There were several times today that I stopped and wondered if I really heard what I thought I heard.

 We were listening to a Patch cd and Sissy Seagull said it well for me, "I feel like my brain is a frenzy of feathery fluff!"  Yep...that described me...after not much sleep and six chattering, busy children...who...on all days...did not sleep in.

It is Saturday!!!

"That pancake is as big as my head!"

"I'll take coffee!"

Ted texted at 9:00am, "Are you awake?" 

Are you kidding?  Breakfast was done and cleaned up by then and I was having a cup of coffee between a couple bouts of peacemaker.  One of which I actually said, "Because I trump you. I am the Mom and I gave permission!  You need to change your attitude or you may go to your room."

Ted came home from an early morning over-time and asked, "How long till you are ready to go?" Oi!

We started our adventure to the loud cries of requests for a Patch cd, to which Ted said, "I'll put it in as long as you will be quiet so you can hear it."  From the back seat a little voice says, "Um, Mr. T., can we laugh?"

"You are touching me."

"You know where you are going, right?"

"Do you know how to work the gps or not?"

As we waltzed around the zoo...

"Oh...look...look at that animal's poo."  Thank you, I'd rather not.

A little boy about 2 years walking and tapping the wall continued tapping as he passed us...tapping our knees.  His Daddy says, "Stop touching people!" and Ted and I burst out laughing. 

He was cute and it was funny!

"Can we go to the next place now?"

As we made mental note of where the bathroom was on our way to the prairie dogs, a lady is telling her friend, "That is the nastiest bathroom ever...there is poo on the floor."  Ted and I looked at each other with concern...we have six children in our care.  Great.  Just great.

Waiting while the children played at the playground,  we heard more than one time,

"One more minute to play, then we are going!  I mean it this time...just one more minute!"

"Are we going to get a snack?"

"I wonder if I spit, if the fish will eat it? Hey...look...they did!"

"Ted, it is time to go, isn't it?"

"Hey, look at that poo!"

"This is the funnest day ever!"

And the words that melted our hearts...

"Thank you for taking us to the zoo, getting us lunch, and making tacos for supper! 

And the snacks and the cookies too!"

When you pay attention...you hear alot of crazy stuff. 

I wonder what people heard me say today...

when I wasn't paying attention to what I was saying...

and when I thought I was! 

A September Saturday with six children that started at 6:30am!

As we traveled along on the way to our adventure, I couldn't help but think..."Oh beautiful for spacious skies...for amber waves of grain..." I couldn't sing because we were listening to the Giant Killer!

Since today was Farmtastic, we had friends stay with us so their parents could spend time with the teens.  We took these monkeys on an adventure to the zoo!

They were busy and ran from place to place.  It was a beautiful day for a drive and a stroll!

We ate lunch at the golden arches and made sure we had snacks.

The day was filled with interesting things...and this one was very unexpected...

the wienermobile on I90 headed east!

Finding a little creativity at the end of the week...

powered by a cup of coffee and homemade oatmeal raisin cookie...almost like breakfast!

Ladies retreat is next weekend and I have been pulling all the pieces together...with the help of family and friends!

Soul Sisters...in Stilettos and Slippers

How about some sisters in silouette form?

Inspiration from a stamp...it is that little punch of fun...a work in progress.  She will be be tall...life-like...with her stack of retreat luggage next to her...

welcoming all the ladies that "just need to get away with their sisters in Christ"! 

And I didn't forget her feet...it is all about the shoes...and...well...an artist can't reveal all her secrets!

"That was fun!"

We called Aunt Jenn when we were done with school, picked her up, and took her to the apple orchard.  It was the perfect day for a short drive and apple cider donuts!

The sights, sounds, and smells of the apple orchard on a fallish afternoon...refreshing! 

Baby goats sunbathing!

Kids being kids!

Raspberries!

Pumpkins on the vine!

Young trees with several apples!  And we found out that we were not supposed to be this close to the trees.  They have changed some things and have added a couple signs that we didn't see as we wandered from place to place.  As you can see, we were looking not touching!  A little tip...watch for signs at the apple orchard...seek them out and read them before you start meandering the grounds...they may be small and not in your face...but you don't want to be responsible for compromising any fruit! 

(Yes, I felt like a schmuck and apologized to the nice, watchful lady and to our little group.  I led our meandering ways.)

Apples are used to make cider slushies!  And we really enjoy those!

And the cider donuts...oh my! 

"The trees are sensitive and it is important not to be in the orchard."  I guess the u-pick area is not where we were!  Please...don't compromise the fruit!  Oh dear!  It is funny to me now as I type...not so much yesterday.  I feel bad about all those apple trees we climbed and hung on during my growing up years.  I was never told that apples trees were that sensitive before.  Hmmm.

