Fall and Family

At the beginning of the month, Aunt Sharon (dad's youngest sister) and her friend, Peg, were in New England exploring, and they stopped by our place on a Saturday afternoon to visit for a while. Christopher (aunt Sharon's first grandchild and my second cousin) and his wife Kara came out too, they live on Staten Island. Christopher is in the Coast Guard.

It was so nice to see everyone!! We sat around and visited for a while, walked across the street for some good pizza, then Peg treated us all to a Dairy Queen dessert :) The time together was waaaaaaaaaayyyy too short, but I have already decided I am going to be better about going to see Chris and Kara on SIsland. Plus, I learned all I need to know about Dave Ramsey in just one afternoon!!!!!!! Thanks Aunt Sharon!

Last weekend, the kids were on my last nerve, so I did what I always do when that happens.....I sent them outside!

They decided they would gather up some of the leaves and make a big pile to jump in. They were so cute, they worked so hard.

I love it when they do stuff like that!!!

Then, this week, we were blessed by a visit with Chris's cousin Danielle and her sweet husband Stewy. They met and got married after we moved up here, so this was the first time we met Stewy; however, I think we all felt like we already knew each other :) He was so great with the kids.

And guess what the first thing was Jaron showed Danielle? Yep, one of his dinosaur books!!!

We took them to Princeton on Thursday....our first stop was yummy ice cream at The Bent Spoon. One of our new favorite places.....it is so awesome!

Then we walked around the campus......isn't this a great picture in front of Nassau Hall?

Thankfully the chapel was open and most of the stained glass was illuminated. As I took this picture, Chris reminded me we already have several like it. I don't care. I like the portrayal of Jesus....the Alpha and Omega.

After the chapel, Jaron wanted to show Danielle and Stewy the mummy in the art museum, so..............

that's where we went, and we asked a guy to take a picture of all of us....turned out really good!!!!!!

Silly Jaron got a ride from Dani! We went back home, ate some Chinese food and just had a great time being together.

We love and appreciate everyone that came to see us this month. We know it takes alot of time and money, and we enjoyed every minute we had with all of you. We pray God's blessings be poured out on your lives, and we look forward to the time when we get to be together again.

Don't Let the Knuffle Bunny Drive the Pigeon Bus

I have rediscovered many things about myself since we moved to New Jersey. The list is too long to record on this meager blog; however, I will tell you one thing I have added back to my life that I really missed.

READING.

I am not talking about reading just anything. I mean reading for pleasure. I used to read ALL the time as a kid. My copy of Ramona Forever by Beverly Cleary literally fell apart because I read it so much. I read all of the Ramona books, multiple times. I read Judy Blume, I read and adored the Boxcar Children and the Babysitters Club. And how about The Little House series...one of the best in all creation. As I got older and had to read some of the classics for English class, I fell in love with Heathcliffe in Wuthering Heights and Angel Clare in Tess of the d'Urbervilles. There were alot of stupid things that I read too.....anyone remember Beowulf? How about Paradise Lost? Those books did not deter me from reading, though. I just tried to find other things I liked.

Then I graduated from college...........and got married........and got a grown-up job.........and had two babies. All I had time to do was work, feed babies and wipe boogers (yes, Chris's too.). I couldn't even THINK about having time to just do something I enjoyed. I had to sleep when I got the chance!

Wow, I am totally rambling. To make a long story short, we moved here, I very fortunately got to take some time off from working (outside of the home), and I rediscovered literature...the really good, well-written, can't-put-it-down stuff. Harry, Ron and Hermione were there to welcome me back into this world of imagination that I didn't even realized I had missed. I love books....and I most DEFINITELY love children's picture books. My favorites will always be The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats and Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Absolute gems. I am Peter and I am Max.

One of our favorite activities to do together on the weekends, during breaks from school and during the summer is taking a trip to the library. We cannot go without spending at least an hour and coming out with a couple of bags loaded down with books and movies.

My children, thankfully, love to read. They have their favorites, too. One author that we can't get enough of is Mo Willems. He wrote Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, Knuffle Bunny, and Knuffle Bunny Too, and won the Caldecott Medal for all three of them. They are funny, and the pictures are timeless. We love Mo and Knuffle Bunny and the pigeon and Piggie and Gerald.

Last night we had the wonderful opportunity to go see Mo Willems at Barnes and Noble. He read his new book, Knuffle Bunny Free and signed books. IT WAS AWESOME. I cannot explain the excitement I felt over getting to meet an award winning author. It was so cool. The kids were super excited too, but not near as excited as me!


I had to work yesterday, so my wonderful, gracious, sweet, darling husband went to Barnes and Noble first thing in the morning to get us a wristband. We had to have it for the book signing. We didn't find out until we got there that evening that all people with a purple wristband not only got in line first for the book signing, they also got to have a seat. Thank you Chris for getting us our purple wristband!!!!!!

Our sweet friend Emma and her mom Robbie met us there.

Mo!!!!!! He read his new Piggie and Gerald book first....it was funny!

Then he delighted us with Knuffle Bunny Free.

I know the kids had a great time, but they probably won't realize until they get older how fortunate they were to meet such an interesting and talented writer.


He was so funny and so nice!!!

Mo took some questions before he did his signing. Jordan was one of the people who got to ask him a question!!! She was so brave and she spoke clearly and loudly....I was so proud of her! I would have been terrified to do something like that as a kid. She asked him, "Where do you get all of your ideas for your stories?" His answer:

I always have ideas. It's like a garden, where everything grows at a different rate. Some ideas are more developed than others, and at just the right time I harvest them.

