Nine Is Fine...

She's nine! I wanted to do this post a week or so ago but December in the Jerger home is a mad rush from one event to another. We have Ruthie's birthday, our anniversary, and of course, Christmas! Although her birthday fell on a Monday, we waited until the following Friday to have her party. She really wanted to have both a slumber party and go putt-putt golfing. Since the last slumber party, with about 12 girls, I have wised up...so, Ruthie invited her three closest friends and we started the night at The Olive Garden. I wish I had recorded some of their conversation during dinner. They were both little girls and yet big at the same time. As they sat and did all the activities on their kid's menu, they talked about boys in a completely serious and yet, child-like way...drinking from cups with lids, they had very serious conversations about the differences between their schools, the activities they each participate in and even told jokes.

From dinner, we went to putt-putt golf. The girls had a blast...it was cold and we were all bundled up...there were many re-do's and some debate over what was fair and what was just plain cheating...Laura got the good sport award because she was abysmally bad but loving every minute of it! After Putt-putt, we went for ice cream and the girls ran into one of the boys from their class...uuugh! I mean, really! We got back to the house around 10:30, opened gifts, and then settled in for a few movies. Finally, we finished off the night around 2:30 AM...I remember this being so much fun when I was little girl but now, these late nights just make me a little nauseous.

In addition to her turning nine, we got the awesome news that she is being moved up to level 4 in gymnastics...this means that, assuming she hangs tough in workouts, she will be competing come fall and we will be on the road to meets! Her work out schedule has increased to 9 hours/week making for some tough decisions regarding other activities she is involved in. This is so exciting not only because of being on the competition team but because she had an uphill battle getting there this year. Ruthie was moving along so quickly and then earlier in the year, while back flipping into the pool, she hit her head and needed stitches. The accident put doubt and fear into her head and she had to work very hard to overcome it and get her round-off back handspring. I think seeing her go through that and push herself is what makes me the most proud.

So, nine years...I keep looking at her trying to remember all the little things...funny words, mannerisms, all the things that make her who she is and try as I might, I can't recall everything. It makes me want to turn back time...call for my own little re-do and just be able to rock her in my arms until she falls asleep a few more times before she goes away to college...in all this busy-ness, the time I want to hold onto the most seems to slip through my fingertips and my need to get it all imprinted in my memory increases as I see her face losing all the baby fat and her legs lengthening in to those of a young lady. This year, her ninth, my prayer is that I am the example the Lord called me to be when he gifted me with such a beautiful, talented child. I pray that when she grows into a woman, she will look back and remember me as a Godly, loving, obediant and compassionate wife and mother. And I pray that the Lord will help be that woman.

"For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." Isaiah 41:14

Mind Over Body

Just a quick update on my running...mostly for me...to keep me motivated. This is hard. As I said, I am following a training plan and it starts 10 weeks out from the race. Well, we are not yet 10 weeks out...this Sunday will be 12 weeks. So, I have tried to adapt the plan each week to challenge myself. I am up to running 8 miles on my long run each week. My training plan for the next two weeks looks like this:

Sun: rest

Mon: 3 miles

Tues: rest

Wed: 5 miles

Thurs: 3 miles

Fri: rest

Sat: 8 miles

Actually, even though I do it VERY slowly, the 8 mile run isn't too bad...it is the 3 mile run after a day of rest that I loathe. Compounding the mileage that I have to get in is the fact that I have 4 kid's schedules to work around and often find myself having to run at night when I am most tired. So, I found this quote and in the middle of a run, I whisper to myself, "you are not tired." And sometimes, my self listens...

"Now if you are going to win in any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."

-George S. Patton, US Army General and 1912 Olympian

Sounds about right, right?

