This Halloween turned out to be quite blustery... and gray all day long!  But even with the cold and chill we managed to have a wonderful day and a happily creepy night!  I was on cloud nine all day because I passed my Oncology test on Monday and I didn't have to get up at 5AM for clinicals today as it was my "HIV day", a day spent in the library doing a research project about HIV/AIDS.  I got my project done as well as some research for my assigned writing topic.  After running over to the hospital to get information on my patient for tomorrows clinicals I dashed into Wal-greens for some last minute candy and mittens for the kids.  I had to repair Abby's costume since she managed to rip holes in both the original and the replacement outfits we had bought for her.  It's just a fact of life... those bouncy castles are hazardous for cheaply made pricess gowns.  Of course, in spite of a torn dress the kids thoroughly enjoyed "Spooktacular" at the zoo this past weekend.  Thank goodness I own a reliable sewing machine!  In the end I sent Chris with the kids to ravage the neighborhood for candy while I took up my post by the door (with my textbook) to hand out treats to the local goons and goblins.  We had a good showing (as in I passed out all I had) and the kids came home with three times what I had bought.  I guess that's fair and square!  Several kids were sufficiently spooked by our black kitty and I got to wear my "Its the great pumpkin Charlie Brown" socks!  I think it was a great night! 

I have come to appreciate my growing kids recently in a new way.  Each stage of their lives has brought with it new and exciting things that I have been blessed to experience with them.  Today I was profoundly impressed by how well they got along as we decorated and baked sugar cookies.  I can recall trying desperately to manage my preschool aged kids to no avail several years ago.  I was so disenchanted then by how much trouble it was to bake cookies that I swore them off.  Hats off to my sister Susan who never seemed to mind the hassle and mananged to have beautiful cookies even with as many as 5 kids "helping" (she must have taken after my mother in that area!)  I had all but given up on ever having that perfect cookie baking time with my kids when I realized (today) that I just needed to wait for them to grow up a bit!  My advice to parents of preshoolers... just bake the cookies yourself and enjoy watching your child dunk them in milk.  So long story short... we had a wonderful time as you can see from the photos!  Happy Harvest!

 

The last few weeks have been uneventful... well, at least there really hasn't been much to talk about even though we have been so so busy!  Mom (Carol) left for Taiwan on September 28th... we miss her so much!  Since then it seems we've been running in circles just doing all those things that our life consists of.   It's nice to be busy though... time flies, as you all know, when you're having fun! 

 

We finally heard from the Girl Scout troop leader today about getting Abby into her new troop.  She's pretty excited especially since she is already friends with several girls in the troop.  That will add one more notation on our calendar but it's a good thing for her to be involved in!  Charles had his very first "lock-in" with the Royal Ambassador group from church this past weekend.  From what I understand he had a blast and didn't go to sleep until 1:30 AM.  We've been especially pleased with how well the kids have blended into our church and an added blessing has been that there are several kids that go to school with our kids who also attend church at South Haven.  It's so nice to have friends from godly families to hang out with!   We are still looking for a piano teacher to continue with the kids now that Grandma is back in Taiwan but we haven't heard a definite yet from anyone.  Hopefully the head of the piano department over at BBC will be able to recommend someone that will be able to come to our house and teach them.  Keep that in your prayers!  All the kids are getting along well in their new classes and their minds are definitely being stretched with newer and more difficult material!  Charles especially is learning to be a bit more organized with his work, this is something that is emphasized more in the 4th grade and can be quite challanging!  Spencer is really loving his Kindergarten class and seems to enjoy the mental exercise of all-day school although he's usually pretty tired in the afternoon when he gets home.  When the older two are doing homework he loves to sit and practice his "homework" as well!  

 

Chris has been busy working around the house fixing those items on the "honey-do" list that seems to just keep growing and growing as we become more aquainted with our new home.  He's also been fairly obcessed with nurturing some new grass on our lawn in hopes of velvet green in the spring!  The Fire department has kept him pretty busy too with his new responsibilities and so far Chief Sparkman seems very pleased with the job he's doing.  Work and school have kept me on my toes.  I am at mid-terms now and, thankfully, still keeping my grades up.  I have a test in two days that will conclude the Pediatrics/Obstetrics portion of my studies... I can't tell you what a relief that is!   Be praying about the scheduling for the next half of the semester.  I am still not sure which clinical rotation I will be in (either Neuro, Rehab, or Oncology) but whatever it is I am just hoping that it doesn't conflict with my work schedule.  Hopefully I will be able to keep my clinical days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so that I'll still be able to work the weekends like I have been doing the last couple of months. 

 

Not much news... I know!  But at least we are all doing well!