The Bamb-aid Boy

Caleb had a rough week last week. He bumped his forehead, and demanded a bamb-aid (his word). I obliged even though there was no bump, blood or bruise. He wore it for more than a week. A few days later he scratched his cheek, and it really did bleed. This one demanded a bamb-aid.  So he got one. He got quite a few comments, and I got quite a few looks from strangers, but this was my little one for a few days.

I was worried about him getting those nasty band-aid lines, but fortunately it did not happen. 

Snaggletooth!

So Beth has been losing teeth left and right lately. Since this picture was taken she lost another one on the bottom. She is very proud of her missing teeth, and smiles at people so that they will notice and comment.

She had a recent experience with the tooth fairy. She woke up fairly early one morning after losing her tooth, only to discover her tooth was still there! The tooth fairy had not made it. She came in and lay sobbing on my bed. The tooth fairy was missing! 

Rob came in after his shower, and mentioned that he had heard something in Beth's room. She checked under her pillow to find $5.00. (Unbelievable I know, especially with my other post) and a note. Beth, immediately noticed that the note was on our paper cut out with our scissors. Sounds a little suspicious to a seven year old. The note explained that the tooth fairy was caught in a snow storm in Nebraska, and that she'd leave a more detailed explanation the next night.

Well the note came, and it was a heart wrenching tale of frozen wings, and a helpful little old woman. The tooth fairy confessed that she had borrowed the scissors since she was running so late, but that she wouldn't in the future. Beth was convinced that the tooth fairy had remained true to her. The note at the top is the letter. Didn't want all that fancy work to be wasted without someone else appreciating it. 

Water Bomb!

So a few weeks ago, the kids were having a rough day, but were settling down well for bed. Caleb turned to me, and asked if he could go water bombing. I asked him what that was, and he held up an empty soda bottle. And said, "See a water bomb."

I decided to let them go ahead. It involved going out on a fairly chilly night, with a soda bottle full of water and throwing it up above your head in a spin, so that the water would shoot out as it went.

The kids had a blast, until Dad stepped in with the voice of reason--shorts, bare feet, cold night, dark, wet--No more water bombs!

Just Because

This is a fun picture of Caleb being his silly self. 

This is a picture of Jacob being his sleepy self. 

A Knock on the Door at 2:00 am

This week has been an interesting one. Beth was out of school on both Monday and Tuesday. It was nice to have her home, but the weather was miserably cold and wet. Tuesday it drizzled cold rain all days, and the kids were more than a little restless. Nonetheless, we made it to the polls, and voted. It was great--I dreaded standing in line, but the early voting seemed to pay off in my area, because I didn't wait in line one minute. Not even a second. I just walked right in and voted.

Rob went to a film festival in Asheville this weekend. Greg had a film in it. Since Hickory was on his way, he took Caleb and Beth to play with their cousins. They had a lot of fun--fires, fish, and gymnastics kind of fun. Jacob stayed home with me, since he ran a fever most of the week. I think it might have been roseola, since he now has a rash that looks like roseola. But he's finally laughing and playing.

Back to Rob being gone--you all know how I am and that I freak myself out way too easily. So I locked the doors to the house, and the door to my room, and settle in to go to sleep the first night. I brought Jacob in the bed with me, since I freak myself out. He was still a bit sick and so he would wake up every so often and need to be soothed back to sleep. Well at 2:00 am I hear this sharp rapping on my bedroom door. I screamed, cause no one was home with me. Then I quickly reached over to make sure Jacob was okay, and he wasn't there. As I sat up and frantically put on my glasses, I realize that Jacob is the one standing at the door and knocking. Seriously it took me about thirty minutes to calm down and go back to sleep.

This week should be an easy one. The kids' extracurricular activities are cancelled and Beth will be home from school on Tuesday. It should be a fun week.

On Autumn

So I'm going to go off topic, and just write for a little bit. Autumn has a way of doing that to me. It is my favorite time of year. There is something about the beauty that just makes my heart ache (in a good way) as I drive down the streets or walk around. I think Autumn has always been one of my very favorite seasons, but honestly I didn't get the sheer beauty and wonder of it until I moved to North Carolina. The leaves just changed this weekend, almost overnight.