Dark Brown

Another sign I am getting older...I had been getting one, maybe two grey hairs a year just in the front...and then a few weeks ago, Adam found a really long one mixed into the back of my hair...he plucked it out in the middle of our ABF...I'm not sure who noticed but it got me to thinkin' about murder. Just last week, I was parting my hair like I do on the rare days that I decide to style it and low and behold, there were about 3 greys right there in the middle of my head...I plucked them in the privacy of my own bathroom. Then a few days later, I am again parting my hair and right there is brand new growth...devastating! So, I decide I would rather not go bald and make a trip to the drug store for my first box of Clairol...you'd think if I am finally going to join the ranks of hair coloring women I could get some cool sounding color like "Mahogany bark." No, the color that matches my hair is called, "Dark Brown." So, now, I am old AND boring.

I really wish I could have found time to update before now...Today is Ruthie's birthday...She's 9...NINE! I am going to do a post in her honor after her little party this weekend...In the meantime...Last week, We started the week with tubes. Flip did really great but woke up a little sad which was a first for him...The doc said that the fluid in his ears was the consistency of taffy and that we should notice a huge difference in his hearing, again. The hole I was previously worried about was completely closed over and had healed nicely. They see no signs of scar tissue so we will get regular hearing tests until we decide the "permanent" tubes can come out. He has said a few times since then that things were too loud and hurting his ears so it seems his hearing is much improved like after the tonsils came out and it will take him some time to get used to life on a normal volume.

Ruthie with Peder the Llama.

Over the weekend, we had two extra munchkins in the house. Jenna and Jason came to stay so their parents could get a nice weekend away and we had a nice time with the kids. On Saturday, we went to the Zoo...a first for Ellie...and she was so excited about all the animals but her favorite part, I think, was petting the sting rays...I'm pretty sure she would have stayed there as long as Adam would have held her up.


Yesterday, after church, we got the outside of the house decorated, the tree up and painted our yearly ornaments for the tree. Ellie was fascinated with the tree...she kept touching the branches. I said to her, "what is that?" and she said, "flower." We told her about the tree and showed her the ornaments, which she kept taking off:0)

My kids all have their own ornaments that they put on the tree every year and I was glad I had bought a set in Russia and collected few for Ellie over the past few years so that she had her own little set to put on the tree. (all on the same branch, I might add)Although, I think she enjoyed playing in the trees storage bag more.

Buckle Your Seat Belts...

It's a long ONE!

First I have to talk about the conclusion of fall sports... Rusty finished up his flag football season and got a little metal...it wasn't the dream season, kind of more the Bad News Bears version but he had a great time and that is what matters. Flip also finished up his T-ball season...if you are a Baseball mom, you know what I mean when I say FINALLY! He got a little trophy that he was so excited about. I have to mention this because as the third child, I have noticed that he has grown up (in some ways) faster than the older two. (Not so much in other ways:0) He has for a long time now been asking when it was going to be his turn to play something. He has watched Ruthie and Rusty at numerous activities and always been there for the trophy ceremony...longingly waiting for his very own trophy...and finally:

I think the grin says it all...What a cutie! So, on the Friday before Thanksgiving...I was madly trying to get us ready to leave town for the week...no small matter when I had to go on a field trip with Ruthie and have everything we needed packed for the frigid weather in D.C. as well as all of our formal wear for Adam's cousin's wedding! I had in my mind that we would leave around 2:00 and be at the rehearsal dinner at 4:00, right on schedule...well, at 4:00 we had been in the car for 2 hours but had yet to leave town...checking the cat into the kennel took forever, I forgot some stuff and we had to run back to the house, (ok, twice) but anyway, we made it to the dinner part and Adam did fine in the wedding so I think it turned out ok.

We left the hotel on Sunday morning at 5:30ish...took our time, stopping when we needed to and playing at rest stops to keep the kids from going crazy in the car...they did awesome, really! In South Carolina, we were playing at a rest area and a man from our church came up to us...how weird! We got to the Durham area and spent some time there with our Friends, the Forzaglias.

