ok, ok

So I know I had said I had done the last of the Halloween posts, but when trying to find a picture to send to the MIL so she could see the kids costumes, she isn't connected to the internet, you see.
So, I pulled out the kids costumes to get some better pictures.

And tried to take some pictures, that I could send to her. Nate hammed it up for me, as you can see.

He likes to sweep, some might say he likes to sweep up candy!

Grandma was on the computer with us and Nate decided to put on his sunglasses and ham it up for her. He kept asking for candy and to go trick or treating.

I think I probably confused the poor kids, but apparently not as much as I did when I put away/hid their Halloween candy. Gwen has told everyone that the Halloween candy swiper took it. I haven't told her it was me. The new rule at our house is that if there is candy left by Daddy's birthday, the candy will disappear. Makes sense to me, and I am pretty sure that is all that matters.

LEAVES!

We have 2 HUGE trees in our front yard. They shed a lot of leaves in the fall. I think this is the third pile of leaves I have made this year to about the same height. Gwen was at school so Gwen and I played in the leaves. He tells me he is a witch.

He had a great time making a mess of my pile.

Here the witch is on his broomstick. I actually had to get on the broomstick and we went somewhere.

He was pretty tired after all the playing outside in the leaves!

Friday

I realize I don't really have anything to say right now. I think there is stuff rattling around in my head, but I've got nothing to post. At least nothing to post here, now. So here's some pictures, Gwen and Nate watching Sesame Street. Nate's new hat, can you tell it is a yarn mohawk?

Finally, pictures

I realized I haven't posted these water pictures from Mom's visit. The kids showed Mom how much they love playing in water sprinklers. Nate was trying to drink out of it, because that is what he does!

I have the part for the dryer, so hopefully we will get it fixed this weekend. We've been very busy around here.

Blah

I was just about to crawl into bed and then I remembered, I did no post today! ACK! Maybe one day soon I will get a chance to do a post with pictures again and maybe some substance, but not tonight!
Eric opened up the dryer tonight and the belt is indeed broken, the kids used it as a jump rope. Sadly I didn't have time to get a new one, but a friend graciously let me come over and dry my clothes...now I just have to get over there and pick up our jeans!
I just went into check on the kids and my heart stopped for a minute because I couldn't find Nate, and then I realized that lump of sheets by the wall was not a lump of sheets, but Nate, they are sleeping in Gwen's bed tonight I guess!
We had a project meeting tonight with some of the ladies from my Church, we had a good time, I wanted to scrapbook, but they were too chatty, so I quilted instead. Sadly on the way into Church I put my plate of fudge on the car and it fell off, fortunately most of it fell on the Al foil, so I recovered it. I considered picking it off the ground and putting it on the foil, but I didn't. Let's just say some people wish that I did and might have consumed a little glass, sorry about that ladies, next time I will use Tupperware! At the end of the meeting I sat in my friend's new minivan and she showed it off to me. Besides being a little jealous of the cool features and space I wonder at the turn in my life where I sit in a minivan and drool! Not that I really want a minivan, but it has some nice features! Ok, well goodnight, Eric has to get up early all this week and that means I am on kid duty ALONE every morning and tomorrow I am grocery shopping so I can't take Nate to drop off tomorrow in his PJs!

Belts

I've had much to do tonight, and I feel like I am not done with half of it. I guess everything I haven't will hopefully get done tomorrow. Our dryer appears to be broken, I think it is just a belt (I am praying it is just a belt) but sadly I had already done 2 loads of laundry before I realized it. :( Fortunately I realized I can hang clothes up in the house and they will dry. I won't tell you long it took me to realize that! All else is well here, I've got to get to the grocery list, I realize that I have nothing for dinner, oh wait as I typed that out I realize that I do actually have some stuff I can make for dinner, SCORE, no sides, but whatev, now I don't have to make a grocery list, yet! But, I guess I should start it because I am going to be out tomorrow night and I don't want to be up too late tomorrow night either.

