The real purpose--Finding the Perfect Pumpkin for Just the right price

So many choices just confuse a person!

Hayes under attack at the "petting zoo"

It all started out so innocently.

They kept getting closer,

and closer until Hayes went into a panic attack and hid in Dad's legs.

Project's I need my mom for

So my mom coming, and then leaving, has made me really think again about how much I love, respect and admire her, as my mother, as my sister in the gospel, as my dearest friend, as a wife and as the grandma to my children. I don't know who said it, but I can't stop thinking about the quote that goes something like this, "Everything I am or hope to be I owe to my angel mother." Mom is an angel. My sweet David said it in those exact words when I got back from the airport. how many mother-in-laws get that kinds of a tribute? Mom has always been my truest friend, teaching me, guiding me, shaping who I became and who I want to be. I hope to be the loyal, supporting, honest, loving wife I have always watched her be. I want to be as dedicated to my callings and to the people I chance to serve and to the gospel as I have seen her be. I want so much to be the mother to my children she is to me. I pray my children will love me the way I have watched her love her own mother, and the way I love her. She taught me by example that her parents are some of the most magnificent people on Earth. I owe her more than I can ever even hope to give to my children. I am so grateful for her influence on me and on them, and I pray that we have her close for many, many years. I love you, Mom.

Mom watched our kids for us while we made the 6-hour round-trip to the temple in Detroit. It was wonderful, and so nice to not have to worry about whether our kids were ok or not.
My cute husband!

Hayes found a his best champion in Grandma. It took him all of two seconds to warm up to her, and by the second day he would go to her before coming to his own mother! I almost called him traitor, but I would pick her first, too.

Mom helped me get my chairs re-upholstered so that we have somewhere for other people to sit when they come to visit, besides on the floor. So for any of you that have not come for that reason, you now have no excuse:) They turned out fantastic, if I do say so myself. My mom just has a knack for making that happen.

The Stagecoach

The girls were ecstatic to find this stagecoach that they could be princesses in following the disappointment of not being able to ride in the carriage for hire without giving them our firstborn.

Frankenmuth

The big cheese outside of the Cheesehaus.

Hayes has gotten very good at turning around and going down stairs backward. He was careful to do so even over this 2 and a half inch step down off the cement into the dirt.

We had a lovely lunch at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant. The waiters were all in Leiderhosen (sp?), for real. It was very cool and the kids were so very good.

Frankenmuth

So again, this one should have been first, or is it last? Anyway, these some shots of this very cute town. In many ways it was a flashback to some of my European adventures, which was fun. It is very touristy, but at least we picked an off day. We only saw 3 other children the whole time we were there.

Bronner's-- the Largest CHRISTmas store in the world

When we left Bronner's, it felt like it should be snowing and we should be listening to Christmas music. It is a veritable mall of Christmas paraphanelia. Very fun.