Bonham Halloween Party

The smell of fresh made breadsticks, potato soup and cinnamon rolls filled our nostrils as we entered Nana & Papa Bonham's for the Halloween Party. Costumes are a must and in my opinion, Elvis took the cake this year! The kids (and some big kids) did Karaoke, others played Mofia and I think we all ate too much! Good times...good times. It's so fun to see how the kids grow and change each year and how the younger ones fill the shoes of the ones growing up. And then there's the rest of us that just refuse to grow up! Thanks for the great party!

For this is the Fall of the Year...

"...Good-bye, sweet flowers! Through bright Summer hours You have filled our hearts with cheer. We shall miss you so, And yet you must go, For this is the Fall of the year..." by Ellen Robena Field

These were the fruits of our labor this year...way too many zuchinni, lots of tomatoes, yummy corn and lovely flowers to enjoy. The are almost gone and we are already wishing for summer again!

Witch's Night Out!

One of our favorite things about Halloween time is seeing the Witches at Gardener's Village. This year Lizzie, Grace and I joined the rest of the Bonham gal's for a fun night out to see the Halloween decor and then have dinner at Chili's. I kept having flashbacks of being there when Grace and Lizzie were really small. Jenny reminded me how Lizzie kept shouting, "Momma, this witch has BIG boobies!" Boy they sure grow up fast!

The Joys Fall Brings!

Anyone that knows our little family knows how Craig loves to hunt! Craig went on a hunt of a lifetime this year with his dad who has been putting in points for this area for several years. He says it was one of the most memorable hunts ever. The weather was scorching, the food was pretty bad, but the hunting made it all worth it. One week in Arizona with a lot of sweat, blood and tears (okay, maybe no tears) and they harvested this monster bull. I stared at the meat in the fridge for 4 days before I finally attempted to produce something my kids would eat. Mission accomplished! We put it over garlic mashed potatoes with gravy and the whole family loved it!

"Walk to School Day"

Today was "Walk to School Day." Since the girls go to school at different times, we decided to walk home together instead. I met them at the flagpole when the bell rang and we began our way to long journey home. There are no sidewalks between us and the school so we decided to take the back roads through a few neighborhoods. 3 miles and 1 hour later, we arrived home. Thank goodness for the snacks and CJ's funny faces to keep us all on the move. It was fun but the girls agreed with each other that they "were glad we only do this one time every year!"

Where will you stand?

I must admit I didn't think I'd ever post a political message but after much thought and consideration I decided to step up onto my soap box. I must attest that I do not know as much as I should about the presidential candidates. I know bits and pieces on "the issues". Some I like about both sides, some I don't and some I absolutely cannot stand by and allow myself to be silent about. One issue, that hasn't been discussed much this election, is one that I'm afraid matters more to me than the rise and fall of the economy and drilling for oil...

To illustrate my point I'd like to share the following clip my sister sent to me. I hope you will all take the time to watch it. It made me cry. http://www.catholicvote.com/

When casting our votes this November I hope we will remember what we each hold dear. For me that is family, people and relationships. Consider the fact that Obama has pledged to use FEDERAL funding to help pay for abortions. In 2007 he voted against banning partial birth abortion. If you've never fully understood what a partial birth abortion entails then please read a detailed description here: Please prepare yourself before you read. It is very detailed. http://www.abortionfacts.com/literature/literature_9313pb.asp

I don't know a lot about foreign policies, free trade or gun control but I do know that LIFE is paramount. For anyone that has even held a newborn baby and looked into their perfect face and considered who is this person would someday become, I think you can relate. The idea of using federal funding to end a living soul is inexecusable and in my humble opinion, someone that can diminish the value of a life so easily should not be elected as our President.

I will now step down. I hope I haven't lost any friends over this!

100% love

Tonight I went to dinner with my college roomates. I love friends that you can be away from forever and then get together with and it feels like you haven't skipped a beat. It was that kind of night. Since Craig's been away so much I've been pretty tied down here at home. Getting out tonight was really good for me but the crazy thing is that on the drive home (after only 3 hours of being gone) I couldn't wait to see my 4 babies again!

I put Gracie's sleeping body into the top bunk (which is becoming ever so difficult.) I swept her hair out of her face and thought about her excitement every afternoon as she bursts through the door with some cut and paste project.

I pulled the covers up on Lizzie, kissed her soft eyelids and thought about all the responsiblity I put on her everyday. I'm sure that I expect way too much out of a six year old. Her compassion amazes me; her maturity confounds me. She is a blessing.

Next I sneaked into the babies room. As I opened their door their sweet smell made ache for them. I covered Hallie and softly rubbed her back. She let out a little sigh.

CJ was curled up in a little ball in his crib. Much like a roly-poly does when you touch it. When I felt for his binkie he opened his dark eyes and looked up at me. My heart just wouldn't let me walk away. I picked him up and went across the hall and rocked him...his cheek to my heart. With each rise and fall of my chest we rested together. I thought about the first time I saw his beautiful little face. "Curious George" I remember thinking. Three girls and this little man. My patient, content, gentle, cuddly CJ. He has no idea how he's stolen my heart forever.

An amazing weight falls on me everytime Craig and I bring a new baby into this world. It occurs to me from time to time that I have everything to do with who these little people turn out to be. The crazy thing is that I feel like they are the ones shaping and molding me each day. I love being their mother. I know I'm no good at a lot of things and I'm down right terrible at some things.... but the one place I don't have any room for improvement is my love for those 4 snoozing sweeties upstairs.