SCARF!

I mentioned Gwen's new scarf and hat and gloves. She wore them today to school and was VERY excited. When we do the "kiss and ride" some of the eighth graders help get the kids out of the car. They switch back and forth between boys and girls every two weeks, this week the boys started their turn. Gwen was so excited about her matching that as soon as the boy opened the car door Gwen said "see I match!" "I am wearing a scarf!" The boy just smiled not really knowing what to do or say. I said "they are new she is very excited". He just continued smiling and she said something I didn't hear, he shut the door, helped her with her with her backpack and she marched off. He just kind of stood there thinking, cool I don't have to walk this one in, but one of the other eighth grade boys must of told him to make sure she gets into the school because he reluctantly followed her in, Gwen blissfully unaware...she is so independent.

I asked her if any of her friends mentioned about her scarf and stuff and she happily told me about it. I mentioned Gwen and her letters. Here I dotted out letters for Eric's birthday card. I didn't think about making more space for her and the coloring aspect of her writing, but I think it turned out better than I hoped, her first "handmade" card where she did all the writing!

mid November, already?

It is the beginning of another week here. Is Thanksgiving really the week after next? Should I start considering the Thanksgiving meal? I guess I should, but there is always next week for that, isn't there? Should we start considering Christmas presents for the kids? The Grandparents keep asking me what they should get the kids and I am drawing blanks here, especially since I am not allowed to get Gwen a tea set, which I think she would love! (Nate would too, he loves to pretend eat). But alas, Eric does not want to clean up after tea sets, too many pieces he says. It is hard to figure out what to get the children that won't take up too much space but be fun to play with.
Gwen is finally showing an interest in writing her letters. She has been faking it for a while, but finally brought home papers where she has written her name in her real letters. She also will trace letters if I "dot" them out for her, which is a definite improvement. Oh, the strides she has made since starting school. I am glad she is taking an interest, finally.
Nate is starting to improve, I think with my new parenting style. He still gets into trouble if he gets bored, but he has started to nap again (but I dare say now he won't, since I have mentioned it) and this makes for a much more pleasant afternoon. It is still hard to remember he is 2 with his advanced verbal skills.

mid day posting

About mid-day today I had the thought I should do today's post, but I put it off and now I have to do this post post AU game, and I am a little hyped up. It was a very stressful game. Eric doesn't understand the emotional havoc watching a college football (specifically AU games) can have on a person. Sadly he didn't get a love of football from his father. Onto the post.

Here are some pictures from yesterday, Gwen decorating herself up like a present...

Nate hamming it up for the camera.

Here is a picture of the kids with the birthday boy, with the cake.

Here's the cake! My first attempt at decorating a cake with icing tips. (the wholes are from the candles...Nate was upset because he didn't get to blow out the candles.) I made Eric a white cake with confetti and fluffy white frosting. He likes it, I guess because it isn't super sweet...Gwen was disappointed that didn't have ANY chocolate, she is not sure it can be a birthday cake and not have chocolate...that's my girl.

It is starting to get cold here so we got the kids some winter garb, Gwen was excited to pick out matching hat, gloves and a scarf.

I think Nate's garb is hilarious, but we haven't got a picture of it yet. Eric is very amused by hat and gloves.

Happy Birthday, E!

Today is the husband's birthday. I would like to start this post out with all the things that drive me crazy about him...ok I really don't have anything terrible to say about him on his birthday, he's a nice and supportive and a good father. Without him I wouldn't be where I am today, literally and figuratively. ;) We are incredibly proud of the progress he has made in school. The kids love him dearly and hide from him every night when he comes home. Seriously, mid-sentence, they will stop what they are doing and run when they hear the garage door go up. Nate starts checking the garage around 4 some days. Sadly we don't have much planned for him, but he keeps telling me that is how he wants it, nothing special.

