Happy Fall

I must say I'm enjoying the cooler weather here in Michigan.  Although I know that it means snow is approaching fast!  That I'm not to excited about.  The girls are... us old people are not!

This year we pick our own pumpkins at our property.  We have 3 1/3 arces, But don't live there however it is just around the corner from us.  We allow a friend who owns a landscaping business to dump his grass clipping there.  One day last month Paul went to see how things were looking over there and to our surprise we had a pumpkin patch.  We got about a dozen pumpkins out of it.  What a pleasant surprise.  This year Autumn carved her own pumpkin with her own knife.  She was very proud.

Happy Fall Everyone!  Only 61 days until Christmas!

Veggie Tales Live

Luck us, we won tickets to Veggies Tales Sing Yourself Silly!!

Thanks to 4 the 1 for a great family day!

The number 1 silly song was the hairbrush song... Lou's favorite.  

We really don't watch much Veggie Tales but knew enough of the fun, silly songs to sing along!

It's was fun day with the girls.

Skype Time

Skype Time with the Grandparents!! 

 Love those those teeth

 Grandad and Granny Grunt!

New Do's

Tonight the girls got long awaited hair cuts.  Autumn wanted hers short so Lillie of course did too!  Autumn has super thick hair and has be complained about her ponytail so this cute bob is simple and easy.   So long ponytail!     She also got that cute hot pink hair extension.  It should last about 2 months.  This $8 splurge was priceless for the smile I got in return when it was put into place!

Valentines Day Goodies!

I found this great gift  about a month before Valentines Day!  I found them up North in Birch Run at the outlet mall.  I knew they would be a huge hit!

And as you can see, they were!

I love it when a plan come together!

These little stuffed animals are more than just a stuffed animal.  If you know me at all... stuffed animals around our house disappear if you catch my drift.   These little guys are microwaveable and keep you warm.  They are filled with a natural wheat and lavender.  The girls just loved them!  They are by The Cozy Collection by Intelex.  There are 18 different animals to choose from.

Will You Be My Valentine?

I found this great idea on a blog!  It was so simple to do! 

First I took a photo of the girls.

Then the Autumn punched holes in the photo and she and Lillie slid in the sucker!

You have to take the image so the arm is reaching out towards the corner of the photo.  Then punch 2 holes, one on top of the hand and the other on the bottem.

 It was a huge hit!  I wish I would have thought of that one myself!

The Girls Imitated Beyonce the Clown

This is the girls favorite Video on Youtube right now. We watch it several times a day. Everytime I get on Facebook they know it there! Hopefully now we can put this video to rest soon!

Here is their imitation!

Thank you Kimmy

We have been to Mentor Ohio Church of God for several years! We alway stay with the Zinni Family, they treat us like family and we love them dearly! The girls got a special blessing this week with trip to the Disney store! I love it when others love on my girls like they are their own!

Water slide fun at Camp Michindoh

Here is the water slide at Camp Michindoh, the Girls were really excited to go on it!

Lillies adopted Grandpa took her on the slide,  she was so excited.  She went with him twice and had a ball, then another lady councilor took her down and they slipped and went under the water!  Lillie was fine but then she wanted her new grandpa to take her again.  

The 3rd time down they too ran out of luck and both went under water!  Lillie was fine again but let us know she was all finished.  She keep telling me all day long that she went under water and her eyes got wet.

This is Autumn with her Cabin, she was in Cabin #2.  I'm grateful to the camp for letting her be in a cabin with the kids.  She had a great time and made some new friends.

Autumn can't swim yet, well she could if she wanted too!!  She was as excited about the slide until she too went under water.  That was the last time for her.

Were off this morning to Elida Ohio.  We will be spending 3 days here then heading home for our Faith Family picnic (Church Plant at the YMCA) on Sunday.  Then monday were off to Happy Time Camp in Brown City Michigan!

Thank You Lacey

I wanted to say thanks to Lacey for coming and staying with the girls this past week.  The girls absolutely love her.

She made them these capes while she was here for the week.  If you remember back the last time she was here she made these crowns for the girls.  She's become quite the crafty lady!

Lacey thanks for taking such good care of my girls.  They love you so much.  I'm so comfortable leaving  you with them.  I know you run a tight ship and I love that.  Nothing gets past you, just like me.  

I appreciate you taking the extra time playing and making things with the girls, going out of your way to make things fun for them.  I sure do with you lived closer!!

