Maybe it's the season...

but lately I am at a loss for words to express how grateful I am for the life I have. My family and friends, health, love, joy, companionship, stability, and did I mention love? I have relationships growing, some seasoned and need polishing from time to time. Others are new and growing, light and exciting. The relationships in my life are by far the most important thing in my world. The love I share with my husband, deep and true. I am so thankful he left the Air Force before he was sent to Iraq. I am so grateful for that. My friends Tonya and Carl weren't as lucky in their timing. I love you two and think of your family more often than you can imagine. I'm thankful for all the laughs in Narleeville...priceless. I guarentee if you are reading this you are one of those relationships I treasure, weather in need of a polish or still new and shiny - you have touched my life and made it better in some manner, for some period of time, chances are you taught me something about life or friendship, love or challenge and for that I'm thankful, grateful and glad. Those of you that know me well know that I feel things deeply, wether that is a blessing or a curse I've yet to decide, but it's true nonetheless. Here is a list of somethings I feel deeply thankful for...
Family and friends - relationships and love - my dog - Luke's strength- the health of my loved ones - being blessed by knowing the people who have passed - technology enabling us to communicate - the possibility of change in our world - natures free flowing vibe - every day I get to teach my children a value - the opportunities our children have... I could go on, as I'm sure you all could too. I know you all are thankful for many of these same things. That is part of what connects us in this world, me to you and to the rest of the world. A universal feeling that gets forgotten in the hustle and bustle for power, money and status. Just know that I feel it deeply for all of you, not only in this season but all the time... maybe it's only this season I don't feel like a dork actauly communicating it...I'll work on that, but for now know that by me, you are loved.

A Pretty Cool Pool...

Since it's Thanksgiving break, we went for a trip to our community pool. We brought our friend Brenden with us for added fun! We always love having Brenny around as he is the most up-beat, easy going child ever! He and Aliza are very good friends. We are very lucky to have such a great indoor pool to use year 'round! It has a large water slide for the "big" kids and a whole water play-yard for the younger crowd. There are water falls the kids can control the amount of water that goes through them with wheels and ropes, buckets that fill and then dump on your head and geysers to tickle your toes! In addition to that is has a hot tub, a whirl pool, and Olympic length lap lanes, very impressive! Kaleb had a great time on the water slide! He made a great splash at the bottom!Aliza and Brenden had a good time taking turns with the other kids on the mini-slide too! I think this will give us something to keep the warm weather cravings at bay this winter!

BMX Boone...

Recently I had an epiphany that Kaleb may enjoy BMX racing. After about a week of research we ended up at the Chesapeake BMX track in Severn, MD. It didn't take long for Kaleb to get on the track and fall in love. He was quick to get the knack of the track and the rythm of the road!

After signing him up with the local BMX club, he participated in his first race THAT night! It was so exciting! You can see him above in the grey sweatshirt with red sleaves...He learned about "motos" and also learned to start at the gate. There is an announcer there that gets going like and auctioneer, narrating the racers positions. After two "qualifiers" he made it to the "main" and took third place! So his first race he brought home the 3rd place trophy!!! There were only three kids in his moto, but it was confidance building nonetheless! He is anxious to practice every chance he gets and it is amazing the progress he makes at each track session. Granted, it is a strange time to start an outdoor sport, but this track is open as long as weather permits so Boone can burn energy all year 'round! He loves the excitement of the speed and the challenge of the jumps and hills...I think we've found ourselves a new sport folks!

October rain brings November flowers....

These roses are starting to bloom again, my favorite oranges, like a fiery sunset I remember seeing in Arizona while spending a summer with my father. The house we were living in had a large boat stored in the back of it. Another kid and I used to lay out on the land-boat at sunset and watch the sky fade to black. The stars there were awe inspiring to me, with no city light to dim their shine, I was in amazement every night and still haven't seen anything to rival its glory since. Funny how colors, or smells can trigger those feelings. Like everything is connected on invisible strings that a puppeteer pulls at strange times just to mess with you. My clematis has never bloomed two times in one year! Most of the plant itself is actually brown and crisp from the cold. If you follow the stem upwards it looks like there wouldn't be a way for the water and nutrients to even get up that high to produce a flower. Another ploy from the puppeteer to mess with my head, I'm convinced.

The pansies like the chill but even after the frost we've had they are still a happy little group of purple souls... not so much an enigma but a proud survivor, still holding strong despite the grey days.

I wish you colors like this in your days - even if they're grey!

A Pretty Sky...

