It's That Time Again!

November 17th...

I can't believe Thanksgiving and Christmas are almost here! It's still a tad early to decorate I think, but Derrick brought the boxes in from the shed before he left, and I just couldn't take it anymore! I started going through them when the kids were napping, only to realize that all I can set up right now is the village. Everything else we have pretty much revolves around the tree, so it will have to wait a few more weeks. At least it was something though, the village is all set up! It's huge, it took over the hutch and the entertainment center, and Cael thinks it's the coolest thing ever. Once it gets closer to Christmas, I will add the fake snow. Right now, I'm just not the in mood to be cleaning that up for a whole month and a half.

Just The Moon

November 16th...

Nothing really major has happened today, and I almost forgot to take a picture, so after Averi went to bed, Cael and I sat outside on the front porch for awhile. I was trying to think of something I could take a picture of in the dark, since I couldn't find anything in the house, and Cael pointed out the moon. Alright, that works. Of course, it was pitch black outside so I didn't know if it would even work. I took a few, than came inside and played around with the coloring on the computer and I think this one turned out pretty cool.

Story Time

November 15th...

Cael was being such a sweetheart tonight! When it was time to put Averi to bed, he was wondering why I didn't read her a story like I do him. Honestly, it's because I'm exhausted, ready to cry at any moment, and missing my husband, and she doesn't get upset with me if I don't want to read one...unlike her brother. So he took it upon himself tonight to read her a bedtime story. She loves it when he pays attention to her, so she was all smiles. I think he read that book to her about 5 or 6 times before I finally went in and turned her light out so she could sleep.

**I apologize for not talking about Averi's head on my blog, I just haven't been in the mood to talk about it honestly. She got an infection, but it's getting better now...hopefully. The doctor is positive her hair will grow back eventually, but for now her pictures might look a little silly...**

I Can't Believe How Hard That Was....Again

November 14th...

When Derrick initially left for this deployment there was no teary good bye at the airport, or even at Ft. Campbell. There wasn't time. He literally gave me a kiss through the driver's side window of the car while two other soldiers grabbed his bags out of the back and then they took off. It was heartbreaking, but I see know how much I prefer it that way. This time, we drove him to the airport ourselves and the nice people that work there gave the kids and I passes to go with him all the way to the gate. As much as I appreciated the gesture (and believe me, we loved and cherished every extra minute we got to be with him) I am almost wondering if it would have been easier to just drop him off again. Just rip it off like a band-aid and get it over with, you know? Being down at the gate meant we heard every "Now Boarding" call over the speaker, and had the same tense moment every time where we would listen for which section she was calling. Being down there meant Cael got to watch the airplane taxi in, and then away again, knowing that his daddy was on it. It was cool for him, he didn't understand just what that meant, but it was awful for me. I got to pretend excitement for Cael's sake though, as we were getting back onto the freeway in Nashville, Derrick's (I'm pretty sure) plane flew right over our car and we all waved to him. What was really heartbreaking was when we pulled up to the house and got out of the car, there was an airplane up in the sky and when Cael saw it he started yelling "Airplane!! Dada home, YAY!!!" I hope this time goes by fast so I can tell him that the planes he hears really do have daddy on board.

Only One More Day

November 13th...

Well, this is it. Our last full day of R & R. I really can't believe how fast it has gone by and it doesn't seem fair at all. The snow has started falling over there in Afghanistan and their missions are going to be extremely limited now (if at all...) and he is not looking forward to going all the way back just to sit on his butt for two months. I know I'm just generalizing all the hard work that they do into one lump category, but if they are done with the big stuff until the snow is gone...why can't they all come home? I don't understand it! Why do they need to sit over there and watch movies on their laptops, or play cards for these next few months? Why can't they watch movies with their kids, and play cards with their wives and friends in their own homes for the holidays? Ugh. But, it is what it is and I will keep my chin up until he gets home. I know that's what he would do if it was me who was gone, and that's what he will be doing over there. Just power through it, it's almost over.

