I survived

another night of Trick or Treat!! I'm always solo that night because the fire department patrols the town to keep the little ghosts and goblins (these days more like the power rangers and princesses) safe. Mike came along and picked up Laiken after about an hour and she helped patrol the rest of the evening. The kids had fun, but you can tell they don't walk a whole lot, but ride their bike about everywhere. I think they were more tired than I was. I'll put up pictures as soon as I get them downloaded. Yesterday we did a marathon clean of about half the house, the rest will have to wait until tomorrow. Mike and the older three are butchering a hog today so I'm cleaning out the freezer to get ready to stock up. We still have about 1/4 of the cow and 14 chickens so it'll be tight getting the hog in there too. The bacon and hams won't be ready for about two weeks though so we'll be having chicken a few times to make more room. Since the freezer is in the laundry room, I'm cleaning that out as well. What a job!! Oh well, it always makes me feel better to be tackling some sort of project. Just seems like I end one only to find another couple dozen waiting!! Oh! I forgot I have a cake in the oven and I just heard my timer so more later

Logan is halfway to 18

I was teasing Logan the other day and telling him that he was halfway to 18 now, then it hit me like a punch in the gut... my baby IS halfway to 18. Technically our time with him in our home is halfway over. I just can't believe it. We had a family party on his birthday and then had a party with friends and extended family this past Saturday. He had a good time and it was nice to see my parents and in-laws make it in from PA. Haven't seen them since Labor Day.

Birthday down, Halloween to come. I've gotten the kids costumes almost completed. I have a girls night out tomorrow night for a Women Who Wine night at a local winery, so actually I only have one more night to get them finished up. I'm excited though, even though I know it means less sleep this week. I'm babysitting for a friend this week, had her today, tomorrow and Thursday. So.... I really should be working now, but just wanted to update before I let it go too long again and then give up.

The Farmer takes a wife

Well, if I didn't feel like a "farmer" before, I do now. We spent last weekend putting gravel in our barn preparing to concrete it. This week we took our chickens to be butchered. That is one thing I won't do!!! EVER!! I had to freeze them all though. These cold mornings I don't like heading out to the barn to take all the animals out. Two donkeys, the pony and then to the chicken coop to let them out (we still have 18 egg layers). It was only 23 today at 7:30 when I put them out. Their water outside was FROZEN...

I made Logan brownies for his birthday and he will be having his party on Saturday. Austin picked him up a few little things on Tuesday when we ran to the store before school, but I have to go tonight or tomorrow and finish up. I'm not even sure what to get him, other than shoes.

Well, I have to work still and I really need to clean my house before his party so I'll leave with some pictures of the kids' donkeys (Waldo and Stormy) and pony (Buddy).

Morgan riding Stormy

Buddy

Stormy

Waldo being curious, right after this he tried to eat the camera.

Waldo

Special school lunch

The parents of the first graders were invited to have lunch with them today at school. It was really nice to have lunch with Morgan. My neighbor was kind enough to put Austin on the bus for me and keep Laiken for a little while. We had lunch and then went back to the classroom for a little while and then we were asked to stay for recess. It was nice to be able to see a little bit of their day and chat with the teachers and other parents. Most of the parents were able to make it, but one little girl whose mother wasn't able to be there was feeling especially left out and by the time we went out for recess she was crying. I felt so bad for her. It is times like that I am so glad I am able to work from home and make sure that I don't miss anything like that for my children. Sometimes I feel guilty for not being able to do as much as some of the other parents, like volunteering on a more regular basis, but with little ones still at home it makes it difficult, but for anything special like that I do whatever I can to be able to be there for them.

It was nice because I actually got to see all three of them today for a little while without them knowing, to see the "real them". While we were having lunch Austin's class came in to get their drinks. As he was walking back out I waved to him and he came over to the table with a disgusted look on his face and said "What do you want mom?" I said I just wanted to say hi and have a good day. He gave me a kind of funny look and walked away. When Logan saw me out on the playground he ran over and gave me a hug, but when they were going back in was too cool to say good-bye, well at least until they were almost back in the school and then he turned and yelled bye mom!! Morgan, of course, didn't want me to leave at all and took a little convincing from her teacher to stay for the afternoon. I'm just so glad I was able to go and am already looking forward to when they have one for Austin next year.

