To my adoring fans...

Goodness! Who knew I had so many fans who so anxiously await my profound and enlightening words!?

Sit back and let me tell you a little story...

Okay, that's all I've got. I have to write normally, I feel a headache coming on!

Our Thanksgiving was just dandy! We went north to visit Scott's parents. Although the drive is long (6 hours), it went pretty well both ways. Lili is the only one who is still a bit high maintenance. She sat right behind me and called my name about every 10 minutes on the way up. I am wondering why I'm growing my hair out...it (and my fingernails) are way shorter now than this time last week!

We went up on Tuesday after school so that we could enjoy an extra day with the folks. Wednesday was a day of fun...we took the kids to see Chicken Little--we all liked it pretty well! We also drove down to the Riverfront to see the lights, but apparently they were not on yet. Those trees were BARE!! But the John Deere Commons looked lovely. Did I take pictures? Oh no--left the camera back at the house! Good scrapbooking example I am!

Scott's brother and his family came in on Thursday and joined in the fun and food! David and Jackie have a teenage son, Darrin, a 10 year old, Arianna, and Jeffery--who is a year older than Savannah. The kids loved playing with their cousins--well except Darrin, I think he was just annoyed with the rest of them, but utterly thrilled that Grandma & Grandpa got digital cable! Imagine that!

For those of you who know of our former turkey cooking experiences, this will come as a pleasant surprise. Scott fried another turkey! And there were no flames!! I did get pictures of that--just to make sure it was all documented this time! We had a great Thanksgiving dinner and really enjoyed our visit! The leftovers were just as good on Friday!

Scott was the only one to venture out into the wild, wild world of shopping on Friday morning! He got up and headed to K-Mart before 6 am...and while there, he actually witnessed a customer physically assault one of the store clerks! He didn't stay in the area long enough to see what happened! I just witnessed 4 kids get up too early for the third day in a row...nothing out of the ordinary!

I do have a bit of non-Thanksgiving news to share! No--we're not pregnant. I don't know why that's always the first thought when we say we have news. Anyway, back to what I was saying... I have begun working 2 days a week as a personal assistant to my Creative Memories Upline, Tammy. She needs someone to help her keep up with all her paperwork and inventory and other business stuff and I need the $$$, so it seemed like a perfect deal. I only work on Tuesday and Friday and since Peyton and Lili are still at home, I have asked Amy to come in and hang out with them those days. She was happy to do it and happy to have part of my pay to buy groceries or diapers or whatever each week! And of course, Peyton and Lili are THRILLED to have Joshua (and Amy) here! Yesterday was our first day--and outside of Amy trying to make Lili sleep in Peyton's bed at naptime and wondering if she always cries that much--we all had a good day!

I think I better check on Lili--she just came in half-naked and said she went potty. I hope it was IN the potty! :oO

Happy last day of November. Tomorrow it can snow--according to Peyton. We don't really know why...but that's normal too! She prayed for snow every time she prayed for about 6-8 months ("...please bring us some more snow so I can go sledding with Daddy...") so I'm a little concerned about the kind of winter we may have this year!

Let it snow!

JK

P.S. I haven't downloaded pics from T-giving yet, so you'll just have to check back. And I suppose I'll have to blog again! Besides, I just realized that I forgot some stuff to share! :o)

Pictures? Maybe...

This is my THIRD attempt today at posting our Halloween pix...I could really do a great blog if I let myself really get wound up over this! AARRRRGGGH!!!!

These pics are courtesy of Sharon Watson--Scott's Mom--thank goodness they were here to capture the event on film--I mean in digital memory card pixels or whatever. Anyway--I only got ONE picture of the entire evening...it was WILD!!

I will color code the blah blah about each picture...to match the picture...because I can't get them to show up where I want them no matter what I try! Here goes attempt #4...or 5...now I'm just determined to get these pics up if the kids have to make dinner themselves...

Somewhere in this post you will find:

Savannah (7 yr.) as the Red Power Ranger from S.P.D. She really wanted to be Tommy--the Green Ranger from the original movie/show, but there were no greens to be found. Tommy was once a Red Ranger for an episode or two of something, so Savannah decided that would be okay. She wants to be Tommy when she grows up--and be a ballerina dancer and a teacher and a doctor and an astronaut and an artist and a rock star. All at once. Oh...and a mom, just like me. :o)

Sydney (5 1/2 yr.) as Jasmine. She decided in August--when Scott started talking about Halloween--that she wanted to be Jasmine. That was just the way it was. No doubt and no changing her mind. There was a brief moment in time that we thought all 4 girls would be different Power Rangers, but I think that lasted about 5 minutes--and was mostly "someone else's" idea! Sydney was thrilled to get to be Jasmine...she wants to dress up daily now...some day I will let her again!

