Visitors, and a Great Big Monster...

Black

One of Ben's presents -- isn't it adorable?

One day, a very tantalizing present arrived in the mail...

...it contained a very precious, handmade gift!

I love, love all the beading!!!

What is Andrew watching?

Here it is -- the Great Big Monster! The guys fixed it, and in return are allowed to use it for our pond and any neighbors' who would like to pay to have their ponds dug deeper!

Mom & Dad, watching their very capable eldest son. :) I love this photo!

The day the Great Big Monster arrived, some friends from OK came through and stayed the night! Here various people cluster around and on the GBM. ;)

That evening was also a long-standing dinner date with the T. family, so they came over as well. :) Gathering for Capture the Flag...

After-dinner discussions

Emily (6) and William (4) were such fun! We drew pictures together...

Posing :)

Telling jokes...

Singing hymns...

And more talk. :) :) A great evening!

Next afternoon, Deborah inspects the GBM. :)

Nathaniel

Andrew

Stunt by Stephen :)

And I'll close with wonderful Micah!

 

Happy Birthday, Ben!!!

Happy Birthday, Ben!!!

Ben, you are very, very special to us!

What a tantalizing present shape...

An early-morning ritual at our house among the younger ones -- they enjoy sitting near a heater. :)

Remember these little yellow flowers that Beth used to frame the roses in our bouquets?

Well, this is what those flowers look like in the Fall...

And they are charming in an utterly different way! The gold color is so wintry and bright...

Miniature Art, waiting to be discovered and enjoyed -- made by our God Who cares for the little things as well as the big ones.

The colors of winter are really on us now, and I was revelling in them so much one day that I went out to take a few photos...

Here's a look at my new corduroy jumper. I don't think I've ever worn brown before, ;) but this color is really nice, I think!

Ahem. If you don't care for electric art, skip the few photos below (not taken by me, but by another who shall remain nameless :). But -- in the best style of the mind-expanding, horizon-lifting modern artists (can you hear the sarcasm?), I shall proceed to title them:

"Fusion on the Half Shell"

"City at Night"

"Rising to Better Things"

"Electric Tornado, From Above"

And we have a present under the tree already... a little something for Deborah!

"Winter is Coming, the Geese are getting Fat..."

Yes, it's SNOW! :) Only the barest dusting, but the most delightful surprise to wake up to! :)

Another shot of the herald of Winter.

My diligent helpers, who stuffed the "Wahlquist News" into envelopes...

I adore the wild grasses here, the shadows they create and the sun they catch...

We play a very fun game of "Draw & Describe" with the Y. family!

Another glimpse of the merriment

Depth

Sorry to post another -- I did mention I liked the wild grasses, didn't I? ;)

Art

Fun with Ruth!

A peek at our new corduroy jumpers, completed yesterday.

Micah and Ruth prepare to type a joint e-mail to Beth... :) :)

And since I just showed you two different computer backgrounds, (Micah's and Shared :) ) let me give you a peek at mine... ;)

Beth, does that mansion look familiar?

Deborah artfully tries to tempt Ruth away from Nathaniel... ;)