Fall is now here :)!

Yesterday was a wonderful fall day! We went apple and pumpkin picking, had a picnic outdoors (where it wasn't too hot, although we still didn't need sweaters- we're in South Carolina, folks, we wear sweaters in December ;).). Then we went home and Daddy finished making us some yummy soup and we had fresh (very fresh!) apple crisp :). We also cooked and de-seeded a pumpkin. We had pumpkin muffins for breakfast this morning, also, out of  pumpkin puree we made last night :). Now we just have to make applesauce, apple butter, dried apples, apple pie, pumpkin pie, roasted pumpkin seeds, more pumpkin puree, and anything else we decide :). It is definitely fall now :)!
Here's some pictures from yesterday, and look for a few "trick pics" soon :)!

Poor sick Peter asleep on the way there...

They had young chickens again this year :)!...

... and bees!

Peter still watching the chickens from his wrap- he loved them!!!

Llamas!!! Abbi and Emmi are so cute :)!

Heehee:)! (Yes, that is Tori's head- Mommy 

is back there, too- the littlest ones needed 

held, they are so short :)...

Pumpkins for sale!

A pumpkin on the vine.

In the pumpkin patch.

They have flowers planted in between the pumpkins to attract bees.

Picture time! "That's a big pumpkin!"

Lots of pumpkins! Emmi happens to be my favorite in this picture, though :).

Pumpkin blossoms!

A perfect seat!

Little pumpkins.

Abbi is trying to cross her eyes :)...

Love :)!

Sweet baby boy!!!

Andrew cut the vines.

And loaded up the pumpkins.

This one was a bit heavier than the last :).

White and green pumpkins!

A muchroom on the tree :).

]

Apple blossoms :)...

Yum! Apples!

Between having this...

And doing this...

Or just jumping :)...

We were all able to reach fairly high :).

Our fresh picked bounty :). (We also  bought some apples already picked.)

Sweet, sweet,

brothers :).

Emmi Joy.

Cooking in the kitchen!

In the little house :).

Dress your own scarecrow,  haha :)!

We're a wee bit short...

Among many animals they also had a rooster and chicken,

a goat

(well, several),

and a donkey.

Also llamas, a pig (that looked just like Wilbur!), pheasants, and supposedly a peacock. (Tori and I could not find it, though!)
It was a fun day :)!!!

Chocolate pie

A super easy pie, perfect for birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. And I know this, because we make it for birthdays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!
You'll need a baked and cooled pie crust,
2 cups of vanilla ice cream,
2/3 cup half and half,
and a 3.58 box of chocolate pudding mix.
To top it after it is cooled, you'll need whipped cream,
and mini chocolate chips.
I also suggest a few little people to help :).

Measure out the ice cream and put in a bowl.

Make sure that nobody gets into the ice cream container if it is not empty...

Measure and pour the half and half.

Beat until smooth.

Add the chocolate pudding mix.

Both of them, if making two pies (yes, I was thankful we were making two pies, as it just gave everybody one thing to pour in!).

And beat again until mixed.

Pour into pie crust

and let any helpers lick miscellaneous cooking utensils, while taking the pies to the fridge to chill a couple hours.

Spread whipped cream on top.

And top with chocolate chips!

Why Emmi did not help us finish up the pie :)...

Enjoy!

Then give baths ;)... There's you a recipe, and a good excuse for me to share pictures ;)!

It's the little things

that make up a day.
We laughed at Emmi the other day, when she asked for "sugar" (she meant yogurt. I mentioned the fact that I probably put "too much sugared-up jelly in mine" for it to be a snack instead of dessert (at least it was dessert then ;)), and she thought I meant I put too much yogurt, or sugar, in my cup :).). She asked for the yogurt, and I told her I would get her some. Then she asked "Can I have a cup, too? And a spoon?"
Now this was extremely cute, something you would think didn't need mentioned was so big to her mind :). But how often do I do the same thing with other little things, turning into a grump over nothing?
But, in the same way, it is the little things that make you smile. A hug, a thank you, another person's smile to you. Things so little, that everybody is so thankful for.
I hope with God's help to enjoy the little things more, and to bring more joy to others by doing little things for them, while learning to ignore the other little things that would usually upset me, that don't matter at all. Truly, I am so blessed, especially in the things that are so easy to think are too small to matter :)!

