Ok...I've been horrible on posts...lol

            Ok...I often sit down and read others blog posts and then go to my page...and find that I don't post. I've also realized I've not posted since....October lol SOoooo with that being said I'm a firm believer in all things are fixable sooo I'll just do a brief summary of events ;)

Nov: We always celebrate Turkey day on Saturday due to our work schedules. I have heard rumors that the overnight working on Thanksgiving might stop next year...fingers crossed. K is a huge helper with meal time and loves to make the green bean (slimy bean lol) casserole even though she does not eat it lol
Dec: S's check up went well and we continue to roll with the punches. Christmas break was excellent for K and the winter so far on the whole isn't horrible. Thankful and blessed to have Eth and Em here for Cmas eve dinner as well as my mother in law etc. The kids always set the tone for the meal (soup, sandwiches) and pick the desserts (this year they wanted pbutter lasagna and black forest cake).
Jan: Back to school for Kaya and another year older for me. Seems like time sure does fly but I'm blessed to see another year in age come..many don't have that blessing.
Feb: Helped with K's Valentines Day party...did ice cream with toppings and it was a hit. This year she's actually had some parents pitch in and for that..I am VERY thankful.
March: Usual fish fry didn't happen due to rain, rain and oh yes rain lol S turned another year older. No wild plans for spring break but glad to have K off for a week. 
April: K and pneumonia...absolutely scariest thing I've faced yet. She never complained, missed only a few days school but..it scared me because it seemed it took forever to get that lung cleared up and that sac to fill with air as it was deflated due to asthma and pneumonia. S was a huge help and I'm thankful to have him be such a hands on daddy. LOVE the new dr we are going to and I think it helps that the dr has the same style of asthma as K so they relate to each other well. She gave us some awesome tips, K is now taking a liquid allergy medicine in the morning and a different pill at night and it helps tremendously. She never lets it stop her that's for sure!
May: School is out :) We now have a third grader, she got several awards and won the Kindness Award which is a HUGE deal at her school. Only one kid out of each grade gets it. She was excited. Hard to believe she'll now go to the intermediate building!! She's growing too fast.
 June: K turned...9!! Man alive where has time went. Rented the pool for a big party next month and she can't wait. Fun month of no schedules for school and just my schooling
July: Shocked K to the core...her Uncle J and Aunt A came home from Cali for a week visit :) She was on cloud nine...as all of us were! First time he's been home in close to five years due to work, school, military time etc and A's first time to IN. We had such a fun packed seven days and so many memories made. I can say I really love my sister in law and I'm so happy to see my baby brother...happy, in love and content. 9 year checkup shows a healthy girl, asthma well managed and she's 4ft 7 and a half. Dr said everything looked well and to keep on track. K's a tall girl for sure! K was not so excited over the Dr saying things are going to start happening like the beginning of puberty and all that jazz...K just doesn't have time for that ;) LOL
And now...for August lol: School starts back soon. She's nervous a lil, we are nervous a lil and hoping for a great year. Some big changes occuring. Garden is going well but I can say I wish we had done a bigger one here with veggies instead of doing it all at Dad's lol Here we did just gourds and pumpkins, down there we did a bit of everything. S has had some issues with his shot...and he's toying with changing meds. Hate having to deal with insurance and hate he has to feel like crap from some of the side effects. But...he's positive and keeps going.
  SOoo summer was excellent. Lots of things were done...smore's were ate, bonfires had, fishing done, lots of laughter, the 4h fair, fun events and just....being in the now and together. Couldn't ask for more!! 

