Pouty

I just love this picture, usually you all see Emma smiling and not really showing all of her spirit! But this shot certainly shows the 3 1/2 year old pout!

Have Faith in You and the Things You Do ...

I found myself a bit sluggish midway through my long run last week and then inspiration came from the oddest place ... Sister Sledge's "We are Family". Not that I don't like that song, I actually really do, but I didn't realize it was on my iPod, nor did I think it would ever be a song to "get me through the last 1.3 uphill leg of my run".

But like many good moments in life, it comes from the least expected places. So in a time where life just seems uncertain ... and I - the forever optimist - am having moments where I am beginning to view the world through a "glass half empty" lens, I took a few deep breaths, opened up my ears and really listened to the song. It surprised me that it really touched me ... "Have Faith in YOU and in the Things You Do ... you won't go wrong". It sounds so simple, yet it resonated. I think we all have questions, we all have moments of doubt, we are all living in a different world, but it's important, actually it's really necessary to find ways to find Faith. Those who know me well, know that my Faith is not religiously based but I still do have Faith. I have Faith in people, that we all really care about the good of our world. Sometimes that Faith can be rocked ... really really rocked but if we find ways to make moments count and put Faith back into ourselves I think ... I hope ... that the glass will be half full. So this Sister is doing it, putting Faith back into myself and sharing with you all so that you know I have Faith in YOU and the things that you do too!

PS. If you're needed a pick me up, feel free to turn your speakers on and listen to Sister Sledge -- it's #6 on my playlist below -- who knows maybe it will bring a smile to your day.

Halloween

It is that time of year where you just take a deep breath of the crisp Fall air and anticipate all of the wonderful moments ahead. At the end of the month we will celebrate Halloween. I have ALWAYS enjoyed a good dress up holiday and add candy into that mix and you just get big smiles out of me. Well, Ms. Emma is also very much becoming a fan of anything to do with dressing up! Which, of course makes me smile ... really big! This year I am really excited to see how Emma will handle having her little sister share the spot light. So far, she's been generous ... allowing her baby sister to partake in "her halloween". She's decided she'd like to be Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, which is actually really fitting since she absolutely loves the movie AND has some of the Dorothy features. So she's ready to "paint her freckles on" her face and is allowing Julia to be the Scarecrow -- that actually took a bit of coaxing from us because she was not really having it at first but since we asked that Julia be part of "her halloween" she has also now asked EVERY family member to also dress up in the Wizard of Oz theme!!!!! Yup, you got it. As of right now the role call is:

Emma ~ Dorothy

Julia ~ Scarecrow

Rob ~ Tin Man

Timmy ~ Cowardly Lion

Mary ~ Glinda the Good Witch

April ~ The Wicked Witch of the West

RaRa ~ Either the Yellow Brick Road, the Talking Tree, or The Flying Monkey

PopPop ~ Talking Tree or Wizard

Nana ~ Auntie Em

Grandpa ~ Uncle Henry

We still have spots open for Mayor of Munchkin Land and Munchkins! Any takers???!!!

We are going to look like lunatics!!!! But it's all for the fun of the holiday so let's get to it!

Pictures will definitely be posted. :)

Relay Marathon!

Hartford Relay Marathon was a big success! Our team of 5 determined women rocked! Here is a pic of me and Becky before we ran our legs off. hehehe

Apple Picking

One of the nicest features of living in the country -- local apple orchards! We have been able to go apple picking every other week! Last Sunday, while the guys watched football, Sara and I met with the kids and had an easy adventure to the apple orchard.

Five friends

Julia's Juicy apple smile

Cheese! Emma with apple and pumpkins

That's more like it, Emma really does not like getting her picture taken!

Jules and the cutest pigtails EVER!

Ms. Maddie, so beautiful!

Grace is a charmer

The Kerr ladies

Sumner gang