Thoughts from me...

Most of you know we don't celebrate Halloween. Sure, we love pumpkins...Olivia recently guessed "69 pounds" for the weight of a HUGE one outside Trader Joe's (if she is right, we win it). Oh boy. Lots of pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, pumpkin flan, pumpkin soup, etc. Anyhow, I know it's fun to dress-up and eat candy, but why when we claim to be Christian? Halloween is a pagan holiday. I love how this friend of mine put it. So, although most Americans think it's pure fun, we'll stand out and do what we think is right. Our girls don't need that corn syrup and artificial colored junk, anyhow.
Yep, that's me, in 1986, my fourth grade school photo. We went to Neshobe Elementary in Brandon, Vermont.
I've been looking back at old photos...here we are, an Army family, living in Ft Stewart, Georgia, preparing to say goodbye to our soldier, who was headed to Baghdad. Life has changed a lot for us in a few years. The girls were just 2 and 4 then...they look so little!
Hannah and her Peepaw. Olivia has started affectionately to call him "Peepod." They call my mom Grandma and "Grammie Whammie" too.
Last week, I got the Nov 2009 issue of Gourmet, which unfortunately is going to be their last! I am so disappointed. It's a great magazine, delving into the farms, where the good food originates, then giving you divine recipes to try. I enjoy their lavish photos, with personal touches, like mis-matched fine china, hand crocheted lace or a rough hewn table. I'll really miss that...