Time to Catch Up

I have always wanted to grow our own pumpkins, and this year we finally had the space to do it. The kids designed their pumpkins this year and Midge did a great job of helping us clean them out. The first one is Midge's pumpkin. She picked this pumpkin out in August when it was growing. She was so excited to see it getting bigger. We picked it and had it outside waiting for the big day and then a couple of days before Halloween she noticed that something had been eating on it. Thus the scratch marks at the bottom. She was a good sport about it and incorporated it into her design. This pumpkin is a tribute to her best lil buddy Snuggles, the family hamster.

This pumpkin is Little Miss's. She is such a happy kiddo that we had to carve a big smily face for her.
Leo wanted a star wars theme so we carved a storm trooper for him. Ah can't wait until the kids can clean, design and carve their own.

I know that I have been bad about posting lately, but this is the crazy time of year. Last weekend was crazy with Halloween, Monday I had to work late because I was at a training workshop. Thursday was conferences with parents so I didn't get home until 8:30. Friday was catching up on things and running errands. Finally today we had nothing to do. Little Miss didn't even get out of her pjs. Luckily the entire afternoon was rainy and cold so we didn't really leave the house. Leo went to play at his best buddy's house and Midge loved having her parents undivided attention once Little Miss was down for a nap. With the extra time I was determined to work on my blog. The only thing is that my laptop battery is dead, I forgot to bring home the charger, and most of the pictures I was going to blog about are downloaded on to my laptop and no longer on my computer. So here I am with some events that happened several weeks ago. Oh well you just have to stay tuned for Ken's birthday and Halloween pictures. I do have the kids pumpkin pictures so I can be festive and include those at least.

We have a big fluffy bed and whenever I change the sheets its like the kids radar goes off and then come running in to jump on our bed. To be honest I don't really like them jumping on the bed because I worry they are going to fall off. So I usually am running around the bed making sure they don't fall off.

This is a landmark moment. Little Miss's hair is finally able to go up in a ponytail. I still remember doing this the first time for Midge's hair. My little girl is growing up.

Action Packed Day

The day started with Midge's last soccer game of the year. It was a double header. She loves to play the position of goalie, and did a great job blocking three goal attempts in this game.

It was a pretty brisk morning. Each of her games has started around 9:00 because her coach doesn't like to miss a Duck's game. We will be looking forward to sleeping in again on Saturday mornings.

My brother and parents came down to see her game. Leo loved playing with Uncle Patch.

After the games we went back to the house. Ken took the two oldest to the pizza after season celebration party. Little Miss took a nap. We took advantage of the day to try and video conference with Shauna and her kids. Bella was gone and Logan was sleeping. Of course we insisted Shauna wake Logan up. He must have been a little grumpy to wake up to 5 people trying to talk to him.

After that we loaded everyone up again and headed to Detering Orchard in Harrisburg.

When we got there the kids loved the apple cider free samples. Leo came running up to Midge and yelled, "You've got to try this cider it is so good. It doesn't taste anything like mom's." OK so I experimented with adding grapefruit juice this year - not a good idea. We lost my mom for awhile and then we found her with this little sweetheart.

One look and Midge was hooked.

Our animal lover was content to sit in the sun holding this little girl, and let's be serious who wouldn't want to.

There was definately some begging going on to take her home.

Leo was amused for a few seconds and then he moved on to other things.

Midge did eventually put down the puppy. The free ice cream and apple pie helped.

Plus the free horse rides.

When we were done my parents returned to Corvallis and Uncle Patch came back with us. We stopped by 5th Street Public Market for the pumpking carving contest.

Leo choose the pumpkin he wants us to carve this year.

We had dinner and the kids loved that our table was right by the train.

Everyone was hungry.

Leo decided to go for easier inspiration.

And now it is time for me to end this post and go to bed - sweet dreams.

It's Official!

It's a boy!

We are all really excited. I went in for the ultrasound Friday morning. Ken has never missed an ultrasound, and I really wanted him to be there. Yet when Maddy woke up again with her fever we knew he needed to stay home with her (she is now doing much better).

I have had the same technician for all of my previous three. I was a little nervous because everyone in our family has wanted a boy. As soon as she checked I knew instantly. (We have had a little bit of experience). The due date is still going to be the same, which is March 12th.

