halloween | potty | friends

Brace yourselves . . . this is some serious catching up.

Early in the week we went trick-or-treating at the mall with the Teodoros. Ted pieced together a Sheriff's costume from his dress up box and looked great doing it.



Way too many people. We won't do that again.

Friday, Stacy came to visit with Ben and Will. It was so wonderful.

We met Kristen and Michael at Chik-Fil-A. I do love that place.


After Sophie's nap, we rode the PRT and watched the Mountaineers loose.


Ted and Ben had a sleepover. I was shocked at how quickly they went to sleep and without even making a peep.


Ben, Will & Ted


French toast for breakfast and then the Santen's headed home. It was a WONDERFUL visit. I'm so thankful that they made the trip.

So after naptime on Saturday, Sophie, Ben and I were snuggling on the couch. Next thing we know, Sophie took her diaper off and waddled (b/c her pants were down to her ankles) to the bathroom. She sat herself down on her frog potty and PEED IN THE POTTY. All on her own! It was glorious. She's continued today. So, I guess we're potty training.


As a result of her potty usage, Sophie got her beloved pillow pet. She and Ted played all day today with their pets.

So then it was off to trick-or-treat. While waiting for the Santen's on Friday. We discovered a package on the front porch for Ted. In it was his birthday present from Uncle Andy and Aunt Courtney. It was full of fun dress up stuff. One thing being a magicians hat. When Ted was deciding what to wear for trick-or-treat, we thought he could be a magician with his wedding suite. Hey, might as well get some more use out of it. Ben got him a the glow stick as a wand and some white gloves. It was great!


Sophie was Elmo. Ted wore Elmo on his first trick-or-treat ventures when he was two. We basically drove him all over town to friend's houses to visit. She couldn't have cared less.


We trick-or-treated with Skylar (purple dragon) and Eva (the fairy). A good time was had by all.


This was some kid. HILARIOUS!


We ended the evening with a spin around Kroger for a couple of things Ben needed. It was way too busy for them to push the little carts but we let them anyways. Not the best decision.



So, it was a great weekend. I'm tired! Videos to follow tomorrow! You're not going to want to miss them!

nap time

The weather has been absolutely stunning the past few days in Morgantown. I'm on Day 4 of porch dwelling during naptime. It's cool out, but the sun is so warm and feels so good. This is my kind of weather. This is the first time in over a week that Sophie has gone to bed (nap or bedtime) without a fight. That little stinker is learning to push every button that I have. Thankfully, I remember having similar thoughts and conversations with Ben about Ted. Fearing that he was turning into some hellion child. At least I can look back on that and say that it's just a phase and I need to hold strong. Poor kid, I had to carry the spank spoon with me to put her to bed the other night. Hey, don't judge me!

Things on my list of things to do today during naptime: call my mom, call Stacy, work on my online class, balance the checkbook, clean the bathrooms, and wash the first half of the day dishes. Obviously we're not getting very far on this.

Things of note recently:
- Ted has taken an interest in writing, art, and things like that. He likes doing "school work" and is spending time at the dinner table and in the car teaching her letter sounds, counting and songs.

- Sophie is giving me fits. Man. Makes me not look forward to when she turns 3. (Three seems to be way worse than 2, in my opinion.) She has this switch that flips between this sweet, endearing little girl, to totally defiant.

- There's a ladybug pillow pet waiting in my closet for when Sophie starts peeing in the potty. Everyday she comes in, points to it, and says in a very sing-song voice, "There's my pillow pet!" Doesn't seem to bother her that she can't play with it. Ted's is still very much a novelty (and a source of punishment if necessary). So far, no peeing in the potty.

- I am working on getting on the sub list for Mon County. It's such an ordeal. I'm just waiting for 2 more things. I am currently taking 1 of 2 classes that I have to take to get my cetificate (that expired 6 years ago) renewed. I DO NOT want to sub. I think I may have found something that will supplement our income minimally (grocery money) for the time being that allows me to work from home. I'm still pursueing subbing in case things get too hairy financially.

