Christmas Wishlist

What We've Been up to--FALL 2017!

In September I started a new job! I work now at Chesterbrook Academy. The job is full-time, monday thru Friday, 9-6. Ive had to adjust to working so late in the evevings, and Arnold has to help out a LOT with the kids now. The house gets messy really, really quickly. But It's been ok. I've started making some good friends there. We get 1 hour lunch breaks which I love, I don't feel like im rushing. We also have casual Fridays, which is where this pic of me is from :) All in all I'd say Im pretty happy with the job. I have already gotten sick twice-- kids love to spread around germs! But man the full-time paycheck is nice! ;)

We upgraded the girls to FULL size beds. They love the extra space. Too bad all those cute twin sheets can't be used anymore. We had to buy bigger sheets! 

 We went to the kids' school fall festival they have every year. They got to play games, jump in inflatables, eat snacks, run around with friends.... so they had a great time. And the school earned a lot of money. 

 We visited a local pumpkin patch we hadn't been to before. It was pretty nice. But the weather was crazy hot for the time of year! The kids were complaining they were dizzy and wanted to sit down. I managed to get a FEW pictures of them, but not a lot of good ones. We went through a corn maze together. And then the kids all picked a pumpkin to take home and carve. 

 Arnold and I try to get away for a date every month, so our October date night was to go see Madea's Boo 2 at the movies! I liked the first one better, I usually don't like sequels. But MADEA is hilarious so I was still laughing! Then we went out to dinner afterwards. I can't thank my parents enough for watching their grandkids so we can get date nights! 

 We got a TORNADO in October! It was super weird and crazy. There were trees and trashcans and toys and limbs and everything flying around everywhere. One of our trees was pretty much damaged to the point it was dangerous, and someone had to come top it off and remove the brush.. to the tune of $700!! We also lost power for FOUR days and it seemed like an eternity! I will try not to take power for granted again! 

 My parents were nice enough to let us stay at their house while we were without power, so we have several sleepovers that week. We got to take showers and sleep in a nice warm bed! We actually slept in my childhood bedroom :)

This year for Halloween, Rachel was A greek goddess and Brooke was an indian. Although the package called it dream catched cutie. I think its politically incorrect to say indian now? Whatever. Lots of people called her Pocahontas lol. Caleb is so much like me and hates halloween and scary stuff, so he didn't dress up this year! He wanted nothing to do with it. We did our usual tradition where we went out trick or treating while eating papa johns pizza in the van. Caleb sat with me while we drove the girls around to houses. We still  had a fun time. 

We celebrated Joseph turning 13! He's a teenager now! I can't believe it! I feel so old! Arnold and the kids surprised me and  took me out to Olive Garden for dinner after work that night and had this cake made. The waitress thought it was Caleb's birthday, but we just let her think that since it was easier than explaining lol. I miss him every day but I am so happy at who he has become and his parents are perfect for him-- its the way it was meant to be. God has a bigger plan and has orchestrated all this together for the greater good. 

 I was so proud of my Caleb and Rachel! At the first awards ceremony of the year they both made A/B honor roll and Caleb also got AR reader AND TERIFFIC KID! I was surprised at that last one! Had no idea! They're both doing fantastic in school this year. Rachel is doing math at a 5th grade level already. Where did she get that from?? Not me!! 

 It had been forever since I got my nails done, so I went to my favorite place and had gel nails put on and painted. Unfortunately one of my nails popped off 2 weeks in so I never went and got them filled in, I just took them off. Maybe I'll get them done again before Christmas. 

 My BFF's twins turned ONE!!! So we celebrated at a party at their house! It was so fun and Erika did a great job with the pink and gold theme. Everything was beautiful. Their auntie Abby got them new pjs and some books (of course!!!) for their gifts. Those girls have come so far and grown so much and they are truly a miracle!! 

 We celebrated Thanksgiving at Mom and Dad's house, and ALEX and his family got to come in to visit for a few days! It was so great to see them and play with my nieces and see how much theyve grown. 

The girls LOVED spending time with their cousins that week. They had a sleepover one night while they were there, too. So Arnold and I could get our NOV date night! (which was going to see Daddys Home 2-- hilarious movie!!)