Halloween

I had lots to do to get ready for Halloween day. I finally started feeling back to myself Thurs. Thankfully after we got Ella her antibiotic and cough medicine, she was fine. Slept all night Wed and hasn't had a problem since. Thank you Lord!
Since I am Lani's room mom, I had to get everything organized for our booth at the school Fall Festival. We were doing Go Fish which I had done last year. I just borrow everything from the church and set up. After wanting to update the Go Fish backdrop last year, I finally got around to doing it this year. Of course it came down to last minute to finish it even though I started the first of the month. Thanks to Robbie, she helped me get the fish drawn on and painted Thursday morning (I can not draw) and it looked really cute. So Friday morning we were ready for the Frazer Fall Festival. Me and the other mom who is helping me, each bagged 150 sugar cookies for our giveaways. The kids had a great time at the Festival with all the games, hayride, bouncing house, and Big Green Bus. They ended the day with their party in the room. After all the fun, the kids were very well behaved sitting in their chairs eating their food. It was a fun time!

After a good rest, we got ready for our fun evening. Lani got dressed in her princess outfit and we got Ella dressed in her ladybug outfit. I was not sure if Ella was going to like having it on so we tried it the night before. She loved it and didn't want to take it off. When she woke up the next morning, she wanted to put it on. So, we got ready and went to say hey at my office, then to my grandparents to say hey. They got enough candy at my grandparents that we really didn't need to go trick or treating :) After the visits, we came back home to trick or treat with the Hixons and Hefelfingers for a little bit before heading to the church's Fall Festival. Of course this was the first year for Ella to trick or treat and she was so funny. She loved it! She went right on up to the doors and grabbed her some candy, then said "tank you and bye bye". Of they would run to the next house. Ella was doing her best to keep up!
We had fun at the church playing some games. It turned out to be pretty cold and I had on a sweater with short sleaves (b/c I had been hot all day) and Ella had no shoes (of course she didn't care). Lani had a fun time playing all the games. At first, all Ella wanted to do was stay on the playground. She was not so happy when we tried to take her to the games. But we finally got away and let her run around some. She had fun also. We got to watch the puppet show, eat some popcorn and even got a good family picture. It was a great day with lots of fun!

Wednesday - another Dr's appt

Well, Wednesday was going to start the busier part of the week, but Ella had been coughing a lot at night and waking up several times during the night since Sunday night. It was so unlike her to wake up but then again, we have had these coughs for so long that I didn't think much of it at first. She was fine during the day, played and had fun, but then nighttime the coughing would start again. While I was at my doctor's appt on Tues the doctor heard her cough and said she sounded croupy. So this morning I decided to call the Dr for an appt. I am the room mom for Lani's class and I was suppose to work with the other mom who is helping me to make the Indian t-shirts for the kids in the class. Didn't think it would be a good idea to take Ella up there since she might have croup. Thankfully I found another mom who was able to help out. We headed to the Dr and after getting Ella to cough for the Dr, he determined it sounded like it was turning into croup. So we got a steriod shot (Ella was not happy about), some cough medicine and an antibiotic. I'm hoping we can get rid of the croup and get rid of this cough that has hung around for going on 4 weeks now.
Typically, we don't get sick that often, but so far we are not starting this season off to well. I am hoping we will get it out of our systems and do better during the winter. Ella is sleeping well so far and pray it will be a good night tonight. Last night just as I was going to bed, Ella woke up coughing. After taking care of her with a humidifer, walking outside for a minute, getting online to read about croup, and drinking a little milk, Lani woke up (which rarely happens) and really didn't make since what she was saying and went back to bed. After all that I think I fell asleep around 1:30 or 2. So I am heading to bed now - sleep good everyone!

Good start to the week...

We have had a good start to the week. Lani left early Monday morning with Lauren for school and got home around 1:00 after picking up the older boys from school. That left me and Ella at home to get things done. I worked on cleaning up a little since I didn't get much done over the weekend. But we also just rested and played. Ella is so good at playing by herself when I am trying to get something done so that is always nice.
Tuesday we needed to get out and run some errands - Costco for diapers, Target for some returns and then the grocery store. We first stopped by the Pittman's to take something back to them. Rebekah was so sweet and asked Lani to stay and play with Luke and his cousin. She was excited to do that instead of errands and had a great time. Ella and I ran off to Costco and Target. Our plans changed a bit and we got to all go out to Robert's work to eat lunch. They had cooked out hamburgers so we joined in on the lunch. It's always fun to go out to daddy's work and see him. After that, a quick trip to the Dr and then home for naps.
Lani got to carve her pumpkin with daddy Tuesday night which she has been wanting to do since he was in China. After she cleaned it all out, she would draw on the pumpkin what to carve and Robert would cut it out. Turned out pretty fun and she was excited about it.

