The Fellowship of the Ring

This year our boys joined forces with the Frames to re-create an epic cast of characters.

The Fellowship of the Ring

Cutest Hobbit EVER!

Toby as Frodo

Noah said, "I want to be Legolas.  I have the ears for it."

Noah as Legolas

You shall not pass!

Miles as Gandalf

The brooding hero.

James as Strider/Aragorn

The most easily recognized character in our group that night.

 Jonathan as Gimli

The costumes were a joint effort by Becky and me.  

I made: the cloaks, Gandalf's tunic and hat, the Evenstar, the Ring, and Frodo's satchel.

Becky made: all the weapons, Gimli's helmet, Gandalf's staff, Gandalf and Gimli's beards (seriously, aren't those amazing??  They totally made the costumes!), and Aragorn and Gimli's shirts.

We got a ton of thumbs up and big grins from LOTR fans throughout the night.  

One guy even requested a group photo!

Thanks for the fun night, Frames!  

Hospital Bills

Noah (age 9):

Me and Ransom used to play this game at recess called hospital bills. We pretend that the ground is hot lava and then we go on the zip line across it.  Right before you go you name the price and say, "Hospital bills, go!" and if you land in the lava you have to pay it.  Not really.  Just for pretend.  But if you make all the way across the zipline then you say, "Back in the bank."

What?  What's so funny?  We've been playing this for two years!

If All the Raindrops were Lemon Drops and Gum Drops...

It's been gray, gray, rainy, wet gray here in our little Oregon town this month.  And all the gray has left me desperate for color!  I've been looking for ways to add brightness and more color to our little house and somehow this has translated to an obsession with gumball machines.  I've already collected two red ones.

Naturally, my delight over gumballs has bled into my creative work, too.  So,I'm pleased to introduce,

The Candy Shoppe Necklace

 A tiny one inch glass jar filled to the brim with real sprinkles to represent tiny gumballs. 

The jar is sealed with extra-strength glue to prevent spills and sweet tooth temptations.

And it all hangs on a delicate silver plated chain.

The little girls who have already seen this have each squealed in delight.

Wouldn't this make a great stocking stuffer?

Now available in my shop for $10.  But wait.  

Enter this coupon code:  SweetTreat20 and you'll get 20% off your total order.  

This coupon code will expire November 3rd.

Go shopping!

Male/Female Miscommunication--it starts at an early age

Jeana:  Toby, please bring me the broom.
Toby (age 5):  Okay!

Toby:  I can't find the broom.
Jeana:  It's in the little closet.  By the vacuum cleaner.
Toby:  No it's not.
Jeana:  Please look again.  It should be hanging on the wall.

Toby:  Nope, no broom in the little closet.
Jeana:  Toby, I know it's in there because I just put it away a few minutes ago.  Please look in the little closet on the side where the vacuum cleaner is.  It is hanging on a hook.

Toby:  Mom, the only thing hanging there is the sweeper!

Parenting is like this...

"I thought I was sleeping on a wrinkle in the sheet.  

But it wouldn't go away.  

And when I reached down to smooth it out 

it turned out to be a toy egg beater."

~Geary

Ruby Willow Giveaway

The adorable teen blog "Reasons to Procrastinate" is hosting a giveaway for the winner's choice of one of three necklaces.  Check it out HERE!  And make sure to read to the very end of the post for a new coupon code that will give you 20% off any purchase!

Happy Birthday, Geary

Cool:  Your birthday this year makes up one of those "cosmic" dates that make me happy.  10-11-12.

Not cool:  Your wife has a really bad head cold on your birthday.

Cool:  You keep proving yourself to be an amazingly loving, self-sacrificing husband.

Not cool:  Your wife can't reward you with kisses today.

Geary, you have made me an incredibly blessed woman.  With you I feel safe, loved, cherished, and elevated.  You extend grace upon grace to me and our boys.  You make me laugh.  You make me swoon.  And even though I sometimes tease you for some of your "geeky academic" pursuits, the truth is that your intelligence and desire to learn impress me beyond measure.

You make everyday around here feel like it's my birthday. Thank you for loving us well.   All the time.   Rest assured...those kisses are coming!

White & Fluffy

Toby and Miles have been noticing all the Halloween decorations that have started appearing around town these last couple weeks.  I've been having fun noticing their observations.   Yesterday we passed a house that a huge inflatable decoration of three ghosts coming out of a pumpkin.  Miles got really excited about it and said, "Wook!  Wook at dose guys!  Wook at dose marshmallow guys in the puffkin!"

Marshmallow guys are so much nicer than ghosts, I think that's what we'll call them from now on.

Prepositions are Hard

We rearranged the car seats a bit and now Miles (2) and Toby (5) are both sitting in the middle row of our van.

Miles:  Toby is sitting on me!
Jeana:  You mean "Toby is sitting BY me."
Miles:  No!  Toby is sitting on ME!
Jeana (chuckling):  Okay, Toby is sitting BY you.
Miles:  Yes.  Toby is sitting on me.
Jeana:  Hmm, let's try this.  Toby is sitting BESIDE you.
Miles:  Okay.  Toby is sitting INSIDE me.
Jeana (laughing):  Um..I know!  Toby is sitting NEXT TO me.
Miles (getting annoyed):  Toby is RIGHT THERE!