Cars, lines, and my boys

If I had to use one word to describe my little guy right now it would be... LINES.  Everything to him must have order and structure, and in his word, this translates into lines.  Lines of cars, lines of letters, lines of wheels, even lines of cereal.  His lines make me smile and make my heart happy.

He could sit for hours watching his trucks and cars and putting them into lines.  I love this about him!

It really shouldn't surprise me though.  He is SO much like another little boy who used to live in this house.  Another little boy who was obsessed with trucks and lines... 

 

 Thank you God for the little boys in my life who love to make lines. 

Thank you for making them just who they are.  I am so blessed!

Haircut Time

It's taken me awhile to get the nerve to do this.  I planted the idea in her head about six months ago, but had the wedding as an excuse to wait.  She was excited and wanted to do it.  I was ready (for the most part) and knew it kind of needed to be done.  She has been blessed with my fine, thin hair... and when it gets really long it just doesn't work.  But I knew I was going to miss it...

"Hair Cut Day" was a big day for this little girl.  She was so excited, she couldn't take a nap.  And I will say that this mama did very good watching her baby girl's hair all fall to the floor. (After a few deep breaths!)  It was a fun afternoon for both of us. 

 Thank you Miss Tara for giving us our "new looks"! 

Eight inches in all...  and it makes her seem so grown up!

Yep... she's still pretty cute!  Short hair and all!  Love you girl!

What Fall Looks Like at the Hodges' House

We take multiple trips to the pumpkin patch...

and have lots of fun painting pumpkins.

We spend an evening designing silly pumpkin faces and cutting them out.

Our leaf people from last year made an appearance again...

(along with leaf babies, dogs, turtles, and more!)

 

 and gave our school room a fun look for fall.

We took nature walks as a family...

and never had a full pan of pumpkin bars on hand.

The "Kitty Dress" made it's last appearance for the season... (one of my all time favorites!)

but it had lots of fun at Ainsley's preschool Fall Party.

I helped out with the candy corn craft, spider snack, and fun fall games at my little girl's party. 

It was such a good morning and full of smiles and blessings for my heart! 

 Fall at our house is setting up my "Thanksgiving corner" and trying to teach my children about who God is and why we should thank Him...

and smiling when my artist spends the morning creating a masterpiece...

wanting to give thanks to God in her own special way.

Thank you Father... yes, thank you!

 

Go Vote!

I am not big into politics.  They annoy me... frustrate me... and if my phone rings one more time from "Chloe" or "Don" I may just throw it out of the window!

But, I am big into voting.  I haven't missed an election since I turned 18.  And the older I get, the more I realize what an amazing privilege and freedom it is to be able to do this.

The more I read with Liam about our early American history and the passion and love for this land those early leaders had, and the freedoms they died for... the more I realize the responsibility I have to understand what each candidate stands for and cast my vote too.


My crew showing off their "I Voted" stickers!

The older my children get, the more I realize how I need to model to them what it means to be a citizen of this country... to pray for our leaders... help them decide what makes a good leader... and to show respect no matter who is in office because ultimately My King put them there.

So today PRAY... and then GO VOTE! 

 

If my people, who are called by my name,

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14

There is unwavering peace today…
when an uncertain tomorrow…
is trusted to an unchanging God.
~Ann Voskamp

 

Halloween 2012

Introducing...

Luke Skywalker

Dorothy

and

James the Train

My crew...

Oh boy! Here we come!

What a fun night we had!  We met up with some neighborhood friends...

and we hit the streets! 

I think our neighborhood is one of the most popular places to Trick-or-Treat in Gretna. 

On this night it's packed with kids and so much fun! 

 

This little guy had a blast!  We went at our own pace away from the large group because we had to stop to admire every pick-up and garage door in the neighborhood. 

After he left each house he would exclaim...

"Mama!  I say Trick-or-Treat!!!"

Then at one point we were walking down the sidewalk and he said,

"I have so much fun!!!"

I have so much fun too buddy!

Happy Fall!