K-A-T-E is F-O-U-R!

Happy Birthday to Kate!  Four years have flown by!  Kate celebrated over a couple of days with a "butterfly-owl-mountain-fat chicken" birthday.  Long story, but the theme kept expanding.  This girl brings so much joy to our family!!!  She gives the best hugs and loves trying to keep up with Scott and Natalie. 

The big kids worked for a long time on a birthday banner for Kate.  They were so excited and woke up early this morning to share in Kate's birthday excitement prior to school. 

 More pictures...

This picture below is hard to see, but it makes me smile so much.  Kate ran down the hallway to meet Chuck E. Cheese as he was coming out of his dressing room.  After giving him a big hug, she then stuck by him like glue...almost tripping him during the dance.  :)  I especially get a big kick out of this since Scott nor Natalie (nor Jon or I) would have ever done this.  I love watching her!

So thankful for the blessing of Kate!

Our Fast Fall Break

We enjoyed Fall Break!  It was an adjustment cramming everything into one week (as we've been spoiled with two weeks off in years past), but the kids had a nice time.  (Minus the dentist appointments, haircuts, flu shots, etc., of course!)   We have three voters for bringing back the flu mist...sketchy effectiveness and all. 

The kids enjoyed some extra fun activities with both sets of grandparents.  This helped to make their week off school (and my week having them off school) even more delightful!

One night, we were having a discussion about marriage and how important it is to marry a godly spouse.  (Shout out to R.K.!)  The kids were asking lots of great questions and got stuck on the topic of what if you thought someone was a Christian, but then you married them and realized that they were just fooling you.  They went on and on with this, and then Natalie let out a big sigh and said, "It would be a whole lot easier if I could just marry Scott."  :)

 Hooray for such a fun time of year!

Silly Scarecrows and Such

Scott has developed an interest in R/C helicopters.  He loved his new toy and enjoyed playing it while it lasted (3 days).  He is currently waiting for a new wing to come in before his chopper will be back in commission. 

(Notice the ladder in the background...we only had one stuck-in-the-gutter episode, three lost-in-the-cornfield adventures, and several crash-into-the-brick-house mishaps.  I'm surprised it survived for three whole days!  And Scott wasn't even to blame for all of those.  Daddy said it is harder than it looks!:)

Okay...this about gave me a heart attack.  Jon, Mike, and Scott put up a tree stand, and then everyone wanted to try it out.  Jon went with each kid, and I stood at the bottom and barked out Mom orders..."Hold on tight!"  "Watch your step!"  "Don't fall!"  "No laughing!"  Afterwards, Scott asked me why I was being so mean.   Jon took them out a second day when I wasn't with them.  I think everyone involved had a much better time.  Sometimes it's better not to watch!:)  Regardless, this is NOT going to become part of the entertainment routine around here.   

The kiddos are becoming quite the readers!  Scott is working hard to keep the top-reader spot in his class and can blast through a book in no time, and Natalie has recently gotten into chapter books and feels very grown up.  They take after their papa!

Kate's little preschool program comes with suggestions for treats to make too.  I had to oblige and make the scarecrow cupcakes.  After all, it's part of the curriculum.  :)

Kate got this fishing game and the silly hats for her birthday a year ago.  Whenever she plays the fishing game, she thinks you have to put on a silly hat too.  Fortunately, you can't see the one she chose for me!  

Fall Flurry!

What a fun, yet busy, time of year...or time of life!  :)  We've gotten into the school groove and are knee deep in spider research projects and pumpkin book reports.  I may or may not do a good job of faking my enthusiasm when another one of these "fun" assignments gets sent home.  Anyhoo...we are certainly enjoying the beautiful fall weather and the excitement that comes with the change of seasons.  

The kids have been noticing the Halloween decorations as we drive around.  One day, Kate piped up, "It's getting close to Halloween.  But we just celebrate pumpkins."  :)  I'm guessing she learned that from Natalie. 

Jon has had the opportunity to work at the gun range the past month.  It's been great for me as I don't feel the need to check the local news as often to see who has been shot/where it happened.  (That probably sounds harsh.)   Anyway, part of the month he has also been on day shift!  We thought that this would be wonderful, but it's been a bit of an adjustment.  After battling through homework and bedtime one night, Jon told me that perhaps being home in the evenings was overrated!:)  I, likewise, have had to get my act together in the morning and drive the kids to school.   (Something Jon normally does.)  Some days, it has gone beautifully.  As pictured below, Natalie is ready for school extra early and is using the time to read.  Glorious day!

 However, more often than I'd care to admit, our mornings have looked more like this...ten minutes til leaving time...all kids are still in PJs with crazy hair...acting like monkeys...and somebody is crying because they are getting squashed.  "JON!!"  Oh yeah...he's at work already...it's all me.    So, it hasn't been all roses as I had thought it would be.  Although it has been a nice change of pace and something I could see us all enjoying down the road. 

Kate's been plugging away at her little preschool program.  Here she is with Flowery F and Purple Puffy Paint P.

 Honey Bee Farm Field Trip!  

 (Jon stops reading these posts if they get too long....SOOOO...to be continued!:)