Pre-Halloween

This weekend we were celebrating pre-Halloween and all that is fall. We went to the farm with Grandma Mary, Jen and Joe. And paid out the nose to pet some animals (sheep, guinea pigs, llamas, chickens, bunnies and turtles). We also rode a hay ride and jumped on some hay bales. And the highlight as always was the chickens who ate half a chocolate chip cookie and a few blades of grass and were very chatty with the kids. Fun was had by all. :)

We carved pumpkins- ok I carved and the kids put together faces for the pumpkins... They are still doing it (6 hours later). I just printed out some simple jack-o-lantern patterns and then cut out the different elements and the kids could rearrange to their hearts content. They used eyebrows as facial hair, eyes as noses and one even sported a smiley hat. Then we chose the favorite faces and carved them into the cleaned out pumpkins. Claire even got into the action and stuck her hand IN a pumpkin this year!!

All in all not a bad weekend-before-the-holiday...

My Independant Kid

Claire starts preK next Thursday.

It is crazy to think that just 4 years ago I was terrified about having a baby and couldn't wait for her to grow up and get more independent. Now that she has done just that I'm terrified again but this time I'm nervous for her- how will she adapt to being away from Nick and I for 3 hrs a day?- Will she find a little friend to play with?- Will she listen well to other adults? I know that answer to those questions: She will adapt just fine and is in fact completely ready to have some independence- she is a friendly kid and any kid who doesn't want to be her friend is obviously defective - She is a respectful kid who listens and takes direction well. I love her and feel completely secure and hugely grateful for the time I've spent so far shaping her into a beautiful woman who is respectful, responsible, loving and kind.
So she's ready but I don't think I am.
I see now that a lot of that crazy school shopping is in fact retail therapy for the mothers who are getting ready to experience separation anxiety themselves.
To the backpack store!

Tubs to Tears

47. bath time
48. a home all my own
49. family all on one continet
50. having my computer home
51. not having to talk to the police in a whole year at least about anything
52. Shoes
53. bubbles
54. graham crackers
55. movies in bed
56. dishwasher!!!
57. Forgiveness
58. Love
59. Hope
60. Packages
61. Picture Frames no one else wanted
62. hearing
63. Sight
64. the lack of mirrors in my house
65. breath (the deep relaxing kind)
66. Laughter (especially the big kind from little people)
67. tears
68. Joy

Another Full Night and Day

28. full nights of sleep

29. blankets

30. washing machine

31. America and it's freedoms and opportunities

32. my Dad

33. the anticipation of something good

34. Sisters (of all kinds)

35. DVR

So as I was writing this I typed 'chickens' for number 34. Making chickens a repeat, I took it off but the oddity of 'chickens' appearing twice in my list of things I am thankful for was not lost to me. Maybe we'll head over to the zoo to crow at the roosters and chickens today in appreciation for them. We were up before them this morning. I am not thankful for daylight savings.

Plenty to be Thankful For

So, as with everything in my life, I am a little behind, or maybe I'm just way ahead. My mind has completely skipped over an entire holiday...
I am already dreaming of Christmas decorations for my house, I have begun shopping for gifts and I'm blogging about Christmas cards (which by the way netted me free Christmas cards for 'almost' all my facebook friends)(YAY!).
Forget Thanksgiving. I would I guess if I didn't have so much to be thankful for, and so many people to remind me to be thankful :)
So here goes:
1. A Jesus who loves me
2. Two beautiful and healthy kids
3. My ability to smile
4. My kids ability to make me smile
5. Hardwood flooring
6. My mom (I meant to put her near the top cause I know she appreciates it) (oops)
**Now is a good time to remind you all that this list is in no real order**
7. Love, and especially a family who always loves (no matter what)
8. books
9. The library
10. brownies in a mug with a glass of cold milk
11. money
12. Sisters
**Again not in any real order**
13. new paper items

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it-
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.

William Arthur Ward

Apple Picking

We went apple picking with Grandma and Grandpa Bill today. It was the first time picking anything for our little family. We drove and drove and drove some more but in the end it was all worth it to spend some time together, without phones ringing or places to be later. I can honestly say this was the most relaxed we all have been lately.

Nick loved being able to run around wherever he pleased. And surprisingly he did not try to climb any of the trees.

Claire also enjoyed the freedoms of the 'country' and the many apples, I think in total today she ate about 4 apples herself.

Good times were had by all.