Pumpkins, Puppy, and Pinching Pennies

Sugar Cookies 

Gavers Farm
We have loved Gavers Farm in the past partly because of its beautiful setting but also because we've gone at perfect times when there is hardly anyone there. Well this year was different. It rained for what felt like weeks so when we had a sunny weekend we headed to the pumpkin patch with the rest of the county. The kids still had a great time despite the crowds and lines. A couple things I learned about my kids: First, Abby is a hoot in a pumpkin patch. I really got a kick out of her enthusiasm to find just the right one. She'd pick one up, declare it to be the winner and then drop it to go find another. Jake and Tess were so eager to play that they picked up the first one they could carry. Abby's had to be perfect. Next, My kids are not aggressive with big groups of kids.  Other kids butted in line preventing them from going down the slides over and over again and my kids just let it happen without getting upset. I'm afraid I was the one upset and putting an end to it. Poor Abby took 15 minutes to go down one slide that should have taken oh, 3. So I went with her the next time and told the other kids (in my nice mommy-in-control-voice) to wait in line and take turns.

Pumpkin Carving

Clara

Is always climbing and falling. Once with Dan, she split her mouth from climbing on a chair. From the large amount of blood Dan was worried she'd need to go to the E.R. Tonight she gave herself a huge goose-egg on her forehead. Clara Loves to say ABBY over and over and over. She is starting to copy more words. She is the messiest eater ever!

Jake

Earned his Bear! He is loving cub scouts, being with Dan, and earning lots of belt loops, beads and merit badges. I'm proud of how well he is doing adjusting to the new group of boys. It isnt easy but he's doing great. Big big news. He lost his front tooth! Finally. Today he came off the bus running to me with a huge grin. It totally shocked me. Dan and I didn't realize how lose it was. His buddy at school told him that if he cleans it the tooth fairy with pay extra....he is going to test this theory tonight.
Jake is the dog's buddy. First thing from school Jake is checking on, playing with, taking him out to potty. It is incredible and has surprised Dan and I. Jake loves Buddy and Buddy loves Jake.

Tess

Got an expander put in this week. She did great at the appointment. I was prepared for crying and lots of hugs but no crying! I love her orthodontist and staff. I've visited too many dental offices. I consider my self an expert of it actually. This office is so friendly, all of the staff are so good with her. They have a lots of rewards, drawings, incentives ect. Every time we've gone Tess has entered a new drawing to win things like a bike! For Halloween Dr. Sheehan buys back candy. Since his patients are in brace and can't eat sticky candy, and to help with good dental hygiene, he gives a dollar to every pound of  candy. Awesome. She was given a shirt and bracelet to decorate and wear to her appointments to earn token towards a gift card. Good brushing and other little things earn a token. Tess is actually excited to go back to get her braces on.  The plan is for the next two weeks I turn the expander with a key twice day. Then she gets braces and in 6 months it will all come off and her big teeth will have room to come down straight. The new expander has made eating and talking difficult, for now. Dan and I prepped her before school on how to handle kids commenting on her speech and I wrote her teacher a lengthy note. Well, her first day she got off the bus and burst into tears because of a boy teasing her in class. Of course it happened at the end of the day when her teacher was using the bathroom. There was an adult in the room but she didn't do anything about it. Luckily more than 3 friends stood up for her. Broke my heart. And made my inner-mama bear want to come out!

(nice photo bomb in the background...)

Abby

Is a doll. Just so adorable. She took pictures at preschool a couple weeks ago and the photographer grabbed me at pick-up time to tell me how much she adores Abby, that she was so easy to photograph and such a "pure kid".  Yes she is. She has such a cute way of saying things, I wish I wrote more down. Today, we were headed downstairs to watch AFV together, she stopped, looked at me and said "Ok. So here's the deal...".  I just started using a sticker chart with her to keep her in her bed at night. She is usually in with us 3 to 4 times a week ever since we moved in. After earning 5 sticker in a row her rewarded was special time with just me. She chose to decorate sugar cookies and have a chat on the swing.  Cute. She was so excited about this that she told both neighbor mom's about it. Mrs. Susie told Abby to come tell her when she earned her 5 stickers. So, yesterday morning when she earned that 5th one she was dressed and over at the neighbors at 8am. I had no idea she had left the house and was busy getting the other kids dressed when Jake looked out the window and spotted her. Sweet Mrs. Susie had a new princess bouncy ball and M&M's for her. I love our neighbors.

Dan and I

We just took professional family pictures with a friend from our old ward, Laura Franklin. Its been over 5 years. I wanted an outdoor shoot to take advantage of the colorful leaves. Of course Clara was happy until it was time to smile. To her credit she developed a runny nose on the spot that turned into a head cold. I'm hoping we get at least one good picture.

We live in a gorgeous place, especially right now. I love the Fall! I am grateful for our new house but we are feeling very financially tight right now. We've been trying to make up for our crazy Summer.  And then the government shut down. (a post in and of itself) We were concerned that Dan wouldn't get paid at all but thankfully he will. It all added to our stress level though. If we hadn't just bought a home, and had all the money in savings we had oh, 5 months ago, we would be fine. I love living "out in the country", but it has its drawbacks-- it is a further drive to any store, DCP, and church. So between gas, preschool, piano lessons, and little repairs to the house we are on edge. We are not penny pinchers but aren't big spender either. We will get ahead of this I'm sure. Its just a new frustrating challenge for us.

Dan is a great Cub Scout Master, Den Leader, and complete Cub Scout coordinator/planner. He is so dedicated to getting this program working for the boys. But, a program like this can't be a one man show. I'm hoping he gets some real help soon. His third calling is nursery leader.

Me.  I just got Clara use to the childcare place at the gym I signed up at and was really excited to finally take classes and then I hurt my knee some how.  I have an MRI on Monday and am praying it isn't a big deal. Praying for no surgery!

Buddy

Is getting bigger. Dan, Jacob, and Tess love him. Abby and Clara like him. Me...I'm still on the fence.