Still ticking

Well, after several months I decided to give this thing another shot. I've started to update several times, but with so much to try to catch up with I figured forget it!

Maybe a little at a time.... If I make myself keep doing this.

Already a month or so into school. Logan is absolutely loving 3rd grade. Much different from second grade. He actually has to do homework.

Morgan is adjusting to first grade much better than kindergarten. She is doing well now that she is finally coming out of her shell a little.

Austin absolutely loves kindergarten. He still only goes half day, but he loves it and is doing well.

Laiken is adjusting to being home half the day alone. You would never know there was only one child here. She absolutely wears me out. She is never still and never doing anything she should be doing.

All the kids are sick now so Morgan is home with asthma problems, Laiken is running a fever and has a cough. The boys both have bad colds, but managed to go to school. Logan is taking the first state test for reading so he really didn't want to miss. I've been waiting for the call to pick one of them up, but only an hour to go, so I think they'll make it.

Still working, but not quite as bit, or should I say, doesn't seem like as much with three of the kids gone at some point in the day.

I'll try to post some pictures from the "barn raising" and Mike's surprise for the kids either tonight or tomorrow, or whenever I manage to get back to this thing!!

Escapee

I know I said I was going to try and be better, well I guess missing one day as opposed to several months is better. Laiken has now decided she is no longer going to stay and or sleep in her crib. She climbed out yesterday after her nap. She has done this before, but we thought we remedied that by moving all furniture away from her crib. She has now figured out how to lower the side, yes, you read right, she can lower the side on her crib. She climbs out. Not a big deal as she can't get out the bedroom door and nothing to hurt her in her room. Until yesterday that is: She walked into Mike's room after he was in bed and fast asleep. Opened the door right up. She then applied her newly learned skill to open her door yesterday after nap. So this morning bright and early I hear her talking to her monkey on the way down the steps. She won't take a nap today. We have put her in and she has gotten out now seven times. Looks like it is time to do some room rearranging and furniture purchases.

Morgan is still at my mom's for spring break. Austin and Laiken are beginning to miss her now. Logan went out with a friend yesterday who moved away and was also at his grandma's for spring break. Laiken spent almost the whole time looking for the bus.

The boys played outside for a little while yesterday and Laiken was determined she was going out also. After her nap I got her all bundled up and we went for a stroll in the driveway. She was determined she was going out through the grass. She took three steps and fell flat on her face in the mud. In we came and she hasn't asked to go back out.

Mike's dog Jake died yesterday. I guess he was our dog, but he was MIKE's dog. He had him long before we got married and Jake didn't mess with the kids much. He tolerated them and was never mean to them, but he never let any of us ever get too close to him. I think he saw us as obstacles in his way to Mike. We used to laugh because if a dog could stick out their tongue he would have done that to me every chance he got. That dog wouldn't listen to me for anything. We knew it was coming. He was almost 19 years old and hasn't been able to do much this past winter. He basically was kept in his bed because he was blind and deaf. Logan keeps asking how we know he is playing ball in heaven and Austin keeps hugging and kissing me everytime I sit down. I asked him why he is doing that and he said I was the greatest mom in the world and he hoped I wasn't going to die next. We've had all the talks with them and think they understand as much as any 4 and 8 year old can, but I'm wondering if there is something else I should be doing or if they need to work through it on their own now. We still have to tell Morgan when she comes home.

This stinks

I am such a horrible blogger. Yes, I know it has been since well before Christmas since my last post. I have been so busy that when I get a chance to be on the computer, not working, well, lets face it... I don't get the chance to be on the computer without working. I'm going to try really hard though. What is 10 minutes less sleep when I already get 4 to 5 hours right?? I'll try to give a quick update on each child:

Laiken: What a wonder. She is into everything. She loves to explore and pretend play. She loves her babies, her kitchen and her bears. She is about halfway potty trained and loves to try to dress and undress herself, which is the reason for pushing the potty training. She is talking up a storm, some understandable, most not, but that doesn't stop her. In some ways it is hard to believe she will be two at the end of June, but in other ways it seems like she has been here forever.

