Christmas in November

The angel said to them...."I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!" Luke 2:10-14

We decorated our Christmas tree early this year, on November 15th! At a women's breakfast, Marcia Ramsland (http://www.organizingpro.com/) spoke and reminded us that there were only 3 1/2 weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

So, we didn't waste any time.

Besides, we like having the decor up from Thanksgiving to Russian Christmas (Pete's mom is full Russian/Ukranian and grew up celebrating Orthodox Christmas, which often lands on the day that is noted for when Wise Men arrived, Epiphany)

We decorate with the four of us, and whoever else would like to join us - this year it was lolo and lola. We say a blessing for the giver of each ornament we put on the tree.

Exciting Fun (title by Aidon)

"I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you." -Isaiah 46:4

I relate to that scripture as I reflect back on how my 39th year was celebrated the past few weeks.

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My dad and mom's 3 girls, all the grandkids, and loved ones, met at a Tea House restaurant to gather for Minda's birthday...and I was pleasantly surprised that the family celebration was also for me! That Tea House was on my list of places to go!!

For the joy of human love,

Brother, sister, parent, child,

Friends on earth and friends above;

For all gentle thoughts and mild:

Lord of all, to thee we raise This our hymn o f grateful praise.

-Folliott Pierpoint, "For the Beauty of the Earth".

The evening of my actual birthday, we enjoyed Sea Horses at the Birch Aquarium:
Another day; my sis Marn, the boys, and I hung out at the beach at dusk:

Pete took a vacation day and we enjoyed my birthday cupcakes. Mmmmm. Now, I see why my sis Missy and cousin Chaz go out of their way for cupcake dessertiers!

The family celebration Pete and I planned watching the youth theater production of HONK! :) My immediate family cancelled out one by one due to health and illness leaving their tickets available just before. I'm thankful for friends that are not offended by last minute invitations.

These guys have been friends for 21 years now. they've become dear family friends. Now the family:

and the kiddies...

Take #2 on the "Yellow Balloon"

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Psalm 19:1 Our boys saw my post of Pete and I on the helium balloon, and wondered where THEIR pictures were! Okay. Okay. Here come the pictures of our high rise time as a family!

LoOking skyward - silly.

what's just above:

We fly as high as the Washington Monument and higher than the Statue of Liberty!

Harvest Fest

Our tradition is to giddy up on over to the Harvest festival in customary western wear. Here are the boys trotting over to meet up with friends. All the action was a blur!

Gettin' Ready for Harvest

The day before the Harvest festival, our home fellowship gathered and many of the children came in costume :) here they are before he study began!

JoyFULL days

many October days were simple and joyful. I enjoyed joining Aidon in his JogAThon. He ran-walk-sprinted a whopping 9 laps (over 2 miles!). The day before...at practice, Aidon mustered up the strength for one lap, then encircled with support from his classmates as he sat out the second lap. The last day of the month, was birthday cupcakes:
Josh at a visit to the harvest pumpkin adorned Park this october.
While Aidon was jog-a-thoning, Josh was celebrating the Harvest with classmates:
Cowboy Josh

PJ breakfast

A nice end to a fun weekend. Breakfast in our disney PJs.

Happy 6th Birthday!

Here we are at Mickey's House on the First day of being SIX years old! Story to continue soon...

The fall season is upon us and what a blessing that the weather has been just a tad bit cooler lately. This morning was overcast and cool -- just right for heading out to the farm! We checked out the candy barrels, farm zoo, petting kraal, ponies, and pumpkin crops:

The four of us with our pumpkin of choice:

We were so please to see the boys pick our family pumpkin together then work together to carry it over to Pete and myself. Here they are with Pete joining in with the "hauling":

This is the pumpkin Aidon thought was the biggest on the lot:

We stopped by the store and picked a couple of candies from the barrels:

Mmmm:

Kicking back on pony Sonny:

Loving on a baby rabbit:

Watching Aidon hug and cuddle a baby goat was a pleasure for mom and dad too:

Can't wait to carve that pumpkin!

It's Carving Time

The kids marked the pumpkin's face and daddy carved! We read the pumpkin gospel while we made our lantern. We learned how God cleans out our Icky sin when we confess and repent... and He makes us white as snow.
Here's the finale at bedtime:

and the finished product:

Simple Pleasures

October is "kids free" and employee appreciation month at the park! family enjoyed complementary rides on attractions! Pete and I enjoyed some "alone-time" with the view above the San Pasqual Valley at 500 feet. We were the only ones on this balloon ride :)

I highly recommend this yellow balloon ride! We rode a free flight balloon years ago over Rancho Santa Fe, and this is similar, at a fraction of the cost!