Happy Fall Y'all

Thought I'd update after going a record 3 months without an update. I really do have good intentions. My plan was to update when we got back from Pennsylvania, but as most of you who read this know, I found out that I'm pregnant then. I spent most of that weekend crying, trying to absorb the news. Then, I got sick. Nausea & vomiting have plagued me since. So, that's my excuse. I'm a buffoon and I'll do better next time.

Pennsylvania was awesome. Both kids did great in the car. I don't even think Sean asked "how much longer?" on the way there. We had a minor setback when we found out the pool at the Knights Inn was closed for the season, but we quickly found a city pool close by and avoided the heartbreak. I think Sean went to that pool almost every day we were in Greensburg. We went to the Pittsburgh Children's Museum and both kids had a blast playing on/with the exhibits. We finished our time there with Dora Live. Again, it was an hour show & both kids did great! We always enjoy visiting family while we're there. I wish we didn't live so far from them. Once a year visits are never enough. After 3 days in Greensburg, we headed to Jones Mill & the Living Treasures Animal Park. It was rainy, but that didn't stop us. Evie LOVED feeding the animals. We were shocked at how much she was able to do & how much she enjoyed this vacation. We went to Idlewild Park the next day & Evie got to ride on a lot of rides (thanks to her big brother :). She rode a few "baby" rides that he never would've got on if it weren't for his sister. We finished our trip at Kalahari. Sean is a fish. That boy has no fear when it comes to water. He can even jump off the diving board at the St. Clair Shores pool. So, Kalahari was a little disappointing because he had to wear a life jacket the whole time. Ohio state law. But, he was fearless in other ways. Going down big waterslides, doing the lazy river by himself. He's such a big boy. Speaking of big boy, Sean started Kindergarten on 09/06. He looks so handsome in his uniform and so far, other than 1 bad day, he's stayed on green. We're hoping his one day on red was the first & the last. Other than that, Kindergarten has been a wonderful experience. When he got home his first day, he said, "That was awesome!". He loves his teachers & has friends in the class. Hope the rest of the year goes as smooth as the last 2 months have. On 09/11, we were able to surprise Sean for his birthday. Again, this was a tough task because he planned the party & even hired Grandma as his assistant to tell everyone when to yell surprise & to help him forget about his party so that he could be surprised. The morning of his party, I told him I had to leave to go to a party (not a lie! :) and that while I was gone, he should go to the Warren Community Center with Daddy & Evie to make sure that's still where he wanted to have his party. He agreed. I left about an hour & a half before them to pick up the cake, set-up the room & get everyone back in the party room before Sean arrived. He was SOOOO surprised. He told us he really thought his party was going to be in a couple days. And, after his party, he said, "I have 3 words to describe that party...awesome, awesome & awesome!". :) Mission accomplished! 09/12/11 - Happy 5th Birthday to Sean!!! He went to school & brought Mario Bros. fruit snacks to share with his friends. After school, he hung out with Grandpa Jim until Connor got out of school. Then, he went to Jungle Java with Aunt Susie, Ms. Abby, Evie, Connor & Ella. I met them there & took Sean & Evie to Daddy. It was a fun day. :) 09/16/11 Daddy went up north, so we planned a fun weekend to keep us busy so we wouldn't cry too hard for him. ;) We went to Plaster Playhouse with Aunt Annette, Connor & Ella. Sean painted a plaster Mario & Evie painted a ceramic plate. Afterwards we got dinner & had a sleepover at our house. The boys slept all night a tent on the living room floor. 09/17/11 Happy Birthday Grandpa Jim! Today we hung out with Grandma, went to dinner & then Toys R Us. We finished with popcorn, Tangled & a sleepover with Grandma. Sean was so happy. He really doesn't like falling asleep in his own bed. It's caused many "fights" because every night he asks to fall asleep with us or on the couch. He's allowed to come get us if he wakes up, but the rule is he has to fall asleep in his bed. So, falling asleep with Grandma on the couch was probably his favorite part of the night. 09/18/11 Daddy came home!! Yay!! It was also the first day of bowling. Sean gets to bowl with Aiden, Liam & now Connor. He bowled a 96 his first week!! 09/20/11 We had a bacon party at our house to celebrate Sean & Grandpa Jim's birthdays. 09/25/11 Sean had his 1st flag football game of the season. He was on the Bills this season. We still don't think this is his "thing", but he wanted to play. He just had his last game on 11/06/11 & was super excited to get a medal for the season. We're proud that he went to each game with a good attitude and participated. :) Not gonna lie, October is a bit of a blurr. I know Sean got to sing on stage for Christian Education Sunday on 10/09. His favorite song went like this, "And if our God is for us, then who can ever STOMP us...". Cracks me up. But, it's true, just as true as STOP us. ;) 10/22 was Chilifest at Maranatha. Sean & Paige made the sign for "Paige's Monster Chili" and I cooked the chili. Paige took 1st place!! 10/25 we celebrated Uncle Scott & Grandma Sue with a pizza party at our house. 10/29 Happy Birthday Grandma Sue! We carved pumpkins today. Sean needed long, yellow rubber gloves & no shirt to touch the pumpkin guts. Evie really had no part in the carving, but she wanted to look like Sean too. Daddy & I did a great job on the following the Two Boos & Bat Cat patterns and our pumpkins turned out great. Sean had a playdate at our house with Spencer this night too. They were both very nice to Evie & let her play with them. If they didn't, she was sure to run out & "tell" on them. She'd come flying out of the room & say "Sean!" or "SHHHHHHH". I'd say, "What did Sean say?". She'd reply, "no no!". Then Sean would yell from the bedroom, "I didn't say that!!". They're awesome together. :)10/31 Aunt Susie brought the kids out to my work & we headed to Uncle Mike & Aunt Nicole's for Trick-or-Treating. Sean was Mario this year & Evie was a pink cat. The weather was almost perfect (a little chilly) for Halloween. Grandma, Puppa, Jackson, Mikey, me, Daddy, Sean & Evie started trick-or-treating. Sean wanted to go fast. He's a pro at this now & the little ones slowed him down. He was still very polite, saying "trick-or-treat", "Happy Halloween" & "thank you" at most houses he went to. Evie was absolutely amazing. I've never witnessed a better 17 month old trick-or-treater in my life!! She had us all amazed. She had a sucker in one hand and her Elmo bucket in another. She'd go up to each house & say "treat" & put her Elmo basket out. She'd come running back down to us to show us what she got. It was awesome. Both kids blew us away. It was a really nice Halloween. 11/05 I was gone most of the day working on a fundraiser for Sean's school. Daddy & I went to the event at night & Sean & Evie went to Grandma & Puppa's. Grandma Sean & Evie came back to our house, took a bath & sang songs until they fell asleep. :) 11/06 Today was Sean's last flag football game & he was super excited to get his medal. We had dinner with Grandma & Puppa to celebrate my birthday & to spend time with Grandma before her El Salvador trip. For my birthday, Sean, Evie & Daddy made me lots of cards & got me presents and then put them in a box & hid them. I had to follow clues to find them. I'm so blessed! :) 11/07 after work, I picked up the kids & we met Daddy at Chili's for dinner. I had a great birthday & I still get to celebrate. Daddy & I are going on a date this weekend!! Woo-hoo! :)11/11 Sean invited Puppa to his school for a special Veteran's Day chapel service. Puppa served as a Marine from 1975-1978. They both had a great time honoring & remembering veterans from all branches of the military. 11/12 We went to Cranbrook & Jesse took some family pictures. It was about 50 degrees & sunny, which is nice for a mid-November day, so we took our pictures outside. Afterwards, Daddy & Sean went to the zoo. The kids finished the night at the bowling alley with Grandpa Jim watching Uncle Scott bowl.

