October Horrors

I was just going through some old photos from Octobers past, as I love to do at the beginning of each new month. I don't know if I'm just nostalgic, but I love checking back and seeing how the kids have changed even if it was only a couple years ago. I also enjoy being reminded of what we did in previous years at about the same time. So tonight I was looking at October 2006 photos and found the ones where we took the kids to the pumpkin farm, made scarecrows for the front yard, and went on a hike at a local nature trail.

And that's when I found them...the photos of Jacob's first experience with a pumpkin. The first photo was great! You can see the excitement in his eyes as he sees the glorious innards exposed. And what joy he anticipates as he follows his sister's lead in preparation of the evisceration.





In October 2006 Jacob was drawing near his third birthday. He had been home with us a full 11-1/2 months, and had experienced most, but not all of the holiday traditions that come with life in America. In fact, we first met Jacob on October 31 the previous year, so this thing with the pumpkin was the last stone left unturned. But Merrilee seemed eager to get started, so how bad could it be?




He took the plunge, but with a respectable amount of precaution. Well, the last picture shows it all. THE HORROR! WHAT MANNER OF DISGUST! THE FILTH!





I don't remember taking this series of pictures, but I am so glad I did! Have you ever seen such unleashed emotion on a child's face? Just keep going back and forth between the first photo and the last. The transformation is amazing! This is beautiful! I'm going to be laughing all night.

Happy First Day of October, Everyone!

Hugs,
Petrie

County Fair

We went to the fair with some friends this afternoon. I'm just going to let the photos speak for themselves. G'night.

Catching Up

I couldn't believe it when I noticed I haven't updated since August 29th. Sorry about that. I've been really busy with home schooling and the kids' activities. I'm glad we're busy, but sometimes the small things get away from me. I do manage to keep up with the laundry, but things like uploading the photos from my digital camera just don't get done.

Both kids are really enjoying the home school experience. I'm so thankful that it's working out. I originally planned to give Jacob a one-month trial to see if he liked being at home and if I could handle both of them in the same classroom. We are now at the six week mark, and we're all happy with the arrangement. Jacob works in his preschool workbooks, is learning his short vowel sounds, and is participating in some of his sister's math and science lessons. Merrilee is now officially taking weekly spelling tests, excelling in second-grade math (though some of the math facts stump her), is reading well above average for a 5-year old, and is breezing through phonics. Science is her favorite subject and she's eager to start American history next spring. We do most of our work in the 9am-12pm time frame, though I've also had the blessing of sleeping in a little later when I want to. No 8:30 am runs to take Jacob to preschool. I'm so glad I didn't re-enroll this year. That was just a huge added stress.

Both kids are enjoying their sports: Merrilee in gymnastics and Jacob in Tae Kwon Do. He is going up for his white stripe belt test this Saturday. This will put him between a white belt and a yellow belt. Every now and then we deal with a little jealousy where Merrilee wants to take Tae Kwon Do or Jacob wants to be in gymnastics, but the rules are firm. I'm not letting them be in the same sport. I don't want them to compete and hurt the others' feelings inadvertently. Merrilee is very agile and would excel in TKD, and I just don't want Jacob to feel any additional pressure from her. They are the best of friends, but when they are outside playing and we run or play football, he is usually the underdog. I want to feel like he's the family pro at TKD. He's doing great at it, and we've seen so much improvement in his physical stamina, balance, and overall gross motor skills. Where medicine has failed us in his gross motor delays, TKD has picked up the slack. He can now throw a punch or kick without ending up on his back. Just four months ago that wasn't possible. He's looking forward to the Championship Tournament in October where all the kids compete in various fields of TKD: sparring, forms, board breaking, kicks, etc. Everyone goes home with some sort of patch or prize, so even though he's not "killer", I know he'll enjoy it and feel like he's done something worthwhile.

On the home front, we're gearing up for fall and packing up the summer. We emptied our pool yesterday and today, and tomorrow it goes back in the box. I am also pulling out my gingerbread recipes, wearing my warm jammies at night, and thinking about the fall decorations in the attic. I guess it's time to plan for a trip to the pumpkin farm and light my Fall Harvest candle. Mmmmmm...cinnamon and spice. Love this time of year!

I hope all of you are doing well, and that you are relishing the cool evenings (if you're on the east coast). We were downright cold last night. I love sleeping with the windows open though. There's just such a short time you can do that before frost starts. Have a blessed first day of autumn next week.

Hugs,

Petrie