Halloween Romance

Jace pretended to fall down to the ground last night on our date. I didn't really appreciate it. His fall came mid my mad dash in a dark and haunted corn field. Growling, crouching creatures were yipping at our legs and a large, chain saw carrying man was on our heels.

"Oh, Jace! Jace, Get up! Jace are you OK?"

He giggled and grinned like a 12 year old.

It wasn't real funny at the time. Just kind of.

Jace and Jordy said Jessica and I screamed like children. Jessica and I said they used us as body shields.

I clung too tight to Jace's middle. My heart raced. We screamed real loud. Jace got "a handful" of the slow walking patron in front of us.

As you can see it was a very romantic night. Though I can think of someone else I'd rather share a bathroom with, I can't think of one other person I'd rather help up and scream with in a haunted corn maze.

Jace.... Will you take me next year? I'll bring my brave heart and pretend that I've been snatched by a monster hiding in the corn. You will scream and rescue me. And then we will laugh and laugh. It will be Halloween romance all over again.

Goodbyes

I remember the day very clearly, or the moment rather. I was 9. Kristi Monson was her name and best friends was our game. My mom and I were dropping her off after our last official sleep over. She would move to Texas the next day. As we pulled into the driveway of that blue house, Kristi mumbled something like goodbye and hopped out of the van. To hug, cry, carry on, and tell each other how much we were going to miss each other would have been too hard and besides we didn't have to. We already knew that our lives would never be the same without each other in it. I thought my heart was going to literally break and the tears never end as I rode home beside my mom. I would not lay eyes on Kristi Monson again until the night of my wedding reception. I have often wondered how different my life would have been if she had stayed in it.

Macy is 6. Mattie Claire is her name. Macy has never loved another like she loves her Mattie, her "spirit sister". They were forced to officially say goodbye last night. Mattie is on her way to the far, far away place of Wisconsin. The girls half heartedly hugged each other, mumbled something like goodbye, looking at their parents like - "is this for real?" and climbed into their separate vehicles. It was then the tears and carrying on started and has yet to stop. Life will not be the same with out Mattie Claire.

There are 6 of us. Sisters. Kirsten is the 2nd oldest. I half heartedly hugged her last night, cried, and mumbled something like goodbye. To tell her how much I love her and how much I'm going to miss her would have hurt too much. Besides, I think she knows. She is my sister. My heart is broken. I do not have to call my other sisters today to know that their hearts are in pieces as well. My life in Snowflake will never be the same. Who's going to call me to say "I'm just checkin' on you" and who's going to come over to hold up pictures on the wall, help with paint chip choices and look up phone numbers for me? I need to hear her smartelic comments, her laugh, and the way she can make my mom laugh. You could hear my mom's heart breaking last night. This day was bound to come. But Kirsten? Never. She married Dan. A true blue Lobo for life. This day was not suppose to come. We have never had to say goodbye. That was the plan, to never have to say goodbye.

Hurry home Flakes.

Oh, and Macy - I lied. You do need a sister. 2 brothers won't do. Every girl needs a friend in the world like a sister. I just happened to luck out. I happen to have 5. I'll see what I can do about that.

Good Finds of Late

Manzanita branch from my Mother's yard.

Have you ever tried to steal a road sign? It's not easy. It was probably the moment I decided to spend the rest of my life with HIM. Doesn't it just belong on Kirsten's white shelves?

Best $5 I've spent in China Town. The only $5 I've spent in China Town.

The boxing gloves are a constant source of smiles, tears, but mostly free entertainment.

Sheets that wrap completely around the mattress. Thank you Ross. My 3rd attempt.

Halloween birds found at the local Dollar store. Dollar Tree to be exact. We have 3 you know.

Love note from a daughter. She too was so impressed....she framed it herself.



This scripture. It's simple folks.

What good finds are treasured up at your house this week?

Who's Joe?

Meet

Jace     the     

              Plumber.

He is lovely, smart, hard working, punctual, the best looking plumber for miles around, and mine.

He too is looking for the best tax plan for his small business, namely the plan called "tax break for small business owners."

Have I mentioned 

    he's currently pursuing 

       a new career?  

This one.

Yes, I too think the suspenders will be a nice touch.

Disneyland and Such

TO DO:

1. Find your "true love, first kiss"...........................check.

2. Multiply and replenish................................check.

3. Load up the family wagon..............................check.

4. Drive the 9 hours to Disneyland...................check.

5. Walk, ride, eat, scream, walk some more, wait, push, and then ride some more................check.

Short Ezra waited the lines like a champ, thanks to a father that filled the stroller with suckers, tootsie rolls, and such every morning.

Me: "Noah, what was your bestest thing about Disneyland?"

Noah: "Uh, I didn't get to see Winnie the Pooh."

note: Jace doesn't think I should enroll him in pee wee football until rational thoughts begin to roll around in his brain. He's sure fun to talk to though.

Macy wanted me to disclose that she "hated all the grown-up rides and loves all the baby rides and that a Star Wars Storm Trooper almost shot her."

note: jace and i just got back from parent teacher conference. Ms. E says Macy loves to organize and dust the teacher's desks when reading rainbow is on and has led the class in a spontaneous singing of "I Am A Child of God" more than once....it brought tears to Ms. E's eyes. You couldn't have slapped that smile off my face the entire way home.

Thanks Papa and Grandma Mikey! We loved Disneyland as much as the Walkers said we would.

Next time, leave the stomach virus at home and remind us to purchase airline tickets.

Kirsten, I'm falling in love with your house.

Ezra, meet grass. Grass, meet Ezra's thankful/sticker free feet.

Bikes have been dusted off and have carried children away to strange places known as "neighbor's homes".

We experience bedroom wars almost nightly but this is what it looks like when it's all over.

And of course, living in the shadow of this.

One could really convert to this paved road, landscaped yards, livestock free, in town way of life.

I'm half tempted to buy the dang thing.

Jace, what do you say?