Trick or Treat 2012

Trick or Treat in the neighborhood was last night.  The kids were so excited all day!  Kalen talked all day about "treat treating" and ended up falling asleep on the couch at 5:15pm, when trick or treating started at 6pm.  And of course, we realized that Sam's costume was the wrong size at 4pm and the store had no other sizes.  So we stripped him down as much as possible and put his costume on anyway.  I told him that he had to be cold b/c we couldn't fit any clothes on underneath!  They had a great time though and Kalen loved his Rescue Bots "Heatwave" costume!  Halloween isn't really my holiday but the kids had a lot of fun!!!

the month that is October

I've tried to post the cute things the kids say and do in the last few weeks but I also realize that I've left out a few exciting things that have rocked our October.  Please let me state first though that I am not fond of this month.  I'm not a huge Halloween person and really this year October is just the month I have to get through to have this baby in November.   But let's be honest, if the baby was due in May, I'd feel that way about April:)   Anyhoo.....
The very beginning of October was an exciting moment.  A gal from church works for a high-risk OB/GYN at Miami Valley Hospital.  She had told me that the office was getting a new 3D ultrasound machine and wanted to know if I would be a belly model for them to practice.  Now, this is the one and only time I've ever been asked to be  a "model" of any sort so I jumped on it!  It also helped that I get free 3D shots of the baby.  I really never pay for the 3D pics b/c they are expensive and really for Sam and Izzy, 3D was still a pretty new gig.  But this has been so exciting with this guy.  I had to lay on my back for an hour which was a bit killer but to see my little guy in there moving and such; it is truly a miraculous thing to see ultrasounds.  I don't care what anyone says!  Sonograms are almost divine in their abiltiy to show me this child growing inside of me.  I could not and still cannot get over how much he resembles his siblings!  I think I'll have another Kalen-looking boy in the house!

The kids will tell you that the best part of October was Uncle Joe's wedding!  It was, in the words of Sam, "the best day of his life"!!  Sam was the ringbearer and Izzy was flower girl.  They were truly adorable.  Izzy wore a gorgeous little gown that cost a fortune but I got it big enough that she will wear it for the next two years:)  And Sam was hot stuff in a rented tux that matched the groom and groomsmen.  Each of the kids changed into jammies by the time the dance music started and let's just say that the little mormon kids cut a rug on the dance floor.  Sam even managed to clear the entire dance floor for his break-dancing skills.  It made this very pregnant, hormonal woman sob a few times as I watched my brother's face light up with pure happiness as he married Karrie.  I love my brother dearly and to see him so happy and to be a part of it was just overwhelming for me.  He even asked Kurtis to say a blessing on the food at the reception.  That fact that he included my kids and husband on such a special day warmed my heart!  It really was a lot of fun, even though the travelling was tiring!  I thank my Lord above for this crazy, frustrating, loving family that I have. 
I also decided to make them a quilt as a wedding present. It was the first quilt and I've learned a few things from the experience.  1.  Never make your first quilt as a gift for someone else.  2.  Give yourself more than six weeks to make a quilt for someone.  3.  Measure more than twice before you cut.   4. Sewing/cutting fabric while you are eight months pregnant will result in the fabric shifting every time you lean over to cut it.   The belly obstructs all ability to cut and measure!  That being said, I ended up very proud with the final result and look forward to trying again with making quilts for my kids and myself!

Lastly, I'll tell a little story of the infamous "belly" picture.  Every time I've been pregnant, as my belly expands my belly button (which is normally an "inny") becomes an "outy".  Kurtis and I always laugh about how much it looks like a nose and how I should draw a face on my belly just for fun.  Well, this year, with Halloween around the corner, there are stickers everywhere for pumpkin decorating.  I just decided that since this is my last pregnancy, I should go for it and used the stickers to decorate my "pumpkin".  Now I'm extremely self-conscious of my stretch marks and such but it really is too funny to not share.  And it really turned out perfect.  Kalen spent all day demanding that I lift my shirt up so he could see the "silly" as he called it.  It brought such humor to our family for a day and my kids just couldn't get enough of it!

Isabel-isms!

Last week, Isabel talked non-stop about two little girls in her class.  Ella and Lilly did everything with her, they played at recess together, and she even asked me on Thursday if they could come over to the house and play sometime.  I was so excited to hear her talk about her little friends.  Today Daddy asked her who she played with at recess.  "Was it Ella?  Or Lilly?"  And then I threw in the name of another little girl that she had mentioned this morning on the drive to school.  She stops what she's doing, turns around and huffs "No!  Everyone knows who I'm friends with! We play together every single day and we are the very best of friends!  Her name is Kensie!"  Kurtis looks over at me and busts up laughing b/c it was hilarious to see her switch so suddenly.....apparently, I need to pay better attention when she switches very best friends!