Gosh the trees are just so beautiful. This year is no exception the golds, and yellows are the brightest I've seen. And of course you have the pinks, the oranges, the orange pinks, the deep dark reds and some of the prettiest shades of brown you've ever seen. (And I'm a big fan of the color brown.) But my favorite trees are the ones that look as though they have caught on fire. They start out yellow at the bottom and move into an orange pink speckle all the way up to the top. Those trees take my breath away, and seriously I almost wreck every year as I pay more attention to the trees, then to my driving.

The first year we moved here I was teaching in this horrible school, and I hated it. And outside of my window was this big old tree (I want to say oak, but I've got no idea really.) And in the fall the leaves turned this deep reddish brown color. It was beautiful it was in this little courtyard area, and so the wind really didn't get to it, because it kept its leaves until Christmas vacation (when I quit). That tree was a gift to me, because in the moments when I was so overwhelmed by the horribleness around me, I could look out and see peace. It brought me strength through one of the most difficult times (up to that point) in my life.

So every fall I sit back and give thanks, because I know I'm not alone in this world. Heavenly Father is there, watching out for me, and painting the trees so that I can remember the brilliant colors through my winters. 

Enough waxing philosophical. I promised pictures, and yet I've not posted any. I keep meaning to take my camera out and getting a few of the leaves, but I know I won't do them justice. Rob does have pictures up, but its on a new site. Reason being we are dropping our Mac something account and switching to SmugMug, which is more economical in these troubling financial times, yada, yada, yada. I've included the link up there. And they are Rob pictures, which always turn out better than mine. I'm so blessed to have such a good photographer for a husband. Also really go check out the site. It's got Beth's ballet pictures, Caleb's sports pictures, our beach trip, our last trip to Utah, and Halloween. Notice Beth's haircut, her snaggletooth grin, and other things she keeps wanting to tell people about. Also Rob didn't take the pictures of his recent hike on the AT, but there up, and the trail was gorgeous.

I'll post updates again on Sunday--back to my regularly scheduled day.

I Got My Camera! And Happy Halloween!

Well, for Halloween we went to Trunk or Treat and then over to Greg and Heather's to see their spectacular Halloween exhibit. It was a lot of fun, and we collected my camera as well. But I still don't have pictures. Heather was kind enough to email me some Halloween pictures, but my gmail account isn't working. Check back in a day or two. Rob also has some Halloween pics on his camera, but it will awhile till he gets them up. He's busy scanning drawings and editing.

Beth was a mermaid. She wanted to be Hannah Montana, but settled on a mermaid, when I didn't quite make it to the store for a costume. I have a thing where I don't like wigs--Rob on the other hand loves them. So he should have been the one who went shopping. For Caleb's various Halloween parties he was Superman, a frog, and a dog. The dog was actually on Halloween. He didn't want to wear a costume, but I told him we would stay home without one, so he picked the dog--I think he was a dog (the same one) two years ago. Jacob was Superman twice.

We went to the trunk or treat, and ended up helping (setting up by ourselves) the tables for the Chili Cook Off. The other volunteers didn't show. But we had a few scary moments when Caleb let Jacob out of the building and we couldn't find him. Fortunately a helpful Primary child followed him around outside and didn't let him go in the road. My heart was pounding as Rob and I ran around outside in an utter panic.

The kids had a lot of fun trick or treating in a real neighborhood after we saw the stuff at Greg and Heather's. It was fun. And then Saturday they were so sugared up! But I've managed to steal and hide all of the candy, which will be dealt out as treats for completing chores, homework and other odious tasks. 

Yesterday was Cary Band Day. I was so excited to have my camera back in time for this exciting day, and then I left it at home. Oops.  Rob marched in band for one year--he says he didn't like--which he must not have since he quit. And I was in Guard (colorguard) for three years, and so the band geek in me comes shining through this time every year. We went to the parade in the morning, and then to competitions in the afternoon. We got to see the 3A class and then the kids had had enough. Unfortunately, Stake Conference coincided with the evening competition--the best bands to watch--and we came home for that. Sigh--this is the second time it has happened, and I want to go to the competition--dang it!

But I heard some stuff I needed to at Stake Conference, so I'm glad that I went, but still!

The kids are doing well. Beth's out of school for two days. I think I'm going to take all the kids to vote with me on Tuesday. I may take the camera. It should be fun. Beth wants to post some toothless pictures, plus she got a cute haircut. So come back and I'll have Halloween pictures and some other pictures too.

Have a great week.