Family Fun Day

The kids dragged me out of bed about 8am so we could go and claim a free breakfast at Chick Fil A.

I decided to enter the scary spirit of the day by not wearing any make-up!! ;)

Then we headed to Walmart wear the kids entered big kid status by getting a booster seat each (instead of the 5 point harness).  Emma has pink zebra print, Toby has hot rod flames!

They are so happy about it!

Then we came home, where I proceeded to mow the lawn.  The kids were inside but came out to play, in costume!

Buzz and Rapunzel played together for 4+ hours while I picked up leaves and gave the yard a good cut before winter.  They aren't home together much these days, just after school and weekends, so it was great to see them getting along so well.

Our neighbors were confused about the costumes since we'd said we don't do Halloween.  We had to explain that they just dress up almost every day!!

Then it was off to the indoor playground with Scott's cousin and her family.

The kids were extra excited because we let them play on the video games, which we don't normally.  They'd been eyeing this one for some time!!

It was so nice to take a break from the frenetic pace we've been in since September began.  But it's back to the grind tomorrow!

For example, today I had to buy and hem new pajamas for Emma to wear to school tomorrow!  What will they come up with next?

Next Friday is Emma's 6th birthday party, can you believe it? Stay tuned, there's plenty of action coming up!

Family Day Out

Tomorrow is a true day off.  I'm usually off on Thursday but both the kids have school.  However, tomorrow is Halloween and the schools have costume parades and Halloween parties.  It sounds kind of fun, but we're keeping the kids home from school.

Scott and I decided that our family will not participate in Halloween.  It's quite a controversial decision here, as it is a huge American event.  I get that the majority of kids dress up as cartoon characters, and enjoy the candy and costume.  I'm sure our kids won't be scared by the cute decorations in school, especially as Emma assures me "it's just pretend Mom!"

Our decision follows a pattern of giving careful thought to how we live our life, why we do anything, and what it shows our children.  Candy and costumes are a regular occurrence in our house, so really not a compelling argument for us to ignore the reasons not to particpate.

So, the kids will stay home, rather than go to school and not be a part of the parades.  They won't lose out though!!  I'm taking them out for breakfast, and then in the evening we're heading to the indoor playground with their cousins for a family night of fun, and arcade games! 

I know Emma would like to be a part of it, and I was tempted to concede, but then I realized we have to take a stand on our beliefs, even if it's not the popular choice.  And when all the kids are going out to parties and who knows where, we will take an unpopular stand there too!  We want to raise children who know that following the crowd is not always right, or wise.

Pastor Bob recently preached a message and something he said stuck with me.  The Bible is clear on many issues of sin, but there are plenty of issues that were not specifically addressed 2000 years ago.  In these areas, where you feel convicted, when something feels wrong, that is the Holy Spirit speaking to you and you have to listen.

We may not join those who love Halloween.  It doesn't mean we don't love them!

Wedding Pictures

Here are some more pictures from Julie's wedding...

The beautiful bride

 

Me with cousins Bevin & Stacy

Proud big brother!

Toby and Paige paparazzi!

Possibly the most delicious cake ever!

One tired little girl!

Really, great cake!!

Mom & Pops

 Emma, after Stacy relinquished the bouquet that she caught fair and square, because Emma was so upset!

The happy couple!

Techy kid!!

It's always a challenge deciding what to get the kids for their birthdays.  For Emma we knew she would LOVE an iPad - so would I!  But she would never put it down, so not an option.

We were going to get her a laptop, a Google Chromebook is under $300, but that still seems excessive.  So, after being a helper in her classroom and seeing the small laptops they use there, I had a brainwave to give her my unused netbook!

It's light, small and free!  I wanted to see how well she'd get on with it, so I'm letting her play with it today.

If it goes well, I'm going to get stickers and personalize it for her.  Then she'll be able to play ABC Mouse whenever she wants (and we agree!!).

Work work work!

Last week was a busy one for me.  Two of my three office days were spent at a regional conference for all staff in North and South America, which I was the organizer for!

There were 15 people on day one and 20 on day two, many staying at the hotel we met at.

I've joined this company when I was 19, in the UK, and 15 years later (and two trans-Atlantic transfers, and two kids!) I'm still there.  Although there are many new faces, several have known me since 2000, and there is a strong friendship behind the work.

It wasn't all work - we got to have some good laughs at dinner!

This is me and my buddy Jess,

We can often be found at the Mexican restaurant by the office for lunch!

