Pumpkin Party

Grandview's annual Pumpkin Party was last night. There were lots of fun games and cute costumes and of course, CANDY!!!

We were excited to take Georgia and she actually participated in some of the games. She especially loved the duck pond. All she had to do was pick up a rubber ducky and the number on the bottom determined how many pieces of candy she got. She just wanted to keep the 'quack-quack's' as she calls them, and I just wanted her pick Snickers and Reese's as her candy choices. It was time to move on to another game when she tried to get into the duck pond - costume, shoes and all.

Here is our little flower on the move. She loved her costume by the way. When she saw herself in the mirror she just laughed and said, "Pretty! Oh, pretty!" Andy and I dressed up as gardeners. We were pretty cute, too.

Flower Georgia and Ladybug Alivia


Playing games for candy

Showing off her candy prizes

Ultrasound

We had our ultrasound a couple of weeks back. Thought you might want to see sweet Baby Schu #2. Boy or girl; what do you think? At this point only the good Lord knows!

Oh No, I Got It

It's so funny the things kids pick up - especially the things that their parents say. Recently Georgia has picked up on two new sayings; one from me and the other from goodness knows where. She says: "Oh, no!" and "I got it!"

"Oh no!" is not a negative comment whatsoever, but something that she says when she is super excited. "Georgia, Daddy's home!" "Oh no! Oh no!" "Georgie, let's watch Cinderella." "Oh no! Oh no!" "Georgia, let's go play with your friends." "Oh no! Oh no!"

The other saying, "I got it," she totally picked up from me. She drops a toy and I say, "I got it!" as I pick it up. Something gets stuck between the wall and the bed and I say, "I got it!" as I retrieve it for her. She has gotten into the habit of asking me, "Got it?" before I can even say, "I got it!" Sometimes though, she tends to take it out of context. The other day Georgia was walking around and she suddenly stopped. I could tell she was dirtying her diaper. I could hear her soft little voice as she puffed and grunted out almost in a whisper, "I got it, I got it."

Out of context? You decide.

Be the Church

Twice a year, in the spring and fall, Grandview does a "Be the Church" Sunday. Instead of having morning service, we sign up to do projects out in the community. We come together again for a potluck in the evening followed by a report service. I love it.

Yesterday, Andy and I volunteered with a few other church members to do some yard clean up at a Catholic-worker house. Basically, this man has purchased a home in downtown Davenport and opens it up to men in the area who are homeless, alcoholics, have drug addictions and even medical and mental handicaps. He does this, not necessarily as rehab, but to provide a place and a relationship in order to help these men get back on their feet. The only requirement to live in this house is that each man must be working or actively looking for work.

This man is wanting to find people and churches who are more interested in investing personal time and connecting with these men, than just dropping off a check. Religion/spirituality isn't forced on these men, but in my opinion, the relationships that are being or will be established will eventually open the door for the gospel to be shared. It truly is inspiring and it's right here in our community; practically at our back door.

Grandview's vision statement is: Building bridges of Christ's compassion into our communities. I hope to see the bridge built between this worker house and our church in the future.

You Might Be a Pastor's Wife If....

...people excuse their inappropriate language in your presence.


from You Might Be a Pastor's Wife If...by Kathy Slamp

Playmates

This picture was taken in late August. We were having beautiful weather and so we, along with some friends, decided to grill out at Scott County Park. Wyatt, Alivia, Georgia and Oliver had a fun time in the great outdoors. Can you believe we got them all to sit for a picture?

Ho-Hum

Fall Pretties

After a trip to Hobby Lobby (50% off!), I picked up a few more things to make my house fall-a-licious.

Fall Drinks

There are so many yummy, warm, fall drinks to celebrate this season; hot apple cider, coffee, spiced pumpkin lattes, hot chocolate, and one of my personal favorites, hot tea. Here is the yummy concoction that I like to make:

1 bag of chai spice black tea (I use the Stash brand), steeped in a mug of hot water; add a tsp of sugar and a splash of milk. Yum.

I think I'll go make a cup right now.

Apple Pie

I decided to attempt to make my first pie ever this year. And I do mean "ever." I've never made a pie in my life. I mean come on, I'm approaching 30 years old and am about to have my second baby. It's time to at least try. After a trip to the apple orchard I was telling my sister-in-law about my fear of making a pie and having it be a total screw up all because I'm afraid of making crust. Pie is just one of those things that seems to take a lot of effort and is such a waste if it doesn't turn out. She told me she has the easiest crust recipe, called Idiot Proof Pie Crust. "Lacey," she said, "you can't screw this up." Ummm, I bet I could.

About a week ago I decided to stop putting it off and just do it. I didn't want those lovely orchard apples to go to waste. Here is the finished product, partially eaten because I forgot to take a picture when it came out of the oven.


And guess what? It was awesome, not to mention way easier than I had expected. Andy, Georgia and I had it gone in about two days. So now I feel like I can make any kind of pie; pumpkin, pecan, cherry, french silk...you name it. I don't know what I feel better about: the fact that the pie turned out so great or the fact that I'm not an idiot.

Feeling brave? Here is the recipe for Idiot Proof Pie Crust:

1 egg
1 tbsp white vinegar
warm water
6 cups flour
1 tbsp salt
1 lb. lard

Break egg into glass measuring cup, stir in vinegar and add enough warm water to reach the 1 cup mark; set aside. Put 6 c. flour, 1 lb. lard (in small pieces) and salt into large mixing bowl and mix with your hands until well combined.

Add egg mixture and continue mixing with hands to form a rough ball. It will be messy! Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, divide into 6 equal parts and shape each into a flat disk. Wrap each in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour OR freeze (up to two months) until ready to use. Defrost before using. Makes 6 pie crusts.