Happy Birthday, Riley!

We love you Riley-Boy!

(Valerie sends you kisses.)

First Grade Thanksgiving Feast

Ally and I had a special craft time on Wednesday morning in preparation for Sierra's class feast the following day. Using some toothpicks, glue and scraps of paper we created the perfect Thanksgiving meat tray.

It was fun for me to be able to join Sierra's class for their feast. I much prefer coming in as a parent rather than coordinating everything as the teacher. (Oh how I hated the "party day" chaos!!!)

I sure do love this little turkey!

This is Sierra's classmate and good friend, Gia. (She is a real sweetheart!) We were thrilled to find out recently that Gia and her family are believers.

First Snow

We woke up this morning to our first dusting of snow! The girls were so excited that they ran outside in their pj's and boots. I really had to wrangle them into some more appropriate snow attire. Even Valerie had to be coaxed back inside for breakfast. Can't wait to see what the cabin will be like next week!

60 Years

This weekend we are celebrating my Grandpa and Grandma Obenchain's 60th wedding anniversary. What a legacy they have built for our whole family!

Robert and Nancy Obenchain (1950)

Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Obenchain (2005)

I cannot think of any better examples of faith, humility, generosity, hospitality, selflessness and perseverance. Both Grandpa and Grandma are diligent in their daily study of Scripture and faithful to live out what they believe. Their marriage has always been an outstanding example to all who are privileged to know them. They have hardly ever had two pennies to rub together, but over 60 years they have given us a priceless inheritance. I am so thankful for the heritage that they continue to build!

Fall Fun

Oregon Trail Adventure

Yesterday was a good, good, good, good day...one of those days that you know you'll be talking about for a long time. Sierra didn't have school on Thursday and Friday due to parent/teacher conferences throughout the district. (That will be the subject of another post - we're so proud of her!) Anyway - I have been searching around the area for covered wagons where we could do a little photo shoot of the girls in their prairie dresses. On the Internet, I discovered that there is an Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, Oregon, which is only two hours away from our home. The weather man assured me that we would have a clear day, so I decided to take the girls on a little adventure. Marc had to work, but I thought that I could handle a trip like that on my own. Well, my mom got wind of our plans and thought that she might just take a day off for herself and join us. WE ARE SO HAPPY THAT SHE CAME!!! Besides keeping the girls content in the back seat during the drive, she was able to share a very memorable day with us.

Grandma Phyllis and the girls at our first stop: Farewell Bend State Park.

Sierra on the beautiful banks of the Snake River.

We let the girls change into their dresses before walking through the little museum. I wish I had a picture of other people's faces as they watched Sierra and Ally explore the exhibits.

Grandma helps the girls decide which items are most important to take in a covered wagon. Each block was labeled with things like: dry beans, blankets, musical instruments, tools, books, medicine, china dishes, gun powder, pots and kettles, etc.

After visiting the center, we stopped to see the ruts of the Oregon Trail down in the valley.

On our way back home we stopped back in at Farewell Bend for more pictures...this time in costume!

Valerie was her usual uncooperative self when it came to picture taking! She did have a good time exploring and being carried around by Grandma all day - she just didn't make it into too many of the snapshots. Oh well! I'm sure that there will be another trip to Baker City in our future.

Pumpkins and Prairie Girls

Although we try to stay (far, far) away from the dark side of Halloween, there are some very fun traditions that we always look forward to at this time of year. Pumpkin carving is one of them!


Another is the Bible character TRUNK-OR-TREAT at church on the Wednesday night before Halloween. This year we had...

Queen Esther

The woman who found her lost coin (from the parable that Jesus told).

And Jonah in the belly of the great fish!

But the best part of all was watching some darling little prairie girls (A.K.A. "Laura" and "Mary")innocently parade up and down the block on Halloween night. Grandpa and Grandma Mouser made the dresses and aprons. They were P.E.R.F.E.C.T.!!!! I'm not sure we will ever be able to top this year's costume theme. If anyone knows of a covered wagon in the Treasure Valley area where we could get some pictures taken, will you please leave me a comment?!

This was about the extent of "Carrie's" cooperation. She wanted nothing to do with a bonnet!