In case your wondering Lacey and I grew up together,  my dad pastored her church. We met in 6th grade and she graduated a year a head of me.  About the time Paul and I were ready to go on the road and travel full time.  Lacey had just graduated from MSU with a teaching degree and could not find a job.  Lucky for me she became our full time nanny.  Autumn was only 6 weeks when she started to travel with us.  She was with us for five years!  We have made some great memories together!

We all love you Lacey!

Rock Painting

All of the snow has melted and it was 50 degrees today.  That was a freaky thing having snow in April.   Finally today it felt like spring on spring break!  Autumn and Lou went outside this morning to find rocks to paint.   They spent a hour being creative.   

Lillie gets this tongue thing from her Grandpa Dietzel.

Autumn had her eye doctor appointment today.  We went to several places this morning before the eye appointment and took a picture of her wearing the glasses she was interested in.  Then after we had her eye exam she made the decision as to which ones she liked. We looked through all of the photos I had taken and she choose from them.   She was very picky,  well maybe not picky but she knew exactly which style she wanted.   Anything with a color was not an option.  It would not match everything so it had to be either brown or black. She preferred the plastic frames over the metal frames.  The glass will be here in about a week and then we'll let you all take a peek.   The doctor says she only needs to wear them at school to see the board and do her work & watching tv. She doesn't need them when she plays unless she wants to wear them.

Today is a big day!!

I'm off to the Dentist this morning.  Yeah!!  I'm so relieved.  I'm getting a long waited crown this morning.  I can't wait for the pain to be gone.  I love the Dentist and I love clean teeth, but this time I'll a little nervous. 

Autumn is at her friend Madasens for a slumber party.  They were going bowling today.  She was practicing on the Wii last night. lol  Silly girl!   Lillie is missing her but Miss Dana sent home a cup cake for Lou and that made it much better.

I'm practicing again.  It's so hard for me to figure out the setting on my camera.  It definitely does not come natural for me.  Over time I'm hoping I'll get it.

Autumn has an eye appointment this week.  She failed her eye test at school. Paul was asked to work that day with the test retakes.  He asked the lady why autumn was retested.  She called him over to be tested at the machine.  

She asked Paul if he could see the bottom line.  

He said, "Yes."   She said, "Your daughter can't."

She than asked if he could see the next line up.  

He said, "Yes."   She said, "Your daughter can't."

She asked again how about the next line up.  

He said, "Of course!"   She said, "Your daughter can't."

So there you have it!  Autumn can only read the top line!!  She got her mamma's eyes.  I got my first pair of glasses in 3rd grade.

Summer in the Mail

Little girls bring such delight with 

hearts so warm and smiles so bright!

Every child loves to get mail.  But what's better than mail?  

New Sundresses that come in the mail!! 

These came in the mail for the girls over the weekend.  A friend found them at a craft show. The straps are ties so you can adjust them.  They are so cute.  I love little girls in sundresses. 

Thanks Linda for thinking of us!  

Lots going on this week.  Paul has his meeting with the YMCA about finalizing our contract.  I also have a meeting this week that will help me learn all I need to know about church financing, they also will be teaching me a computer program that will help me with record keeping for our new church plant.  Don't forget the hair apt. (note to self)   

Were heading to moms this weekend.  Were helping her put on a small couples conference at her church.  Here is the flyer.  It was taken after the book His Brain Her Brain.

Paul will be speaking twice. He'll be speaking on Overcome Obstacles to Communication  and Learning to Appreciate Your Spouse.   We'll also be watching the movie Fire Proof, going bowling, playing games and eating good food.  The girls are so excited to see Granny Grunt and Grandad.

We Love Fashion Polly's!!

Fashion Polly's have been apart of our family for years.  Autumn got her first Fashion Polly when she was about two.  Polly's were an easy cheep toy to buy when traveling on the road, they and could be taken easily into restaurants and churches.

We had a lot of these! Autumn has a special case that she used to sort all of the clothes.  Over the last year Autumn has started to out grow them and the pile of them is dwindling down. Lillie on the other hand has pick them up and is in full swing.  This is what she wants to do all day long.

As we traveled and took Pollys to several hundreds of churches, these little dolls have gotten so grimy with little hands.  Autumn would drawl crowds to play with her and all her Polly's. To clean the Pollys we would get out 2 bowls one with soapy water and one with clean water and wash them.  The other day they were needing a cleaning again.  So this time I just throw them in a pillow case and washed them.  So easy!!! What was I ever thinking washing them by hand???  In case you didn't know this, it makes them all slippery again, just like new when you wash them.

It looks like it's time to reinvest in Polly's again.  I'm going to keep the Pollys and put them away when the girls are grown, because they both love this toy so much.

Kisses for Valentines Day

Happy Valentines Day!