An "Ugly" Addition

November 12th...

Snow boots. That's what we went shopping for today. Why? I was wearing flip flops, none of us needed a jacket. Why not? It's payday! Turns out, stores don't even have snow boots for sale yet. We got some for Averi but that's because they really aren't very practical, just cute. That's alright, she's not walking yet anyway. I guess Cael's can wait until it's closer to the time we will actually need them. But our shopping trip wasn't a total bust, Averi got to pick out an Ugly Doll! We got one of these (the yellow one) for Cael when he was about a year old. They are so random and ugly (hence the name) that we think they are adorable! Cael's was named "Fea Bea, The Ugly Stick" and he carried that thing around forever. I took Averi over to see the ones at the mall today and she snatched that purple one up so fast I knew we weren't going to have to help her pick! It's name is Ox and she hugged that thing straight up until bedtime tonight. I don't know what it is about these dolls but both of our kids love them to pieces. As soon as we got home Cael ran and pulled Fea Bea out from under a rock somewhere and they both just sat with them for a while. Welcome home Ox! Don't worry, you will be loved!

Heavenly!

November 11th...

Derrick is a soldier coming off 9 months of deployment. That means he has (just like every other deployed soldier, I'm sure) spent every waking second of those months daydreaming about what meal he was most excited to eat when he got home! For Derrick, it was burgandy steaks! He started them marinating last night and was practically drooling all day long just waiting for dinner time! And I have to hand it to him, they were AMAZING! Throw in some mashed potatoes and gravy and a salad and we were all too happy to even talk. Even Cael loved the steaks, and if you know Cael that is really saying something!

Stay-At-Home Date Night

November 10th...

We have stayed pretty low-key during Derrick's R&R, more than I thought we would to be honest. It actually has been more fun staying home. Derrick loves being here with the kids (and I am loving that he is loving to keep them busy) so we just use their bedtimes as our date time! It was so nice tonight just curling up on the couch, sharing some ice cream and watching Survivor together. It was especially nice because Derrick could care less about Survivor :) Once he's home for good, he probably won't humor me as much...so I am soaking up every moment of it right now!

Helping Momma

November 9th...

Derrick was sleeping, Averi was sleeping, I was washing dishes...Cael was bored! After trying to explain to him for the hundredth time that I couldn't go play in his room with him until the dishes were done, I decided he could help me instead. He loved his job as my "rinser" and was disappointed when they were all clean, so I filled the sink back up with soapy water, got him a chair to stand on and let him wash all his cups for a few hours. Instant childcare :)

Daddy Gets a Thumbs-Up!

November 8th...

I think it's pretty obvious what Averi thinks about spending the day at the park with her daddy :)

Today was a lot of fun, I got to take Derrick to this park that we go to a lot. It's the one with maze of a playground that can swallow your kid whole if you're not paying close enough attention. And go figure, the day that I finally get to have him here to help me...we have it to ourselves!

YES!

November 7th...

Now that her first birthday is behind us, it's time for the awesome changes that she gets to experience! The best one? Turning her car seat around! I have been waiting for this day for MONTHS, it is so much easier when they can see. It's too bad her seat wasn't like this when we drove across the country last summer, she would have loved to see that trip, I'm sure! (Not that I am ready to do it again any time soon)

Party Time

November 6th...

Today was Averi's birthday party and although I have a million reasons in the world to be ecstatic today...I really wish more of our family could have been here to celebrate with us. We had some really great friends come over, and I do not take that for granted at all! It just broke my heart a little to think about how many Aunts, Uncles, Grandparents and Cousins were over on the West Coast wishing her a Happy Birthday. It would have been nice if they could be here to tell her in person. To all of you, you were missed today just like you are everyday. We don't regret our decision to let the Army take over our lives, but we do wish we could be closer to home. Maybe someday soon!

Happy Birthday Averi!!

November 5th...