Also, last Friday, I was sitting on the couch and very gently said "Izzy, could you help me with something?"  She puts her hands on her hips and says "All I want is for everyone to call me 'Princess'!  But you insist on calling me Isabel or Izzy!  Why can't you just call me Princess!!!"  Apparently, I'll have to start calling her by her title from here on out!

ALERT THE MEDIA!!!

 Kalen just stood up after I changed a dirty diaper and said "Thanks Mommy for changing poopies!" I don't think that has ever happened in the history of motherhood!!!!

Izzy's tidbit!

I often share stories of Sam's cuteness so I will include a short bit of Izzy wisdom.
While at a wedding last month, Isabel and Sam were obsessed with the bride.  They kept following her around and wanting to be near her.  While she and the groom were dancing, Izzy walked up to Daddy with sadness and said "I want to dance with Makenzie (the bride) but she's dancing with her prince!"  It was very sweet and truly, with the suit/tux the groom really does seem like a prince:)

a deep sigh of relief

Tonight we had the kids' parent/teacher conferences and I've been chomping at the bit to meet with the teachers.  I'll start with Izzy since I've been chronicling her potty issues.  I won't say that her potty issues have been resolved but she is definitely improving.  Her teacher told me a week ago that even though she still will not use the potty, she does go into the restroom and wash her hands when told to and she no longer yells at the teacher when asked if she has to potty.  We're considering it a small victory for the time being.  We also have been pushing her to use the post-its and go potty at swimming lessons and she's gotten better at pulling off the post-it herself.  I'm really hoping time will heal all wounds.  But, when walking into conference, her teacher had a nice smile on her face.  She started off with "I have to admit that at the start of the year, I was really worried about how Isabel would do this year.  But now, I'm starting to love her little personality!"  She said that Isabel is a big helper, "a little me running around the room".  She always reminds the classmates that sit at the same table to listen to the teacher and makes them stay on task.  Mrs. Frey said she appreciates it b/c there are a few kids at Izzy's table that could use the reminder.  She also is now playing with others at recess and even said today "follow me guys!"  Mrs. Frey said that she had to stop and blink b/c it was so unlike Izzy.  Her academics are spot on with a few things that we need to practice.  But overall, Mrs. Frey is starting to see Isabel's personality and growing to love her.  That's all a mother can hope for.
Now on to Sam.  I haven't mentioned much but we've also struggled with Sam a bit as he's been failing his spelling tests this year. It's been a bit baffling b/c he's really exceptional at reading and at first Kurtis assumed that Sam was just being lazy.  But lately, studying for spelling is a full on battle for everyone and Sam has really been down about doing not so well.  Tonight at the conference, Sam's teacher basically said that what Sam struggles with most is "self-expectations".  He gets so down on himself if anything is a bit hard and doesn't come naturally.  But honestly, he's scoring above average on reading, math and language arts. His only struggle academically is spelling.  I did mention some issues that he had during speech and Mrs. Hamlin is going to talk to the special ed teacher about any kind of learning disability that this might be.  Overall though he really is doing well.  He's even 10th in AR (accelerated reading) points for the entire 2nd grade for the month of September!  I was so sure to mention that to him and boost him up as much as possible.
Overall, I'm breathing a sigh of relief that the kids are doing well.  No, we are not 100% but they aren't perfect so I shouldn't expect perfection.  They are doing well and we'll work through all the rest.  We'll get there!  I'm so thankful for my babies!  I love them each deeply for the little individuals that they are.  They drive me nuts, true!  But I would give up all my sanity if it means that I get to love and adore each of these children for the rest of eternity!

as long as I don't run into any enemies!

from the back of the van:
Sammy: "Mommy, how old are you?"
Mommy: "33"
Sammy: "how old is Daddy?"
Mommy: "38"
Sammy: "so Daddy will probably die before you"
Mommy: "well, no one is going to die for a long time"
Sammy: "yeah, but still, Daddy will probably die before you"
Mommy: "sometimes people die before they are old honey"
Sammy: "yeah, but unless you run into knifes or guns or enemy weapons, you should live longer than Daddy"

I'm not sure if this is a compliment for me or not......