16 of 52: Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Each year we try to take the girls to a Halloween-Alternative event such as a Harvest or Fall Festival. We don't know if that is going to work out this year or not, so we were happy to have the chance to attend Mickey's Not-So-Scary event at Magic Kingdom. It was raining when we left the house so the kids didn't wear their costumes, but they got a lot of candy, visited with the characters who were out that night, rode some rides....We had a great time all around!

Many of the characters that night were wearing costumes, there was a special fireworks show, parade and a dance party with some very special guests!

And now I just have to try to stay away from this while the girls are at school!...

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

That'll teach me...

I have been talking complaining about the weather for the past few weeks.
I was upset.
It seemed everyone was experiencing "Fall" but me.

Yesterday fall descended on our cheery city.
Finally.
I was LOVING IT all day.
I had every window open; I began my "fall cleaning" (a weak beginning, but I did start) and felt officially approved to finish putting up our fall decor.
I was loving life.
Until last night...

We went out to eat after church and when we left the restaurant,
I was FREEZING!
Swiping half of the kids ice cream after dinner didn't help...
But it was COLD!
I couldn't get in the car and turn on the heat and seat warmers fast enough.
All the while, my husband was laughing at me...

It was 60 degrees.

I didn't care.
It felt like winter to me.

And the kids wore feet pajamas to bed.

Be careful what you wish for.
All of a sudden, sweating by the pool was sounding good.
What's wrong with me?
____________________

On a more serious note (which doesn't show how completely ridiculous I can be), I wanted to share a highlight from church last night.
The service we attend has a great mix of contemporary worship but does not neglect the great traditional hymns which so beautifully communicate praise to our Lord. So many of them are full of such great wisdom and deep theological truths.

Sometimes I love just reading the lyrics....

Thought I'd share one of my favorites...

Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee;
Take my voice and let me sing,
Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee;
Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise;
Take my intellect and use
Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.

Frances R. Havergal, 1874

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1 (NIV)

I love this current arrangement (which is how we sing it at church):

(if you want to listen, be sure to pause the music player on the right...)

15 of 52: Magic Kingdom Express

We are not having "fall" weather yet - but we are experiencing some of the other perks of the season. Short lines at theme parks! Yaaa!
We are trying to take advantage of this time and go to one of the parks each week. If we plan it right, we can get there after school and still stick to a semi-reasonable bedtime. The kids think it's a great way to end a school day (obviously)...so do we, we just have to keep telling them that this lifestyle is not the 'norm'...
Great thing is, the last two times we were at Magic Kingdom, we were able to ride 7 rides in 2 hours...can't beat that!
I'm loving that all the parks are decorated for fall....that means Christmas decorations are just around the corner!

In our family, being tall enough to ride "Splash Mountain" is a Rite of Passage. Samantha finally made it!

It was so bright, I almost didn't get the shot...but if you look closely you can see them...they have their hands up...even Sammie!

A little wet after that...but worth it!

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52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

Wordless Wednesday: My kind of do-it-yourself project!

14 of 52: Clearwater Beach

As a family, we have many favorite places to visit. Some of those places have nothing to do with how spectacular site is, but more to do with the memories we have of our time together at that special spot.

For us, Clearwater, FL is one of those places...although, I do think as a place alone it is pretty great! I can't get enough of the soft, white sand and warm water!
Last month we spent a weekend there - I'm loving that we can get there in about 90 minutes; it sure beats the 4 hour drive to the beach we had while living in Vegas!

Waiting patiently (kind of!) to hit the beach...

Daddy and Sammie

Mommy and Sammie

No waves means less stress for Mom when Kylie is out so far!

In the evenings we'd eat ice cream and get silly in the shops

And that's a perfect weekend for us!!

And when we got home on the last evening, I sent Samantha upstairs to get ready for bed and this is how I found her 20 minutes later...She didn't even make it into her pajamas!

*********************************************************************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog

Wordless Wednesday

A temper tantrum is not a laughing matter.....okay, sometimes it is!

(Don't forget to pause the music player on the right!)

Picnic with Someone Special - 13 of 52

Today was "Picnic with Someone Special" at Samantha's preschool. My husband was looking forward to going...but I gave him the wrong date (oops!)...he gets the honor next time!

Posing this way...

And that...

I need a longer arm!

Okay...got some help!

*********************************************************************

52 Weeks is a year long challenge for YOU to be in a picture once a week for 52 weeks. Moms are typically the ones behind the camera, this is OUR chance to get out in front and be in the pictures with our family.

So, get yourself in the picture every week for 52 Weeks. Be in a picture with one or more or your children and post your "family photo" on your blog every Thursday - don't forget to list your post on MckLinky on Carin's blog