Halloween

Trick or treat, smell my feet, give me something good to eat!

My little spiderman and skeleton princess!

*Ryan's really not as "thick" as he looks here, he just has more clothes underneath to keep him warm. =)

Monday

This is my day:

• Ryan had a low grade fever and was feeling puny, complaining of a headache again. He sounded stuffed up to me so I'm thinking he might be getting a sinus infection or something. I hope not but I wouldn't be surprised. Motrin has proven to solve the problem quite nicely.
• I wanted to give the dogs a bath before I took a bath because, well, it only makes sense! So I cleaned the laundry room, where they sleep. There's no point in cleaning them if I don't clean where they sleep and what they sleep on. That involves hands and knees on the floor with a washrag and bowl of hot, soapy water and a load of laundry. After bathing the dogs in the tub, I had to clean the tub.

On a side note, have you ever read the books If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, If you Give a Moose a Muffin and If You Give a Pig a Pancake? There are others in the series that we have but I can't think of them right now. I think my dog bathing sounds a bit like those stories. It's a never ending cycle!

• After my own bath, Ryan and I cleaned his room and swept it. He tried to get out of it at first by saying he didn't feel good and needed to rest so I gave him the option of taking a nap or helping me and, of course, he didn't want to take a nap so he helped me. =)
• I forget what exactly I did next but I know I loaded the dishwasher, did a couple loads of laundry, ate lunch and filed some bills.
• Oh yeah, I also received a package in the mail from my dear s.i.l which contained some things for Hannah and Ryan from Kara and some goodies for me! Thanks again Jess!
• After I got Hannah from school we worked on her spelling words for the week. She brought home a bunch of work from last week, including her spelling test from last week. She got a 67 on it!! We practiced those words every single night but I knew she wasn't going to do well. She couldn't get several of them right. Who gives a first grades the words "them" "then" and "thin" on the same test?! Well, Hannah couldn't keep them straight. Anyway, I clearly expressed that I was not happy with that grade and that we would have to work harder this week if I saw she was having just as much trouble as she did last week. When we started working on this weeks words, she had a meltdown. First of all she thought I was mad at her because of the grade, which I never said, and I made sure she knew after that that I wasn't mad at her. She was crying that she is not a good speller and can't do it and so on. Finally we got thru the words. Shew!
• Then I had to make her mad again when I reminded her that daddy said she had to clean her room this evening. That caused another meltdown and lots more crying.
• By suppertime I had a headache and had to send the kids outside to play so they'd quit bickering. It rained a lot this morning but the sun did eventually make an appearance and it was about 70 degrees. They ended up next door at grandma's but I just didn't care.
• I let them play in the bathtub for a change, since I just cleaned it! Then we read a few books and it was bedtime at 7 on the dot.
• I have a feeling I won't be far behind.
• Brad is on his way home, finally.

Sunday

I wish I could say I sat outside and enjoyed the beautiful weather God blessed us with today but I just didn't.

I did open the windows so I guess I enjoyed it alittle.

Ryan was being super whiny all thru church and after church he was yawning like crazy so I knew something was up. I thot maybe he was just extra tired because we were out late last night and then he was up early this morning like always. He was complaining of a headache and chose to take a nap instead of eat lunch so I immediately felt his head and he was indeed warm! SO I gave him some tylenol, chewables (oh how I love you!), and sent him to bed. An hour and a half later and he was up and feeling tons better. He still didn't want to eat and didn't eat all afternoon. Him and Hannah played outside all afternoon while daddy worked out there. I was in the house working all day. Boo!! We got the computer and desk out of baby's room and into the playroom so I wanted to get everything back in it's place and get that corner of the baby's room dusted and swept. Then I cleaned out some more junk of from under my sink and out of the medicine cabinet. I started another goodwill bag and filled the trash can up! I really am getting serious about decluttering this house! I did a load of towels and hung them out on the line and cleaned up the kitchen. Almost 4 hours exactly after I gave Ryan the tylenol he started acting cranky again and getting warm. We finally got him to eat some mac n cheese and smokies for supper so he could have a piece of candy. We watched some tv and then daddy gave them a shower. Him and Hannah got ready and went to church and I just put Ryan in bed. Hopefully he'll feel better in the morning!

baby, baby, baby

Why does it have to be so hard to pick names for a baby?! I have been picking a new name that I love every two weeks! I have been thru a lot of girls names but have only settled on one boys name that I like. And just over the past few days, I don't really like that name either! It has been this way every time. After I say the name in my head for a week, it suddenly doesn't sound right for my child. I wish my children could come with a name. It would be so much easier for me. So I currently like the name Ava Joy. I just thought of that while sitting here. That's what made me think to do this post.

