{ten things for friday • xxix}

If you've been on social media lately, you may have seen the "Ten Book Challenge" that's currently making the rounds. The general gist of it is to make a list of ten books that have stayed with you over time-- not to over-think it, but name the first ten that come to mind. They don't have to be necessarily "great" works of literary art-- that term alone gives me flashbacks to Dr. J. Evans Pritchard, PhD. They simply have to be great in the way that they have influenced your life.

I was challenged by my good friend and fellow Downers Grove South H.S. alumna Julie Miller, and being a passionate bibliophile took her up on it. Without thinking too much about it, I listed my ten. Soon after, my friend Lisa expressed an interest as to why I chose the works that I did, so I told her I'd do a write-up of my reasons.

And here we are.

1. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

When I first read this story as a young child, I hated it. I totally didn't get it, and thought that the tree was incredibly foolish for letting the boy walk all over her (it?). Why on earth would she be happy being used in such a way? Ugh. No thank you. Move along; nothing to see here.

But. Over time I grew to appreciate this little tale as my own experience of love and relationships grew and developed. Whether you read Silverstein's parable as an allegory of a parent-child relationship, or perhaps a metaphor of God's unconditional love-- this children's story is timeless and poignant.

2. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Another book that I first read as a girl, this book is one of the reasons I love gardening so very much. The idea of the hidden garden, full of mystery and romance was incredibly influential to me.

Aside from that though, the major theme of love as the great healing agent rings so true to me personally. That people can change, walls can come down, and when we look past outward appearances and snap judgments that we see the wonderful and lovely humanity in all of us.

(As a side note-- I spent the morning before I made this list working in my garden. After the fact, I mused that had I spent the morning writing I probably would have picked a different book in its stead-- Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Jo March was one of my girlhood heroes. Either way, both novels have impacted me greatly.)

3. One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp

Part poetry, part memoir, Voskamp's book has created a movement in the Christian world. Her challenge to find gratitude even in the midst of darkness has provided me with much to reflect upon.

As a writer, I am inspired by her signature blend of expressing faith-filled topics with a grace and lyrical style that is more than just liturgy. Rather, her words are art.

As a reader, I am moved to find beauty in all the little moments-- God-winks in all their myriad shapes and sizes.

4. North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I have a huge love of 19th century English literature, and love all the greats of that era. Austen, Dickens, the Brontës, Hardy. But when forced to choose just one from the genre, I pick the slightly more obscure North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. Think similar themes to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but a little more brooding ambience and greater social commentary.  

In fact, awhile back I dedicated an entire post to my kinship to the novel's hero, Margaret Hale.

Throw in a fabulous BBC adaptation of Gaskell's work (Richard Armitage as Thornton? Shut the front door.), and its place is firmly secured on my list. 

5. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner

Just mention the title of this classic to me and suddenly I'm back sitting in my senior year English honors class at Downers South with the immortal Richard Connaughton. Hands down the most challenging work I studied in high school, it opened my eyes to the power of words to pick you up, swirl around you like a tornado, and leave you utterly changed. 

The stream-of-consciousness style explored in the first section of the novel was like nothing I had ever experienced, and as I threw myself into Benjy Compson's world for the first time, the power of Faulker's method on my young mind was intense. 

6. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss

I had a bit of an internal tug-of-war on this one, trying to choose between The Lorax and The Sneetches. Ultimately, our friend the lifted lorax won out.

I've always felt a deep connection to the earth, and have pretty strong opinions about our God-given stewardship of this beautiful world we call home. Obviously then, the environmental themes resonate with me. It's also a favorite story of my budding ecologist, nine-year-old Taylor.

But just as much, I love the idea that even when everything seems dark and lost, there is still hope for the future. Things can change if we have the courage to be the good in the world. I adore that Seuss' tale ends on that hopeful note. 

7. A Quiet Heart by Patricia T. Holland

A book that I reread at least once every year, it's probably the single most quoted work here on my blog. Of all the wonderful, strong female writers of my faith, Sister Holland's words have influenced me the very most. (And if you know how much I love other strong Mormon women like Sheri Dew, Valerie Hudson, and Julie Beck, that's saying a great deal!)