- Ben is doing well. A couple of weeks ago, life was just overwhelming for him. He seems to have settled down a bit. It's hard b/c I feel like he's doing everything. I'm not used to that at all. I'm used to contributing and helping and all that. But he continues to affirm my being home. And I do love it - most days. It has taken so much craziness out of our lives. There are 5 clubs (for 6 schools) up and running - Univsersity and Morgantown High Schools, Fairmont, Grafton and Bridgeport. They're all running at full steam with lots of energy, great kids and amazing leaders. I think now that a couple of weeks are underway, Ben is feeling much less stress. Except that now he's started to look at the financial side of things. . .

- I was driving home the other night, just thinking about Morgantown being our home. And it is now. I know my way around. I have a library card. We've been to Urgent Care twice and now have a pediatrician. We found a place to have our cars worked on (3x since we've moved here). Ted is in school. It feels like home in that, this is where we live and we have a home here. It doesn't in just the familiarity of people.

I miss people loving on my kids. I really do. And I know that part of that is not being settled in a church yet. I guess I felt that sometimes, when I didn't feel like a good parent, or it was just a hard week, that other people were around to love on them in ways that I couldn't. And that's really important to me. Whether it was walking through the office on the way to bible study, or people loving on them at church, or the nursery volunteers or preschool small group leaders, or just visiting friends or whatever. I miss feeling that they matter to other people.

So, I'm off to read things about reading comprehension and tell them how I would implement it in my classroom! Good onc - since I taught a whole 62 days back in 2003 and not a day since!

wedding catch up

So I'm cleaning out the "blog pictures" folder. These have been in there for awhile. They're from Brandi's wedding a month or so ago. Here's the original post - Brandi's Wedding




Sophie walked around in my shoes (and total stranger's shoes!)


Me and Soph's with Aunt Sara



The aeriel view of the reception in the street. Awesome, huh?


Ben with the bride & groom


With my brother, Charlie! Ben does love him a lot.


Ben the DJ


My handsome little man. The bow-tie he's wearing is the bowtie that my brother, Charlie, wore in my brother Jay's wedding a long time ago!

Ok, how my picture folder is empty. All caught up!

round #2 on the birthday

I had a little scare with my laptop yesterday. I spilled some water smack on the keyboard. So I put it in front of a fan for over 24 hours - didn't touch it. It's amazing how much I do on this and what I can't do when I don't have it. I read a book during nap time today. Thankfully the computer seems to be just fine. THANK YOU, LORD! Seriously!

Anyways, Doh, Grandma and the "2 Pap's" (as Sophie calls them) came over to have Ted's birthday. We had after-school cake and presents.


The final decision for the cake decor.


Posing with the cake baker.


Opening some gifts.


The hit gift . . . a card that pulled out to be and play like a guitar. The cheapest by far.


Grandparents and kids.


Ted and Ben put together Ted's new Playmobil gym in the evening.


Friday morning he got up to play with the Playmobil wearing his new shirt and hat with the guitar close by for short bouts of guitar playing. He wore his new WVU jersey today - looks awesome!

one whole hand

Ted turned "one whole hand" today. He was so excited! He got up this morning ready to rock and roll. He made us all sing to him and made sure that everyone was perfectly clear that he is now 5.

For the past several months, all he has wanted is a Pillow Pet. It's one of those things that you can't believe you paid that much for but, at the same time, you really wish you would've invented it to be able to make a quick mil. Seriously, it's a small (albeit soft) pillow with a head and a velcro strap on it. Ted made sure that I understood that it could be a pet or a pillow, that it was great for overnighters b/c you can put your pj's in the middle and it's great for car trips. (I'm only incriminating myself by telling you he knows all that from all the times he's seen the commercials on Sprout!)


So, he picked out the penguin. He took it to school and said he actually napped today. Hey, if that's what it takes. Unfortunately, Sophie really wants one also - she has already set her sights on the ladybug. So we had a couple of scuffles over it this evening. Tonight at bedtime, Ted said that he wished Sophie's birthday was the same as his so she could have one. He also generously donated his leftover $2 from a birthday gift to help her get one before Christmas b/c that's a very long time away!


