Fall is Coming!

Fall is my favorite season! I love the falling leaves, the change of the season, the colors, smells and much, much more! It's the season of festivals, shopping, and pumpkin pie! This season will be no different for us. We plan on going to several corn mazes, pumpkin patches, fall festivals, and lots of good food!

One event that I look forward to EVERY year is Canal Days at Metamora, IN. Metamora is a very old, quaint town established in the canal days and has a still working canal with a boat to take a small trip down. I have rode that canal boat many times (not a good time to do it during Canal Days though!) On Canal Days, there are HUNDREDS of vendors who sell anything you want: food, perfume, clothing, gadgets, purses, crafts, toys, etc. I like people watching and shopping. I have often seen dogs being strolled in custom-designed strollers and even more oddities while there. Pumpkin rolls, puppies, and other items can be found there usually as well. It's a tradition that my sister and I usually go together. Oh we cannot wait to go again this year!

What are your favorite fall traditions??

Sharing my birthday

I am often asked how I feel about sharing my birthday every year. I think it is really cool that I was born on my mom's birthday! I think it is pretty special. How many people can say that??

I have often entertained that one of my own children would be born on my birthday which could have happened if I did not miscarry in February. It's going to be a bittersweet day, but I am so thankful for all the blessings I do have and am trying not to focus on the heartbreak and loss. I don't often share my struggles on my blog because I want it to be a positive, uplifting place to share photos and our special times in my family's lives.

Sweet Serenade

Today was another long day with another doctor appointment. After a tiring day, I like to relax. While making dinner, I began to hear a keyboard playing and my sweet, charming little boy sings me the sweetest serenade....as he tapped the keyboard, he began to sing "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star." It was so cute and one of his "firsts." This just re-affirms that I really need to find a piano teacher for him. And of course his Christmas present this year will be the BOMB! Oh, I can't wait to see him open THAT present!!

And on to more bragging.....Mr. C was weighed at the doctor's office today and has gained THREE pounds! In less than 3 months, he has gained 3 lbs! My skinny boy is gaining weight and getting taller! He is 45 lbs and just 1/4 of an inch from being 48 inches. He has come a LONG way from the 4 lb 12 oz and 16 inches long premie!!

River Days 2011

Yesterday, we went to River Days which is starting to become a tradition. My brother-in-law's bluegrass band played and we decided to go for that as well as the rides, food, and let's not forget.....FIREWORKS! Codeman has quite an addiction to fireworks. He watches them on tv, but he really enjoys it when he can see them live. We were up the bank exactly across the river where they were setting them off and we got QUITE the show! They were absolutely breathtaking! Of course when the first one went off, Cody was sitting in my lap and leaped in the air with fright. Yes, they were THAT loud!! But that didn't stop my little guy.....no he just covered his ears and enjoyed it!! It was a really fun time!!

Dragon Coaster

WARNING

All photos that I post here of my children are the personal property of myself. I am getting the works to have them copyrighted with a stamp for "A Family Created By God." Do not download or print these photos for any personal use without the permission of me, Jennifer. Just an FYI, I have a tracker on this blog and have been noticing my children's photos have been downloaded by a viewer. Unless I give you permission, you do not have permission to download or print or use pics from this blog. Be forewarned!

Mystery Creatures

I don't know if it is age (getting almost middle aged.....eeeek!) or someone sneaked him in, but we have a Dr. Seuss character (not Cat in the Hat) but some crazy furry creature in our midst. Matt picked it up yesterday and said...."What is THIS?!!" I know that *I* would not have bought that creature, but it was bought at Kohls. We have so many stuffed animals so we never know when or HOW they arrive. No one could give me an answer as to how or who gave us the wildly furry creature. And if you are reading this and know how we came to have this furry friend as a part of our family, please leave a comment.

This is not the first time that I have found toys that I have no idea how they arrived in our house. And it's so easy to be overwhelmed by toys!!

Wordless Wednesday - Little Miss Braids

Recent Pics

I'm posting pics from our cookout at my niece's new house yesterday. The weather was cooler today and we stayed indoors due to the wind. It was a very yummy cookout and we were all sleepy and lethargic due to overeating!!

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day! We are taking it easy, doing some house chores, and then having a cookout with my family to celebrate my niece's birthday. The best part is that the temps have cooled down and we will be able to enjoy the outdoors today!

It's Birthday Month!

It's September which means only ONE thing......BIRTHDAY MONTH! Today, it's my niece Brittany's 22nd birthday! On the 15th, my mom and I will be celebrating our birthdays. On the 20th my sister will be celebrating her birthday. Oh and my friend Shannon has a birthday a week after mine. My sister also has her anniversary on the 25th. December must be quite an interesting month! LOL!

