Happy Halloween

The festivities began this week by the girls wearing their costumes to dance on Monday. Yes - this is the easiest costumes we have had so far and I love it! Macie is a chef - if only she would be interested in learning to cook for real. Kaitlin is a vet - she says this is really what she wants to do when she "grows up".






Next they had a parade at school Friday morning. It was fun to see the girls doing "their thing" at school with their friends. And of course tonight we will go trick-or-treating for a while anyway. I will add a picture later of the events this evening. But for now I wanted to add the details of the week.

The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

We went to this new pumpkin patch this year - Walter's Pumpkin Patch. What a fun time - well except for the rain. We got soaked but had a pretty good time. So many things to do...

A little slow...

Ok Ok Ok
So I am a little slow about posting. No good excuses. I have told several people (sorry family) that I was going to get some pictures posted soon and I just haven't done it. Well now I am posting updates about the family but I don't have my camera with me to download any pics. Sorry - guess those will follow soon - hopefully.

So what are the updates you ask - well...
The girls are doing great! School is going well, they still say their favorite thing is recess and some days lunch. But they are on a reading roll. How can that not be good? They do this program at school called AR (accelerated reading). Each 6 weeks Macie has a goal she has to meet. The goal is so many points. Each book is given a reading level and is worth a certain amount of points. Most easy books are .5 points and the more difficult and longer they get they are worth more. So Macie is reading some books up to 2 points now. Kaitlin tries to read some of the 1 point books and if she has a while she can do it - with a little help from mom, dad, grandma, etc. The trick is they don't just get the points they have to take a test and answer the questions about the book correctly. If they get all questions correct then they get the max amount of points. Well some days "we" don't understand the questions and don't always get all points possible. No problem! Anyway - Kaitlin doesn't have a goal yet - she is just reaching levels. She has over 13 total points so far and is at Ready Ready 2. Macie on the other hand has to get 8 points every 6 weeks. So they get on little missions where they read like crazy but they can only take the tests at school. Anyway - long story short - they are doing really well with reading and seem to be enjoying it.

Now for math. They get to do lots of different things for math skills. I have to brag - Kaitlin was the first one in her school to get Principal's Math Honor Roll. Each grade level has to do different things to receive the honor so I am sure I will be adding Macie before long. Macie was so proud of her sister when they announced Kaitlin's name over the announcements. And of course this made me proud.

We are getting ready for Halloween. This has been one of the easiest years costume wise. I will - I promise add some pictures of the girls in their outfits. I won't tell you what they are going to be so you can be surprised when I add the pictures. I heard that - surprised at what the girls are dressing up as - not surprised that I am actually adding pictures.

Haven't mentioned Brad and how can I leave him out! Well he is doing well - busy as always. He has been so patient and helpful with concession stands during football - what a guy!!! It is almost over so I think he is getting very very happy.

So stay tuned for the upcoming pictures...

Random Pictures

Double click on the pictures to see them bigger. Check out the post before this one for a fun video of the girls favorite ride this year!!!

Fair Time

You have to love the "Kansas State Fair". It's great for spending money, riding rides, eating entirely too much junk food - the special this year was a "krispy kreme hamburger". Sound tasty - well no one in our family was brave enough to try it - or should I say "crazy" enough to try one. You could get one for just $6.50 - what a bargain. Oh and speaking of rides there was definitely a favorite ride for the girls this year and I have to say it was as good as NyQuil for me. Talk about wearing them out!




This had to be the best ride for the money. The girls had a blast and it was a real "hoot" to see them in it. Of course they rode other rides and it was a great year because everyone was tall enough to ride all the rides.

Now that the fair is moving on we are moving on with the concession stands and counting down days until Thanksgiving break. Oh and can you believe it is time for parent teacher conferences already? Seems like we just started school. It's amazing the progress the girls are making already. Oh dance has started again and the girls are in the same class this year. This should make a fun recital!

So this is not a long blog but something is better than nothing - again. Stay tuned for more!!!

"OMG"

So I have been told over and over that "the only good snake is a dead snake" and that "garter snakes won't hurt you - they are good to have around". Well guess what - here is my belief - the only "good" snake is the snake that is somewhere other than where I am!!!!!

The excitement at our house this weekend was the girls ringing the front doorbell non stop - me opening the door to Kaitlin screaming and Macie explaining non stop (very loudly) that "there is a snake in front of our garage and it is not a "gardner" snake." Of course I first yell at Brad and make him go out first - I was not expecting the snake we saw - check out the pictures...

I shared the pictures with one of our science instructors and this is what I learned: "That is a western garter snake. That is a nice size one. They eat insects, frogs, toads, lizards, and even some fish. They are harmless to humans. Usually they will escape and evade humans. If you back one into a corner it will strike. They have real small teeth, and eat everything alive, usually head first. They are starting to try and find a place to hang out for winter. They usually hang out in a group in the winter in some kind of a hole. Sometimes you will find a big group of them together. No danger to you or the young one's."

It is nice to know they are not a danger to us - especially the girls but the hanging out in a group thing does not make me feel any better. And I can say it will strike because when Brad was trying to move it so he could "dispose of it" the snake did strike at Brad several times. Again - not my idea of fun.

A Day of Firsts

Today was the first day of school - August 23rd! My babies are growing way to quick. It is official I have a 1st and 3rd grader. I would like to keep saying they are growing way to fast - which is very true - but I think I have to add that this means I am getting older. UGH! Every day these girls challenge me, test my patience and make me realize outside of marrying my husband they are my biggest and greatest accomplishment of my life. Don't get me wrong - I cherish all the things I did in high school and college with sports that I will remember forever but wow - there just isn't anything better than watching these two little people grow and learn and think - hey! I might just have something to do with this. Ok Ok - a bit mushy for me - but I am just busting with pride!



As for "firsts" today we also took Sammie to "Dog Days" at Salt City Splash. It was her first real experience around other dogs - other than her brothers and sisters - not to mention being around more water than her water bowl. So just for fun I am adding a few of those pictures too. The good news is that she CAN swim!! Then to top off her day when we got home she got her first bath with us. What a challenge - I think I was as wet as she was.



Macie had her 8 year old pictures taken last night - ok so I am just a little over a month late. Oh well better late than never. Anyway - I had to have some extra pictures taken of Kaitlin also. Can't wait to share a few with everyone - hopefully I will get those tomorrow! Stay tuned for some fun pics of the girls with Sammie...