Sean is (as always) an amazing little boy. We need to work on whining & listening the first time, but who doesn't at 5?? He loves Evie. He's very tolerant & good to her. He tries to hug her a lot, because he's a cuddler, but she's not. So, she dodges his attempts most of the time. But, he continues to try! I can't wait to see him be a big brother again. He really wants a brother, named Aiden. We'll work on the name... :) He knows EVERY word to Love Potion #9 and some of my favorite moments are spent dancing together & singing together as a family in the kitchen. Sean also knows through Daniel for his Old Testament books and through Henry Harrison for his presidents. He's doing great in school. We got his first report card on Friday. He got mostly ones - the best you can get. A couple 2s - which means "making good progress" and then (1) 4 which is needs improvement when it comes to tying his own shoes. I went to parent teacher conferences on 10/16. Mrs. Scott said he's a joy to have in class. He can be trusted with a lot of kids (not all kids) but a lot at one time. Of course there are some who he distracts & those who distract him. But again he's 5. Overall we've heard that he's a smart boy & a joy to have in class. He loves playing with his friends & staying busy. He's not a big fan of down time. ;)I think this is the first Christmas since he was a baby that he's not collecting anything, so we don't have a long Christmas list for him. Works for me!!

Evie Loretta... The strongest willed 17 month old I know!! She's learned the word "no" and uses it frequently, but doesn't seem to acknowledge it when others say it to her. We're trying to figure out how to discipline her. She's very smart & knows exactly what she's doing, but spankings & time-outs don't seem fitting or effective for her age. She's not easy to get to sleep & we seem to dread the bedtime routine every night. Since vacation she's been quite the daddy's girl. Some days, if Daddy's home, she won't let him do ANYTHING without her. Evie loves music just like her brother. She needs a spoon to sing into & dance around the kitchen when we play music on the ipod. She tries to sing along & usually finishes sentences that end with "me" or words that rhyme with it. She's talking a lot & saying (or trying to say) most words, except Sean. That still comes out "SHHHHHHSSSS". She loves chicken nuggets (or chicken fries) & has a morning routine that includes (2) 3oz yogurt smoothies. We always make sure we have those in stock, because it's the first thing she asks for when she wakes up. She loves sleeping on the couch next to her daddy.

We are so excited about the upcoming holidays. Both kids are at super fun ages (as we learned on Halloween) & I can't wait to watch them over the next couple months!! :)