Fast Days

I love it when the days go by super fast! I am looking forward to a 3 day weekend! Sleeping late, getting out of town, enjoying nature, and actually feeling good!

Two more school days until Labor Day weekend! Yay!! We are looking forward to a weekend of FUN!

Tales of a Hot Lunch

Last year, Cody packed his lunch all year. The majority of the year, most of his lunch came back untouched. Needless to say, I think he got sick of the same ole lunch.

This year, I decided that we would mix things up a bit so we devised a plan that they would buy 2-3 lunches from the cafeteria and pack the rest of the week. Last Thursday, we experimented and the kids' teacher sent a note saying that EVERYTHING was devoured! So this week, the kids tried the hot dog lunch and popcorn chicken. Since I had to pick up Carleigh for an eye appointment, Mrs. L came out and said that the kids are LOVING the cafeteria meals. And today, Codeman requested MORE broccoli!!

So I think we definitely have a hit! I just wish the lunches were just a bit cheaper!! I remember when I was in school, lunch was like a dollar a day! Now the price has almost TRIPLED! Craziness I tell ya! It's a good thing that I have only two in school!

The First Week

Usually the first week give you a taste of how the school year will go and despite my own health issues, it went FABULOUS! I had an awesome week with my very sweet and eager to learn class! It really makes a teacher heart swell when one of your students tells you that she's not looking forward to Saturday because she won't see you. She is such a precious little girl from a VERY sweet, loving family that I have grown to cherish over the years.

Cody and Carleigh had a great first week also! They bought lunch from the cafeteria for the first time ever and their teacher dropped a note saying that both kids ate their lunch VERY well! Yay! Carleigh is making friends and Cody is back in class with some of his girlfriends from first grade. Yeah, life is good for them!!

Now if I could just get rid of two health issues, life would be PERFECT!!

First Day of School

Due to technical difficulties, my pics are taken after school. They were tired and hungry, but I coaxed them into pics. My mom took more pics and I will post them when I can. I am sure this will be QUITE an adjustment for Carleigh. She was rather lethargic and grouchy until she had dinner. I cannot believe that they are in first and second grade! Wow! They had a great first day!

My First Day

Despite not having my usual energy, I was not over sick today for the first time in a week! We had such a beautiful day for a first day of school! I had a great day with a sweet, new class of 16! They are such a cute, small class and I am sure we will get a lot accomplished this year!! Tomorrow, is the big day in my household!! Bedtime will be earlier and more lunches will be packed!! *sob*

My 2nd Grader

This year will definitely be a surreal one for me with teaching students who are the same age as my son. I cannot believe my premie is now a big second grader! When we visited his special-ed classroom, he found his desk at the table, then found his weighted lap pad and was ready for school to begin! We are so thankful for consistency this year for him and he has the same teacher he had last year. She knows him very well and has taught special-ed for 30 years. It really calms my mommy heart to know that both kiddos are in good hands!

My 1st Grader

Despite being sick, it was still an emotional experience seeing my baby sitting at a DESK! Oh, and she lost her other top front tooth Wednesday (Memaw pulled it for her), she looks so grown-up. She will be at school ALL day and I will be packing her lunch. If you're a mom, I am sure you can relate to this. Changes. Sometimes they are great and sometimes they are so hard!!

However, she is so ready to go to school that she cannot wait! She met her regular ed and special ed teachers and is looking forward to wearing her "light-up" shoes on Tuesday morning and riding the bus with her big brother.

Enough is enough

I have had this virus for 5 days and yesterday, I thought I was for sure getting better, well, right before the kids' Open House all the symptoms came back. I forced myself to go because taking two kids to 3 different classrooms and taking 3 bags of schools supplies is just too much to ask my poor husband to do by himself. So afterwards I said enough is enough and my mom took me to Urgent Care. I have a confirmed case of the parasite Crytpo and am dehydrated. I'm on three different meds and am seeing signs of relief. I am so thankful for antibiotics and pain relief! I need to get well before the first day of school on Monday!

Check the blog later for pics of the kids at their Open House.

Dare I say it?

I think I might actually be human again. Honestly, this has been the worst virus I have had in YEARS! In fact, I have lost 8 lbs in 4 days! It took all my strength to get through teacher in-service yesterday! This evening, I have Open House where I meet the students and parents in my classroom. I am very thankful to not have to go in until later. I covet your prayers to get through the whole day and look "cheery" to greet the new families.

Enough of this!

Matt became sick last week. Carleigh came down with it on Saturday. Cody became sick Saturday night. I am came down with with Sunday night. This is soooooooo old! This will be a whiney post so I apologize in advance. I was very nauseous yesterday morning and then got better as the day went on. Then, in the evening, it hit me again. More violently. Then Ever. Ick!