Austin: Happy birthday to my little man. He will be 5 in a week. I can't even believe it. He is my serious child. He is very stubborn. He is intelligent "world-wise", but not so much book. He really has no interest in reading, writing or anything yet. I got the kids a desk and hopefully he will want to "play school now". He is very aware of the world around him and how things work so is an endless stream of questions, such as: What is inside the powerlines. or I know what makes the grass grow, or I know how they make plastic cups, etc. Austin doesn't like to be alone much so is pretty much my shadow or Mike's when he is here. Laiken adores Austin and he plays with her all day. He even dresses in her silly hats, although he would not be happy if he know I posted that. He promplty quits playing when anyone else is around.

Morgan: My little helper. She is still likes to help with everything. She is my 6 year old teenager. She is quickly coming out of her shell and now enjoys interacting with people alone. She still doesn't like school all that much, but I think having afternoon kindergarten has a lot to do with that. She is too busy to stop and go to school. She is doing very well for showing no interest whatsoever before school. (Gives me hope for her little brother). She is crazy about her baby sister and is forever trying to help with her, not so well accepted by said little sister sometimes. She had such a blast helping out at pancake breakfasts this year.

Logan: Logan is enjoying scouts and still doing well in school. He is starting to settle down a little bit, but is still very easily roused. I am so proud of how he interacts wtih his peers in school. I am constantly informed that he enjoys helping the other kids and his teacher. He is such an inquisitive child and talks constantly, but guess it helps because he is still above average in all his classes.

All the kids will be starting T-ball and little league in the next few weeks, so that will add more to the schedule. I'm excited though because Logan did so well last year and really enjoys it. Morgan and Austin will be starting T-ball and will both be beginners so I am excited to see them try new things.

Short posts about each child becomes quite long when you have four so I'll try to include some pictures next time.

Whew

It has been a while. First, the party and parade went well on Saturday. I'm glad it was a short one. The kids enjoyed themselves and I made hubby happy by riding in the fire truck with him instead of marching with the girls. We got out goodie bags from Santa, but did not wait in the long, slow line. Austin was half asleep sitting in his chair, Laiken was running around like she was possessed and Morgan, bless her heart, couldn't stop coughing so we packed up and headed home. Sunday we went shopping in the morning and then I took Logan to his scout party while the other kids and dad stayed home and rested. Well, sort of. The toilet in the downstairs bathroom started leaking so I got called home early and Mike had to run out in a freezing rain storm and get some parts to try to fix it. My parents made it in safe and sound, but the toilet decided the next day to start leaking again?!? Finally think he got that fixed.

School Program:
The school program was wonderful. My kids did such a wonderful job. I was so proud of both of them. Morgan looked so grown up sitting up there singing her song and playing her bells. Logan's class was holding stars on little sticks and the little girl behind him accidentally knocked his out of his hand. Poor grandma thought he fainted when he bent down to pick it up and since it seemed like forever before he stood back up she was ready to head up there to the rescue since none of the teachers were going to help! All was well though. Logan reappeared only slightly ticked off and finished the song. They finished the program with everyone singing Silent Night. Was kind of bittersweet because this was the very last program in the old school. The new school will be finished in June. There is a battle going on in town now over trying to save the old school as it is the oldest one east of the Mississippi River, but it doesn't look like it is going to happen. I think it is going to be too much of a burden on the small town.

We went out to eat and did some Christmas shopping last night. Seemed kind of odd without Austin there. He went home with my parents on Tuesday and seems to be doing okay so far. We will be heading back there for the annual family Christmas party tomorrow. It is kind of crazy, but a lot of fun. My mom's entire family gets together for a huge Christmas party with Santa and everything. At last count I think there is like 30 kids under the age of 10 there, 27 adult grandchildren and eight original kids with spouses. This year is going to be a little rough though because my Uncle Don passed away this year and it will be the first Christmas with just the seven of them. They have always been such a close knit family even though they are spread across two states and they are all taking it pretty hard.

I'll probably not post until after the weekend now as I barely have time to sleep these days, so take care. I'll have lots of pictures when I get back.

