Halloween Tradition Part Waaaannnn... (1 in a spooky voice)

Fall is my favorite time of the year!

I love the season, the weather, the upcoming holidays,

 and family traditions!!

One of my favorites is Howell's Pumpkin Patch!

We have been taking the girls here for at least 6 or 7 years.

I can remember many trips with a baby strapped to my chest,

huddling together for warmth, or stripping layers off b/c of a heat wave!

No matter what the weather, it's always a good trip to the Pumpkin Patch!

Every year, our first stop is the growth chart. 




Avery: so big and tall!

 


Claire: getting bigger, and too grown-up, every year!




Ella: my baby is not a baby anymore!



After the mandatory growth chart photos, we spend some time

playing in the "kid corral".  I love that our kids are never too big

to enjoy a tire swing, corn pit, or hay mountain!



Cowgirl Ella!




Howell's has become a bit commercial, but we still love it!




The Claires




What a beautiful baby.  I love my Aves~




The Log.  A fall favorite of all the kiddos, with a helping hand from Dad, of course!




Our big girls.  I pray they always remember how much they used to love
to walk along a log, run through the corn maze, and giggle by the goats.
I am so proud of the amazing young ladies these two are growing up to be,
and I am so grateful they have each other, through thick and thin!




Our girls!  What a treasure!




Mommy and Avery!



Traditions and good friends are so important.

They remind me of where I've been.

They help me enjoy where I am.

They give me courage to embrace what lies ahead.

Halloween Tradition Part Boooo (2 in another scary voice)

I don't know what I love more about this Halloween tradition.

The candy, the marshmellow roasting,

the costumes, the walking, the wagon ride,

or the chatting with our good friends.

Whatever it is, I love Living History Farms Halloween!




Katie and Claire.  I can't wait to post these on their HS graduation memory board!

 


The "little girls"




Horse-drawn wagon ride




Little cuties!




BFFF!!  Best Family Friends Forever!



And the Halloween Finale....

Rouse House Family Halloween Party!

A new tradition?? Not sure yet, but we had fun!

We threw a family fun Halloween party this year.

We packed 10 families into the house, set out lots of food,

dug into several pumpkins, and turned the fog machine on.

Then, we let the madness commence!

Looking back, I'd say that it was a lot of work, but a lot of fun!

If nothing else, everyone got good use of their costumes,

and we ended up with some awesome Jack-o-lanterns for Halloween!



A few of the kiddos decorating sugar cookies ~





My "Roman hunk" competing in the carving contest!




"Feel it!  It's not gross!"





The Avilez/Anderson Jack-o-lantern

 


The Perkins Jack-o-lantern




The Wurth Jack-o-lantern




The grown-ups and their pumpkins!




The judges making their decisions: ugliest, cutest, funniest, most original,
scariest, most confusing, biggest smile




The kids!




Donut Bobbing ~




Avery's version of donut bobbing.  "works better with your hands"~ : )




Round 2 of donut bobbing




Happy Halloween from the Rouse House!



The amazing adventures of a fourth-grader named Claire...

I may be repeating myself with this story but.....

4th grade is a big deal to me.  It is the first year that I really

remember as a kid.  It was a huge transition year for me.

I started public school after being in a private, Lutheran school.

I moved to a new town, new neighborhood, new friends, new life.

It was really the beginning of everything for me.

And, I loved it!  I loved those middle school years.

I was happy, making friends, and gliding through life well.

I was also growing up.  I was 'leaving the nest' a bit.

I was struggling with identity and life changes.

It was the beginning of everything for me.

So, needless to say, having my firstborn in 4th grade is a big deal!

So far, so good.

She is happy.  She is doing well.  She is a good friend.

She is active.  She is involved.  She is happy.

And, most important, she rocks at Four-Square!

Here are a couple of Claire's most recent adventures in 4th grade ~

Class field trip to the Art Center and Sculpture Park.

Blessed to be there, cursed to be freezing my tail off!

Huddle up for warmth kids!

Claire and her good friend.  I am very happy with her "fab friends"!

Claire is a good friend and is able to maintain friendships with

the girls at school, but also our close family friends and

swim team friends.  She's lucky to be surrounded by good people ~

Claire and her friend Katie tried out the

Show Choir Camp for 4th -5th graders.

It melted our hearts, and gave us a giggle, to watch

them perform on stage. 

I said a little prayer that our girls always hangout

with the "show choir geeks"!!

