Trick-or-Treat

This was a week of parties and treats! The girls had three opportunities to wear their costumes. Sierra had her heart set on being a princess, so we were well prepared for that. She wore the beautiful dress that Marc's mom made for her last year. It still fit! Ally wanted to be a cowgirl so that she could clomp around in her beloved pink boots, but when she saw the overalls that I had planned she quickly opted for her Minnie Mouse costume...also a gift from Grandma and Grandpa Mouser. Lucky for us, not a dime was spent on costumes this year. They both looked so cute!

On Wednesday evening the girls dressed up for the "trunk-or-treat" at church before AWANA. It was a great trial run for the whole trick-or-treat idea. They enjoyed seeing their friends in all their costumes as well. This morning we had a great party over at the Garret, Carson and Graham's house. (If you want to see their amazing costumes look here.) And then tonight was the grand finale of the week, going door-to-door in our neighborhood. Sierra marched around several blocks in her plastic click-clack shoes and bravely rang all the door bells. Ally was a little more timid, but we think she had a good time.

Sierra and Ally with their friend Sophie at the trunk-or-treat.

Party time with 20 other little kids!

Annie came over for a quick visit on Halloween.

The girls pose with our very last minute jack-o-lanterns. We almost forgot to carve them with all the excitement of the week.

Taking off for an early loop around the neighborhood.

Sorting through the loot!

And yes, even Mom (Grandma Phyllis) had to get in on the Scrabble prank:

Six

Yesterday I was tagged by Kelly and now I get to share six things about myself that you might not already know. Here goes...

1. When I was young I had three top, front teeth. (Yes, it looked rather odd.) Thankfully, when the baby teeth came out and the permanent teeth grew it, there were only two!

2. In high school I avoided every science class that wasn't absolutely required for graduation. Never took Physics or Chemistry. I played several sports, but was actually cut from the varsity volleyball team. NOW...I am married to a high school science teacher and a wonderful volleyball coach. Strange.

3. As soon as it begins to get dark in the evening, I MUST immediately close all the blinds and curtains in our house. In fact, if we're going to be out for the day and I know that it will be dark when we get home, I have to close the blinds before we leave. I hate thinking that we are being watched by outsiders. However....I love it when other people leave their windows open. Very much of a snoop!

4. I buy a 2 gallon water jug every time that I go to WinCo and always have one in my fridge. (Maybe a result of growing up overseas and not drinking the tap water for fear of deadly disease.) Yet, I will use tap water to make tea, ice cubes, juice from frozen concentrate, etc. Makes no sense.

5. I have to eat yogurt with a plastic spoon.

6. When I grow up I want to be an author of picture books for children and I want Jane Chapman to be the illustrator. Love her art work!


Now I tag Lynn, Kim and Susanna. C'mon girls, I know you've got some quirks or hidden secrets that need to be revealed!

Lagging and Gagging

Susie told me tonight that she knew I must not be feeling well due to the long gap between my last two posts. Truth be told, I have cashed in all my computer time in exchange for nap time. I've been exhausted these last two weeks and can hardly wait for the girls' nap time each afternoon so that I can zonk out on the couch. I feel so groggy when I wake up and am still ready for bed as soon as I can get things put away in the evenings. Besides that, I've been experiencing lovely bouts of nausea. Isn't the first trimester of pregnancy fun!?!? But alas, this too shall pass. And it will all be worth it.

We have been enjoying lots of time with family these last couple of weeks. The easiest way to catch up will be to bombard you with pictures, so here goes:

Carving a pumpkin with Grandpa Cook.

Another trip to Linder Farms. This time with Mom and Dad and the Becks.

The girls at a CVCS volleyball game.

Family Night at Meridian Lanes.

Sierra swiped my camera and took this picture of Ally and I.

Sorry to post another potty picture...but this is just SO ALLY!

Savannah Jane, The Adorable.

Sierra requested curlers one Saturday night and had extra curly hair on Sunday morning. Ally's lasted all of five minutes.

Watching Aunt Susie make grape juice in Grandma Obenchain's kitchen.

If you haven't done so already, read the next post about Marc. I think it will make you laugh.

You Can Die From Such a Man!

I love Marc very much, but to quote Golda from Fiddler on the Roof : "You can die from such a man!" My lame attempts at some recent fall decorating were not taken very seriously, as you can see.

