HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Halloween was busier than ever this year! The kids had fun, got tons of candy & were pooped when it was all over (so was I).


I went trick or treating at the hospital with the 2nd grade class I was working with. It was fun & the kids loved it. I went last year with Jake's class & will go with Allie's next year too.


The kids had a parade at school with all of the kids in their costumes. Everyone looked adorable. They had parties after the parade & then home they went.


After school, we trekked to Main Street to trick or treat there. The merchants hand out candy & you typically see tons of friends there. Since it was SO nice, there were TONS & TONS of people there. We waiting in line & then decided to skip it & hit McDonald's instead. We met up with other friends there & ate before trick or treating around our neighborhood.


We hit all of the houses in our neighborhood. Allie pooped out early...her feet hurt & her bag was WAY too heavy. Scott came & picked her up on the way home from work. She sat on the porch & handed out candy after that.


Once the kids were sent home, I went out with some friends. We went to 2 haunted houses & had a ball. I bet it has been 20 years since I went through a haunted house. I used to go every Halloween with my dad & loved it. I still love them! I don't think I've laughed that hard in a long, long time!


Allie, Maddie & Riley

Allie, Madison & Madison


Nick & Jake

Hunter, Allie & Andrea

Jake & Allie

Jake & Allie

Allie handing out candy

Jake (hippie), Ben (Joe the Plumber), Adam (baby), Paul (hippie)

The kids & their friends at McDonald's

LAST WEEK

It was a crazier week than normal.

Subbing: I worked all week in a 2nd grade classroom. I worked one on one with a student & also got to help out the teacher & other kids in the class. The days flew by & I kept busy, which was great. I also was able to see Mr. Wagner in action & knew he was a good teacher (Jake had him), but now I am really hoping Allie gets him. He'd be great for her dramatic/needy personality...he might actually break her of the whining!!

Kid of Character: Jake was voted "Kid of Character" in his class. He got to sit in a special desk all week. Apparently, you get nominated & voted for by your classmates, he's been hoping he'd get picked & it happened!




Jake at the Kid of Character desk

UNI Camp: Jake went to a basketball camp sponsored by the UNI Men's Basketball team. He tried out to be a ball boy, but didn't make it. He got autographs of the team & will participate in a half time show next week.


Friends: The kids had friends over to play this week. Jake had Paul & Nick over. Allie had Olivia play. They all kept busy & I was able to get some things tackled around the house.


Basketball: Both kids had ball games over the weekend. Jake looked pretty good. If he'd actually pass the ball once in awhile, he'd look better! Allie is still learning & improving each time.


Conferences: Both kids had conferences this week. Jake got all 3's & 4's. Allie got all 3's. That was exactly what I thought they'd end up with, so I was pleased. Allie needs to work on NOT talking to her neighbor. Jake needs to re-check his work for silly errors & some of his 3's will become 4's.

Party: Jake went to his friend Carter's party at the UNI Wellness Center's gym. They played lost of games & sounds like had a fun time. His 15 best friends were there. Allie went to her friend Lauryn's house during the party. I ran to Target with NO kids!

Other things: Allie also had dance this week. Jake & I went to Soho for a snack & homework time while Allie was at class. Religion was cancelled this week due to CF playing in the Dome for HS playoffs. They won, Yea! I made cupcakes & Rice Krispie treats for the kid's Halloween parties...I was sick of black & orange by the time it was all over!

Our Upcoming Week:
Today: bowling with the Scouts & a PTA budget meeting
Monday: dance for Allie, volunteer in both kid's classrooms, Festival of Trees meeting, popcorn orders ready & turned in
Tuesday: dentist appt. for me, UNI basketball game, VOTE
Wednesday: work at book fair, religion
Thursday: no school, playdates with Nick & Jordyn, final Teddy Bear Tea meeting
Friday: no school, be sure Teddy Bear Tea is ready
Saturday: basketball for both kids
Sunday: Teddy Bear Tea

CUB SCOUT PARTY
Jake's Scout Pack had a Halloween party on Monday night. The kids played games, decorated cookies & just had a lot of fun hanging out.

Derek, Wyatt & Allie

Grace & Allie



Jake & Paul
Will, Sam, Sam, Will & Aidan


Jake & Will


Allie stirring the pot...note the dry ice making the steam

FORGETFUL FAIRY

Allie lost her 7th tooth last week. Mrs. Cummings at school yanked it out for her since her mother won't pull teeth. Allie was very excited & found me at recess to hold her precious tooth until Mrs. Wyckoff could get her a tooth necklace. I kept it safe the entire recess & followed Miss Allie into her classroom. She got the beloved necklace & a sticker that says "I lost a tooth" to wear on her shirt.