It's not easy working part-time while trying to keep up with the perfect mom benchmark, but it wouldn't be any fun without this crew!!

I'm thoroughly blessed.

Emma's school pictures came home today.  Remember - she fell on her face two days before?  We opted not to have them retouch the pictures to hide her scrapes, and I'm glad.

Little Star

Save the date: Emma will be making her stage debut in "Little Star", on Sunday, December 1 at 6pm!  

She will be playing "little sister", and already has her lines memorized!!

Buddy system

Feel free to accuse me of being controlling, or too involved - I won't deny it, and I don't care!!  I have made an unabashed, conscious effort to connect with the moms of Emma's class at school.  There's a few reasons...

First, as much as the kids get to know each other in 2.5 hours in a room of 20+ kids, when seats are moved around, it's hardly going to allow deep bonds to form.

Second, while I [reluctantly] acknowledge that I can't choose Emma's friends for her, I do want to get to know the kids better, and potentially what environment she would be in hanging out at their house, and make a choice accordingly.  After all, I'm not going to let her go where they have inappropriate TV on or curse every other word.  Those friends can come here!

I also want to let the other parents know our expectations for Emma, so if she does behave badly they don't judge us, and understand, for example, that we don't celebrate Halloween, and the kids don't watch Sponge Bob.  Hopefully they would respect that.

That said, three of the girls in her class have clicked with her, and the moms and I have really gelled.  It's exhausting running from dropping Toby at school to a play date, rushing back two hours later, but worth it.

This is Emma and Mia, having a grand time at our house.

Mia's mum is Australian (half English actually!) so we had a great time chatting and comparing stories.  They live a couple of streets over.

This afternoon we walked out of school with another friend, Devon, and her mom.  

So cute, they were holding hands!!

Devon and Emma were in ballet together for two years, but it really wasn't conducive to friend making.  Apparently they are great friends!!  We've had a play date and the girls had a blast.

Four houses away is Alexis, another friend from ballet that we had no idea lived so close.  

We've had a couple dates with her, and her dad Joe just got Scott's car hooked up with a great body repair!  (She's a couple days younger than Em, but super tall!)

I'm exhausted playing social director for the kids, but I know I'll reap rewards!  One Saturday I had the kids by myself and Alexis came over, totally distracted Emma!  And Emma's going round there this weekend for a couple hours.

The girls may not be in the same classes forever, but I hope Emma will always have church friends, school friends and neighborhood friends.  There will be times she may fall out with a friend (like I did as a kid), so having different groups to be with and still feel loved will, I hope, help avoid the loneliness that happens when you are "unfriended."

Julie's husband Sean's Grandma (keep up!!) posted this message for me on Facebook.  I had to share it...

Debra, I have to tell you how adorable and funny Emma was Saturday at Sean and Julies wedding. In the church before the wedding party came in, when she saw Julie coming into the hall she comes running in saying Julies here Julie here and proceeded to take pictures of my sister Ann and Maureen and Pete and kids. She actually told them to get closer with the little hand making motions with it like a close motion. She had us laughing. She was so serious. She talked to Dylan,Liam and Maureen and my sister. I always thought she was shy. We loved her. She was busy showing us all her cross. She was the entertainer til wedding started .So adorable.

Scott and I were in the lobby mainly, so Emma had the freedom to mingle as she chose!!

That's our Emma!

Wedding Day

It was Julie's wedding day on Saturday (Julie is the eldest of Scott's two younger sisters!).  And I was honored to be acting as photographer for the day - chip off the old block, hey Dad!!

I had backstage access and no problem with fidgeting as I was given free reign to go anywhere and snap away!  I took 500 pictures in total, and will go through and edit them this week.

I did get a few of our family, but only one of us four, and (I feel terrible about this) none really of just Emma.  Luckily she wore the same outfit Sunday so I got some then!!

Here are a couple to whet your appetite!!

I left ahead of the family to take pics at the hotel.  Scott did a great job of getting them dressed and to the church.

Julie and Kim, looking stunning!

Emma didn't quite catch the bouquet, but was so upset at not getting it, cousin Stacey kindly gave it to her!!

Julie, Kim and Sophia!

After the ceremony the kids were ready to party but had to wait.  Toby was desperate to show his "cool moves"!!

Weddings are a great time to reflect on the one you love!

And those were just the few I took on my phone!!

It was a great time, the rain stayed away and everyone was blessed by sharing in the celebration.