I LOVE getting outside.  Just stepping right outside and being able to sit at a picnic table and talk for two hours with FIVE sweet friends and our 15 children.  LOL fifteen children!

I feel blessed.  Thank you friends.  :)

 The Chili Cook Off was so much fun!  I think it was a big success.  I'm not really sure, but it seemed that everyone was having a great time and we got so many sweet compliments on how fun it was.

 These ladies won the Chili Cook Off!  Katie, Renee, and Rachel.  Rachel was the BIG winner, and she got a $75 gift card from Target.  Katie and Renee each got two gift cards for restaurants in our area.  The chili prizes were great, and I was so happy to give them to each of these fine ladies.  It was so fun to bless them for all their hard work and all the wonderful things they do for Village Manor!

Our sweet Maryn won the pumpkin contest in her age group.  I'm sorry I didn't get pictures of the other pumpkins.  I didn't bring my camera because I had so many things to carry, and our camera doesn't take good pictures in the dark.

Jon Gill won the Grand Prize in the pumpkin contest.  He made a pumpkin depicting the parting of the Red Sea, complete with fish made of pumpkin seeds!  It was a close one though.  John's Noah's Ark was super cute, but the Krenzins' bat pumpkin won in the family/adult category.

Miss Annamaria, age 10, won in her age group for a very creative cat pumpkin she made, and I'm sure she probably did do the whole thing herself.  She is a little artist, and so patient in her work.  I was so happy to give her 2 free milkshakes, and she loved her little bear!

There were only two entries in the 11-17 category...maybe we'll change that around next year, but I was so happy to give a prize to two brothers who I know worked hard on their pumpkin (Isaiah and Justin) and who I'd like to see at more events!  I'm not sure if they were ecstatic about their teddy bear, but I bet they'll enjoy their milkshakes...lol.

Today, we are going to watch movies and shows all day.  Maryn slept until 10 am.  I've already watched It Could Happen to You with Nicholas Cage and Bridget Fonda.  Josiah is taking his morning nap, but he did cook me up some bacon before he fell asleep:

While Maryn slept in, this little guy cuddled with me for a full hour on the couch.  Tickling, laughing, getting his back scratched, etc.  I call him the gold at the end of my rainbow.  He may always be my cherry on top.  Just an extra sweet blessing in my life.  My #2 Man.  I wonder if God will bless me with another little guy, or another baby girl.  What do you think?

Farewell friends, and have a Happy Halloween tomorrow!  Hopefully we'll be well rested for some highly competitive trick-or-treating tomorrow night--Daddy's first time trick-or-treating with the kiddos.  It may be a wild race!

Chaia Updates and Support

If you've been following the baby Chaia updates, and would like to send a care package or something, here is some information.


(See the blog www.mustardrevolution.blogspot.com for updates).  Ben and Shaina have requested that no one send more food or stuffed animals because they are inundated with both, but what they really could use is Au Bon Pain Gift Cards for Ben to pick up lunch and dinner for himself.  


Cleveland Clinic
Patient: Chaia Thompson M-43-06
9500 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44195
If you would like to give financially:

The Chaia Joy Thompson Fund
First Merit Bank
102 Main Street
Wadsworth, OH 44281

Winter is here.

 I found them like this watching Toy Story 2 as the song "You've Got a Friend in Me" played.

 We might have gotten a little creative with Maryn's pumpkin this year!

 She's so excited!

 Oh dear, I can't even hold it in!

Maryn's Pumpkin

Maryn....

Maryn:  Here Mama, I found hair in my mouth.
Mommy:  I don't want it.
Maryn:  I don't want it.
Mommy:  Just put it on the blanket.
Maryn:  Ew!
Mommy:  Aggghh.
Maryn:  I'll throw it in the trash.  Eck!

Oh if you could see me now!

I barely woke up this morning.  I coughed again all night, but this time was not able to sleep very well at all.  I felt so great yesterday that I think I totally overdid it and now my body is shutting down.  I'll never learn!  But you know what?  I got all our laundry done, folded (thanks to John) and put away.  I even did our sheets.  And that my friends, is one huge accomplishment for me and especially for me, in my first trimester, with two crazy kids running around.

