Fall's Finishing Touches

To make the candy pumpkins we made (below in the truck bed) all you need are circus peanut candies and some kind of caramel candy or tootsie rolls.
Simply cut the peanut in half and 'glue' it together side by side with cut side down with a bit of caramel. Flatten with the palm of your hand and use a toothpick to 'draw' on some lines. Another very small piece of the caramel candy makes the stem.
Kayla and I made this banner with scrapes of burlap, some twine and a permanent marker. We added a few fall-colored buttons and some leaves right off one of our trees. To preserve the leaves, we sprayed them with a clear coat of spray gloss.

I love apple cider, fireplace, candle, sweater, and pumpkin muffin weather!

I love fall!

Talking tiny again.

My tiniest.

She doesn't say a whole lot yet. Just the basic stuff a 17 month old says. I think "yes" is a current favorite. She doesn't say "no", just shakes her head and waves her hand in a "go-away- I'm not interested" sort of way. She chatters a lot of uninteligible stuff. The other day I caught her shaking her finger at her stuffed lamb and she loves to come along and turn the computer off on you. Oh, and she's a reader--quite a reader! It's apparent that she feels as big as any of her 'guys'. She loves following them around and if they try do 'big stuff' without her, she hollers, "Guyyys! Guyyys!"

She has a safety swing, but we set her on here the other day and she felt so special! Her little legs were wild with excitement. I love her expression!


I'm trying to keep up with school, house chores and the beginnings of packing, in the midst of all the medical tests I am going through. Anyway, for this reason, Kammy has been spending a little more time than usual at Grampapa's. Friday when we went to pick her up after her being there all week and she greeted me warmly by saying, "I don't want anything to do with you!" Just made my day. (not!)
About the picture, Kammy fell asleep in the chair like this.


Kalli gave us her definition of a Real Hug,

"A real hug is with two arms and nothing else in them, and a little tighter and a little longer. That is a REAL hug!"

I have to agree!



Kammy told her guys, "We aren't mexican girls or dinoco girls, we are AMERICAN girls." I think she drew this conclusion from a combination of Cars, American Girl, and I'm not sure what else!



Well, that's it (or all I can remember at the moment) for Tiny Talk you can see more here!

Kids are soooo precious!

God is in the shadows - The Collingsworth family

Blogging Blahs

Okay, it's official. I have the blogging blahs. I don't know if you noticed or not, but my last two posts, (which were two weeks apart at that) were for Tiny Talk. Since school started, I have not had the time for a lot of fun or finished objects. Well, that and I have been a bit blah. I was told that I need to blog though, so here I am making a feeble attempt.

I don't like to complain, but I have been sick with headaches and other annoying symptoms for a couple of months now. I finally decided it warrented a trip to the ER and now following up with the doctor for tons and tons of tests. That in itself is frustrating. I HATE being the center of this type (or any type) of attention. I also HATE making doctor bills. Some people assume that if you have insurance, your 'worries are free'. :) What having insurance really means, is that I have to pay whatever they don't and it seems that is always too much.

The worst part however; of all of this is that I am so happy and content being mommy to my four little pink things, making a home for my family, and loving my wonderful man and I so fear the unknown. I think it happens to all mommies from time to time, but my blahs right now stem from the fear that whatever is wrong could be serious. I'm a very organized, scheduled person. I have found that is the ONLY way for me to safely and successfully run a 'large' family and homeschool. What I am not, is patient. These two things make this time very hard for me.

That being said, I know that God is in control and he loves me even more than I love my little people. I am up for whatever he allows. A friend recently posted the song posted above for me on facebook and it has become my new favorite. It fits my life in so many ways right now, and is sung so beautifully by the Collingsworth ladies. I feel special to be one of God's flowers and I'm glad that even in the shadows, He is my Rock and my loving Heavenly King!

I'll bloom where I'm planted!