Halloween 2011--the year of the dress-up box

Last year was the year of the garage sale costumes...this year was the year of the dress-up box. I was just not really wanting to put a bunch of time and money into the making/buying of costumes. And somehow I convinced the kids that using what we had would be the COOOOOLEST thing ever.

And it was. Easy. Cheap. Low-stress.

We did special photo shoots this year--and the kids LOVED it. They were SO into scouting out locations and trying to find cool places to pose. And they are really excited for next year. I'd say we have ourselves a new tradition. ;)

The best part about a construction site photoshoot with a little guy who has a tiny bladder...

And Carter wore the hand-me-down costume....

We trick-or-treated for a few blocks, and then hurried home to pass out candy of our own. The kids were SO excited about that part--almost more than GETTING candy.

...and the best part was that daddy came home right as we were taking off, so we got to walk the block with another Doc. :) Such beautiful weather...and a fun, fun night.

City girl...Country Girl

When we lived in Cleveland, I felt like I was in my element. I loved being close to downtown...I LOVED driving into the city and seeing the sprawling skyline. It was true beauty...

I loved having access to the children's museum, Science Center, Broadway plays, and a variety of other cultural activities. I loved being surrounded by a million restaurant choices and shopping venues. I decided then, that I was a city kind of girl.

But then we moved to Texas.

And the only thing in our skyline is the hospital Brandon works at.

The restaurant selection is somewhat limited. The cultural exposure is hit or miss.

And yet...I LOVE where I live. I love driving by the big fields and tractors...I love the early morning smells. I love that I can go on a walk on the trails across the street from my house and see this...

...and at the same time, I am only a 4-5 minute drive from a Walmart Supercenter, Sam's Club, and even Chick-fil-a.

There is definitely a part of me that is loving the country kind of life...
Where things are a little slower...a little friendlier...a little more peaceful.

When we settle for good, I just need to plant this location about 7-10 minutes from a downtown location.
THAT would be pure bliss. :)

Caramel Apple Bar 2011

For our annual caramel apple bar, we pulled out all the toppings and invited our new neighbor friends over. WE HAD SUCH a great time...staying up past the kiddos bedtime, letting the warm Fall air (and flies) into our house, while the kids ate and ate and ran all over the yard playing.

Toppings this year included:
-heath bits
-red hots
-mini chocolate chips
-mini Reeces Pieces
-peanuts
-crushed andes mints
-crushed oreos
-graham cracker crumbs
-sprinkles

...and of course, the caramel. ;)

We sliced the apples and put sticks in for the kids--and us--for ease of eating...and topping. lol.
A few went a little overboard. :)

We decided it was easiest to have them put all their toppings in a cupcake wrapper, and then dip the apple slices in caramel, and then in their toppings--that assures every bite gets extra deliciousness. :)

Dip, candy-coat, eat, repeat.
Can you see why this is a Fall Family Favorite?

If at first you don't succeed, read the darn instructions.

I wrote a while back about Kaden's struggles with school.

After several parent-teacher conferences and trying to figure out what he needs to know when, I have a little bit of a different tune to sing...

And I hang my head in a bit of shame.

For it was not that he was necessarily struggling with the change. It was more that I failed to read the instructions correctly.

The sight words we were drilling him on...we were 6 weeks ahead.

I read the lists as 2nd week, 3rd week, 4th week, etc. instead of 2nd 6 weeks, 3rd 6 weeks, etc.

So I was panicked that he didn't know these words.

His teacher assured me that most of the kids in his class were struggling with writing their name in lower case. I had assumed it was just him. She said it will come...in time. And I am sure it will.

I think the ironic thing about all of this, is that I was so stressed about him NOT knowing enough, while inadvertently pushing him to know more than he should. To find out he was a-okay and right on track was SO reassuring. Our afternoons have been SO much smoother since...

Kind of feeling sheepish--like it's time for me to take a step back to school and work on the trick worksheet that says, READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS before proceeding. (you know, the one that really has you do nothing but put your name, and instead most just jump ahead and fill it out anyway.)

Live and learn...and read the instructions. :)

Mishmash...

of pictures that never made it on here...but ones I don't want to forget either! There's no rhyme or reason to this post...just trying to put it down while I remember it.

We took a trip up to Waco a few weeks ago to visit with Jason and Mindi, just before she had her baby. Got a few pics of the kids while they played at the park and in the backyard for our picnic dinner...

(Jessica)

(Cailyn)

Spencer the monkey...

David

Also a few weeks ago, we went to a birthday party for a friend of ours. I feel like I hardly have my camera at the park anymore, so I made sure to take it that particular time. I know these pictures probably don't mean as much to the passerby...but I look at pictures even a few months ago, and I wonder how the kids got so big!

and when it became okay to look scraggly in public... lol

Kaden attended a fire safety thing at school a day or two before, and insisted on wearing his hat for several days. HE WAS HOOKED on it.

Carter inhaled a cupcake (or two)

and was a funny guy to watch.

Speaking of being a funny guy to watch, he really does think he's all that and a bag of chips...