In other baby news, I'm counting down to my next ultrasound. I go for my 16 wk check up on Nov 8 and then 2 wks after that I go for the us. That's when I could find out what I'm having. I've gotta say, I'm changing my mind about that every 2 weeks too!! I'm so undecided now. One day I know for sure I don't want to know. The next day maybe it would be fine to find out.

Another thing I keep changing is where the baby's room is going to be. Most of you know we don't have another bedroom for this baby to call it's own. For awhile we were going to put it in the playroom (Brad didn't like the idea but I did) now we are putting it in the other half of our closet/hallway/old bedroom. I don't really know what the room is called. Before we built on (after I had Ryan) this room was our bedroom. We built on a new master bedroom, which connects to this room because our bathroom connects to this room. We put a wall up to split the room in half and made half a big walk in closet and the other half houses our desktop computer, file cabinets and other misc stuff. So I've been throwing out lots of stuff and we are in the process of getting that area into a small baby's room. We gave our big sectional couch to Brad's brother and moved the basically new couch we bought several years ago that we never use out of the playroom and into the place of the sectional. Now there is room in the playroom for the computer desk. Shew! That's a lot to think about, I know!

I wonder what I'll change next?!

I love my boys of fall!!

Looking just like his daddy!!

If you listen to country music I'm sure you've heard the song "The Boys of Fall." I don't know who sings it but he is talking about high school football. Around here we have a different type of "fall boys." I'm sure the pictures say it all! Ryan is going to be a hunter just like his daddy. They enjoyed an evening alone last night while Hannah and I enjoyed an evening alone at home. While we were playing barbies and coloring and reading books, they were sitting out in the woods. I know how important these times are for both the kids.

So tonight we are switching kids. Hannah has been so excited all day about getting to go out with daddy alone tonight. They are going to McD's and to get Hannah a halloween costume. Ryan isn't too excited about spending the evening alone with me since we spend every day alone together! So he's playing on the computer while his corndog cooks. Who knows what the rest of the evening will hold for us. Maybe a movie or just playing outside.

A day of firsts

I did several things today that I've never done before. I must say, I'm glad this day is over, the hard part, anyway!

I made homemade applesauce for the first time. It was really good warm over vanilla ice cream.

I made an apple pie for the first time. I haven't tried it but I sent Hannah over to grandma's with a piece and some ice cream and later this evening she told me my only fault with the pie is that I don't make it often enough! I take that as a compliment! I'll try it later. =)

I made Bob Evan's cheddar baked potato soup for the first time. I don't know what went wrong but something didn't turn out right. It tasted good but the soup part didn't mix up right. It was good enough to eat.

As you can see, I spent all afternoon in the kitchen. If you know me, you know that's NOT where I like to be!! And my feelings didn't change any after today.

Brad took Ryan hunting with him for the first time this evening. I took a pic but honestly just don't feel like getting up to get my camera and wire so I can put the pic on here. They look so cute in their camo.

I'd really love to say I was going to sit here all evening and do nothing but my boys need socks and undies! The laundry is done, I just have to get it out of the basket and in their drawers. That's the worst part of the job! I hate matching socks!!

We finally got the huge computer desk out of our bedroom and to Nat and Cheryl. So I spent a couple hours this morning throwing things away and starting a goodwill bag in our bedroom. I don't know how we accumulate so much stuff. I didn't get much done but I think we finally have a place picked out for this baby. I'm sure it will change again before it actually gets here but we are making a start!

good news

Turns out I was right about Patches. She has an abcessed anal gland. If you don't know about anal glands, you should look it up, even tho I know you won't! =) We are going to try antibiotics and see if that will take care of the problem and if not I'll have to take her back and do what they wanted to do today, which is sedate her and express the anal glands and get them cleaned out. I'm glad she's not dying! I knew it all along but I get a little worked up sometimes. Don't we all over things we love?! Thanks for the prayers!

I'm dying here!!!

Ok, most of you won't care about this or even understand why it bothers me so but I found a spot on my dog's rear this afternoon that is definently not normal!! (I'm hoping for an abcessed anal gland and not cancer or anything crazy) Pray for my Patches!! I've been feeling sick to my stomach ever since and I will until I get her checked out. You all know how I am about my animals. Especially my dogs!! Not only is Patches a really good girl who was one of my first "kids" but we don't have so much extra money these days with a baby on the way. I have a feeling I might need some of that $300 I paid my dr on Moday back!! She has an appt tomorrow so if you think about us between now and then, say a prayer for her! =) Thank you!

my thought for the day

I spend a lot of time thinking about this baby, obviously. I don't know any expecting mother who doesn't think about the baby and wonder the person it will become. Since I don't want to know what I'm having, I've been focusing on the fact that God will give us the exact child that is perfect for us. You've heard the saying that you are the exact mother your child needs. I think it goes both ways! That has really helped my decision of not finding out a lot easier. I don't need to know. I've got no control over it anyway. Sure, it would be easier to plan for and buy for. God is going to give me who he wants us to have. So anyway, I've been wondering lots of things about baby like will it look like Hannah or Ryan...Maybe it won't look like either...Of course, does God think we need another boy or another girl...what is it's personality going to be...Who will this child become one day...There are so many different things going thru my head.

