Layla Lately

Hearing Layla read, I mean really read, brings tears to my eyes. I don't know why...I didn't cry when she took her first step or learned to ride her bike without training wheels. But something about the independence reading brings really moves me. Her first book was "I Like Bugs". And it's true, she's always liked bugs. She recently went through a phase where she wanted to be a "bug artist"...a person who illustrates the bugs that you find in science books (I'm sure there's an official name for such an occupation).

Another thing Layla has always loved is swimming. She's never been fearful of the water and we go to the pool frequently in the summer so she's learned a lot on her own and with me. But, I decided it was finally time for swimming lessons so we started a few weeks ago. I was amazed at how, on week 3, she freestyled down the pool. As I watched her long body move through the water, I just couldn't believe how big she was.

She is starting to turn the corner a bit in the adjustment-to-kindergarten-process. I've noticed a big change the last few weeks, which is good because the emotions were exhausting me! She braved it through her first piano recital and thoroughly enjoyed her school and church concerts.

Then and Now

Their first Christmas as brother and sister and their 4th... ***sigh***




We've had a fun and busy week...3 Christmas parties and 3 performances that our kids were in. Just a few more days and the kids will be on Christmas break and Dave will be off work. Then, when all of our obligations are done, I feel like Christmas is really here!

Christmas Tree

When Layla was 2 we started a tradition on going to the tree farm the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend and picking out our tree. Decorating this year was a breeze! My mom was here and did the fireplace and the kids are old enough that they decorated the tree and I didn't have one single ornament to super glue back together when they were done. Yeehaw!

"What I'm Thankful For" By a 6 and 3 Year Old

Layla's Thanksgiving Centerpiece. I bought the flowers and she did the rest.

I asked Layla and Cooper what they are thankful for and here are their answers.
Layla - "I'm thankful for my brother, mom and dad. I'm thankful that I have loving and kind friends. I'm thankful for Jesus. I'm thankful for this whole wide world and that He made everyone. I'm thankful for all of the holidays and years. I'm thankful that we have a warm house and lots of furniture and a warm bed. And those people that don't have anything, I want to share this with them. I'm thankful for EVERYTHING, that means everything in the whole wide world, houses, barns, whatever!"

Cooper - "Nufin. I don't want to do this."

Trick or Treat

This is the first year we took the kids trick or treating. We live in the country and don't get trick or treaters and the kids' school doesn't do any Halloween celebrations, so they've never even asked. But last year Layla went trick or treating with her cousins and remembered how fun it was to dress up and get candy! So a few days the big event in Winterset, Layla asked if we could go. I went to Marshalls and got the last costumes they had that would fit my kids and badda-bing-badda-boom, we were off!

Layla turned her princess costume into an ISU Princess costume, with the help of her cyclone face tattoos and Cooper was thrilled to be a monster(Frankenstein).

We went down and back one short street. The kids saw friends, played, and got just enough candy to make them happy...the end.

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Her Wedding Song

I listen to a lot of praise music. It is a way to keep my heart right, to have moments with God anywhere and, well, to drown out certain voices coming from the backseat. When I start singing and praising, the little voices that are fightin' and fussin' around me usually join me and there is harmony among us!

One of our favorite's right now is Hold Me by Jamie Grace. It is such a fun song and we can't help but dance when we hear it. Today Layla announced, "I am going to dance to this song at my wedding!"

"Really? That's a great idea! Which dance?" I asked.

"I think when I dance with my husband."

"Well, I sure hope he likes this song too."

To which she exclaimed, "Well, if he loves me and he loves Jesus, he'll dance to it!"

That's my no-nonsense girl!

Wrapping Up!

We made it through our second season at The Pumpkin Ranch. What a blessed season we had. To God be ALL the glory! When it's over, people always ask me if I'm relieved. I have such mixed feelings! We love hosting friends and family at our house and turning this place into The Pumpkin Ranch 10 days a year is just like a big party. It's so fun watching people enjoy our hard work and there is such a sense of teamwork among Dave, Layla, Cooper and I. It's a frantic pace. If you know Dave and I, you know we love that pace...for a season. And that's why The Ranch is a good fit for us! The frantic pace comes to a hard stop on November 1st and it takes a little bit to adjust to sudden slow down.

But, what was hard for me this season is Layla is in full time school. That means she's gone M-F, 7 hours a day and the Dave and I are out working at The Ranch Saturday and Sunday. I spent the entire month of October emotionally torn! That, I will NOT miss!