This weekend, we went to Hailey and spent the weekend with the Duerre's. We had such a great time. It was really bittersweet- though. Realizing how much we missed them and wishing they were closer again. The kids are all grown up now. It's crazy how much time has flown by.

One night, we had a babysitter and enjoyed a night out. During the day we went to a beautiful area in the mountains and "fished" and explored. Then we went with them to their church on Sunday.

You want me to touch that?

Chad caught a few fish and let the boys get the pic...

The weather was amazing while we were there. This was a perfect reflection in the water of the mountains. Fall was at its very best.....God was at His best.

the kids had a great time playing together and yes- we did have a few fall-ins.


The weekend before last we went to the pumpkin patch.

carving the pumpkins

She just keeps growing those cheeks, .....and chins.

What? Everyone is actually looking at me - WITH their eyes open? We'll work on smiles next time. :) My lil' pumpkins.....

Libby's cheeks actually look like a pumpkin.

This is Jer's dad and his new coat......Luke saw it and said, "Papa, is that Chico?" (which is Scrub's dog. ) We laughed until our sides hurt.

Jer said his back was hurting after carrying this big girl for about 30 minutes.....

Picking out pumpkins..


Busy weeks ahead. We have our race this weekend and parent conferences next week. Tonight I have a pirate music program at school. Lots more to say but not time to do it.....but still....life is good.

Despite the possible throbbing ear infection I think I have.

sick, sick, sick

I tried to download pics but my computer isn't having it....


Well, we've had a week of the sickies.....and I'm sick of it. It's everywhere. I've had 8-10 absences the last 2 days of school and 5 kiddos gone all week last week. Ian had a bug on Monday of last week. I picked him up from the babysitter's and he threw up all in the car- with no signs or warning except= "I don't feel good Mommy. I think I'm going to throw up." (1.5 seconds later-Niagara falls....)
So I stayed home with him the following day, sanitizing everything and praying that no one else, especially the baby, would catch it. He just kept asking me if I would take care of him. When I went to take the trash out and came back in, he says, "Mom. It doesn't look like you're taking care of me...?" lol. Everyone just wants to be loved and comforted when they are sick. Even when we are grown, we feel that way!
So he seemed fine by mid-day but still didn't have an appetite. Then I went to pick up Luke and libby that night and again he threw up all in the car when I was backing out of the babysitter's.
But by evening, he was begging to wrestle with dad and it seemed to wear off. The next few days he went to daycare with little appetite and then Friday I picked them up and we were going to go camping in the living room. Out of no where- he broke out in this horrible fever and was just groaning in pain. Then he sat up and said he couldn't move his neck. Great. So we thought it was fluish. He had a fever all night and every few hours would yell from his room..."Can someone give me a huggie? Mom, Dad! I want a huggie!!" By morning his fever had gone down and he ended up sleeping until noon. Then a sluggish day- while a hard core cold seems to move in. He was really congested and coughing (which is what many of my students have). Then Sunday the cold traveled to his eye- with goo seeping out of it. I was so nervous for pink eye, but it wasn't. Then Monday- just crabby, congestion. Tuesday, babysitter calls and says Luke has a fever. (sigh). Another week of this?
I am so thankful that I haven't caught it and neither has Libby......yet.

At Jer's work, one of their clinicians has quit and left a huge hole in one of the clinic's responsibilities. They have a contract to do evaluations at the detention center. So Jer's super has asked him to take a few shift to help out until they get someone. Yes- we always could use extra money- but even having the money does not make it worth it to not have him around. The boys ask all night where he is and I have to play referee alone, plus- I miss him. This weekend he played in a Frisbee disc tournament with his friend so I had the kids all weekend (our shut in weekend) by myself. Which is fine. But last night he had to work until 9, and after picking up the kids with another sick note I was dreading what the evening might bring.
I was pleasantly surprised. Ian (after much hand washing and sanitizing every few seconds) helped me make pigs in a blanket with little smokies. He loved have a job to roll out the dough and cut them into triangles. He concentrated so hard. Then we made a cake for dessert. We ate dinner, got a bath, read some books and I got all three kids down in a row, after a pleasant night together. When I was in Libby's room nursing her, I was thinking about the day and who would stay home with Luke if he was sick, sub plans, etc. Feeling overwhelmed, I rocked and listened to the lullabies. My friend gave me this great c.d. and one of the songs was this calm, soothing version of "My grace is sufficient..." You know the verse.
My grace is sufficient. My strength is made perfect in your weakness. -2 Corinthians 12:9.

It reminded me how little my stresses were. Yes, maybe I had sick children, but He is enough. He will get us through it. His strength is all we need. Plus- I keep reminding myself of how blessed we are to live in a country where medical care is so available compared to many places around the world. Can you imagine living in an era or place in which a sick child could easily mean a dead child? Unfathomable.
Anyway- we gotta go check Luke and see what his status is.
And today I'll remember- His grace is sufficient.