~The JOY of the season~

This year, I went with gold and silver.

Captured wonder and awe

~Sparkle, Glisten, Shine~

Singing for the Christmas party

This is Spencer's hero, Brian Jay. They share a mutal love and knowledge of electricity.

Spencer and his friends, Jonathan and Keith

Chandler and his friends, Daubrey, Sonia, Jacob and Charity.

~OBA Christmas Play~

Our play this year was called "A Christmas Carol"

Spencer had a duet with Sonia Whatley singing "Love Reached Out"

Chandler played a street smart kid named Nick.

Program practice

Spencer practiced hard to play, "What Child Is This?"

~Decorating for Christmas~

Some like to work

and work...

and get frustrated and work...

others like to play and drink Dad's coffee

This looks much better at night, when all the lights are ON.

~A Baking Day~

What fun this day was... Rhonda came over and showed me how to make the perfect pie crust. She makes the BEST! Thanks my friend for showing me the tricks of the trade.

And here's the queen.

Ummm... yes I still lick the beaters!

Wax paper and a wooden rolling pin is the only way to go.

I made the apple cut-outs, she did the rest.

~Field Trip to Vala's~

Every year, the elementary kids at school go to one of Omaha's best and biggest fall attractions. Vala's has been a treat for us for several years. From the home-made sweet potato chips to the the bumpy hayride, the pumpkin patch is a great way to usher autumn in. Check out their cool site at http://www.valaspumpkinpatch.com/

The morning's first light beaming upon harvest bounty...this started my day off with joy.

City kid on country toy.

Man, this thing is complicated, I think I will just stick to my skateboard.

Some the K-6th graders at Omaha Baptist Academy

~As American as apple pie~

Baking is one my favorite fall and winter past times. It is relaxing and the benefits are usually delicious. I spent an afternoon peeling, coring and slicing a bucket full of apples. What I didn't use in the pie, I froze for a later date. Pie~what a wonderful way to enjoy the season!

Light and flaky crust is a baker's must!

The finished product-lasted one day.

Chandler was always making us laugh. He still does. On any given day, he would come out of his room "dressed up" as some new character. Even today, what he wants to be when he grows up, changes daily. He was tagged the name Chan the Man, and G'ma Schaefer called him "woolly bully" Ummm... I think that is the name of a song from the '50's. Super-hero, Bob the Builder or NFL football player, Chandler was always having fun. His clowning around made everyone laugh and then occasionally got him into trouble. His slogan at birth should have been, "watch out world, here I come!"

Flexible! And I am guessing, hungry.

Yo,yo,yo! What up dawg? This is the homey with a diaper look.

Don't mess with me, I have a gun and I'm not afraid to use it.

Look out, Brett Favre! Could he look more intimidating-and cute! I loved the little bowl cut, he was sporting here!

And here they are now!

They have moved on from Barney to the Nintendo Wii. Life goes fast, hang on tight, the ride kids take you on is sometimes bumpy, sometimes smooth. My boys inspire me, make me laugh, and bring more joy into my life than I could have ever dreamed of!

~Memory Lane~

Spencer is sensitive and serious. Long ago, he told us he wanted to be an architect or do something in the field of electricity. That has never changed. He is determined-that can be a good and a bad thing. His memory is amazing. Sometimes, I regret that when he reminds me of something I said. Yikes! And what a voice...
Bragging rights are reserved for moms. Besides, focusing on the positive is what blogging is for anyway, right?


Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So..... Yep, Spencer loves music, always has, always will!

Okay, the duckie was one of the first plush toys Spencer was given. HE STILL HAS IT! Oh, and the tape player with attached mic. was just a hint of what was to come.

Awww!!! Getting a little love from G'pa Schaefer.This look is priceless.

Love those plastic covered books, they sustained many a gnaw and a drool!

With so many friends of mine having new little ones recently, well it caused me to really think back to when my own were that small. I miss it! Nope, not having more, but there are those times when I would love to turn the proverbial clock back to when my babies were just that...babies, the small hands as they curl around a finger, the tiny little toothless mouth. That just makes me smile to think of it! The magical laughter coming from another room.

Here are a few pictures I found of Spencer moments. I got a little emotional as I sorted through the many photos, thinking back to those precious days. All those comments from grandmothers, aunts, moms, older sisters, friends with mom experience...they really are true. Cherish every day, they really do grow up SO fast!!!

Two month old Spencer is sitting with his cousins, Wilson, Tyler and Bryn Leppert. Sorry, Alex! You were only a dream at this time!

My absolute favorite season is fall. The warm and cozy colors cannot be matched by any other season. The bounty of God's goodness and his ever constant care of us... how blessed we are.

These are a few of my favorite things:

Soft, oatmeal-colored cable knit sweaters, that favorite pair of jeans, the smell of pumpking pie cooling on the counter and the pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven. Autumn-scented candles glistening in the room as the late afternoon sky begins to glow with hint of the sinking sun. A whistling kettle of boiling water ancipating the pour over hot tea leaves, old slippers, warm fleece blankets, evenings at home, the cold smell of kids as they come inside after playing in the leaves, a pot of steaming homemade bacon/potato soup, friends dropping in with out calling first, backyard soccer games with only the moon as the light......
Hayrides, scary stories, harvests of grain, the word "amber",
old barns, pheasants, college football games, reading books while snuggling under blankets, cinnamon,
the word "cozy"....
Okay, I guess these are more than a few of my favorite things.






I am planning a weekend of peeling, coring, slicing and freezing apples. Fall desserts are the plan!