Halloween

By the time Halloween came it seems the kids were all halloweened out- but the lure of free candy just for running out in the dark neighborhood is always enticing.  Aunt Abbie stopped by and we had a little pizza party before making the rounds.  I got the kids dressed again, one last time of buckling and unbuckling Morgan's costume-- yay.  They had a school parade earlier, and Morgan said everyone took pictures of him and the kid in front wondered why he was getting all the pictures and said- "well what's wrong with me???"  (sorry I'm real lazy when it comes to typing correct punctuation, I know it really bugs some people)
Funny how all the parents know Edward Scissorhands but none of the kids do. Anyways, Halloween night was warm and the kids had a great time trick-or-treating with Wes and Abbie. I handed out little toys, because I have no self-control when it comes to Kit Kats.

Ghosties

Malia got to wear her costume to dance tonight and bring a treat. So we made meringue Ghosties. She loves to help, and I got the recipe off YouTube, so she could watch it and tell me what we needed to add next. They are very simple to make and taste like roasted marshmallows. She was so proud to hand them out to her friends! She talks about her dance class all the time, I just love her.

Dark side of trampolines

Malia has been limping a lot lately but never complains that she is in pain.
I thought maybe she was having some growth issues in her foot but wanted to get it checked out because her limp has steadily gotten worse.
So I made an appointment at primary children's (I've learned to just go straight to the experts). We saw the doctor on Monday who after seeing the x rays of her feet (they wanted to x ray her hips too but I said not until we rule out the feet! Why expose her to more radiation, esp around the most important areas)! Anyway the problem wasn't in her hips at all, it was a growth/stress fracture type thing in the bone of her foot. Loved the guilt i felt when his first question was, "do you guys have a trampoline?"
"yessss," I said trying to smother the apparent shame in my voice.
It's called kohlers syndrome and is a result of too much activity on the feet. See trampolines. I'm sure her hyper flexible joints don't help when it comes to keeping the bones in place in the foot.
Luckily, the seasons over and its a recovery time of six months. Symptoms are pain, but like I say, she's no complainer. So no more trampoline. Hopefully, I don't have to take her out of dance, the doc says its fine as long as it doesn't bother her.
They don't cast it, but she has to wear soft supportive shoes. Skiing has the green light, so you know where we're going to be this winter.

I really wanted to go snowshoeing today.
I love my kids and sometimes I just need a small break, a chance to refill my cup. All moms need this, whether its reading, shopping, creating, exercising, or just getting away for a moment.
Sometimes I get a little help from someone who can tend and I feel rejuvenated and maybe feel like I can actually get through the day and my mood is so much better.
Most the time though, I don't get that luxury- and it's twice as hard to get through the week. So if I'm not at some family or social function, don't judge. I'm probably out trying to get my cup filled so I can be the good mom my kids need me to be. That's what's most important to me because i don't function so well on empty.

Snow

Morgan and Carson woke me up this morning at 6 am to tell me most excitedly that it had snowed and the power was out. They were all running around the pitch black house with their headlamps and glow-in-the-dark toys.
So I let them stay home for the first half of school to play in the first-snowfall snow. And if we didn't have power the school didn't have power so we spent the morning by the fireplace.(but really I just had no desire to try and get them to school on time in a blizzard, power outage mess). Luckily our gas stove doesn't need electricity so i made some swedish pancakes- cuz hey, we weren't going any where.
Once the power was on I kicked em out the door and went back to sleep. Hmm I wish.

Ridd Halloween Party

Julie always out does herself for an awesomely decorated family halloween party.  We had a lot of fun and enjoyed seeing everyone in their costumes.  I'm sure there are many who secretly aren't a fan of donning costumes, but we do it for the kids right? I know they will have some great memories.  They also got some fun awards: Morgan was determined to win, his ballot for the costume contest went like this, ME, Morgan, Morgan Morgan, for each category.  He won for most creative, Carson for scariest, and Malia for funniest.  It took me about an hour to do all  the kids make up, and was worth it when they looked in the mirror and screamed!!  Wes made a great Thor, and I went along as Black Widow,  easy.  I have to thank my neighbor tamy bremer for helping with Morgan's costume, it turned out perfect!
Carson fell asleep in his costume, so we did this to him and took his picture haha!  (Then cleaned all his bedding the next morning, ugh)

Biking

Honestly I don't know what I'd do without spaces like this.