Happy Birthday Molly!

It's official, I am feeling the pangs of time flying by! Molly just turned four and I can hardly believe it. She is definately NOT a baby anymore, but a very particular and sometimes bossy, four year old girl. It really is crazy how quickly they can grow up! We had a "littlest Pet shop," and Molly told me exactly what games she wanted, who she wanted there, etc. She even wrote the name on all the invitations herself. They were actually all readable and very cute! I think she had a great time.

With her party over, I am finally taking a breath on all the planning and organizing I've had to do the past few months. I did have to finish up Molly's costume for Halloween but that didn't take long. We know the holidays are just around the corner so we are just trying to take a breather. It is getting colder here now. After almost two months of no heat or air I had to turn on the furnace for the cold nights. Jacque and I did the Bass Pro Shops "tour de Bass" yesterday and it was quite chilly. At the last minute we both threw on sweatshirts and I bought a pair of gloves with fingers and I am quite glad we did. Jeff is actually home this weekend and we went to an adult costume party which was lots of fun. We don't get many opportunities to do things together so that was nice. He is in the garage now trying to wire his truck for trailer brakes and then we are going to pick up the kiddos who spent the night at Grandma's house. It's so quiet around here without them!















Molly smacking her pinata.















All the little pets at the party.

She always crosses her eyes when she blows out the candles, which of course I think is adorable!

More Fall fun.

Here are my littlest pets getting ready for the party. Molly was very specific. Girls are kitties and boys are dogs. So, I made cat and dog ears for all the kids.





















We've spent a few days at Silver Dollar City this fall. Here we are at the Harvest Festival with the kid's buddy, Harrison.

Their favorite at the pumpkin patch is always the corn maze!

Molly's preschool got to spend a day at the pumpkin patch. Jack got to play his first day of hookie to come along. We all had lots of fun.














If you look closely you'll see that our roof is covered with packages of shingles. That's because our roof, at only 8 months old was damaged by hail and totaled by our insurance company. Our roofer said we didn't really need a new roof but insurance kind of twisted our arm. I think it went something like this, " if you don't repair it now and it leaks later, you aren't covered....."

I finally got a few pictures from the bike ride so I just wanted to show you that I did do it. Here I am at the finish line in Joplin, MO....about 80 miles. If you see all the water I am standing in, that's because it rained for the first three hours of the ride and off and on all day. Good thing it wasn't too cold out!

Family

I realize I am way behind here but we had another computer crash and I've had to get up and going again. That, and it has been a very busy few months. Let's see.....my nephew came down and spent almost two weeks with us in August. He flew all by himself from Michigan. Jack and Molly started school this year, I had been training and then completing my MS 150 bike ride, and I have two classes this semester myself. One of those classes keeps me very, very busy with my bookwork. I also went to Michigan to be with my sister after one of her chemo treatments and just this Saturday we threw a benefit for her here in Missouri. Ultimately, the benefit went awesome! We had a softball tournament, silent auction, raffle, etc and we raised quite a bit of money for her. We also got to have a reunion of sorts down in good old Galena, MO. It was fun. I feel like I have about two days to breathe before I tackle my latest writing assignment and start planning Molly's birthday. Sometimes I wonder how we make it on only 24 hours a day! Yikes! Jeff has been working a lot as usual and is currently the "commander" of the unit while they wait for a new LTC to take the job---we're still waiting but hopefully someone will come along soon. That's about all for now---hope you enjoy the pictures. If you see this and didn't know I had posted it's because I don't have your email address anymore. Please send it to me so I can update my address book....again!

Fall stuff

Jack played indoor soccer for the last time:( He is too old now but Molly is a riot! She is really starting to play---she controls the ball and was beating out the boys this time! Almost got her first goal too! We'll probably sign her up to play in November.














Another Molly must....she had to have a scarecrow and not one from the store! She is her mama's daughter.




















I wish I had a picture of myself at the finish line, but they haven't posted them yet. The second day of the ride was cancelled due to Hurrican Ike--flooding and trees down. I did 80 miles the first day and look forward to next year when I can try for the 150 again!

1st Days of school

Jack goes to the pre-k program here in Ozark. He is there five days a week from 9-1130. I used to think that was plent of time to get things done without taking hime, but I was wrong. He loves school and is learning A LOT!





















Molly goes to a private preschool two days a week. She would go five days a week if I let her and she loves her teacher Miss Tracy!

My little artist.....she would draw, color, cut and glue all day long if I let her! Her drawings are getting so detailed too!

Jack's Birthday

Jack turned five in August and we had a Star Wars party. Jeff says I am getting to be too much like Bree VanDeCamp but I just have fun with parties. We did a Jedi training theme and the kids had a blast. The cake even had dry ice in it but you can't see it in the picture.














Yoda was there to take pictures with all his trainees
















Jack's "lava scene" cake--the one where Obi Wan fights Anikan Skywalker.....















While Aidan was here this summer we took him floating on the Northfork of the White River. I think he had a great time!