Happy Halloween!

Madeleine and Indiana Jones hope you had a safe and...

candy filled day! (Can you believe it? I actually posted a picture with me in it. What can I say, I was having a good hair day. Heehee!)

Long week coming to a close...

it has been a busy one around here. The kids and I had yesterday to catch up. Mondays and Tuesdays are busy for me, running errands, voluteering at church, bible study, and piles of laundry from the previous week. This week has also had "fall" events for both kids at school. This year Aidan was able to go to his schools Masquerade hosted by the PTO. Everything is donated by the parents except for the use of the school space. They had 160 students attend this year and I donated muffins for Aidan's class so I was baking well into the evening on Tuesday. Ainsley had a party as well as her class was celebrating harvest so it was requested that the kids be dressed in farm related costume. Ainsley went as a farmer which was easy because she wore one of Aidan's old plaid shirts, a pair of jeans, she took a cowboy hat from an old costume, and pig tails. She looked so darn cute in pig tails! I will post those pictures tomorrow as part of a halloween post. All I had to provide for her class was cheese slices so that was easy. Both kids have Thursday and Friday off. Yesterday was spent playing Sorry, and Aggieopoly (a verision of Monopoly based on my University) as well as play doh. Both children were gracious enough to spend their hour of computer time together so that I could catch up on some household work I was behind on. I need to revamp my cleaning schedule...I am trying to do too much on Wednesdays which causes problems if I need to do extra shopping for the week. Trying to be organized and not always working. I have gotten back on the ball with some creative projects this week as well. Bible study is excellent too. I am loving this study of the tabernacle and I have also been much improved in daily committing to my devotional time. I have been successful since 8/8/2009 so I am praying this trend continues. B had a busy week entertaining out of town guests so we did not see much of him. Realizing that the kids had off today he decided to take off as well so we are all thrilled. Of course he wants to head over to the big town today to take the kids to the cheesy place if you get get my meaning. Hopefully not to eat but maybe just to play a few games. Ahh well, tomorrow is Halloween which is always a busy place on my street. I am always shocked an amazed at how many people show up for trick or treating. I did get some joke cards from my church to hand out with candy this year. I was originally thinking the weather was supposed to be terrible which would keep the crowds away this year. It seems however that the storms are supposed to be done by then so I probably should have asked for more cards. Anyway, enough nonsense. I hope everyone is having a good week!

Enjoying Letters from the Principal...

My Aidan was estatic yesterday after I let him read a letter we got in the mail from the school. He was excited that he earned this so early in the year. I told him though that this did not mean that he could slack on his good behavior. He is doing so well this school year. Academically, I don't worry about him, but after all the trouble we had with another student last year I had my concerns about public school. Once again Aidan is working by himself with his teacher in reading and math and is on the talented watch list. The other student is in the class next door so our behavior issues have resolved themselves. Aidan just needed some space from this kid hopefully only until there is a bit more maturity on both sides of this relationship. Celebration in our house last night! So proud of him!

Fall Color Catch Up...

We are all on the mend in our household. The kids have some residual cough and runny nose, but not enough to keep them out of school. Mommy is better as well, but I still feel as if I have cotton stuffed in my one ear. Hopefully I will be hearing fully soon. I had to include some of my annual pictures of our local fall color. These are two of my favorite trees around our house. I love the picture below the best. The red on this tree is my favorite.

I am spending the week catching up. I have some shopping to do tomorrow for some home essentials as well as some dress up clothes for a birthday party and class parties. This week is the end of flag football. Aidan is also very excited because he also moved up a level in swim class. He has practiced and worked so hard. I am very proud of him. Ainsley needs some work on floating on her a back. Otherwise, her swimming class is the highlight of her week. I love to see her smile as she learns with her teachers. So very cute. They start their new classes after having a week off. Well, it is getting late, and I am tired. I have spent my evening playing catch-up this evening instead of working on my more creative projects. Ahh well, what can you do when you take a week off for sickness.

It just keeps getting better...

Yesterday evening, I headed over to our walk-in clinic. After being miserable most of the day and knowing that the crud has progressed beyond the usual crud, my husband talked me into going to the doctor right then instead of waiting until the morning. Glad I went! Apparently, I have a "wicked", to use the Drs. words, ear infection. Antibiotics in my system last night and hopefully on my way to wellness. Now I know how Aidan felt when we went through 3 months of clogged ears prior to tubes, tonsillectomy and andenoidectomy. Seriously annoying to feel like something is stuck in your ears!

