I have had trouble getting to sleep at a decent hour for about a week and a half now. It started out as a stomach virus, but now I just am not sleepy until around 2 or 3am! So I have lots of time to think. Tonight I was reminiscing about one of my Halloween memories. And I had an AH-HA moment.

Earlier today I was rushing to finish packing for my VA trip, and make sure that I don't forget anything...plus getting the kids costumes gathered, making a snack for James' bottomless pit of a stomach, and taking the markers away from Bella, and for the millionth time tell James that a bed is not a trampoline. (I was beginning to feel my patience slowly fade...the hectic crazy day with a toddler and PreKer overwhelming me) When Mark came home for work, everyone got so excited, because his arrival meant that it was time to dress in our costumes to go to the fall festival.
Instead of enjoying the process of getting the kids ready, I started to rush and was short with James...who was now bouncing off the walls while I tried to put on his costume.
Put your socks on James, the ones we laid out last night. James, put your socks on. JAMES, James-are you listening to me, get you socks-they are right there on the coffee table. The socks we picked out last night-look where I am pointing. James stop tickling your sister, James get off the bed...it is not a trampoline. That's 1! JAMES DAVID WATERS!!! Go get the socks! (he gets the socks, comes back into the room, throws them on the ground, then starts jumping around the room, chasing his sister) James, that's 2! What do you mean you can't put them on? Why don't you ask for help then? Go bring the socks to me, and I will help put them on. James..JAMES....JAMES DAVID WATERS!!!! Go to time out now!
(We ended up putting the socks on in the car later on...after I calmed down and started having fun and enjoying the day again...)

So, as I reminisce about my childhood Halloween memories at 2am I think back to my mom singing this silly song about two witches. My sister and I are dressed as cute little witches, and my mom is adding glitter and worts...the finishing touches to our costumes. Lots of smiles and singing. She sings a song while we walk round and round the coffee table. It was a long song that lasted as long as we wanted it to I guess, Later on we found out she had made up that song-custom made for us! (I love you Mom...you were and still are a great inspiration.)
And I realized that my memory isn't about going house to house for candy...but all my memories are of getting ready...smiles and fun with my parents before the event.

So, I realize that I need to try harder at slowing down and enjoying the small stuff. Getting dressed is part of the memory! Friday I will get a second chance at the Halloween memory making...and I pray for patience. Because there will be 4 kids in the mix. But more adults too! Maybe mom can conjure up another fun song and all the kids can dance and sing along making new memories.

Fall is my favorite season! I love the clear blue skies and beautiful weather. I love the changing colors on the trees, and the smells of pumpkin spice and apple cider. Everyone seems to get excited about the upcoming holidays...Halloween, Thanksgiving, and of course...Christmas! (Technically Christmas isn't in the fall, but go into any store, and you would see that the excitement for Christmas can definitely be included in the fall season!)

This week our school theme has revolved around apples, pumpkins, and fun fall stuff. We've been having a good time getting into the festivities of the holiday. James' new thing is to want to go out every 30 minutes or so, and check on our jack-o-lantern...to see if it is still decaying. (We learned about the decaying process-and now that is all we talk about when we see a pumpkin) He also wants to move so we can grow an apple tree. Life is so interesting with kids!

Usually we wait for Bella to take a nap before we do any school work that involves markers or paint, -well who am I kidding -anything that involves pencils, paper, anything!...because Bella destroys it all. She either sits on James' paper, or grabs your writing utensils and writes on your books-you name it she does it. It is almost impossible to get anything done...however today she just never got tired, therefore no nap. But much to my surprise, she did rather well when we started school. She got her own pencil, and well...here is what happened. Too cute, I have a 15 month old doing fractions. Hehe. Not quite, but she is holding the pencil correctly.

This afternoon the kids got all dressed up in costumes to go to my parent's church fall festival. James is Dash (from the Incredibles) and Bella is a ladybug. They were really cute-however when we got to the festival-they were the only ones in costume! AHHHHH!!!! Thank goodness James is not at the age where he cares that he was the only one in costume. I thought that my mom had said kids would be dressed in costumes. It was embarrassing for me but then the sun went down and it was dark, so it wasn't too obvious.


Here's a shot of the Mad Scientist lab.--the only other costume!
It was great fun, and can't wait for this weekend. Hopefully better shots of the costumes, and with Hannalee and Lauren too. Tonight we're spending the night with my parents...tomorrow we leave for VA to visit my sister's family. It is my niece's 4th birthday this weekend. We are all looking forward to seeing everyone-and we get to go trick or treating with them (James' highlight). Praying for easy traveling...and a great visit with loved ones.
Till next time, K

Wow, has is been 4 months already since I last posted something?
That just goes to show you my scatterbrained character flaw in work!
The summer was very busy, plus I no longer have internet at my house. Those two things combined got me sidetracked, and now 4 months later I am finally back to my blog.

James has been having a great time back at school. We are currently studying about Community Helpers. We have gone on a field trip to the Fire department, Police Department, EMS, and next week we are touring the Library. He has also learned about the postal system, grocery stores, Doc/Nurses, and this week we are exploring carpenters. I think next week's library theme will be the end of the unit. Next unit study is Farms...and we are going to the pumpkin patch at Clark Farms in Portal. I think I am as excited as James. We have gone two years in a row, and it is great fun!

Bella is at such a fun stage now. She will be 15 months on the 11th, and her favorite thing to do is dance and try to jump. She is growing up so fast. If only I had a pause button for life. It is so funny how she trys to copy everything we do. It is a very sobering thing to see how much our behavior influences what she does, and how she acts!

Today we are going to visit Great Grandad Eby with my mom. We have tried to go at least every other weekend to visit, but the past few weeks someone in my family has been sick- and this weekend is our family reunion (Mark's side) so we decided to go out today instead.

Well, I will try my best to blog at least once a week from now on. Hope yall have a great day!