My parents gave me this book for my birthday during a particularly difficult time in my life, and I'm forever grateful that they did. It will make you laugh, ponder, and inspire you to deepen your trust and relationship with God.

8. The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

I picked this of Lewis' canon, though I could have populated this entire list with just his works. Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity-- all pivotal and precious books in my library. But I picked The Great Divorce because of the way it has spoken to me personally. 

I was first introduced to this more obscure work of Lewis' by my favorite religion professor at BYU, Richard Draper. The influence of St. Augustine, Milton, Dante, Blake, and George MacDonald mix beautifully alongside the signature Lewis wisdom and wit mix to create a thought-provoking, fantastic tale.

9. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

This book has left its footprints on my heart for so many reasons. It reminds me to always consider the important things in life. And that the important things aren't always what we'd immediately consider as an adult in the modern world. It asks the reader to reconsider exactly what true matters of consequence are, and look at life with more childlike eyes. One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from its pages: "One sees clearly only with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eye."

Also, on a slightly more personal note, my mom gave a copy to my dad of this book as an engagement present. I've always thought that was such a lovely and sweet gift. Consequently, I had a lot of meaningful one-on-one talks about "matters of consequence" growing up. :)

10. Sacred Writ, including but not limited to the Bible and the Book of Mormon

Such a list would not be complete-- nor accurate-- without the inclusion of Scripture. Something I am given to reading every single day, these sacred books have had a very real and profound influence in who I am today. 

The teachings of Jesus Christ are collectively the singular lodestar of my life. I love Him and worship Him as the Master Teacher and Savior of the world. Because of Him I have experienced peace that passes all understanding. (See Philippians 4:7)

• • •

So, there you go, Lisa! Probably way more than you ever wanted to know on the subject, but it was a fun exercise for me to revisit exactly why these were the works that came immediately to my mind at this time in my life. I think you learn a lot about a person by the books one might put on their "Top Ten."

What would you put on yours?

{five things • xxviii}

Well, three months have come and gone in the blink of an eye. This year has proven to be quite the roller coaster ride for our little family, but we are still standing strong. I must have written at least a dozen posts in my head over my blogging hiatus; perhaps some of them will make their way here in the coming weeks. In the meantime, I thought jumping back in with a Five Things post would be a good way to catch up a little on all the goings-on here.

- one -

Getting tested for Celiac disease with some help from Dora

As crazy as I thought last year was with all of Reilly's health issues, this year has been even more intense. 

There has not been a single child excluded from our medical smorgasbord this year. Lots of stress, lots of worry. Thankfully, most concerns have turned out to be less serious than initially thought or have resolved somewhat with some dietary adjustments here in the home.

I have done a lot of researching, reading, pondering, and praying. I have learned much about different schools of thought when it comes to diet and healing. It is amazing to me how the body can heal itself when given the proper tools through appropriate nourishment.

Currently, we are trying to work our way through sensory processing disorder, likely gluten intolerance, and kidney reflux. 

Excited about her "hospital dress"

Just a couple of weeks ago we took Dani up to Primary Children's in Salt Lake to have her tested for kidney reflux. She was showing similar symptoms like Reilly had when she was first diagnosed-- and statistically she had a very decent chance of having the same condition as it is genetically linked. Fortunately for all of us, the test results came back negative.  

While I wish we had some answers as to why she was experiencing so much pain, I am grateful that I don't have to worry about her having the same health issues as Reilly.

Hopefully her symptoms will not return.

- two -

I've been thinking a lot about this post that I wrote back in December of last year. It resonates even more with me now that it did then.

In our culture, it seems that we typically interpret [the] phrase "endure to the end" as one of those necessary evils of life... 'Endure' is synonymous with pain, difficulty. Just thinking about it makes people tired.

Coming from an athletic background, this take has always intrigued me a little.

