Fall has arrived!

It is definitely fall here. I can't believe how cool it's gotten. It's also cloudy and it's been rainy. I could do without that, but I'm loving, absolutely loving, the temps. The kids seem to enjoy them as well. I've also enjoyed getting out the warmer clothing. I love being wrapped up in sweatshirts, and it's always fun to remember the kids' clothes from the prior year. Some of them even still fit!

HT lost another tooth today. That's five he is currently missing. JR also lost one over the weekend. He only has one more baby tooth to lose. He's working hard on trying to get it out because he doesn't want them to pull it when they put the braces on October 12. We'll just see what happens!

Another Friday is here

I wish I could be happy that it's Friday, but our weekend is going to be so crazy that it doesn't appear as though it's going to be relaxing. JR has scouts after school, and tonight I have to teach at the agency. The kids have to come with me because my wonderful husband is working at the high school football game. Tomorrow he and JR will be up before dawn and off to an all day cub scout event. HT has a soccer game in the morning, then we are coming home to clean the house. Sunday is of course church, then that afternoon my husband has to work at the local festival. I'll be taking the kids to JR's soccer game, then my parents are coming down for dinner that evening. Monday will be my husband's class, and a cub scout pack meeting. I haven't looked any further than that because I just can't handle it! I don't mean to sound as though I'm complaining. My family is healthy and happy and that is the important thing. And hopefully we will get enough sleep somewhere in there to remain healthy!

I thought I'd be better...

I really thought I would be better about posting since school has started again. I'm finding though, that even though I'm working from home, a paying job takes away from other things! I'm enjoying the extra money while it lasts, since it is only a temporary assignment.

The kids are really into the routine of school. I'm thrilled with how responsible JR is being with his school work. Of course there are days that he forgets, but I think he's a pretty typical fourth grader. He had another soccer game Sunday. He came really close to scoring a goal again. While I would have been very excited for him, I wasn't there and I would've cried (a lot) if he scored his first goal and I wasn't there.

I was listening to HT read yesterday. He read, "Dinos eating ham on turkey." I said, "it says ham on rye." He shrugged and replied, "I like turkey." All right then!

JC has been grounded to her room for the last week for completely unacceptable behavior at school. To make matters worse, she lied about it repeatedly. She is such a convincing liar it's scary. We tried to make this punishment pretty severe because we want her to be miserable and remember this...we don't want any repeats of the behavior!

Not much new happening around here the next couple of days. Just more school work and soccer!

Fresh cuts

Tomorrow is school picture day. I had hoped to get everyone a haircut last week, but the week just flew by. I didn't feel well at all Monday, so by yesterday morning I was feeling pressure! It worked out though, and there are three children with three crisp haircuts. They really look great, and I'm looking forward to their pictures tomorrow!

So close!

That was pretty much the theme of the weekend. Notre Dame was so close to beating Michigan, and OSU was so close to beating USC. Today was the biggest though. Three times today, JR was so, so, so close to scoring a goal in his soccer game! A friend and I were so excited and we were practically kicking it in our seats for him! I got tears in my eyes when I thought about my oldest son, and everything he's been through, and we wanted so badly for him to score. Not to be today, but it was so close!

We've made it through the day

I'm exhausted, but for the most part we've made it through the day. I knew it would be a long one. The original plan was for our family to go to HT's soccer game at 9, then my husband would head to a friend's house to help chop firewood. I would take my three and two of JR's teammates to his noon soccer game which was about 20 minutes away. Because of scheduling conflicts, I was also supposed to help coach. Then later this evening I would join my husband at our friends' house and we would spend a lovely evening visiting. Not to be though. My wonderful husband awoke at 2:30 this morning with a fever of 101.9. Yuck! The kids were in no mood to get up and at 'em this morning, but somehow we made it to HT's game on time. He did fairly well. The cute thing is that he really wants to play goalie, but there is no goalie at that level. I came home between games long enough to clean and refill water bottles for round two, as well as throw a snack together for the little ones during their older brother's game. We followed the directions perfectly, and when we arrived at our destination I was alarmed to notice there WAS NO SOCCER FIELD! Several other parents arrived at the same time so it wasn't just me! I was able to get in touch with our league president, and he knew exactly where to send us. And as a bonus, the assistant coach was able to be there so I didn't have to make my coaching debut (Thanks goodness)! JR's team played to a 5-2 victory, but unfortunately JR was in goal for both of the opposing goals. We've come home to finish the day with football and movies, and hopefully a good night sleep! My husband's fever is down to about 100, and fortunately he doesn't feel awful. He's staying away from all of us though!

NFL has begun!

On a lighter note from my previous post, the NFL season has begun! And I can think of no better way for it to begin than a Steelers victory! A very exciting and dramatic game, although I'll be honest, no one in my house was awake to see the Steelers finally win. JC was in bed long before the game ever started due to her behavior, but the boys stayed awake to watch kick off. HT made it to half-time (one benefit of being in PM kindergarten) and I was the last to give in as Hines Ward fumbled in the red zone. It was so cute to see HT before the start of the game. He had his beloved foam finger, his Terrible Towel, and he was jumping up and down whenever Big Ben would appear on the screen. Go Steelers!

Remembering

Today, of course, few of us can help but remember those awful days eight years ago. My heart goes out to the families directly affected by this date. I can't imagine. I mentioned last night to my husband that I was glad my children have no concept of what this date is. Two of them weren't even born yet, and the oldest was just over two. Sadly, my husband said that if it isn't this, it will be something else. I suppose that is true. My thoughts and prayers are with the families, and our entire country, today.

Nothing new

We are pretty much in the back to school routine, and it seems to be leaving very little time for much else. We are still managing to fit in scouts and soccer right now, but homework seems to be taking the vast majority of our time right now. I know that things will settle in soon, but getting there can be tough.

We enjoyed our Labor Day weekend. We took the kids to the county fair, where the older two had entered a poster contest through their school. We visited with friends that evening, then on Sunday JR went with my sister to a science museum while the rest of us spent the day with Dad at the lake. We absolutely love being there. Monday was a day to get caught up on laundry, and work on getting ready for another week!

A day of firsts

Yesterday was a day of firsts in our house. HT tied his shoes for the very first time yesterday. He was so excited, and we are so proud! JC had her first sleepover at a friend's house last evening. She loved every minute. And it wasn't a first, but JR had a wipe out on his bike yesterday. Lots of bandages on him. Eventful day!

Patriotism?

Sunday evening at dinner, JC announced that they were learning a new song in music class at school. JR chimed in that it was the Star Spangled Banner. The following conversation occured:
JC: (singing) "Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early hell..."
me: Stop. Sing it again.
JC: (singing) "Oh say can you see, by the dawn's early hell..."
me: Did you say hell?
JC: Yes
me: I think you still have some more learning to do.
I then proceeded to lay my head on the table and laugh and laugh. I just couldn't help myself!