A Better Late than Never Happy Halloween

It is horrible that I am just now getting around to posting Halloween photos but that's the way it goes around here sometimes.

We had a great Halloween.  Really this isn't my favorite holiday.  I just don't think we need all that candy around the house.  The kids don't need it.  Husband and I don't need it.  It is just too much of a temptation.  Plus, our neighborhood really doesn't have many trick or treaters and we are never actually home on Halloween so I don't buy any candy.  I learned the hard way the first year after we moved here that there weren't any trick or treaters and was stuck with one of those jumbo bags of candy.  Not good for the waistline.

We actually trick or treated twice this year.  Once, the Sunday before Halloween at our church's Trunk or Treat, complete with spooky organ concert and hay ride, and then again in my parent's neighborhood on Halloween.   My parents neighborhood is the BEST for trick or treating and people all over the city have figured it out.  My parents easily give out 400 pieces of candy and still turn their lights off before 8 pm.  Anyway, here are a few pictures of the gang in their costumes.

Helping big brother adjust his chaps.

 Say cheese!  I'm a doctor just like John Robert and Jessica

(Thanks for the authentic Cincinnati Children's scrubs)

This cowboy needs a moment to reflect.

The two cowboys talking things over before the festivities begin.  I think they are plotting the best strategy to get the most candy.

So...you been farming long?

Cowboy JD giving directions to the hay ride.

Little sister the pumpkin... just along for the ride.

Have cauldron will trick or treat.  

Ready for the candy.

Tried to get one of all four of them plus the dog but Ava wasn't interested.

And off they go.

TRICK OR TREAT!

Happy (late) Halloween from our family to you!

Autumn on the Farm

THROUGH the ample open door of the peaceful country barn, 

A sun-lit pasture field, with cattle and horses feeding; 

 

And haze, and vista, and the far horizon, fading away.

~Walt Whitman~

All photos taken by me and the property of 501 Housewife

Four Little Pumpkins

So much has been going on around here lately that I am woefully behind in posting.  In addition to the regular "goings on" of life with four children , we have had family in from out of town (twice), a weekend on the farm, parent teacher conferences, and dinner parties.  In the midst of all that we took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch.  This was something my family always did when I was growing up and is a fun tradition we have continued with our children.  And this year, since my brother and Jessica were home visiting for a few days, they and my parents joined in the fun.  My poor mother was sick so she didn't have quite as much fun as the rest of us but she was a trooper and toughed it out anyway.

As most of you parents out there know, the pumpkin patch is more involved than just picking your very own pumpkin out of the field,although that is an important part of the "experience."  Our pumpkin patch experience also included a small petting zoo, hay bale maze just the right size for the children, sunflower maze for the "older" folks, a corn pit and hay ride. 

Seeing how much he has grown in a year.  

And here he is last year, just for comparison.  Boy he has grown!  And not just taller...he looks so much older than he did last year.

The whole gang.  It is impossible to get everyone looking at the camera at the same time.  

The boys petting the miniature pony.

Some fun in the corn.

Ava had to check out the corn too.

Hay Ride!

And now what we have all been waiting for....time to pick out the perfect pumpkin!

Found it mom!

We all had a fabulous time.  It is days like these that I truly treasure.  No matter how much of a hassle it can be to get the car packed with mud boots, changes of shoes, extra towels for wiping off seats and muddy hands, and those "just in case" items every parent travels with, as well as everyone dressed and out the door, it is so rewarding in the end.  I want to make memories with my children that will last their whole lives.  I want them to remember the family fun and pass it on to their children and grandchildren.  It is worth the "hassle" when you see their little faces like this....

Thanks Pumpkin Patch.  See you next year!

A Day To Remember

Today is the Feast of All Souls.  It is a day to remember and celebrate those who have departed this life before us.  For my husband and I, it is also the day, two years ago, that we learned we had lost our precious twins Reese and Lane.  It is a day that changed our life in so many ways.  A day our world shattered and a day from which I thought we would never recover.  So much has changed in the two years since we learned our babies had died.  We have changed.  They changed us in ways I know about and in ways I am just discovering.  And although I have healed, I will never truly be completely healed.  The pain, fear, and overwhelming sorrow I felt that day in the doctor's office I still feel when I think about my precious babies.  I know I will see them again.  I know they are watching over our family until we can all be together again.

