Not Much

 It's just the normal wonderfulness of ordinary days around here with the exception of getting to spend some time with the newest member of the Haffner Clan.
I feel so blessed to have been able to stay with Ben and Stacey for two and a half days to meet little Simon and help out where I could. I was in heaven with all the baby snuggles, the fresh from heaven scent, and all those cute noises that babies make.
I also entertained one of the cats, Reuben.

 The kids gave Molly a ride in the stroller as it was going bye-bye. No more need for one anymore😩

 

 

 I'm not sure how Molly felt about the stroller, but it gave us all a good giggle.

 

 Coming back from her walk at a full run....

 Snuggling up for nap time:

 Elsa and Meg playing dress up and dancing around the kitchen. Molly kept thinking that Meg's skirt was a nice place for her sit. We had a hard time convincing her to get off the skirt.

 Spending time together reading in the car during Myles's cello lesson. I have been back to driving the suburban for the last two weeks, as Christopher's car died after 13 years. It could be fixed, but the cost would be more than it is worth. He was driving the Volvo to and from work. He did just purchase a used car from someone in the ward. It's not pretty, but the gas mileage is great for going to and from Gresham, Oregon everyday. Oh, I have missed driving my suburban. I keep telling Chris how much I love driving it.............except for the way it guzzles gas.  I'll be back to the Volvo this coming week, which I know makes more economical sense. It's not great on gas either, but it's better than the suburban.

 Myles and Elsa being silly with socks:

Elsa got her hair cut this week.
Before & After:

I know it's pretty hard to tell that she got a hair cut, but she got about 2 1/2 inches off. She wanted to still be able to put it up for dancing.

 

We got a special treat from Meg's friend KK & Family. His mom was recently over in Scotland for two weeks. She brought back kilts for Meg and Elsa. I was given four beautiful remnants of Harris Tweed.
FYI: Harris Tweed is a tweed cloth that is handwoven by islanders at their homes in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, finished in the Outer Hebrides, and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the Outer Hebrides.

The weaver that she purchased the remnants from was retiring. In fact, it was his last day weaving on a 150 year old loom. 

I just need to decide what I'm going to do with it.

 The kids have spent a lot of time drawing this past week:

Meg's drawing:

 Myles's drawing:

 Elsa's drawing:

 The youth in our ward are putting on a Christmas presentation (AKA sharing talents) with a local assisted living facility. Myles and Elsa have decided to play a duet together. They spent an hour or more, the other day, trying to decide on a song. This is what they have settled on. They have asked a gentleman in the ward to also accompany them on the piano for the musical piece. I'm sure it will all come together............they still have a few weeks left to practice......

Not bad for the first day of practicing the song together:

 Trying to concentrate and shushing Meg 😄

Just Molly and Me, and Meg makes three...

we're as happy as can be in our blue heaven :)

Happy Halloween 2019

 The line supervisor at Christopher's work is part of a Storm Trooper club. He told Chris that they would be in our town in the early hours of Halloween evening. So, Chris and the girls went to the local high school where they were meeting up and got pictures taken. They were super nice, and the little girls really enjoyed it!

 

 Saturday was the last competition of the year for Elsa. It was an indoor one. She placed first in all the dances (Lilt, Fling, Sword, and Seann Truibhas) and was winner overall for her category (Beginner). She has one more stamp to get on her card, and then she will be moving up to the next level. I wasn't able to get any video of her dancing sine I was flying solo to the competition, and I was put to work getting dancers ready to go up on the stage.

 Can't have a post without our little Molly. She got her hair cut and a bath on Friday.

 Halloween...............
The kids wanted to do something different this year. They didn't want to trick-or-treat, so after listening to Glenn Beck's "A Tell Tale Heart" and eating dinner, we played board games and had warm brownies with ice cream. It was really a lot of fun, and we all stayed nice and warm.

 

 

 

 

 
Myles was a prince:
He made his own cape and a little drawstring bag.

 

Elsa was Elsa:

 

 
 




Can you guess who Meg dressed up as?

Aeva sent us a picture of her costume that she made:

 
Meg practicing the steps she has learned for the sword dance. Her teacher brought her some ghillies to borrow. She was so excited about that. Elsa was helping her put them on and tie them. 

 

 Waiting for Myles during his cello lesson. Meg practiced writing her numbers:

 

 Snuggling up with Meg on a Sunday afternoon:

Another one of my quilts has been finished. The lady has one more, and then I'll take a break until after the holidays. I love how she has quilted this one!

I can't believe that October has come and gone and we are in November already.  Time to think about Thanksgiving  and getting the girls home for Christmas. It's always a good time to be thankful, but this time of year is synonymous with gratitude. I've been keeping a record over the last nine months of what I'm grateful for, of little miracles and tender mercies, of how I see the Lord's hand in my life. This has really helped me stop, ponder, and really focus on the fact that Heavenly Father is aware of me, my family, and whatever we may be going through in those times of stress, uncertainty, trials, or the usual ups and downs of life. It's helps me to realize just how blessed I am, and to be still, and know that it will all work out even if I can't see how it will in the moment.
Wishing you all a very wonderful full week of November!