BAD Diaper

Ok, the one not so good thing of the weekend - one BAD diaper! After the girls got back from lunch with Paw Paw and Mimi Moore, Ella was so tired. Mimi Moore had been holding her and then finally went to put her in the bed. It dawned on me that she might need a diaper change, but thought oh well, she will be ok. So after a really good nap, I finally headed in the room to get her. The smell just from opening the door could have knocked me down. I automatically knew it was not going to be good. Once I got over to the bed, I see that the diaper had leaked and Ella had smeared it on her bumper pad - AHHH!! We have not had an issue like this with either child. As I am saying "Oh no!" and calling for Robert, Ella starts to get upset, poking out her little lip and crying. I had to tell her it was ok! We stripped her down and put her in the tub while Robert took the bumper pad outside and yes, pressure washed it down! We got everyone cleaned up, sprayed a lot of lysol and were able to rest again. That room did not air out until later the next day! Oh, it was too bad!!!

Rest and a little fun

With the pneumonia, I tried to take it easy this weekend and get some rest. I definitely did that, but I also don't do good staying at home too long. I rested all day Saturday while Robert took the girls to Lani's last soccer game (which I hated to miss) and then to a celebration of the soccer season. He ended up droping them by Applebee's to eat lunch with Paw Paw and Mimi Moore while he came home and got ready for Kelly Cooper's wedding. He left for the wedding (also hated to miss) and the girls got home in time for naps. After naps we were suppose to go to the Pumpkin Patch and then to the Cantey's house for our Undersheperd outing with church. The thing is, I was in charge of the get together and had planned it with Robbie. I really wanted to go, but then also thought I might not need to. We decided to skip the Pumpkin Patch and then Robert take the girls. By the time 6:00 came around we had changed our minds again and all went out to the Cantey's. I was so glad to get out for a little bit and it was such a great night. The kids had fun, I enjoyed seeing friends, the soups were great and Tim had a huge bonfire. We were making smores and enjoying the warmth. Doug had a great idea and got a rack so he could roast multiple marshmallows at one time. I didn't take the camera, but Robert used his new video gadget. Maybe he can put some footage on here later. The rack with all the marshmallows was great!
As we headed home I began to cough again like I had on Friday. Just couldn't get it to stop. I think it was from the smoke from the fire right before we left. So Sunday morning I was a little achy again. Robert went to Christ Church to hear Matt Dean speak and the Hixons were so kind to take the girls to church. I know they had fun going with the Hixons. Again, I rested! But I got to get out again when we headed out to Pike Road to Christ Church's Harvest Fest. It was a lot of fun and we got to see Lani's teacher, Mrs. Cobb. I didn't realize that was where she went to church so Lani was excited to see her. The kids had fun with their cousins, Taylor and Myra Jane, and also with the Deans, Josh and Caleb. It was a nice night of little games and trunk or treating.
Over all, it was a good weekend and I did start to feel better. I got good rest but also enjoyed a little fun :)

Week in Review

After last week being so busy, this week was pretty much a regular week. Lani had school, we played on our days at home and I took a continuing education course for work on Wednesday. I did start to run a low grade fever Tues night and had a little achiness. After Wed morning, I didn't run a fever and didn't have one on Thurs. Now I have had this cough for 3 weeks now. I had been to the Dr and got an antibiotic, but the cough was not going away. It seemed to get worse again this week. Friday morning I was aching again and had chills so I took the temp again and it was 101. I thought I should head to the Dr before the weekend. Again, take an antibiotic and take it easy. After getting back home though I was having a throbing pain in my left shoulder. I called back up to the Dr office and they wanted me to come back for a chest x-ray. After going back up, the Dr saw that I had some pneumonia starting in my left lung - thus the pain in the shoulder. So home to rest and take it easy for sure. So thankful for my friends and grandparents who helped me out with the kids. I had to miss out on a party for a high school friend tonight who is getting married on Sat, but Robert got to go after the girls were in bed.

What a great trip!

I just arrived back from my 2 week trip to China! I left on October the 5th for both a work and personal trip. The first week I traveled to our suppliers reviewing and approving new collections for our outdoor furniture line (Thompson & Elm). The review went well...we finalized four new styles.

After that week I met my friend Matt Dean and the Grace Campus team John, Katie, Mary Reading, Hannah, Scott and Jason. I spent the week with them in HK and what a great week it was...I really enjoyed getting to know each them! On Thursday Passion World tour made a stop in HK. We signed up to volunteer that day...we helped with setup and during the actual event...Read about the stop on their blog...Notice we made the pictures...We were sitting for that one, but plenty more had to have been taken that showed us working hard!