It's the big day for our little princess! A whole year, wow! Her party is tomorrow, but she got to open her rocking horse today, and just like we knew she would, she loves it! What a lucky little girl, her daddy came home from Afghanistan to be here for her birthday! Other than her head hurting her, this day could not get any better!!

Geocaching Adventure #2

November 4th...

When I said Derrick had fun geocaching, I wasn't kidding! We decided this morning that we wanted to go find some more! 16 in all, it was the most I have ever found in one day. They took us to some really cool places around Clarksville that I didn't know about, and we saw some very clever caches! We are contemplating starting one together after this deployment, so it was fun to get out there today and brainstorm! Cael found this one pretty much on his own and got to pick out a treasure! Who doesn't need a broken train car?

Birthday Shopping!

November 3rd...

I cannot believe how fast our little girl has grown! Her first birthday is coming up fast and I am so happy to have Derrick here with me. We had a blast shopping for her all day long (we may have gone over our budget just a tad...but she's our little princess so it's justifiable I'm pretty sure) I always having fun wrapping presents, but spending the evening on the living room floor with all these girly presents and pink wrapping paper, just talking with Derrick about everything that has gone on this past year...it was amazing. I love my family.

Geocaching Adventure #1

November 2nd...

I introduced Derrick to geocaching today and to I'm very happy to report that he loved it! This is going to be such a fun hobby for the 2 of us to do together. What a fun way to spend an afternoon! Cael loves to help, and since we live inside city limits that's a good thing because we can find a lot in places that don't require long hikes into the mountains...but...I would LOVE to spend a day doing nothing but hard ones!!

Medicine and more medicine, and more medicine...

Nov 1st...

Well, we are starting November off with a bang! Over the last few weeks a rash has spread over Averi's head and this cream is supposed to help heal it up. The problem? It doesn't wash out!! One day earlier and she could have been a little mad scientist for Halloween! I hope this works, her head is really hurting her and I don't want it to get any worse than it is already.

Happy Halloween

October 31st...

Happy Halloween! We had a great day today. I was a prisoner, Derrick a zombie, Cael (of course) Spiderman, and Averi was a pixie! We went trick or treating at the college where both kids made out like a bandit on candy, and Cael even got a free book! Then we came home to do a little door to door trick or treating, but Cael had a lot more fun watching the door and handing out candy. I can't even count how many identical spidermen came to our door! And Cael was just as excited to see them, as they were to see him. It was a fun, fun, fun night for us! FINALLY, a Halloween that we got to spend with Derrick!

Get Him, Cael!

October 30th...

It is SO great to have daddy home! Today we went for a walk out on the Greenway Trails just to get out of the house (and to hunt for Derrick's first cache) and it was so much fun! It's the little things I am starting to notice, like only having to get one kid out of the car, that are really starting to make me realize just how much I missed him. We get to the trails and I get a sleeping Cael out of his carseat, and BAM! Averi is already out and buckled into the stroller! What a breath of fresh air! Of course I missed my husband on a deeper level than just someone to help out, just having him in the house makes my mood so much brighter! He is such a fun person, we love him so much and don't ever EVER want him to leave again!!!

The Big Day Is Here!!

October 29th...

I can't believe this day is finally here! It has been 9 long months since we have seen Derrick, and these next 15 days are going to be like Heaven!! Deployments are not my friend, but they really do make you appreciate just how wonderful the people in your life are, and how easy it is to fall apart when they are gone. I love you Derrick and I am going to cherish every minute I get to spend with you!

This is so scary to me!!

October 28th...

I hate Hate HATE that my daughter doesn't feel well. There is nothing I wouldn't do to bring her back to her happy little self. We've spent countless hours these past few weeks in the pediatricians office and emergency room and nothing has been helping. We had another appointment today and the Dr decided to get Av in for a CT scan, just to make sure her headaches aren't due to something serious. Thank Heaven, the scan came back normal! That led our Dr to believe she has a sinus infection, and told me to get some nasal decongestant. For some reason that is terrifying to me! With all the recalls on medicines lately due to parents accidentally overdosing their kids, giving her "big girl" medicine really makes me nervous. We are doing a test run tonight, with the OK from the Dr and advice from the pharmacist...so I might be whistling a different tune tomorrow when she wakes up as happy little Averi...but that doesn't mean I'm not scared tonight!

