 and picture #2 is about 30 seconds.

I'm just that annoying.

The filthy shirt is oddly reassuring to me.

Fall in 5 bites

Did you know that scorpions sting?

Did you know that scorpion stings hurt?

Did you know that scorpions are good at hiding?

Did you know that if there is most likely a scorpion in your couch that you should most likely not use that couch?

Did you know that pain, swelling, numbness and muscle twitches are just some of the effects of scorpion stings?

Did you know Ibuprofen really helps?

Did you know that it's possible to have a pretty normal day taking care of 3 children and a house and a farm and all their needs despite a scorpion sting?

Did you know it takes a few days for the pain to go away?

Did you know that children think that anything off-limits (like a scorpion-y couch) is extra fun to play on?

Did you know that I now have two very BIG bug-related reasons to want to move away from this beautiful place?

Another Play-Doh creation, from Mademoiselle.

Knock, Knock

Who's there?

Sally!

I wasn't expecting YOU!

What's your funniest (clean) knock-knock joke? Mademoiselle would love to know.

For your viewing enjoyment and artistic edification, I give you...

style: energeticexpressionism
artist: S.A.M.
medium: MicrosoftPaint

style: preschoolpollock

artist: Mademoiselle

medium: MicrosoftPaint

style: kiddiecubism

artist: Mademoiselle

medium: MicrosoftPaint

The seventh hour...

the end.

Today was The Day of the Car. S.A.M.turned over the play kitchen, made a steering wheel out of another toy, and drove off.

He took a bunch of his matchbox cars ouside, and made a dirt track. I went out to check out how he was doing, and he was driving the cars so that they made letters in the sand. Can you see "M", other wise known as Up-Down-Up-Down?

You'll never guess what happened here today.

Hint 1: There were two brides.

Hint 2: There was one reluctant groom.

Hint 3: Lots of Play-Doh was involved.

Mademoiselle was the wedding planner. She got me all dolled up so I could trot around in the muckity-muck in heels and a veil, just to marry my son, who was not excited about his future with the likes of me. I have a very vivid imagination, so it was no trouble to pretend there wasn't a constant stream of construction workers driving by in tractors, water trucks, and dump trucks.

After the ceremony, we had a quick reception. Mademoiselle presented the happy couple with an 8 inch cake made entirely of Play-Doh. Before my plate was even empty, I was told my special day was over. It was her turn.

Can you see the flaw in her plans from there?

S.A.M. was done. He had "alweddy" wedded (see how that works?)his mother, and that was enough for him. He's a man who knows his limits.

To soften the blow, I made a Play-Doh cake for Mademoiselle.

Then she dressed up, and posed for her bridals.

I think she still thought the groom might change his mind at the last minute.

Benefactor spent a few hours outside, helping do yard work.

He helped find all the places to trip over. He helped collect the spare dirt. He helped soak up that pesky mud and water. I'm pretty sure he helped taste test some poop at some point.

And he help stop the hoe from getting too many weeds. With his head. But that is not the reason for his sad face.

He just needs mamama. Now, please!

It's my beautiful and smart sister-in-law's first blog anniversary. In the last year, she has shared stories of her family life, informed her readers of childbirth issues (she's a doula and childbirth educator), and looked humorously and poignantly into her past experiences, all for the edification and enjoyment of her readers. Thanks for sharing and making blogging look so enjoyable that I just had to try it for myself, Real!

In celebration, I encourage you all to click over to her blog, Beautopotamus, and read yourself around. I bet you'll enjoy it!

pleas

"I offer a plea that each of us will seek to live closer to the Lord and to commune with Him more frequently and walk with increased faith.

"Fathers and mothers, pray over your children. Pray that they may be shielded from the evils of the world. Pray that they may grow in faith and knowledge. Pray that they may be directed toward lives that will be profitable and good. Husbands, pray for your wives. Express unto the Lord your gratitude for them and plead with Him on their behalf. Wives, pray for your husbands. Many of them walk a very difficult road with countless problems and great perplexities. Plead with the Almightly that they may be guided, blessed, protected, inspired in their righteous endeavors...

"Pray for wisdom and understanding as you walk the difficult paths of your lives. If you are determined to do foolish and imprudent things, I think the Lord will not prevent you. But if you seek His wisdom and follow the counsel of the impressions that come to you, I am confident that you will be blessed."

-Gordon B. Hinckley

A long night's road trip home...

Benefactor sleeping peacefully on one side of me,

and Mademoiselle making silly faces on the other.

I call this one "IKEA". It's a picture of IKEA.

Mademoiselle takes a turn behind the camera.