It was an awesome trip...new relationships formed, and possibilities realized. I will write more about the trip later. Right this second I can barely hold my eyes open from jet lag. So thankful to be home with Lindsay and the girls. I definitely missed them!

Sunday - restful

Daddy was home so the girls were glad to see him Sunday morning. We got ready and headed to church and did Children's Church with the 4 yr olds. We brought Judah home with us and had a nice restful day. They played dress up and had a great time. Ella, always funny with that stuff. Judah wanted to put on some of the dresses, but uncle Robert didn't like that idea :) After play time, we all took naps which was wonderful! We ate a quick bite of dinner at moms before heading off to night church. Lani now gets to go to Explorers where they learn the catechism which is great for her.

Saturday - thought we might relax some

After our busy Thurs and Fri, I thought we might could rest some Sat. before a church function that night. I forgot we had Lani's soccer game at 9:00. The girls has spent the night with my grandparents so I headed to get them, pick up Judah from my moms and then head to the soccer fields. The weather was wonderful for the game...so cool! The husband of my friend Susan from work coaches Lani's team. When we got there I couldn't find Susan. Rob informed me that she was in the hospital b/c she had some complications during the night and they had to go in. So after the cookout, she was in bed for about 2 hrs before having to head to the hospital. (She ended up staying in the hospital till thurs but is doing ok at home on bedrest) After the soccer game we went by the hospital to check on her and see how she was doing. Then we stopped by moms and the grocery store and back home for naps.Oh, by the way, my parents found out this morning that the Mt house caught on fire last night! Yes, it's been less than a year and they already had a fire. Don't know all the details, but it might have started in the attic. Thankfully the house didn't burn to the ground, but part of it will have to be torn down and rebuilt. Most importantly, no one was hurt. The fire department was there within 5 min of the call.Back to Saturday activities. After naps, Drew (Susan and Rob's boy) came over to go to our church function out at the Rhodes farm. We headed out there with Dad and Judah. We all had a great time and the kids loved it! Sweet Amelia, Margaret and Julie (young girls from church) love Lani and played with the kids the whole time. We went on a hay ride, the kids rode in the gator with the girls, got the pet the horses and later Lani and even Ella got to ride on the big horses. That was the first time Lani had been on a big horse. She loved it of course! After our yummy dinner, we headed back home to get in the bed.And best of all, Robert got to come home early. His dad picked him up in Atlanta and he was home by 8:30. So glad to have him back and the girls will love seeing him in the morningWhew - thankfully we have Sunday - our day of rest!

Overstock Sale

After the Mts, we had a very busy Thursday and Friday. My friend Robbie has an kids clothing overstock sale twice a year and I help her out a good bit. Thursday was set up day so we worked all day getting the clothes put up and organized on the racks. There were a lot of clothes to go through. Around 5:00 I ran to mom's to have dinner with them, my grandparents and Ashley and her kids. After dinner Ashley and I headed back up to the show for the workers shop time and then the grandparents show time. As always, there was a long line for the grandparents sale waiting to come in and shop. Ashley headed back to get kids in bed and was so kind to take mine home and stay at the house till I could get home. I stayed and helped Robbie check out customers. I got home around 10 and had to get my MetLife work done, so I got in the bed around midnight.
Friday - Lani had to take snack to school of which I thought I had enough fruit snacks, but was one short. So I took Lani, John and Ella to the grocery store to get snacks, dropped Ella off at my grandparents and then took Lani and John to school before heading to the sale. All of that before 8:30! I worked the sale all day and left about 6:30 to head to a baby shower cookout for my friend from work, Susan. Wow, just typing it all makes me tired. It was good though and I had a great time at the sale. I love working and helping out Robbie.

Off to the Mountains!

Again, always good to travel when Robert is gone b/c it makes the time go by faster. We headed to my parents Mt. house Sunday after church. We got to stay till Wednesday morning. The weather was nice, but it had just turned a little warmer. It was still cool, especially in the mornings and evenings. We stayed in the house most of Monday doing some extra cleaning in the house. Lani was a good helper cleaning. I worked to finish the girls pants I had started last time I was at the Mts so we could take some pictures the next day. Tuesday we headed downtown to walk around a little, take some pictures, he lunch and then play at the playground. It was a lot of fun and then we headed back to the house for nap time. We cooked out that night and got to eat on the porch. We had a fire and roasted some marshmallows which the girls always enjoy. Wednesday we cleaned up and then headed back home. It was a fun getaway!