Playing Cars

October 27th...

2 year olds are so funny to me. He will have some random "favorite" toy, or group of toys, that he plays with nonstop for a week. The next day he will forget they exist and move on to something else. Today, out of nowhere he got all his little cars back out and drove them around constantly. These cars were glued to him a month ago, he didn't do a single thing without them! And that's not to say it was "all" his cars, he had like 15 or 20 that were for some reason very special. If I tossed a random car into the bucket when he wasn't looking, he would sense it and toss it out. But then, as if someone flipped a switch, he dropped them one day and didn't look back....until today. Who knows how long they will stick around this time!

We are getting ANTSY!

October 26th...

The waiting is killing me! My husband is officially on his way home for R&R and I keep telling myself it's only like a 45 minutes flight. So many things to do! Do I do them? No....coloring his welcome home signs is a lot more fun! Cael's is pretty special, if I do say so myself.

Christmas Already??

October 25th...

I realize it isn't even Halloween yet, but when the urge to make Christmas cards hits, it hits hard! And what are you gonna do? Deny it? Not me. Now...no judging, this is only a rough draft, and done in pen. I might give it a complete makeover with a new idea, or I might just work on this one...I have a month or two to figure it out. And just because I STARTED these so early doesn't mean I will FINISH them...ever. If you don't get a card this year, it's not because we don't love you, it's because I got a tad lazy and I'll try to remember to send 2 next year :)

OH, by the way, for those of you who are new to me, I draw our Christmas Cards every year. Just a tid bit, now this blog might make more sense!

Eewwwww!

October 24th...

I was on the phone with my mom today and had one of those moments where you stop and go "Wait!! Why are my kids so quiet?!?!?" I had forgotten that I had given Cael a pudding cup, so he was sitting quietly in his bear chair in pure pudding blissfulness. When I said his name and he looked up at me I just about died. How does one actually manage to get pudding on his cheek bones like that?

Poor Jo

October 23rd...

It's tough to be a dog when there are young kids in the house, and Jo is without a doubt the best dog I could have ever asked for in terms of patience. They climb on her, constantly give her kisses, hugs, take her for pretend walks around the house. She loves the attention of course (unless she's trying to sleep) but accidents happen and somehow one of her eyes got scratched. My heart goes out to her, she doesn't getting medicine put in it, and her pupil is constantly dilated (thanks to the antibiotic) so the light bugs her too. I hope it heals fast baby girl.

aawww.....

October 22nd...

Alright, fine! I may have posed him a little...but I only did it because his daddy doll was face down and on the pillow above his head. I thought it was sooo cute that he was sleeping with it, but you couldn't tell what it was. So I flipped it around and lay it on Cael's shoulder. Sue me! He shifted in his sleep and gave it a hug though :)

Getting ready for daddy!

October 21st...

WE ARE EXCITED!!! I CANNOT believe it's almost time for R&R! This year has really flown (I can say that now that it's almost over...) I am starting to get all our little "welcome home" preperations in order, which goes hand in hand with being so antsy I can hardly sit still! Cael is going to be so excited to see Derrick, and I can't even pretend to imagine how Averi will react. She could be scared, she could be shy...she could WALK! Who knows...it's all a big question mark, but an exciting one! We went and got Cael's hair cut today so he can look sharp :) I wouldn't want Derrick to not be able to recognize him... :) Nah...he's always had a head of hair. And with that face? Not a chance!

Neighbors

October 20th...