Josiah's behavior today was incredibly good.  I know he misbehaves (gets into things) when he is tired.  I think he really must be feeling better.  He played with his toys (not in the kitchen trying to pull out the baking soda and Ziploc bags) while Maryn and I did stamps at the table, and he sat (didn't stand) in his high chair for a good 20 minutes or so coloring (putting crayons into the box and out of the box, into the box and out of the box) and eating a snack. Maryn woke up on the wrong side of the bed, however, and was a complete grouch.  I let her watch about two hours of television this morning and don't  feel guilty about it one little bit.  I am exhausted and I look like I'm wearing my Halloween costume...a scary, sleepy goblin.  I wonder if we have any where to go tonight?  Maybe I should shower just in case.  Or nap.  Or clean up.  Or...nothing.

We are about to go pick up our free pumpkin to decorate for the Pumpkin Decorating Contest tomorrow.  I want to do one and Maryn wants to do one.  I wonder if John does, too.  Maybe we'll be going to buy extras tonight.  John is in charge of making the chili we're going to enter for the Chili Cook Off.  We collected some good prizes, and I want one ;-)  I especially want the restaurant gift cards, even more than a Target gift card!  If we get a Target gift card, John will make us spend it on groceries.  So let's hope his chili is good...but not THAT good.  ;-)

I'm just kidding.  If we win the Target gift card, I'll be happy, and it's John making the chili, so he deserves to spend it on whatever he wants (like a new maternity shirt or pants, candles, home decor, etc.:))))

Okay, off to the shower I go...

Almost back to normal....

Josiah is so stinking stubborn about sitting in his high chair.  We have tried everything short of duct tape to keep him sitting in it.  Yesterday I was fed up.  So I put him in a regular chair around the table.  He actually did very well.  He sits on his bottom, his knees, or stands.  But it's safer to fall from one of these chairs than it is from his high chair!

 I seriously did find him like this...digging through the dryer, with my underwear on his head.

 The artist in residence:

 Tired little puppy (he was a puppy last night at the Fall Festival at church.  And Maryn led him around today by "leash" as, according to her, "He went poop outside.  Doggies poop outside!"

 Maryn had to get into the picture:

Sweet and Bitter Providence

Please check out my friend Stacy's blog about her son's recent diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

http://www.mymessymanger.com/2011/10/bitter-blessing-of-autism-spectrum.html

Sick Day Number Eight

Well I am at the end of my rope.

I took Josiah to the doctor yesterday.  He had become unusually cranky even for a toddler with a bad cold, and I wanted to make sure he didn't have an ear infection.  It turns out he's fine.

Then Maryn, who I thought was doing so much better, was up until almost midnight coughing.  Then she woke up screaming at 4:00 because her ear hurt.

Argh!

So I was up from 4:00-7:00 with one or both kids.  I can't hold Josiah and sway with him like he wants me to because it makes me motion sick.  lol.

But pregnancy wise I am feeling pretty good.  I'm a little tired, but I'm pretty sure that's from my born children and not the in utero child.  Josiah is all over the place.  He's like a little cat.  He has to find the highest perch possible and sit right on the edge to freak me out.  Maryn is tired and therefore she's Miss Grouchy Pants.  Doesn't want to be touched, doesn't want us to talk to her, but wants us to do everything else for her, and wait on her hand and foot.

During the day though, they are fine.  Just a few coughing spells, some runny noses but nothing serious.  Should we go to the Family Fall Festival at our church tonight?  I want to go.  I want to get out of here and celebrate the best week of the year :)

Cooking With Two

I needed some brownies today.

 So despite the fact that both my children were grouchy, tired and sick, we made brownies.

 Maryn is such a helper...and Josiah is such a little taste tester.

 Maybe he's more than a just a taste tester..,

on the mend

I think we are on the mend!

Josiah slept through the night with very little coughing.  Yay!

Maryn had a rough night.  Lots of coughing.  She is such a little cougher.  She always has a cough at night.  It's allergies, the doctor says.  But last night was pretty bad, so I sat with her for about 20 minutes and then decided I'd just sleep in her room.  I brought our big couch cushion in  and settled in on her floor.  John was coughing all night too, so I probably slept better in Maryn's room anyway.  She and John must have the same type of allergy because they both cough at night at the same time.