Page error

I got up this morning to work, but keep getting the page error message and since it is still dark and I'm cranky, and... and.... I don't feel like getting up to do anything else, except go back to bed, I may as well post. Took Morgan to the doctor yesterday, she just wasn't getting anywhere with the albuterol. They put her back on prednisolone and an antibiotic as she also has a stomach virus and respiratory tract infection. Funny, she took the steroid yesterday and one dose of the antibiotic and last night was the worst night so far. She really coughed and wheezed. I was up again almost all night. She has stopped vomiting though and her fever isn't quite a high now. We'll see how she is when she gets up. The doctor said if she feels like it she can go to school today as long as her fever is down. Now that we know she also has a virus, I'm hoping and praying the other kiddos don't get it. As you know we have a busy, busy weekend coming up... parties. parade. visits from Santa and grandma and pappy bringing early Christmas gifts and then the big Christmas program on Monday that the kids have been practicing and practicing for. They are so excited, especially Morgan since this is her first one.


Well, I just thought of something I can do while waiting for the errors at work to be fixed without getting my lazy but out of my computer chair so I am off to make out my grocery list. Gotta get the stuff to start my baking this week. Enjoy! Before I go here are a few more pictures trying to get our Christmas card ready. Hopefully tonight we'll get it done.


We took this one in front of the tree. If we don't get another one, I'll try to crop out the Pamper Cruiser.



I like this one except for the way they are sitting.




This is the fireplace we finished this summer.



This is Laiken taking an apple break.

Asthma sucks

Morgan was home from school today. She is having trouble with her asthma again. It isn't an all too frequent thing, but when she has an attack, it is usually pretty bad and somewhat lengthy. I'm not too familiar with asthma, but I can remember my brother using his inhaler and usually within minutes he was better. She uses her nebulizer every four hours and sometimes it takes her a couple of days to get fully over it. I truly wonder if it is asthma or something else.

Everyone else seems to be doing fine. We have another busy weekend coming up so I am hoping she will be well by then. We have a Christmas party Saturday, a parade Saturday evening and another Christmas party following the parade. Sunday we have Logan's scout party and Monday we have the Christmas program at school. My parents are coming out for the program. The kids are excited. Then I really have to get busy and start my Christmas shopping. Yes, I did. say. start. This year I feel like such a lousy mom. I just can't find time for anything. Of course I really wouldn't change anything in the world just to give me more time. I love that my children are healthy enough to participate in this stuff and it makes me sad to see Morgan having a hard time, but in reality I think it would be harder on her if she had to miss these activities. I'll be heading to the doctor tomorrow if she is no better. She already feels bad enough about the asthma, I won't have her missing out because of it.

Let is snow, but not too much and no ice and, and

it would be great if it could snow at 75 degrees. We awoke this morning to frigid high winds and our poor Christmas decorations scattered all over. It looked like Santa and the reindeer lost control or something. I was outside at daybreak trying to clean up the carnage. They are calling for a foot of snow from this morning through tomorrow morning. So far we havn't gotten much so I'm crossing every part of my body that it slides right on by. Did I mention I absolutely hate snow with all my being. I know, sort of silly living in Northeast Ohio right near the lake, but this is where DH was at so I followed and after 10 years I'm still here and still hating the snow.



We had two parades and a birthday party this weekend. First, let me say my son's poor friend. This is I think every child and every parent's worst nightmare. Nobody showed up for his party except my son. He is such a sweet boy too, but kind of shy so he doesn't have a lot of close friends. Logan always includes him at recess though so that makes me proud and sort of easier to overlook the other things Logan does to absolutely drive me crazy!



Now the parades: Friday night was so windy and cold it was insane. Thankfully a very short parade though. The girls all had fun and my kids loved seeing the parade and seeing Santa riding the float. DH was waiting at the end of the parade route with the car nice and warm. We piled in and were patiently (all except for Laiken) sitting waiting for the parade to wrap up so we could head for home. All the sudden the car shakes and I turn to look out the windshield and there sits this little old lady in a motorized wheelchair against the hood of the car. Apparently they were in the parade too and as she made the final turn (sounds sort of like a NASCAR race) she lost control and slammed into our car. My husband jumps out to make sure she was okay, which she was. By this time Morgan is in the back of the car crying her poor little eyes out. I asked her what was wrong and she stuttered daddy is going to go to jail becuase he just ran over that little old lady. It took me a long time to convince her that we weren't moving and that she ran into us. By the time she went to bed that night she was pretty convinced and then thought it was kind of comical. She re-worded the song Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer to Grandma got run over by a Buick leaving the Christmas parade last night.



