Happy Birthday, Uncle Brian

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday to you

Happy birthday, Uncle Brian

Happy birthday to you!

And many more.................................

We love you!

He's 45 in case you're wondering! :)

The Difference a Day Makes

Yesterday we played outside. Today we played inside.

It was cold but we stayed warm. (I know, Anne Grethe, fresh air! But it was sooooooooo warm INSIDE!:)

Miss Jane and Miss Laura had some new card games for us to enjoy.

We surprised Miss Laura with a birthday cake. Today was her special day and she spent part of it with us. We love you, Miss Laura! We're glad Miss Jane was here with us too. After all, she was there when Miss Laura was born! (Thanks, Miss Jane!:)

The kids helped her blow out the candles. H used some cake toppers from previous Pooh cakes.

Cold weather or not...Dad and B dressed in layers and headed out for their last Duke football game of the season. Although B had on his NCState sweatshirt, he made sure to wear his Duke cap. His Duke tshirt is under the sweatshirt! Duke didn't win but they had a good season compared to past years. Thankfully, Dad and B didn't get too wet in the rain. It held off until just before the game ended.

We said our goodbyes to Miss Jane and Miss Laura just before dinner. Later, the girls and I watched Little House on the Prai*rie (1st year episode).

Oh, and by the way...my dear cousin, Dodie, is 40 today!

Happy 40th birthday, Dodie!

Fun Day at Holden Park

It's a beautiful day in our part of North Carolina today. We enjoyed a picnic at Holden Park then the kids played.

I'm trying to get a good photo for Christmas cards. Some years are easier than others!

Miss Jane watching the clouds go by.


Coach Dad showing B how to kick a football.


"Look Coach!"

Reluctantly, I'm changing our profile photo for the blog. Our cruise was such a fun vacation last year. I like seeing that photo but the kids have grown so much. Here's the new one for now.

Must Watch!

My sister-in-law, Heather, has this great Thanksgiving video on her blog. Check it out!

Happy Thanksgiving!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

WE ARE THANKFUL FOR FRIENDS, FAMILY,

AMERICA

AND

OUR SAVIOUR!

One Word Wednesday

OUCH!

Let It Snow????

There wasn't much.

But it was white.

And it was cold.

It was the first SNOW of the season! A very fun way to begin a Friday.

(The kids were out of bed faster than lightning also!)

Vegatables You Like

It's that time again. We know you've been anxiously waiting. So here goes...

another graph!

Do you like carrots?

Do you like corn?

We'll be putting the data gathered from this blog (and various other places) onto a Venn diagram.

We'll try to wrap this up by the end of the weekend.

Thanks to everyone who participates!!!! You help make our learning fun!

~H, B and Mom

Cold Weather Picnic

The sunshine is deceiving today. It looks so warm outside but when you step outdoors, SURPRISE! It's rather chilly, no, it's cold for one who has not quite adjusted to the new temperatures.

So I let the kids have a lunchtime picnic on the kitchen floor. Everyone ate without complaining about anything. That was worth the extra effort. (We also didn't have to clear the table of our school work that wasn't completed.)

This month's virtue is GRATITUDE. We're finding all kinds of ways to be thankful. Our mealtime prayer is always important to remember even if we're picnicing.

Beach towels can be used for many things...including a cold weather picnic!

Eight years

Amazing at it seems to me, our oldest is 8 now.

We invited Ethan and David over for cupcakes on her actual birthday. They all played outside for a couple of hours.

The day after her "real" birthday, we had a Princess Party with about 10 girls. As you can see in the bottom right of the photo, Sir B was there to protect the castle while we celebrated.

The birthday girl with her crown cupcake cake.

Dad put the candles too far apart for one breath!

The Royal Party with silly faces

(C wouldn't wear her princess dress. She said it "scratched".)

Wordless Wednesday (on Thursday:)

Extra Hour and Haircuts

Sunday, November 2

2:12am

E: (heard over the monitor) My tummy hurts! My tummy hurts!

Mommy: (rushing up stairs to quiet her) What's wrong, E?

E: (NOT whispering) My tummy hurts!

Mommy: (whispering) Okay, let's go potty.

That seemed to solve the problem. E goes back to bed and kisses Mommy good-night.

2:23am

E: My tummy STILL hurts!

Mommy: (rushing up stairs again - whispering) Okay E, let's go potty again.

E: That won't work! My tummy STILL hurts!

Mommy: Let's just try E.

Tummy still hurt after 2nd trip to potty. So we go downstairs to the couch.

2:44am

E: Mommy, it hurts AGAIN!

Off we go to the potty, again. Then it's back to the couch.

3:03am

E: MOMMY! My tummy STILL HURTS!

And again...to the potty.

E: Mommy, my tummy feels better now.

Mommy: Good E, now you're going back to bed and Mommy is going back to bed.

E: Okay, but will you give me a kiss first?

Mommy: I'll give you ten kisses. Just be quiet! :)

So...that was how I spent my "extra hour" Saturday night. At least I had an "extra hour"!

(Note to self: Don't let E have a snack at soccer game, juice box at soccer game, ice cream with Dad at McD's, cake and ice cream at bday party, and juice box at bday party...all in one day!)

So now it's Wednesday. Pawpaw and Nana arrived yesterday evening. The girls and I went to get haircuts today. Here are some before and after photos of the girls. I didn't think to get in the photos myself.

Before

After

C says her hair looks like Mommy now. I'm flattered!

We're getting ready for a big weekend as our oldest turns 8. Photos will be up by the weekend.

Harvest time, Horseback riding, Happy kids

This year our church did not host an alternative night for 31Oct. Instead, we joined with the Town of Youngsville to work games at the town carnival at the Armory. The kids enjoyed playing some games and winning prizes. They dressed up for the first time this year and had a good time knocking on two neighbors' doors. Now when they are adults, they can't tell their friends that their parents never let them "trick or treat"!

Putting those co-op costumes to use one more time! :)

C playing Plinko.

E got the cat!

B playing Skeeball.



After soccer all Saturday morning, H and I attended two birthday parties this afternoon. The first was a horseback riding party for her friend, Grace's, 8th birthday. Hannah had a great time! She rode Teaspoon two times. The first ride H did not want to step down from the sandpit so the guide turned Teaspoon around.


A few minutes later on her second ride, H rode Teaspoon off the sandpit. Ride 'em, Cowgirl! :)

I think H's favorite part of the rides was the trotting. She was kickin' up some dust on her last round before dismounting.


We circled by our house to pick up the other three before heading to their friend, Helen's, 7th birthday party. It was at her house. They rode bikes, scooters, big wheels, and tricycles in the beautiful autumn weather. Helen's dad grilled hotdogs and her mom had a pretty cake. We all enjoyed celebrating with Helen.


By the time we got home this evening, everyone was worn out! After quick baths and showers, they all headed to bed. The last words from my mouth were "everyone sleep LATE"! I certainly hope they sleep that "extra hour"...we'll see...

There are four tired, happy children asleep now...and one mommy ready to join them!

("Where was Dad?" you may ask. Dad was home. He has been sick all week with what we thought was an ear infection. After a visit to our family MD Wed and still being in pain/not sleeping while taking Vica*din, he saw an ENT Friday morning. The little light/camera through his nose/down his throat revealed something other than an ear infection. Some stronger antibiotics are helping now. In the meantime he is preaching in the morning in Wake Forest. So he stayed home today to rest, recuperate and study. He did get the other three out for ice cream while H and I were at the first party. We're all glad Dad is feeling better!)

.