Lucy's Trick or Treat at the Church

Lucy's preschool class wore their costumes to class today and trick-or-treated through the church offices. It is such a sweet tradition and Lucgoose had blast

She tried to trick-or-treat with him twice because he was giving out gummies, her favorite. No dice Lucgoose. 

And here's her entire class. This just cracks me up. It was like herding cats

Lucy is eating her candy and giving me the angry eyebrows. 

We headed back to the pumpkin patch to have our snack among the pumpkins before they are gone in a few days. 

Hanging out with her buddy Ian the penguin

She polished off her newly earned candy in under an hour. Oh well, you're only two once. 

So sweet and innocent. I just adore her.

She looks so much like Vera here

Being silly

Happy Halloween sweet Lucy. 

Dancing Ghost Gals

This just sums up our October perfectly. I love it!

Pumpkin Patch

The girls love our local pumpkin patch, and since it is connected to our church and school, we go all the time. They have so much fun, and it actually makes living in central Florida feel a smidgen like fall. 

Sweet sisters goofing around

They can be so sweet when they want to

Pretending she was princess Anna

Exploring never gets old

Happy as a clam and clearly obeying the "no running in the pumpkin patch" rule

Lucy is somewhat obsessed with the dancing skeleton pumpkin man behind her. she'll just stand there and shake her hips like he does. It's awesome and since we live so close it is a reason to go every day . 

Don't mind me, I'm just sitting here on a pumpkin. 

12 Days

Here we are, twelve days before Vera's birthday. I look at her and can't help but think of Reece, called home a mere twelve days before he turned five. Today I just wanted to say thank you Reece for helping me remember that parties and presents don't matter.  Jesus living in Vera's heart is all that really counts. May I remember how much I love Vera, and how amazing and blessed I am to have her. Today and every day.

The Planning Tears

Tonight while giving the girls a bath after a long day of general tomfoolery and birthday party planning, I totally broke down. My Story by Big Daddy Weave came on the radio and I found myself crying uncontrollably. I mean serious, ugly crying. The girls immediately jumped out and calmed my heart with a group hug, but the line "you would hear of hope that wouldn't let go" got me. Here I was, the day before my Veve's party, thinking of how blessed I am to get to plan and have her with me, and how sweet Reece never got his fifth birthday party. I've been especially struggling with this this week. I find myself comparing Reece to Vera and it just hurts my heart in ways I can't adequately explain. Five is so young, and I am so thankful for every day I get to spend with my girls. I get to hold them, play and read with them, an endless list of daily life. I cannot fathom my life, my heart, without them. And then I cry again for the little boy who I think should be doing the same with his mom.  I remember Reece daily, and think of him when I am happiest and with the girls. I will stand firm on "the hope that wouldn't let go" and know that I will see him again, someday. 

"If I should speak, then let it be of the grace that is greater than all my sin. 

Of when justice was served, and where mercy wins!

Of the kindness of Jesus that draws me in

To tell you my story, is to tell of Him

If I told you my story, you would hear victory over the enemy

If I told you my story, you would hear freedom that was won for me 

and if I told you my story, you would hear Life overcome the grave" Big Daddy Weave.

Home!

When Matthew comes home from work the girls attack him at the door. To say they adore him just doesn't do it justice. They run to him and love on him until he can't even move. It's awesome to watch as a mom; it makes my heart happy. 

Right where she needs to be

She will hug him until he puts her down, which is usually a good few minutes. 

Getting Fancy

A few weeks ago Vera and I went to see the play Fancy Nancy at the local children's theater. It was wonderful seeing the books come to life. Vera loved it, and we can't wait to go back for another play soon. 

Veve as Fancy Nancy herself

They even had crafts for the girls to do before hand. 

Sitting front row and attempting a selfie

Flashing her three finger pose

I just adored being so sophisticated, that's a fancy word for grown-up, with Vera. 

Vera's First Symphony

This past weekend I took Vera on a mommy/daughter date to the Orlando Philharmonic and their special performance of Disney Pixar Music. It was amazing! Vera was glued to the stage for two and a half hours; she seriously didn't even squirm until the last fifteen minutes. The special guest conductor from Pixar played special arrangements from all the Disney Pixar movies, and there was a giant movie screen behind the orchestra playing scenes as well. It was just a wonderful night of music that hopefully sparked a love of live music in Ve.

Getting all her wiggles out before we took our seats. It's very important to stretch before listening to music, or so I've been told. 

An attempt to get her to smile...

This was the best we could, alas. 

Checking out the musicians as the set up. 

We were sneaky and brought in a fruit by the foot as a snack. 

Vera and her date for the evening, Anders. Future prom date, you never know.

I hope Vera loves the theater and music as much as I do. 

The Outtakes

Picking flowers for moms hair

I love being their mom

Getting snuggles from my Lucgoose

That smile almost makes it impossible to yell at her. 

"No I will not smile," sneered Lucy.  

:Looking like she's up to no good

Sweetly playing with the leaves

My sweet, big kid Ve. I sure do love these girls. 

Perfection

Lucy has been having a hard time falling asleep without her Daddy here. She misses him dearly and cries hard and long every night. After flipping out for forty-five minutes the other day, I was at my wits end. Then I snapped this one when she finally drifted off. It was just so sweet to me; perfect little lips and eye lashes. God certainly is amazing and did a perfect job on my Lucgoose. 

On Wednesdays We Wear Pink

Vera and her buddy Renee have been pretty much connected at the hip for the past two years. It is so sweet to see them grow up together. Today we decided to play dress up and snap a few pictures of them just being themselves. Their personalities definitely came out. Heaven help us when they are teenagers. 

Life is better when you have a friend to giggle with

Future cheerleaders

So much sass

Vera was telling knock knock jokes and attempting to get all of us to laugh

And just like that they went crazy on me

Just two gals sitting on a park bench looking fabulous

There are no words

I adore her smile and giggle

And there it is. This one screams Vera. 

"Mom, just no" huffed Vera. And she was done with taking pictures.

This is what I got when I asked for her ornery face. That's the look of a girl that's up to no good. 

We ended the day but attempting to steal wishes , other peoples pennies, from the fountain. We made them put every single wish back. Here's to good friends, sass, and wearin' pink on Wednesdays.