October Update.

Wow, is it really October already!!! We just got the Halloween boxes down from the attic today. The kids are so excited for Halloween. Everyone's still trying to figure out what they are going to be. So far Jack wants to be the wolfman, Max and Mer are undecided, and Luke keeps changing his mind between Hulk, a wolf, and a spy. I made him a hulk costume though, so I think ultimately he'll stay with that. Pictures of that to come soon. We had a nice relaxing weekend listening to conference. There were no soccer games, it was nice to get a breather in the busy day to day schedule we keep. Luke is loving preschool again. He got these glasses from the treasure box today.

Last week he threw the biggest fit about going to school. The teacher actually had to rip him away from me. I've never had a kid that had to be ripped away from me at school. I know this was totally whimpy for me but I walked away crying. It was so traumatic. I was having flashbacks of the endless screaming I heard when he broke his leg last summer. Anyway it was crazy, he totally loves school and can't stop telling me about it when he comes home.

He got some new shoes today. Purchased on the way to school because apparantly he got into the car with out shoes this morning and I didn't notice until we were far enough away from home to be locked into the kid drop off schedule. It was either stop and get a pair or turn around and make everyone late to school/miss the bus, etc. Good thing he really did need a new pair. I snapped this picture because I think this is the last time I will be able to squeeze him into the front seat of the cart. He is getting so big!

Mer is doing so well in school. She is really stepping up and keeping organized in all of her classes. I snuck a shot of her practicing the piano. She had to fix her hair before she let me take a real shot of her. She is getting her braces off next Tuesday!

Tonight we were all home. My Softball games got cancelled and there is no soccer on Tueday. Kids had time to practice piano, do homework, AND play.

We held family home evening tonight. Max taught a lesson on body organs, which he has a test on tomorrow. It was pretty funny. You can imagine him explaining how food is digested and where it goes next. Body excretions/noises are his favorite subjects.

Then we decorated votive holders. We did this with the Young Women last week and the kids have wanted to make them too. I found the idea HERE

It turned out to be a fun evening, without much planning.

Are you getting ready for Halloween?

oh, and I got an iphone :)

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Happy Birthday to Jack

Today was Jack's birthday. He is seven! He started out the day with crepes and one very loose tooth.

 Luke and I met him for lunch and brought him his favorite Subway sandwich.

When we met him, he had a surprise for us.  His tooth had wiggled it's way free during PE.

To celebrate the day we arrange for an afterschool playdate with his 5 favorite school friends.  He wanted them to come over and play lego with him.

So they came and built...

jumped...

and laughed.

These are all of his buddies from Kindergarten

For a cake this year Jack wanted a pudding pie.  Jack helped me decorate it with Lego.

After his play date party, we headed off to soccer practice.  Once everyone was sufficiently worn out we picked up pizza on the way home and opened more presents.  I'm pretty sure everyone will sleep well tonight.

Happy Birthday Jack! We love that you are kind, smart, and helpful. Please never change.  Will someone please tell my kids to stop growing up!

Happy Birthday to Doug

Just sitting down to catch my breath.  Life is running a mile a minute right now.  If we cut out soccer and piano I think we'd still have enough to do with just church and I am definitely not getting enough time to sew! Sheesh.

Here are a few pictures from our week. Wednesday we celebrated Doug's birthday.

Among his presents were Monopoly with a speed die from Mer. Evidently if you play championship Monopoly with a speed die you can finish a game in 30 min.

Heavy, heavy hang over

 A mint oreo ice cream pie for dessert

For his big boy toy he got a new sound system for the TV.  It also lets him play his music from his phone via bluetooth as well which is a huge score for him. Happy Birthday Doug!

Saturday everyone had soccer games. We were at the fields from 9-3.  It was a bit rough but the weather is cooling slightly so it wasn't too miserable.  Jack ended up shooting 4 goals.