Mostly in autumn the leaves get my attention, but this past week we had a warm day with a sunset that was to die for! I just had to share! The sherbert orange and robin egg blue combination always gets me...

Enjoy!

An afternoon on the swings...

Today Aliza, Matilda and I went to the park after pre-school, something Aliza LOVES to do! She is learning to "pump" her legs like a pro! I have mixed feelings about this though. It means that none of my kids need a push any more...a little sad to be honest. I am proud of her though!

We tried to fly our kite with the little wind we had, but no luck. We had a great time trying though, and we laughed hard when Matilda thought the big dragon kite was trying to get her!

We played fetch with Matilda until she was tired and then had a "tickle fest" in the grass. I'm going to miss having Aliza to myself next year. I am truly enjoying it and am so grateful to have this one on one time with her. I know she won't always consciously remember it, but I will and it will always be something I'm so thankful to have had. I love you Ali-Oop!

Soccer!!!

Of all the times I thought and dreamed of how life would be with kids, I never even considered that I'd be a "Soccer Mom"! Now look at me! With the two boys both loving the sport and a daughter who will most certainly try next season, not to be out done by her brothers! They have both enjoyed this season tremendously and Izaak's team has only one loss for the season! They have both developed well throughout the season and have improved substantially! Izaak's team is more competitive, that comes with the age group, and I have been known to lose my voice after a good saturday game! He wonders wehre I am if he can't hear me!

Kaleb scored a goal this past saturday! Good job Boone! The look on his face after scoring is priceless!

The boys have had a great season of Soccer and we are all looking forward to it again next year! They've made good freinds and had a wonderful time! Not to mention Luke and I LOVE to watch them play! Great job boys! Keep it up! We love you!!!!

Art Cars...Here they are Kristen!

A while ago Kristen posted on her blog about an art car she had seen. I promised I'd get pictures of our local art cars to show her! Here they are...

The first time I saw this car I was on a major road (Rt. 295) and almost peed my pants laughing! Little did I know over a year later I would move into the town of which the creator lived! This car is called "Helping Hands" and it has manequine pieces, mostly arms and hands all over it.

I have met the man who makes these cars, an eccentric soul, as you can imagine. His art isn't limited to his cars though, his house is decorated in a similar fashion. The out side has broken mirrors and computer keyboards attached in strange places outside. It's interesting to see, but it is rumoured that the neighbors don't appreciate his artistic expressions. I think it's great though!

This car is called "The Sole of Jesus". It had colorful paint and the soles of shoes all over it. It's pretty neat, but I think helping hands is my favorite. There is another one, that the daughter decorated covered with CD's -but she wasn't home so I couldn't take a picture...maybe next time!

Hmmm...makes me wonder what I could do with all the surface space on my mini-van! I really do appreciate it every time I see these cars on the road, what a rebelion against our Volvo world!

Who is that masked Man???

It's Luke! He is always into the spirit of Halloween! This mask is so funny on him! And that hair - I'm so lucky to have such a fun husband!

The Freaks Come Out at Night!

The day started out withthe "Spooky Walk", as Aliza calls it, at her pre-k school. The kids all looked so adorable! She insisted that she was a "good" witch! She was a trooper up and down the hills while trick-or-treating, but was very grateful for Steve and Shelly thinking of bringing their wagon - she needed some thumb sucking breaks while out on the prowl! Aaaawwwww!
Quite the group gathered in Narleeville this year to Trick-or-Treat! We had two of Izaak's school friends and one of their Moms, one of his soccer team-mates and his parents, who we love to hang out with, and our good friends, Steve and Shelly and their spooky boys! We all had a great time! Can you see Luke's blond wig in this photo?
We encountered some really well decorated homes in our neighborhood this year. It's always fun watching the bravest of children slow down when we come upon these homes! I love to see Kaleb guide Aliza down the walkway and assure her there is nothing to be afraid of! It makes my heart smile! Izaak always engages in conversation with the home owners and compliments them appropriately, such a sweet young man he is!
I think the highlight of Kaleb's night was applying the "blood" to his butchers apron! He was so impressed with how real it looked! I think it added just the right affect to this Chainsaw weidling seven year old's costume! Kaleb kept everyone laughing with his "falls" on the curbs or anywhere else he could throw himself around, he's such an entertainor!
Matilda was a good girl on our walk and led the pack well, that is until we came upon a large Halloween snow globe that she didn't like... Something about this yard decor freaked her out and she started barking uncontrollably at it! I had to walk up ahead and call to her to "come!" and at that point she focused on my voice and got past the antagonizing yard ornament! Hilarious!

'Til next year boys and ghouls!