Happy early birthday to Tori!!!

Since Daddy will be out of town for his training next month, we're celebrating Tori's birthday a little early this year (she says she'll be twelve on October second thanks to this "un-birthday" ;)). Tori is such a sweet addition to our family, and we thank the Lord greatly for her!

Happy early eleventh birthday, Tori!!!

Thankful Thursday, week... lost count...

Haha :)! I'm sure I could figure it out, but I think I'll just blog. I'll have plenty of time while I wait for Abbi's birthday pictures to upload (yes, her birthday post is almost done! As soon as those pictures do their thing, all I have to do is comment on some of the pictures. Oh. Wait. There are 25 pictures. It could still be a few days... I'll do my best!)
Without farther ado (aside to tell you that I have some really cute pictures of Peter that I want to share sometime next week), this week I've been thankful for...
~Watching Andrew read to Peter (LOVE  IT!!!). (Which will, by the way, be included in the aforementioned pictures.)
~Watching Peter play in the exer-saucer- he loves it! He actually plays in it, he is only four months :).
~Watching Peter get better at sitting.
~And getting to put Peter in the onesie that I remember Andrew in so well, it was my favorite :)... (Yes, above three thoughts will turn into pictures in the Peter picture post, also...)
~A grill.
~The crocheting book that one of my closest friends gave me just over a year ago. (Thanks K.!!! I just finished using it yet again. With all the gifts I've been able to make out of it, it has most likely more than given me it's money worth. It was so sweet of you!)
~New math curriculum (not that math is my favorite, but it looks like I won't have quite as much trouble as with the last one, so, I'm hoping :)...).
~That Abbi has now added "S" into the list of sounds she knows.
~That our world is not as flat as the inflatable globe in front of me, haha!!! Sorry, had to add that one, this globe just looks too funny...
~Sleeping babies curled up on me...
~Vacuum cleaners.
~Abbi all excited that she got a new nightgown.
That Tori's nightgown is finished! And it looks like it made it through the first night AND the washer!! Now... time to start another, haha! Which she says will be green, or, "better yet" *orange*.
~That I am now done downloading those birthday pictures (I found some more after mentioning 25...),
~And that it didn't take as long as usual to do!
~Our clock that chimes hymns.
~Getting to match all my sisters.
~And I am very thankful that Mommy knows how to sew!!! We could no longer match if she didn't!
~Gems on our shelf.
~Crape myrtles in our yard.
~And folded towels :).

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"

~Psalm 95:2

Andrew gave me his first offical note for my birthday...

It is *so sweet*, he did quite a long one for his age, too. Sure, he included some teasing ;) (he thinks it is hilarious that I could wait to drive very happily ;)). But I still think this is precious....

It says "Happy birthday Bri! I hope you are having fun and I hope you can drive soon! Andrew"
He hung it on our door and took me to see it as soon as Daddy and I got back home :). Thank you, Andrew, I loved it!!! But I'm still not giving you a date that I personally will drive you to take the trash to the dump ;)...

"The Titanic's Last Hero", by Moody Adams

This was a great book! I know I've mentioned John Harper a lot lately, but :)...
When you look up John Harper online, you don't get much. This book gave you a great look into the life on this man of God, who was raised in a christian home and saved at the age of thirteen. Before becoming an official preacher, he would preach at street corners. He eventually did get his own church, and it is said that he led many people to the Lord, and that he truly cared about his flock, praying all night at times for their salvation and walk with the Lord. Also, when they had a guest preacher, he would be praying in the back for the message the whole time it was being delivered. During this time of having his own congregation, he still continued to preach on the street! He often had poor health, but still gave his whole life to service to God. He lost his wife just a couple years after they married, leaving him alone with a newborn baby. His brother and his wife took little Nan into their home for a time, but Mr. Harper wanted her with him. They were together much of her life.
This book was a compilation of tributes to John Harper from fellow preachers, his brother, and a few others, including some who were saved by God through one of his messages. The book also includes his sermon notes for four of his sermons, how neat is that :)? I thought it was a really great book, and it was neat to learn more about Mr. Harper!

