Fun in October

October always brings fall activities including pumpkin patches and apple orchards. We were quite busy this October.

In early October, we were invited to Grandpa Glenn's pumpkin party. We were each able to pick out a pumpkin and some gourds. We had so much fun and it was a great start to October:




Then we went to an apple orchard with some friends. We picked apples, pet the goats in the petting zoo and played on the tractor and in the corn pit:







Later in October, we went to a pumpkin patch nearby with friends. This patch is so awesome with lots of fun things for the kids. Hannah loves it!:






I just love fall! The beautiful trees, beautiful sweater weather, so many fun activities for the kids. I never take it for granted. Life is good and I'm so grateful.

Eighth week of 4K

This was the week of "P". :) Hannah was so excited to think of words that started with "P". All week we would hear "Pa-pa-pumpkin", "pa-pa-potty", "pa-pa-papa", etc. She was so excited to sound out "P" words. :)

Here she is practicing writing out her "P"'s:


It was Red Ribbon Week at school and they had dress up days. Wednesday was Red Day (she was not too excited to take a picture---I think she's getting annoyed by pictures :)):


Thursday was I think Hannah's favorite dress up day ever---Hawaiian Day! She was ready for school at 8 and she doesn't start until noon :):


Here are a couple projects Hannah did this week. Here is a witch (she made sure to point out to us that she put blush on her cheeks :)):


Here is a pumpkin. She was so proud that she wrote Pumpkin on it. I think she did pretty good. :)


Friday was her Halloween party along with Pajamas day. When she found out it was pajamas day, she excitedly asked "Do I get to have a sleepover there?" :)

Here she is with her pajamas on---again not really wanting to take a picture:


Here is a picture of Hannah's 4K class at their Halloween party. It's hard to see Hannah. She's the giraffe head behind the big pink hat :)


Hannah was so excited as they had a Halloween parade and went through the school to show everyone their costumes. :)

Seventh week of 4K

Quite a busy week this week.

They had a reading Bingo for school and Hannah was so excited when we finally got all the Bingo spaces filled and she could hand in her sheet :):


The only time Daddy has come out to watch her get on the bus was the second day when she got on. Wednesday of this week she begged and pleaded for Daddy to come out. She didn't have to beg and plead for too long as she pretty much has Daddy wrapped around her finger :). But she was so excited that Daddy came out to wait for the bus with her:





This week they are learning about the letter A. She has her "A" Book:


They also made alligator hats:

She really was not in the mood to take a picture so I had to force her too---hence the not smiling at all and looking extremely crabby.

We also had parent teacher conferences this week. I was a little nervous about hearing what the teacher had to say being we had so many issues last year. It was such a relief to hear how great Hannah is doing and how well she plays with the other kids. We were told she is a doll in class and the teacher just loves her. Hannah was like glue to the teacher for the first couple weeks, always wanted to be around her, holding her hand, etc. but as she got to know the kids, she especially bonded with Noah and Bella and she has done wonderful. She's right on task for all the testing, etc. It was so nice to hear.

I knew going into 4K Hannah would need a patient, understanding teacher and I'm so blessed Hannah has the teacher she has. It has been a perfect fit for her and we couldn't be happier. :)

Sixth week of 4K

This week again focused on shapes. Every day when Hannah came home, I would ask her what she learned about in school and she would always say "Shapes!" :)

Here are some of the projects she did this week:




She also started learning about the letter "A" which she was very excited about because it's one of "her" letters (one of the letters in her name).


And we FINALLY got her school pictures!



I admit---I teared up a little bit when I saw these. Her first official school pictures. My baby is growing up. :(

I also want to share a picture of Hannah and her friend, Noah:



Hannah rides with Noah on Tuesdays to school when she gets on the bus with Grandma. She just loves Noah and talks about him all the time. She draws him pictures. It's so cute. I grew up with Noah's mom and they live close to where my parents live. It's fun to see how our kids are friends. I hope they continue to be good friends. Hannah did tell me that she wanted to marry Noah because he is a farmer. When I grew up I always wanted to marry a farmer. :)

Hannah also is learning a new song at school. Thank goodness because that September song was starting to get a little old. Here is the October song:

Come rake a giant pile of leaves in October when they fall.
When leaves turn red and brown,
with pumpkins all around,
then it's October and the fall.
La, la, la, la, la, la, la.

It's not fair

Today I heard something from my daughter that made me physically sick, "Mommy, it's just not fair that I have a daddy who is sick all the time".

What do you say to that?

I want to be encouraging and help her try to look at the positive side, but in all honesty, I've felt the same way.

It's just not fair.

It's not fair that Mark has to suffer so much but it's also not fair that I have a husband who is sick all the time and Hannah has a daddy who is sick all the time.

Sounds selfish, I know. :( But these are my honest feelings.

I can't tell you how many times I've gotten so angry because this is my life. So sad. What I wouldn't do to give my husband a kiss in the morning as he goes to work, to be able to plan trips without a second thought, to be able to leave my daughter alone with her daddy for an extended period of time and even just to go to a movie.

All these things I can't do.....and it's not fair.

I hear a lot that everything happens for a reason. I used to believe that but not so much any more. While I understand what people mean, it's always hard to hear that---it's like my actions have caused a reason for the things I go through. And honestly, it's hard to think there is a reason for some of the stuff people in this world go through. Like some wonderful friends of mine losing 3 precious girls in a car accident and another family member with a severe TBI. How can there possibly be a reason for that?

