We drove and then had to take a bus to a skate park event with Tony Hawk in Raleigh. It was too crowded to see Tony at all. We could hear him skateboarding and listen to the announcer, but they hadn't set up any way for people to watch, so there were three people deep of sweaty men all around the competition bowl and I wasn't going anywhere near that :) Jim couldn't see either but held the kids on his shoulders and they could see and told us it was "way cool." It was killing us that our 6 year old who really has no appreciation for this was enjoying it and we were just enjoying the smells lol. The best part of it was the bus ride. Jacob felt so grown up since the only buses he sees normally are school ones. Nicole and Mike were laughing and playing the whole time. It's fun to see them enjoy each other and have good times. They both recently had their yearly doctor checkups. Mike is 50lbs (73rd%) and 47.5in tall (82nd%) with a bmi of 15.7 (59th%). Strong solid kid. Loving school and my favorite is trying to read his stories. This age is the best since they spell phonetically. Mostly. Nicole is 61 lbs (68th%), 55.75in tall (off chart), with a BMI of 13.9 (10th%). She is so very tall. I have to tell her to sit down or lean her head back when I'm doing her hair because it's hard to see!
After the trip to Raleigh, we headed down south to a hayride and activity day at a local lake. Turned out that free tickets were required for the hayride and they had already given them all out. So we had the kids run around and do the activities which was plenty fun for them.
That night Jim and I had date night, but he got a call and had to leave so I was home alone and got the mail to find that the mailman had put our dwarf gala apple tree into the mailbox and by shutting the mailbox had even clipped part of the tree. Which in the case of this twig, was a big deal. So sad. The child care called as well telling me Diana had a big bruise they already were icing on her head from another escapade. She is fearless! After the kids were in bed, me and the little twig commiserated over the day. Thinking it over I realized how much fun we had as a family despite the craziness and how grateful I am that Jim could go right away to help.
We planted the twig. It stands tall and proud, surrounded by cow manure and mulch. It feels strange watering it, we'll see if it "sticks".
While Jim was planting the stick, the kids and I carved four pumpkins. When I say "the kids and I" that means they drew the design, stuck sharp things into the pumpkin attempting to carve but mostly being dangerous, and then asked me to do it. Nicole actually started carving this year and made it a fourth of the way. Yay! I was able to have them gut their pumpkins and that really helped.
The LOVED seeing their spooky pumpkins! We got green tea lights and that works a lot easier than lighted candles.
After a message from the Friend magazine, we decorated cupcakes.
I started teaching the kids about flag football. I didn't realize they knew NOTHING about football. I wish I could have recorded the hilarious process of our game. Michael never really got the flag concept. He tackles and THEN takes the flag. Him counting 1-mississippi, etc is hilariously mixed up. Nicole acted like the world would end when Jake scored a touchdown because she was sure it meant he won the game on the first play. Jacob started running the other direction laughing whenever he got the ball. Diana didn't want anyone touching her fashion accessory aka flag belt. I could go on. I'd like to think that after a few days of practice we are a little better.
Friday we made pizza and gingerbread men. We had dropped off dinner for a new mom and then "booed" a cupcake cake off at the cousins. I loved being able to do a few things for others and showing the kids how great it is to give. They made the most adorable card for the new mom. Anyways, Diana LOVED frosting her gingerbread ghost. Shortly after this picture she dumped an entire canister of stars onto her cookie.
Michael was hilarious he loved these cookies so much he was making sound effects and exclaiming in delight.
Jake would not look at the camera for long, he couldn't take his eyes off his cookies. He has been so fun to have at home while his older siblings are in school. This year is such an important one for me to really enjoy his time at home. He is going to be a young kindergartner compared to Nicole and Mike who are among the oldest in their classes. He's doing great at reading lessons and loves preschool so I think he'll do great.
Nicole is a lot like me. What can I say? She loaded every possible sprinkle and topping on her cookies and then said "Wait! I need more!" She didn't have every color of frosting on her cookie so it could in no way be done. Of course.
The rye grass grew! For three weeks we seeded, watered, seeded and watered and kept the kids off of it...and now 90 percent of our mud/clay pit has grass! It will only last the winter and then we'll have to deal with seeding or laying sod. But now the yard won't be muddy all winter. The kids love playing soccer back there now that it is like a real yard with all of the holes they had dug filled in and a good carpet of grass.
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