Best rendition of Thriller I've ever seen.



The 'dead faced' zombie was perfect for Claire's stage presence ~

I know that I can not guarantee Claire's success in school

or life.  I know that I can not shelter her from mean girls,

stupid boys, or tough times. 

I do know that I can pray for God to watch over her and

give her peace, strength and faith.

I do know that I can be present in her life, active in her school,

involved in her extra-curricular activities.

I do know that I can continue to stay close to the

loving village, the family and friends that are so close to us,

as we parent and pray together for our children.

Love you Claire Bear!

Chopsticks and tears

I can't really think of anything that brings me more joy than

watching my girls do something they enjoy and are proud of.

Watching them conquer their fears and nerves, and then

beam with pride always brings tears to my eyes.

I don't care if they do it perfect, or even well.  All I care

about is that they try, even when they're scared.

This year's first piano recital was extra special.

1. It was so cool to see how "calm and cool" Claire was

before her performance.  I remember last year, and she

did not look so calm then!

2. It was Ella's first piano recital.  She was nervous, but so

excited!  She sat through the first half, wringing her hands,

but smiling and leaning into me every now and then.

When it was her turn, she popped right up, walked to the

grand piano, and beautifully played "Papa Hayden's Orchestra"!

Way to go Ella!!  I think I cried with pride longer than she actually played!

Claire and Diane

Ella and Diane

All three of my girls and my piano teacher!

The big "4"!

I can't help but smile.  Everytime I think about Avery. 

Everytime I look at a picture of her.  Everytime I begin a story about Aves,

I just can't help but smile.

I guess there really isn't anything else I need to say but that.

My baby, the one who always makes me smile, is 4.

Birthday chocolate chip muffins, with a little bed-head of course!

Family celebration for the "baby"!

Aves is so lucky to have 2 great sisters.

I'm so lucky to have 2 great helpers!

Scooby Doo Haunted Mansion ~ what else do you get a wild child!

Sisterly fun ~

Fred saving Thelma from the haunted mansion.

Where did Avery learn that?  Should have been Thelma saving him!

What a beautiful girl!

Birthday party at Jacob's Gymnastics!

Couple of sisters 'monkeying' around!

Aves with the best daddy in the world!

Avery's favorite part ~ the trampoline!

Party time!

Cutie pie!

Fun at present time! Puppies! They weren't 'real' but they'll do!

Happy Birthday to my dear baby Avery!

I love you more than words could ever express and I thank

God everyday for giving you to me! 



9/11 - We remember

I pray for all those who lost their life 10 years ago today.

I pray for all those who sacrificed their life 10 years ago today,

and continue to do so still.

I pray for our country that 10 years ago today came together

in unity.  We were the UNITED States more than

ever before or ever since.

I praise God that he was with us then, and is with us

today, and will be with us tomorrow.

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me.

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. 

But take heart, because I have overcome the world"

John 16:33

The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths;

bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.

Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.

you honor me by anointing my head with oil.

My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me

all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23

10 years ago today, I was 31 weeks pregnant with Claire and

had just spent the night in the hospital.  We were sent home

very early that morning, and I was put on bed rest.

As I laid in bed, unable to get up or get away, I watched

the plane hit the second tower, live on TV.

I remember the next few days as a blur of crying, fear,

disbelief, shock.

Mostly, I remember praying and asking God how I could

bring a baby into this world.  What would happen to her?

What kind of world would she grow up in?

I was so scared of what her future might hold.

As the days turned to weeks, and months and years,

I still go back to those same questions:

How can I bring a baby up in this world?

What kind of world will she grow up in?

Except today I have a different answer.

Today I know that she is here to make a difference in this world.

This side of heaven is not always easy.  It is not fair.  It is not just.

But it is so full of possibility.  Full of opportunity.

I believe that we have a chance today to make a difference.

We make a difference in the lives of our children.

We raise them showered in the Grace of our loving God.

We teach them to practice peace and kindness. 

We keep them by our side, as we serve those in need.

We make sure they are rooted in faith and truth,

and then we let them go.

I believe today that my baby, the baby I was so scared to 

bring into this world, is going to do amazing things.

I don't know exactly how God will use her, but I have faith that

it will be in beautiful and wonderful ways.

 Lord, I pray for peace.  I pray for your protection

from evil.  I pray that you guide our hearts and our

actions as we go out today and everyday to

proclaim your love and serve in your name.

Amen