What I do believe is that there is evil in this world and God allows things to happen. But He will work it out for His good.

Does that make it fair? No, not even a little bit.

I've screamed at God to heal Mark. Sometimes it's so hard for me to fathom that he can tell a lame man to "pick up his mat and walk" and he won't heal Mark. With tears streaming down my face and sitting with an unconscious Mark in the hospital, I've closed my eyes and said to God "Fix it. I know you can. Fix it".

Why won't He? Why does the suffering continue? Why does my daughter have a daddy who is sick all the time?

It's just not fair. And I'm not going to pretend that it is.

I took my sweet daughter into my lap and gave her a big hug "No, Hannah, it's not fair. There are so many things in this life that aren't fair. We don't know why. What we do know is that your daddy loves you so very much. I love you so very much. God loves you so very much. And when we're in heaven, your daddy will no longer be sick all the time. He'll be able to wrestle with you, play with you and do all the things you want him to do. Just remember how much we love you sweetie."

I don't think I'll ever be able to give her a good reason why life isn't fair. I struggle with it a lot myself.

What I do know is I'm living my life for God and His glory, not my glory. Fair or not fair.

Fifth week of 4K

We made it another week!

This week again was learning about shapes. Here are some of the projects, Hannah brought home:



A star necklace (Hannah was so upset because she "messed up" writing her name on the back :))



A robot made of squares


A mouse made of ovals. Hannah was worried I wouldn't like this project because I don't like mice. :) I assured her this one is cute.


This is Hannah on October 5, the first day I sent her off to school without a patch. We wanted to wean her off the patch in hopes she would use her eye more. If she made it the whole week then she would get to pick out a toy at Walmart. She made it and picked out a Barbie. :)


Hannah on Friday, October 7.

She did inform me this week that she has a boyfriend and she kissed him on the playground. His name is Noah. SHE'S FOUR!! We can't be dealing with this now!

At school they sing a lot of songs. One of her favorites is what she calls the "September song". I did get it on video but also wanted to put the words here so we never forget this song---the song that she sings over and over and over and over..


September is the month when summer turns to fall.
Vacation time is over, it's back to school for all.
Even though I'm sad how fast the summer ends,
I'm very glad I get the chance to meet up with my friends!

(She usually leaves off the "v" in vacation so it sounds like "acation". It's so cute!)

Through the eyes of a child

I did something the other day that I really don't like doing.

I hurt my daughter's feelings. :(

I know it wasn't the first time and it most definitely will not be the last. But whenever I see that beautiful face fall and her eyes look down to the ground, I can feel my heart breaking.

We have a "few" leaves in our yard---understatement of the year there. We got some pumpkin bags to fill up to put out as decorations. We had gotten one big pumpkin bag and 6 little ones. I helped Hannah fill them up and put the big one next by the garage right in the middle between the two garage doors.

It was Mark and Hannah's "job" to put the 6 pumpkins wherever they wanted. I told them some ideas (by the sidewalk, on the deck, etc.). Hannah was so excited that she got to pick where they would go. I went into the house and did some cleaning while they went to work.

It wasn't too long before I heard an excited voice yell "Mommy! We're all done! Come see where we put the pumpkins!"

I went outside and Hannah excitedly pointed out the pumpkins---all 6 right next to the big one.

I looked at Mark "Seriously?"

He shrugged "That's where she wanted them. I told her it's a work in progress."

I sighed and said to Hannah "Are you sure you don't want them spread out more? Maybe some on the deck? Some over here? I really don't want them all together."

Hannah's face fell. Her arms crossed in front of her body and she sulked down. "You don't like it".

I walked over to Hannah and bent down to her. "Well, it's not that I don't like them. I just think they might look better if they are more spread out".

Hannah lifted up her face with fear in her eyes. "But Mommy! Then they will get scared! They'll be lonely! They won't be by their mommy! They need to be together!"

I've always known Hannah has a big heart and she proved it to me once again.

To her, the most important thing is being together, having that security, knowing you're protected and having your mommy by your side. It's the best place for "babies" to be. To her these were so much more than decorations, so much more than just "pumpkins" and she wanted to take care of them and make sure they weren't scared.

I gave Hannah a big smile and said "You know what? You're right. I think that is the best place for them. We don't want them to get scared or lonely. You're so thoughtful and I'm so proud of you."

She gave me a big hug, wrapping her little arms around my neck and smiled big "Thank you Mommy!"

I love the innocence of a child's heart. The true sincerity and true love. I wish more adults would think that way, even if it seems it's just "pumpkins".

Visit to Fawn-Doe-Rosa

Hannah loves animals. Just adores them. We have a local wildlife educational park that is one of her favorite places to go.

The weather was beautiful this past weekend so we decided to go one more time this year to Fawn-Doe-Rosa as I knew they would soon be closing for the winter.




She loves all the deer she gets to see and of course feeding them:



She LOVES pigs and of course was excited to see pigs:


She loved the sheep, donkeys and goats too:


And of course being able to be animals was just too cool!:



On our way out, we found a goat. Hannah was so excited to take a couple pictures so we let her take a couple of mommy and daddy with the goat:


I love seeing the love Hannah has for animals. In that way, she's so much like her mom. I love animals and I love going to Fawn-Doe-Rosa. It was always my dream to work there when I was a kid. Hannah is now saying when she gets older she wants to work there and pet the animals all the time. :)

Thanks Fawn-Doe-Rosa for a fun season and such a great learning place.