Some new "firsts"

Two days ago, Siri took her first step!! She has been standing on her own, and scaling the furniture for a long time, but it was just now that she took a step on her own! Tonight, we were at church, and she took about 4 or 5 steps toward my friend. It was so exciting!

Another first we had today, that I have been kind of dreading is...
Well, Tayva had gymnastics today, and after her gymnastics, her teacher handed her a folder. So, she brought it to me and I opened it up to see what was inside.....fundraising magazines. I have never liked fundraising. Even when I was a child, I always dreaded the time of year when schools and organizations I was involved with wanted me to fundraise. I never did it.....I had parents who were gracious enough to buy a few things, and then I would turn it in. Ok, really, Tayva is 3 years old. Is SHE really going to do the fundraising--no. So, who has to do it??? MEEEEE!!! Nope, you can't teach an old dog new tricks....no fundraising for this lady. I will buy some things for our own family, and that is the best I will do. I am game for most things, but fundraising is totally out of my comfort zone, and I have NO desire to do it. So, sorry Tayva, you won't be winning any awards for "most funds raised"! ha,ha :)

Have a great day all!!! Oh, yeah, anybody want to buy some chocolates??...or pizza??...or magazine subscriptions??....or......

New Look

How do you like it? I just couldn't resist the look of pumpkins. We just went to the pumpkin patch last week, and we had SOOOOO much fun!! I think we might go on Tuesday also, as our local homeschool group is having a fieldtrip there. We'll see how the weather is.

I absolutely love the fall. I love all the fall produce and flavors. I also really enjoy cooking up some yummy soups, and fall is the perfect time to get those going!

On the homefront: Bob is having a lot of back problems lately. To make a long story short (or try to), and to fill in some of you who don't know, here is the latest...
Last week (after we went to the pumpkin patch), Bob started having intense back pain. He was supposed to speak at a Men of Faith conference that weekend, but had to cancel at the last minute, as he couldn't get out of bed! We called the Dr. and they prescribed some pain meds and an appt with a neurologist. He was scheduled in the evening for an MRI the following day. He was so nauseated from the pain medications and the pain itself, he couldn't make it through the MRI, and they sent him to the ER instead. They gave him an IV for the pain and nausea....it was just enough to get him through, but not enough to make him comfortable. In the morning, they tried the MRI again...had to give him IV fluids AGAIN for the pain and nausea, and he finally made it through the MRI--he was a TROOPER!!!!!!!!!! He was miserable, miserable, miserable. No significant findings on the MRI, however. (some surgical options available, but even the surgeon didn't recommend that due to the nature of the problem) They sent him to get an epidural steroid shot (this is an actual epidural, where they give you the injection right into your spine). They said it could take up to 7 days to work. SOOOO, now this is where we sit: God has blessed us with a wonderful chiropractor who has made FOUR house calls (because Bob literally could not get out of bed), and the steroid injection is starting to work. He is also still on some pain meds, as well as some natural supplements and vitamins. Because of these blessings, he was able to get out of bed for the first time today (other than to go to the bathroom), and he actually ate supper at the island with us!!! (he lasted about 30 minutes, then had to go lay back down--what a blessing!) Last week, it was an ugly, ugly week, and I hope and pray that we are on the healing end of this thing. Makes me appreciate our health SOO much, and reminds me how much "teamwork" is important in marriage. I found that out this week--I miss my teammate!!

The girls are doing well. They are growing so fast and so big. Tayva LOVES to do "school", and thinks it is really cool that mommy is her teacher! :) (for those of you wondering, we are just doing some light preschool--which is mostly play, projects, and imagination!)

Fall

I can tell it is fall. Things are starting to get into a routine. Tayva had her first Kindermusik class today, and she has her fist swimming lessons this week too. She is also in gymnastics. (each of these are only one day a week.) She is in homeschool preschool this year--although we haven't "officially" started. I just got the books in the mail today. I also want to take one "planning" day before we start to get all my materials for crafts/projects together. Even though I say we haven't "officially" started, we still have been doing a lot of "school" around here. She loves any type of project, reading, and worksheets, and we always seem to be doing something like that.

Let's make a deal

This is a common proposition in our house these days. Here is how is goes. Usually around bedtime either Bob or I will say, "I'll make a deal with you". Tonight, Bob said he'd make a deal with me, and proposed that I give the kids a bath and put them both to bed while he cleans the house. Tempting...awfully tempting. So, I replied with a "counter offer". I said, I will give the kids a bath, put jammies on, and put the kids to bed all by myself if he cleaned the house, put all the things in Tayva's suitcase away, and folded the load of clothes in the dryer. He thought about it......and thought some more.......it's a DEAL!!!

So, the kids are in bed, the house is clean, Tayva's suitcase is put away, and the laundry is folded--NICE, really nice!

(p.s. we just got back from a week-long family vacation--we had a blast!! Thus the fact that Tayva's suitcase needed to be unpacked)