I Love October Festivities

October has been wonderful.  I also call it BIRTHDAY MONTH!  I try my hardest to stretch out my special birthday time throughout the whole month...

I was treated with a great trip to Vegas with Brett.  We hadn't been there together for 7 years.  We stayed at Mandalay Bay.  It was a gorgeous week in the 90's.  I was spoiled by shows, dinner, lots of sun and a private ride through the desert in a porsche.  That was breathtaking.

Annual school walk a thon is always so much fun.  I get one on one time with each of my beautiful children while walking and meeting all their NEW friends for the year.  Caitlin always makes me run and catch her.  That girl has some legs...

Madison's class

My little RUNNER

second grade

Blake doing the dunk tank

GO MATTAWAN!!!

The kids have also been keeping me very busy with the traditional pumpkin patches, cider mills, carving pumpkins, getting halloween costumes, "ghosting", flash light/ nighttime corn maze and just hanging out with friends.  I love OCTOBER!!!!!

Turning 39 was and still is a little sad for me.  I know that 40 will be great and I'm in the best shape of my life, but it is still 40...  I'll get over it and move on very soon.  I'm ending my month with a trip to Denver to see my two wonderful sisters...  Why couldn't October last a little longer?????

Wonderful Children

I know that I say it all the time, but I have some wonderful kids...  They have been keeping me pretty busy lately, so I haven't posted in soooo long--- OK, I've been having a little ME time lately too :)

Caitlin and her BFF have a little friend in second grade that has brain cancer.  It breaks my heart.  I hate having to talk about it with my 7 year old.  However, Caitlin and Claire wanted to make a difference.  They decided on a popcorn sale for their friend.  They donated all their sales to her family.  Of course Sarah and I were all over it.  I emailed everyone that I knew that would be interested in visiting a popcorn sale.  The girls did it with lots of help from siblings and other friends.  It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon...  I'm so proud of these two girls.  They raised $200.00.  Way to go GIRLS...

Caitlin has also been so sweet with reading to me at night.  I treasure hearing her sweet voice and all the snuggles and hugs.  Check out how big those two front teeth are getting.  Where did my LITTLE girl go??????

Weekend Update

I have been busy just getting my house and yard back in order from 3 months of playing with the kids.  I also love wearing jeans and a sweatshirts lately...  I really think that I am ready for fall.

We had a great weekend... Friday night pizza and Harry Potter movie.  Our two older kids have just finished reading the first book.  We all loved the first movie and can't wait to have the kids finish the second book so that we can watch the movie.

Saturday was full with soccer, yard work, clothes shopping for Blake, and a BBQ/bonfire with 4 other families at our house.  It is so nice to have families where the parents and kids all get a long.

Sunday we stayed in PJ's for the whole day.  I had some cleaning up to do after the late Saturday night, but then just lounged with the family.  We did make it out for ice cream.  It was so nice because the rest of our fall weekends are so jam packed from here on out!!!

I love our yard, but there sure is a lot to clean up and cut down...

We have gotten our money out of this toy...  The kids are always on here

Madison is my little FLIPPER

Blake loves his new trombone

Surprised Blake with an air soft gun war after school on Friday!!!!

Girls loved hanging out with our neighbors rabbits.  Yes, Cait and Claire are in the cage!!!!

Goldie

Caitlin has a new pet --- GOLDIE...  She won him at the fair last weekend.  I definitely don't need another pet in this house, but she is in love with him.  I have to keep reminding her that goldfish don't live very long.  It will be a very sad day when he dies.   My kids struggle when worms die on our driveway...

The GOOD Life

WOW...  Back to school is treating our family wonderfully!  I am still pinching myself just to make sure that this isn't all a dream.  My children are so happy with their teachers, school and being independent.  Of course that makes for a very happy mommy as well.  I have also been very busy getting serious at the gym. I absolutely love working out and am quite addicted to the feeling after the work out is done.  Ok, I actually love all the social interacting of the gym as well.  I have also been getting some wonderful girlfriend time in.  

Back to the independent children.  Seriously----  life could not be better with them.  Brett and I have also been trying to get out and walk the dog together in the evenings.  We set a timer for the kids - who stay home SOLO,  when we return they are showered and ready for bed.  Sometimes already snuggled in bed with a book in hand.  It has been 11 years of bathing, dressing and getting kids ready for bed.  

Last weekend, I actually found myself sitting on the back porch reading MY book.  I sure hope that this isn't just a great "honeymoon" period...

Second grade OPEN HOUSE

Don't tell the kids how much fun we have in the afternoons!!!!

Caitlin is loving having me coach her team.  We even won our first game...

Couldn't pass up this new CHEETAH hat.

Glorious

Blake has been a great walking buddy lately.

Back To School

Day 2...  It is glorious.  I love our new schedule.  Blake and I have had the best two mornings so far.  We are the only ones up at 6:15.  I have really enjoyed drinking my coffee and just hanging out with this awesome kid.  I'm also looking forward to the hour that he gets home before the girls.  He wants to work on his back flips on the trampoline today before the girls get home.  I'm hoping that he continues wanting to spend time with me...  It is super strange to have him walk down the street by himself and get on the middle school/high school bus!

We have also had a HUGE change at our house...  making the kids be more independent.  I have failed miserably in doing way too much for these kids.  It will be a struggle for me, but I'm setting it as my new goal.  They are packing their own lunches/snacks/water bottles for school.  I know that it seems crazy to some people that I have been doing this for so many years, but I really LOVE/NEED to help them out.

They all came home very happy kids yesterday...

Redeeming Myself...

Yesterday was a wonderful day at the lake!  We spent the whole day with friends.  I am going to miss these wonderful summer gatherings.  We were at our dear friends cottage.  Blake caught the largest fish of the day!!!!

I was sporting my bruises and battle scars from the last time, but super determined to conquer the jet ski.  I had a glorious time and rode it without any major wipe outs.  Of course my friends then had to challenge me further...  They kept hanging the whole slalom failure over my head.  Since my last attempt was so horrible AND there were many more observes this time, I graciously declined.

Somehow as the night went on, I found myself on their neighbors ski boat getting ready to ski.  Nervously, I jumped into the water with my ONE ski.  "Hit IT" --- I popped out of the water and skied all around the lake.  It was so fun.  I wasn't going to just let go at the end.  It was a glorious wipe out---- I was also so excited to call my dad.  He was the one that taught me how to slalom 30 years ago.

My kids were very shocked and couldn't wait to get home to tell Brett.  Poor Brett had to work this weekend.  I came home close to 10:00pm with 3 very tired kids...  As we walked in the door, they were quickly telling Brett about the day and then very surprised when they saw their new wakeboard on the counter.  Monday will be all about wakeboarding.  I hope that I can do it on this JUNIOR board:)

The down side---  why does getting old suck????  I took a super long bath last night and foam rolled in hopes of not being sore today.  I woke up with a super stiff knee.  Looks like a motrin 800 and Icy Hot kind of day.  It was so worth it.