Anyway, I slept very well and actually woke up before the kids.  Yay, huge success for me.  The bad part is that Maryn is really tired and grouchy today.  I wanted to try to have a normal day.  Do some school type stuff, paint, etc.  But we're already on our second Blue's Clues.  She's being a little punk today.  I might give her lunch at 10:30 and then tell her it's nap time.  ;-)

Josiah is our picky eater.  But last night I gave him some steamed mixed veggies and he ate them all up and wanted more!  I was so happy I cried right there at the table.  John thought I was crazy.  But seriously, can you Moms feel me on this one?  It's a big deal!!!!

The kids were playing by themselves in Maryn's room.

Josiah:  Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!!!!!!!!!
Maryn:  I didn't do it!

I went back to see what they were doing and Josiah was stuck in the bookshelf, so I brought him out to the living room.

Maryn:  Nooo!!!  Give him back to me!

The Plague

 Colder temperatures brought more than just winter coats.  We've also acquired a variety of cold symptoms.  Maryn is barking like a seal, Josiah is a little mucus factory, I'm a mess of morning, afternoon and mostly evening sickness, and John is coughing too.  John just finished ten straight days of nothing but work, work, work.  He has a three day weekend now, one in which we might have gone to the Halloween Party at the zoo, or the pumpkin patch.  But instead I think we will lay around watching movies...which is okay, because
it's not like Halloween is my FAVORITE holiday.

:-(  Boo hoo.  (Halloween is my favorite holiday).

 Not all is bad, though.  We got to play some pretty great rounds of hide and seek as a family, one of our favorite things to do.  Maryn is HILARIOUS.  And we also taught Josiah how to play Ring Around the Rosie, which is even more hysterical.

 When we play Ring Around the Rosie, Josiah always falls down at the end with us, giggles hysterically and crawls away, right down the hall.  I guess the excitement is too much for him!

Anyway, he really isn't feeling well, as you can see:

He was doing a lot better, so I didn't try to make an appointment with the pediatrician.  I tried at the seminary clinic because it's only $5.00, but there were no doctors available.  And today, I'm not sure if I can transport my kids to the pediatrician because I feel so dreadful.

I think my dreadfulness today is part pregnancy and part cookie dough.  I think I may have used expired eggs in the cookie dough, and it made me feel sick.  It's really not fair when I have morning sickness, because laying down makes me feel the worst.  Sleeping was rough last night.  I had to stay on my back and propped up.  I want to lay down right now, but all I can do is computer stuff and watch TV.  Even just reading a book is hard.

We have a busy week ahead, so please pray I feel better and have the sense to cancel the things that are beyond me.  If my sickness continues, I am asking for some Zofran, I know that!  My first doctor appointment is November 2!  We got into the best* doctor in Louisville and our newest family member will be born in the best* hospital.


*According to patient reviews.

a duck

Maryn handed this picture to me and said, "Mommy, I drew a duck for you."  I love it.  She's been coloring a lot lately rather than drawing.  She's been wanting to read with us more.  She's asking what words say--forcing us to read, read, read everything constantly.  She searches out signs she knows when we are driving.  She particularly enjoys passing by Baby 'Noceros (yes, pronounced like Rhinoceros, is how she says Babies R Us), McDonald's and Chick Fil A.

I think we will some day be purchasing art classes for her, because she will some day surpass my abilities to teach her.

Conversations you might or might not have heard at our house

So I was sitting on the couch, pitying myself because I've entered the restlessness phase of my pregnancy.  I haven't heard other women complain of this, so maybe it's just me.  But you know that thing they call Restless Legs Syndrome?  Well, I get that feeling all throughout my body when I'm pregnant.  Anyway, I was just thinking about that and (it probably seemed random to him) said to John,

"Do you know vampires never get uncomfortable?"

And he replied, "Do you know vampires are not real?"

Hmph.

Oh Johnniebear.  The fun we could have if you had a little bit of an imagination.

blessings come in all shapes and sizes

 Maryn and Ella Grace, sweet friends.