That night right at bedtime, my daughter puts her tooth into her tooth pillow that Nana made for her & propped it up next to her bed. I got both kids to sleep & went about my night. Let me say, it was a very busy week & I was really tired myself.

Fast forward to the next morning. I'm sitting in Jake's room talking to him when a VERY dramatic Allie walks in, eyes filled with tears...she exclaimed "the tooth fairy forgot me". UGH! I'd done it again (last time it was Jake). So, I told her to look under her bed, in her closet etc. I was buying time to find a dollar & figure out where to hide it so Allie could find it. I ventured back into Al's room & sat on her bed. I asked her to look under the OTHER side of her bed & while she was doing that, I slipped the cash into her bed pillow. I advised her to look in a variety of other places & finally suggested the bed pillow. She was relieved to know that the tooth fairy didn't forget her. She even told me that since it was Halloween, she was certain that they fairy played a TRICK on her. Whatever! In the end, the tooth fairy was funny & still loved my little Allie.

FAVORITE FOTO FRIDAY

This week's theme is Halloween...what did you expect???

WRAP UP!
A quick wrap up of our week...

Monday: I subbed in the afternoon at Hansen. Allie had dance after school. Jake & I made on last trip through Cathy's Hallmark before they close for good.

Tuesday: I volunteered in Jake's classroom all morning. I subbed at Hansen all afternoon. Allie had Scouts after school. I had a playground fundraising meeting that night.

Wednesday: I volunteered all morning in Allie's classroom. I subbed at Hansen all afternoon. Paul & Ben came over to play while Allie & I made cookies for Paul's b-day. The kids had religion class, so Kelley & I went to dinner while they were learning about God.

Thursday: I volunteered in Allie's class all morning. I subbed at Hansen all afternoon. The kids participated in an all school walk for lymphoma in honor of Allie's friend Hunter & Jake's teacher Mrs. Marshall...both are now cancer free!

Friday: No school! I took the kids to see High School Musical 3. We waited in line for 20 minutes for tickets, they loved it so it was worth it. We went with my friend Cathi & her girls. The kids saw lots of their friends at the theater. I also met with Cathi about the upcoming Teddy Bear Tea. That evening, we had an AWFUL dinner at Lone Star with Scott & managed to get Jake some much needed long sleeved shirts.

Saturday: both kids started basketball. We spent all morning in gyms watching/playing ball. I went to the UNI craft show with friends. Jake went to Paul's b-day sleepover & movie. Allie got to pick dinner & we ordered OP pizza. We watched a Goosebumps movie on TV & it scared Allie so she barely slept that night...neither did I!

Sunday: Allie & ran to Walmart, then we came home & cleaned. We had lasagna for dinner & carved pumpkins.

Next week: I'm subbing all week in Mr. Wagner's class (yea), Allie has dance, Jake has a Scout Halloween party, I have a playground planning meeting, I am babysitting 2 kids on Wednesday after school, the kids have religion, I have conferences for both kids, Jake has a UNI basketball camp, I have Halloween treats to make for the kid's classrooms, we have trick or treating, class parties, both kids have basketball, I have a PTA budget meeting & Jake has a Scout bowling party. Whew!

THIS WEEK...

Here's our week in a nutshell...

Monday: sub at Hansen, dance for Allie
Tuesday: sub at Hansen, Scouts for Allie, fundraising meeting for me
Wednesday: sub at Hansen, babysit after school, religion class for the kids
Thursday: sub at Hansen...NOTHING else in on the calendar...I'm getting in my PJ's early & watching Survivor & Grey's!!
Friday: no school!! final Teddy Bear Tea meeting, take kids to see High School Musical 3 (if we can get in).
Saturday: basketball starts for both kids, b-day party sleepover for Jake at Paul's house
Sunday: carve pumpkins

HANGING OUT WITH COUSINS

The kids and I went to my parents house on Saturday after Jake's last soccer game (they lost). We had dinner with my parents, siblings, nieces & nephews. The kids played & played. They were busy outside coloring Nana's swing set with sidewalk chalk...what an easy form of entertainment. We also went to Ben's soccer game (the purpose of our trip). He was pretty fun to watch.




The cousins

Allie picking apples

Jake in the apple tree

The kids & Michael coloring

Ben playing soccer

FARMING

The kids got to go to the farm that Uncle Will works on. They got to ride on the combine & see how it works. Allie informed me that the corn that they picked wasn't the corn we eat, it was "television corn". I asked her what she was talking about & Jake piped in "commercial corn". The got quite the education!!

After their farm work was done, they got to pick apples from a tree & they thought that was so cool.


Allie, Ben & Jake on the tractor/wagon

Jake hanging out in a tire

Allie's turn

The kids with Uncle Will on the combine

Allie got to push the button that puts the corn into the wagon

FIELD TRIP

Jake's class went on a field trip to another 3rd grade teacher's farm. The 3rd graders at Hansen have been going on this trip for over 30 years. Several parents that were on the trip went as 3rd graders years ago.

