October

It seems that September was only a few days ago but in reality October is more than halfway over. This month started off with 3 very sick kids. With fevers reaching 104 and a visit to the doctor the kids have found themselves competing in sleeping marathons against each other. The first weekend they were sick they slept the "entire" weekend waking up for a few minutes to only fall back asleep a short time later. It was a very quiet weekend. We knew the moment they started to feel better because suddenly someone was sleeping too close to them or taking all the blankets where hours ago they didn't know the difference. They have been better now for a week or so and it's nice to have them all feeling better again but I can say that it was nice to have such a quiet house for those few days.

As for the week following illnesses we have just been preparing for Halloween. The kids are anxious to go trick or treating and wearing their costumes. A day doesn't pass when Hunter will ask me how many more days until Halloween. It makes it exciting to know he's so excited....so we are anxiously awaiting the end of the month, ha ha ha. I'm sure it will be here before we know it.

Writing Words

Hunter has been learning how to write his letters for the last 2 years but something just clicked this year and he loves to write his letters. His teacher gives him homework at school and he can't wait to do it. You can often find Hunter walking around the house with a notepad and pencil in hand. Although, the notepad has to have lines. He asked for paper to write with the other day and I found an old notebook without lines(plain white paper) and I found out you can't write words in a notebook without lines. His favorite thing to do is copy words he sees and write them down. He doesn't always know what he's writing but that doesn't stop him. When I ask him what he's doing his reply, "I'm writing words Mom."

Out of the Mouth of Kora

Kora has been a talking machine lately. You would never guess it if you asked her a question. She needs a good 20 minutes to warm up to you before she'll talk to a stranger, but being her Mommy I get to hear her talk non-stop. Here are 2 separate conversations that got me laughing so I thought I would share with you.

Kora: Oh my gosh! There is a car flying on a truck.

Me: What? Where?

Kora: There, on my side.

(And there it was, a car "flying" on top of truck. It was a truck transporting a car on the top level)

Kora: Mommy, look at your head.

Me: What's wrong with my head? (of course I look in the mirror thinking I have something in my hair)

Kora: It's getting big.

Me: It's getting big?

Kora: Yes, big like Daddy's.

(Not sure what she meant by this. I tried to ask but she didn't explain. Since Kelly is a genius I'll take it as I'm getting just as smart as him. The idea that my head is actually growing larger is a bit frightening.)

Preschool for Kora

The time has finally come where two of our children are officially in school. Since Hunter started school on August 10th Kora has been anxiously waiting for the day she's a big girl who goes to Hunter's old school (preschool). Hunter started school at 7:45 this morning so when all the kids woke up they all got ready, including Kora(I usually just drag them to the car in their Jammie's on Tuesdays). She was very excited to go to school today asking if I was going to be sad. When Hunter started Kindergarten I told him I was sad because he's growing up. Kora must have heard me and asked me if I was sad she was going to school. Of course I'm sad but excited that she's so excited. After we dropped Hunter off we had about an hour and a half until we needed to drop her off so we went back home to wait. She didn't want to go home, she wanted to go straight to school. I had to convince her that we needed to take pictures and that worked. When it was finally time to go she was ready.

On Hunter's first day of Preschool he had slight separation anxiety. I calmed it by staying for about 10 minutes and usually built a puzzle with him and that seemed to cure everything so I could leave. Kora was the complete opposite. She walked in already knowing the routine and got a puzzle out and started playing with one of the girls. I kept trying to get her attention to say goodbye but she just ignored me. Funny how different kids are. In fact, when I picked Kora up her teacher pointed out how very different Hunter and Kora really are. They said Hunter was always so quiet and Kora was...ummmm...not. She would listen when they told her to do something but even they noticed how different siblings can be. Kora had a great first day of school and can't wait to go back on Thursday.

.....in other news....the cake bandit attacks left over birthday cake. After we got home from Church on Sunday we all went upstairs to get out of our church clothes and change into comfy clothes. When we got downstairs Mylie had climbed on the kitchen table where we left Kora's birthday cake and was eating it. She didn't like being separated from the cake and made sure to let us know it. I just wish I had gotten the chance to take her church dress off first. Oh well, that's what kids do best...make a mess.

Happy Birthday Kora!