 Maryn's spider with six legs!  She had eaten two of them :)))

Auntie Alicia snuck onto our Babies R Us registry (which I created just as a list of things for our own reference, etc) and this came into the mail today!  I was absolutely shocked.  But you know what?  I SO needed this surprise today.  Josiah insisted on getting in it as soon as he saw it.  I LOVE it.  It's the Babies R Us brand new umbrella, or lightweight, stroller.  It has a sun visor and a cute little pocket in the back.  It seems very good quality, and like it will last a while.  I liked it even more than the Chicco strollers, which cost more than twice as much.  Thank you Alicia!!!!!

Sunday Sweetness

Love

I caught Daddy dancing with Cinderella...

 I am pretty sure that almost the only thing that makes John get teary-eyed is when we talk about her wedding day.  Or when the song Cinderella by Steven Curtis Chapman comes on the radio.  I'm saving this pic of them dancing for later...

I let Maryn color on the couch during Josiah's nap yesterday!

Here is a picture Maryn made at Cubbies.  "This is Mommy and Daddy on date night playing in the backyard and jumping off the picnic tables."  Yep, that's what we do on date nights!

Maryn and Ella Grace have been such sweet friends lately.  Love them.

Maryn has actually been such a great little friend to all her friends lately.  I am very pleased with my THREE year old.  Some day I'm sure I'll miss age two, but that day is not today!

Do you know your kids' love languages?  Quite some time ago, John and I read The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman.  This book is very helpful in any relationship, I think.  There's one for kids and teenagers as well, though I haven't read those.  Maryn's love language is definitely quality time.  She we will keep you busy.  If she loves you...she'll ask you to do this, then that, then this and that.  She'll feel most loved if you sit and color, draw and read with her.  If you dress up with her, swim with her, run with her, pretend with her, cook with her.

John's love language is also quality time and honestly, it drives me nuts.  I love spending time with both of them but oy, it's exhausting!  But understanding that THIS is the way they feel most loved helps me understand their need for my time and energy.

Josiah's love language is...can you guess?  Physical touch!  Yay.  I love having a kid who loves to be snuggled, held, kissed, and tickled.  He doesn't mind playing by himself and doesn't take it too personally if I ignore him while I wash the dishes...unless he wants to be snuggled, held, and kissed!

I love how my children are different.  They are each unique.  What will the next baby be like?  I can't wait to meet you, baby!

the events of the week

 Above, you see my beautiful princess.  Check out her new princess shoes.  We bought all four pairs of princess shoes at Target with her gift card from Aunt Cheryl.  Thank you Great Aunt Cheryl!  Josiah was supposed to have the firefighter hat on his head but he was not cooperating.

And here, you see that Josiah again was not cooperating and Maryn was not pleased...  :)

Some things we are up to:

Preschool Monday:  We are doing a patty-cake day!  I'm keeping our carpet time simple.  We have sang the same three songs and played the few same games every time and the girls never tire of any of it.  Their little attention spans have improved greatly, but circle time is still a struggle.  This week we are going to try rolling out and poking Play Doh and then we will try making our own real patty cakes!

Food Line Tuesday/RA stuff:  We just had our Food Line.  I have great volunteers helping me.  I truly enjoy them!  The other RAs, Beth and I are also organizing the annual Chili Cook Off.  I am so excited about this big event, but it's a lot of work too!  I wish Alicia was here to help me.  ;-)  There's going to be the chili contest, a pumpkin decorating contest, a bonfire with s'mores, and lots of other things like a cotton candy machine and a popcorn machine, etc.  Very fun!  I need to find a babysitter to make sure our children eat and don't get lost.  Maryn didn't really eat and she got a bit lost last year...oops.  I have a few more places to visit and collect donations for prizes.  I hope we win something!!!

Wednesday night Cubbies:  The last month we have been learning about creation and I'm so glad we're starting to move on.  All the verses are slightly similar, so many of my Cubbies are saying their verses like so: "Um....God made....everything."  LOL

Maryn is quite the little theologian.  Here is a conversation from yesterday.

"This light is ridiculous!  Why is it taking so long?!"  I yelled as we were stuck in traffic.
"You have to be patient, Mommy.  Everyone has to take a turn.  You have sin in your heart and you can ask Jesus to help you."

And this before bed time.

"Maryn, PLEASE lay down, no more whining!"
"But Mommy, I have badness in my heart."
"Well Jesus is strong and good and I know he can help you obey Mommy."
"But it's so hard."

