At a Loss for a Title to this One.......

It is 10:50 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28.  Dave and I are upstairs in the TV room.  Dave is watching a movie on the big screen and I am totally enthralled in my new book from Christmas.

All of the girls have been in bed since 9 o'clock or maybe a hair earlier.  I first tried Nicole at 8:40 but she came out and Dave put her back in and told her to go to sleep.

Hannah and Ashley have found it fun this Christmas break to sleep upstairs in the guest bedroom.  For this night, Hannah has the bed and Ashley gets the mattress on the floor.

At 10:35, Dave and I hear a noise coming from the door behind us.  Dave can see that standing in the doorway is Nicole.....in her coat.  She's told to come to the couch so we can chat with her.  As she bounds around the corner, we see that she is no longer in her pjs.  She has changed into a turtleneck shirt, her winter coat and I can count three pair of pants.  She can't speak clearly because she's sucking on a life saver.

Oh dear!  She hasn't been asleep in her room like we thought.  She's been playing and eating Ashley's life savers from Christmas!

She sat on my lap for a moment so we could talk and I counted four bracelets on her wrist.  Hmmm.......

The movie has now ended.  Dave has snickered a bit as I've been talking to her and asking what she's been doing in her room.  She replies that she's been playing and eating life savers.  I asked her if she made a mess and innocently she tells me yes.  I asked her if she is going to clean it up tomorrow and she innocently tells me no.  This is what brought a chuckle from Dave.

I pondered for a moment about asking Dave to take her back to bed because I was afraid a panic attack would come along with seeing the mess in the bedroom.  However, I braved myself and took her downstairs.

Upon entering the bedroom, I see that she has emptied out the entire bottom drawer of her dresser and the clothes are piled on the floor.   There is not one pair of shorts left in the drawer.

She has also opened all five packs of Ashley's life savers and scattered them along with the tiny pieces of paper on the floor.  This time when I told her that she would be cleaning up the mess in the morning she hugged me and said, "ok mom!"

We located her pjs in an attempt to get her ready for bed once again.  I mentioned earlier that I had been able to physically see three pair of pants that she had on so as I started taking them off, I was counting in my mind....one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.  Yes!  She had on seven pair of pants!  she asked me while I was taking them off if she could go swimming.  Where in the world had this come from?!?  Then after reaching the end of the seven pair of pants, I came down to a swim diaper!  I said, "where is your pull-up?"  She ran to her dresser and pulled it out.  She had exchanged it for a swim diaper and wanted to go swimming!  Silly mom!!  What were you thinking?!?!?

I could have been mad as I was removing all of the clothes but I couldn't help but chuckle myself as I was counting.  This time she said she understood that it was time to stay in bed and go to sleep...guess we'll see.  She's been in there for 15 minutes....pray tell if she's asleep or unloading drawer number two!

Never a dull moment with this three year old!!

Making My Heart Hurt

Kids are amazing.  One minute they can drive you crazy and the next minute they can tell you a story and it can totally make your heart hurt.

There are times as a mom that you wonder if you're even getting through.  Are you teaching them anything or is everything you say going in one ear and out the other.  My conversation with Hannah tonight totally brought to my attention that she is learning and turning into an amazing young girl.

Hannah worked in the cafeteria for lunch yesterday at school.  During a regular school day the students are assigned a table to eat at.  From the conversation, I'm guessing that when you're a lunch worker, you can eat lunch at any table.

While driving in the car, I asked Hannah how her day at school went.  She told me about today and then asked if I wanted to hear a story about what happened yesterday.  The way she said it I immediately thought it was going to be about someone at school teasing her.  This is not what I was expecting:

"You know how when it's your first year at Edith Bowen you're kind of scared and really don't have a lot of friends?  There's this one girl that's new at school and yesterday she was eating lunch at a table all by herself.  Naomi, Erica, Sami and I thought we'd go sit by her and eat."

"Naomi had some other friends sitting at another table.  We were walking to sit by this girl and Naomi's friends starting yelling for her to come and sit with them and she did.  Erica followed Naomi and then Sami followed Erica.  I didn't want this girl to sit by herself so I still went and sat by her."

"I really didn't know what to say to her and I really liked her necklace so I told her that I liked it and it made her smile.  She finished eating and then said she was going to go and said good-bye.  The others started saying for me to come and sit with them because I was by myself but I had already started eating so I stayed there."

"Mom, what would you have done?  Would you have sat by this girl that was by herself or would you have gone with your friends?"

With tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat, I ask, "Did you finish eating your lunch at the table by yourself."

Hannah: "Yes but it was ok because I didn't want the girl to sit by herself and she finished eating and had to go.  I had already started eating and I didn't want to pack up my food and move."

Wow!  My heart was/is full!  What an amazing girl!  It really did make me wonder.  Would I have been as strong as Hannah and been able to sit with the girl or would I have followed as the other did and go sit with my friends?

These small acts of kindness do prove that things do get through.

