Lost in a Maze, but a Razorback Maze...Woo Pig Sooie!

We're gonna do some catching up! ; )  We have been enjoying our sweet fall days-sweaters in the morning, shorts in the afternoon..and lots of pumpkins! : )

Last week, Clay had a school Musical, School Daze! : )  He had a solo, so we were excited to hear him-he's had speaking parts, but not a singing part before.  He did really well!  Ethan opted to sit on the row in front of us, with our neighbors! : ) ..until he leaned back and hit his head -wham!- on the seat.  Then..he was all ours again! ; )  He's in turquoise squished in the row below:

Here's Clay (in blue stripes) singing his solo!  It had a High School Musical (basketball/PE) vibe!

And then..we jump to my newest wreath!  I started with fall leaves/sunflowers/pumpkins, but it looked really plain from the street.  I decided to dress it up for Halloween with some orange sparkly tulle, a black/silver bow, and a big black J that was just sitting in the laundry room waiting for a job!  Kinda busy, but I'm not a plain girl. ; )

Oh, look what I found.  My broken lamp.  A picture from my phone for posterity (and a baby book!)

Clay playing catcher at his game last game.

And Ethan yesterday making Momma cry.  He got stuff out of the Recycle bin, and was copying the letters off the boxes and cartons onto the driveway with sidewalk chalk! : )  He's so smart!  And he was singing the sweetest songs, but I couldn't catch them on the voice recorder.

And yesterday?  An awesome time at Sandra's house with the kids carving pumpkins!  I know she took great pictures, but I was plagued with an awful headache (today makes three days..) so I didn't take any.  I just enjoyed watching the kids.  And I made a big "J" on my pumpkin, but the holey part of the J fell out-I'll do better next year.  It's an arty J now!

And today?  The Ozark Corn Maze!  Here is an aerial picture of the maze (Can you say, AWESOME?):

Can you see the big Razorback leaning on the A?  And the Go Hogs?  We were lost in there! ; )

 

The girl scout juniors (and sisters!) before the Corn Maze!

Cute photo op...except the blue pumpkin-headed scarecrow is tired of pictures.  Or just plain tired.

They had a petting zoo-with goats and sheep.

They were feeding the sheep hay!

They were conning this perfectly sane goat to go UP this crazy contraption!  Here is the bottom..

..and here's the top!  Can you imagine?  (When we pulled into the parking lot I was freaking out thinking the kids were going to climb up to see the corn maze from above!  S-C-A-R-Y!

Then we rode the tractor/wagon ride out to the pumpkin patch to find our very own pumpkins..

Mary Claire loved the teeny ones!

We stayed till they closed down, and the sun was setting-a great trip! : )

Note to Self: Get Dishwasher Fixed!

The Jones family is safely home, Yay! : )  It seemed like a longish drive (more than the actual 6 hours since we kept stopping to eat).  There was laundry, well, still is.  And the getting back in the routine!  I made dinner, the kids had baths, we laid out clothes, and packed lunches.  I was so glad they had school-we all needed some change and routine!  They got to see their friends, and Ethan was even excited-he wasn't clingy when I dropped him off-and that always makes me have a great day!

I went back for lab work, again.  It was good.  My hcg was at 183, which seems good.  I will get a progesterone update tomorrow, and more lab work on Thursday.  I guess I'm braver than I ever thought I'd be.  I have gotten so many holes poked in me-I used to hate it, but I don't even fear it for hours in advance like I used to: Progress, I guess.  I'm really tired, but not complaining, for I heed my own advice! : )  heehee  I'm just going to bed early.

Clay is getting in with his doctor tomorrow to get his medicine prescribed.  They called today with a cancellation, so we'll fit it in somehow.  I'm kind of excited.  I'd love for him to maintain focus and increase his self-esteem. He's pretty proud of himself, but he can get really down on himself easily.  We'll see how the next week goes.  Apparently it can require adjusting, so we may go/call frequently till we get it nailed down.  I would love to see him utilize all that crazy knowledge he has!

Well, my dishwasher is really broken.  It wasn't working before we left, but we weren't sure if we'd just overloaded it, or if the dishes were really dirty (even though I prewash/rinse them).  There were little brown things on the tops of some of them.  So, I ran it again, opening it halfway through the cycle.  I poured fresh water on them, closed it, and opened it later, to see more yucky things.  It was like the water (wash cycle, maybe?) wasn't running, but the heating/drying cycles were.  Weird.  So, when we got home we had the dishwasher dishes plus the ones waiting in the sink (cause that's how we operate).  So, they allll had to be washed. : (  Tonight I washed all of today's plus dinner dishes.  It took a long time!  I take that workhorse for granted sometimes!  I will appreciate it more when it's working.  I can't decide if I need a service person to repair it, a plumber to check it, or a new one...I'd really like the double dishwashers, but I think you have to have the cabinets changed.  Not happening.  I can dream, but not really practical.  Anyway, I am willing to wash, but I paid a putter-awayer today.  Only fifty cents, but I'd better get it fixed!

Next Tuesday night we have too much to do.  Clay has a boy scout meeting, Mary Claire has gymnastics (which I'm not happy with-she can do her bridge and cartwheel, and has yet to be moved up!), she has a school musical, and her first confession (Reconciliation Service).  I am not sure how it's all going to play out, but we'll make an effort.  She opted not to have a speaking part (she LOVES to sing, but not in front of people, go figure), so I'm ranking it pretty low.  Reconciliation is first, since she has to go to make her first communion.  She could probably arrange to go another time, but I'd like her to be with her class.  The priest will be prepared to hear young kids, and hopefully patient.  It takes some of them a really  long time to name all the sins they can remember from their whole life!  Boy scouts may get bumped-it's three times a month now, and it's a lot.  He never misses, so we'll see how it plays out.  If (Big IF) Ethan gets a nap, I could take him with me to take Mary Claire...  ahhh, just planning it is a lot!

My friend, Sandra, had her baby!  It is a girl, Rose Eileen, and she is beautiful and just perfect!  I went up there today, because I just couldn't wait.  I always say it, but they are sooo tiny, and for such a short time.  Her sisters came up there when I was getting ready to leave, and they were so sweet.  They loved holding her hands (which seem sooo tiny too!), and I think they were happy it was a girl.  I know they would've been happy with either, but it was precious to see the three of them.  I think when you have all the same sex kids, they are close.  They usually have similar interests, and understand each other.  And Emily has had a baby sister before, so she knows what to expect. : )

Clay was soo small (17 months) when Mary Claire was born, that I don't think he remembers much.  They both remember Ethan, but they were older.  They both adore him, even now, so it was fun for them.  I think babies are a gift you give your family. Fun, sweet memories, even despite all the not-so-fun times.  It's just work, and you create the happiness.  They remember even the smallest things!  I think if you asked the kids what their favorite thing was from our trip to Dallas, they'd probably say the swimming every night! (well, and the all-you-can-eat-breakfast!)