They also said I will need to do another ultra sound later in the pregnancy which Ken will be able to be present for. When I came home and told Ken he was so excited and thought for sure I was teasing him.

We just like to be consistent: girl, boy, girl, boy

Notes from the edge of dawn

Insomnia

What a wonderful thing. Midge is not feeling too well so the two of us are hanging out a little at 4:30 in the morning.

This brings back a few memories of when she was my little one. Even when she was little she didn't like to be left alone when she was sick.

Would I be crazy to admit that I am kind of enjoying this bonding time. I will probably think I am nuts when I read this post tomorrow and am sleep deprived. The truth is kids grow so fast and sleep will eventually happen.

Plus I am excited because in a few hours if the little one cooperates we will be able to find out the gender of our next baby. Stay tuned.....

Words of Wisdom

I have to share some things Leo has expressed in the past week. Each night the kids are allowed to only watch OPB while I am making dinner. The cartoons end at 6:00, and I told the kids to turn off the TV. Midge left the room, but Leo continued to watch. I went in and found him watching the Jim Leher hour. I started to turn off the TV, and he screamed, "Mom I'm trying to act like a dad!"

Then for breakfast this morning he was harping on his latest problem at school to Midge. "There is this girl who always has to sit next to me everyday. It is totally horrible." Ah the challenges of being an adorable kindergartner.

A Morning in the Patch

One of the things I love working part time is that I can still help out with the kid's classrooms. Today I got to go with Leo's class to the pumpkin patch. Little Miss was able to come too.

Little Miss is in this phase when I bring the camera out she refuses to smile. Plus she usually points to the camera and says, "Go Away".

The only way you capture a smile is if you put her near animals or catch her by surprise.

Luckily there were plenty of animals. All she wanted to do was sit and watch them.

Eventually she started playing with the kids in the fort.

Leo loved this part. The kids climbed up the straw fort to the platform on the top.

Little Miss didn't want to go on the tractor ride because we had to leave the animals, but once we started going she enjoyed the ride.

Leo has got the cutest little friends.

This picture cracks me up: Leo with his friend Leo.

A final group shot of the gang with their teacher Mr. Jordan

Our Week

Have you ever thought that your kids were in bed and quietly going to sleep and all the sudden they come down dressed like this!

What this doesn't happen to any of you?

Really...and I assumed this was a normal part of parenting.

Well in our house this is a normal happening.

Yes he is a cowboy with no pants, but plenty of attitude. Come on you've never heard of one before. Well we have plenty of those kind around here too.

In the mid part of the week I was working on the couch, and I suddenly hear from the kitchen..."Oh man this isn't good... crap". Now I did what anyone of you would have done. I ignored the comments and pretended I couldn't hear what was going on behind me.

Believe me I tried really hard to ignore what was happening. But when I heard the words: "Ok Midge see if you can stick your hand up there and try to pull him back out" I knew I had to get involved. Turns out Ken took our pet hamster, Snuggles for a walk. Yes that is right a walk because everyone knows that hamsters need walks. Turns out in the bottom of one of our kitchen cupboards there is a hole. Within seconds the hamster jumped in the hole and was gone. Ken tried to coax him out, but he wasn't interested. Some of you may remember that on Mother's Day a similar thing happened with the same hamster. That time it was the bathroom cupboard. While I got the pleasure of taking 3 kiddos to church by myself Ken got to camp out in front of a hole and wait for the hamster to reappear. This time Ken didn't want to sleep in the kitchen all night so he rigged up a trap.

The idea was that the hamster would eventually come looking for food and exercise on his favorite wheel and come out. He set up the wood and cans so the hamster couldn't get out and escape to other places in the house. We went to bed, and right before we went to sleep Ken decided to go down and check. All I heard was crashing cans and a few yelps. Ken came up delighted because his trap had worked. I was too tired to take a picture.

So here is Ken with his little buddy.

Our Little Miss has learned two new words...No Way! Can you imagine this sweet face saying No Way. Well she does. All the time. It started at the doctor's office yesterday when we tried to get her on the scale to weigh her. I asked her to get on the scale and she said, "No Way". Several times at the doctor's office she said this. I took her home and Ken watched her when I went to work. When I got home I asked him if he had heard Little Miss's new words. He said, "You mean no way?" So since then we have heard this repeatedly. Do you want to get your shoes on? No Way. Do you want to get dressed? No Way. Ah what a fun stage.