FINALLY a GirlScout

Caitlin is the proudest little GirlScout...  Not that I needed to add one more activity to my kids' busy schedule but, how could I tell her NO!!!  Actually, I signed up as the leader of the Daisy troop so that it could be at the same time as Madison's Brownie troop.

Very Thankful

The kids and I took a road trip to St. Louis for Thanksgiving.  Brett had to stay back to work.  We were all excited to spend the holiday with both of my sisters and their families.  We woke up Wednesday morning and hit the road.  We made our best time ever.  We arrived in the early afternoon.  The kids had so much fun playing together.  It is funny how that 6 hour drive used to seem so torturous even just a few years ago.  My kids are wonderful little travelers...  Very thankful for headphones :)  I of course surprised them with yummy treats, several new movies and the Taylor Swift CD.

We went to the St. Louis zoo, had a bonfire, girls went to a tea party, mommies got to shop a little, watched puppet shows, swam, opened Christmas presents, TONS of art projects and had so much fun being with family!

The WARNER clan

The girls did the cutest puppet show

 Eyvind and Blake are so much alike.  They love playing mine craft!

 LOTS and LOTS of crafts

 I changed my earrings for the first time on Thanksgiving day!

 Emily is a wonderful cousin...  

 Emily and Christy

 The girls raked up a bunch of leaves to play in

 1,2,3 JUMP...

 The girls loved getting into my necklaces.

 Sisters

 St. Louis ZOO

 Off to the Tea Party

 MY THREE DARLINGS...  I'm so thankful for them!

Holiday Parade

The girls were so excited to be invited to be in the Kalamazoo Holiday Parade.  Their dance class was going to be dancing in it.  We attended a few practices and were ready to go.  Several of the other neighborhood girls were also in it.  Blake and Joe were collecting candy.  It was a gorgeous fall day...

 Caitlin is in the front.  Madison is the 5th back.

 I love Caitlin's little tongue sticking out!

 They were so cute :)

Conference Celebration

Conferences have always been a struggle for me.   I want my kids to be happy, confident, responsible, respectful and caring children.  I have a hard time with taking the blame when they don't meet those standards.  I sometimes feel like it is my fault...

 I have really struggled with Blake especially in school.   I am always very anxious to walk into his conference.  He is the most unique child that loves who he is and beats to his own drum.  I love that he isn't a follower what so ever, but am so worried about him being teased because of that.  He is also a young student having that July birthday.  Sometimes has struggled a little academically.

As I walked in the door to his classroom, his teacher gave me the best smile and said, "Blake is such a great child to have in class"!!!!!  He is doing great academically and socially...  I was so proud of my boy.

I've never had a hard time with the girls.  Caitlin might give me a run for my money soon.  She likes to make people laugh and is a little more influenced by others :)  Madison saves her "behavior" for me at home.  I feel so HONORED...

Definitely my best conferences that I have ever had.  I did shed a few tears, but only because I was so proud of all three of them.

The girls still love Build a bear...

 Blake was a great help with Caitlin.  He helped her fill in all her information.

 We had dinner at Olga's and then stopped by Target for a couple new skylanders for Blake...

Staycation in K-zoo with the Warner CLAN!!!

Chad and Shannon came down in October for a much needed visit...  The men folk went up to GLAA for their 20 year high school  reunion while Shannon and I stayed home and had a girls day...

 We spent the afternoon at the mall...  It was fire safety day.  The girls loved going to all the stations.

 Of course the carousel was a necessary stop

 My highlight was getting my ears pierced!!!  My girls loved watching me get it done.

A girls night out too...  Shannon got to meet two of my dearest friends.

Sushi, dancing, laughs and singing :)

 Archery Practice in the backyard

 What a great group of kids

 Pretty in PINK!!!

More Halloween FUN

I love the fall...  OK- I think that I actually say that at the beginning of every season.  How about this---  I love the seasons in Michigan!!!!  Michigan is absolutely amazing when the leaves are changing.  I'm also a big fan of cider mill donuts and carmel apples :)

This is my view out my back window

 We have a local pumpkin patch that we love to visit and support.  They create the best corn maze for kids.  My kids can find their way through it without TEARS!!!

 We didn't even get the chance to carve pumpkins this year...  BTW - not a highlight for me and thankfully for them either.

 SCHOOL HALLOWEEN parties...  Of course all three kids had their parties on the same afternoon.  I managed to make it to all parties at least for a bit.  I did volunteer to be in Madison's class as a helper.  I will do Blake's class for Christmas.  I love meeting their classmates!

 Madison and her friend picked out these outfits together at the beginning of September...

 Caitlin's class was not able to dress up, but had a great fall festival full of crafts, games and face painting...

 My KNIGHT in shining armor 

 The green face paint was totally her idea...  She loved it

 The cutest witch that I have ever seen...  Her skirt had little twinkling lights in it!

 Blake joined in the face painting

 Daddy was the face painter...

 Our neighborhood has a great tradition of meeting together first at someones house and then trick or treating in a HUGE group.  We actually had several families over for pizza and then headed out...  I love our neighborhood families

 The girls made a SPOOKY village.  They are so creative ---  They also did it all by theirselves :)

Cousin Emily always gives the girls the cutest things...  The halloween socks were a HUGE hit!!!!  Can't wait to see you on Thanksgiving Emily :)