Our 8th Anniversary

It’s been 8 years!  I just can’t believe it’s been that long!  Since my man and I said, “I do.”  This last year has been one of the hardest for us, facing circumstances and trials that have pushed us to new depths with each other and with God, thus making this one of our best years too.  We have grown stronger together more in this year than any other year since we’ve been married. 

We were blessed by some friends of ours who gave us a night at the Silverwolf Log Chalets just outside of Coram, MT.  What a fabulous place! 

The cabin was so cozy!  Just what we needed to get away and be refreshed! 

Once we checked in and had a little snack, it was off to Glacier National Park!  It’s been several years since we’ve been able to get up to the Park, so it was such a treat!

I love this time of year in the Park.  The busy tourist season is over.  The stores are all closed up for the winter.  There are very few people.  And the colors of fall are setting in. 

We drove along Lake McDonald on the Going-to-the-Sun Road.  The evening light was gorgeous!  The breeze was picking up.  Just enough to make the trees begin to dance in a nice soft sway.           We stopped at the falls.  The water was very low, but the sound of rushing water was so sweet.

Mmm…who’s this man!  I’ve got to go check him out!  Even after 8 years, my heart skips a beat whenever I see him!

We went up to Avalanche Lake trail head, by the Cedar Trail.  That is as far as you can go in the highway this time of year.  They were also doing some repairs on a bridge on the Cedar Trail, so we were only able to walk part of the way.  The forest was enchanted!  It was magical!  The green was so green.  The mist was beginning to fall.  It was quite warm.  And we were together!

It was so wonderful to get away together.  It was too short, as it always is.  But we’ve made some more memories, and they will be with us forever.      

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Photo curtesy of Google Images

I love this time of the year! It's one of my absolute favorite holidays. Our family has a tradition that we've been doing now for several years. We go to my aunt's house. It's the best place on earth.

When I was young I spent a lot of time at Aunt Roxie's house. She was my main babysitter. I have the fondest memories of time spent there.

I remember Aunt Roxie doing laundry. The sound of the washer and dryer in the background and the smell of clean laundry was so comforting. She would fold her clean clothes on the kitchen table. At lunchtime she would make us (my siblings and I) peanut butter and Welch's Grape jelly sandwiches with a cold glass of milk. We would sit at the table and eat, with the clothes piles pushed out of the way.

At the back door was an old wooden screen door. The spring squeaked when it was open and I can still hear it slam shut. It seems kind of strange that that would be a comforting memory.

Aunt Roxie had an old dog, Brownie, who was getting way on in years. In fact, he was so old that all I remember him doing was sleeping behind the living room stove. Us kids were told to not go near him because he was crotchety and might bite us.

Aunt Roxie doesn't live in the old, wonderful house anymore. They sold it. It really was old and too small for them. When they sold it and moved somewhere else I cried. But I soon found out that Aunt Roxie's house is still the same no matter what building she lives in. Aunt Roxie's house is still the smell of fresh laundry when you walk in the door. It's drinking tea with spun honey in it. It's leather slippers. It's the sound of another log being put into the woodstove. It's the sound of whistling. It's the sound of stories being told. It's the smell of leather and hides. It's the smell of something wonderful cooking in the kitchen. It's the sound of jokes and laughter. It's the best place on earth.

Now, when our little family heads out for Thanksgiving at Aunt Roxie's house we sing the song:

Over the river and through the woods

To Aunt Roxie's house we go

The horse knows the way to carry the sleigh

Through the white and drifting snow

Over the river and through the woods

To Aunt Roxie's house we go

Hurrah for the fun is the pudding done

Hurrah for the pumpkin pie

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Harvest Party

Yep...this is us, my Dear Hubby and I. We switched races for the evening. Scary, huh? Meet Thurston and Shaniqua. We won a prize in the Costume Contest too!

Several friends came out on Thursday (the day before Halloween) to help me set up and decorate. I have to say, our place looks so festive! It's so much fun!

K dressed as Autumn - she also won a prize. I have to say, she was breathtakingly gorgeous.

J was a cute little butterfly. But, true to her "Plain Jane"-ness, she didn't want any frills, no face-makeup, no glitter, just an antenna and wings. So adorable!

Unfortunately, other than this photo of the Bounce House, I didn't get any photos of the Carnival stands outside. We were still setting them up as it was getting dark. We had flood lights out in the yard to light the stations. One station had a ring toss, balloons filled with candy on the wall and darts to pop them, and bottles to knock over with a ball. Another station had some relay races with eggs (some were hard boiled and some were fresh), a "Chubby Bunny" contest where you had to fill your mouth with marshmallows and still be able to say "chubby bunny".

The kids (kids of all ages) loved the games and the bonfire outside. Inside the garage we had chili dogs and hot chocolate; a face painting station...

...and a station for pumpkin decorating with googly eyes, glitter glue, markers, colorful feathers, pom-poms, and many other fun things to decorate with.

Here are some photos of the fun costumes that were there. Everyone did such a wonderful job on their costumes!

The cutest Pooh Bear ever...

...Shaniqua again...

...a pregnant nun...

...a mountain man and cave woman...

...hippy grandma...

...Raggety Ann and Andy...

...Michael Jackson...

...and so many more wonderful costumes I just don't have room for them all! It was a fabulous party! We are already scheming for next year!

Scenes from the Pumpkin Patch

About a week ago, the girls and I went to Sweet Pickin's Pumpkin Patch. We always look forward to this time of year!

They have so many fun activities for the kids. This is one of J's favorites...the straw bale maze.

But this one was her absolute favorite, the barrel train! She went on this ride so many times. There she is in the last yellow car.

The wonderful Fall decor makes for great picture-taking opportunities! This place is a camera-lover's haven!

J was making faces at me, so......

...I had her thrown in jail.

I don't know who this little boy is, but he was just so cute trying to get himself a gourd...I couldn't resist.

There were farm animals to feed and look at...sheep, goats, chickens, rabbits...

...but I have to say, my favorite was the donkey. When I was growing up we raised donkeys. They are so much fun! And just as cute as can be.

Visiting the Pumpkin Patch is a treat for the senses. To experience the sights, smells, and tastes of Fall...like popcorn and carmeled apples purchased from the little Mercantile.

And you just have to have your picture taken among the pumpkins. What a wonderful day!