I swam competitively for over ten years, and coached for many, many more afterward. Being that I am decidedly short and curvy, I myself have never been praised for my natural sprinting abilities. I simply don't have the physical attributes necessary to succeed against a competitive field of Missy Franklin look-alikes. But the endurance events, ah! That's where I finally was able to find my niche. 

Which leads me to this important thought:

In athletics, endurance is not a bad thing.  
To the contrary, it is something to strive for. 

Also in that post, I wrote about Bryson's and my friend Jarom, who is an ultra-marathoner and works with recovering addicts. Well coincidentally enough, KSL did a fabulous piece on him this last week and I thought I'd share it here. (Click on Sunday Edition: Segment 2, or for a shortened version with text click here.) It's well worth your time.

- three -

It never fails to amaze me how God can speak words of encouragement to our hearts if we only open our eyes to see and ears to hear. Lately a little tender mercy has been inserted into my days through this song:

I am not exaggerating when I tell you that this song has been the first or second song that comes on the radio every time I have gotten in my car at the beginning of the day for the last couple of weeks-- at least 80% of the time. It helps remind me to keep everything in perspective and to know that I am never alone.

- four -

Lately, I am really enjoying studying the words of Elder Richard G. Scott-- specifically his writings on personal revelation and the Holy Ghost, and Sister Patricia T. Holland. If you haven't read Sister Holland's book A Quiet Heart, you must, you must, you must! It's on a very short list of books I re-read every year. I've been working my way through it again this month and will probably write some more about some of the insights I've gleaned from her wisdom this time around.

Some links I highly recommend:

"To Acquire Knowledge and the Strength to Use it Wisely," Elder Richard G. Scott (video here)
"How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life," Elder Richard G. Scott
"Be Renewed in the Spirit of Your Mind," Sister Patricia T. Holland (video here)
"The Soul's Center," Sister Patricia T. Holland (video here)
"What Time is This?" Elder Jeffrey R. Holland & Sister Patricia T. Holland (video here)

- five -

And.... just because I can't resist the cuteness:

This little guy makes me laugh every day.

• • •

And those are my Five Things for the week!
Thanks for hosting the regular blog hop, Heather. Best wishes to you and yours.
♥

{five things • xxvii}

- one -

I am terribly slow at posting this Five Things, but it's for good reason.

Last week, Bryson got really sick. It started just like any other stomach ailment, but quickly escalated until we were fairly certain he was suffering from appendicitis. So we spent the greater part of Valentine's Day getting him tested for a bunch of things and having a CT scan at the hospital. He was in a great deal of pain and unable to sit at all-- he either had to be laying down or pacing while we waited for results.

And then after all that, every test and scan came back totally clean and clear. So the doctors gave him a tentative diagnosis of viral gastroenteritis-- which basically means "we don't know what is causing this." He had to stay in bed for awhile and keep to a bland diet, but he is doing a bit better now. I wish he would take it a little easier, but yesterday he insisted on attending all his meetings and today he is at work as usual. It's still not gone, but he is no longer in constant serious pain, so I am tremendously grateful for that.

Now I just need a few days convalescence to recover myself!

- two -

This little munchkin is officially a baby on the move.
He started army crawling a couple weeks ago, and already he is getting up on his knees and motoring around the house pretty quickly.

I can't leave him alone for a second.
But I like spending time with this little guy, so it's all good.

- three -

Rounding the corner of my neighborhood and seeing this every day always makes me smile.

The work on the temple is coming along quickly, and they just brought in a new crane to start on the stone facing this week. Pretty exciting!!!

- four -

I'm going to try and post a couple of playlists here in the next few days. One is my standard go-to when I'm having a rough day, and the other is a collection of Easter-appropriate contemporary Christian tracks. I love, love, love Easter time, and I hope that you will enjoy bringing Christ-centered music into your day as much as I have! Here's one of my favorite songs just to whet your appetite. Bethany Dillon & Matt Hammit's version of "In Christ Alone."



- five -

There is a storm brewing in our house of late. You see, tomorrow is the Big Game.
BYU vs. USU basketball.
Have mercy.

