Family

Grammie is fun...play dough, Slinky pop toobe and hot tea on a chilly day.

I crocheted a toy censer.  I got a package of 32 bells for just $1.  We love lighting charcoal and putting frankincense on it.

My 12 year old niece got braces a few days ago...I think she looks extra cute!  Olivia got hers when she was 12, too.  She got them off a few months ago.

Saturday, we got a map, parent volunteers divided up our small school district, and then groups of 2 or more kids participated in "tag day." Hannah went door to door asking for donations for their band.  I'm not crazy about that way of fundraising, but this is a way to get to know our community and for such a small school district, the band IS really good.  They qualified for state 25 years in a row.

I'm looking forward to spending more time with family next week, my mother-in-law's birthday is Sunday and Thanksgiving will be here before you know it!

Vote

Are you voting tomorrow?  Here is a good neutral source:   http://lwv.org   Right now I'm researching all the candidates and local issues.

The trees are all so pretty now...lots of yellow, orange and reds.

Nouno

In Greek, the word for Godfather is "Nouno."  This is Rob, Paul and his Nouno.

Nouno's parents have been friends with my parents for over 30 years.

 It was pretty chilly outside.

We had a wonderful lunch Rob made pizza in the pizza oven and we roasted sweet potatoes we also had salad and smoked salmon.

 

Nouno gave Paul this teddy bear.  He has been carrying it around the house, which is quite a deal when it's as big as you!

Furnace is on

The cold weather arrived this week.  We played indoors at the Red Balloon cafe.  Look at the sweets for sale!

Another place nearby is Findlay Market.  They have all these flowering window boxes.

We picked up many black walnuts with Grammie.

An outdoor light show, which was FREE and pretty cool, called Blink.  I hope they do it again!

Hope you're keeping warm as the weather cools...we finally turned the furnace on yesterday.  I'm going to make a cake today.
Here is a recipe for a simple vegan apple cake:
http://thescrumptiouslife.blogspot.com/2014/09/first-day-of-fall-at-apple-orchard.html

First homecoming

Our girls are pretty excited about going to their first homecoming dance.

This morning, I made some corsages with roses, buds from the chrysanthemum, goldenrod, rosemary.

Hannah's date had a beautiful corsage for her...with roses and chrysanthemums!  

Olivia went with her friend, who is on the soccer team with her.  I did her hair and thought it turned out beautifully.  I was lucky!

Thank you to this tutorial:  here!!

Alpaca farm

We went to Alpaca Paradise, and met 18 of the softest animals we have ever pet.

They like carrots!  This is Anne who runs the farm and you can tell she loves all the alpaca.  There are 2 spring babies

 and one due any day now.

 Inside the barn, where it's shady and cool.

Anne has a beautiful little gift shop with alpaca wool roving, yarn, felted animals, socks, mittens, shawls, and more.

We hope to go again soon!

Below is a photo from Olivia's soccer game last night she scored a goal!

This morning, someone is showing the souvenir he got...and posing with his big sister before she leaves for school.

Two years

This little boy joined our family 2 years ago.  Yesterday was his birthday, but we had a party with some family and friends Sunday.

My mom gave him a gift.  His favorite thing was the bar of chocolate.  Mine was the button up shirt and pants...and Rob read the new farm book to him before bed last night.

He helped Dad mow the lawn and I got a little time to crochet.

 That's Paul muddy car track painting!!

These photos are from his party...

 We gave kazoos as a party favor!

Grammie did a puzzle with him.