Baby, it's cold outside!

But no matter how cold, or wet or rainy or wild it is, Grandpa always comes through with some amazing and fun game to make memories with my boys... On this particular visit, it was cold, and boy do I dislike the cold... we are not friends. I did manage to brave the elements long enough to capture the main event on camera and it was worth it! So, I present to you our newest game with Grandpa... marshmallow wars! Can you say sticky, spit covered marshmallows? Josh tried hard to keep up with the big boys, but eventually we had to minimize his shooter to allow for size and age... he did a great job and the smiles were plentiful!

Noah was ready to take on the world and Grandpa with his new marshmallow shooter... He got a lot of practice shooting at the G-pa!

I love this shot of Seth, over the shoulder... can you see his marshmallow headed straight for the man in yellow? Good shot Seth!

Boy is Grandpa an ace shooter... he pegged each boy with zingers! He showed them that even 'old guys' can hold their own (his own words). He is still amazing! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma for coming to visit, for bringing the dogs and for spending a wonderful week making memories with me and my boys... we love you!

Here is the pre-war construction... that is one thing I love about Grandpa... he has so much to teach them... I want them to learn as much as they can from him... he has some good lessons to teach that they all need! This is my favorite part of having kids... watching my mom and dad pass down life lessons to my kids in fun ways... they will learn to value learning like I do... another good lesson here was to take your time and do things correctly, not hurried but thoughtfully... we could all use a refresher on that lesson... thanks Grandpa!
Grandma teaches them about being creative... but she isn't a fan of me posting her picture, so I will give her kudos for the "Ghost Graveyard" -very cool- you can see it online at ohio.com-kid's crafts... But here, she lends her creative hand and poses the boys for the post-war shot... gotta love boys...especially the big ones! I hope everyone enjoys every day and remembers that life is about making memories... and my parents have always been the best about making that memorable!

Growing...

One reason I scrapbook is because as beautiful as the color and the thoughtfullness of these roses are... they perish and the memory fades... when I scrapbook this photo, I journal about the purpose for these particular roses... the reason for the beautiful color and I remember the emotion behind the actions... that is one reason I scrapbook... Here are 3 more...

One... as fast as he grows... the freckles, the highlighted hair, the kooky smile... his amazing personality...

His first puppy... Copper... because one day he will be a dad and he will be thinking about getting a puppy for his kids... and he will see this photo and remember the feelings and memories that surrounded this moment and he will say yes...to a puppy for his own little ones...

And here is two... for his precocious personality and his love of life... for that blond hair and that amazing smile... for the sweet boy that he can be...with his new puppy Todd... who his still wants to squish when he holds him...

Three... for the love that they have for each other... even though sometimes they won't even admit they like each other... for this... I have proof... For these moments, I scrapbook, so that they will remember all of the wonderful moments that were their childhood...

For this... knowing he will soon be a teen and capturing these smiles might be few and far between... for now... for these moments... for the boys I love... for our friends... for our family... for each other... beautiful memories...

For this little guy, who won't stay little for long... for the smiles and laughter he will bring...

So many happenings...

It's fall... the weather is cool, time for jackets, pants and socks and shoes... can I say I don't like the cold without you getting upset with me? I really do not like the cold at all... the pants, the shoes, the layers...ugh! BUT, I do love some of the things this time of year brings... the beautiful colors, time outside with the kids... the new puppies in our backyard... the pumpkin patch and all of it's bright colors across the street... I love those things...Fall break in 4 short days... Mom, Dad and the siblings coming for a visit... time with them is so precious and short... football...soccer...

costumes... pictures to scrap... laughter... anticipation... The Fall Scrap Retreat with April, Pattie and Stephanie- I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to that... our new prayer group... my friends in Kristy and Adam... the blessings of this life... even though times are hard... love... joy... peace...my beautiful children... my friends, thank you for your friendship...