Christmas is just around the corner, unbelievable until you walk into a W-mart where they already have Christmas music playing. Rick's family gets very specific about gifts and wish lists. I have always had a hard time spelling out what I want, because
A. I feel embarrassed to actually ask for something specific.
B. I can never think of anything I really want.
C. I dislike knowing what I am getting, I like surprises.
My sister-in-law Rannie always gets me the coolest most surprising fun crafty gifts, they make me want to shop with her. And she doesn't shop from my want list. Other family members need help in choosing gifts. Over the years I've come to appreciate those lists, how handy is it to know that so and so likes black socks and someone else wants season 2 of Northern Exposure.

Every year I am very slow in getting my list together. This year I've decided to start early. I've decided to come up with my wish list now. Instead of telling the family I need silicone muffin pans I want to gather up a cool, fun, surprising, exciting list of what I want/need. (ok, this is sounding a bit selfish, but family members are asking and I have a good idea what my kids want-like) Maybe if I write my list now, I'll forget what I asked for by Christmas time. Here's the problem, aside from having Clean H0use come in and clean/organize/paint, I have no ideas as to what I want. Any ideas? What do you want for Christmas? What do your kids want for Christmas? Keep it clean, or I'll delete it.
Happy Holidays
Heather

Halloween Pictures

Halloween pictures this year was met with a few unwilling participants. They wanted to get on to the good part...the candy. I quickly snapped a few shots, so we could get on our way.

This year I made 3! costumes. Abby wanted to be a wizard, we found this cool purple fabric with spider webs and made an easy cape. She is trying (being forced) to show off the material and didn't want her smiling face to be seen.

Michelle and Cristine were both Little Red Ridding Hood. I think their capes turned out pretty well. (Hopefully when I enter one into the fair, next year, the judges will be kinder then they were to the kimono. Hello it's a Halloween costume, it just has to stay together while you go trick-or-treating, for example look at the ones found at W-mart).

Peter wanted to be a pirate looking for his lost loot. He must have found it since his bag was so heavy.

Cristine wasn't into the picture taking either. In this photo she is wondering why her bag is so flat and empty.

Other than the photo shoot, we had a fun night. The weather was mild, coats were not required, I think that was a first! The rain held off until the next day. Erin, Bridger and Forest met up with us, then came back and stayed the night. Another family joined us for dinner after trick-or-treating. We had yummy chili and bone breadsticks. http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50576 We played cards and Settlers of Zarahemlia while the kids ran around eating too much candy. I think Halloween should be on a Friday night every year!

Harvest Post 2- FINALLY

These two pictures were taken from our driveway the other morning. The pink one was taken first, as I raced to school to get the kids to school on time. The first one, really second in order, was taken on the way home.

We have had the most amazing beautiful fall I ever seen. I think it has something to do with not having much rain. One customer told me that this was the most colorful, beautiful fall he'd seen in 20 years. Since I've only lived here for 16, that makes sense. The rain started last night, just in time for Halloween.

I know I left you waiting, but here, finally, are pictures of my new tractor. Isn't it pretty? This little orange tractor is so zippy. Forward and Reverse are in on pedal-so no more shifting.

This is my other reason for liking this tractor so much, the seat. But not the seat part, the behind the seat part.

See that, the seat has a secret compartment, just wide enough to hold a book. Perfect for those slow moments when no one has need of my kickin tractor skilz. Books read during harvest 3. By the way this is all top secret, mr. farming husband gets a bit grouchy if he finds me out reading.

My back up tractor drivers gave it their approval. They both liked the no shifting thing, not having to use a clutch rocks. One even told me that the cup holder was muy bueno, he was never seen very far from his can of coke. Cup holders on a tractor, almost makes work like a joy ride.

We have had the most amazing beautiful fall I ever seen. I think it has something to do with not having much rain. One customer told me that this was the most colorful, beautiful fall he'd seen in 20 years. Since I've only lived here for 16, that makes sense.

Harvest Post, more pictures to follow

Ah, Harvest. Remember my cool John Deere tractor? It has been replaced. I was sad when Rick sold MY tractor, but I have learned to love my new tractor. It is all shiny and ORANGE, phew it is bright. (you'll have to wait for photos, they are on the other computer).

Harvest is now over and payroll is finished! Now it is time to clean up, organize and get ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Those holidays are sneaking up on me!

Next week all the kids have field trips-how is that possible? The three little kids are each going to a pumpkin patch-different days of course. Abby is going to the Maryhill Museum of Art-this one I want go to. If I go to one or two does that mean I'm required to attend all 4?

Autumn Fun

Our last few weeks have been packed full. My youngest sister Erin, her husband Bridger and their cute little guy Forest moved to the Portland area. We've been able to spend a couple days with them and look forward to holidays, hikes, bbq's, zoo trips, coast camping trips etc. It is exciting to have family nearby again!
In between helping them move in, wood cuts, huckleberry picking and awaiting harvest to resume, I decided to start decorating for fall.
My fall decorating ended before I changed out our cherry blossom twigs. I have looked all over town trying to find a fun fall idea for the giant vases. We may glued orange and yellow tissue paper on twigs if I can't find anything better.

One of the hard thing about living with my mother in law is working around and with all of her many nick knacks. A few things I decided were too springy and was able to put them away. I think the Asian vases are too huge to try to move. I'm not too sure which season the Buddha statue would look best in. He too is quite heavy and I haven't been able to figure out a place I can move him without hurting any one's feelings.

Bringing Bling to Lunch

Last year Abby and Michelle picked out the same backpacks. At the time it was no big deal, Michelle kept her backpack mostly in her room and Abby's was kept downstairs with her school stuff in it. Fast forward to this school year. The backpacks were still in good shape, so we decided not to buy new ones. The 2nd day of school I put Abby's lunch in Michelle's backpack. Abby was called to the office to switch lunches with Michelle. Michelle didn't realize they were the exact same lunch. I had planned to buy new lunchboxes, since ours were smelling pretty funky. While debating whether to buy spider-man or insulated boxes, I had the thought to iron on the kids names. I zipped back to the craft section and found some fun iron-on styles. It took a bit longer than the instructions to get the letters to stick, the flap is quite thick and took a while for the heat of the iron to get through it. After putting the kids names on the lunch boxes I then put an A and M on the two girls backpacks. Now each morning I just have to match the right name to the right initial-way easier than guessing. Today was day 2 of my brilliant plan, in my still sleepy state I was able to quickly get the right lunch to the right backpack. Plus the letters are still attached and the kids thought they were very cool.

1st day of School

The big three.
Michelle-Kindergartner and her super fun teacher Miss V.
Peter-2nd grader
Abby-4th grader
Cristine-preschooler

School started for us on Tuesday. Everyone was so excited, me included. Michelle and I hung out together before class started, while Abby and Peter were off to greeting their friends. We read a couple books in the library as we watched all the kids running around. She then told me that Abby said she could not say "hi" to her when they saw each other around the school. Is being in 4th grade like being in middle school? I told Michelle it was her job to wave, shout and hug her big sister whenever she could. The house was so quiet when I got home, then it was almost tomb like after Cristine left for preschool.

Everyone likes their teachers and enjoyed the first couple days. Abby's been busy with homework. Today they took money for hot lunch since we were already running a bit late. Here's to a great school year!