Revisiting my childhood

Having children is one way to enjoy those fondly-remembered childhood toys, books and shows without seeming weird or immature. Jamie is well versed in Underdog, and Dot is thrilled with Carmen Sandiego. Did you know they were even still around? Jim bought a set of Underdog dvd's, and they are watched frequently in our house. Jamie runs around giving people a "lightning jolt!" Dot is happy that Carmen Sandiego is an educational video - which means we have it checked out for 21 days!

Thanksgiving

Praise ye the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD.
Praise ye the LORD.

Already???

Did anyone else get surprised by the holiday season this year? I thought we were just ending summer a couple of weeks ago, and now we're talking Thanksgiving and Christmas! Sigh... It's a lot of work... Time to shop for gifts, decorate, and bake all those treats. Time to eat, eat, eat. Time to write Christmas cards. Time to listen to Christmas songs, and sing along, making up words for those we can't remember. Time for nostalgic childrens' specials on tv.
We begin this weekend, decorating the house and breaking out the advent calendar. I'll start baking cookies soon, after I decided which ones to make. The kids helped to pick out a poinsettia this morning while we were shopping.
What are your favorite parts of the season? What cookies are you making? Will you go to Merry Tuba Christmas? Sing in a concert?

Meadville

It has finally hit me, now that we are home. I am grieving now. I am deeply saddened that I will not see Grandma again here on earth. My children will not know her, will probably not remember her. I will probably never see the house again, never be amazed at the ingenious little things rigged up by Grandpa, never again wonder what is hiding in the attic (those treasures were amazing to discover!), never again sit in the kitchen nook for lunch. I will never again receive a letter from her, with news of the weather in Meadville and what plants are growing in their yard. No more fruit cocktail, not that we have had that for awhile now.
I have often asked God why we are so far from family. Why does he not provide a home and job for us near our parents? I would love for my children to grow up having Sunday dinners at Grandma's, learning to sew or cook or fix cars or build a birdhouse or any number of other wonderful things that Grandma and Grandpa seem to have time to teach. It would be nice to let their cousins be their best friends. Is it enough to see family two or three times a year? To call once a week? To email whenever?
It was so nice to see everyone again. It's too bad that time was short. I wish we could've stayed longer, talked more, helped more.
There's so much more I'd like to say, but I don't know how to say it...

Exciting Uncle Mike

Our kids are so happy to have Uncle Mike here for a visit. All sorts of fun goes on, from gifts, dinners out, games, and lots of field trips!
Yesterday we went hiking in the afternoon. The weather was perfect - just what a fall day should be like, crisp and clear. We started out at Hampton, a national park just north of Baltimore. It was once a large plantation, and at this point you can tour the farmhouse and farm buildings. The mansion is closed for renovations (Air conditioning!!) until next fall/winter. The kids weren't too thrilled with the farmhouse - although they did enjoy the hands on exhibits.
A few minutes away was a county park, which also had a farm. This park had trails, and more importantly, a geocache. Mike brought his GPS and taught Dot how to use it for this "treasure hunt." Jamie couldn't follow them at their speed, so we wandered along the paths as we could. Eventually we all ended up back at the car, tired but happy with our afternoon's adventure. Dot loves geocaching - and hopes to get a GPS for Christmas... unfortunately, "Santa" can't afford that sort of present.