Notes from a Kindergartener

I found a post-it note taped to Caite's wall saying.

"I quit my Jop be kuz it is to mus wrc".

Hmmm, I wonder what job she's talking about?

I'm actually quite impressed she spelled quit right.

Leaves

Yesterday we spent the whole day "winterizing" our yard and garage. We (meaning mostly Aaron) trimmed bushes, cut back flowers, mowed the lawn, cleaned out the garage, and sealed cracks in the cement. Fall is in full force here in Arkansas. We love the colors of the trees in the fall. The trees are beautiful, they bring peace and much needed shade in the summer, but come fall they are a lot of work. From now until Christmas we will be raking our "Sacred Grove". Yesterday was round one. The kids had fun raking and playing. We ended up only doing a fraction of the raking, we needed to get in for a football game.

Blessed!

I woke up this morning feeling very blessed. I really do have a wonderful life. I have been blessed with an incredible husband who really can do anything. Even working over 100 hours this week, he still pulled off a fantastic Super Hero Pack Meeting for the Cub Scouts. The final challenge was to find a wrecked ship (candy bar) and save the 8 passengers (peanut butter m&m's) drowning in a sea of whipping cream. The kids thought it was so fun. Aaron never ceases to amaze me. Martina McBride sings a song that makes me think about him every time I hear it. The line I love says, "Everyone calls you amazing, I just call you mine." It's true he is amazing and I am blessed that he is mine.


I am blessed to stay home with my kids. In order for me to stay home, I have taken on 3 extra kids. It keeps me extra busy and I have to be super organized, but I wouldn't trade it. I love being able to be home when my kids come home from school. I love having Halle home with me. I love watching them grow and learn new things. I really am blessed to have 4 great kids. I just went to parent teacher conference a few days ago. Isaac is doing fantastic. He has a wonderful teacher who is challenging him, and he is rising to the challenge. She said he's "a fine young man and I love having him in my class". Caite's teacher couldn't say enough good about her. She is sweet and loving to all the kids. She is also in the highest reading group and is already reading at a 1st grade level. Hayden absolutely loves school. His teacher said he is always happy and a joy to have. she also said he is her biggest helper. It was nice to have such positive feedback from the teachers. Like any parent, my kids are my biggest challenge, but I think we are doing okay.

I am blessed to live in such a great place. We love the Little Rock area. I was able to take the kids to a Mountain Man Rendezvous this past weekend at Pinnacle Mountain. It was great to meet up with our neighbors the Roses and Schiderer's. We walked around all the exhibits, then we canoed, and rode horses. The kids had a great time. Little Rock is such a family friendly place to live. I'm so happy for the opportunity to live here. We have wonderful neighbors and friends here.

There is a lady at church that I don't know as well as I would like. She is a single lady raising her 4 nieces and nephews. I don't know the circumstance very well, but I do know that the kids are in a safer, better, happier place with her. We met the youngest and latest addition last night at Pack Meeting. She has only had him for a few days and already has him involved in Cub Scouts. When we were cleaning up he said, "this was the best day of my whole life". It melted my heart, because it was true. She rescued theses little kids. She is thier savior. She is blessing their lives. She is blessing them with the Gospel that they would other wise not have. I know she will be blessed, I'm sure her mansion is waiting for her in Heaven.

Who's that girl with the OREO cookie?

I found Halle in the corner of the office hiding...eating an oreo...making a mess...loving it!

Catching up

I have a ton to catch up on. Life is busy, but a good kind of busy. I started watching a 2 year (Drew) old full time a few weeks ago. So now I have 3 kids, 2 and under all day everyday. I thought it would be harder than it is. My house is still quiet and I can still do what I need to. It also gives Halle a playmate.

Then the kids come home from school and we have organized chaos. Drew's brother Jacob joins our family after school. So 7 kids, 6 of them are 5 and under. Crazy, but good. It's only for a few hours until parents get home. Totally do-able and totally worth the money.

The kids are doing extremely well in school. After the first week of school, Isaac was moved up into a 3rd-4th grade split class. It has been the best thing for him. He is finally being challenged. His teacher has higher expectations than he is used to, so it took a bit of adjustment for him, but he's doing great and loving it. The problem is that he thinks he's in 4th grade. He's going to be disappointed when he goes to 4th grade (again) next year.

Caite, is starting to read and doing a great job with it. She can sound out words as she reads and spells. It's exciting to watch her. Hayden is still as funny as ever. His teacher says "he loves every minute of school". He was sick last week so I kept him home for a day. You would have thought I told him it was the end of the world...so upset he couldn't go to school.

Halle is growing like crazy. although she's still short. Her latest thing is climbing on the bar stools and then walking around on the bar. I now have to put the bar stools up every morning to keep her safe and the chocolate chips out of her hands. She had decided she can talk. And likes to use her new words often. Her latest word is "huggie" she loves giving hugs.

We thoroughly enjoyed Aaron's easy month in Sept. Now it's back to 100 hour work weeks in the NICU. lucky him.

Hayden decides to bust a move during FHE

Hayden cracks us up. He is our funniest kid by far. He's full of live and thoroughly enjoys everything. His teachers at school and church all adore him. This is one of his impromptu dances he had to do for Family Home Evening.

The Girls

I have this thing about dressing my girls alike at church. I know it will be short lived due to Caite's age, so I am taking advantage of it while I can. These are the fall jumpers I made for them. I'm in the process of making peasant dresses...stay tuned.

Caite had cowboy/girl day at school last week. We think she's a pretty cute cowgirl!