I awoke after a restless sleep to visit the bathroom for the gazillionth time when I saw something awful. vomit. Yuck! Usually Cody is the offender and then he usually goes back to sleep. (Oh I know...nice.) Well, I went to check on Carleigh first because she was moving around. I asked her if she threw up and she said "I am sick." Rats! We thought she was over it. So after getting her a change of clothes, cleaning the sofa and changing her bedding, we crashed in the living room together. We both we feeling just awful!!

The timing in all of this is just ironic....Matt went back to work yesterday and I am home alone, sick and dealing with the sick. Not fun! And, tomorrow teacher in-service begins. I must get well TODAY. *sigh*

I'm ready!

Yesterday I spent most of the morning and afternoon in my classroom. Amazingly there were other teacher there as well! (Carpet cleaning and floor waxing prevented most of us from getting into our rooms!) I worked non-stop and now my classroom is ready! I brought home items needed for lesson planning and Smartboard lessons and I will be fully ready for school in just one week.

Today, Cody is at home thanks to Matt and Carleigh sharing their germs to him. While he relaxes, I am sharpening their pencils, labeling school supplies, and getting everything organized for them for their open house. I am also thinking about doing a few fun things at my open house.

It was so cute when Carleigh came up to me while I was cutting out laminated bulletin board borders. She said "Mommy, I'm going to Cody's school. I get to wear my light up shoes and backpack like everyone else." She cannot wait for school to start!!

Answer to Prayer

I haven't brought it up on my blog, but if you are friends with me on Facebook, you have probably seen my status. After 4 months of being unemployed, I can proudly announce that Matt has a JOB! Yay! We are praising God and His timing is perfect!!

We did have a nice summer together and got to do a lot of family activities, trips, and fun times. Matt is ready to go back to working and is looking forward to starting his job on Monday. And the best part is that it is mostly likely a PERMANENT position! This is HUGE! I have reflected and learned quite a lot this summer and am just so in awe of the Lord!!

A Day at the Beach - One Last Time

We had a fantastic day at the beach! It was our last summer "fling" that all of us could share! The beach was practically deserted (nice) since the weather was in the low 70s. It was PERFECT! The water was not cold and there was a slight breeze. I could have sat on that beach all day! After lunch, we found our favorite hiking trails and hiked the long loop and then hiked the medium loop. Needless to say, the kids were exhausted when we were finished! I also biked quite a bit today and am getting back into the swing of things with exercise. (I refused to do major exercise in the extreme heat and humidity!!)

Wordless Wednesday - Back to School Mode

So Done!

Yesterday, I finished our Back to School Shopping for good....well, at least until late Fall when the weather becomes cool and my daughter needs more warmer clothing! I do have enough for her to get by if the weather takes a turn quickly (dare I hope?).

And can I just say that I NEVER had such cool, color/pattern matching cool supplies. Nope, it was your basic yellow pencil, plain Jane school supplies. Wait! I forgot about the Trapper Keepers that had a little bit of variety but not much!

Now, I need to label their folders, pencils, school boxes, etc. with their names. Oh the joy of back to school. I don't know who is more excited ME or THEM?!!

More School Shopping

Yesterday, we took the kids shoe shopping and they have some really cool shoes (that light up of course) for school. They also got some "summer" clothes that they can wear at the beginning of the school year. Today, we are going to go shopping for some cooler weather clothes, especially jeans. Cody is very rough on jeans. It's a miracle if he can keep a pair without holes over the course of a school year. Now granted he does not outgrow them by any means (skinny boy), but he plays on his knees and of course when he falls down it is generally on his knees.

I am glad that Carleigh doesn't have this same problem, but for little Miss, she usually outgrows everything!! We are going to look for leggings for her and maybe a hoodie or two.

Crazy Busy Again

Sorry for lack of posting. I have been at school every day last week. Next week, they are carpet cleaning and waxing hallways which prevents me from working in my room. Other than taking CPR training on Tuesday I plan on making every day next week fun for the kids because it is our last "hurrah" with them before I go to teacher in-service the following week.

We have a trip to the beach planned, playing at a few parks, plus a birthday party mid-week so we have lots of interesting things planned for them. On the 12th, I will take them to their elementary school to see who their teacher is for the school year. This brings back old memories because that is exactly how I would find out who my teacher was and who was in my class.

Just two more weeks before the school bells will be ringing!!

Wordless Wednesday - First Grader to Be!

What I am doing this week....

Just a peek at some of the things I am doing this week.....

And yes, school starts 3 weeks from today!