Peyton (4 yr.) as Tinkerbell. Not the Disney version, but she didn't care...she was pretty set on Tink for a good month or so before the big day, so this was a great deal for her too! She so loves being a girly-girl and getting all dressed up...and she looks sooooo adorable when she does! This was a really fun year of Halloween for Peyton...don't know why it seemed so different from past years, but she was just so funny and cute this time around! :o)

Lili (2 yr.) as Eyeore...not anyone's first pick for her, but when it got down to time, this is what we picked! She picked something different every time we talked about Halloween or looked at costumes, so we made an executive decision to let her pick from our stash from past Halloweens...she had to choose from Blue, Periwinkle, Eyeore, Sam-I-Am, Superman and a really cute spider with a hat and bow tie! Eyeore won, hands down--even though she called him Tigger for 2 days! Now--all she wants to do is watch Pooh on tv and look for Eyeore! So funny! She actually trick-or-treated this year--instead of clinging to me and crying at the end of every driveway or sidewalk! Hooray! (That's why we had so many Snickers! LOL)

And the whole Watson 6--ready to hit the streets of Jackson...We really had a great night...even if we did try to cram too much fun into too few hours! The kids have now recovered, so we will have to find something else this week to wear them out with! Looks like it could be just sending them outside to play--we were in the upper 70's today--and I think it's supposed to stay warm for a few more days! Woo Hoo!

Better go feed the munchkins before a riot breaks out!

Until we blog again...

~JK~

Halloween fun!

We survived Halloween...kinda! If blogs had audio you may wonder why there is so much crying in the background. Halloween...that's why! Oh--no one was scared--still not--nor was anyone hurt in all the hubbub or by the sugar rushes that all the girls had at one point or another in the day!! But I must say that everyone is truly exhausted! We had parties and swimming with Grandma & Grandpa Watson and trick-or-treating the neighborhood and then driving to some special friends' houses. Needless to say, bedtime was long passed by the time all that was finished and now it's clear why Lili is a BEAR today! She has already asked for and taken one nap...looking like another is right around the corner!

We did have a big day...Peyton had her "Fall Party" at school in the morning and I got to be there for that...we did a lot of the same games and activities as last year and she remembered, so she was a bit bummed about painting another spider web, but when they got to make monster hands and bead necklaces, she got right over it! And of course she had a big time "trick-or-treating the school"...all the Early Childhood/Preschool classes had their parties at the same time and then got to trick-or-treat in each of the other classrooms. Our candy bowl at home was full before noon!

Savannah and Sydney each had their Fall Parties in the afternoon, so I had to pick and choose when to go to each one. I missed Savannah's last year, so I went mostly to hers. She was thrilled and had a big time getting wrapped like a mummy (came in 2nd in the race) and then also got to wrap her partner and finished again in the top 3 or 4...that just means she got even more candy! UGH! She also got to wear a mask that she made in class and "perform" for the class. She chose Mr. French (her teacher) as her partner and I don't think either of them knew what they were doing, but she had fun and the class applauded like they thought it was something great...some others performed after Savannah...lots of goofy 1st grade stuff...all the parents were cringing when their kids performed and all the kids thought it was the funniest thing ever! So I guess it was a good party...way too much candy, but hey--it's Halloween, what do you expect?! I only visited Sydney's party for a bit...it was quieter and had much less candy and she told me they wrapped the parents instead of each other in their mummy wrap! Too bad I missed that part!

After school we got to swim at the Drury where Scott's folks were staying. The big 3 really had a great time with Scott in the pool. Lili refused to get in...I felt obligated to take care of her...so I didn't have to FREEZE in the pool! We enjoyed a soak in the hot tub while the others swam and then we all left to grab a bite to eat before the rain and trick-or-treating began.

We almost beat the rain...got most of the block done before it started. I think Scott's parents really enjoyed getting to be here for the big holiday! The kids were thrilled to have them along for all the fun and Scott and I got to say 3 words to them, I think! :o) Maybe there will be more time for chatting next time!

