So much fun!

We had JP's birthday party on Saturday. The kids had so much fun, and it was robot themed. So cute! This is the only picture I have right now because I let everyone else take the pictures.

Pumpkin Patch Field Trip!

JP and I went on Immy's field trip last Thursday. Here is her class at the park right after lunch. Immy is in the front (second from right) next to her new best friend (front right).

Here they are at the Pumpkin Patch. This was the first activity station, where they dropped pumpkins and gourds in to a bucket to see which ones float.

This was the last station where they read a story and then got to feel inside a pumpkin. There were also snack and craft stations, and the kids all got to pick a small pumpkin to take home.

It was lots of fun, but JP was a bit of a rascal. I was there to help chaperon, but spent most of the time helping him or chasing him down. Next time I will leave him with the sitter and just spend the day with Immy.

Dinner on the Beach

Dh and I left the kids with my parents on Saturday night and went out for dinner and drinks with some friends. It was so much fun! The food was great, and although I have been completely spoiled on well made cocktails, the drinks were pretty good too!

Here comes the candy!

After the kids have brought home their loot on Halloween night what do you do with it all? Our yearly tradition is to let the kids stuff themselves full of all the candy, sweets, and treats they can stand on Halloween, but the next day it all goes put away. Every year we have found a different creative way to use it all up (without me eating it all ;). Here are a few of my ideas; what are yours?

Freeze the leftover candy and use it to decorate a kit gingerbread house at Christmas; those kits never have enough candy!

Freeze some to use in a home-made advent calendar at Christmas.

Take some of the extra candy to an office as a thank-you. Banks, Doctors, Fire or Police departments, Daddy's office, and even the staff at the Dentist usually enjoy getting a sweet treat!

Fill some gold paper cups with the candy then wrap them up to give out as "trophies" to the winners of your Thanksgiving day football game, scavenger hunt, etc.

Send it to our brave troops overseas with a note of thanks and encouragement.

Photo credits to http://www.realsimple.com/

First Day of School

Immy had her first day of school about two weeks ago, and she is loving it! She started late in the school year because of the move, and there was a little delay over her immunizations (sorry school board, I just don't agree with your required shots list.), but she has fit right in with her grade level and is doing great! She has even begun to make some friends.

I think the transition was the hardest for me, I had gotten so used to her being around all day (For the last five years!). When did she get so big, so smart, so independent? She was so ready for the challenge! Letting go was really hard. I cried, several times that first week. I'm sure it was mostly because I was so tired, I'm still not used to getting up at 6am! But now things are going really well, and as usual, my joy for her far outweighs any of my sadness to see things change.

I am not the only one that is trying to get used to the new schedule, we are all having to get up earlier now. I just wish I could take a nap everyday too! Lulu surprised me the first few days by falling asleep for her nap much earlier than usual; I had set her on the bed to read some books and when I turned around she was out.

One of the nice things about the new schedule is having one-on-one time with JP when Lulu is napping. We have been able to do some fun things just for him like bake cookies, read stories, and just give him some attention. He has been missing his sister a little during the day, but we do a lot of activities, so it is neat for them to take turns telling each other what they got to do on the way home from school.

Government run health care?

Here is a great video from the new CatholicVoteAction.org!
Big government style health care? Why not!