Thankful... monday...

This week I'm thankful for....
~My wonderful family!
~Cardinal flowers.
~Antique tatting shuttles :)! I saw a tatting shuttle last year while Mommy and I were out antiquing. But, I decided not to pay 25 dollars for something that didn't tell how old it was. Now I'm glad I didn't, because this year Daddy and I found one that was under 13 dollars, and it has the date it was made engraved on it, so there can be no mistaking it- it is 89 years old! How neat is that :)?!
~A Father who will offer to take you antiquing for your birthday, because he knows how much you enjoy it, even though he likes to pick on us that it is an odd thing to like ;).
 ~Oh, and for the fact that he fixed our sewing machine earlier today! We can now thread bobbins on it with no trouble!!! (I thought that metal piece was suppose to be bent... it came that way!!!)
And Mommy figured out that the overcasting foot is broken, but since her's fits our machine, sewing tomorrow should be sooo much easier than it was today! Especially since we have gotten rid of all sleeves with printing from the selvedge edge on them... oy... yes, my mistake... from months ago... and I didn't even notice it until I was half done sewing that sleeve!!! Tori may end up with some pjs this week... of course, on the other hand, we could end up with a royal mess!
But having somebody to sew with you makes it much better... (Love you, Tori!)
~...And some dark chocolate helps ;)...
~Extra violin strings.
~Great children's books to read to sweet little people :).
~Hearing Emmi call Peter her *little brother*! Yes, she's starting to learn ;). Slowly, albeit. But, she is!
~The fact that I am feeling much better than I was for a couple days last week,
~...and that nobody else caught it!
~Art brushes.
~Letters to write.
~The smell of bread in the oven (Thank you, Tori, for making the bread the last few times! You have done a wonderful job!!!)
~New books (four Elsie Dinsmore books to be read. How long do you think they'll last me?).
~Hearing/watching a ten, seven, and four year old playing the piano/singing to the music together. And, although it has been sweet also, it was not for that factor that it made it in my thankful thoughts tonight... it was for the humor...
~Watching Peter trying to sit up.
~Hearing Andrew read a whole book :)!
~And that Abbi points out "There is A" or "B" or "C" all the time, it excites her so much, it is cute :)!
~Getting a sweet "stinker" note from Andrew ;). Post tomorrow...
~And Daddy's new job! I haven't really mentioned it here much, but Daddy has been needing a new job for the past couple months and we have seen God's hand greatly through the way he has given him this new one :)! It will require a move, which will be kind of hard, of course, but it is really exciting, too!!
Oh, and here's a funny for you: Emmi was talking about herself earlier and said "I Abbi." ...... "Ah! I was wrong!!! I Emmi!"

"Let this be recorded for a generation to come,

so that a people yet to be created may praise the Lord:"

~Psalm 102:18

Ha!

Mission accomplished!!! Just a test, but I wanted to figure out how to make a slideshow with my photos and then how to download them, and here it is (I thought it was a waste to see if I could do it and then not share it, haha ;).)! (I just pulled this up in my Google Reader account, and it doesn't show the slideshow, but there is one, you just have to hop over to the blog- I think :)... if anyone has a problem with it, please tell me!!!)

Trick pic answers

Congratulations Aunt Tessa! Trick pic 1 was, indeed, the web of the spider in trick pic 2 (yes, that was what it was Aunt Tessa and Kaitlyn!).
Daddy took both pictures. Here's the full picture of this *lovely* spider that is living on our porch... (Daddy went to take another look at him less than two hours after this picture was taken, and he had a full web made!)