My parents were able to snag some tickets last minute, and already the kids have taken sides. Taylor is a true blue dyed in the wool Cougar, and Reilly is passionate about her Aggies. Seriously.

Being that I am the only member of the family who has actually attended both schools, I am always caught in the middle. And honestly, it doesn't matter one bit to me who wins or loses. But you may want to batten down the hatches if you're in the area...

• • •

And those are my Five Things for the week!
Thanks to Heather for hosting our regular blog hop! 
♥

{five things xxvi • the hawaiian edition}

I just got back home this week after a blissful seven days in Hawaii. Growing up, my parents shared a timeshare condo in Kona with my aunts and uncles, and so I grew up visiting the Big Island regularly with my family. (Yes, I do realize now that I was completely spoiled.) My mom still vacations there fairly regularly-- usually annually-- to relax and recharge. Until this month, I hadn't been back to Hawaii since my early teens roughly twenty years ago.

After a pretty intense 2012, my mom decided to head back to Kona and invited me to come along. We were able to find a great deal on airfare and so the plane tickets became my Christmas/Birthday/Pretty-Much-Every-Upcoming-Holiday-for-the-Next-Several-Months present. Bryson took vacation time from work on the days that he could, and tended the kids while I was away-- along with my mother-in-law, who cared for them on days that he had important meetings to attend.

For this week's Five Things, I thought I'd share my top 5 loves from the Aloha State-- in no particular order.

- one -

The coast-- whether on the sandy beaches or rock shoreline is simply stunning. While we were there, the trade winds blew in-- which made for some fantastic surf. Swells were topping ten feet high for a few days. It is pretty much impossible to get a real sense of the size and majesty of the waves from a photograph, especially from my phone camera that I didn't want to chance dropping in the Pacific.  I did try, though.  We spent most of our beach days at Hapuna, which is our family's favorite.

Another amazing spot is the hike at Upolu Point, located at the northern tip of the island. The trail takes you from the clifftops down to the black sand beach below. As you can see from the photo, walking the trail is like stepping into your own picture postcard. The teal water offset by the rocky coastline and black sand is truly breathtaking. Navigating all the switchbacks of the trail was totally worth it.

On the other end of the Big Island, another stunning vista awaits. Kalae Point, the southern-most point of the United States is much more stark in landscape, but the water!!!! The water. Let me tell you, it is like nothing I have ever seen anywhere else. The water is literally sapphire blue. Not turquoise like you typically imagine when you think of a tropical locale, but deep, sparkling sapphire. I didn't use any sort of filter or enhancement on this poor quality phone photo, and you can (kinda) see what I'm talking about.

Here's a little video too. Say hi to my beautiful mom!

 

There are few things that make me feel more in awe of the glory of God's creations than the beauty of the ocean.

- two -

One of the things that sets the Big Island apart from the other Hawaiian islands is all of the volcanic activity. Where the other islands have become dormant as far as eruptions are concerned, Hawaii is still going strong. Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world, is continually adding new acreage to the island, and volcanic rock decorates the landscape every where you turn. I love the black rock.

My favorite perk of all this volcanic rock is the black sand beaches. I adore Punalu'u beach in Naalehu. The sand is soft, and it is a favorite spot for sea turtles.

Of course, we also had to pay our respects to Kilauea-- which native Hawaiians consider sacred ground, the center of creation. While the more active eruption was quite a way from the center crater, you can see it smoking from the overlook. At night you can see the red glow of lava from this same spot, but we didn't stay through the evening.

- three -

During our trip, Mom and I decided to get out of our comfort zone and go ziplining. This officially qualifies as the Craziest Thing I've Ever Done. Up in the tree tops of the Kohala forest, we zipped down 9 lines, crossed 4-5 swaying suspension bridges, and repelled twice down from the trees.

Being that I have a pretty solid fear of heights this was huge for me. But once we made the choice to let go and trust our guides we had an absolute blast. 

I decided to rent a GoPro camera for the excursion and video taped the experience. Maybe once I get the chance to upload it to my laptop I'll share a snippet. 