Ashley's Concerned

Ashley:  "Mom? If it keeps raining, will the snow melt?"

Me:  Probably.

Ashley:  "Then Santa is going to have to come in his one HORSE open sleigh with wheels and not in his sleigh with the reindeer!"

Yep....I can totally see the concern.

She's Got It

Hannah brought home a book they made in class of idioms.  If you're like me, you're wondering what in the world an idiom is.  Well, it's a saying like, "I have a frog in my throat" or "The early bird always gets the worm".

I assume from flipping through the book the idiom was started and then the kids were to finish it and draw a picture about it.  As I'm looking through the book and getting a chuckle, I came across this idiom....

Typed words:  A woman's work.......

Hannah's response: is hard.

My thought:  Amen Sister!

They can never learn too early!

Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween we had Dracula's Daughter, a Cat, and a Bee.

Dressing up for Halloween began with Hannah on Tuesday and at least one kid was dressed up each day with the big bang of Halloween on Saturday.  By the final "dress up" I was done with the whole thing!

Hannah came up with her costume due to having to do a book report for school regarding a Mystery book.  She had to read the book, dress up as a character, do a book report, and bring a treat to school representing the book.  Holy cow!  I could have swore she was only in the third grade!

Saturday afternoon we came into town and picked up Grandma and headed out to Trick-or-Treat at Traci's, Grandma Nana's, and Lee's Marketplace.  Before heading out we snapped a few photos....

 Check out these facial expressions......

When we were finished in town, we headed to Mendon to pick up Dave.  He dressed up as a cop for the evening....how original!  We headed to Wellsville to Trick-or-Treat at one of Dave's friend's house, which the girls absolutely LOVE to go to because she gives out the COOLEST treats!  While there....we went to the "haunted house" next door and took some photos.....

Next, we headed back to Mendon to deck out the golf cart and off Trick-or-Treating we went.  It was pouring down rain but we were dry.  We attached an umbrella to the back of the golf cart that Hannah and Ashley stayed under and the other three of us were under the roof of the cart.  The red flashing light on top of the golf cart really adds.  We have so much fun!  It sure is nice that Dave can adjust which town he is in to come and enjoy the fun with us.

Until next year.....

Hannah's Fall Soccer

Hannah finished her Fall Soccer Season with a bang!  I missed her last game due to a class I was taking.  Bummer!  Dave said she hustled and worked hard.  When I saw the pictures, I was impressed.  She did a great job!

Nicole's Birthday Party

Nicole's actual birthday was on Sunday but where we were camping we decided to hold off the festivities until Monday night.  We invited Grandma Peterson, Grandma & Grandpa Welker, Uncle Glade, and Nate, Kendal & family to join us for a cookout of hamburgers and hot dogs and topped it off with cake and ice cream.

The food was yummy, the cake and ice cream were yummy, and Nicole was in her prime as the center of attention.  She had fun singing Happy Birthday to herself and opening some really fun presents.

Happy Birthday Nicole!  You are such a cute three year old!

Final Camping Trip of the Year

For UEA weekend, we took the trailer out one last time.  We were joined by the Bensons and Rindlisbachers. 

We spent Friday, Saturday, and Sunday camping in Mantua.  The weather was perfect; not too hot and not too cold, the food was amazing......we always eat like kings and queens when we camp, and the R&R was well deserved.

The bummer part of this camp out was that Nicole woke up Saturday morning at 5:30 a.m. and never went back to sleep.  We put her in bed with Dave and I but there was no way she was giving back in.  She was awake and ready to go.

Sunday morning brought us 15 more minutes of sleep.  Nicole fell out of bed at 5:45 a.m.  However, this time we weren't taking any chances.  She had a stuffy nose, which I think prompted her to roll around so out came the Benedryl and a dose later she was conked back out.  Aaaahhhh....the joys of modern medicine!

The colors in the mountains were amazing!  These pictures do not do it justice but I thought I'd post them anyway.

We took pumpkins up with us so the kids could have an activity and carve them.  It worked out great.....just as always.....the parents ended up doing most of the carving.  It was nice though to be doing it outside and not worrying about the mess going on the floor.

Ashley was hilarious! She was totally disgusted with the insides!

Sunday brought Nicole's birthday.  She turned three!  We brought cupcakes to celebrate with her.  I know I purchased candles at the grocery store but I could not find them anywhere!  They must have been left at the store because when we cleaned the trailer they were never found.  So, we improvised.  We put three matches in her cupcake and had her blow them out.  She didn't care; she was just happy to be the center of attention.  She even sang Happy Birthday to herself.  Three is such a fun age!

She loved that cupcake! 

Random shots.......

What a good sport! She let the younger girls do her hair!

Just a bucket of smiles! 

Well, the trailer is all winterized and has been parked on the side of the house for the winter.  We as a family have LOVED our camping experiences this year.  We are SO pleased with the purchase we made of the trailer.  The other joy is knowing that this is something our girls look forward to and enjoy.  We can't wait until April of 2011 when we'll be hooked up and ready to go again!