But, I will take this time to update you on the quilt progress...I don't know if you remember Eric's t-shirt quilt project I started last year. I actually finished the front of it for Eric's birthday last year.

I started quilting it sometime last winter, but haven't gotten very far because, well I have to do it by hand and I am not quilting it in a traditional manner because the bottom is so thick, so it might take me the rest of my natural life, since I only do it in the winter when it is cold. I have so far "quilted" the Alabama t-shirt and have started the 2 under, can you see it?

I took a close up picture so you can see. I did the Alabama t-shirt in the no symbol...Eric was not pleased about that, but seriously, I am quilting it and I don't like them. For the quilting of the rest of the squares I am doing a wavy pattern which I traced onto paper and then hold it on the quilt and draw it on in water soluble ink, I think you can see that light blue line on it.

Here's part of the back, I think you can see the pattern on the blue section...you could probably see it better if I pulled it taut, sorry about that.

So, sometime in the next 100 years we will have a really warm quilt made out of Eric's favorite t-shirts, that he and about 15 people can use to keep them warm...I am feeling the need to find a quilting bee!

Happy Birthday! We love you!

Possibly my last Halloween post:the School Carnival!

The Friday before Halloween was Gwen's school Halloween Carnival. I was able to sneak out ALONE and help set up. Technically I could have taken the kids, but Grandma was there, so I got to go and be kid free, fortunately Nate took a nap! Which seems to be his MO, the Friday nap. But anyway, they really push the carnival. Before I left to help Gwen got really upset and asked if I was going to play any games, I assured her I wasn't and then she ignored me, I took it she was ok with me going. Fortunately she didn't find out her friend was there while her Mom volunteered.
Now Gwen was so excited to go to the Carnival, they had the whole school darkened, only black lights, they had indoor games, food and outdoor stuff. At the indoor games you received prizes (candy), so we did those twice. But what was funny is Gwen was looking for her friends. And was kind of upset we didn't see any. Then, she found her classmate and started squealing, she was so excited! My Mom might remember that forever. We did finally see her favorite friend, last thing of the night, Grandma took pictures of the silly girls together and they were so excited and pretended they were pirates, I don't know why!
We had a good time, between the carnival, mall trick or treating and neighborhood trick or treating, Nate still ocassionally asked to go trick or treating. They got some good use out of their costumes and the candy is almost all gone, thanks to Daddy. Here are the picture from the carnival.

Happy Birthday, Daddy

As I've thought of today's post I've had many thoughts go through my mind today. One, my Mom is probably spending the day in a fitting way for his memory, I won't go into any more details, but I think it is humorous, she might not. Two, I call my Dad-Daddy...I never really did that as I got older, but now, I think of him as Daddy, although when I speak of him I still call him Dad, only when I think of him do I call him Daddy, I find that strange. Three, what does Daddy think of our decision to move to NC, would be be stressed out, like I think my Mom is, proud of E going back for the PhD or some other random emotion/some where in between. Four, how excited he would be about Nate, sure he'd love Gwen and play princesses and tea parties, but he would love the idea of the grandson to play catch with and play soccer with.
I think that is about it, for random thoughts this year.
The kids and I have a new routine, come home from school, "picnic" outside and then they play for a while. I like to bring them in around 1p and do quiet time for an hour or so but it is nice, with the 70 degree afternoons to sit outside and breathe fresh air. We had to take out the garden this weekend, the weather is getting to cold at night, freezing so we lost whatever tomatoes we might have still had on the vine.

The "teaparty" picnic

Last week when Nate was napping Gwen and I had a picnic/tea party. Sadly she had to use her Mrs Potts figurine from a princess thing she has because Daddy wants no part in a tea set. (He feels like it is too much to clean up or something).
Gwen wanted to be photographed with all her babies, twice!

So, I obliged because that is what I do.

She then realized that we forgot to photograph these 2, but I guess the moment had passed.

It was a nice party, with all her friends.