But if you ever get to Hawaii, I highly recommend these guys. Our instructors Jeremiah and Chris were top notch, and the experience was wild but completely worth it. I was really proud of my mom and I when we finished the course!

- four -

For my fourth favorite of the trip, I can't decide between the sunsets or the flora of the island, so I'll just post a whole bunch of photographs of both. They pretty much speak for themselves anyway. :)

- five -

And finally, but certainly not least, was interacting with the wonderful members of my faith in Kona. We attended the temple during the week and Sunday services at the adjoining chapel, and I was overwhelmed by the intensity of the Spirit that was there. 

At the temple, we were warmly greeted by the matron with an embrace and kiss on both cheeks. On Sunday, we were given a beautiful yarn lei that was made especially for visitors by a sweet little elderly Hawaiian lady in the congregation. Even before Sacrament meeting began I started tearing up, there was such a strong Spirit there. I wept through much of the service. The saints in Kona are such a lovely, humble people. There is no pretension, only simple, honest love.  It was perhaps the biggest highlight of the entire trip.

• • •

I am so grateful for the opportunity I had to take a rare trip like this. When you're a mama of five, these experiences are certainly few and far between. But I'm so thankful for my mom & dad's encouragement to go, and for Bryson's supportive nature and selfless sacrifice to use his vacation time so I could enjoy this special time with my mom. I came away so restored, body and soul.

Aloha!

Thanks, Heather, for hosting our regular blog hop! Best wishes to everyone for a wonderful weekend!

♥

{five things xxv}

So for this week's "five things," my blogging buddy Heather has asked us to share our five favorite Christmas decorations. In no particular order, here they are!

- one -

I love our Christmas tree. There are so many memories attached to it-- from the ornaments I bought when Bryson and I were newly married, the ones I received each year as a child, to the ones my own children have received every Christmas-- continuing the family tradition. There are gilded fruit ornaments, glass icicles resembling candy canes, and lots of shatterproof balls in red and gold. After five kids I finally wised up and stowed the glass baubles away, perhaps for a future date. We are all about the shatterproof ones now.

I have been pleasantly surprised at how good the twins have been with the tree this year. Last year we had ornaments scattered throughout the house and quickly instigated a "no ornaments on the bottom third of the tree" rule. This year Bryson has told them that they are only allowed to touch the ornaments with one finger (because, really, asking them not to touch at all is just entirely unrealistic!), and this has been working really well.

We have been reading A Christmas Carol as a family on my Kindle with only the Christmas tree lights & fireplace lighting the room at night. It has been magical.

- two -

Speaking of the fireplace, I have to include it even though it's not really a Christmas decoration. Last year when Bryson was working out of town I decided to make over our main living room. My personal splurge was purchasing this electric fireplace for the space. I grew up in a home with a large hearth and loved spending evenings listening to the crackling fire. We don't have a very big house, but this little fireplace fits very nicely in our room and adds a substantial "cozy factor" to our home.

My favorite place in our entire house is curled up with a book and a mug of hot cocoa in the leather easy chair next to the fireplace. There is always a stack of books on the mantle, and at this time of year I always have a selection of some of my family's favorite Christmas stories there.

Of the books, my personal favorite is an old book my grandma gave me a few Christmases ago that used to belong to her family when she was growing up. Entitled The Fireside Book of Christmas Stories, it's in surprisingly good shape for a book published in 1945! There are some wonderful tales in its pages, and it makes me smile and think of my grandma every time I see it.

 - three -

I love that my nativity set is the first thing that greets us when we enter our front door. We have quite a few little nativities scattered throughout the house, but you cannot go anywhere in our house without passing this one repeatedly-- all day long. It is our constant reminder of the Reason for the Christmas season. Sitting on our antique piano directly across from our entryway, I hand glazed it when I was a teenager for a church youth group project. It is always the first thing I put out every year when I start the Christmas decorating. It has held up remarkably well, with only one minor casualty when a stocking holder fell off our half wall last year, cracking one of the camel's noses. Thanks to Bryson's mad super-gluing skills, it is scarcely noticeable from a distance. You will also notice in the picture below that we have now given up stocking holders. :) 