Pray for my sis today. She is back in the states and having her amino done. She should get some definitive results in 24 hours. She told my Mom that at this point the bell has been rung and now she wants to know more certainly what is going on. My Mom is going with her as JP is in Singapore on a business trip. I am also praying that my Mom doesn't stress M out either. Anyway, that is the news for today. I am headed to veg in front of the tv because I can't seem to concentrate on any of my reading. Minimal housework today too just some laundry shuffle. My house is so trashed! I just can't do it right now though. I must get well. Housekeeping can wait.

Sick...

We have been sick in this house. Thursday evening Aidan started with a runny nose, scratchy throat. By Friday morning he had a nasty cough. Friday was a half day of school so even though he did not have any fever I decided to keep him home. Friday was also the day that I headed out of town. I had a great time by the way but I will talk more about that in another post when I can add some photos. Saturday night was my cousin's wedding and during the reception I started feeling pretty lousy. I did not sleep well that night due to scratchy throat and in the morning I seemed to be coming down with what Aidan had. I flew home on Sunday and came home to find Aidan still coughing but otherwise much improved. Monday morning I sent him to school since he was so much better. The teacher asked him why he missed school on Friday and he explained about his cold/cough and he told her he had a slight fever on Friday. Not sure why he added that bit because we checked him several times and he was fine. So, she decided to take his temperature in class. He had no fever and she did not send him home, but I guess in these days of this swine flu scare the teachers are not trusting parents judgement as far as their children's health. I know that this illness that we have had is not the flu and only a cold because there was no fever involved. Once we get better I am scheduling to take everyone in for the flu vaccinations, I would just like to shake the crud first. I have been grateful that we had a healthy summer, but here we go back in school for a month and a half and we already have our first illness. Ahh well here we go again. We will be better soon. Anyone have any tried and true cold remedies? My husband swears by Airborne. I am not sure if I totally believe that it works, but I started taking some when I got back on Sunday. The kids are getting their regular multi-vitamin and some extra vitamin C and that seems to be helping them. I really detest taking cold medicine because it always seems to make me feel worse. Afrin nasal spray works well but it is not recommended for use more than 2-3 days so I am very cautious about how much I use it. Saline nasal spray and hot water gargles are also helpful for the scratchy throat. Maybe, I just need to break down and buy a 3rd humidifier that way we have one in each bedroom. I have one for each of the kids and it seems to help them, but don't have one in my room. Well, like I asked, any other tried and true cold remedies? I am interested to hear what others do.

Nervous Wreck...

at least trying not to be one. I am flying out to Philly tomorrow and I am a nervous flier. Usually when I travel with my children the nerves don't hit me too much. Once we get through security and get shoes and bags back together, travelling is smooth sailing. The kids and my husband are there to keep me distracted from all the noises and bumps during the flight. Tomorrow I am travelling by myself for the first time in a long time. I am taking plenty of reading material and even loaded a couple of grown-up movies on my iPod. What I had on there before is Sesame Street and Cinderella for Miss Ainsley to watch when we travelled to Texas this summer. Praying for me! Once I arrive we are going to be fairly busy. I am arriving late to a family dinner with my extended family not participating in rehearsals. Saturday evening is the wedding, and Sunday morning is a post-wedding brunch from which I leave early to catch my return flight. I am sure when I arrive something will be planned for Saturday afternoon for the same family group from Friday night. I am finally going to get to enjoy some family time with my Pennsylvania relatives. Lots of water under that bridge from the generation before mine. Anyway, this will be a good experience and hopefully fun. The kids are staying home with the hubs and I think if the weather cooperates they are going to the pumpkin patch. So far Ainsley has been a little upset with me, but it is a short trip and as long as she has Daddy she will be fine. Aidan I am not worried about. He isn't thrilled with me leaving, but he doesn't seem to mind too much either. Ahh well, they will be fine. It is me I am a bit worried about. Later taters! Have a great weekend.

Bible Study...

I am so enjoying my bible study for this fall! We are covering Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart God's Dwelling Place. I never realized how much I would enjoy studying the Old Testament. Anyway, this is a little tidbit from my homework for this morning referring back to 2Timothy 1:6-8. "Power is up to God. Participation is up to us."

How true is that! We can't recieve God's blessings for us unless we make the choice to follow and accept. Also, I will add this tidbit from a few weeks ago relating to the same idea. "I finally understood the nature of God's mercy and grace. They are always there, available every day, prior to our need, and in direct proportion to every moment's demand; but we must gather them. That part is completely our responsibility."

Love that. Sorry folks, just was very excited about study this morning and just had to share. Later!