I got these nightgowns the other day for the girl for Valentines day.  They were 1/2 of the markdown price, $3.25.  The girls are still into High School Musical.  They've played great together today.  Lillie really misses Autumn while she is at school.

Autumn hates to be kissed.  When I tuck her in at night I kiss her forehead.  I think this started when Paul was in the hospital.  Germs!  I tell her it's just family germs and those are okay.  It doesn't work.  The good side of that is we don't have to worry about any boy problems (for now).  Kissing is totally gross to her.

Paul will be home on Sunday afternoon from New York.  Autumn likes to sleep with me while her dad is gone. She really looks forward to it, but I don't sleep very well, she is a wild sleeper!   But I can't complain she keeps me warm;)

One thing we do have to go into town and get today is a new passy.  Enoch found it this morning. Usually this would not have happened.  The passy stays on the bed so it's there when she is ready for bed.  I don't know how it escaped.  Still pondering when and how to get rid of this thing.  If you have any ideas i'd like to know.  I'm thinking this summer we'll work on this.  She'll be 3, it's gotta go.  The good news is... no one sees' it because it's only for naps and night.  People would probably give me the evil eye.  I always thought that kids should never have a passy past the age of 2.  That is until I had a child with a passy.  Passy's bring peace to the house:)

I'm asking all of you that read this blog to "follow me" on the top right side of my bog.  I know your out there.  I track you through my counter I know these things!!  I've also met so many people who I never knew followed.  So just do it, okay?

Mail from Granny Grunt

Today the girls were so excited to get mail from the Grandparents.  Thank you Granny Grunt and Grandad!!  Autumn has her valentines done and waiting and her new shirt for Valentines Day has been on the dresser for two days!  She counts down to every event on her calendar.  I used to to that, okay I still do!

Great deals this week at Kroger.  My bill totaled $92.59 and when it was all said and done it was only $22.05!

Okay like I need 6 cans of Ragu and, 6 cans of Manwich and 6 boxes of Betty Crocker Brownies! But when the price is right and under .50 or free, you get it!  My Ocean Spray juice was free along with my yo-plus yogurt.  When cereal is only .69 a box you stock up!  My supply has been getting low this winter. I stock up in the summer and use it up in the winter. (were seasonally selfemployted) It feels great to be able to start stocking up again on my surplus.  I love being able to go to my panty to grocery shop.  Can I get an amen from my coupon shopper friends!?

Oh yeah, great deals at Meijers the week.

Chex Mix-free

Betty Crocker frosting-free

Campbell soups only .40

Betty Crocker warm delights only .25

Super Pretze fils only .64

Mrs. T Pieroges only .64

Now go do some grocery shopping!!

Braving the Weather

The wind was a blow'n and it was freezing out today.  The girls and I hit the road North to the Nazarene church to have Brunch with Santa. (Paul went to the YMCA to check it out for Sunday Services.)  It was a special treat.  We had a pancakes and sausage breakfast and the girls got there photo taken with Santa.  Lillie went right up to him and sat on his lap... I was sooo surprised.  She didn't let a smile out though.  

Then of course they went on with there normal KidsZone program.  That's Autumn in the 2nd row.

The girls in there new Christmas Dress'

These eye will melt your heart!  Lillie was so funny.   I gave her, her new Christmas dress, and she took it out of the bag,  and she looked it over and she said, "that's Santa's".

Tonight we went to Walmart.  Autumn mentioned that we need to get some cookie dough for Santa's cookie (Autumn knows that we are Santa and Mrs. clause.  We've never played Santa with her.)  I turned around and patted Paul's belly and said, " Santa Loves his cookies" and Paul then turned to me and slapped my butt and said, "  Yes, Mrs. Clause likes cookies too".   Autumn cracked up.  That just how we joke in our house about Santa.

Surprise Gone Bad...

Autumn had her Santa workshop today at school.  She bought gifts for all of us.  They were neatly wrapped and under the tree. (You know what's coming don't you!)  Autumn was in the shower and Paul and I were watching something together on youtube.  Lillie is opening her present!!  AHHH!  She was so excited when she opened it.   (A stuffed Horse)  We tried to take it way before Autumn found out, NOT HAPPENING!  We stuck it up high and Paul was going to fix it later and put it back.  Maybe Autumn wouldn't notice?  Not a chance.  She Noticed first thing.  She begin to cry... Lillie had ruined it.  Once she stopped crying we talked her in to redoing the gift so she could give it to her.  As you can see from the photo,  Lillie is most grateful.

It's just to hard to wait until Christmas...  from now on, nothing goes under the tree!