We are all in recovery today...and for now the crying has stopped. Looks like lunch and an early nap in these parts...maybe I'll settle in for a bit too...maybe I'll just eat candy. They won't ever know they got 43 Snickers if they don't see them...

Quiet Mornings...

What a novel thing. A quiet morning. The kids are not fussing...of course, Savannah, Sydney and Peyton are all at school, so who would fuss with Lili?! The kids are also not making music--like they were on this September day!
<---------------- But that was a good morning too! ;o)

I have to say this kind of morning is nice, but I have accomplished nothing. One would think that I would have finished lots of things with so much quiet...so little conflict. Not so... but I have cleaned out my email and redone the Nursery Worker List for church...I guess we will have to count that for something!

Scott and I had a fun night last night...we get to bowl every Tuesday. He did much better than I did...I never even got my average. It's really hard to win a free Coke when you barely bowl 100! That's a far cry from last Tuesday's 166!! Who knows what happened--I guess that's why I'm not a professional! Maybe there are other reasons, but I can't imagine what they may be!

Peyton gave us the quote of the day on Saturday...we were eating biscuit donuts (YUM!!!) for b-fast and one of the other girls asked what "appetite" means. I told them it was kind of like being hungry--wanting to eat something. We chatted about it a bit and they didn't really get it, but kinda... Fast forward to lunch...Peyton recovered from choking on her corn dog and says, "My appetite just went down the wrong throat!"

And there you have it!

I'm off to the laundry! Happy Wednesday!

~JK~

It's cold today!

Wow!! We just had the A/C on 3 days ago--today it's the heater and heavy jackets on the kids for school! That's SE Missouri weather for ya'!

Really nothing exciting going on here lately...just a bit-o-laundry and general house fun! We did finally get out the Halloween decorations Friday...the girls are thrilled to have such a "scary" house! They are sure that everyone is very frightened by our skeleton on the front door and the witch in the window--and the lighted skulls along the sidewalk!!

The countdown is on to Halloween...Savannah=Red Power Ranger, Sydney=Jasmine, Peyton=Tinkerbell, Lili=Eyeore...everyone is very excited and ready for Grandma and Grandpa Watson to come visit! Scott and I too! We're really looking forward to going to eat at Lambert's while we have company!

I really should ramble more later...we need to get to the library and get something done today! Who knows...maybe I'll have a profound blog later...

It could happen...

JK

Oh my--I'm a Blogger!!

Well--who knew that I would ever jump into this?! I don't even know what to do...I have nothing profound or enlightening to shower the world with...well, maybe a few things, but I'll save those things for later. No need to throw everything out on the first day!

Our lives here at home are continually busy but mostly uneventful...

Savannah is getting over her "croaking" bug...spent yesterday and today home from school. The other girls haven't shown any signs of it yet--Clorox Disinfecting Wipes will get a really good free plug from me if no one else in the house comes down with this one! :o) Anyway, she has already caught up with her missed schoolwork!! She's anxious to get back...ahhh, 1st graders--they still love learning and school. We'll enjoy that as long as it lasts!

Sydney is dandy--we had Lunch Bunch today and I got to take lunch and eat with her at school. We had big fun! I asked her this morning if she would like me to get Taco Bell or McDonald's for lunch..."No, how about rice and gravy...or maybe Pizza Rolls?" DEAL!! That's way cheaper! What a girl! :o)

Peyton is bummed that Savannah has invaded home the last 2 days and is looking forward to having the big girls both back in school on Monday! Otherwise, she's fine...and mastering f sounds in speech! HOORAY!! We can understand her so much better now that everything doesn't start with h!

Lili has a mystery fever--again. Seems like it comes about every 3-4 weeks...I think this time and last were molars...no big deal... Lili is talking like crazy lately--and she is making GREAT consonant sounds--unlike her big sister! She even does ssssss! Wahoo!!

Scott and I are fine--nothing exciting to report...he works and comes home at night...I do laundry, dishes, ironing, make beds, change diapers, attempt potty-training, fix an occasional meal, vacuum & sweep before Mom comes over, run the kids to soccer & Girl Scouts, blah blah blah--i.e. eat bon-bons and watch soap operas! :o)

I must go now...Savannah & I are ready to read Arthur and take a nap--okay--I'm ready to take a nap--Savannah is just wondering why she has to rest at home but not at school. I didn't answer...just acted like I couldn't hear her! :o)

More if I ever sit this long again!

Happy Friday to all--and to all a good night!!