The next night we had another parade and who would be in that one but the Blue Belles again and that same woman in the wheelchair. Needless to say Morgan stayed real clear of her!! We get home from that parade to find Morgan was running a pretty high fever, but once we got the Tylenol in her and all her extra layers off, it went down pretty quickly. One more parade this weekend and then bring on Christmas, no not really. It is too much to ask for another week or month or two?? I'm so not ready for this Christmas. I think this is the worst one yet. Oh well, time to get busy and try to get some things accomplished before I have to hide from the snow and wind. I have a real mature way of dealing with it. First, I close all the blinds on the doors and windows so I can't see it and second, I don't go out from now until April unless someone drags me kicking and screaming. Thankfully Mike is understanding and drives my sorry butt wherever I need to go (or better yet goes for me) when he gets home. Did I mention I don't like snow or cold? Afterall, I wouldn't be here in the godforsaken snow if it wasn't for him anyway!

Laiken

I have been trying to get some pictures trying out my camera on different settings. Here are a few of Laiken as she was the only one home and cooperating yesterday. I'm going to try to get the group one tonight for the cards and then the pressure is off a little to get individual ones as that is only for grandparents and us.

Just a side note: That outfit she is wearing was her big sister's first. Thought it would be cute to have pictures of both in it. Can't find one right now, but Morgan was 11 months old when she wore that outfit..... Laiken is `18 months old!!

Christmas pictures

Another thing to stress over, that is all I need now. I still haven't done my pictures for the Christmas cards. My mom's family has a party on the 15th so I kind of need to have them done by then. See, we hand deliver the cards there instead of mailing all 30 something of them. See... I don't even have my list done yet. Anyway, my mom is getting me this cool printer for Christmas that will print right from my camera card, but I'm out of ink for my current printer and hate to buy ink for it when I'll be getting a new one. Of course, if I have to print that many pictures it will probably use almost an entire cartridge. Hey! I just solved my problem while typing it out, (patting myself on the shoulder). I sent an e-mail to my husband venting yesterday about how I couldn't finish my Christmas shopping until after the 17th and between work and everything else, we would have to finish up on the 22nd and then how was I going to get everything wrapped and my baking done, etc. He sent me an e-mail back full of blah, blah, blah's. I sent him a blank e-mail back. Of course he e-mailed me asking about the blank and I told him that was me not speaking to him. Needless to say when he came home he was very attentive. Now he keeps asking me what he can do to help. I told him if he would have done that in the first place instead of being the a** he was, he would have scored extra points for doing the same thing he is doing now trying to dig himself out of the hole.

I told him a mom with four kids at Christmas is oh so much worse than any woman with PMS so he better buckle in for a long ride. The smiling faces Christmas morning are oh so worth it, mine is the biggest of all, but each year I realize just how strong women are since spousal abuse is higher on Super Bowl Sunday that Christmas Eve!!