- four -

On the half wall above the piano & nativity set are our stockings. This year I couldn't believe how many of them there were!!! They aren't handmade, but they have special meaning to me regardless. When we were first married, Bryson and I spent Christmas with my parents and they had the first stocking shown in the picture above made just for Bryson. Ever since, I have had stockings made for each of our children by the same company, and decided to get one for myself as well since my old one (which my beloved great-aunt made for me) was quite a bit bigger. That one usually hangs in my bedroom with Bryson's childhood stocking. This year I simplified a bit since we have a newborn in the house, so sadly they are still in storage. But seeing all of these hanging in a row makes me smile. With all the difficulties I have had over the years in conceiving, difficult pregnancies, and complicated postpartum issues, I never thought I would have so many to adorn our living space. Blessings, each one.

- five -

Rounding out my top 5 is the ginormous poinsettia we receive from Bryson's work each year. Seriously, you can't tell from the photograph but this thing is HUGE. It sits on the floor in our basement and hits me at my waist. That's how tall it is.

Every year when the florist drops it off on our doorstep I have a huge giggle over it. Before we finished our basement we literally had no idea where to put it. Bryson jokingly refers to it as our second Christmas tree. It's really not too much of an exaggeration.

It is beautiful, though, and we certainly love having it in our home this time of year.

• • •

Those are my five things for the week! Hop on by Heather's blog to see her five favorites, and feel free to share your own as well!

Warm wishes for the second week of Advent from our family to yours!

♥

{five things xxiv}

Well, hi there! It feels like it's been awhile since I did a Five Things post, so here we go! 

- one -

Since my recent post about her, Reilly has continued to improve daily with her behavioral issues. There is no question in my mind whatsoever that it was the medication that was creating problems for her. Now we are in limbo with her physicians, trying to figure out a better treatment. I am so grateful to have my happy girl back. For the last few months she has acted as though I were the evil stepmother out of some fairy tale. Now kisses, hugs, and laughter have returned. Her sparkle is back. It is wonderful.

- two -

With Taylor in 2011

On a sadder front, my grandfather passed away recently.
Really, it is all for the best, as he had been declining in health steadily over the last several years and was in quite a bit of pain. But there is a gaping hole in our hearts from the loss.

There will be more to say about that later, when I have a real moment to do my thoughts and feelings justice.

In a few days I will be getting on a plane to fly to his funeral while Bryson holds down the fort with the kids for a whirlwind two days.

I am a little nervous about the flight. I am not a very good flyer. Although I have flown pretty extensively in my life, it has been a really long time since I've been on a plane. I know all the logical reasons why I shouldn't stress over it, but I guess that's the thing about phobias-- even mild ones like mine. Reason has no weight. I am really glad to be going so I can be with my family at this time, but to be honest-- I will be so happy once I'm back on the ground in my own little house with my own little family.

- three -

If you haven't read Christian writer Ann Voskamp's blog, you really should.

I read her book, One Thousand Gifts for the second time last month to refocus my thoughts on gratitude and thanksgiving. Her style is somewhere between prose and poetry, and I enjoy delving into her thoughts. I highly recommend it.

I've written a little about my favorite post of hers before, and I also really appreciated thoughts from a more recent post a few weeks back:

You’ve only got one blink of a life to make count for eternity.

Have I read enough chapters out loud to them all piled close or read too many facebook status updates from people I didn’t even really know twenty years ago? 

Have I laughed at enough obnoxious knock-knock jokes or been too busy walking through doors to somewhere else? Or have I played enough rousing games of monopoly, tickled into the dark, listened with every chamber of my selfish heart? Will Levi and his brothers someday be standing in ties to give eulogies that I was a mother who plucked straight out of the pulsing best of her to make them into balding, blessed men?

It’s only your own sacrifices that show up at your funeral.

Am I making any of the right ones?

Lots of food for thought.

- four -

This week was the first week of Advent.

Our family is celebrating this traditional Christian holiday for the first time this year. So far, it has been a great experience and a wonderful start to the Christmas season.