Trip to Bham

When Robert is out of town, it's always a good time to take a trip to Bham. Our main reason for going was to take pictures on Saturday with Tina Cornett. We decided to head up on Friday and go visit my grandparents and spend the night with them. It's always good to see them. I'm so thankful to have all my grandparents around and so glad my girls get to know them.
Saturday morning we went to meet Tina at the Botanical Gardens to take some pictures. I hate Robert wasn't with us b/c I would have loved to get a good family picture. But we headed out to see what we could get. Now Lani is always great taking pictures. We can get tons of good ones of her. Ella on the other hand...not so good. I was hoping she would want to cooperate today, but not so much. We had to spend most the time working with Ella and just trying to get her in action. She doesn't smile for you so you have to try and catch her smiling. Not sure how they all turned out, but Tina is usually good. Hopefully she got a few good ones of Ella. I will post them when she send me the disk.
After pictures we were going to go to Recreation Station which is similiar to Pump it Up, but has a lot more stuff. It had closed down! So we headed to the Kaiser's house to play with Josh, Kate and Chase and visit with Boyd and Melissa. It was a good time and always great to see them. Then we headed home around nap time. It was a great trip to Bham.

Oh, what lovely makeup we have on girls.

Fun evening!

We have stayed busy while Robert is in China. It's be fun, but we do miss daddy. Tonight I had a get together with my small group. Rebekah Pittman had offered for Lani to come over for dinner and to play while I went to eat. Of course Lani was excited - 2 big girls and Luke - how much fun! I had a good time fellowshiping with my group and then headed back to get Lani. They had eaten dinner, played dress up, put on a little makeup, watched a movie and got to come home in one of the girls Princess nightgown - now she LOVED that! Fun night for all (Ella got to spend the night at Mimi and Granpa's)!

Pumpkin Patch and the Fair!

Today could not have been a more fun day!! I knew we had a busy day and Lani woke up at 6:15 this morning. Not sure why we woke up quit so early, but she did great today. We started the day by going out to a new Pumpkin Patch on Hwy 82 with Frazer. They planned a field trip for the whole school to go out there for the day (3,4,5 yr olds). Me, Rebekah Pittman, Lani and Luke rode together out there. This place was really nice and they did an awesome job of keeping all the kids and parents organized. Everything went so smoothly. They had animals to pet, the cutest pig race ever, inflatables, hay ride and pumpkin picking, corn maze with hay bales to climb on, story time, corn box to play in, miniature tracker racing, and cow train ride! Lani loved it all. When I asked her what her favorite thing was, she told me she had 3 things...and quickly that grew to 6 things. She liked the pig race...little small pot belly pigs...and the cutest pig, Wilbur, who was just so slow! She like the hay ride to pick out her cute little pumpkin. And she really like the cow train ride which she probably rode 5 times. The weather was great and it was just a wonderful day out there.


We get back and are heading home from school and out of no where a rock hits my windshield and puts a pretty big crack in the new van's windshield...thankful we added the window replacement protection on the insurance so we should be good.
So we head home for naps so we can get rested for out next fun adventure of the day. After a short nap from Lani, we get ready and head to the Fair with my parents and Ella. I was so excited about taking Lani and just knew she would love the rides - not afraid of anything. When we drove up, she saw the huge Farris wheel and said.."of my goodness!, I'm not going to ride that", but before we had even gotten inside she changed her mind. We started off in the kiddie area and of course rode everything and then we headed out into the main area. So on to the Farris wheel we went. I don't think I have ever been on a Farris wheel and it was a little high, but fun. Lani loved it! Next stop was those things you can get in and spin yourself around. My favorite...anything that will spin me fast is great. Lani loves to spin also, so all of those were fun. Then we see a smaller version of the Free Fall for kids. I was not sure she could ride it b/c there had already been a few kid things that she wasn't tall enough for. But she made the cut off and up she went and quickly falling down, then up and then down....she LOVED it! She probably rode it 3-4 times in a row. Then we head to the swings, which are another personal favorite, and was so excited to ride with Lani...but too short. So I rode the swings and where did she go, back to the Free Fall! After that we finally found a couple smaller roller coasters she could ride which were fun and a few more spinning rides. But before we left, we had to go back to that Free Fall :) I think she could have ridden it all night. And of course you can't go to the Fair and not get a funnel cake so before we left we enjoyed out funnel cake which ended up being our dinner...so healthy!



It was such a great day and such a fun time at the Fair. Ella did great watching Lani ride everything and didn't fuss at all - good girl Ella! Lani had a great attitude all day and was so sweet! Way to go Lani - you sure love some adventure! I love getting to do things like that with you! It was one special day!
PS - thank you Jesus for keeping the rain away while at the Fair, but letting it rain back home!
More pics tomorrow...computer not cooperating