Nutcracker

So while Raea and Larissa enjoyed the Nutcracker, I hung out in my pajamas.

And there was a lot of this.

Preschool Thanksgiving Feast

For a week, Herston has been making food for this preschool feast. Today he enjoyed the fruits of his labors... literally.

Homemade applesauce, pumpkin pie, and more.

Happy Thanksgiving week.

Welcome Back

While Grant started his weekend like this:

I was taking a cold shower due to a broken (less than one year old) water heater.

While Grant was working hard at finding perfect photo opportunities:
I was hard at work with the kids... and work... and broken vacuums... and broken light switches.

However, I kept my personal promise; I didn't complain TO HIM while he was gone.

Welcome back, Grant!
Now it's time for buzz kill Monday.

Angel Blanket

Psalm 91:11
For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

So blessed to have been apart of the love and prayers from Angel Blanket Ministries.

www.angelblanketministries.org

Turkey Trot

I got to school from Herston's preschool just in time to see Larissa enjoying her after running treat. She said she did great!

Ethan was stellar. I could tell he ran his best because he had a serious cause of the wobbly legs afterwards. With him, the top three were all from the same primary class.

I bribed Raea. She was top eight and first female, and now I owe her a candy bar.

My sensitive elephant

Larissa never forgets.

For two weeks, she talked about the special lunch she earned with her teacher. Sometimes she would talk about what she was going to wear. Sometimes she would talk about how she was going to do her hair. But she was always talking.

In the car, I remembered today had been the day.

Larissa!! How was the lunch?

"It was so good. We got to have cookies."

So who was there?

"Me. And [this boy] and [this girl]."

Wow. So it was just a small group."

"Well... Katelynn was supposed to be there."

The Power of the Thumb... And Genetics

Once upon a time, I had a thumb sucker. We painted the numb with unsavory fingernail polish. We punished. We bribed. Nothing.

Then she turned five, and we got an implanted thumb guard in her mouth. It was earlier than we expected for "braces" or the cost, but it worked.

We have six months, and we will probably be doing it again. At least we know a good orthodontist.

(There is a picture of me circulating where I am sucking my thumb at a rather old pediatric age.)

School Uniforms

It's big

Seven years ago, we bought a family car. I had a toddler and a newborn.

Flash forward to today, we have almost 5 kids and have outgrown our little crossover.

When you don't buy cars very often, it feels pretty special when you do.

"We are officially a soccer family." -Raea

"The window rolls down so quietly; it's like it was never even there." -Ethan

"Wow, it has air at my feet." -Larissa

"We have a monster truck now." -Herston

Meet Big Silver, our new Yukon XL.

Another Championship Run

I am so amazed at this girl. They have worked their way up the tournament circuit and because of their record, they have been moved to a higher division.

*~*~*~*

To all my local friends, we will be doing another season of Candlelight Soccer League starting January 23. It's six weeks on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and I promise you won't find a cheaper league to introduce soccer to your children.

Fashionista

This girl deserves her own fashion blog.

She wanted a girl baby the most for two reasons:
1- She wanted to dress someone up in her clothes.
2- She wanted me to do the baby's hair, so I would stop asking her.

Love is the greatest motivator

A woman at church said that during her college early education classes she learned that love was the greatest motivator in changing children's behavior.

Love is the greatest motivator for anyone.

Here's to loving a little bit more today... And motivating just as a plus.

The Gap and The Bond

The Gap was hard, but I wouldn't change anything.

The bond between these two kids is amazing. I am so blessed these two have each other. Ethan gives Larissa the love and attention she needs, and she keeps him grounded and functioning.

P.S. Good things are in the works. Stay tuned...

Social and Political Ramblings by Herston

"Mom, a hobo doesn't have a house or a car."

Nope.

"They are just waiting to die."

Well, maybe they could get a job.

"Someone should buy them a car, so they can go to their job."

Or they could walk.

"What if it's too far?"

Maybe they should get one not far.

"Far sounds like fart."