What if...

We have two more Halloween outings, and I'm afraid the costumes will never look as clean and intact as they did on outing #1, so here are some pics. I snapped these pics as we were headed out the door for a lunchtime party, but then we found out it had been moved to 4, so we've actually gone through the costume process twice already. Then once more tonight. And once again tomorrow night. We are squeezing every ounce out of the 19.99 spent on each costume this year!

I was recently reminded (thanks Judy!) that I'm a little behind in putting up pictures. I don't know where to begin because it's been so long since I've posted any pics, but before Halloween gets here and I have a whole new batch, I thought it best I at least get a few pictures up. These are from last weekend's trip to the mountains (beautiful by the way, we saw the fall leaves and snow, all in on one car ride!). We visited the Woolly Worm Festival in Banner Elk and returned home with two new pets, Thunder and Lightning, who survived in our household for about 2 days - may they rest in peace.

I taught the kids how to play "Hangman" last week on our whiteboard and we have been having the best time with that game. Sometimes, I'm intentional and select words that help the kids practice what we're working on, like words ending in "ck" or the silent "e," but most of the time, we just play for fun. Tonight we got David in on the action, which is a big deal because he's not much of a game player. But once he had that Expo marker in his hand, he was hooked...and as it turns out, he's a Hangman hog. He didn't want to take turns, he kept coming up with "just one more really good one."

Luke, gotta love him, has used "I Love Mom" over and over. There are only so many times I can pretend I don't know what it says!

Last month was Four Corners, this month, Hangman. We are bringing back old-school games with a vengeance - too bad we don't have enough family members to play Heads Up Seven Up!

The other night when we asked the kids if they had any problems they'd like us to pray about, they both said "school." I guess it's time for a little self-eval? I didn't realize they were having any prayer-worthy problems. Yikes. Actually, Luke specifically mentioned math, and I had noticed math doesn't come as easy to him as it does Lil. To be honest, the girls in the house kick butt with math, the boys not so much...so at least Luke has a father who can sympathize. Lately he's really been struggling with counting by twos. He memorized "2,4,6,8,10" in kindergarten, but seems to fall apart come 12. After realizing that he's bothered enough to want to discuss the math issue with Jesus, I decided I better get on the ball. I guess I really only have one authority when it comes to my day in, day out teaching performance - and it sounds like Luke is about to file a complaint to Him!

On another topic completely, our shoes are driving me bananas lately. Fall crept in quietly, and because some days are still flip-flop warm, but other days are damp and chilly, we've ended up with a shoe basket that's bursting at the weave with every pair of shoes the kids own. I pass by it thirty times a day and think "I gotta go through that basket" but find myself saying it again on bypass #31. All that to say, as I was thinking through the counting by twos issue, and my need to sort shoes, and I think I've decided we'll have a little twos and shoes fun by rounding up all the shoes we can find - I'll seize the opportunity to sort through shoes while giving Luke extra practice counting by twos. Or at least that's my intention - I guess we'll see!



One more thing that's been on my mind - I am so happy to trade my bad weather blues for blue skies! I really struggled to drag myself out of bed on the rainy, gray mornings that started our week (one more "pro" in the homeschool column - not having to get the kids out the door in the rain!). This morning I was greeted by beautiful blue skies and the park is calling our name.

Rainy Monday morning. Not the best way to start a week, but not the worst either - especially when you can stay in pjs all morning.

I had a speck of something stuck inside my eyelid for SEVEN hours Friday. Seven miserable hours. David removed it for me within minutes of arriving home. Eye love you, meye hero! :)

I *heart* fall! Spiced Apple or Harvest Pumpkin may be the fragrances of fall for some, but for me, bacon and onion sauteing a pan for a big pot of potato soup is my fall favorite - if only Glade would make that plug-in!

We took our first field trip last Wednesday - and we loaded that Explorer up just like an ol' yellow bus! I'll try to get some pics up this week.

We skipped school last Thursday, for no good reason. Being teacher and principal of the school has it's advantages.

Very relaxing weekend around here - until 5:30 p.m. yesterday when David and I became responsible for 13 children, ages 8 and under. Whew. Once again, David is my hero! He can hold a baby on one hip, while pushing a toddler in a swing, like it's his job - and I guess last night it was!

How 'bout them BULLS!?!