Signs

For Thanksgiving we went to Mike's brother's house in Erie, Pa. On the way there, we decided to stop for lunch, we pulled off interstate and we waited at a light. Adam looked out his window and said, "Wow! Look at all those signs!" We all acknowledged the signs. Then Adam said, "Really, I can't believe all those signs!" "Do you see all those signs?" "That is a lot of signs!" I was starting to laugh at this, so I handed Adam the camera, so he could record all the signs that he saw.

He was quite pleased with the picture! (Really there are a lot of signs, but probably would not have taken as much notice, if Adam had not pointed it out!)

Musical Fun

We are preparing for a Christmas musical at our church. The lady that is leading the musical has a lot of great ideas how to make the practices fun.

The other Sunday we were to go to a local caverns to sing some of the songs in their "choir room." The morning of this event we were getting ready to leave for church (we went to the caverns directly from the church) so we had to pack everything up to be ready to go. Adam comes out of his room and says, "I'm going to pack my hat to take to the caverns...in case it is sunny." We had a nice lesson on caves and caverns before church! :) --We all had a great time at the caverns!

Last weekend, this same lady was brave enough to have all the children from 2nd-5th grade for a lock in at the church. Saturday morning I think I counted about 25 children. I'm not sure they all stayed for night, but I know she had a pretty good number of children. They had the children in their sleeping bags (and asleep, I believe) by 11:00. Not bad for a lock in! They boys really enjoyed this event. (Mike and I enjoyed a night out as well!)

It is amazing how the musicals come together. Diane has a knack for taking about 50 children and turning out a beautiful performance. I can't wait to see the production.

Austin's Math

Austin is in 4th grade. In math they are going over their multiplication facts. To make this mundane chore more fun, his teacher is having them "build" a sundae. For each fact family that they have memorized 100% they get that assigned topping. Fun, right?

Well, Austin had another way of thinking about it. He came home and said, "I already know this one, that one and that one. But, I don't need to learn this one or that one, because I don't like those toppings."

My mind flashed forward to when he is 20 something. Austin sitting somewhere and trying to do a math problem and not being able to do it---because he did not like that sundae topping.

I looked at him and said, "You WILL learn all the fact families, whether you like the topping or not. You can just say "no, thank you" when it comes to topping your sundae. But, you will know every single one of those facts."

Oh, to think like a 10 year old boy!

Weather Changes

Earlier this week, the weather was cool in the morning but got nice by afternoon. I remember at least one day I told the boys they could wear a short sleeve shirt and long pants to school.

How the weather changes! This morning we woke up to a couple of inches of snow on the ground.


The boys were up and ready to play in the snow before it was light outside! Once they got outside they were out for about 2 hours. They tried the hills in our new neighborhood, met a neighborhood boy that lives (somewhere) nearby.

Adam insisted on wearing this hat that covers his nose as well. However, it shifted and I think it was crooked on his face the entire time he was out.

The boys enjoyed their time outside, but I enjoyed the quiet of the house, seeing the boys play and...


...the beauty of the snow.

***The leaves have not fallen off all the trees yet. We have had one large branch break off of a tree in our back yard, due to the fact that leaves hold more snow and make it heavier on the branches. This is really weather I would expect in January or February--definitely not October. I'm going to make a pot of soup and enjoy the warm indoors.

When Adam cooks...

...it is not a simple matter of putting ingredients in a bowl, mixing, pouring in a pan and baking. That would be WAY to easy!

I have a sourdough bread that I make. I feed the starter one day, that night make the dough, let it rise over night, put into loaves the next morning, then bake around supper time. This recipe is really hard to mess up (I have done it though, but it was my fault. I forgot the salt...)

Friday while we were at work and school, I fed the starter. Friday evening Adam help me make the dough. Saturday morning I showed him how the dough had risen and needed to be punched down. Then he asked, "Why? Why do you have to punch it down and let it rise again?" Well, to be honest about it, I didn't know. I just knew that is what you did when you baked bread and never questioned the theory behind it. I told him I would find out.

After he punched it down, I told him to flour his hands because the dough might be a little sticky. "What does the flour do?" I explained that the flour makes it so the dough won't stick to your hands. "How?" "Really, I do not know. I will have to find out for you." We got the dough in the pans then I was on my mission to find out this information.

I called my sister and her husband and they answered my questions. I knew that he had been interested in one chef who explained the chemistry behind baking, plus they have a good all around knowledge. :)

Last night we went to a harvest party and I was retelling my bread baking experience with Adam. She told me, "And that is why he is going to be getting paid a lot someday." If nothing else, I am learning the chemistry behind baking.

I do have to admit, his bread looks beautiful. I can't wait to try it!

Fall Flowers

Having a new house, I am getting to see what flowers and other plants are planted around this house. We have this beautiful flower garden, that is shared with our neighbor.

It has some lovely mums in bloom right now.


II just want to make sure that Diane (our neighbor lady) knows that, in the past I have favored flowers that thrive on neglect. I will try to do my part to try with this flower bed, but really...

...It's best if they want neglect.

How Austin Feels

Austin has always been a child who wants to express himself through notes. When he was little (even before Kindergarten) he would tell me what he needed to tell Mike and we would write notes and put them in his mailbox at work. Sometimes the notes were lovely (I love Daddy because...) other times they were (I am so mad at Adam...) I'm sure Mike loved getting the first example, not so sure about the second!

As I was unpacking a box this morning, I found something that Austin made for Mike.

The bottom says, "What a Awsome great Dad I have." I'm not sure how he did the "#1 Dad" but it is engraved in the wood.

The other Sunday Austin wanted to know when Father's day was. I told him it is always in June, in fact sometimes it is the same day as his birthday. (in those cases Austin's birthday often overrides Father's Day. That is what happens when you become a parent.) Austin wanted to make a card for Mike. I thought is was really cute, so for memory sake, I'm going to type it in.

Dear Dad, (This is a late father's day card)
Your the best dad I ever had.
You let me go places I'm begging for (and I thank you.)
you let me go out to Klines ice cream.
And other fun stuff.
I gave you a gift.
You might not like it but just try it out and see if you like it.

**Side note**Mike is the ONLY father that Austin has ever had (just to be clear!). Secondly, I had to chuckle about the "begging" really it is just that he asks to check out new places (stores, etc.) begging makes it sound so much worse than it really it! Lastly, I love how he wrote in parenthesis "and I thank you".

I love how Austin expresses himself on paper (or wood). We do save some of these things and like to look back and see how he has grown and changed.