I'm just so glad that I am not the one in charge of all those decisions. I'm so glad that God already had it figured out before the beginning of the world. Every day I'm amazed that our Creator could think of such an amazing way for us to come into the world. Why don't we come from eggs? Why doesn't a stork bring us to our parents? Why aren't we born as adults? I'll never know but I do know I love that God has it all figured out and all I have to do is his will.

And another thought that just came to mind: The purpose of everything, every single thing, in the world is to glorify God. So the child you birthed 1 yr ago, 5 yrs ago, 10 yrs ago or whenever, that you love so much, was created the way he or she is for God's glory. He didn't make her beautiful or smart so she'd have an easy life or have lots of boyfriends. It was for his glory. He didn't make him mishievious just to drive you crazy for the first 4 years (hopefully only 4) of his life. It was for God's glory.

Thank you God for knowing exactly what I need in my life. I hope I can find the different reasons why I need each of my children and appreciate it every day!

today

• Dr appt went great. I'm 12 wks, 3 days. I've only gained 6lb. I've been working hard on the fact that I really only need like 300 extra calories a day. Quality not quantity. Baby's heartrate was 150 and we heard it moving around while they were listening to it. I am now convinced I have felt it more than once.
• I'm petsitting until Wed noonish. So far, so good.
• Hannah didn't have school today but there was parent teacher conferences. I usually am first on the list but not today.
• I've been going none stop since we got back from Cols yesterday so the house is a disaster.
• I've been having sinus headaches since over the weekend. Not much pressure around my nose and eyes. It's more my teeth and ears. It's annoying.
• I found pumpkin ice cream at walmart today. I'm excited to eat some later!
• My poor Ryan is sooo afraid to be outside if he sees a bee or wasp near. He was screaming just like he did the day he got stung all those times so I ran to the door and there was a wasp up on the roof. I went out alittle later with some spray to kill them and he said he didn't want me to get stung. Poor guy.

memories

The kids standing on top of this huge mound of dirt

Ryan picked this pumpkin just for me. Love that boy!

Daddy carrying the pumpkins the kids picked. Love that man!

Posing with our pumpkins

All of us on a hayride around the fruit farm

My sister and I. Love her!

Sawyer is always looking at me like this.

And this is my favorite. I love how Hannah's hair is blowing in the wind. I love these kids!

Often when I am sitting next door with grandm she tells me how her kids' (Brad's mom and uncle) father never did anything with them. She appreciates the fact that Brad and I try so hard to spend quality time with our family and do so much together. Recently she said we are so different from most familes. Well, this weekend was no different. We did my favorite tradition. I don't know why I love going to Cols so pick apples and pumpkins so much. I think it is just a combination of many things. I get tons of great pics, we get off our rears and get outside, we spend the day with my sister and her wonderful family, and we make sooo many memories. I want my kids to know that we care about them enough to do things with them, make time for them. I know they won't truely appreciate any of the things we do until they are much older and have kids of their own. But one day, even if Brad and I have already gone home, I want them to look back at these years and be so thankful for what they had and more importantly, if the Lord hasn't come back by then, I want them to do the same things with their kids and families. So I guess I should say thanks mom and dad for everything!! Love you guys!

As you can tell by my pics, we had a great time this weekend! We got to stay at a hotel for $30 a night. It was really only worth about that much but that's another story! Jess and her fam stayed at the hotel Fri night also and everyone went swimming. I held the baby. =) We called it an early night. Saturday was spent at the fruit farm. We had plans to go to the zoo after we went to the fruit farm but we just never got that far! By the time we ate lunch/supper at 3 there just wasn't much time for anything else. So we went back to the hotel and Brad took the kids swimming while I napped, or tried to. Did I already say I love that man?! We kept Michael with us that night. After that we went back out and walked a few blocks up, we were staying downtown, to see if the Dunkin Donuts was open to buy breakfast for the next morning. Turns out they weren't so we walked back to the truck and went out to buy donuts and find a DQ. By the time we got back it was bedtime for the kids, and me, and Brad and Michael went down to the fitness room and then went swimming. They weren't ready for bed by 9! This morning we got up and went to church with Jess and then had lunch and hung out at her house for awhile and then came home!

Need to ramble...