The Escape Artist

Last Friday brought a trip to the doctor's.  Nicole needed her three year check up (yes, she turned three......I'll post pictures later) and all three girls were schedule for flu shots.

On Monday I had mentioned that we were having flu shots on Friday.  Ashley instantly freaked and started commenting that she did not want a flu shot.  I said no more until Friday when I commented that today was the day for the shots.  Again, Ashley freaked in the car and started asking if she could have the "stuff that goes in your nose"; the mist.  I told her that when we got to the Doctor's office I would ask and see if she could have the mist.

Nicole was taken back first for her check-up.  Hannah and Ashley sat in the waiting room with Grandma Peterson until it was time for flu shots.  At check-in, I asked if I could change one of the flu shots for the mist.  Wouldn't you know it...the had just run out of the mist.  When Ashley heard this she instantly broke down in tears.  I tried to calm her down by telling her that it would be alright and over before she knew.  She wouldn't listen.  She sat on Grandma's lap and sobbed.

I took Nicole back and the nurse asked if the other girls wanted to wait for me to be in the room for the shots or should she go ahead and take them back and do it.  I told her that Hannah would be fine getting hers done early but she had better wait on Ashley.  Hannah has the technique down.  She can relax and just get it done!

Nicole's appointment went well and she's growing good and is healthy.  Now comes the flu shots.  I told the nurse to go ahead and get Nicole done with just us three in the office.  This way she'll be done and Ashley won't see us holding her down and seeing the process.  We did have to hold Nicole down a bit and she cried and gave the nurse a dirty look but when the bucket of suckers came out she was over it.

I went to the waiting room to inform Hannah and Ashley that it was time for the shots.  Ashley instantly started backing up and going away from me.  I went out and got her by the hand and coaxed her to the room.

In the room, I was getting Hannah up on the table and making sure everything was going well, when all of the sudden, Ashley had reached the door, opened it and out she went.  SHE WAS ESCAPING!  She headed for the waiting room and hid behind a 1/2 wall.

As I was going after her, another mom in the waiting room said, "Wow.  It's done already?"  I said, "Nope.  She has escaped!"  The mom said if she'd have know that she would have stopped her.

So picture this........me in the waiting room playing peek-a-boo with Ashley around the 1/2 wall trying to outsmart her and grad hold of her somehow.  I finally got her and ended up carrying her back to the room.  All the while she is crying and screaming no!

We're in the office, I've managed to sit her down on the table and she is still freaking out trying to get away from us and screaming, "Don't touch me!"  You can totally see the terror in her eyes.  As a mom this is horrible to see.  It almost came to the point of saying that she's so terrified that it's not worth doing the shot.  I tried to explain to Ashley that I would never do anything to harm her.  I will only do things to help her but she would listen.

As we're trying to get the shot done, we have had to pull Ashley's arm out of her sleeve because we couldn't pull it up far enough.  This was not an easy task.  I have a a hold of her hands/arms and I'm leaning against her legs.  The nurse has grabbed her upper arm where the shot needs to go and the fight is on.

The nurse does great in getting the shot administered and as the needle goes in, Ashley looks and says, "Oh."  Like......oh.....that's it?!?!?  Well, that's not bad.  Are you kidding me?!?!?  By this time I have broken into a sweat, had to chase her through the waiting room and all she can say is Oh!

The tears immediately stopped, the sucker was picked and unwrapped and you hear Ashley say, "Thank you."  That was a little heart touching.

Chalk this down to one more experience with Ashley that will be unforgettable.  She is the one that is going to keep us on our toes!

The Things Kids Say

During one of the talks in General Conference the first of October, the Holy Ghost was brought up quite a few times.  You never think kids are listening but Nicole picked up on hearing the words the Holy Ghost.  As we were watching Conference, she asked if the Holy Ghost is nice.  I told her yes, he's nice.

For the past few weeks, Nicole will out of the blue, say that the Holy Ghost is nice; he doesn't bite.

After dinner tonight, the girls were playing in the living room with Grandma Peterson watching and Dave and I were cleaning up the dishes.  I can't remember if it was Ashley or Hannah that had a blanket over their head walking around but Nicole blurts out, "It's the Holy Ghost!"

I still can't help but chuckle!

Ashley's Fall Soccer Season

Hurray! I finally remembered the camera on Saturday for soccer games.

Ashley has been a little go-getter during this stint of games.  I was a bit worried about her because in the Spring league she was really in to her hair bouncing as she ran.  For fall though, she's been getting in there and having fun.  It's fun to see her in this league.  She towers her teammates.  I think she's going to have her Dad's height!

I have to say that I did remember the camera the Saturday before.  I got this one picture of Ashley (she's #8) and then the batteries died.  That's just my luck!

With a fresh set of batteries, these pictures turned out much better!

Oh to know what's going through this mind......

I didn't get any good pictures of Hannah's game.  Hopefully next week I can get some good shots.  I sure hope anyway.....it's her last game!