This is our neighbor, Christopher. He and his brother Kristian are Cael's buds and we hang out with them just about everyday! I was talking with there mom today and she mentioned that there school pictures didn't turn out so hot, so while we were playing in the backyard, I decided to give it a shot. Kristian was busy mowing my grass with Cael's lawn mower...but I least I got Christopher to pose for me for a few minutes. :)

Are we really to this point?

October 19th...

I can't believe how big my baby girl is. Has it really been almost a year? It seems like yesterday she had to be napping before Cael and I could play outside...and now she is right out there with us! Climbing (with a little help from mom) and sliding all on her own!

i HEART this picture!

October 18th...

This might be my very favorite picture in the world. Averi is getting some seriously big teeth in and my poor baby girl could not be any more uncomfortable. She has had a fever that won't quit, and she wants nothing more than to sleep (un-interrupted by pain, i'm sure) all day long. I had been cuddling her on the couch all afternoon and she would only sleep maybe 10-20 minutes at a time, so I decided to lay her in her crib for a while. When I walked into her room to check on her I had to go get my camera! All curled up on her daddy pillow and finally getting some good quality sleep. I guess there really are times when a girl just needs her daddy.

An Accomplishment!

October 17th...

I know it's normally very hard to rearrange a kitchen...honestly, there is only so much you can change. But that doesn't mean I didn't try! The kitchen was my pet project today and I switched as much as I possibly could. No real reason I guess...just for something new to look at. And with the final result, I was actually left with some counter space! Hooray!

Who's Who???

October 16th...

Cael did not want to try on his spiderman mask that is part of his Halloween costume, and I knew I needed to try and get him used to it before the big day, so I stuck it on Averi. That did it! (Luckily...) she thought it was fun, so of course Cael had to think it was fun too. Once I put it on him he thought it was pretty awesome, he could probably wear that mask and stand in front of the mirror all day if I let him. Can't wait for Halloween!!! My fingers are crossed that Derrick will be home to spend it with us!

Prayer Time...attempt 4!

October 15th...

Faith and I have been searching for this stupid cache since the very first day we started our hobby. I thought after she moved home, I would have to wait for Derrick to come home and help me look, but she came back to visit this weekend and we searched again! To no avail...of course, but at least we got to look one more time! I miss having you around Faith! If I ever find this one (doubtful) you will be the first to know!

Fun on the Farm

October 14th...

The kids and I spent some much needed time with a good friend today at a fun pumpkin patch! The place was very hidden, tucked WAY back into an area of Clarksville I'm sure most people (myself included as of yesterday) don't even know exists. It was a very pretty drive to get to, though. It's funny, I'm not a huge fan of "pumpkin orange" at any other time of year...but once October/November is upon us...I love it! I think it's an awesome color, and driving through an ocean of orange and red trees, is very cool.

Go Averi Go!

October 13th...

This is so amazing to me, I have pictures just like this of Cael, and I think he was pretty darn close to the same age! We were picking up toys tonight and Averi decided she would rather play and learn something new, than help us. She's still little so I guess she can get away it, plus it was so cool to watch her figure out how to stack these block that she just melted my heart! Man...my baby girl really is going to grow up, huh? Doesn't really seem fair.

Already looking the part

October 12th...

Everyone tells me Cael is going to be a football player. He's just got that look. I'm not crazy about it...to be perfectly honest. I can only imagine the sound of my heart hitting the grass beneath the bleachers when I hear the crunch of football helmets crashing together, knowing that my baby boy is inside the wreckage. Ugh...BUT I know we are all human and he could get hurt just by walking down the street so I'm not about to stand in between anything he says he wants to do. That doesn't mean I have to like it :)

There is a clothes fairy?

October 11th...