Aunt Lois sent Ted some birthday money. After school, we went to a cute toy store on High Street. Ted picked out a fireman's hat (it lights up AND has a siren!) and a playmobil set. This is the band which he added to the band that Aunt Courtney & Uncle Andy got him for Christmas. Thanks, Aunt Lois!


Here's the full band from the concert this evening.


Sophie made Ted a birthday dinner.

Ben made Ted a bag of "dress up stuff." That was by far the best and cheapest gift of the evening.



Sophie LOVED the sunglasses but picked off and ate too many beads. She is no longer allowed to wear them.


Even Millie got in on the action!

We had dinner at home and then took Ted to Cheddar's for the Monster Cookie. It's kind of like Rockbridge's Big Cookie - the freshly baked cookie with ice cream on top. These are smaller but have whip cream, nuts, and a cherry on top. YUM!


The hostess was laughing at us as we left b/c Ted was making a huge deal about how late we were up b/c it was dark out. It was 7:15!


While waiting for dinner, Ben & Ted looked over the newest Playmobil magazine. Lots of great stuff in there.


YUMMY!


No caption necessary.

Ben, Ted and I snuggled in bed tonight and talked about the highlights of being 4. Ted learned to swim and not be afraid of water. (We're shooting for no floaties at 5!) Rockbridge. Living at the Godwins. Moving to Morgantown. Having his first non-grandparents sleepover with Aunt Courtney and Uncle Andy. Starting all day preschool. Having a super healthy year (probably our best yet). Learning to play games on the iphone. Getting a bike and learning to pedal. Getting a drum set and practicing and being really good - Ted's words of course.

4 was a wonderful year. I really loved it a lot. It might be my favorite year yet. Hard to realize that he is FIVE. One whole hand.

in no particular order

Before my camera died at the Buckwheat Festival . . . a goat finding Sophie's leftovers in her stroller!


Ted has been very into coloring (inside the lines) and drawing recently. He and Sophie hang together at the table and Ted is "teaching" Sophie about colors, shapes and letters.


A couple of weeks ago, Sophie and I went with Ben to a regional meeting in Pittsburgh. We did a little fall shopping for Sophie and hung out with Shawna at her new, beautiful house. It was one of the first cold, rainy days we had. As our afternoon continued, Sophie slowly stripped down to her diaper. She didn't seem to mind.


Ted has been playing soccer every Wednesday afternoon. We missed the real soccer game sign-ups. So this is like a little clinic. Not really worth the money I paid for it. But he likes it just the same. He wears his England soccer uni every week.


While at soccer a couple weeks ago we saw the Good Year blimp. You can't really tell what it is. But it was around Morgantown for several days.


The pigs at the Buckwheat Festival. This is just so GROSS!


This was in a hotel parking lot last week. The things you see here. . .


We have leadership with all the college leaders on Sundays. Ben meets with all the guitar players for club 30 minutes before to practice club songs for the week. There's usually about 3 more that fit in here. It's a pretty neat sight!


Sophie and I watch program music videos at lunch sometimes. You can never get enough of those!


Sophie giving her foot a "bath." She had an ingrown toenail last week so we had to soak it and get some antibiotics. I swear, antibiotics are amazing!


Ted playing with the new bat for the Wii that Grandma gave us. Thanks, Grandma!


At Rockbridge, a cabin had Snuggies as volleyball uni's. They left them around so the Assignment Team got 1 per family. Ted digs it. I've made fun of Snuggies for a long time. But now I'm just going to say that I wish I would've thought of that and made my million.


Sophie hanging at Walmart.


Ted could entertain himself FOREVER in the Halloween aisle.


Uncle Andy came for the WVU game on Thursday evening and stayed the night. Friday morning he had breakfast with the kids, played dress-up (hence the too tight basketball jersey) and drew some pictures. He was trying to teach Ted about pi and square roots and crazy math facts but Ted was very uninterested.


This is one of two Care Bear costumes my aunt made. My cousins wore them. My sister and I wore them. And now this is top costume in Ted's dress up box.