On Monday, we got up leisurely and headed out...after having coffee at you guessed it, cultbucks, and an hour long stop at the Walmart, we landed in Leesburg a little after 5pm to spend Thanksgiving with our friends, the Harrisons. We spent the time there seeing the sights including: the air/space museum, Mt. Vernon, The White House, all the D.C. monuments and some of the Smithsonian. Stacy was an awesome tour guide with all of her historical knowledge but while she knows her dates, her figures leave a little to be desired:0)

She laid a beautiful table on Thanksgiving and it was wonderful to spend time with the people who have shared in such an important part of our lives...Aidan and Ellie, while I can't say that I think they remembered each other, I did tell Stacy that I felt like they felt a familiarity to each other...there was no time needed for them to warm up to each other, he was so sweet and gentle with her and they took to each other like they had never been apart...it makes the mind wonder...

After a fun-filled week of hanging with our Russian co-horts, we packed back into the car and went to see Arlington before hitting the road for home...D.C. was different...I have been there before, as a child but, as an adult, everything there and all that it stands for looked different to me and some how, more important. Seeing it all made me want to recall all of those history lessons I never cared about in school and always wondered why we had to learn them. I've come to the conclusion that while the saying goes that it is important to know your history so that you don't repeat it...I feel exactly the opposite...sometimes, repeating history can be a good thing.

It's late, I know but I decided to challenge myself and list TWENTY things/people I am thankful for during this season of Thanksgiving:

1. Jesus: He is just so AWESOME!

2. My mom: She's pretty wise.

3. Adam: of course, he is the reason I am happy.
4. My children: I could go on forever.

5. Ellie's birth mother: she could have made a different choice.

6. My job: I'm lucky to be able to work from home.

7. Adam's job

8. Our church
9. My friends

10. A great school and teachers for my children.

11. clothes and food

12. My home: I have a love/hate relationship here...so many unfinished projects.

13. books

14. crystal lite

15. My dog: woman's best friend

16. warm, fuzzy socks

17. music

18. my college education

19. fall weather

20. having known my brother, if only for just a little while...

Time to Deck the Halls!

I Was A-run-ning

I am so proud to say that I finished my first 10k (6.2 miles) EVER, tonight... I was slow, about 4 minutes slower than I wanted to be but honestly, I don't care...my training plan did not call for this distance yet, I just wanted to see if I could do it. I felt really good until about the last quarter mile when all of my abdominal muscles started to cramp up...I pushed through and made it to my drive way...I really don't know what came over me. I have so much to get done before Friday morning...I know...but really, we just got back from a weekend away and we are off again soon...there is so much to get done...I was just sitting at the computer and I thought, I'm going to run six tonight, why not? I'm sure I will discover the reason tomorrow when I wake up and can't move...oh well, I feel pretty good right now...


This past weekend, we packed up and went to Disney's Fort Wilderness for our first family camping trip EVER! A lot of firsts! It was a lot of fun! When we got there, we started to set up and we pulled out the tent that I bought, on clearance about 2 years ago. (never out of the box until now) It was ginormous and there were quite a few pieces...I wanted to read the directions but the men balked at that. Alas, they did figure it out and I am pleased to announce that my husband showered me with praise all weekend for such a wonderful purchase! He was absolutely thrilled with our tent! Especially when it started to pour on Friday night and we were snug and dry inside. Our partners in crime were not as lucky but they weathered the storm and we woke up Saturday morning to beautiful weather! (And smiles all around:0)

Ruthie and I traveled back to town for her exhibition...I missed it last year so I really wanted to go this year and I was glad I did! She is getting to be so good and I am really proud of her. While we were gone, the rest of the gang went to a poolside party and played in the arcade, at the park and just hung out. When we got back, everyone was at the campfire, finished making smores and ready to watch the outdoor movie...the chilly weather set in later that night and we woke up to frigid temps but our little heaters kept the chill to a minimum in our tents. After packing up, the Mckinleys held a ceremony for the the burial of their tent and then we went and played before heading home...I was asleep by 6:30 that night and feel no shame in confessing: I slept the night through and woke feeling refreshed! It was a great time and I can't wait to do it again!

Oh, Good Grief...

I started the day out taking Ellie to the preschool for the first time. I hadn't planned on starting her until this time next year but I am a regular volunteer at the elementary school and Ellie needs some place to go while I am there. She has been going over to my friends house but things changed and so, the director of the preschool we have been at for over six years now found space for Ellie. She is going to go two mornings a week.