The kids got to ride on a hayride, explore the woods, play games, ride on the tire swing, pick pumpkins, pick Indian corn and pick popcorn. They had an awesome time!


Jake with a pumpkin

Jake on the tire swing

Jake & his buddies on the old log eating lunch

Jake picking out Indian corn

Jake & friends on the hay ride.

PUBLICITY PHOTO

Here is our publicity photo for the Teddy Bear Tea. Who isn't going to WANT to come to our event after seeing this??

WILD WEEK!

Yes, it was another wild week that left me wondering where did the week go??

• Monday...Allie had parent's day at dance. We got a preview of her upcoming recital dance. So far it looks good. Jake had football practice & was pretty excited that they didn't have to run a ton!
• Tuesday...I went on Allie's class field trip to Hartman Reserve. We hiked, made cider & explored the nature center. It was a bit rainy, but we made it through the day. Jake had soccer practice in the pouring rain. He was soaked. I skipped a Festival of Trees meeting that morning...oops!
• Wednesday...I spent the day running errands & cleaning the house. Scott met me for lunch at Hu Hot. Religion was cancelled so we spent a nice evening at home.
• Thursday...I spent the morning in Allie's classroom reviewing math with the kids. I spent the afternoon subbing in my old classroom. Jake had football practice that evening.
• Friday...I subbed all day at Orchard. Jake had soccer practice after school. We went to Carlos for dinner & rented movies. Baby Mama was a great movie.
• Saturday...Jake had his final football game & it was awesome! They won 39-0. Jake had 1 TD, 2 extra points scores, 3 interceptions and pulled TONS of flags. Unfortunately his soccer game didn't go as well. They lost. Jake was so upset, he was goalie the 2nd half & worked his tail off, but couldn't stop a few balls. After the game, we went to Pepper's to cheer on UNI. We then met friends at my house for drinks & chatting outside. It was gorgeous.
• Sunday....we had a Scout meeting at the pumpkin patch. It was a great time. Jake went to see the Chinese acrobats at UNI with a friend. He said it was awesome.

This week will be another quick one. We have dance, 2 soccer practices, our last soccer game, religion, Jake's class field trip, volunteering in each kid's room, Teddy Bear Tea photo deadlines, a PTA meeting and I sub 4 days next week.

Me & the kids at the pumpkin patch

Jake's Scout group

Jake & Allie

Ellie, Allie & Grace

Jake & Sam

Allie warming up at ballet class

Jake

My soccer stud

The goalie is ready

Allie picked out a pumpkin



Hunter, Morgan & Allie on the field trip

Allie's class

Allie making cider

Caleb, Braden, Ben, Carmen, Allie & Kayleigh

Allie's class again (note Allie & her best buds in the front...Andrea, Morgan & Allie)

GOODBYE FFF

OK...I have failed! I can't handle the regular Favorite Foto Friday posts. It is causing WAY too much stress in my life. I have to let it go!

Here's the deal...when I stole the FFF idea from a fellow blogger (thanks Stacy) I was really jazzed about the idea. I loved tuning into Stacy's blog to see what she chose for pics. I had lots of fun sifting through old pics & coming up with themes. As the weeks went on the task wasn't quite as fun. This was because a lot of my pics weren't on my computer & I had to scan them in. It became a chore. Now, I find myself in a panic on Thursdays wondering "What will my FFF theme be & how will I get through my 20+ photo albums to find the right pics AND scan them in?" It isn't fun anymore...now it is a chore & frankly I can't handle the pressure. My life is full of other pressures that I can't get rid & so I must say good bye to FFF on a regular basis. If I am in the mood to find the pics & post them, I will. It may be on a Friday or I may get a bit nutty & post them on a Tuesday! Who knows?? I may post frequently knowing that I don't have a deadline...I may never post favorites again...you'll have to wait & see!

So long FFF!

KITCHEN


Here are some pics of my new appliances & paint in the kitchen. I was going to wait to post until the counters were in...BUT...we haven't found time to go to look at them. Maybe this week????



My new fridge with the freezer on the bottom. We had to compromise & not get the water in the door b/c the space was too small & we had to go a size smaller with our fridge.

My double oven. I LOVE it! It has a convection oven or regular oven in the bottom part. I can bake lots of cookies at one time. Can't wait for the holiday baking season to begin.

My microwave...I'm still learning all of it's features.

My dishwasher with no controls on the outside. And it is amazing how well it cleans. Especially with the water softener.

My new Uppercase Living saying that Kim & Michael put up for me. I ordered more :) Oh & the new paint color.