And it's pretty hilarious. DAILY when he sits in his booster, he props his foot up on the table and scoots his chair back. Despite being told no over and over, he still does it...and he laughs every time.

He's a rebel. :)

He also climbs in every chair possible.

This results in him falling out of or folding himself in pretty much every chair we own.

Since these pics were taken, I have replaced that folding chair as our computer chair...and he still finds a way to shimmy his chubby little body in between the rungs of the new chair. It's baffling, really.

HE LOVES the computer. Any chance he gets, he's up there pounding away. He's changed more settings on the desktop than I ever knew existed, and have no idea how to change back.

And as mad as it makes me, it's kind of hard to get mad a his chubby little cheeks and snuggly little body,

:)

Morning Sickness...

is what has consumed my body for the past several months off and on...but more on than off. 

It started when I stopped nursing Carter.

I've laid low and kept pretty quiet about this, because it is inevitable that when you say NAUSEA everyone immediately assumes PREGNANT.

Let me make it clear...I AM NOT pregnant.

I have had this checked and double checked, because I was desperate for an answer as to what was causing me to feel SO ill for so long.

I have felt guilty.

Guilty because when I am nauseuos, I have to eat. And eat. And eat. Anything to help make the nausea go away. Most people, it seems, just can't eat anything. But I am the opposite.

And eating leads to weight gain.

I won't start about my fears about weight gain...sigh.

And having lost a good amount of weight and changing my eating habits, it is SO frustrating to have insane cravings for things I left behind and have had NO desire to eat...like fried chicken and Pop Tarts and Ramen noodles.

{shudder}

Part of me has felt outright CRAZY.

I kid you not. Pregnancy symptoms galore.

Even the restless legs. Eating constantly. Exhaustion. Headaches.

But absolutely 100% NOT pregnant.

I was at the end of my rope. I had blood drawn.

My tests were normal.

(though, waiting on the thyroid...which I personally don't think is the problem)

And after doing a lot of research, talking with my doctor, and looking at all the puzzle pieces,

I THINK I have figured it out...

though, nothing is certain as of now.

The doctor prescribed a low dose b.c. pill to take on top of the IUD I have, to try to balance the hormones out. I've only taken that a few days. But that has made it even WORSE. I finally stopped taking it last night, and today I finally felt like a normal person...for the first time in a LONG time. I can only hope this lasts...but I am doubting.

So I am wondering...

(and I know this is entirely person, and perhaps too much info for me to post...but giving it a try anyway because I am desperate for answers)

Have any of you ever had Mirena and experienced this type of scenario?

Or have any of you ever had these symptoms / imbalance of hormones when you stopped nursing?

If it's too personal to share, you are welcome to email me:

hollowayfam (at) yahoo.com

Edited to add...To clarify a few things--I've had 2 other IUD's and never had problems like this. And these symptoms started when I stopped nursing, so a year after getting the IUD to begin with. Strange, right? My doctor says age, number of kids, etc can all play into how your hormones respond and that it's not for everyone. I just have had such a hard time believing that until now, because I DID have 2 successful times. I just don't want to do something drastic and get rid of the IUD if it isn't the problem, but more and more I am feeling like it just may be.

Goooooooo Bumblebees!

One thing I absolutely LOVE about the school my kids attend, is the MAJOR passion for school spirit. Every week, all the schools are shuttled to the high school to attend a pep rally, and the students (and parents and teachers) I've met thus far just LOVE all things school related!

It's been so much fun to watch Jenna and Kaden be exposed to this scenario for the first time in their lives. They both yell chants and cheers, and beg to go to the "big game", and are SOLD on the green and gold!

So when Jenna was presented with the chance to do a cheer camp, and even came up with half the funds to do so, we couldn't say no. I loved her excitement. She reminded us daily that on Saturday she had plans--to not worry about her for lunch, because she would be at cheer camp. She set her things out the night before, thinking through what bow would look like a cheerleader would wear, and which outfit she could move the best in.

I think the cutest thing about all of this, was that as badly as she WANTS to be a cheerleader, she was unfortunately blessed with both Brandon's and my lack of coordination. But she sure was adorable to watch TRY. :)

We love our little cheerleader and all her enthusiasm! :)

Stop - Drop - and Roll!

This morning I took the kids and went to the Fire Safety morning and pancake breakfast, sponsored by the local Fire Department. I'll be honest--I went more for me than anything. I needed to get out of the house. I needed to stay sane. (it's been a rough week. :)

But the fresh air and sunshine, free pancakes, and fun activities ended up being a blast for the kids--and much needed for ALL of us.

Carter was a good sport about wearing his little helmet.

The kids all took turns learning to rescue someone, stop-drop-and roll, and how to crawl low to escape a fire.
p.s. the little fireman jackets they got to wear: ADORABLE. :)

My favorite part was them sitting in this vintage fire truck.
It's just moments like this I love to sit back and watch them all.
They were rally, really cute together.

They played around on the BIG RIGS for a bit.

And posed for one quick sibling pic.

Before meeting Sparky.

It really was a great morning. :)