The Loot to Boot

When Doughnuts Attack

I am calling and running around like a crazy lady this morning looking for non denominational yet festive doughnuts. A traditionally sane person may be rendered speechless by the absurdity of this comment. I was when I originally uttered it to the lady working both at the bakery of Weis and the old lady eavesdropping nearby.

I knew this comment needed further explanation so I began elaborating telling these women that I was my daughter's room mom at school. The go to helper, the planner of parties that are labeled by season instead of holiday for both seperation of state and religion, but sensitivity as well to different religious beliefs. I explained it was particularly important that I follow these guidelines because there are two Jehovah's Witnesses (I'll assume that is the plural, although I'm not sure) in Bella's class. It must remain religiously neutral or they cannot attend the festivities. Therefore I needed two dozen doughnuts that contained no jack o' lanterns, spiders, witches, etc... Now for the past month I have been frequenting Weis's bakery and they have had these beautiful doughnuts with orange frosting and fall colored leaf sprinkles on top. I thought they would be perfect. I didn't want to buy them too early only to go stale.

So last night after the ward trunk or treat I stopped in but they only had five left. I came back to Weis first thing this morning thinking I would have the best selection and could maybe get them to make any extras I needed before the party at noon. Well they had some this morning but they were all jack o'latern ones. I tried to explain the phrase non denominational doughnuts to the baker whereupon she gave me the deer in head lights look again. Well they only make doughnuts once a day. This was their selection take it or leave it. And closer to Halloween the baking staff assumes people want Halloween doughnuts so they make more jack o'latern ones. Long story short I found enough, several different kinds of non-denominational doughtnuts for the party, but different than I had originally planned.

Well two little boys sitting in their car cart are going nuts as I load twenty four doughnuts into two boxes and into the cart. The old lady eavesdropper says to the boys, "oh don't worry boys your mom will get you a doughnut. She wouldn't get that many for other little kids and not any for you." I am flabbergasted. This doesn't happen often. I find myself to be rarely flustered. Because although I had planned to get the boys jack o'latern doughnuts today, nine times out of ten I wouldn't have. Then the older women continues to comment on the nature of Kody's beautiful hair. Seriously not a day goes by that I go into public and don't get a comment on his hair. Not a day, since he was born, over two years ago.

I answered with a quick, "Yeah he's our cute redhead." And she says, "Oh- I wouldn't say his hair is red." I just assumed cataracts had gotten the better part of this woman's vision and let it go. We came home and the boys swapped their breakfast of pancakes that they had previously wanted to doughnuts and apple cider instead. Well these are smart children, what can I say. So it being a holiday I conceded. And that is when the doughnuts attacked the faces and fingers of my children leaving in their wake perma orange stains.

(now you tell me how far off this chemically composed orange frosting is from my son's hair)

(issac says kody you have a red mustache, i say red or orange, and he says orange, but then why are people always calling kody a redhead, touche my young padawon)

(so yummy you can see his uvula)

Women - A Role So Divine

Everywhere I turn I find women who inspire me with wisdom and courage. I find righteous women who love the Lord, their families and their lives.

I feel lucky to know these women, to call them my friends and each day I wake up excited to check in on them via their blogs. I learn new things about being a mother, about being a person. And each of them has something I am just a little jealous of, in a totally good way.

Women around the world amaze me with their similarities and differences. I can't help but feel closer to my Heavenly Father when I contemplate each of his unique creations.

600 pictures, 3 parks, 7 days

Although logically I know that 600 pictures is a obscene amount to take in three days over a week long period, I can't help it. I have to take that many just to get that perfect picture that I fear will forever be lost in my aging mind if I don't capture it and permanently preserve it.For more tear jerkingly beautiful pictures of my precious boys and autumn see my albums on facebook.

When Nature Calls

(I used to want to be a boy so bad when I was little for just this reason)

Someday Can I Own That?

Yes, if you want to I say. This is the first time Issac has ever reminded me of Travis in anyway. After a year and a half of using our undeveloped neighboring lots as our own backyard, one of the lots has been purchased and building has commenced. Each day we watch a slew of heavy equipement come in and out. Issac is enamored with all the trucks and has started a list of equipement he someday wants to own and use. This is akin to Travis who has a somewhat long list of his own with the first seven already ranked in order. Maybe someday we will have our own little developer/builder just like Daddy.

I Can Read

He really can. It's amazing to watch a child start to learn to read. Their own excitement at seeing themselves reading is the best thing in the world. He knows probably twenty sight words now and can sound out most three letter words. So if I find a repetitive book there starts to be a fluidity in his reading.