Thanksgiving down Christmas to go

Well, the feast is over and now the hustle begins. Why does it seem like Thanksgiving is gone in the blink of an eye? Maybe because mere hours after you finish eating the Christmas hustle begins. For the past few years my SIL and two of my cousins have been hitting the Black Friday sales, sadly usually not even looking for anything. I guess we just enjoy punishing ourselves or maybe it is that the crowded malls and frigid temperatures are easier to handle than our crabby kids after a day without enough sleep! I'm guessing that is it since my two cousins, neither of which have kids, chickened out this year. My SIL and I still had a good time. We met up with one of her friends and shopped for a few hours. We got some good deals at Old Navy and Bath and Body Works. Penny's also had some great buys if you needed coats, which all four munchkins did, but my aunt grabbed those up for Christmas gifts. You know the saying the early bird gets the worm? Same is true for Christmas gifts. My list is seriously shrinking for the kids and I haven't gotten a thing yet. Everyone else is grabbing up things on my list. Guess I better start hitting the ads again. Course it doesn't help when the kids can't come up with even one thing they want!! Morgan asked me if Santa will still get her gifts if she can't think of anything she wants. I told her that I was sure she would get something and that she could just write him a letter telling him what types of things she likes to play with and he could handle the rest. She told me she felt much better now that she didn't have to worry about Christmas! Wonder if Santa will handle all my Christmas worries. The kids are planning Jesus' birthday party already too. Every Christmas Eve we have a party "in the living room" (that is the most important part) and that is Jesus' birthday. Then we go outside and sprinkle magic reindeer dust, head in to check the computer to track Santa's progress, surefire way to get them in bed early (hopefully the kids will stop believing in Santa before they realize Paris France is not next to Ohio!!). Then Mike and I settle in with a glass of wine until we are sure the kids are sleeping. Mike refuses to help arrange the gifts because he can't quite grasp my "method" or madness as he calls it. Anyway, I think I am more excited than the kids. I love seeing the excitement and joy this time of year brings and we remind our kids daily as we hustle getting everything ready what this whole season is about. Austin told me the other day in his four-year-old way that he knows Jesus is very important because he has a great big party but gives us the gifts. I love this time of year the most and not becuase of the gifts or parties, but because we spend so much time together as a family, as a couple, as an extended family. This is the busiest time of the year because of all this, but also the happiest. This coming year I hope to be as busy with family as I am at Christmas instead of putting these things off because we are too busy.

We're off

We will be hitting the happy trail tomorrow afternoon. Why do I feel like saying "And they're off!!"? Probably because while the trips home are always enjoyable, relaxing they are not. First stop: Aunt Shelly's for dinner with her, Aunt Connie, Kyle and Kelly. Then on to my mom's house where we will spend Thanksgiving and will visit with the aunts, uncles and cousins Thursday evening. Hopefully my brother and his family will make an appearance. Friday bright and early as I said it before "the girls" head out shopping and for breakfast/lunch. Sometime Friday I am hoping to get to see my grandfather. Friday night we are going to meet up with Mike's cousin Brian and his family. They moved to South Carolina a little over a year ago and haven't gotten to see them. We used to hook up with them at least twice a year. Maybe Saturday we can relax a bit and then Sunday afternoon we head home to get everything ready for the happy hunters. Logan has scouts in the afternoon and then Tuesday it's back to school and work as usual.

I was a very busy girl today and got about half the Christmas decorations up. Now I should be working to get a head start on tomorrow so we can leave at out appointed time. So I will leave you with a wish for a very Happy Thanksgiving. If you are traveling, I pray you will be safe and enjoy seeing loved ones we unforutnately don't get to see as often as we would like. May God bless you and keep you safe.

Over the River and through the woods..

We'll be leaving Wednesday afternoon so the race begins: baking, packing, cleaning, working, shopping. First before I can bake I need to head to the store. Ideally I would like to get both in school first so I only have to take two with me, but seeing as how Morgan doens't go until the afternoon, I would really like to be baking by then. We shall see. I am doing laundry as we speak to get stuff packed, hopefully by Tuesday evening so Wednesday all I have to do is work, whip up my dip and straighten up the house. Logan has scouts tonight and they asked me to stay and help work on the float, not that I could get anything done in less than an hour, but still stressed me out! What are the Holidays without a little stress and a lot of wine, RIGHT?

Laiken had a dance-a-thon in the basement yesterday. She really gets into the dancing! She had her whole little body dancing. Next time I'll have to try and record it, especially the "after" hairdo! She looked like the cartoons after they stick their finger in an outlet. Come to think of it, that pretty much sums up her whole dance!

We rearranged the furniture today to start putting up the Christmas decorations. Not looking forward to that with Ms. Laiken though!!

Oh well... off to get ready for turkey day and shopping with my SIL and cousin. It has become a tradition that we try to shop every black Friday and then have breakfast/lunch out. Unfortunately, my cousin T can't make it this year as she has started a new job and we just couldn't convince her we were worth a sick day! So it looks like it is just Kel, Jen and I this year! So sorry T! Don't know if I'll get time to post again so if not Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

Another weekend gone

The kids really enjoyed making their turkey recipe card holders at Lowes. Guess who will be bearing gifts this Thanksgiving... They gave them little safety goggles and Lowes aprons. These have come off rarely since then. Morgan has already decided she is taking her new treasures for Show n Tell on Friday. Kind of puts the pressure on this Christmas competing with Lowes.

