Halloween 2009

For Halloween this year we had one garden fairy and one peacock.  Where they come up with these ideas I'm not sure, but once they find what they love, there is no turning back.  I was at a loss as to how I was goign to make Reese into a peacock and the coaxing to be something else wasn't working.  So I went the tutu route.  I made it!

Here is the beginning and the end result.  Pretty simple actually.  And I will probably be doing more.

I don't even have to tell them to pose.  I guess they have had a few photos taken before.

Trick or treat Grandma Barbara and Grandpa Melvin.

We went trick of treating down in the Gig Harbor water front.  So much fun and thousands of people.  The daylight and no rain was nice too.

Trick or treat Papa.

Finished up with cousins at GrandmO's and PapO's.

$9.99

On 9/9/09 Dave Ramsey had a sale for his tickets to his live events.  $9.99 each.  So I bought two.  Now for those of you who don't know who Dave Ramsey is stop reading this and go to http://www.daveramsey.com/. 

Basically he has a philosphy about money.  One that we have applied to our finances at the CheeriO house and God has truely blessed us for it.  Are we perfect?  No.  Do we slip up?  Absolutely.  But we just get ourselves back on track.  "Baby steps" as Dave likes to call it.  We've been debt free for awhile.  (Except for our house) That has been nice.  Paid cash for our vehicles.  That has been nice too.  But there has also been plenty of sacrifices.  For starters when I was pregnant with Rowyn we sold my cute little red Acura Integra which we were upside down in and had to pay the difference and I drove a beater.  By beater I mean we called it our Dave mobile.  Our debt free car that only some times started.  That was ok although having to leave at 3:30 in the morning to get to work 30 minutes away not sure if I was going to make it there was sometimes worrisome, especially since we got rid of my cell phone at the time.  (Another expense to cut).  We were intense about it.  Once I had Rowyn we still drove that mold growing, window leaking thing.  Only now I had a new born that screamed 24/7.  Not great when you have a screaming baby and the car won't start to get you home.

That is just a small portion of our whole story so far.  We have made a few sacrifices.  But walking in to buy that Tahoe with cash was great.  Putting money into my kids college fund feels good too.  All of this to say, I LOVE DAVE RAMSEY!

So I thought buying these tickets would be a great chance for Ben and I to get that "gazelle intesity" that Dave often inspires.  Only, work had been slow and Ben finally got something to do that weekend.  So I took my mom.  We drove all the way to Portland, leaving early (of course) only to get there and....I forgot the tickets on the fridge!  AHHHH!

As I stood there trying not to cry in front of 9,000 people (and my mother trying not to laugh at me because she knew I would have taken her down right there), my mind raced.  We didn't have enough time to drive back home and get the tickets.  Larry McKinley had given me his address in Vancouver.  Maybe I could drive to his house to print them off.  I just stood there.  My eyes welling up with tears.  I called Ben, "Do NOT leave the house.  I am going to see if you can fax them the tickets.  Pray that it will work."  It wasn't that chilly that day.  But I had worked myself up into a cold shiver.  Finally the doors opened.  And wouldn't you know it, they had roll call.  After I spew my life story onto this poor lady as I fight back tears she looks at me blankly, "Your name?"  "Ummmm" I quiver, "Lacy Orser," I answer almost as a question.  "Here is your packet."  PHEW.  We made it!

The food was gross, the coffee was awfull.  But Dave was awesome!  I had fun, and it was great to get excited again.  Next time Ben definitely has to come.

In this moment

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." John 16:33.

Saw this prayer on another Mother/Wife's blog today...and I needed it.

"Father, you know that I am weak, and you know that I cannot do this work without You today. Like King David, help me to encourage myself through Your word and sing songs to You in praise and thanksgiving. May it not only lighten my heart, but the hearts of my husband and children. There is so much heaviness and so many attacks; be our refuge and strong tower today as we bless Your name.

In the name of Your precious Son, Jesus.

Amen."

Daddy pumpkin carving

Rowyn had a pumpkin carving date with daddy at her school.  Any time with daddy is special time.  She has always been a daddy's girl.

She got the gross job of cleaning it out.  She also did the design herself.

She even won the award for "biggest eyes".  Good job Rowyn!

Fall

Just playin' outside in the leaves.  What fun.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

This year we decided to try a different pumpkin patch. We have gone to one out in Allyn for years, but we weren't very impressed last year. So we went and checked out one in Buckley, Maris Farms.  So glad we did. It was perfect. The weather was great. Sunny and gorgeous. There were all sorts of rides, animals, and tons of pumpkins. It is a definite do-over for us next year.

Of course we had to checkout the animals.  My girls love their animals.

Girls riding the ponies.  At one point Reese pushed my hand away from her back.  (Does she know she is TWO!  She is all about doing it by "hewseff").

The had really cool bouncy pillow (their words not mine).  The girls were so excited to jump.

It took Reese a little while to jump on with all those other kids jumping on it.

LOVIN' IT!

Reese even rode on the monster truck with Ben.  Was there ever any doubt?

I didn't even realize the name of that cow...but it kinda fits her!

Rowyn on the other hand did NOT want to ride this cow train.  But after it was over she was glad she did.

Time to go pick out our pumpkin!

Found 'em!!

Such a fun day!!

Rowyn's first field trip

I got to take Rowyn on her first official school field trip.  To the Pumpkin Patch!

The school was great about siblings coming too.  So Reese got to join.

They had all kinds of animals.  Reese loved these two pigs that were very playful.  She now wants pigs of her own...in a little while.

Rowyn with some of her classmates on the tour.

Reese and Ahva hit it off too.

Picking out their pumpkins.

These were Rowyn's favorite animals.  The two little lambs were precious.  Of course she wants a lamb now.

So much fun these two "stisters" (as Reese says it).