Eat, Drink and be Scary!

Going backwards in time--Halloween has been a pretty big event. Both the kids have been looking forward to it and very excited. Even Zoey kept telling everyone "I am going to be a punkin" We carved pumpkins Tuesday night. Today the kids had parties at daycare and school. We brought snacks to each of their classes. Tonight we went trick or treating around the loop of Kokanee Bend. The kids climbed into the wagon, I would ask if they were ready, the kids would make train noises. Isaac pointed out every house with their light on. I would say your ride stops here. They climb out, Isaac would knock on the door. Zoey would say I want to knock on the door (each taking a turn) and Zoey would usually follow that with Trick or Treat before the door opens. They say thank you and on the way back to the wagon they would say how much fun that was and we would start the process all over again to the next house.

Isaac finally got to have friends over to the house. We had a small gathering. I had planned for them to play some games, but they played with the balloons and then upstairs with the toys. I don't mess with kids that are playing good! (Actually two of them didn't really get along) We opened some gifts, ate some birthday cake and played some more. All worked out.

Nathan is so proud that he could write out Isaac's card all by himself.

Did you ever stop to think and forget to start again?

The first thing I would like to note is that in the last set of pictures I posted there was one of Isaac with his train set. He built that all by himself while I was chattering away on the phone. He is so smart!

I was hoping with no home events last week that things would have been less hectic. However, I have noticed that all the foresight and preparing that I used to have has significantly vanished. I used to be able to do so many separate things and get everything done, apparently, I used it all up at once. I can't remember the last time I was caught up on everything, but I am hoping that God will hand out more foresight and preparedness and I will be on top of things again. Playing catch up and just hoping that Isaac has clean socks in the morning and that I can find my name tag for work or even remember to bring a lunch seems to be wearing me down a bit.

Last Friday I got my hair cut. I should really start doing that more often. However, the last person to cut my hair did a crappy job and I had to keep trimming it myself to make it so the longer ends did not stick out. So I really didn't know where to go. I tried this place in Columbia Falls not knowing how ridiculously expensive she was going to be! It took like an hour and a half to chop off all my hair. I had to bring Zoey and she was pretty good, but she kept talking to my stylist referring to her as "Grandma". I hope next time I can work out a barter. Then that night I gave a massage to another massage therapist. She called and asked if we could trade. I was so excited, I might actually be getting regular massages again!

Monday morning as we were going to out to the car in the darkness Zoey asked me if the sun was getting up. I said that it will be (in an hour). But last night as we made it in at 10:30 (again in the darkness) she asked me the same thing. Poor girl had napped on the way home and now because we leave and come home in the dark, she can't tell the difference between night and day. Doesn't help at bedtime.

Pictures and birthday stories will have to be posted after I get home. So you have to wait for that. I don't really have any new news. I am knitting in all of my spare time. So if anyone needs scarves, mittens, hats or even baby blankies knitted let me know. I would love to work on it.

You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.

So I am still working on the video and trying to figure out why the blogger won't let me post it. But hopefully by next week.

We took Isaac out to eat at the root beer place (A&W)on Tuesday after opening some gifts. He had a really great day and was tired by the end of it all. While we were out he said " I am the birthday man, so I need ice cream." So yes, the birthday man got ice cream even without finishing his supper. We have been pretty busy this week, so we are doing cake and friends on Saturday. Yes, this is the very first time Isaac has had friends over to our house since we moved to Montana! I think it is a sign that we are getting settled in.

Any good ideas on how to keep your toddler in bed at night? Bedtime is 9pm, she is usually not sleeping even by 11pm and then after she finally falls asleep she is up again between 1 and 4am. So I get out of bed and take her back upstairs, tell her it is night night time, and that she needs to sleep in her own bed, hugs ands kisses, I go back to bed for almost 5 minutes and we repeat the process all over again about 3 or 4 times and then she wakes up about 6am for the day. I don't mind if she just has quiet time, even at 3am, but she doesn't stay in her bed. She comes down stairs and comes over to my side of the bed wakes me up cuz she "is lonely" and sometimes I think she gets side tracked and plays in the living room first. I am not comfortable with that. Any good ideas, let me know.

My Little Bear is Growin' Up

I can't believe the little bugger is 5! I have tried to post a video that I made--so beware. It is long and my choice of music is STILL limited. Actually the second song (that repeats a few times) makes me cry like a baby. Nix the stinkin video. I can't get it to load. I really wanted it up on his birthday, but may be another time. Many thank yous to those who have sent out gifts. Isaac has been very excited and we got to do some gift opening tonight, so thanks again.

Let's not forget to wish Becky a happy happy birthday. She is kind enough to share the day with Ike. I so wish I was there to celebrate with you!

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man. ~Author Unknown

If we're not supposed to eat animals ... how come they're made out of meat?

