Our computers are currently in pieces all over our living room floor. I have a lot to post, but it will have to wait.

Sorry!

Butterflies

Our next door neighbors re-landscaped before they sold their house this past August. About two weeks ago we noticed that we had a few cocoons attached to our house. We also saw monarch butterflies everywhere. It turns out that the plants they had planted on the side of the house next to us was milkweed. Milkweed is necessary for monarch butterflies in the larva and caterpillar stage. So we have all these butterflies in various stages of changing on and next to our house. The boys are fascinated. It's been a fun educational opportunity. Kenny found a butterfly whose wing had not fully developed and therefore could not fly. He tried to make the butterfly a little house out of sticks. Then he decided that the butterfly needed flowers, so he carried it to the front yard and out it in my flower pots.

I love this wonderful time of year when we have time to reflect on our Heavenly Father's wonderful blessings. Even when times are "tough", I know I am so fortunate. I am grateful for this country and the freedom's I enjoy. I am grateful for the men and women who sacrifice everything to protect the freedom of all people. I am grateful for my beautiful family and amazing husband. I am grateful for my home and three meals a day. I am grateful I have a job that I love and that will help to care for my family. I am grateful for my extended family and the love and support we feel from them. I am grateful for my education and my love of reading. And I am grateful for the gospel in my life and the comfort and direction it gives me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I started a new blog. Its something I have been wanting to do for quite awhile. While it is still in the infancy stage, I wanted to share it with all of you. After I get everything set up the way I want it, I plan on making it public and search-able (unlike this blog).
Tell me what you think. The link is on the sidebar.

Bluegrass

This last Saturday night we took the boys to the Bay Area Bluegrass Association concert. The BABA holds these free concerts on the third Saturday of every month. We went with Ken's friend and flying mentor. It was held in the local civic center. The man stage featured a few different bluegrass bands. The other little rooms around the center were filled with pick up groups. It was fun to move between the rooms and see the different players and instruments.

The first band was okay. They sang only gospel music. It was nice, but it all started to sound the same. I like really jazzy bluegrass. The next band was great! We actually saw them at the scarecrow Festival in October. We sat on the steps outside the general store, eating ice cream, and listening to music. They are called No Strings Attached (click on name for website link.) Nathan was clapping up a storm and Kenny was dancing in the aisle.

At one point the president of BABA asked for little boys to come up and pick names out for the raffle. Kenny walked up to the stage all by himself. He was so cute! Everyone clapped special just for him.

Listening to bluegrass reminds me of Mimi and Papa. Papa always sang great country and bluegrass songs. My favorite is "God's Coloring Book" by Dolly Parton. I have a tape of Papa singing and I used to listen to that song whenever I was homesick my first year of college. Being 18 years old, 1500 miles away from home, and alone, that tape was my greatest source of comfort. I loved this song so much I used it as a theme for a college freshman English reflections paper. I also started singing this to Kenny as infant and continue to sing it to my boys today.

We had a wonderful time and I am grateful we had the chance to take the boys. We want to expose them to every type of art and music so they can learn to appreciate the beauty in everything. I was thrilled to see them enjoy themselves (especially Nathan, he's our musician- Kenny's our artist.)

Leaves Are Falling

This was the scene at my house on Saturday morning.


It was actually a lot of work. I could have cared less if our yard had leaves in it, but Kenny really wanted a leaf pile. He wanted it bad enough he stood outside my bathroom door waiting for me to finish showering.

He wanted it bad enough he even found his very own stick rake to help make the pile. It was very cute!

Everything was well worth the effort. The boys laughed and jumped and threw leaves all over the place. They had just about as much fun a two little munchkins can have!

Happy Fall!

Family

The Fab Four!
Nathan, Landan, Kenny, and Avery

Kenny singing a song to Avery.These two never get into mischief together.

I have no words for the cuteness of this picture. And that goes for both the subjects!

Feeding the fish.
Papa and Nathan