When I got there, I picked out some t-shirts for her, handed in her paperwork, talked with the director...then, the director says, "Are you going to stay with her for a while?" Uh, no. If you could have seen her face! It needed a sound effect, really...maybe a "doink!" Jaw dropped, eyes widened. She was very concerned..."but, you haven't visited with her???" yah, I know, this is the fourth kid, what can I say. No, really, In all truthfulness, Ellie is just very adaptable. She loves being around other children, she takes easily to others and falls right in to whatever is going on around her. I have her going to a music class on Mondays, Tuesdays she is in a little Bible class at church while I work the nursery and Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings, she is at church as well...On occasional Thurday mornings, she attends a little gymnastic camp. The girl is used to being in a room with other children...she walked right in...not one tear, except when she fell off the monkey bars...that's right, incident report...day ONE! When I picked her up, she was eating lunch, so cute, she looks up, sees me, yells, "Mommy!!!!" and then says, "I ready to go." Is she bigger, or is the cubby?

We walked down to her classroom to check her file folder and she pulls on my hand...I looked down at her and she says to me, "Mommy, This Ellie's class?" How cute! She is always asking if this is Flip's school or is this Rusty's school? She was so excited and it really put me at ease about doing something I really didn't want to do yet.

On another note...Flip went back to the ENT today...here comes the grief...In one ear, the tube is out and the inner ear is once again full of fluid. In the other ear, the tube is still in place but it is completely obstructed and the inner ear is once again full of fluid. Recommendation: permanent tubes that will NOT fall out on their own but will have to be manually removed when his ear finally "matures." My grief: There is some controversy with multiple sets of tubes...1. scarring on the ear drum that can cause permanent hearing loss. 2. If the hole in the ear drum remains longer than three years, we run the risk of it never closing and therefore causing permanent hearing loss. (the existing tube has already been in place almost 18 months) 3. If we do nothing, he will continue to hear as if he has his head in a bucket of water possibly causing, you guessed it, permanent hearing loss, continued ear infections, sinus issues and possible speech issues. We have to do it, the question is, how long we allow the docs to leave the tubes in and whether or not his ear canal will mature in the allotted time.

I discovered this week that when I am ordering online, I now have to SCROLL DOWN to find my birth year...this is not encouraging...another sign I am getting old. I just finished my first week of 1/2 marathon training. The training plan I am following only called for 13 miles this week so I am pleased to say I finished that easily even if my times left a little to be desired. Also, I have found that I despise the cleaning that no one notices: under the couch, between the cushions, the windows, baseboards...whatever.

And without further ado: Why did God create daddies?

Ruthie: "MOMEEEEEEE! UUUGH! So they can protect their family, keep them safe and work to earn money."

Rusty: "To have ears to hear." What? "To love their kids, so God can LOVE them" very profound. "and so they can play football with them." of course.

Flip: "To love little children AND, so we can grow up to be the same size."

Good Grief, Charlie brown.

Why did God invent mommies?

Happy Birthday Andy!

Rusty had his last flag football game this weekend and got a little medal...yay! I had Ruthie at the gym most of the morning for lessons...we spent the afternoon chilling out, watching football and getting some stuff done around the house. Today we went to Toys R Us to make Christmas lists and I made the ginormous mistake of not bringing extra shoes...I had to walk around the store for 2.5 hours wearing my shoes from church...yikes!

This year's lists are kind of interesting...Ruthie is in that in between phase where she wants to be a big girl but some of the little kid things still pull her. Rusty wants only video games and nascar stuff. Flip is all over the map and Ellie really has no clue what Christmas is so I helped her with her list and I am so excited to see her on Christmas morning. Anyway, I am in the process of putting their wish lists online for their grandparents...

This just in...I am training for a half marathon: 13.1 miles in...ouch! I downloaded a training plan online and starting tomorrow I am going to be stickin' to it! My race is in March so, if you don't mind sending me some encouragement every once in a while, I would love it!

