Happy Halloween!

I hope all of you had a happy Halloween!  That everyone had a great time, was safe, and most of all just enjoyed the atmosphere.  I love seeing all the wide eyed kids going door to door.  The creative costumes.  The hugs smiles.  The giggling.  The fun decorations.  The parents dressed up.  Watching the really young kids toddling up to a door for the first time.

I was able to take my kids out trick or treating (without too much pain) and it was a blast.  I am so glad that they are such nice, polite children.  They all had a great time, though by the end my youngest was ready to go home.  She wore little plastic high heels, against her mom's advice, and was done about 3/4 the way through.  Plus her bag was getting really heavy.  lol 

Ready for Trick or Treating - "Alex Russo", a satyr, "Princess Aurora", and the Tenth "Doctor" Who

Not Just Siblings.....Friends

We went out to eat at a local fast food place tonight as a treat.  We ate in so the kids could play in the play area.  While we were there my children took some of the younger kids who were there under their wing and played with them.  My 7 year old son would take a little boy that couldn't have been more than 2 up to the slide and down it as he couldn't do it himself.  My daughters played with the toddlers sister.  The grandfather of those kids stood their watching and smiling.  The kids had a great time playing while we were there, joking with each other, helping each other, and just being themselves.  As we were leaving an older gentleman smiled at me and commented on the fact that it was so great that our kids liked each other.  He was so impressed by the fact that they were so kind to each other.  Not only each other, but others.  It really warmed my heart to hear this.

"Brothers and Sisters Share A Unique Blend Of Love, Comradery, and Friendship", Chuck Danes (I believe).  I believe that this is very true.  No friendship is quite like that of a sibling.  My children will make great friends throughout their lives, but their first friends and hopefully their best friends are their brothers and sisters.  This isn't to say that they get along at all times.  We have those moments where they are seperated and sent to their rooms or to sit on the stairs.  It never lasts long and the forgivenss is quickly given.  I can learn so much from how they interact with each other.  Thank you kids for not only being siblings, but being friends.

Yucky Stomachs and Cold



It's been a long week.  The kids have been taking turns getting sick.  It's gone through three of the kids, now just waiting to see if the fourth gets it.  Started last week with tag team throw up.  At least they took turns right?  Thankfully those two were feeling much better and were up and running (literally) within 24 hours.  My oldest on the other hand started getting sick on Sunday and finally started feeling better this afternoon.  He missed 2 1/2 days of school, which for my kids is not a good thing as they love school.  A lot.  Fingers crossed that he's all the way better now.  I really could use a full nights sleep!  Only child that hasn't gotten sick?  The one with the weak stomach.  Go figure.  I really do hope she stays fine.  For that matter I hope my sweet husband and I stay well too.



In addition to the yucky tummies we got our first big snow storm of the season!  They were forcasting 8-10 inches of snow in our area, but unfortunately didn't quite get that much.  Actually we might have, but it was wet and heavy so compacted.  Boy was it pretty though!  Still is, it's just dark so I can't see it.  My kids went and played in the snow after school until they couldn't feel their fingers.  After playing in the snow hot chocolate is a must.  Amazing how quickly a cup of hot chocolate will warm you up from the inside out.  I hope that this snow storm is foretelling things to come, that we'll have a snowy year this year.  I could really do with a white Christmas this year. 

Costumes

My kids love dressing up.  They always have.  On any given day who knows what my kids will be!  A princess, a knight, a dog, a Jedi, a lion, a cowboy and it goes on and on.  As far as their imaginations can carry them, which is pretty darn far.  I love watching them use their imaginations.  Dressing up, creating a world.  Sometimes the world is just on paper, sometimes the world is created around them. 

Drawn by my 7 year old son

This past weekend we attended two Halloween events - the school carnival and a church party.  So we'd spent the past few weeks coming up with the best way to do their costumes.  My younges, her costume was easy - Strawberry Shortcake.  We already had the costume, just had to buy some red hair spray.  My next oldest decided he wanted to be the Headless Horseman.  Wowzers!  We ended up having him wear his dad's old duster and painted his face to look like a pumpkin.  We bought him a black cowboy hat and he was set.  Next oldest child wanted to be Alex Russo from Wizards of Waverly Place (played by Selena Gomez).  She had clothes that would work, we bought a black wig, a wand, and some cute black boots, so she was ready to go.  My oldest wanted to be the tenth Doctor Who (the David Tennant Doctor).  We got him a nice brown pin striped suit (he needed a new one for church anyways), a blue shirt, red/blue tie, white sneakers, glasses, and a sonic screwdriver.  Getting his hair to do the messy hair look was a pain!  That boys hair likes to lie flat.  The kids had a fabulous time at the parties they went to.  Nobody really got who the older three were, at least not without hints.  That's okay though, they knew who they were and they were happy. 

Firsts are Fun!

Tonight I took my two middle kids to their first Avalanche hockey game.  It was so much fun!  Sadly the Avs lost, but it was still a great time.  I loved watching my little boys face light up as he watched the game.  I  loved watching my daughter laugh at jokes by her uncle.  They'll go to other games, have fun at other games, but it won't be their first. 

It's like your first bike ride, your first dance, your first kiss.  The next bike ride, dance and kiss are just as sweet.  They don't quite compare to the first.  It doesn't diminish the following events, some of them are even better than the first.  The first though....the first is the beginning of a new experience. 

Having a baby is one of those firsts that you can experience over and over again.  With your very first pregnancy you have never experienced any of it, so it is extra special.  However with each pregnancy there is a first flutter, a first kick, a first ultrasound.  After the baby is born you get your first look, your first kiss on that sweet fuzzy head, your first snuggle, first smile, first laugh.  It's so amazing that we get to experience those firsts again with each child.  I am grateful that I have been able to have 4 sets of firsts.  I look forward every day to see what the next first is going to be.  My kids amaze me every day.

Choose Your Love, Love Your Choice

"The worst day here is better than the best day there."  I'm paraphrasing here, Paul Jr (from American Chopper) said that on his show.  I could really identify with that statement.  When I was married to my ex things weren't happy. Things were pretty darn miserable.  They started out fantastic, fabulous even. Then it went down hill really quickly.  Even on the good days I was waiting for the bad, knowing it was lurking around the corner. So it really is true that the worst days here are better than the best days there.  I have to say that I am so lucky to have my husband in my life!  He is the most amazing man and I am so grateful for him every day.  Even on our worst days, which are few and far between, it's not that bad.  Like any couple, we have our differences.  That's to be expected in any relationship, whether it be a friendship or more.  Those differences don't have to be a major issue within the relationship.  I have found that our marriage is a partnership.  Even when we disagree, our love for each other overshadows whatever it is that is irking us.  That's how it should be.  It's okay to disagree, to get a bit ticked off at each other.  It's more important though to remember how much you love and care for the other person while you are having that disagreement.  At the end of the day, those little things don't matter.  I know that is easy to say and often it isn't that easy.  I will be forever grateful for my sweet husband.  For his love.  For his patience.  For his friendship.  He's amazing.  I did choose him as my love and I do love my choice.

Family History

I love Family History work...geneology.  My mom taught me a great love of family history work.  My great-great-grandfather was a world champion boxer back in the 1890's-1900's.  I have really enjoyed finding out more about his life and his family.  Recently I found a woman online whose great-grandmother was married to him later in life.  I am finding out so much information about him that I didn't know!  It is so amazing.  Reinforces the lesson that you never give up on family history work.  There is always new information out there and new places to look.  So don't give up!