I asked my neighbor to come over tonight and help me (and by help me, I mean do it for me...) look in my shed for my Halloween decorations. The spiders in that shed are MASSIVE and yes, the bug sprayer guy was here just a few weeks ago...but I don't think he sprayed inside. For all I know, there is a momma queen bee spider in there who is bigger than me and opening those doors of doom will set all her mane eating babies free. No thank you. Lucky for me, Christy is not nearly as afraid as I am, she just walked right in there and started moving boxes around! As it turns out...we tossed the Halloween decorations when we moved because they were cheap and old and there was no sense keeping them...oops. The things we remember AFTER we are knee deep in spiderwebs! BUT, there was a plus side to tonights horrific plot, 2 huge boxes of clothes I didn't know I had! Written across both boxes was "CLOTHES FOR AVERI 6-12 MONTHS" Ooops again! She is 11 months! Whew, almost missed that window! Her dresser is PACKED now! It was like Christmas morning (or evening) for me, she has shoes galore, and lots and lots of fall/winter clothes! Now we just need the weather to cool down a smidge so she can wear them.

Ummm, I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be Fall...

October 10th...

92 today? Seriously? Tennessee just keeps surprising me! Had I been back home, I would have been ecstatic to have 90 degree weather in October...but, it's been this hot since June and I am very ready for some cool breezes. Before we left for the park today I had both kids in pants and the sweatshirts packed in the diaper bag....wishful thinking on my part I guess. Never thought I would wish for cold, but I guess a lot about me in changing! (Unlike the seasons...)

Pumpkin Patch

October 9th...

It was Family Fun Day today, and the kids and I definitely had fun! Cael got to pick out a free pumpkin, it was just his size, and he is very proud of it! He decorated it like a vampire with foam stickers, and carried it around all day. Averi thought the pumpkins were great too! Lots of fun to play with. Next week we will be headed to a bigger (I think) pumpkin patch and we'll pick out a few more to carve up for Halloween! I really love this time of year! Now if only the weather would cool off just a tad, so it actually feels like fall. That would be great!

Quincy Raquel

October 8th...

WELCOME TO THE WORLD BABY GIRL!!!!

Say Hello to my new niece! Quincy Raquel Lehn, 7lbs 11oz, 19.5 inches long. Born at 12:25 this morning, 10-8-10! Such a beautiful little girl. Yes...most of us were thinking boy while you were still in your mommy's tummy, I personally, apologize. I was shouting it from the rooftops to be honest. But, you're Aunt Darci is grown up enough to admit when she is wrong :) And, between you and me, had you been a boy...you probably would have spent the majority of your childhood being dressed up, and chased around by your big sisters. You little girlie, are going to fit right in! You could not have a better family, be proud! Love you, I can't wait to meet you.

Oh Cael...

October 7th...

Oh buddy. There is nothing like self expression, is there? In his defense, he loves ALL hats! He wears my old softball visor, daddy's army hat, his own hats...why shouldn't Averi's get a turn too? Personally, I think he wears it well! Haha, gotta love a goofball. He's been known to rock the headband too, but I don't want him to completely hate me when he's older.

It's off!

October 6th...

Wow...I can't even believe my eyes. Averi got the OK to take her helmet off today! Appointment could not have gone any better! The doc said she looked perfect (I already knew that part :)) and sees no reason for her to keep it on any longer! YES! We did it baby girl! It was hot, and sweaty, and stinky...but in the end, it was so worth it! She wore it like a champ (and made it look darn cute, I might add) and now her head looks perfect! Over 5 months, and she didn't complain at all. I might have... :) I can't even count how many people stopped me and asked me where I had it made, or where they could get one! You know you're daughter is a cutie when she can make a corrective helmet look like an accessory to her outfit :)

WooHoo, Homer!

October 5th...

Spent the day caching with my friend, and found my first trackable! It's a "travel bug" that has a specific code and can be tracked online. My job now is to put him in a new cache, so someone else can pluck him from there and he can continue his journey. This one (being Homer Simpson, of course) is on a mission to "See all the Springfield's in the US"...since he doesn't know which one he lives in! It definitely was fun to find it and I am thinking about creating my own! Maybe my "travel bug" could make it back home to visit my family before I can again :)

Oh man...Derrick, please don't be upset!!