I had used the Scrabble letters to write:

Marc came home and rearranged them to spell:

Pick-a-Pick-a-Pumpkin

We couldn't wait. The weather was perfect on Friday afternoon and Marc got off from work early after his in-service. So.... we headed over to Linder Farms for a couple of hours. The place was pretty empty. The girls had a great time in the bounce house, on the cow train, at the petting zoo, in the kiddie hay maze and on the hay ride through the pumpkin patch. This is one of my favorite fall activities, so I have a feeling we'll be going back before the month is over. We came home with a whole family of pumpkins and plenty of itchy-scratchy arms from tugging on the vines. For the rest of the month, my girls will be quoting this poem:

Pick-a-pick-a-pumpkin from a pile.

You can give it eyes and a great big smile.

Pick-a-pick-a-pumpkin, round and clean.

Then you'll be ready for HALLOWEEN!

The Angels are Rejoicing!

Sierra got saved today!!!

Let me start with a little background...For months, Sierra has been very sensitive to the story of Jesus' death on the cross. When she prays, she will often tell him that she is sorry that he had to die. She has also really come to grasp the concept of a heart that is "dirty" with sin versus a "clean" heart that has been forgiven. A few weeks ago (by means of an AWANA lesson) she came to understand what a savior is and how all of this fits together. She loves to carry around her little pink New Testament and can often be found re-teaching her Bible lessons and verses to Ally in the playroom. She loves going to her new Sunday school class and to AWANA on Wednesday evenings.

Last night, she got in trouble for lying to Marc. After scolding her, he explained that she needed to ask for forgiveness when she has done something wrong and that then her heart could be clean again. I think that's what really got her thinking.

This morning, we went to the Christian book store with my mom, Grandma Phyllis. Ally asked me to read a book to her while mom shopped for greeting cards and Sierra perused the trinkets. I was reading "My Friend Jesus" to Ally at the little table in the back of the kid's corner. Sierra started eavesdropping and when I got to the page about Jesus dying on the cross, she pointed to the people standing around the cross and asked, "Were their hearts clean or dirty?" I explained that some of them were dirty because of their sin and because they didn't believe in Jesus. She said, "I want to have a clean heart." I explained that she needed to pray and ask Jesus to forgive her if she truly did believe that he died on the cross for her. She said, "I want to do that now...but I want Grandma." My heart raced....could this really be it?!?!? Surely not, she's only four years old. She quickly found Grandma Phyllis in the card aisle and told her what she wanted to do. Grandma followed her back to the little table in the kid's corner and all four of us sat together and prayed. Sierra didn't wait for any help. She closed her eyes and said something like this: "Dear Jesus, I want to have a clean heart. I believe in you Jesus. Amen." Simple. Honest. Beautiful. There really was nothing more that we could add.

My mom bought that book for Sierra and wrote a nice letter to her inside the front cover today. Sierra doesn't understand why so many adults are excited about her prayer - but someday she will understand. Isn't the Gospel wonderful?!? Simple enough for a small child and deep enough for the most mature believer. As parents, Marc and I realize that we have a huge responsibility to guide her in the years ahead. Please rejoice with us and pray that we will continue to train both of our daughters well.

Now, our prayer for Sierra's life is:

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." Colossians 2:6-7

While the cat's away...the mice will play!

It was a great treat for me to be able to attend a ladies' retreat up at Camp Pinewood this weekend. I shared a cabin with my mom, sister and niece. (How cool is that?!) The food was great; the weather perfect. Our speaker reminded us that it is impossible to live the Christian life on our own strength. "In Him (God) we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28" I was convicted again of my need to surrender to the Lord on a daily basis. It was just an all-around encouraging time of being together, praying, singing, and hearing testimonies of God's work in people's lives.

Meanwhile...back in Meridian...Marc was in charge of the girls for a little over 24 hours. And what a 24 hours it was! In that time, they went to Boondocks (TWICE!), out for pizza and ice cream, and watched "Space Chimps" at the Reel theater in Nampa. Needless to say, the girls didn't have any time to miss their mommy.

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Clarification on the last post: Yes! We're really expecting another baby ... it's not just Sierra's wishful thinking. I'm only 6 weeks along, so it is still very early. The anticipated due date is somewhere at the end of May. Please pray with us for a safe pregnancy. WE ARE SO EXCITED!!!!