Musically inclinded

This morning when we got up to drive Gwen to school it was pretty cold outside so we dressed the kids up warmly...sadly I can't find matching gloves, so I guess we will be venturing out to get those for the kids, at some point.
We came home and Nate decided to play some guitar.

Nate really likes to play the guitar, he's been grabbing books and using them for a while like they are guitars, strumming. He also plays the piano a little bit.Nate also sings when he plays guitar, but I think I am going to have to get that video more stealthily, because he keeps saying, can I see? If he keeps this guitar and trouble thing up, he is heading for bad boy status, I am not sure I like the way this is going!

Leaves

I don't really no what to write about today. Not much new going on here, I'm feeling better, kids appear to be fine. Good news. I was going through the pictures on my computer and noticed these pictures from August. Nate was to bury Gwen and Daddy in the leaves...

I think I would have been a little more nervous than Eric with Nate welding the rake, but Eric didn't seem nervous at all.

The rake wasn't working as well as he had hoped, so he used his hands.

But then he got very upset when the leaves covered Eric's face.

All better now, there's Daddy!

We have had at least 2 or 3 piles of leaves since then...a big one today.

Today

We've had a very quiet day today. Much quieter that usual. Yesterday Gwen and I made playdoh, maybe not exactly playdoh, but its greasier cousin! Seriously greasier, but the kids have really enjoyed it, my carpet not so much and it is left a greasy sheen on the coffee table. I might need to add less oil next time! The kids played with it all evening and this morning. Eric doesn't like the texture at all, but with all the salt, I think it is a great exfoliant. We lazed around the house all day, I am not feeling 100%.
Not much else to report today...yesterday we visited with a friend from California. It was great to see her and talk to her after so many years. I don't think tomorrow will be a big day either, Eric has a take home test due Monday and since I was not much help today with the kids, he is likely going to have to spend tomorrow working on his test.
I will probably get back to the Halloween posts tomorrow...we'll see!

A story for Grandma

Today when I put Nate down for Quiet Time I heard a banging sound, I wondered what it was and then I remembered, Nate is "napping"! I knew immediately what that sound was. See, when Mom was here we purchased an "expandable chrome hanging bar", we did not get the whole system seen in the picture, just the bar and hooks that hold the bar at the perfect height for my 4 year old! We were able to get some of that stuff out of her dresser (which was over packed) and onto hangers. We were able to put outfits that came together-together, which means she is mostly matching...and she can see all her dresses! FABULOUS, for us.
But, I digress! Nate had previously figured out how to take the bar off the hooks and was using them as swords (he is too smart!) and as soon as I heard that noise, I thought that is Mom was talking about, so I rushed into the kids rooms. I couldn't have been more wrong and I wish I had my camera! What I saw was a little boy with a pink boot, a pink sparkly tennis shoe, and a clear backpack HANGING on the bar and swinging! I couldn't help by smile and say NO, NO, NO! (I didn't yell though, I just said it firmly.) Nate immediately got down and started cleaning up Gwen's clothes, that he had thrown on the floor and was saying something like, "I put them back". I said good, and left the room. I heard the banging again not 5 minutes later and went back in there, he wasn't hanging on the bar, but he could have been vigorously putting the clothes back on and he was still said "I put them back". He wasn't so pleased that I left again started crying and promptly cried himself to sleep, he's been a sleep for 2.5 hours now!
Hope you have a great weekend!

Mall Halloween trick or treat

It appears my Halloween posts are going to last for a week. We are thorough around here when it comes to Halloween. Nate particularly seemed to LOVE it, he just wants to walk around with his candy bag all the time. We took the kids to a local Mall for trick or treating, it was a busy day on Saturday, but we fit it in.

We gave the kids a little break and let them eat some candy.

As we were leaving the store, the kids noticed the Christmas decorations. I thought it was funny to take pictures of them in their Halloween costumes in the Christmas stuff. A little ridiculous, to have Christmas stuff out already, but I guess they need to get people to buy those tacky decorations.