Until then we will continue to remember and celebrate them, even though they were with us such a short time.

O God, whose beloved Son did take little children into his

arms and bless them: Give us grace, we beseech thee, to

entrust these children, Reese and Lane. to thy never-failing care and love, and

bring us all to thy heavenly kingdom; through the same thy

Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee

and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. 

Amen.

(Taken from the Book of Common Prayer)

Father of all, we pray to you for all those whom 

we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let 

light perpetual shine upon them. May the souls 

of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. 

Amen.

(Taken from the Book of Common Prayer.)

9 Months Have Come and Gone

Look who is already 9 months old!

This beautiful girl!

I am just amazed at how fast time flies these days.  I mean, I have other children and I can't believe how quickly they have grown, but time seems to be speeding up even more lately.  I mean it was only a week or so ago that I looked like this.

Wow!  Look at the big belly!

And I swear it was just yesterday that Ava was a newborn on her way home from the hospital.

 I still think of her as this little.

But this is reality.

She is nine months old and has officially been "out" and part of our little family of 6 for longer than she was "in."  Before I turn around, I will be planning her first birthday party and then I won't have a baby anymore.  YIKES!  To quote Scarlett O'Hara "I can't think about that right now.  If I do, I'll go crazy,  I'll think about that tomorrow."

Last week she had her 9 month check up and here are her official stats.

Length  27 1/2 inches or 45%

Weight  18 lbs 8.6 ounces  or 42%

Head  17 1/4 cm or 43%

She is crawling, pulling up on anything and everything, cruising around holding on to the table, and has even started climbing stairs.  And she now officially has her first tooth.  Don't worry.  The absence of teeth has not slowed her down in the eating arena one bit.  So far she has liked everything we have given her except.....BANANAS!  She hates them.

Here she is saying "Please no mommy."

And here there is just one word....YUCK!

She is a smiley, happy baby as long as Mommy is holding her.  She is definitely a Mommy's girl and has some pretty serious stranger anxiety.    Even with my parents, who she sees frequently, she is much happier playing with them from my lap.  My other three did not have this issue.  I have spoiled her I know.  She is my baby and I have been a little more "lenient" or indulgent with her than with the others.  I mean I haven't completely lost my touch.  She still sleeps in her own bed, I do let her cry when necessary, and I don't carry her around 100% of the time.  But I will admit, I have gotten soft in my old age.  For years I have given my parents a hard time for being soft with my younger sister.  She was allowed to do more and got away with way more than I ever did in my teenage years.  I guess it's likely Ava will get away with more too.  The perks of being the youngest I guess.

Happy Nine Months Ava.  We love you so much and are so glad you are ours.

A Pumpkin or Two

Autumn is here.  Officially it has been here for a month. Even though it is still rather warm here and doesn't feel like Autumn, it is.  That means it is time for college football, changing leaves, crisp air, hay rides, scarecrows, and pumpkins straight from the pumpkin patch.

Two weeks ago John David's class went on their annual field trip to a local pumpkin patch, and this year, I got to tag along.  Last year I was stuck in an 8 hour class all about taxes.  Boring...but I needed the education hours to keep my CPA license current.  Just in case I ever need it again.  And wouldn't you know it, the battery in my camera died after snapping just one picture.  That goodness for the i-phone or I would be the mom with one sad little picture of my son's pumpkin patch field trip.

There were goats to pet and feed.

A hay ride to take.

Corn to play in.

Hay bales to climb.

Snacks to eat.

And the perfect pumpkin to pick.

We both had a great time.  Just wait until you see the fun times we had when we unleashed the whole clan on the pumpkin patch.

The Kindergarten Decision

It has started.  We are searching for a school.  John David will be going to Kindergarten next year and the search is underway to find a place for him.  This search is something I both look forward to and dread.  I want to find the perfect place for him.  I want him to love going to kindergarten and his new school as much as he loves going to St. Mark's.  Honestly, if St. Mark's added an elementary school I would leave him there.  He loves it there.  All three of them do.  It is a loving, nurturing wonderful place that has helped him learn and grow so much over the past 2 1/2 years.

