The Holidays Have Begun

I had my first Thanksgiving meal today ~ lunch with A3 at the daycare ~and my first TWO pieces of pumpkin pie. He didn't like his so I ate two!! It's a great feeling when your child runs across the room, jumps in your arms, wants to sit with you, wants to follow you everywhere, wants you take his picture with his best friends.

It's not such a great feeling when the same child looks deep into your eyes and says, "Why do we have red cracks in our eyes?" I think I must need more sleep.

Last Week

Last week was not all that pretty. In all honesty, I probably didn't have a lot of great mommy moments and my kids were not exactly angels either. Sometimes that's just the way it goes. I'll save you the details of my court date with my ex husband, the temper tantrums, the stomping up the stairs and yes, even the yelling (some of these were done by the Triple As and some by me).

Saturday didn't start out a lot better. We took a trip home from the mall in silence, ate sandwiches for lunch in silence and the kids spent about an hour in their rooms. And then, life became good again. They love to play on the playground at the elementary school. I promised to take them there if (a) I could have a say in what they wore and (b) if I could take some photos WITH cooperation on their part. I think a good time was had by all.

This was before we left for the park. A3 is learning to do the monkey bars. I love the look of determination on his face. He was trying to get his feet up so he could hang upside down.

Again, the look of determination/concentration. I love how A2 and A1 are watching from behind.

He loves me.

It was incredibly windy on Saturday and A2's hair was falling out of her ponytail. I like this shot anyway.

I don't usually get this kind of look from A3 when the camera is out. It really makes me smile.

A2 was paying no attention to me and dancing to the music in her head.

Premature Death

They were approximately 8 weeks old, this pair of sneakers. How does an 8 year old boy manage to do this to a pair of sneakers in 8 weeks? It's not just this pair, it's every pair. It doesn't seem to matter the cost or the brand. I asked this particular 8 year old boy how the hole in the side of his shoe came to be. (I could sort of understand the hole in the toe of his shoe. There's sliding to be done and the dragging of the feet when one is just too tired to walk properly.) He answered quite simply, "the hoe." Because for those of you know this boy, he does an astonishing amount of gardening. What???

Elementary Fall Festival

Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been. ~ Mark Twain

I stumbled upon this quote this morning. I think I may have acquired a few more wrinkles over the weekend. I love watching the kids having a good time and a good time was had at the Fall Festival on Saturday. The weather was again gorgeous. There were games to be played, food to be eaten, bouncy things to be bounced on and in and various performers to be watched.

This is what it looked like.

A member of the HES Jump Rope Club jumps with a pogo stick.

You can't say that Andrew doesn't enjoy his food.

Had to throw in the more artistic shot.

Yes, I think I'm going to have a few more wrinkles, and that's just fine with me.

For those of you who have checked out my blog, but have been unable to post comments as "anonymous," that is now fixed. Leave me a comment and let me know you've stopped by.

God Is Good

It's a GORGEOUS afternoon in Charlotte. I took a break and walked to a nearby park in Uptown.

He thought I didn't see him.

It's Official ~ He's Five

A Yard Sale = Hours of Entertainment, Who Knew?

Traci & Adam had a yard sale to help fund the cost of their adoption, and we went to check it out. Who would have thought that a boxful of Beanie Babies could be so entertaining?? At a quarter a piece, it was well worth the price! I'm not even certain how many we brought home, but they have been played with, slept with, carried almost everywhere we've gone since, and I'm pretty sure I saw two of the bears driving the Barbie car through the family room. I did tell Traci and Adam that they have to buy them back in a year or two when we have a yard sale. Fair is fair, right?

We also came home with this great frisbee. I'm sure I'll be figuring out how to get it off the roof in the next week or two.