Logan had his Cub Scout Pack meeting yesterday and they walked through town handing out bags for the food drive. They have to go back on Saturday and collect any donations. Morgan has a parade Friday night. We are really kind of excited about this because it is the first "Christmas" parade of the season. I think the girls are marching in three or four this year. Logan is in two, only one is the same as Morgan's.

The highlight of Austin's week is the trip to the library. I can only imagine next year when he is becoming involved in things! I really don't want to think about it yet. I may be hiring an assistant! We have cut his "homeschooling" down to three days a week because he is really breezing right through the stuff and I don't want him to be too advanced when he starts kindergarten next year. He is already doing some 1st grade stuff.

Laiken has turned into a little girl overnight. She is just a little chatterbox. A lot of it we can't understand, but she sure does carry on the conversations. She had her first tea party last night and I sat there and bawled like a baby. They had real snacks, but pretend drinks. Well at first Morgan didn't give her a plate for her snack, so she just took Austin's. She sat there like a little girl and ate her snack and "drank" her drink, asking for more and then she took her turn serving the tea and poured tea for the other ones sound effects and all. Morgan was playing babies last night and Laiken got a baby too. Morgan would put her baby to bed and so would Laiken. Morgan was getting a little ticked and put her baby in the stroller. well, Laiken was not about to be outdone. She put her baby in the stroller. Then they. had. their. first. fight. Morgan yelled at Laiken who then threw her hands in the air, started to walk away and turned around and gave Morgan an earful! This time the tears were from laughter. But perhaps her greatest feat of the weekend was tackling the sit n spin. Of course she found out as fast as the other kids it is much more fun to put small objects on it and give it a good spin and see how far they will fly! I wonder if this is a natural instinct or if someone has been coaching her!! She still loves her a good snuggle and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. I know those days just don't last long enough.

We did it!!

Well the local elections are finally over and I am happy to say we did very well. We elected the mayor we wanted, the trustee we wanted and the fiscal officer we wanted. We won all around. The "losers" are already causing trouble, but all they can do now is run their mouthes for the next 2 and 4 years and if they try again, we'll be ready!! People don't understand what this means and think we are making a big deal out of things, but this could have meant big trouble for the village as a whole, actually causing people to move and also could have had major impact on our fire department, and those of you who know us, know our entire family is deeply involved in the fire department. We are thrilled that people listened to us and continued on the path we have been working for so long to pave. Enough said.

Logan is finished up with his dental work now. Who knew acid reflux could have such an impact on his teeth seven years later. The other two go for their check up on Tuesday and hopefully she won't find the same thing happening with them. Morgan didn't have reflux and Austin's wasn't near as bad as Logan's so they really should be fine. Logan's just happened so fast, I'm hoping this pediatric dentist will know more what to look for with the others and if they do have a problem, it won't get out of hand like Logan's did.

I have been getting hit really hard at work and with Christmas coming trying to get as much done as I can. Mike has been super busy lately between wrapping things up for the election, fire department meetings, township meetings, overtime at work, inventory at work. So between me working extra, him working extra and his meetings and the kids functions, I feel like I haven't seen him in forever. Well, last weekend he was around more, but with his parents here it wasn't the same. He won't get home until after 8:00 tonight so I'm hoping to have all the kids in bed so while he eats and relaxes we can have some time just to ourselves because this weekend is going to be hectic again. Although he will get to spend some time with the three older kids. He is taking them to one of those workshop things at Lowe's. Lakien and I will do what we do best, shop, while they are doing that. I had plans of having lunch out somewhere afterwards, but might not now because Logan has a "hot date" with his friend in the afternoon. Sunday we have a scouting function and something else I can't think of right now. Have to find time somewhere to get things ready for Thanksgiving and dare I say it... Christmas. I need an extra month this year, sorry, just gotta put everything on hold.

