Today we went to see the Canadian Pacific Holiday Train!  It is a real train, decorated, that has a boxcar with a fold-out stage for live Christmas music, and Santa.  It travels to 130 towns across the US and Canada to raise $ for local food shelters.   It made a stop in Rochester for…

We miss you when you're gone.  

One of our more successful projects – thanks to Emma, who reminded us and set the example for us (and made sure we always had leaves and glue!)

It may be blurry, but I love it.  It was when Santa appeared at the end of the Macy's parade… I found myself waving too.  I couldn't help myself.  Christmas is magical!

Randomly, I asked the kids this week what they wanted to be when they grew up.  Here are their answers (for today, anyways…) Zach:  Major League baseball player Emma:  bowling alley worker Carter:  a library guy Made me smile.  Love these kids.

Carter is always SO excited for his turn to give the FHE lesson.  This one was about the 10 lepers (also known as the 10 leopards).  The highlight of this lesson was un-wrapping the crepe paper from the lepers when they were healed and making them all run away.  :)  

Grocery shopping is one of those jobs that I could delegate, had I the $$ to do so.  First there is the meal planning, then the list-making, then the cart-loading, then the cart un-loading, then the car loading, then the car un-loading, then the bag un-loading and putting away.  I had put off going to…

When bibs and overalls are way more fun to play with.       Honestly, she was entertained for at least half an hour each time.  Funny girl.

working in the yard (the cones are a really important part of this…) doing (really messy) "soil experiments" trying (and mastering!) finger foods raking up, playing in (and eating) the leaves from our oak tree (which just may fall this year before we get a bunch of snow!) helping bake (Carter's new "thing") having croup…

Alternately totally adorable and completely exasperating.  Sometimes minute by minute.  We have experienced the full gamut this morning, leading me to record some of my favorite Carter-isms:   "Hug me with your lips, Mom!" When told that Thanksgiving was next week, he says, "It's the day when no one should cry, right?"   And when…