Thursday:  Maybe we will go to the Halloween party at the zoo.  It's better to do it now than later, I think.

Friday:  RA Meeting about the Chili Cook Off!

And John works this weekend.  Boo hoo.  We need a vacation!

Does anyone want to visit us the weekend of November 4th?  We need an overnight sitter so we can get away and sleep, sleep, sleep in celebration of my birthday and our anniversary.  I'm turning 30 and therefore need a lot of rest in my old age.  ;-)

hormone fluctuation, part 2

I thought of another thing that has been making me cry.

Little Bella, Maryn's friend she loves to play with outside, keeps knocking on our door asking if Maryn can play.  This is how the conversation goes:

Bella:  Can Maryn come play outside?

Maryn:  BELLA!
Amanda:  She's still sick sweetie.

Bella:  She's sick?

Maryn:  BELLA!

Amanda:  Yes.  I don't think she'll be able to come out and play for a few days.

Bella:  A few DAYS?

Maryn:  BELLA!

Amanda:  Yes, like two or three days.

Bella:  I can count to three.  1...2...3...

Amanda:  Maryn will come play when she's better, okay?

Maryn:  BELLA!

Bella:  Ohhhh....kay.... :-(

hormone fluctuation

I am so emotional lately.  I think I cried six times today.  Once while at the pediatrician's office when they tried to say we owed them $70 when I know we do NOT.  The office manager came out and apologized to me.  I think that she felt so bad and if she had been a doctor, she might have written me a script for an anti-depressant.

I cried reading facebook statuses and blogs.  I cried as I tackled Maryn to put eye drops in her eye.  I cried as I said goodbye to another neighbor moving away.  

The other time I cried was when there were no parking spots at the pediatrician's office and signs said that if we parked at the business across the street, our car would be towed.  I saw a lady and her baby come out of the office, so I waited for her to pull out and she seriously took over ten minutes to get her kid in the car.  If it takes you ten minutes to get your ONE kid in the car, don't have any more!  Please!!!  So I pulled out, because I thought maybe she had to nurse or something.  But nope.  As soon as I pulled out, she pulled out, and another car took the spot.  Then I walked by this other car after I had hurried my very tired and wandering sick three year old and 90 pound baby across the street, and the lady inside that car was just sitting there texting when her appointment was clearly over.  Grr.

We're trying to keep Maryn and Josiah apart, and for some reason Maryn's eyeballs keep finding a way to rest themselves on his face.  What the heck.  How hard is it to keep your eyeballs off your brother's face?  Then she poked him right in the eye this morning, and this afternoon he poked HER right in the eye.  My kids are possessed and obsessed with eyeballs.

Maryn fell right off the big cart  double seat at Target and fell just so that her legs were stuck under the cart.  She almost amputated both of her legs right there at the Pharmacy counter.

So let this be your warning.  Don't give me a hard time today because I might poke YOU in the eye.  I mean it, too.

Sunny days of fall in Kentucky

 Maryn bought a princess umbrella with her Toys R Us gift card from Kendra.

Josiah loves to play in the dirt.  And look how well he plays with others and cooperates.  He's helping fill the bucket.

We love living here.  There are always children to play with.  Last night we went outside and not a single person was in our backyard.  It was weird!  But it was full of fun and laughs this afternoon.  And yes, that is dirt coming out of Josiah's nose.

 Beautiful day.  Beautiful friends.

 Playing together.  I love it.

John is done working overnights and is home all weekend.  We are elated.  I love him.  And he even woke up early at 6 am and washed the dishes for me.  I've become dreadfully behind on household chores because I am D-O-N-E at 8:30 pm.  Sigh.  But I'm doing fine otherwise.  No nausea at all lately.

I feel very busy getting ready for Preschool Monday, Cubbies, and preparing for our big Chili Cook Off on October 29th.  Who knows if we will do anything for our SIX year anniversary.  I think I may just want to sleep!

I think the anniversary is a hard thing to celebrate.  Should we just do what we normally do?  What we always do when we have a date, and what we always did before children?  Eat out, go to a bookstore for hours, and have coffee?  Or should we do something more special?  And what on earth else is there to do beyond restaurants, book stores and coffee shops that's still fun and not dangerous for a pregnant woman?