Happenings

In addition to doing a lot of this. . .

 

 

 We've been doing a lot of this. . .

And this. . .

 

We also went to the county fair to see the pictures Grace entered in the photography department.  She got two blue ribbons and a red.  The series of pictures she took of Joseph received one of those blue ribbons.  We also saw the animals (the boys liked the "reptiles" the best), picked up a bunch of swag (much to Daddy's dismay) and ate elephant ears (big pieces of fried and cinnamon-sugared dough--we divided 2 amongst the 9 of us).  Daddy also bought each of the kids 2 carnival rides (much to Mommy's dismay--so spendy).  Time got away from us and even though we left fairly early in the morning and had packed a snack and eaten elephant ears, when the clock struck one, Paul asked, "Are we going to eat lunch here?"

I said, "No way.  Our pocket book is already bleeding. We're going home to eat lunch."

"Well, when are we going home then?" Paul asked (with only a bit of desperation in his voice).

"When people start going crazy," Matt replied.

We left soon after that, but when we finally trekked all to way back to the van and loaded all eight kids, folks were getting a little testy.  Someone, who shall remain nameless, but clearly was not kidding about being hungry, bit someone else's head off about an inconsequential matter.  Then Daddy said, "Well, we're starting to go crazy, so I'll guess we'll go home."

We've taken some nice evening walks together as a family.  God has given us some glorious sunsets for our viewing pleasure during these walks .  The boys even spotted a small snake as it slithered into the rocks for the night.  Joel touched it--eww!  Boys!

We celebrated Rosh Hoshanna.  Grace baked the traditional sweet challah bread, shaped in a circular loaf to symbolize the wish for a well rounded, peaceful new year.  The bread spirals up toward Heaven, just as our prayers do. Matt and I took the kids to throw bread crumbs into the water after dinner.  We reminded them that the crumbs represent our sins and that in Christ, God washes our sins away. (If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse up from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9)

 In addition to all of these things, we celebrated two birthdays, spread a cold amongst every single person in our family and started our school year with all its accompanying craziness.  Getting back into the Fall schedule with all of the extra activities and obligations is always difficult for me, but especially this year when I'm not yet running at full speed after having Joseph.  I feel like the train is at the station, the conductor is yelling, "All aboard!" but I'm still at home and I haven't even started packing yet.  Yet the train is leaving whether or not I'm ready, so I'll just have to roll with it.