With the help of an extra paycheck in October, we were finally able to purchase a new dining room set. Thanks to Sam's Club we got an awesome table for an awesome price. We were able to put away the plastic folding table that we've been using for the past several months, and are now enjoying enough room for everyone at the table PLUS food...what a concept! I also found a lazy susan at Target that matches almost perfectly. Love it!!!
Last week I participated in my first ever real live Pedicure/Manicure. As a Primary Presidency, we decided to treat ourselves after pulling off yet another marvelous Primary Sacrament Meeting Program. We went to a day spa and had such a great time relaxing and enjoying ourselves. What a treat!
Austin is doing great in school. He was picked by his teacher last year to be a "breakfast buddy" this year, which means he helps out in the cafeteria every morning helping the kids who eat breakfast at school. He has turned out to be quite responsible lately and it's fun seeing him "grow up" a bit. Austin is still having issues with piano lessons. Not sure if he really wants to do it or not. When he works at it he's really great! It's an ongoing struggle...
Logan, on the other hand, has been nothing but trouble at school since the beginning. He has had "folder marks" for bad behavior almost as often as "stamps" for good behavior. The problems are varied...hitting, calling names, not listening/paying attention, playing around, not participating, etc. You name it! We have talked with his teacher several times and can't figure out what's going on. Logan even had a chat with the Principal last week! We have talked with him extensively, taken favorite things away, bribed him, threatened him with other consequences, but nothing seems to work. Last week I tried just making him sit in a corner of my room by himself with the door closed...solitary confinement you could say. Well, he promptly fell asleep! He's definitely a "just leave me alone" kind of person. He would love to just sit & draw/color all day long (which he's VERY good at by the way). If only life would just leave him alone!!!
Carson is a ball of energy and wants to be involved in everything. I guess he picked up part of my personality where "I don't want to miss anything". He loves to play with anyone, anywhere, and hates going to bed at night. He is a big helper with Jackson...sometimes too helpful. Jackson will be playing with his toys in another room and Carson will pick him up, bring him to me and say "Jackson wants you". Lucky me! Not only do I have a baby crawling around after me all day long, but when he's not, he's under my feet anyway because Carson placed him there!
Jackson is getting to be pretty independent lately. He learned how to crawl up the stairs, and is very fast too! Thank goodness for the baby gate. He has also learned that there's lots of fun stuff in the kitchen and bathroom cabinets and loves to pull everything out. After he broke a glass vase the other day I decided it was time to buy the cabinet locks. What would we do without all these awesome baby-proof products??? He also surprised us on Halloween night by climbing up onto the chair in the family room. What fun is in store for me!
We ended up being over an hour late to our ward Trunk or Treat (due to some mis-communication), so the kids only got candy from 3 cars. We invited our friends (Clayton's) over afterward and Mike & Rhett took the kids Trick-or-Treating while Mindy & I hung out with the babies and handed out candy at our house. That's my kind of Halloween!
My friend took a bunch of new pictures of us in our front yard and I think they turned out great...thanks Maggie!!! I finally have pictures to put in the blank frames that are hanging on my living room wall...if only I could actually get them printed now.
Well, I guess that's all from us this month. We hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season...and we hope to hear from you!
Love - Rhett, Maren, Austin, Logan, Carson & Jackson
