Halloween Party

Luke had a Halloween party to go to Friday night. He is the Hawkeye Fan, along with a bum and Bart Simpson.

Group Photo!!

Hats off to Denise and Rylee, for a great party. It was raining the entire time but the kids still had a good time. It just made it harder for some of the activities. Also, there were 23 boys and girls. It was loud!!

Isn't this the cutest little kitty : )

Costume contest winners!!

Cute little ghost cookies.

"In the Cookie of Life Friends are the Chocolate Chips."

Mail Day

Clare Helen, my cousin, sent me this fun Halloween gift today. She is the most talented and creative person I know, besides my Mom, Aunt Dona, & Aunt Hess, who are related to the both of us.

Here is a close up of the doll, but this picture doesn't do it justice. Then there were cute little notepads she made, Halloween napkins and a magnetic notepad. I LOVE getting fun stuff in the mail especially from Clare. My Mom also brought me back carmel corn from my Aunt Dona. My Grandma used to make it for me all the time, now Aunt Dona is making it for me, now that randma is gone.

"God made us cousins, because he knew our moms couldn't handle us as sisters."

Deer Encounter

My Mom was up in Osage visiting her two sisters. On Saturday they were driving back into town, going about 45mph, and a big buck ran right into the drivers side of the car. The window shattered right onto Mom, while she was driving. Thank the Lord that no one was injured.
It totally amazes me how much damage a deer can do to a vehicle. The scarey thing about this incident is that she didn't see it coming, in front of her, the deer actually ran into them.

Weekend Pix

The two Amy's met up with some co-workers for some TGIF. A great time was had by us all. Thanks again Amy :)

Four Cool boys, on our deck. This is their gang symbol is what they told me. They were getting ready to play some tag outside, in the dark.

Is this the cutest little Hawkeye EVER!!!! This is Olyvia, our neighbor.

Olyvia's Mom took her for a walk and she had to take Elmo. When I looked out the window, they looked so cute(& funny) walking down the sidewalk. This Elmo is about the same size as Lyvi.

Luke & Lyvi doing a little star gazing, on a cool October evening.

Those 2 little beady eye are Criddle's. She was spying on the 2 star gazers.

And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years.-- Abraham Lincoln

Creative Connor

Connor keeps me in a state of wonder, you should be able to get that from this picture. Then you go to conferences, and the descriptive words that came out of the Teacher's mouths almost made me drop to the floor. Leader, Hard-worker, involved makes me wonder...is my little boy actually growing up and maturing...no can't be...life is all about FUN to Connor !!! If it's not fun then what is the purpose....

I believe, that if you have a Teacher who your child knows "Believes" in them through their success' and failure's, in good times and in bad, they are going to make a lasting impact on that child.

Here are a couple of poems, written by Connor:

The Best

I bought a dog

It was actually a hog

It frightened me

So much I said, "I want a Wii"

I took it to the pound

And it laid on the ground

Then it bit me

And licked my knee

The dog is very light

But packed quite a bite

I'm going to end this poetic jest

Because I've now done my best

Sam Miller

Sam is cool

Because he goes to school

He is a hip fellow

Even when he wears yellow

He can count to ten

And he has a hen

Sam Miller is the best

He's better than the rest

Okay, I will let you all ponder those for a couple days. He has two others that I will blog later. In Language Arts they make a book of poems and they illustrate their own. Then the Teacher makes it into a book for them to keep. I am kind of excited to read all of them.

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." ~Dan Rather

In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years. ~Jacques Barzun

Tuesday Talking

Thinking Outside the Box

I am kind of in a fog with my blog. Wow, am I really a poet because I didn't mean for that to come out that way. Anyway, someone intelligent once said, "Nothing exists that hasn't been thought of." That might not be the exact quote but it's close.

Other people say things like, "To achieve it, you must believe it" or "Reality is how you perceive it"

Things are only impossible until somebody shows us how to do them, so what if.....

What if you just sat down and listed all of the "What If's" and the "Yeah buts."

What if the world ended today....

Yeah but.....

What if you could walk on air...

Yeah but.....

What if dogs could talk, would they really still be man's best friend or would we be annoyed?

What if we could eat ANYTHING we wanted, and not gain a pound, would food really be that desirable to us then?

What if there were 26 hours in a day instead of 24, would those 2 extra hours give you more time or less time?