I leave you with this: Why did God invent mommies?

Ruthie: "Why are you asking me? To take care of their kids, I guess...so they don't die right away."

Rusty: "I don't know, why do you want me to do this?"

Flip: "So they could love little boys with hugs and kisses."

It's Time for Christians to Lead.

My friend, Jen sent this to me this morning and it reflects and probably more eloquently states what I was trying to say yesterday...this is my last political post on this blog...I PROMISE! (although, this more of a religious post.)

The Day After, Pray for Our President and Our Nation
Charles Colson

November 5, 2008

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, whether you’re recovering from your all-night celebration or drying the tears from your pillow, today’s a good day to remember the words of the apostle Paul: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). And the new President will surely need our prayers because he and his administration face huge, serious challenges to the health of our nation and to peace in the world—challenges that, in my opinion, neither he nor any government on earth will have the power to overcome without divine aid.

How has America come to this point? Why is our economy on the brink of disaster? Why is our culture so utterly depraved? I can only think of what Alexandr Solzhenitsyn said about the catastrophic consequences of the Russian revolution. “I recall,” he said, “hearing a number of older people offer the following explanation for the great disasters that had befallen Russia: Men have forgotten God; that's why all this has happened.” Solzhenitsyn was right. Indeed, I can’t find any better explanation for why we Americans find ourselves in the state we are in. We have forgotten God.

We have also forgotten that American democracy—indeed Western Civilization itself—is the product of the Judeo-Christian understanding of God and humanity. Without that revelation that man is created in the image of God, our founders never would have recognized the unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Indeed, as I and others like Rodney Stark have argued, modern science and education, liberal democracy, capitalism flourished in Western civilization precisely because of the Judeo-Christian worldview.
The attacks on Christianity these days are only going to intensify in the months ahead. But we must press on all the more to make a winsome witness. Those who would banish Christianity from American life are risking the very survival of American society.

Friends have asked me whether this economic crisis is God’s judgment upon us. I don’t know.
As I’ve re-read the Old Testament prophets recently, I couldn’t help but notice the recurring theme: The people of God turned away from Him and worshipped false idols. The result was always disaster.

Is God responsible for credit markets collapsing around the world? No. We’re responsible. Because instead of worshiping God, we’ve worshipped false idols of the marketplace, credit card companies and cheap mortgages. We’ve put our own appetites over our duties to God and neighbor.

So this is no time for Christians to go into the bunkers. No time to wail or moan over our retirement plans. This is a time to repent, to pray more, to give more. It’s a time for Christians, to lead, encourage, and minister to a faltering country in a faltering economy. This is a time for the Church to get serious about Christian discipleship. Enough cheap grace. So pray for the new President and his administration. But most of all, my brothers and sisters, this is a time to love our neighbors and to hunger for God and His righteousness.

God, Please Bless America

I stayed up and watched the whole thing...then, I cried myself to sleep. I have never been so deeply affected by a political vote. I am young in the scheme of things...this is the first election/campaign I have followed, and had what I would say is an educated opinion on. I read, researched and watched everything I could get my hands on. I have kept my opinion to myself and within my home for the most part. I am posting this blog for the record; so it will be in my blog book...to mark the moment and the emotions that I feel at this time: defeated, scared, worried, pessimistic, enraged, shocked, worried, baffled, annoyed, nervous, worried, anxious, saddened...worried.

I hold on to the hope that this was not actually a vote for Barak Obama but rather a vote against George Bush. There can be no doubt that he let the American people down. I wonder if we have just let ourselves down. I fear that God has finally removed His blessing from this country that has taken Him out of nearly everything. I pray that as my children grow up in this land of the free, they will never have to experience the kind of health care, I personally experienced in Russia. I pray they will never have to live the way I saw people living while I was there and that they will never feel the hopelessness I saw on the faces of the people in Siberia.

