At the end of September, Andy went for a bike ride on the MKT trail after the Division of Information Technology annual picnic. He had placed his Sigma Chi Ring in one of the pockets. Unfortunately, there was a hole at the bottom of the pocket along the seam just large enough for his ring to slip out. To say Andy was upset is an understatement. He was devastated. The expense of replacing the ring aside, he just loved it. I tried to tell him that it was okay and we could always buy him another one. He would repeatedly say, “I don’t want a *new* ring, I want *my* ring.” He made flyers and took them to the stops along the part of the trail that he had ridden that day. Also, he took some flyers to the local pawn shops. Turns out that the flyers to a local pawn shop was a blessing. A woman found the ring not long after he lost it. She put an ad in the classifieds of the paper and received no response (BTW, it never even really occurred to us to check this route with all the technology these days). Eventually, she took it to Family Pawn here in town that looked at it and remembered it from the flyer. They gave her the information and she contacted us tonight. You should have seen the look on Andy’s face when she said that she had found the ring. He was stunned and speechless. He identified it to her by telling her the engraving on the inside of the ring. They set up a time and he’ll meet her tomorrow morning to get his ring. I can’t even tell you how excited he was that someone found it who really did try to find the owner. These days it makes you feel good that some people still really *do* want to help.
First Meeting
Laura had her first official Daisy Scout meeting today. The girls had a Halloween party and Laura was *very* excited to wear her Jessie costume. I think it’s a little frightening how much she actually looks like Jessie!
The girls had a great time at their meeting. They played games, which included “bobbing for donuts” (the donuts were actually hanging from string that was attached to the ceiling) and putting all their hands in a circle, holding someone’s hand, and then trying to work their way out to a circle. They also did a craft that will hopefully be a spiderweb made from yarn provided all the glue dries well! They celebrated Girl Scout Founder Juliette Low’s birthday with cupcakes and earning another Daisy Petal. Laura had a great time and can’t wait until her next meeting!
Fall Photos
I took the kids over to Grindstone Park today to take some pictures. I just wanted to get some pictures with the fall leaves and I had no idea how great they would all come out! Despite it being cold, the kids were amazing about the whole thing. They were full of smiles and happy to have their pictures taken. John didn’t even complain this morning when I told him that he would have to wear jeans and a sweater instead of his typical “comfy pants” and long-sleeve t-shirt.
This is my favorite photo of Laura.
This is my favorite photo of John.
This is my favorite photo of my beautiful kiddos.
You can see them all on Facebook or our family website. I hope you love them as much as I do!
The Carpet
See the carpet in our wedding picture? It’s all gone now from St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. With the recent renovation, it’s been updated. Even though I truly *hated* that orange carpet, it still feels weird to walk into the Church’s Centrum and see the new, beautiful carpet. Somehow, that orange carpet doesn’t look quite so ugly in that shadow box. Truth be told, I was happy to spend the $15 to buy that box with the small piece of carpet because it reminds me of the day that Andy and I started our life together. I think it’s been a pretty good life and I look forward to spending next Friday in Hermann, MO, with some great friends celebrating 16 years of marriage!
Frankenstein
John’s class made “Frankenstein Hands” and I think they are ridiculously cute! He was so very proud to show me his “super scary hand paint.”
Daisy Scout Play Date
Laura had a Daisy Scout Play Date after school at Stephens Lake Park. The girls colored two wooden daisies each – one for themselves and one to give to a Kindergarten Daisy. With this activity, the girls will earn a petal, the Violet Petal – Be a Sister to Every Girl Scout.
Laura was very excited because she earned her very first petal, the Magenta Petal – Respect Authority, for touring a local fire station and learning all about what Firefighters do! She couldn’t wait to show me the petal and her petal bag after her play date.
Now, I just need for her actual Daisy Scout Tunic to arrive so that she can wear it to her meeting on Sunday. Unfortunately, it won’t have any of the iron ons like her troop number because I’m waiting for a list of all the required ones so I only have to place one order. Maybe her tunic will be complete for her meeting in November…
Fun with Photography
We had a little bit of photography fun with John and Laura joining in. First up, Laura takes one…
Then, John follows up…
With me running in last place!
Enjoy!