Today was a pretty good day, nothing interesting happened. Now I'm just feeling the need to ramble. As you can tell, I'm feeling pink tonight. =)

I decided first thing this morning that Ryan and I were going to go to the mall today. I knew the sun was supposed to finally come out and I just wanted to get out of the house. This week has been especially rough for Ryan and I in the house. He's been unusually mishievious, shall we say. And I didn't want to spend another day yelling at him! I think this winter is going to be a long one for us. But I also had a few things that I needed to here first. So as soon as we got back from taking Hannah to school, I gave the dogs a bath, cleaned up the laundry room and washed their blankets and towels. Then I took a shower and by 9:30 we were out the door!

We went to Gabriel Bro's first. I don't go there often but when I do, I usually find some good deals. We all know I'm the queen of good deals! =) Todays deals came in the form of a neutral swaddler for $1! The package was all ripped up so I was able to take the swaddler out and inspect it. It's in perfect condition. So thanks to someone's inconsideration, I got a good deal! I didn't have one with the other two so I really want to give it a try this time. I also got a pack of 4 nice baby wash clothes for $2.99, neutral, I might add. I'm finding that a lot of neutral baby things look more boyish but I don't care! I don't want to know what I'm having. It's the last thing I can do for myself before I never get to do it again. I bought a few other things there and then went to Target. All I needed was my chewy prenatal vitamins that I can't find anywhere else. I told Ryan I only needed one thing and then we could go to lunch. Of course., after I got in there I had to say, "can we just go look at one more thing?" He said yes. What a gentleman. Hopefully I'm teaching him to be a patient man while his wife spends hours saying, "I need to look at one more thing." =) I'll have you know I didn't buy anything else except a box of Boo Berry marshmallow cereal that was sitting right at the end of the register. Sneaky people! Ryan has been obsessed with ghosts and stuff, that's the main reason I got them but I'm excited to try them later. We went to Steak and Shake for lunch. Then we went to the mall. Ryan thinks that when we go to the mall the only thing we are going to do is play in the play area. I told him I had a store I wanted to go in first and if he was good, then we'd go to the play area. I didn't find anything good in Old Navy, where they are having an extra 50% off already reduced summer clothes. So we went to the play area. By this time it was already a few minutes after one so I knew we'd be having to leave to go get Hannah soon.

After getting Hannah, the kids played outside for awhile and then daddy came home. On time, for a change! We all ate supper together around the table. It was nice for a change. Usually daddy isn't home so I sometimes let the kids sit in front of the tv.

In school news, Hannah has been having an off week. Her teacher called me one evening and said that Hannah was coming to class late every morning so she needed to be there earlier so she'd have time to eat breakfast. I was surprised because I feed Hannah at home and take her to school with just barely enough time before the bell rings! So I found out that she has been going in and eating breakfast again! I had to get onto her about that last year too!

Also, for the past two days she has forgot to bring home her folder! For those who don't know, they have a folder with a keep and return pocket in it. That is how her homework and papers and other stuff gets back and forth. So for the past two days I haven't gotten anything. I do know she had homeowrk yesterday. So I dont' know what's going on there! I told her if she forgot it tomorrow she would be grounded. I don't know if she's doing it on purpose.

What is the world coming to?

I just put the kids in bed and Hannah came out to me and said, "there are two little kids on the trampoline. I mean little." I went out there to tell them they can't jump on the trampoline if we aren't out there. There was only one girl on then but she jumped off immediately when she saw me and took off to the house behind us. Meaning she already knew she shouldn't be on it. We've had to get on them before. Her two sisters, one older and one younger, came around the corner. They live down the street. The oldest one is in kindergarten and the youngest one is maybe two, probably not that old because last summer she wasn't walking yet. The oldest one was the only one dressed in clothes warm enough to be outside and even on a day like today, especially at 7 when the sun is down and temps are dropping, she should have had a coat on. The two younger girls were wearing only t-shirts. The baby didn't have undies or a diaper on. She was practically naked, no shoes or anything. These are the girls I have been giving Hannah's old clothes to since Kara outgrew Hannah. I just feel so bad for them. How can a parent just let their kids run around like that. I've seen the cops down there by their house more than once. Sad, sad situation.

Yard sales

I went yard saling with Brad's mom and grandma while Brad watched the kids this morning. I actually did pretty well! I have more stuff but I already put some of it away before Jess J had asked me what all I bot and I told her I'd put pics of it on here for her.



I found the kids a couple games for their V Smile (Spongbob and Kung Fu Panda) for $4 each. I also found Ryan a few TMNT men for 10 cents each. They are soking in bleach right now. I got the walkie talkies for $3 and the boots for Ryan for $1!

A few of the clothing items I got were these snow bibs for Ryan for $1. They are like brand new. The superman costume was only a quarter. Brad's mom and I got a bag full of neutral baby clothes and a few things for baby Acelynn for $3. I didn't put all the baby clothes on the floor cuz I knew you wouldn't be able to tell what they all were.

I think this was my favorite buy for only $2. At the same yard sale I got a boppy for $1.

So I think it was a pretty good day!