Running and Meg's Fall Festival

In the crazy pace of yesterday, with the two big events falling on an always busy Friday, I forgot my camera on both occasions--AMAZING!!
Yesterday, was Meghan's second grade Fall Festival. She had a couple of lines that she has been practicing about Christopher Columbus and his holiday that we celebrate after "Lumber Day." I have heard her practice this in the car as she sat behind me for about a month now, always saying Lumber Day, and I would gently correct..Labor Day. I gave up a week or so ago, thinking that Lumber Day is sort of cute anyway. Yesterday, she marched right up there, took the mic and said everything perfectly--including Labor Day. She is so confident, she always amazes me.

Then after school, we rushed home, quickly changed into running clothes and headed out in the lovely Friday afternoon traffic to Gilbert, where we ran the Gilbert Days 1 mile fun run. Michael and Meg ran about 9:15, and Matthew and Jonathan ran about 10:30. There were so many little kids out there running. I ran with Matthew and Jon almost to the finish, and told them to keep going, and that I'd meet them on the other side. They reached for each others hand and held them together all the way through. They were so cute, and OH, was I wishing for that camera.

Buddies

Not a great picture, but so typical of Matthew and Jonathan. They are sitting in our big sandbox, but instead of spreading out, they are right next to each other. Matthew has sparked Jon's interest in dinosaurs, so here they are making a dinosaur volcano. These two are such good friends most of the time. They are constantly rolling around in a wrestling heap, usually one or the other getting hurt by the end, which never seems to deter them from jumping right back in next time. Jonathan has finally recovered from Matthew leaving to Kindergarten last year. I love watching them play.
Notice the bathing suits? Still able to be in the water/sand at 4pm, in mid -November. Still warm days.

I can't believe it has been this long since the last post here. We are full speed with school, soccer and running club. I thing soccer is over in about 3 weeks. I'm looking forward to some slower afternoons, and of course CHRISTMAS!!

Halloween

Halloween really is so fun, isn't it? The getting ready for it this year was busy. Matthew, our dinosaur fanatic, of course wanted to be a dinosaur. I looked EVERYWHERE for one in his size, but the biggest I could find was a 4T. I tried to talk him into many other options, but he wouldn't budge. I found a penguin pattern that I sewed into a dinosaur over the course of two nights (really-all night). I haven't sewn anything for about 4 years, and am very much a beginner. I bet Matthew had 15-20 safety pins holding that thing together as he trick or treated.

So...Michael was an army man, Meg, an angel, Jon was Zorro, Rachel was flower only long enough to take a picture. She couldn't stand the costume on. And then Cinderella and T-Rex. They were so excited.

Happy Birthday Elizabeth!!!

Uh, oh...Cinderella has dirty feet!! Where are those glass slippers??

There they are. Doesn't she really look like Cinderella?

Lizzie has been planning her "Cinderella Birthday", as she has been calling it, for months. How lucky to have your birthday on Halloween and to get to dress up in a costume! She had a party with Grandma and Grandpa, Granner, and all of the girls on Dave's team came dressed as princesses-so cute. Then off the our ward's Trunk or Treat (more on Halloween tomorrow).

Hard to believe she is 3! I had to dig out her baby stuff because I couldn't remember the time of her birth.. which was 3:07pm. It reminded me that I went into the hospital at 10pm on Oct 30, to be induced (because Meg on dialysis, Dave's nationals on our due date). After starting pitocin at about 11pm, it seemed like labor was taking forever. I remember my nurse finding Dave a quiet place so he could "get some sleep"--what!?! Finally she came, many hours later and I was SO tired! She was fiesty from the moment of birth, to now. She certainly keeps me on my toes. She has such a happy smile. I feel so lucky to be her Mama.

Report Cards

Hooray to school age Barney children. They just finished their first quarter which is so funny, because it seems like school just started back-maybe because its still feels like summer here. All three got great report cards. I have to brag about my big guy for a minute...Michael is in fourth grade this year, which happens to be the first year that they use letter grades in our district. When I first heard this, I have to admit I cringed a little. Those O,S+,S they use in grades 1-3, always leave me a bit unsure of the meaning (is this good, or just okay...), but there is no guessing with letter grades. Michael probably wouldn't say that school is easy. He is a little smarty, but he would much rather be home, and playing than studying, reading, etc. This year I have noticed that he has seemed a bit more responsible for getting his papers done at home, knowing when test are, and wanting to well in them, etc. Long story short, Michael got all A's on his report card. I am so excited for him. What a huge confidence booster and payoff for a lot of hard work. We are proud of you Michael!!

On Sleep....

Lately with our Elizabeth, we just can't win in the sleep department. She is at that age where she still needs a nap, but if it is too late, or too long, she is still up at 11pm. A month or so ago she decided she didn't want her paci anymore. They started getting holes in them. They were all kind of old so I bought some more, thinking they were kind of worn out getting sucked to death. Well, wouldn't you know it...the new ones got holes in them too, because she was trying to chew the nipple off!! I know that she should have given up the paci long ago, but those that know her and her high maitenance personality, can attest to the need of some calm in her life. Anyway, so gone were the pacis, and unfortunately, gone were the naps. She would do fine until about 3pm. when she would turn into a crying whirlwind that would keep on spinning through soccer, homework, dinner, bath, etc. right on into bed. She did go to bed at about 7pm instead of 10pm, but the screaming wasn't worth. So like any desperate mother would do...I bought 2 new PINK pacis for my almost 3 year old and MADE her use them. How could she resist pink? And so far she isn't biting them. Naps are back!!

Busy, Busy

Soccer has started. Michael, Meghan, and Matthew are playing. I really try not to overschedule us, but just with soccer there are five separate practices to go to and three games each Saturday. When Dave is available to help it goes very smoothly, but when it is just me driving all 6 kiddos here and there, dropping off, picking up...arriving home with everyone starving and dinner still to cook...hectic doesn't even begin to describe it. Last week was rough, but this week were getting back into our sports routine with crock pot dinners, etc. It has helped that no one has really had any homework this week, I think because it is the end of the quarter. It feels like it is starting to cool off which makes those afternoon practices so much nicer. Fall break is next week and maybe it will really FEEL like Fall! I love Arizona this time of year.