Growing up in a very religiously diverse community, I was vaguely aware of Advent as a child and young adult, but didn't really know all the details.

Advent calendars. I knew what those were.
And a couple of years ago, President Uchtdorf shared some details of how his own family celebrates. (See full sermon here, details under heading "Looking for Christ"-- but read the entire piece while you're at it; it's amazing!)
And that was the entire extent of my expertise on the subject until very recently.

But as I've studied further and tried to create a more contemplative way to bring the spirit of Christ into our home this time of year, I have fallen in love with this holiday. I'm hoping to write a lot more about our experience in the coming days. Stay tuned.

- five -

One of my favorite singer-songwriters, Chris August, posted this acoustic rendition of his song "I Believe" on YouTube a couple of days ago. His words and the lyrics resonated so deeply with how I've been feeling lately that I thought I'd share. (Becca, thinking of you! ♥)
Plus, I'm just a sucker for a great acoustic track.

Enjoy!

 • • •

And those are my five things for Friday!

My warmest wishes to you & yours this wonderful time of year.

♥

{five things xxiii}

Per Heather's request, I'm posting a Five Things-- Halloween Style. :)

Now, truth be told, Halloween really isn't my favorite holiday. I have fun dressing the kids up and usually myself as well (although sleep deprivation won out to getting a costume for me this year!), but as for the creepy and gory aspects of the day I am just not a fan. I don't like violence... and scary movies are r-e-a-l-l-y not my thing, unless you're talking about old classics like Wait Until Dark.  (The last scary movie I watched was 2002's The Ring... and I'm pretty sure it will be my last. Scared the living daylights out of me, and I think I only watched about half of it-- the rest of the time I covered my eyes!) There's enough darkness in the world without me seeking it out for entertainment.

I've enjoyed hearing ideas on alternative ways to celebrate the day from interesting people from various corners of the web, including Heather, Misty, and Jen. Perhaps next year we'll incorporate some of their ideas with our own traditions to add a little extra depth to the holiday.

At our kids' charter school, instead of a traditional Halloween party, the elementary grades put on a History Fair. Each grade dresses according to the historical era they are studying in their classes and they visit all the grades to learn a little about each time period. I really love that idea, and it was a lot of fun for Taylor and Reilly.

So, without further ado, here are my five little trick-or-treaters!

- one -

Taylor's class is studying the War of 1812. In his class there were soldiers, pioneers, pirates, elegantly dressed ladies of the era... but Taylor was the only Red Coat! 

After researching a little on what the soldiers' uniforms looked like, we decided with a little modification that a marching band costume would make a great British uniform. He was quite debonaire, don't you think? 

That crooked smile. It kills me. :)

- two -

Reilly's class is studying ancient Egypt, so she went as an Egyptian princess. At first she was really excited to get dressed up and do the eye makeup, and then after she saw herself in the mirror she wasn't too sure anymore. I think she was a little nervous of being the only one decked out quite like she was. Once we arrived at the school and she saw all her classmates she became very enthusiastic again. She had lots of other Egyptian princesses, pharaohs, and mummies to keep her company. Taylor said that if he had been in her class he would have gone as Joseph of Egypt or an Israelite slave. That made me smile.

- three - 

With Dani's current girly-girl fascination with all things princess-y or fairy-related, I thought for sure she'd go with one of Reilly's old costumes this year. However, she was not impressed. Instead, she found Taylor's old horse costume and THAT is what she HAD to be this year. She was pretty adorable, I must say. Although, I kept thinking of Jacqueline from the movie Ever After and chuckling. 

"Honestly, Jacqueline, the horse is one of God's noblest creatures!"

- four -

Logan was our resident dragon this year. He was so excited when he saw the costume and immediately got into character the second he put it on. 

He has been running around the house ever since roaring fiercely, as a good dragon should.

I don't think we are ever going to get him to take it off.

- five -

And to round it all out, one of the cutest little monsters this green earth has ever seen.

I adore this happy little man.

• • •

And those are my five things for the week!

Warm wishes to you and yours.

♥