Ahhhh….today my heart is feeling much brighter.  We have been spending the day in books and keeping laundry going.  We are SO behind in laundry! J  We are even stripping all the bedding and throwing it all in.  I think we will be having a folding party later this afternoon and watch “A Christmas Carol” while we fold.

 For now we are enjoying a bit of rest.  The children have a train set going close by.  My son built a tunnel for it out of an old wall paper box I had.  The babies are asleep and my 6 year old is actually the only one not involved in the train play.  She is sitting in front of the corn stove reading a book to her “baby”. 

 I have been doing some ‘catch up’ online, as I haven’t been around the email/internet much at all!  I do miss writing!  My hubby brought me home a new kitten a couple weeks ago and she has just now joined me, as she always does. J  She chases the curser around on my screen for a while and then curls up next to me as I type.  Her name is Dutchess and she is SUCH a sweet addition to our family!

I thought I would recap some on our past week with some pictures.  The first great event for the children was a trip to the zoo!  In the past we have always visited when the weather was hot.  This time the weather was so wonderful and we spent MANY hours, getting MUCH sight seeing in this time.

 My mom with our littlest one.

Part of our zoo crew J enjoying the lions!

We were also able to go to the Fall Festival Parade.  We came home with GOBS of candy and my little brother thought it would be enough to last a week!  I say more like a YEAR!!!!!!!!!!  I regret not getting a picture of everyone at this occasion. :(  All the pics I have are individual faces, so I think I will pass on posting pics of this fun event.

Our oldest turned 13 during this time so we had a big party for her. 

We had an old fashioned theme and she was delighted to not only receive her very own prairie dress, but find her sisters had one as well!  She also received a Laura Engalls Wilder cookbook from her Grandma in which she has been devouring over these past few days!  Per daddy's request I am not going to post the pics of the girls, BUT I have one of our littlest girl that I thought would work okay, so my readers could see what the dresses are like!  They each have a doll dress to match their own.

I gave my daughter 2 journals, in addition to the dresses.  One is to record her blessings and the other is called her "Mommy Journal".  We are writing back and forth to one another in it!  What joy to have a teenage daughter who delights in following the Lord!  Thank you Jesus!

One  evening I was able to steal away with my Mama, thanks to my dear husband.  We went to a coffee house and visited for quite some time.  We arrived back home early enough to go in and kiss the children before they were asleep, and then enjoyed a movie with their "baby sitter".  My oldest daughter was struggling to sleep so she was allowed to come out and join us!  Was sort of a new special teenage privelage she was able to enjoy, and one I am sure she will ALWAYS remember! 

It was such a sweet, blessed time for which we are so thankful to have been gifted!  Such times are things to keep us going when those storms in life come!

Many blessings!