Happy Halloween

Unfortunately one of our amazing Indian summer days didn't happen to fall on Halloween, but we certainly can't complain about a few raindrops and temps that continued to rise as the day went on.  This year the kids went trick or treating in West Salem with a close friend of mine and her daughter.  I put together this collage so I can look back at these years when they all wanted to go. . . and go together at that.

As luck would have it, the day after Halloween would be sunshine and unbelievable temps for the first day of November.  One of the biggest adjustments for the kids since moving is getting used to spending an abundance of time together.  I was used to 'farming' them out whenever they seemed like they (read: I) needed a break from each other.  So last Sunday was a rare opportunity for us to split the kids up and spend some quality time together.  Jason and Laura decided to go hunting in the afternoon, so Ainslee, Alex, and I checked out a local pond that Alex has been after me to go try.  They had a blast, literally seconds after casting Ainslee reeled in a decent sized rainbow trout and so it went for a good hour and half while we were there.  This little mill pond is only about 10 minutes from our house, so Alex is already preparing himself a wormbed at home for next year.

Unfortunately for Laura they didn't see a deer that particular night; however, Jason managed to shoot this buck this past week.  It's the biggest deer he has ever shot with his bow.

I've started to help out in Ainslee's class for a few hours a few days a week, which has been nice to get to know her teacher and classmates a little better.  I was approached by more than one person about the possibility of 'subbing' at the school in some capacities, and I had to be completely honest. . . I can only take other people's kids in small doses, and let's face it. . my background is in IT so being social isn't really my forte. Don't get me wrong, I love coming in and reading with Ava, and also enjoy my time in Ainslee's class; however, I'm more of a busy work, organizer, behind the scenes type person.

Exciting moments for kids this past week. . Alex:  lost a tooth. . . and forgot to put it under his pillow the first night.  Then the tooth fairy forgot to come the second night. . but we lucked out cause his tooth fell underneath the bed, and "she doesn't come if she can't find your tooth".  Yeah, I'm sure the days of him believing in that stuff is limited, he never admitted his two dollar bill came from the tooth fairy, he just said he got it for his tooth.  I'm okay with that, especially if he pretends to believe, if not for his own sake, but his sisters.  Laura:  she is in the second week of having her rubber bands in her mouth in preparation for getting her actual equipment next week.  So that means she approached a few homes while trick or treating and explained in detail how she can't have caramel or taffy. . . Ainslee:  for the second week in a row she's scored an S+ in "self control" on her weekly progress sheet that gets sent home and the teacher noted she's showing growth in that area.  She is rocking in academics, so it's been fun watching her grow with what we work on at home, and now in the classroom.