Random Thoughts

Why do parents insist on not using common sense when dressing their children? Why, when it is 40 degrees and Dad has on sweatshirt, pants, SOCKS, shoes, hat does 6 month old baby in stroller not have on SOCKS? Why does Mom have on shorts and a short-sleeve shirt and baby is dressed in snowsuit? Please, please, please dress your kids as you are dressed. If you are cold, they probably are. If you are hot, they probably are too. It's really not rocket science. Sorry, but it's a little pet peeve of mine.

The other morning I made biscuits and I said, "Elle would you like jelly on your belly?" I had every intention of saying biscuit. (For those who don't know, it's pronounced "El-ley" not "L".) I guess I needed to rhyme.

The leaves have really hit their highs this week I think. At least where I am. I am loving all the bright yellows, and vibrant reds and oranges. It really is just beautiful. Makes me think about Romans where Paul says God has made His invisible qualities understood by what has been made. His Creation is divine and leaves us all without excuse.

So there are my deep thoughts for the day. Hope you enjoyed.

Fall Festival Fun

Last Friday was a busy day for most people and we were certainly not left out. Elle went to school on Friday (instead of Thursday) and the whole school had their Fall Festival. Notice Elle's beautiful spider and spider web shirt she made. I went to school with her and "worked" the room with the obstacle course. It really was fun to see her there and watch her with the kids in her class and her teacher. The funniest part was I had been talking with the other moms in the room with me about how Elle loves school and never cries and never has a hard time leaving me (their daughters were the opposite!). Who's daughter started crying when it was time to leave? Not theirs, but mine. As soon as her teacher reminded her they still had to make cupcakes, she was golden.

That night, we went to the Fall Festival at church (same as Elle's school). I wish I would have had the video camera. Elle was mesmerized. She was so excited she could hardly contain herself. The first thing she did was enter one of those huge inflatable things. It was a one-way route and as soon as she slid down the slide at the end, she took off running. She didn't even look for us. Only after a few seconds did she start yelling, "Mommy, Mommy, Mommy!". We just knew we would lose her before the night was over. There were games and candy and toys and treats and inflatables galore. Grady had to be held most of the time. The few times we did put him down, he also took off like a flash, running wherever his little frog legs would take him. We laughed at this picture, saying it looked like a spotting of some creature in the forest?! (Thanks for the costume Powell!) I did take Elle around to a few houses on our street after we got home and got Grady in bed. She talked about the candy she got for three days straight.



My mom sent the kids these cute cards that played the theme from Ghostbusters and the Purple People-Eater song. They have loved singing and dancing to them.



I hope everyone has exercised their freedom and right to vote today. It seems like there has been a massive turnout so far. We shall see what the next four years will bring?!

Ha Ha

So this is what happens when you trustingly give your husband your blogspot password so that he can "change the link to his work website" as you settle in bed for the night. Not only did he change my page, but see how he moved his work stuff up to the top of the page. Hmmm... times are tough as I'm sure most of you know and I guess a husband's got to do what a husband's got to do. As much as I love pink and leopard print, enjoy it while you can. It won't be here long.

On another note, I had my interview today. All went well and hopefully I will start having a few evening shifts on the mother/baby unit, after general hospital orientation (1 week) and after unit orientation (about 24 days)?!

Here are a few pictures from our weekend in Dothan:

Elle and Powell in Poppey's chair

Poppey with 6 of his 7 grandkids (That's the best we could do!)

Grandma with 4 of her 6 great-grandkids

(notice my granny has on a leopard print shirt! She's still got it at 85!)

while you were sleeping

I've secretly changed Lindsey's blog colors. She's going to hate me, but I thought this would be funny...at least for me. I LOVE YOU LINDS!(I saved all your old settings, so don't freak.)

-steven

Birthday Weekend

We are heading to Dothan for the weekend to celebrate my grandmother's 85th birthday and my Dad's 60th birthday! Two pretty big milestones! Elle is excited about seeing her cousins and playing on Poppey's playground. Grady, of course, has no clue. He just goes with the flow. I should have some pictures to post on Monday. On another note, I have an interview for a job next Thursday. Haven't done one of those in about four years. Should be interesting! **Happy Anniversary Grammy & Gran Gran!

Pumpkin Patch

Last Sunday we rode the train to the pumpkin patch. I was a little upset when I realized that pumpkins cost extra, so I made sure we found a HUGE pumpkin. Elle, not being hindered by price, chose a pumpkin that was just her size (too small to cost $6?!). I did my best to put aside the tight wad in me and everybody had a great time. Elle and Maddie got their faces painted. They rode the hay ride along with Mae (my mom). Elle jumped in one of those bouncy things where the kids basically kill each other but have a blast doing it. And Steven chased Grady around the field for 45 minutes.





I finished my last day of class yesterday and received my beautiful certificate of completion. I have put in one application and am hoping to put in a few more soon. I cut my last day short because Elle was running fever. Thankfully, it's back to normal today. I have to say a big thank you to all the family and friends that helped keep the kids so that I could do this course. We appreciate each of you so much!

**I just tried for 30 minutes to do a slide show and couldn't get it to work right. I'm a little frustrated that I wasted 30 minutes doing this?!

Meet "Super Buddy"

Elle loves to play dress-up. She generally rotates between two outfits: a Cinderella gown (which really is just an old princess looking dress from Aunt Maddie) and "Super Buddy". I'm not sure where the name originated or even how the outfit did, but when this ensemble comes together, "Super Buddy" appears. The ensemble consists of my old competition gymnastics leotard with coordinating leggings and a sequin dance skirt of Aunt Maddie's with the matching head band. And because I am such a great mother, I let her wear this in public. And I love every second of it. Grady, as you can tell, is always on guard when "Super Buddy" comes out to play, because although she is technically a super hero and should save people, he usually gets knocked out by a flying arm or leg.



Both Elle and Grady have colds this week and thus I am skipping my nursing class. Thankfully, no fever just a lot of runny noses, coughing and congestion. We just bring out the usual remedies [humidifier, saline nose drops, elevate the head of bed (Grady) and inhaler (Elle)] and count the days until it ends. Everybody is hanging in there and thankful it is just a cold. Maybe "Super Buddy" can develop a cure for the common cold...