To be honest, this kindergarten search is something I didn't think I would have to do. When husband and I made the decision to move back to Arkansas when John David was born I thought the school decisions were made.  We would send him to the small parochial school where we and the rest of my family attended church.  I attended elementary school there as did both my brother and sister.  My mom taught there.  My dad was on the school board.  And even though we would have to pay tuition, it was a done deal.  It was important to me, and husband, and we would have found a way to pay for it.  Unfortunately, this beloved school is no longer an option.  After 54 years in operation, the church made the decision to close the school.  The church's decision was not one I agree with and I was and continue to be heartbroken over it.  I am healing, slowly, and now that I am looking for a new school for my children, the pain and heartache from the school's closing is again fresh and raw.  I knew in my heart it was the right place for my children.  There they would have been nurtured and grown to their fullest, brightest potential.  But I can do nothing about the school's closing.  All I can do now is try to find a school that will hopefully do for them what my beloved Cathedral School would have.

And so we search.

We have already visited our zoned public school and while I hear lots of wonderful things about it, and know lots of parents and children who love it, and know there are definite positives to public school, including we wouldn't have to pay tuition, I am still unsure about it.  I will admit to having a bias against public schools.  I never attended a public school until I was in graduate school.  All through elementary, junior high and high school I attended private, parochial schools.  As an undergraduate, I attended a private liberal arts college.  It wasn't until getting my master's degree that I attended a public university.  So I will admit to being biased towards private school.  It is what I know and what I experienced and I honestly believe I got a wonderful education and made life long friends that are more family than friend because of my attending private, parochial schools.  That being said, I am not opposed to sending my children to public school if I believe that is what is best for them, both academically and socially.  I just have concerns.  Although I hear lots of wonderful things about our public school I do hear some not so great things, including some not so great things about some of the teachers.  From what I have heard, there are two of the four kindergarten teachers that I absolutely would not want my children to have, particularly John David.  I just don't think he would respond well to them or do well in their classrooms.  Plus, while I know it is comparatively small, just 4 kindergarten classes with 20 children each, that is much bigger than St. Mark's and bigger than many of the parochial schools in the area.  I know there are positives to both a "bigger" school and a school with only one kindergarten class.

We have also visited one of the Catholic schools here in town and have tours set up to visit other parochial schools in the area.  The school we have already toured we really liked.  It has the small, family like atmosphere that The Cathedral School had, which puts me more at ease.  We know some families and teachers at this school and hear wonderful things.  They are all very happy there.  Some of our former Cathedral School family is at this school and they love it.  Here there is only one kindergarten class. Everyone knows everyone.  There is more opportunity for one on one interaction.  Here we know the kindergarten teacher and have no worries about John David being in her class.  There are lots of positives.  There are also negatives.  It costs money.  Compared to lots of other parochial schools in town, it is relatively inexpensive but it still isn't "free" or at least already paid through with my tax money like public school is.  And while thinking of sending one child there isn't overwhelming, the thought of paying tuition for four children IS.  I know.  I made the decision to have four children so I have to pay for them.  I know this.  And knowing this I would still have every one of my babies.  It is only money after all.  But when you are thinking about having a baby or about having another baby, somehow you don't think about paying tuition times 2 or 3 or 4.  There are also downsides to being in a school that small and I recognize that.

The whole school decision is causing me lots of mommy stress.  I know all parents want to do what is best for their children.  I know I am not the only one who is worrying about where to send their children to school.  I guess I should feel lucky that I have options, good options.  I just worry.  It is one of the things I am best at doing.  I worry that whatever decision we make it won't be the right one.  I worry we will make the decision with our wallet instead of our head, or our head instead of our hearts. I know we can always change our minds.  I know we can change schools if the one we choose doesn't work out, or circumstances change.  You just can't get that first kindergarten experience back.  I don't want to ruin it for him.   And so I am trying to stop worrying and put my trust in God and in my husband and myself.  God gave me John David.  He made me his mother and I know what is best for him.  I have to trust that we will make the right decision for him.  But sometimes, putting aside that worry just isn't easy for me to do.