Happy Halloween

Even though Halloween is one of the more downplayed holidays, it is filled with lots of activities, and always leaves me exhausted! In the morning, the 2nd graders had a paraliturgy for All Saints' Day. Mila dressed up as Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, and had to tell a couple things that she learned about her. She told me that they were lining up shortest to tallest, and that she would be going 1st! After the paraliturgy, Babtcha, Dido, and I had lunch with her.

After that I had an hour and a 1/2 to go home and do some work on my laptop. Then it was back to school for the parade. I love seeing all of the homemade costumes for the kindergartners! I'm already thinking about some ideas for when Caleb and Mila will be in 8th grade and have to make a costume for a buddy. Hopefully that takes a really took long time to get here!

After the parade I was a room mom for Caleb's class party. It was a great success! The kids had plenty to do, without getting too crazy! My favorite part was at the end when his teacher told the kids to thank the moms. Caleb got out of his seat to give me a hug and said thanks mom! 😊 

Their Spanish class made an ofrenda

This was the doggy ofrenda

After school the kids went through all of the treat bags they received from their classmates, and we bundled up to go trick or treating. This will be a Halloween that they will never forget, as it had snowed several inches! The snow didn't stop them! They still went up-and-down Lisa and Nick's street and got enough candy to last a year! When we got back to the house, the kids were excited to celebrate Iyla's 1st Halloween!  She was so cute in her spiderweb tutu! The kids had so much fun sorting through their loot and running around together!

Trunk or Treat

I love our holiday traditions!  We always start off with Trunk or Treat at the kids' preschool, Hosanna!  It's so cool to me that our kids, nieces, and nephews have all gone to the same preschool!  Next year none of them will actually be students, but I'm sure we'll still go!  It was fun to have some extra friends join us this year!  The weather was perfect, and the kids had lots of fun!  It was so cute seeing Caleb's old teacher's reactions to how much he's grown!

School Pictures

Their pictures turned out amazing!!  Such cuties!!

4th grade

2nd grade

School Picture day

Who knows how their school pictures will turn out!?!  I'm just thrilled with these pics I took before school!  Of course I'm biased, but our kiddos are beautiful!!

I Want to Remember

Mila asking to watch sports in the evening!  When I once offered tennis, she said yes, and now likes to watch tennis in addition to basketball, golf, and baseball!

We had a bird fly into one of our windows.  I went to check on it, and it seemed dead.  Caleb came out with me.  A little while later, he was in the bathroom running water in the sink.  He told me that God spoke to him through the running water.  He said, "The bird is dead and with me here in heaven."

While at the park a few weeks ago, a little boy was afraid and got stuck on the playground netting.  It was in such a way, that his Mom couldn't climb in the netting to get him.  Caleb called out, "I'll come help!"  He climbed into the area where the little boy was, and spoke calmly and gently to him.  He was able to help him get his foot out of the netting and get back to his mom.  My heart was exploding!  I gave him a big hug and told him that I was so proud of him!  He told me, "well that was unexpected and awesome!"

I was updating our anniversary journal with this year's picture.  Caleb came and looked at our photos and said, "you and Dad still look really young!  You look like you're in your 20's!"  THANKS SON! 😊

Mila, at age 7, rode her bike without training wheels!!  Our street is terrible for learning how to ride a bike!  There aren't any sidewalks, and there's a hill!  That's my reasoning why it took so long!

Mila's gym teacher wrote me an email telling me that she's a natural at soccer!  You can only imagine the smile on Erik's face!  She suggested we sign her up for a team!  When we talked about it with her, she said she would give soccer a try in the Spring!

Reese and Bella's Birthday

I can't believe our puppy girls are 13 years old!!  These sweet sisters are so loving and loyal!  They are always up for a snuggle!  Reese still gets super playful with her toys, and Bella never lets us forget a meal!  We love them so, so much!

We celebrated their birthday with some special cookie treats and party hats!