October 4th...

Wow...she did it! She walked this bad boy all the way across the living room today! And she was pretty darn proud of her self too, with good reason. I video taped her, so daddy will be the first to see (hence, why she isn't in the picture) and low and behold, my computer magically doesn't play my videos anymore. It says quicktime can't...something something something. Who knows. I never read those things that pop up, they are jibberish to me. So, Derrick, I have the video! You just might not get to see it until you get home...I'm working on it! I figure, more power to her, until she tries to walk without it. That just cannot happen yet. She HAS to wait for her dad, no if's, and's or but's about it!

Drill

October 3rd...

Drill again. Not much to say about it. I'm glad I joined, it was the path I needed to take to find my husband. I will never regret that for one instant. I can say with all honesty though, that I am ready to be done. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. By August I will have done my 8 years, and that's a lot more than a lot of people can say. Maybe if Derrick weren't in, I would be seeing things differently, but I don't think dual military is best for our family. More power to the families that can handle it! I wish I was one of them...but I'm going to keep smiling for 10 more months, and then take a BIG breath of fresh air!

Hey Bud, wake up...it's time for bed

October 2nd...

I started my first Tennessee Reserve weekend today...felt weird. I miss my old unit already! It was alright though, it was kind of nice in a way. Man...I sure missed the kids though! They stayed with a friend and all day I had to worry about whether or not they were being good for her. I picked them up around 5 and they were happy as clams! They had a great day, which I was very very excited to see. I assumed Cael must have had a really good time because he fell asleep in the car on the way home. I brought him inside, woke him up, and set him on the couch...but before I could turn around, he was out again! Averi and I played, she screamed in his face a few times trying to get a reaction out of him, we watched a movie...he slept. I gave her a bath, got her ready for bed...he slept. He finally woke up when I started changing him into his pajamas! Talk about bad timing! He cuddled with me on the couch for a while and then was back to lala land, so I tucked him in to bed. 5 oclock bedtime for Cael...I am afraid to even guess how early we will be awake in the morning :)

He's a Salesman alright...

October 1st...

OCTOBER????? Really??? YES! October means Halloween...October means birthday shopping for my niece and nephew back home...October means playing in the leaves...October means R&R! I cannot wait until later on in this month when I get to see my HUSBAND! How exiting!!! Technically...it will probably be early November when he actually sets foot in the house..but I don't care! October is closer, so I'm going with that! Another totally handy thing about October? My son is apparently a candle salesman now. Who doesn't need a few nice smelling accesories to really say "It's Fall" this time of year? I know I do! He drove his tricycle (I know, I know, they've been recalled...but you try taking a tricycle away from a little boy...it's heartbreaking) around all day with these two (awesome smelling, by the way) candles in the seat, offering them to myself, the dog, and the baby. Lucky for me he didn't want any money for them, because as soon as I would except one, he would take it back, put it back in the compartment, and ride off to find another schmuck to fake a sale too...

Ahhhh....Sanity :)

September 30th...

FINALLY! It took me 10 months of putting it off and putting it off...but Averi now has a playpen! I guess I just assumed she was going to hate it (she is definitely a momma's girl, this one!) so I contemplated it for quite some time. The wait is over though! The dog food is at a much lower risk of being eaten by her, and I don't have to worry about breaking that tiny little heart every time I step over her to walk to different room. She loves it in there! I think it's her safe place now...the one area where she knows big brother isn't going to take her toys away :)

New Tradition

September 29th...

Whenever we play at our friends' house across the street, the walk back home is usually spent yelling "BYE" back and forth between Cael, and the boys at their bedroom window. Tonight, after we got home, my friend texted me and said the boys were still yelling to him, and wondering where he went, so I opened our window. Yes...I bet the rest of our neighbors LOVE us! :) I don't know how long they yelled back and forth...eventually it got old and everybody went about their business, but I have a feeling this may turn into a new nightly tradition.