Pumpkins

Despite the harrowing time at Papa's Pumpkin Patch, I still  let each of the boys choose a gourd and a pumpkin to bring home. I think the ladies at the register take pity on me when we check out with two wagons full of pumpkins and gourds and a train of antsy little boys. I think they never charge me full price. They are supposed to measure each item to determine how much it costs but they just guess to get us out of there quickly. Bless them.

Aren't they pretty? 

Fortunate

This is one of those obnoxious posts about loving life. I have to write them every once in a while because even though life is hard and crazy and there are so many moments of disappointment and feeling like I'm dropping the ball, it's also pretty amazing. This fall has been busy but so good. I started a graduate program which takes me out of town every 3rd weekend. I'm still learning to cope with being the president of the school board and being the president of the young women organization at church. I joined a community women's group that I love and I'm still nominally in charge of a book club that I love. I have friends and a family that I adore. I'm stressed a lot of the time. My kids are crazy a lot of the time. I am the worst at keeping track of paperwork that comes home in backpacks but my kids' teachers haven't disowned me yet. I have so much to be grateful for. Here are a few very random pictures of things that have made me feel fortunate.

Papas Pumpkin Patch Pummels Parent; "Please Protect Progeny!" Protests Participant

Sometimes, I do things which seem brave only to realize later that they were crazy or stupid. I took all the boys to Papas Pumpkin Patch in Bismarck again. Alone.

Badlands Boys

My Sister-in-law Rebecca and nephew Kaleb drove sixteen hours to spend the weekend with us. That's some serious love and dedication. Kaleb is a nature lover so of course we headed out the Badlands. As a result, you get to endure yet another series of North Dakota nature photos. Sorry, can't help. I'm in love with this place. This time I just took pictures of the scenery and human wildlife but we did see prairie dogs, bison and turkeys. At one point during the drive one of the boys mentioned that two prairie dogs they saw must be married. Kaleb broke the news that prairie dogs don't get married. My boys were aghast, "Then how do they have babies if the don't get married?!?"
Luckily, we have recently read a book about the facts of life with our boys. It was very frank and straightforward and as a result certain children have been looking at us funny when Marc and I kiss or hug. Anyway, I responded to the question with, "Remember the book we read about how babies are made? Prairie dogs make babies the same way but they just don't get married first." Understanding dawned on David John's face. "Oh!", he said, "I see. They just have to spend time together!" Rebecca and I tried really hard not to laugh. You can now add "spend time together" to your list of euphemisms. You're welcome.

First Snow

We got our first snow early this year. October 11th. Tobias and I went outside to catch snowflakes and marvel at the lacy crystals. They were just beautiful. I showed Tobias how to catch them on his tongue which was pretty much the funniest thing ever. I'm not ready for it to snow every day yet, but I didn't really mind. It's funny how perspective changes when you love the place you live. Even a place where it sometimes snows October through April.

Tobias was so excited!