I really think we "yeah but" more than we "what if" throughout our days because most of us look for excuses, instead of a resolution or think negative more than positive.

Just some random rambling. I love this quote...

"It doesn't matter how many say it cannot be done or how many people have tried it before; it's important to realize that whatever you're doing, it's your first attempt at it." ---Wally Amos

Monday Humor

Floodfest 2008

Aerial Photo of Floodfest, thanks to the Fireman's ladder. No, I wasn't able to climb the ladder but my camera was given the opportunity, and can I tell you that he loves heights :)

On this beautiful October day, Harding Middle School, hosted Floodfest 2008. The Student Leadership group wanted to do this to raise money for the Flood Victims.

Rylie(Luke's classmate)

They had alot of family fun activities for kids of all ages. This is the Rock Climbing Wall(obviously, I feel like when I blog, I have to explain so much. I think it is because we you talk you can add so many details, and you don't really realize it. So, if I make you feel stupid, at times, I apologize :) )

I don't know these people BUT I LOVE this photo. How cute, Mom & daughter, enjoying this beautiful October day.

Andrew & Matt

Connor's buddies are finally getting it that I always have camera in hand, so these two walk by me and say "Kodak Moment, Amy"

Is this a chocolate lover's dream.......

We even had a Gecko break dance challenge!!

Look at that bicep!!!! Love this little guy!!

This is my camera's new friend....he wishes we could use that ladder ALL the time!!

This morning when I woke up, I thought I would be volunteering at the concessions at the High School to help some friends out but they were staffed well. So, we loaded up the van with 5 kids(no not all mine) and we headed to Harding to drop them off. They were the Volunteers, but some how Brian and I were roped into staying. I am not complaining, I actually am thankful that we did because they needed it. Anytime you have a "first time" event you forget something so our help was appreciated. It was fun and I was able to chat with so many people, plus the weather was beautiful!!!

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time;
they just have the heart.

I spy with my camera eye....part 2

A lonely little football, wishing he was in the game, being tossed to and fro between the players.

You never know who I might spy through my camera eye, so you better keep a watch out!! I am sure I will hear from this person, who shall remain incognito :)

Is that a TD I spy from #28.......it is.....this young man is an amazing athlete, I think he has scored 95% of our TD's this season. Looking forward to seeing him mature into an even better athlete!!

I spy Landon on the field, no way...see that little star shining above his helmet...that is a little angel watching over him. He has been out all season due to a knee injury.

80's flash back......Fantasy Island......"da plane...da plane"

Do I spy Jack.....I love this little guy....he always knows when I am taking a picture. I see modeling in his future :)

Look real close and you will spy Connor lined up next to the center.

Is that the moon I spy from my camera eye....

Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way.-- Satchel Paige

Love This Cartoon!!

70's in Mid-October

I thought this was very appropriate for a Halloween Month, plus it reminds me of Clare, who is out in California. You know it could be snowing so again "Life is Good"

More Life is Good

Aren't these the cutest. Kathy made stickers to put over the labels of wine and other liquor bottles.

Katy & Kathy

Strike a pose.....beauty is where you find it...VOGUE!!

All you need is friends....life is good

Love the look Courtney :)

Dancin the night away...life is good!

Life is Good

Kathy & Jim
I had the most amazing weekend. My Godmother, Kathy, had a "Life is Good" party for 140 people in her life that basically are a blessing to her in various aspects/stages of her life. My Godfather, Jim, who lives in Houston, with his wife Ginger flew up along with their children, Chris, Courtney, Cody, Caty and Caty's fiance Josh.

They all arrived on Friday night, so I was able to have a few drinks and get to know them better. The funny thing is I haven't seen them for 18 years and it seemed like we have known each other forever!!! When I was growing up I had gone down to Houston, Chris and Courtney were just little then but I so enjoyed them. Then the last time I saw them was at their Grandma's funeral 18 years ago BUT Kathy would come through C.R. every once in a while and keep us posted on what was happening with all of them.

To make a long story short it is like they are old new friends.

Kathy, Caty, Courtney & Cody

Chris, Courtney & Caty

Aren't they cute, Dad & Jim!!

Look who I spied at Trader Joe's, Mom & Courtney....I even see Jim, trying to act like he doesn't know us.

More to come......

“So long as the memory of certain beloved friends lives in my heart, I shall say that life is good.”