happy halloween!!!!

i cannot believe that it is halloween already! where does the time go? the day has started full force--lots of celebrating here in our little home! i made the kids a fun little breakfast which included pancakes with spiders and ice cubes in their drinks with spiders frozen inside. the table was decorated with a fun tablecloth, halloween dishware, and candy corn scattered around. the kids loved it!! i love that little simple things mean so much to them. yesterday was the big school parade down main street and class party (we don't have school today). i am the head room mom in "A's" class so "k" and i were able help with the party--it was simple, but loved by the kiddos! yesterday "A" said--"this is one of the best days of my life!" i asked him why?--his response--"because it is the day before halloween!"
update on "M"--i took him to the pediatrician--he doesn't have a bladder infection, etc. he thinks that it is possibly anxiety. i pulled him out of the "new school" yesterday--i feel really good about the decision. i think that it was not the right fit for him. i am hoping that with a little more "mommy time" things will get back to normal.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

why does it have to be so hard?

where is the instruction book that was supposed to come with our children? i am having one of those days were i could use it. (okay, as i am typing this i am realizing that i need to be praying a little more about it--but for now i just need to vent). i am really struggling with how to best meet the needs of my sweet little "m." he is the most fun little guy, i love him sooo much. i just want to be sure that he is having the best opportunities for him. "m" has a speech delay that we have been working with for the past 2+ years. he is doing really, really well. he attends a speech school (preschool with kids that have delays and some that don't) he loves it and has been there this year and last. he has great teachers and seems to be doing really well. we also enrolled him in a local preschool (the one that "A" attended). we did this for a few reasons--just in case he didn't qualify for the special school anymore, it was great for "A", and we thought it would be good for him to be in a nondelayed atmosphere as well. he is too overscheduled??? i just don't know!!!!!! we thought that it would be so great. . . he loves the speech school and his favorite little friend Rachel is there--that makes it really great. his teachers have said that he is doing really well and is speaking a ton more! yay! but, at the new school they have said that he doesn't talk, etc. is he just uncomfortable and needs to warm up to the situation? is it just too much to go to 2 schools? to add to it--over the past week he has started wetting his pants right before he makes it to the potty. that is not like him! does he have an infection? is he stressed?
where is that stinkin manual???? i must go look for it!!!!!!!!!

i am a sneaky one!

actually, i should say--"I am a tricky one!" that is how "M" would say it if he knew the one i pulled over on him tonight! he is my picky, picky eater. i worry about him. he loves pancakes--so i make them often. tonight as i was getting ready to make them i saw a partial can of pumpkin in the fridge. do i dare??? yes!!!!! he loved it and i just kept my mouth shut about it! he didn't seem to notice. in fact, he ate 3!!!!!!! yay! a veggie!!!!!!!
this might not seem like a victory to some of you, but for any of you that have little ones like "M" you will understand my joy!!!!!!!!

hsm 3

i have to admit--we all 9 of us (my parents and sisters included) went to high school musical 3 and loved it!!! the highlights of the night (what made it just sooooo fun) were: the aunties giving the boys wildcats hoodies (they looked soooo cute!!!!!), "a" dancing in his seat, a's little comments ("this is sooo much better than 1 and 2!), "k" eating almost a whole bucket of popcorn (we all ate at the primary program practice--whoops! sorry honey!), "m" drinking half of my coke and half of "k's" rootbeer and then snoring for the rest of the show. it was just sooooo fun!
my mother-in-law had a great halloween party for the kiddos. it was great! so fun to see the cousins.
the best part of the night was coming home to a stocked fridge, freezer, and pantry. thank you aunties! we love you!!!!!!!

spinach salad

last night i had the most fabulous time with some of my dearest friends--my "playgroup friends." i will post about our night later, but quickly wanted to share the recipe that i brought last night. the gals all wanted it, so i thought i would post it.
enjoy--it is a yummy one!!

10 oz. spinach
1 granny smith apple (thinly sliced)
3/4 c. toasted almonds
1/2 lb. crisp bacon (crumbled)

dressing:
1/8 of a red onion
1/3 c. salad oil
1/4 c. sugar
3 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tsp. salt

puree dressing ingredients in blender. toss and garnish with parmesan.

biggest loser

i have to admit that one 0f my very favorite shows is "the biggest loser." i didn't get hooked on it until last year. now i live for it! it is inspiring and just a neat show. well, i feel like the 2 biggest losers are in my own family! i know that it is unkind to call someone a loser--but they really are! (hehe!) my mom and dad are doing amazing things with a recent life style change. in the past few months my dad has lost over 60 inches and over 40 lbs. and my mom is being to have a such a tiny little frame. it is so neat to hear the comments that people have made about them! it is inspiring to talk to them and to hear about my mom's yoga class and my dad's exercise bike. they are amazing in every aspect of their lives--here is just another thing to add to the list!