Trip to See Amy, Etc.

'Tis the season:  Ricky's away a lot hunting and Amy's at home all weekend alone.  Well, if you don't count the 3 kids and all the dogs, she's alone!  But in our conversation last week, she expressed a desire for me to come up and help her sort through the kids' clothes because they were still pulling shorts and tank tops out of their drawers and wearing them.  The weather is definitely not summer-like any more, but she was putting off that chore because organization is not something she enjoys.  And since I do, would I mind coming up and helping her.  Well, off I went but when I got there, I didn't do anything to help her.  I sat on the floor in the kids' rooms, playing with them and giving her an opportunity for adult conversation while she worked.  We had a great time and she was able to accomplish all she wanted by lunch time.

When that job was done, we went out for lunch, then drove to Reading to a children's consignment shop.  She bought all the kids' clothes for the winter, so they now have what they need to stay warm and look good!

Chase was really happy with this reversible camo vest.

And Joanna loved this cowgirl shirt.  She says she's going to be a cowgirl when she grows up!

 Being silly!

Andy was busy all day with Nativity set-up but he did get home before me.  The next day was Sunday and it was the week we had our older singles group over.  It was salad night.  Several others made salads and I made an orzo pasta salad, cottage cheese jello salad and pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese icing.  Yum - they were good!

It was a beautiful fall day today, kind of chilly, but the sun was shining.  Because the weather was so nice, we decided to go for a hike.  We went to Smithville Park and walked on the path through the woods.  It was so invigorating and restorative.  There's nothing like a walk out in nature to soothe the soul!

I didn't take these pictures but this is exactly what it looked like today as we walked through the woods.

 We saw 4 herons on the lake.  Below is a green heron, but we also saw some great blue herons.