Kora's birthday was actually last Saturday, the 22nd. We were in Oceanside last weekend so we planned on celebrating her birthday on the 29th. While we were in Oceanside we took her to Chuck E Cheeses for the first time and she loved it. To top the day off we went to Toys 'r Us and let her pick out a toy. When we asked her what type of Birthday party she wanted she wouldn't hesitate to say "Cinderella"...well, actually pronounced "Si-le-la". In fact, every stranger we met for the last month has been told that she was having a Cinderella party. Well, guess what type of toy she picked out at Toys 'r Us...Snow White. Yeah, never saw that one coming. Even after she picked it out I kept showing her the Cinderella doll thinking she had to be mistaken but no, she wanted Snow White. She loves it and that's all that matters. In fact, she also recently told us that she wants to be Snow White for Halloween. Maybe I'll actually get her costume done early this year since I know so far in advance....lets hope!

As for Kora's party, it was just a small family party. I wasn't sure what kind of cake to make. I thought, maybe a doll cake...didn't know how to do that...then maybe a shoe...hummm...no and then Kelly told me I should make a castle. I had to go online to get some ideas on how to do it and I think it turned out ok. Kora and Hunter actually passed up the cake and ate the frosted ice cream cones instead.

This picture is Kora in a princess dress that she got. I apologize at how blurry and dark it is. I think I need to change the settings on our camera. She loves dressing up. Kora is such a girly girl she loves to be pretty.

Hard to believe my little baby is 3...and starting Pre-School next week. Cherish every minute with your children because they grow up so fast.

Legend of the Ghoulies

So, what do you do when you have a child that refuses to listen and you have tried all of the conventional forms of discipline ie: time out, yelling...? Well, you create a fictional character called a ghoulie and if they don't listen they will come and pinch them. Okay, we have probably traumatized our children for life but it works for us. Actually, this all came about quite by accident. Kelly was changing channels and stopped momentarily on the old Ghoulies movie (corny and lame 1985 "horror" film). Kora took one look and came screaming upstairs where I was. Ever since it has become a threat. Although, I don't know how you can truely threaten when you are laughing because it's too silly to really threaten with. But laughing or not it works.

Ghoulies have been known to take kids toys at night if they don't get put away. They have also been known to come and pinch you if you don't listen. Kelly and I have been in contact with them quite often over the phone when the kids don't listen and sometimes they wait outside on our patio and wait while the kids eat their dinner. If it's not all eaten then they will get pinched by a ghoulie. Ghoulies have one downfall, they are terrified of dogs. It's a good thing we have one and even more lucky for the kids that Carson sleeps in the kids room at night to protect them....but doesn't always protect their toys. If anything happens in the house it's surely a Ghoulie up to no good again.

Yes, this all sounds ridiculous but why is it that if me as "Mom" asks my Kora to do ANYTHING she just sits there and looks at me as if I hadn't said a word? Yet, mention the ghoulies are coming if she doesn't listen and she runs around cleaning her room or eats her dinner? You've got me! So, if my kids ever ask you about Ghoulies you will know what they are talking about and can maybe even embellish if you want...but Ghoulies never hurt kids, they only pinch!

Oceanside

This last weekend we spent 4 days in Oceanside for a little vacation. My parents and Jeremy & Kristin have a sort of timeshare and they invited us along with them. The picture above sort of sums up the whole trip...a lot of swimming at the beach. This picture was taken right after we got settled in our room. We headed to the beach because Hunter couldn't wait to see the beach. I told the kids to not get wet. Next thing I know Hunter fell in face forward and Kora was running into the water. Oh well. That's what vacations are for, having fun.

We drove down Saturday afternoon and just hung out and got settled. On Sunday morning Kelly drove down and joined us. He went to a soccer game with a buddy of his on Saturday. We later went to the beach and attempted to body surf. The waves were pretty small and hard to catch...although, Jeremy caught a few. Kelly was even out there with us. I love hanging out with my hubby. The kids stayed on shore building sand castles and burrying themselves and taking walks with my parents. Mylie enjoyed all the birds.

On Monday we went to Sea World. The kids loved looking at all the animals. Hunter liked the "sharkfish" (sharks) and Kora liked the dolphins. It was a long day but we had a nice time.

Tuesday was our final day. We started off by playing a few rounds of tennis. I don't know why we don't play more because we all had such a good time. After tennis Jeremy, Kristin and I drove down to La Jolla and snorkeled. We actually swam with a swarm of leopard sharks. Needless to say I was a little freaked out swimming with 3-4 foot sharks but once I realized they were more scared of us than we were of them and they really wouldn't come near us it made the experience a fun one. I would actually love to do it again. Kelly stayed back at the room and took the kids swimming in the pool and then we headed back home. It was a great trip. The kids had a great time and when we got home I think everyone was exhausted.