Jenn and I took pictures...of everything else...but none of us...here is proof that we were there...missing donuts and our shoes!

A short little drive to the orchard in the country as a reward for all of our hard work.  A lesson in reading signs.  Yummy treats.  Time with some of our family.

That was fun!

From our 10 year old

She asked if she could cut some flowers for a bouquet.  We looked at which flowers she wanted to use (not the mums or asters, please!), and then I gave her some scissors and a jar of water.  This is what she brought in for the table.

A perfect mix for our fallish supper table!

Because I'm nice like that.

In celebration of National Cream-filled Donut Day...

and because I had to drop Chevy off to be groomed...

I came home a different way...a way that runs right past the donut shop.

It was too funny...

Alisa came out to spoil, I mean join me in, the morning quiet of the 6:30 hour.  I looked at her funny, "You don't have to be up yet. You could snuggle in bed for a little while longer."  She blinked at me, "I know, but I won't be able to fall back asleep."  She crawled up under a blanket on the chair.  Five minutes later...Ashlynn comes padding out.  "Look at you all awake so early!  How come?  I have had to work hard to get you out of bed each morning." I said.  She dropped her chin and replied, "When we have to set the alarm clock and we know it is going to go off...we try to wake up before...so we don't have to listen to it!  You'll have to wake up Teddy...I shut it off."
I was getting tired of being the alarm clock...beeping out their wake time and sounding off like the snooze button by having to go back into their rooms.  What happened to our bounce out of bed between the hours of 5:30 and 6:30 am ready to conquer the world children?
They are growing up...that is what has happened!
We went back to setting the alarm clock last night...and it is going to be funny to see how long they will try to beat the alarm clock!

"It's positive thinking day today, Mom!"

I am not going to be able to keep up with all these crazy days!  But I will try to be positive!

You do your part each day...and I will do mine!

Wednesday...National Cream-filled Donut Day

Thursday...Make a Hat Day

We get a couple days off...

and I'm not really looking forward to Monday...Talk Like a Pirate Day!???!

I'm pretty sure...it is going to be a humdinger of a day!  How's that for positive?!

Sometimes we just sit and listen...

This morning...it was cooler out for break...seriously...hats and gloves and scarves?

"If you guys are going to keep talking about animals at the table, I am going to become a vegenarian.  Um, I mean a vegetarian." said Ashlynn.  She does not appreciate any extra information regarding whatever meat is used in and for meals.  She has literally lost her appetite after finding out the roast was called a "rump roast".  The other two chair fillers howled with laughter...and poor Ash...couldn't eat another bite.  I know answer in generalities when quizzed by the ever quick to tease boys!  Now Teddy gets a kick out of asking, "What kind of animal did this meat come from?" as we ate bbq pork sandwiches last night from pork roast.  Alisa piped up, "I think I would like to be a fruitatarian 'cause I like more fruits than vegetables."

...and then we shake our heads and laugh!

We tried them!

A perfectly good Oreo cookie...

meets another favorite cookie of milk...chocolate chip!

Surround the Oreo cookie with chocolate chip cookie dough and bake at 350 till golden.

Cool...so you don't burn your fingers or tongue!

Oh my! 

 Ted took a container in to work today...and we saved a few at home.

This first batch spread out and were quite big.  I had to use a knife half way through baking to "smush up" the sides and make sure the Oreo was covered.  The "hockey puck" look is what I was going for...rather than a "floppy garden hat".  A chocolate chip cookie with a surprise inside...from Ted's grunts and groans...it doesn't get a whole lot better than that....until he mentioned out loud, "I wonder what those cookies would taste like deep-fried!?  Or...I suppose I could just eat a spoonful of grease...

probably the same health benefit."

What a beautiful reminder to keep on our autumn table!

This was my view at the breakfast table...how appropriate for a Monday morning...which started out with some little rumples in some spirits!  Just because there were a few bad spots...didn't mean the whole day would be thrown out!  And our devotion challenge today got those rumples smoothed out!

This beautiful bowl was a gift from a dear couple who have been a wonderful example and encouragement to our family.  They have demonstrated the fruits of the Spirit in the good times and in the bad times.  They always have a hug, a thought, or a story that teaches or reminds us to follow the Savior. 

We are thankful for this thoughtful gift...

and they'll continue to teach and challenge us to walk in the Spirit...

even when they aren't with us in body!

"Mom, it is Chocolate Milkshake Day!"

Well...then I guess we will have to celebrate it!  And on Wednesday...Cream-filled Donut Day...is also a must according to Ashlynn!  It has to be close to the first day of autumn...the squirrels are concerned with building that "extra layer for winter" even now!