So, I'm getting it together...getting into His word and remembering that He is in control...He knew long before now where this country would go...I am an American but my citizenship is in Heaven..."but our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Phil 3:20-21

I will follow McCain's example and I will submit to the office of the president recognising that he is the authority that God has established...I am reserving judgement on respecting him. I am preparing myself for the persecution of Christians that has begun and is strengthening in this country...I am gearing up for the continued breakdown of Christian morality, the acceptance of what we like to call "alternative lifestyles," the continuation of infanticide, and the government's continued stripping of MY rights to pray in school, to pledge under God, to believe and learn about creation as a theory along with the miraculous BIG BANG! Today when I went to the Bible, I came to a passage I have read many times and it can be used and interpreted many ways to suit whoever is using to state their cause...I leave you to read it and pray that the Lord will speak to you no matter on which side of the fence you are standing...God, Please bless America...Amen.

Romans 12-13

Living Sacrifices

1Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. 3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

Love

9Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 16Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 17Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 18If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. 20On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 13

Submission to the Authorities

1Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. 4For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. 6This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. 7Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Love, for the Day is Near

8Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. 9The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

A Happy Halloween

Disclaimer: You are probably looking for pictures of my children in their costumes...You will have to check your mail box in about a month or so...there will be no sneak peek this year...you will have to wait for the Christmas card and if you aren't on my Christmas list and you are a regular reader, and you want to be, just email me! Also, I apologise in advance for all the run-on sentences in this post...


Flip went to school with a costume in hand...not THE costume but Robin from last year. I called the director and begged her to take some pictures of him with his friends for me...It is the "third child syndrome" and my guilt was running high...Of course I scrap booked every breath Ruthie took and every other breath Rusty took...so, Flip...poor guy...I am just so crazy busy now with four to keep up with and I am at the school once a week and nearly every holiday plus field trips that I rarely get over to the preschool. Anyway, she promised to take some pictures of him doing his thing and I will post those when she emails them to me.

I went to school with Rusty on Friday. Ellie got her own little desk next to him for all the fun. Each child had their own pumpkin for some estimation and experimentation and when all that was finished, we carved them...we meaning me and one other lady. I figure I carved about 12 pumpkins all total this Halloween. My hand and shoulder are quite sore and if you are wondering why my shoulder is sore, you try carving 12 pumpkins! In addition to all that fun, we also made caramel apples in Rusty's class..yum! Mine had caramel, chocolate chips and coconut and Rusty left his plain and just dropped a few sprinkles on it between bites...hmmm...I have not actually eaten a caramel apple in I don't know how long and let me tell you, if you haven't had one this fall...go out now, and get some caramels and some apples and make yourself one!

While Rusty was at PE and Ellie was napping on a cot in his teacher's office, I ran up to Ruthie's class to see what they were up to...they had a read-in...she got to pack a pillow and blanket and take her favorite reading material (she chose her latest American Girl mag and some joke books, plus the book she is currently reading, Shiloh) and they laid around in stocking feet only taking breaks to snack, cook and journal. Sounds like my kind of day!


At home, we rested for a bit and then ate our dinner and got costumed up. This was our first year just walking out the front door and trick-or-treating...we usually go with friends in another neighborhood. We were a little leery because a lot of the kids from our neighborhood go elsewhere. We found out that has a lot to do with the fact that the lots in our neighborhood are enormous and there is a lot of walking between front doors...we were out for about 2 hours and we had a lot of fun, just the six of us...Ellie was too cute! She got invited in to several homes and she was funny with the candy...people would hold the bowl down for her to pick and she would grab one and look up with a big smile and then grab some more. I would say, "just one, Ellie." The people at the door would say, "oh, it's ok, she can have two." She was totally working the system and is probably responsible for most of our loot.


As for Adam, every year, his department tries to come up with something silly and better than every other department...This year, they decided to dress up as the senior VP's. As a result, Adam shaved just the top of his head and left the "balding ring" (I made that up and may copy write it at a later date) around the sides. They did some silly skit and then he shaved the rest of it off...so, he's bald right now...brings back memories. By the way, Thank you Andy for the cookies and the fall arrangement. The flowers made a very nice center piece for my table this week.

We left Houser home to answer the door...