LarkExaltation

A few minor adjustments to the costumes but this is what my kids were for Halloween.

Princess Presto and Super Why from the PBS kids show Super Why!.

Sam decided he wanted to be Super Why (with the power to read) so I went on a quest to find the costume. The best I could come up with was a super hero costume pattern and my wonderful mother-in-law agreed to put it together for us. In my search for a Libby costume I decided Princess Presto (with spelling power) would be easy enough. I got a cute princess dress from e-bay and some fabric to make a cape. Edna Mode would not be happy with us …. “no capes!”

He looks like a luchador to me

That wand is a weapon, I didn’t let her carry it much. “Presto!”

Showing off costumes to nana.

My kids and their local cousins at the church Fall Festival

my dear husband carves to order. Sam picked the spider, I picked the pirate ship.
I think they both turned out just beautiful!

My first parent event at the new daycare. The kids had a pumpkin patch picnic. The little ones got to go out and pick pumpkins. They let them play for a while until they started throwing the pumpkins around. For lunch, rather than setting them outside in the cold, they put out green paper on the floor and the kids got to sit and have a “picnic.”

the shirt says; “who needs a costume when you’re already a princess” I had to have it.

This afternoon Sam had a fall festival at school. Of course I didn’t get any pictures of this because there was just so much going on. Every kid in the school going from room to room playing games and getting candy and prizes. Sam had a blast. I really had a good time too, but we were both tired once it was all over.

I’m getting tired of looking at my furry face and I’m sure you are too.

time to update…

today was a lovely day. work as usual but my group took me to one of my favorite restaurants for lunch and gave me a visa gift card, all for having a baby?! it was lovely and a nice surprise. it was kind of funny when they were sweating the whole plan because they found out i had a doctors appointment at ten this morning. but, i was able to leave a little early, to get in a little early, to get out a little early. and it actually worked. all looks well. no signs of our little evelyn arriving early, and no real feelings that it will take “forever.”

as far as “plans” this pregnancy couldn’t have gone better. when the doctor’s office went to calculate OB payments, they told me that insurance covered 100%. my boss hasn’t gotten any “support” from his boss or our company as far as someone to take over while I am on leave, so I’m being permitted to work from home. this will have it’s pros and cons. pros, i won’t have to train anyone, time worked will be keyed as regular time so my FMLA time will not be used as quickly, and possibly, and i haven’t spoken with my boss about this yet, but maybe i’ll be able to take another week or two longer than expected, as long as things are getting done. my main concern with going back to work is having a spot for her in our daycare. no one has really said either way. I’m hoping it will be as it was when we had Libby and because Sam was there we were almost guaranteed the spot. but, with a smaller, and very popular daycare, I’m not sure this is going to be the case. i guess only time will tell. and the cream of the crop of wonderful things to happen, yes i would have thought it was the 100% coverage to the doctor too, but i was delighted to find out that not only was i able to still pre-register at the hospital over the phone, but it also pre-registered me for the epidural. which in times past I’ve had to sign lots of papers and even pay a deposit once. the first time i had to go to meet the anesthesiologist and talk about what could happen and pay lots of money for a deposit. last time i got to read all the papers again and they told me that i didn’t have to pay the smaller deposit that the doctor said i was having to pay. this time… “thank you ma’am and congratulations, go straight to labor and delivery when you come in to have your baby” pass go, but i could only wish to collect two hundred dollars from this. ha!

Costumes in order by age…
PD:Red Riding Hood, Bec:Bad Wolf in Disguise, Sam:Blue Power Ranger, Libs:”Punkey”, Evie:Granny

We also spent a good part of the day working on a “Wendy’s” wig. I think it turned out really well.
PD thinks he is going to wear it for Red Ribbon Week next week at the junior high for “Crazy Hat Day” on Halloween.

We had a field trip to a local “pumpkin patch” and then to the park for lunch. I was so happy I was able to make it. Sam and his class had a really great time, watching the pumpkin carver, listening to a story, and taking a walk through the pumpkin maze. After our pumpkin fun we went to the park, had our lunch and played and played and played.

The kids even got to go home with a little pumpkin of their own. Sam was very excited to show me his “perfect pumpkin” and talk about all the fun things we would do with it like washing it, carving it, put a light inside of it. He even told me that we would scoop out the “insides” (I hope he means the actual meat of it) and make a pumpkin pie. I think these sound like wonderful ideas.