Here we go again

Once again sickness is the topic of discussion in this house. I have been fighting a stomach bug for two days now. Thankfully my in-laws left before I got sick, but hopefully I didn't pass it on to them before they left. Both girls have colds and coughs again, but neither of the boys or Mike is sick. They never get sick, which is a good thing because they are total babies.

We had a nice visit with the in-laws, well actually my MIL. My FIL was fishing just about the entire time. Never could figure out how someone could stand in the water ALL. DAY. LONG. He would get up and leave by 6:00 AM and not come back until after dark.

The kids were complete hellions. With all of our family living out of state, we rarely get visitors for any length of time and they just don't know what to do with themselves. The fact that I'm usually stressed out the whole time doesn't help matters. Up until the last few years I didn't have a very good relationship with my MIL and my husband really still isn't as close with his parents as I think he should be. So with that in mind I feel she is constantly judging me, so I'm afraid to be too hard on the kids when she is here, but at the same time afraid she is going to run back home and tell everyone how horrible the kids are or how mean I am or how messy my house is or, well the list could just go on and on. I know I shouldn't let that bother me, but if you had a MIL like that, you would know how I feel. But anyway we survived. She called when they got home to tell me they might be back out in two weeks. This is my major cleaning time. I like to get everything all done by Thanksgiving so that I can put up the Christmas stuff. I have so much to do and I hate to do anything like that when anyone is here. I'm talking taking everything off the walls and wiping everything down, cleaning out all clostes, cupboards etc. It gets rather messy. Oh well, I guess that is a good excuse to stop right?

I need to go to bed. I'm feeling rather lousy, but first I have about six hours or work to do. Don't think that will be happening. Off to get the kiddos in bed and then probably myself.

I'll have pictures of the weekend tomorrow, I think.

Is it 3:30 already??

Boy did I not want to get up this morning. It was very late by the time I got to bed last night and the amount of work I have to do today was enough in itself to make me pull the covers right back over my head. The fact that Mike was threatening to bite my toes was finally enough to get me up and the fear of being so tired I'd sleep right through the alarm to get the kids up has kept me up. I so do not want: a) to have to run them to school today, or b) even worse have them home all day! It is going to be hard enough trying to get them out of the house today with my in-laws here.

Speaking of not going to school.... Logan comes home on Wednesday saying the neighbor girl wasn't in school and there was a note asking Logan to bring her work home to her. I told Logan they weren't home, I just saw them leave while I was out getting the mail. So when it starts getting later he said he would just run down the road and put her work on the porch. Okay, no text books, just papers in a folder, no problem. Whoa nellie! Her school picture packet was also in there. Not a chance. I told him I didn't feel comfortable putting that huge packet of pictures on her porch (they have been known to stay at Grandma's all night if dad is working away). So Logan, "and the winner for most dramatic actor is...." declares he will lose his recess if he didn't give it to her, yada yada yada and is near hysterics by this point. So I simply tell him I'll write his teacher a note explaining to her that I wasn't comfortable leaving the stuff on her porch and that I also left a message on Chloe's machine asking them to call when they got in, but didn't get a call. Well, its a good thing I didn't leave the folder on her porch because they still haven't come home. So when Logan gets home from school yesterday this conversation took place:
Mom: Did you give your teacher the note?
Logan: yeah.
Mom: Well, did you lose recess, did she hang you from the ceiling, did she put you in the corner with a dunce hat?
Logan: Funny mom. She said she didn't ask me to take her work home.
Mom: Huh?!? Who else would put the official pink slip on your desk asking you to bring the work home?!? Who else would put it neatly in a little brown folder complete with instructions for completion?!?
Logan: I dunno.
Mom: I'll have that drink now.

Here is another conversation from last night:

Austin: Wow! Look how many birds are flying out there, it must be millions!
Morgan: They are hibernating to Mexico, we learned that in kindergarten today.
Logan: No they aren't those birds are nocturnal.
Morgan: No they are hibernating.
Logan: They are nocturnal!!
After about 6 more times I very calmly say: I THINK YOU BOTH MEAN MIGRATING!!
Logan and Morgan: NO!
Mom exiting: Where is that drink!?!
Lesson learned: Don't argue with your kids, they think they know more than you and can "prove it", afterall they go to school every day, you on the other hand sit at home and pick your toes and drool.