Parent teacher conference and report cards

     Thankful K's Mammaw W went with her to gymnastics as her class was nearly the same time as our parent teacher conference.
    The conference was excellent. We both really like K's teacher this year and after chatting with her...we totally understand why K loves her so much! She's funny, outgoing, down to earth and into all animals and bugs. You know K loves that ;)
    K scored above standard on almost all her tests and the teacher said at one point she had to start K midway through the test vs the beginning as most kids because she was getting the answers too fast!! Very thankful for K's good marks, good conference and an involved teacher!
  We've been lucky that we have liked all of K's teachers (minus one teacher assistant) but this years teacher just seems to be on point. The class is well mixed instead of how her last two years (same kids) and I think honestly K likes the mix better! All the kids get along well, few behavior issues and the teacher keeps all the kids on the same page and involved.
  K's faves so far of second grade:
 Lunch: Chicken and noodle day
Breakfast at school: ooohh the breakfast pizza or fundle
Subject: hmmm all of them but I really like math and science
Area to improve: I've got to start being neater and take my time writing
Fave classroom thing: The Fox Theater (she LOVES puppets) and the two class pets....hissing
            cockroaches!!
Goals for Second grade: to do my very best, write neater, and really show my teacher what I can do!
   Hard to believe we are in full swing of a second grader!!!!!

October party

beside our porch

my desert table centerpiece 

chocolate rats 

One of the food tables. Deep fried turkey, Cajun loin, chicken tenders,
catfish, little smokies, fried corn, baked beans, cheesy potato casserole,
cheese ball, crackers, apple bake, pecan pie, black forest cake.  Nobody
went home hungry lol and we sent plates with everyone (we did the meal
pitch in style for sides) as well as some family that couldn't make it and
our neighbors :) 

menu board ;) 

Drinks (pop, water, cider, sweet tea and Octoberfest). The hot chocolate was the biggest hit complete with
cool whip for the top ;) 

Fun day at the Pumpkin Patch

The girls finding just the right pumpkin 

train ride through the corn fields

hay bale mazes

Emily spent the weekend so we decided on Sunday to take both girls to the local pumpkin patch. K thought she was super cool to have her big cousin hang out with her and E had a great time too! E won the pumpkin contest we have between ourselves every year and toted home an almost 33 lb pumpkin. She was just happy to beat S! lol K's favorite ride hands down was the King Swings. She loved flying through the air and going up and down. Said she felt "free" lol She did the trampoline jump, bouncy house, train ride, hayride, bungee jump thing, climbed everything imaginable, did the Orbitron (she didn't like it), met the Corn Cob guy and just had a great time. She was one tired girl on the ride home!! E spent the whole day with us till time for her to head home for Sunday dinner with her side of the family. Very thankful to have her and that K has her in her life. 

Finally October!!

     And what a fitting, beautiful picture for the first day of October. Woke up to a super foggy morning and snapped this picture while running errands in town!
    We are total fall nuts and Halloween is our favorite time of year. Ghosts and pumpkin cut out sandwiches begin to appear in lunch boxes ;) and we just have a good time with this time of year. It means growing our own pumpkins but still visiting the local pumpkin patch, hot chocolate and smores by the firepit, apple cider, comfort food, leaves changing, that magic feeling in the air and just...Fall in general!! Our pumpkins came out a beautiful almost dream cycle color this year! And our patch is booming with them!! K is a total pumpkin nut and we have them everywhere!!! You have to have pumpkins, spooky things, mums and lots of fun!!
   

Accomplishments!!!

   K's a natural on the trampoline, can do her balance beam, can do a backbend super easy but was having issues with a cartwheel. Well she's doing great now on her cartwheel and she has got to ring the bell twice the last few weeks (ringing the bell means you've made an improvement, you get to show the whole class and everyone claps). I'm VERY proud of her accomplishments but I'm most proud of her working so hard, staying positive and all the girls encouraging each other! 

One excited girl!

    K's teacher gives green tickets for each day a child does well and attends school, for good behavior, for a good deed or paper etc. The kids once a month can cash in what they have and purchase from the goody box using all or some of their tickets. They can roll over any tickets they have for the next month.
  As soon as K spotted "Julie" in the box she had to have her. My child LOVES puppets. The teacher makes them and K just thought she was gorgeous. Even better was the teacher told her to practice and then she can bring Julie back to school for a show!!!