BRILLIANT.

Just Something on My Heart

There are so many people in need. There are those we think of when we say someone is in need...a.k.a. the homeless, those without food or clean water or medical attention. But then there are those who look like me, well clothed and fed, with a roof over their heads and maybe even a little extra money in the bank (by the way, that last part is NOT me). These people have "normal" lives. Lives that many of us even envy sometimes. Lives that look exciting and fun and perfect, but really, when you peel back the layers, they are hurting. Not just hurting a little, they are hurting MASSIVELY. They are consumed with fear. They need direction, but they have none.

My heart has been aching for these people today. You know why? Because, in some way I have been there. I have been the one wearing the mask, the one with questions, the one living in fear. I have been the one who has faced financial destruction and terminally ill family and friends. I have been fortunate, too. Actually, I think I should use the word blessed. As I grow older, as I continue to experience life I have come to realize there is not one thing I have or experience that God Himself has not given to me. I haven't faced catastrophe like the people in Haiti or the miners in Chile. But if I just stop and think for a minute what it must be like to be those people, my heart aches for them and their family and longs for relief.

Isn't that how Jesus felt? Didn't the Bible say He was moved by COMPASSION for the sick and hurting? Can I tell you how thankful I am that Jesus, half God and half Man, knows every pain and every joy that I suffer? Jesus KNEW people. He KNEW their troubles and their celebrations because He experienced them, too. But He also had the Power to change things because He was of the Father. That's why I believe, and that's why I pray today for the hurting.

I just need you to know that. If you are hurting today, I am praying for you. I am not Jesus, so I don't have the power to change things for you. But I talk to Jesus all the time, and He does.

First Day of School!

Labor Day came and went, as did the first day of the 2010-2011 school year. Jordan and Jaron were very excited about starting 3rd and 1st grade in Mrs. Gonsiorowski and Mrs. Tunnacliffe's classes. This is the first year Jaron is in school full time........and this is Jordan's last year at Dutch Neck School, she moves on to the intermediate school next year. Here they are with one of Jordan's oldest and dearest friends, Ameera.

In line for the bus.....

I, unfortunately, did not get to partake in the exciting first day festivities. I was at home in bed with strep throat. It hit me Labor Day, I went to the doctor and then spent the next 24 hours miserable in bed. I seriously thought I might die. The body aches, head ache, sore throat and nausea were horrible. Chris was a trooper. He took off work and took over my job, which included getting the kids ready for the first day. It broke my heart that I could not see them off to school. But they had a great day, and that's what counts!!!!!

Finally home! What a big boy :)

Little princess....even though she is a third grader, she still wants my hugs and it thrills my heart!

On This Day in History.........

1788 The Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and declared New York City the temporary national capital.

1949 The Ladies Professional Golf Association of America was formed in New York City.

1990 "Law & Order" premiered on NBC.

1998 NBC's "Frasier" won a record fifth consecutive Emmy as TV's best comedy series.

2000 Chase Manhattan agreed to buy J.P. Morgan for more than $35 billion, creating the third largest financial company in the U.S.

AND

1980 CANDACE RENE CLAYTON MCNUTT was born in Lubbock, TX stamping history as the best, smartest, most beautiful and most loving sister, sister-in-law and aunt that this world has ever known!!!!

Candace, we love you SKYFULLS!!!!!!!! Happy Birthday!

It always make me sad when the summer ends. I love the relaxed schedule, no homework, no lunches to pack, flip flops, the pool, the beach, watermelon, hot dogs, everything that summer brings. I always terribly miss the kids during the day when they head back to school, too. Even though they drove me nuts all summer long!!!! So here's a little walk through memory lane, as much for me as it is for you :)

We celebrated THREE birthdays.....

our favorite daughter...

our favorite Granny...
and our favorite son.

We were blessed to have Granny and the McNutts come visit...oh if it could have only lasted longer! I heard that they are planning on staying for TWO weeks next year...I hope so!

We got to see the Statue of Liberty with them,

and Ground Zero.


We got to see ALL of our cousins/niece and nephews. And all of our aunts and uncles/siblings, 2/3 of our grandparents/parents, and even one set of great-grandparents/grandparents! The Peach State will never be the same again ;)

The kids and some friends enjoyed VBS again.

And someone lost his first tooth!

We made new discoveries,

and made lots of s'mores :)

Yum!

Yummy!

We played outside,

and painted some pottery.

And the list goes on. Things we did that I do not have pictures of are spending afternoons by the pool, spending some time at the beach and going to the library. That became one of my favorite outings....the library. Since Chris leaves early on Wednesdays for two shows, we would use that day to visit the library and stop at the Farmer's market. After the kids finished the reading program at our library across the street, we decided to branch out a little and go to the library in the next township. It was great! They had a different selection of books and movies, and Jaron's favorite part was the sea shell display they had for a while. There was a giant clam too, it was HUGE!! After we checked out bags and bags of books and movies, literally, we would go down the street to the Burger King and eat lunch. It was soooooo nice. I love my kids and I love being with them as much as possible.

We hope you all had a wonderful summer too, and that God blesses you this new school year in whatever you have going on in your life. We love you all dearly and hope to see you very, very soon!!!!

I am not bragging........

This photo was taken during the curtain call at the show last Saturday night. The Phantom and Christine had given their last performances. It was an important and emotional show for everyone. Isn't this a great picture?!?!?!?! I just love it!!!!!!!