A New Friend

A young visitor from Colombia, South America soon became a new friend for Hadassah. Valentina visited for only 2 nights and 1 full day but they packed a ton of fun in the time they had.

What A Game!

This year, Josiah and Hadassah were on the same soccer team and were privileged to make it all the way to the final championship game. Hopes were high! By the end of the game, it was 2-2. They played 10 more minutes. Still tie. They did 5 penalty kicks. Still tie. Finally, they did penalty kicks one by one - the first to get a goal would win. And eventually, we lost.

The kids had a great coach. One who loved the game and loved the kids. He worked them hard and worked to win but encouraged everyone.

Hadassah was also chosen to play in the all-star game following the championship game. Already exhausted and in the bitter cold, she hung in there but later said she would've loved to go home! Me too.

Sometimes, Dinner Drags On A Bit

Let The Fun Begin!

Hey, I've Got An Idea!

The neighbors bought a wagon to go with their lawn mower so now, "we can have mini-hayrides", I was told. Um . . . I think they bought it as a tool, no?
But then . . . an idea! If we could pull Josiah around on yet another wagon, he could hold the leaf blower and we can ride around the depleted pile of leaves in circles - thus, making the pile again. Genius! Never a lack of creative ideas around here . . .

Cleanup Crew

After enjoying all that fall foliage in our back yard, there's work to be done! Not a problem when you've got a boy eager enough to get us to borrow a leaf blower and a girl who perseveres.I think Josiah blew leaves for a total of 10 minutes and then ran off to play with the neighbor boys. There's fun to be had!

But, Hadassah worked hard for hours making the biggest pile of leaves she's "ever seen".

Where I Found Shifrah

Well, I guess supervision hit an all-time low this morning while I tried to get the other two off to school.

Josiah Wanted To Touch The Ceiling

For Want Of A Bike Jump

Josiah always has these elaborate dreams as to what he would like to do and will usually put forth some amount of effort to do them. Currently, he wants a bike jump - for obvious reasons - and here he is, hard at work, making one:And as for ladybugs, we decided it was time for our little freeloaders to move out. We lugged a long ladder into our foyer (since they were all nestled in a corner 18 feet up) and most of them have now gone the way of the vacuum hose!

Hope

All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king.

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~ J.R.R. Tolkien ~

Little Sweetie

Home Sweet Home

Our backyard in full "bloom":

The Joy of Throwing Leaves

Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah!

Not one able to get my kids to perform for the camera, I grab the spontaneous moments when they are available. I don't usually catch a perfect shot but I do catch their personality.

My hope and prayer for Shifrah - that the words she sings will be true of "all her days":

"Hallelujah, praise Jehovah! O my soul, Jehovah praise; I will sing the glorius praises of my God through all my days." - Psalter 400

Little Ladies

Today, the front of our house received its annual 'ladybug' infestation and I became suddenly thankful for screens. Here's one of our front windows. They seem to be attracted to all the white trim around the windows and on the front porch.

And then, Shifrah thought to open the front door wide to take a look and now my front foyer looks like my porch!