Ms. Libby is going to have a pumpkin patch picnic at her daycare on Monday. We’ll probably get our family pumpkin that evening and work on it… pictures to come! (as usual)

Three cheers for the million dollar smile! - He’s so proud of his “great big smile”

I care for others in tender, loving ways. Caring for another person is a ministry of love, and I give thanks for all the caregivers in my life and in the lives of others. These caring people may include parents, grandparents, friends, and medical staff. There are even those whose names are unknown to me but who put their lives on hold to be in service to humanity. These are people who devote their time, energy, and wisdom for the good of all. I also acknowledge my own role as a caregiver. That care may involve a full-time commitment to a loved one or an act of thoughtfulness, such as sending a card to a friend who needs my prayerful attention. I give thanks for the ultimate caregiver, God—the source of all good. It is through God’s presence within us that we care for others with tender, loving ways.

“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet.”—Psalm 85:10

… for when you just can’t get to your camera fast enough.

I decided that these picture, though small and a little blurry, were too cute to not share.

Sam at Wendy’s sporting the red pig-tails

Libby at McAlisters with her eyes bigger than her stomach…. and her mouth.

Sam at “Johnny’s church” showing off his sidewalk chalk art.

It was a blue afternoon for me and I’m going to blame it on the lovely hormones before anyone else does. Events that we attend lately are not with a group but more like we see people we know when we get there. I’m miss my close group of friends planning, meeting, going, doing. Lately, we get to a place knowing that others may be there. You go one way and when you finally meet half way, they’ve already been where you’re headed. I can’t seem to remember when the go your own way, see you if we see you thing started. I suppose I could be more of an initiator? That’s an area I’ve always lacked in; conversations, outings, groupings. We jokingly, but lovingly, referred to our group as “the commune.” Not only for meals, but movies, game nights, road trips, even random trips to the store was just the thing to do. Once we’d finish with that there was the question of “what now?” You’d get out of class, church or off of work and ask “so what are we doing?” “what’s for supper?” “cooking or eating out?” But never questions for a table for two but a table for six, plus. Usually gatherings occur at one home in particular but life situations change that make for a new question of “who’s home?” So for three years now, maybe a little more, I’ve noticed gatherings becoming more an more sparse. We just don’t go and do anymore, or even stay “home” and play for that matter. You’d think after a couple of years of it I’d finally get the hint. Maybe this is what growing up means. Focus more on your own family, plan small events for “the group.” But that’s just not how I’ve pictured my adult life. I’ve always wanted the long table to seat anyone who wished to join. To have the house to come and go from at any time…

… so anyway, here are some pictures from last weekend and today. Last weekend was the Celtic Festival that I was so excited about. I’ve filed the pictures under the Zoo in my album because there’s not one from the actual festival. I really hate that I missed the singing, dancing, bag pipes, highland games… I joked with PD about getting his mom to watch the kids the next day so we could sit and take it all in, but that didn’t happen. I guess when there’s a zoo to be seen, there’s not much else you can convince the kids to sit through.

My sister’s birthday was also last Saturday - I got to make the cake! A yum yellow cake and chocolate frosting recipe I got from the Southern Living website.

of course my favorite part would have to be my kid with “let me count the smokes…”

Beth managed to cut a batman shape out of it - and Sam says, “hey, it’s the same as me”

Today was the 10th Anniversary of the Friends of Black Bayou Fall Celebration. We didn’t spend as much time there this year as we have in the past, but we had some sleepy kids that were on the verge of sleeping before we even got out of the car.

Speaking of car… we have a new (to us) car! A 2000 Hyundai Elantra that our lovely friends decided to give us. There are a few repairs to be made, including a slippery transmission that we’ll need to get looked at/repaired, but at the moment it is running just lovely. All reviews I’ve seen online say it has about three or more inches of rear hip room than the Escort, but with the placement of the seat belts, it’s about the same. Either way, it’s white, not navy, so it won’t get so hot. Even if it does, we won’t be cooling a whole station wagon, just a front and rear seating, AND the A/C seems to be significantly cooler, however it’ didn’t get much over 80 degrees today, if that.