These days the weather has been AMAZING! We spend so much time playing and enjoying one another outside. Sidewalk chalk has always been one of my favorite things and now Abi has joined in. Abi loves to color and make pretty things.  The other day we made our patio pretty and then it rained and Abi woke and and was so sad that all our pretty work was all gone. I thought about it all day and then I decided that sidewalk chalk was a great way to teach Abi about the atonement. It was a wonderful moment to watch her little face as she began to understand just how lucky we are. How wonderful my life really is.  Who would have thought that sidewalk chalk would give me a amazing moment like that with my daughter.

Halloween fun at school!

One of the best parts of being a preschooler is that Abi now gets to do fun things like school parties. We looked forward to the school party all last week. Finally the day came and we got all dressed up and we off for a fun day. Abi's teacher Mrs. Staab is amazing! In class Abi got to make her own little trick or treat bag, painted a pumpkin and learned all about stranger danger. Mrs. Staab really loves all her kids and we are lucky to have her. Another wonderful thing  is that Abi has some really great friends like Mandy and Luke that also go to church with us. I love it because when she gets home she tells me ever detail.  I signed up to pass out candy so my friend Katheryn took these great pictures for me, her friendship is another great blessing of Abi being in school. I have gotten to make some really great friendships as well. Halloween was great this year because we had a a great time with our school friends, our church friends, and a wonderful family day! I love this time of year!

Halloween time

Like everyone else in the world last week was wild. Everyday was fun and crazy. Halloween is  one of my favorite holidays and we were ready and looking forward to it. This is year Abigail was Ariel from "The little Mermaid". Harris was a train Conductor. Both were really just way to cute for their own good.

Wednesday was 'Trunk-or-Treat' at church. After 2 minuets of being there Abi was the proud owner of 4 goldfish. We had a great time. The only thing missing was daddy. We were sad he had to work.  We were off to get some yummy candy. Harris learned fast that if he smiled he got more and boy did he get A LOT of candy.

Then Sunday we had our primary program and party it was great. Abigail marched right up and said her little line. Which was " I believe in Jesus Christ because he helps me to not have bad dreams".  It was to cute! Then after naps we were off to Auntie A and Mathews little apartment for some family time. We ate some yummy food, got dressed and were off to our house to get the good stuff. Candy! Candy! Candy! It was a great night! Abigail decided about 20 mins. into it that she would rather pass out candy so we went home and the rest of the night gave candy out. It was the best Halloween ever!

MY FAVORITE PARTS:

*Getting Abi dressed.

* Watching Harris walk around the house like a big boy.

*Abi announcing she is a parent to 4 new goldfish.

*Eating and getting ready at Auntie A and Mathew's house.

*Watching Abi pass out candy.

* Holding hands with Aaron as we walked the kids door to door.

* cuddling up with 2 tired kids and rocking them before bed time.

* Cuddling up with Aaron on the couch eating some yummy candy we stole from the kids bags.

Butterfly rainforest

We have been loving this weather we have been having.  We needed to go enjoy it and we found this place in Gainesville called the butterfly Rainforest I found it a couple weeks ago and told Abigail about it and she has been dying to go. We did not tell the kids where we were going just that it was a surprise. Which made it even more fun. It was amazing! First they have a museum of natural history that was FREE. You can not get anything for free these days. Then you can go it you want and visit the butterfly rain forest and it was $9.00 a adult and $6.00 a child 2 and under was free. Totally worth it!

The skeleton of a mammoth guessed to be over 15,000 years old ALL original bones except for the teeth and tusks. There also was a female mammoth that was found in Florida that was found a mile away from the male. I thought that was sweet.

My 2 favorite and handsome men.

These were jaws of sharks that were found in the St. Johns river. They were huge! A little crazy that sharks are really that big.

There were mock caves and a little cave that the " little explorers" used.

Abi so badly wanted a butterfly to land on her. This was as close as they got to her but it made her happy so we were happy.

This is Abi standing perfectly still like in the sunshine like the worker suggested to get a buttterfly. No luck but she looked super cute trying.

I looked back on the car ride home to see my little pris pot sitting so lady like it was cute.

The best parts of the day were:

* Abi being so excited on the car ride to her suprise that she asked every 5 mins "are we there yet"

* Abi's face when we told her we were there

*watching Harris explore the caves and squeak  with delight when he found snakes and birds.

* The boys sneaking away for a second and Abi leaning over and hugging me and saying "Thanks this is the best day ever"

* Holding hands with Aaron while the kids played.

* looking at all the pretty butterfly's and flowers.

*Listening to Harris snore on the car ride home.

My little Busy bear

1. 

 I was doing some  serious cleaning the other day which  meant I had to clean out the refrigerator. I  turned around to find my  little man sitting on the counter with wet feet from were he climbed threw from the living room and stepped into the dish water, climbed over the dishes and plopped himself down on the counter to "help me" . I love that boy and all the " help" that he loves to give me.

So I finally did it. With a lot of help from my friend over at Jarvis Photography I made a website for my new business. I am excitied for years my family have been telling me to do it and now I am on my way. I can not wait to get my first bride and get busy making beautiful things. Spread the word for me and keep your fingers crossed. Go visit my website at Mandi's Blossom

I had a wonderful weekend!!!!!

Mt Dora, Florida

The Donnely house.

Thrash Metal Mania

The winning smile! 4 years in a row!

The 4th annual Putt- Putt putt off.

  Aaron and I decided that last weekend was a perfect weekend to celebrate our upcoming 6 year anniversary. Our actual anniversary is October 30th but it looks like I will be having another surgery around then. We never miss a chance for fun so we were off. We woke up early and dropped off our cuties..... thanks again Momma! Saturday we were off to a little town called Mount Dora about 45 minuets from Orlando. It was so nice. The air was wonderful and cool, the leaves rustled in the breeze, and the shops were full of wonderful deals. We walked threw antique stores and scooped up some yummy cupcakes all of which we got to do holding hands.  

Then Saturday night  Aaron and his friend Mark had bought tickets to the concert of the YEAR. Nicknamed "Thrash Metal Mania" I was lucky enough to have my great friend Casey come up and we totally had a girls night. We went to Ikea ......... I loved it! Then we went to the Cheesecake Factory ( my first time) Yummy! Last we went back to the hotel climbed unto the couch and had a wonderful and much needed " Girls chat Mania" 

Sunday we went to more antique shops. Ate some Yummy Mexican food. Went to Verizon and got some new phones. Then my favorite..... 4 years in a row every anniversary Aaron and I play Putt- Putt golf. I look forward to it all year. It is really the only thing that is competitive that I can beat Aaron at. This year was no different. I won by 1 Putt. 4 years in a row I win! It was perfect. 

My favorite parts:

*Holding hands and strolling down the street

* Cuddling under the covers in our cold hotel room

* Driving around with the windows down and my feet up

* Watching Aaron prepare for the "thrash metal mania"

* Finally finding a place to play Putt-Putt

* Late night chats with Aaron and Casey

* Picking up my little cuties and hugging them.

I Love you Jammes! Thanks for a blissful weekend and a wonderful (almost) 6 years!