Yep, it has been just short of a year since the last time I hit a deer and wouldn't want too much time to pass. So I hit another this morning. She jumped so close to the car. I had no time to swerve, slow down, anything. However, I think the damage is much less this time. Last year I had to have the whole driver's side fixed, whereas now I just need the headlight reaimed, a new hood and probably a new bumper. We were all buckled in and are safe as is the deer who just kept a runin'. I saw three deer after that in the field and they just stood there and looked at me like--why did you just hit our friend? But do really think they don't see us coming? I never see deer running into other animals running at high speeds. But I suppose us humans are the only ones who have put up deer crossing signs--so may be they just think they always have the right of way. I don't know.

"I'm in favor of love as long as it doesn't happen when “The Simpsons” is on television." (Anita, 6)

O.K. I don't really want to post. I was hoping to just put a bunch of pictures up and possibly some video (even though I have been having trouble with that). Anyway, I haven't taken the time to download the pics yet so just another random account of our weekend.

Yesterday I took the kids to church. I haven't really been very involved so I had to call first to find out what time and what location (we just built a new church). I didn't really wake Isaac up very early as he was still wearing jammies at 10am. We were a little late. So of course the first thing the kids say is "I'm thirsty" very promptly followed by "I have to go to the bathroom". To which I kindly remind them that it would be good if they could wait. After 5 years of this you would think I would learn that church is NEVER just an hour. It is the first service in our new church and they only had one service. So the place is packed and really not even the whole church is open yet. With kids that CAN'T wait we trek around the back of the congregation and then along down the side, passing irresistible tables of cake for someone turning 80, all the way to the front where the doors are that lead to the bathroom. Now I am sure I have probably written about this story like 10 times. It happens once a week. But this time I bet there were like 4 other moms in there with their kids. If there had been any more people in there, there would have been a waiting line. It was like the secret hang out place or something. I think it made me feel a little better that I wasn't the only one.

We headed home, had some lunch and I tried to lay Zoey down for a nap. Now every single time I blog that I think she is sleeping better it totally turns out to be a lie. She was crying upstairs in her room and after it stopped I had assumed that she finally fell asleep. You can totally hear the pitter patter of little feet when you are downstairs and they are upstairs not in their bed. However, assuming is also never a good thing. I was wrong. She had come upon a lonely orange marker and decided that she wanted to be orange. Luckily she only colored on her skin, not her clothes, but every bit of skin that was showing with the exception of right above her left eyebrow was very orange. Eyelids, nose, cheeks, forehead and both hands--she only missed the one spot. It was very amazing to see my little orange child and I nearly took a picture of her for the blog, but I didn't. Ironically though she is going to be a pumpkin for Halloween. Chris got them costumes on Saturday, but she keeps trying to wear Isaac's Spidey costume. It doesn't fit her, but she doesn't care.

Everyone has a Photographic Memory. Some just don't have film.

I did find an amazing website for crafts for the kids to do. I can't believe how much stuff is there. Animals, shapes, numbers, ALL the cartoons your kids love. You can customize chore charts and I printed one for Isaac that he will love to color.

http://www.dltk-kids.com/ If you don't see anything you like there, on the bottom is a link to www.kidsrcrafty.com and that one also has a ton of stuff. Holidays, Seasons, Birthdays, Everyday--they've got it.

Regardless of the fact that Zoey was in my bed twice last night, I think she is starting to sleep much better. She is starting to sleep much harder at home and daycare says she doesn't fidget nearly as much before she falls asleep for nap. My schedule has been varied slightly this week, just enough for me to forget what day of the week it really is. We were about to the bumpy road before I realized that today is show and tell. Turned around, run back to the house and grab something light colored that might be fun for show and tell. Easter Sponge Bob was near the top and back out I run. I am just lucky Isaac didn't throw a fit to come back in the house with me to casually find what he wanted and then have to get him back in the car and rebuckled.

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet.

And all of a sudden we have the vibrancy of Autumn. The rain we got last Friday has brought out the colors of the trees and while it is still raining the colors are just beautiful.

We had a very low key weekend. Chris hunted. I stayed home. The kids ran around the house. On Sunday I watched the Vikings play. The kids did some finger painting. We use the Crayola Color Wonder because it is mess free. I am such an uptight mom, that I can't always watch Zoey paint. She creates the most beautiful pictures, but she sticks her whole hand in ALL of the paints, then rubs it on like lotion. It takes a lot for me not to say" may be we should just use one color at a time." Instead I just go into the kitchen for a few minutes and put some dishes in the washer and come back and let her know how wonderful she is. Isaac was using the same paints and because they are color wonder it takes a moment for the color to appear. Isaac says "Mom, Its a miracle! Its a miracle!"

Yesterday was a slow day. Football had the day off and I didn't have any massages to give, so I went home. My homemaker of a hubby had supper on the table ready to go. We had fish and he even made the most scrumptious sweet potatoes I have ever had.

This morning the kids had to go back to school/daycare. I had everything done on time and the kids were not cranky. OHH I forgot to start the dishwasher before I left. Other than that all is well. We head out the door and it is still dark. Zoey says and I kid you not "What is this? It is still dark. We should still be sleeping."