Mer played on the opposite side of the field and I didn't really get in play pictures of her.  She is playing in a competitive league this season.  She played well but took a ball to the face mid-game and that sat her out for a while.  She continues to work really hard at practice and comes home and complains when her teammates are screwing around, preventing them from having effective practices.

Max's team won, they are playing great.  Doug said Max was the MVP of the game he is a fierce defender and an aggressive forward.  He also scored a goal that day.  He is on the younger side of his age bracket this year so most of the guys he plays against are older and taller. He holds his own.

Luke took his backpack full of things to keep him occupied. He really is a good sport to tag along everywhere.  He is really catching onto learning his letter these days.  One of his favorite things to do right now is trace pictures on the magnadoodle.  If you trace a picture on the magnadoodle you can pull it off and it looks like you just drew something wonderful. Thank you Becky for such a great idea and gift.

Sunday Doug built the boys a fort and then proceeded to nap in it. :)  Living life to it's fullest sure is exhausting.

Going on a Frog Hunt

In our neighborhood if you go walking just at dusk you'll find a little frog sitting on the edge of the sidewalk every 20 feet or so.  The boys have been going on frog hunts lately in hopes of finding some so they could and try and catch one.  And tonight they did it! 

It grew dark at the end of our family walk and we started seeing little frogs. Mer and Max had gone ahead and gone home.  After a lot of trying jack caught one.




And then to our surprise Luke chased one down and scooped one up too.  It dropped out of his hands a few times and he just kept scooping it up again.  They walked home giggling with tickling frogs in their hands so we could take a picture.



Doug put another one in Jack's hands so he could try carrying two. While I was taking pictures of Jack's frogs, one of them peed on him.  So he decided to let them go.

 Up until recently all the boys have been so squeamish about touching bugs, frogs, lizards, etc.  I'm glad to see they are toughening up a bit and living up to our family motto..."No Pansies".

Day to Day to Day

Things have been super busy here but kind of running smoothly as well, which is nice.  After school we just have Max, Jack, and Luke for an hour before Mer comes home. Fights are a litte fewer with one less.

  We have tried to get into a rhythm with our after school time. Arrive home at 3:45 change clothes, snack. Sometimes the clothes don't get put back all the way on.  We have mandatory homework at 4:15  Now that Jack has a little to do, it is easier for max.  I usually give Luke a learning activity to do at the same time.  Here's what Tuesdays afternoon looked like.

When Luke and Jack are done, they play.  Here is an example of how creative they get. Silly kids.

Never a dull moment here!

This week we went to Luke's preschool Spaghetti Dinner.  There were raffle baskets and we won one.  I think winning a raffle is every little kids dream come true.  This basket was full of hot chocolate, mugs and peppermints.

Luke also took us to his room to show us all the things he's been working on.  I love Luke's prechool. We have taken all our kids there and they are like family to us.

Jack can't resist a dressup

Today I'm celebrating small victories. I organized my desk drawer which was getting impossible to open and close.  It went from this..

to this...aah. I will love this while it lasts.

Happy Thursday to you!

Hole-y Smile

Jack has had wiggly tooth for weeks. And then last week we it got so wiggly that he could wiggle it with this tongue.

He wiggled and wiggled it. Then Monday night it was just hanging by threads.  We wrapped some floss around it and yanked. Now his smile has hole in it.

The other one is loose too. He is working really hard at wiggling that one free as well.   He has been saving his money for a lego set and he sees dollar signs as he wiggles it. :)

Wiggle Cars

Dear Uncle Mike and Aunt Sher,

We love our Plasma cars.  We have been riding them almost daily lately.  We call them the Wiggle Cars. We  ride them in circles on our back porch.  We figured out that if we ride fast enough we can spin out as we turn the corners.  It is awesome

We also  ride them down the driveway and play chicken.  

It is SO...

MUCH....

FUN!

THANK 

YOU!!!

Love, Meredith, Max, Jack, and Luke.