Hugs

Today I had one of the rarer moments when Kaitlin let me hold her for several minutes. Such simple pleasures. Carmen (the other day) was playing Princess Monopoly with me and didn't want to win because the game would be over. She kept getting money out of the "bank" to keep me playing. She said, "I'll win and you'll win, too." So cute and sweet. I love little girls.

Weekend

Last Saturday we went to the Nebraska City "Apple Jack Festival" with our wonderful neighbors. Here is Kaitlin and Carmen at the Parade. There was lots of Candy thrown.
Here is a priceless picture of a Shriner Clown. Archie thought that was so funny.
And this is a Shriner Marching Band. Archie said he had never seen one before and it cracked him up. I hadn't either. There were lots of high school and middle school bands, politicians, old cars, etc. in the parade also. We missed the beginning, which apparently had fire trucks from all different years in them. We saw the fire truck parade in Nebraska City and couple of years ago. It was fun to see old time fire vehicles that were hand drawn and horse drawn as well as the early fire trucks.

Anyway, we had fun at the parade and then at our neighbors grandparents house in Nebraska City.

New News

Kaitlin actually potty trained Carmen. She told Carmen (who wanted to go to school when Kaitlin started) that she had to be potty trained to go to pre-school. Kaitlin ran up to me and told me excitedly that Carmen had gone pee in the potty. She later told me the same thing. I was excited and I had nothing to do with it. It only took Carmen two days and in her first week she only had two "accidents". Pretty good. Does anyone want to borrow Kaitlin? Just wondering.

So, now I had to find a pre-school for Carmen. This late I was worried. I went to a few that were scary. "Children NEED FIVE DAYS A WEEK OF PRE-SCHOOL or they will get behind and never make it....etc, etc. etc. " I even told one lady that studies showed that by the age of 12 early achievement shows so substantial advantage at all and that all this was so parents could feel good about themselves. She didn't deny it but still went ahead and said that they would be behind in kindergarten and have terrible self esteem. I told her my daughter was reading at the age of 4 at home because we taught her and the lady was still undaunted. Amazing. She was so believing in her cause that she heard nothing of what I said. I am sure you are not surprised to find out that Carmen is NOT going there!

We happened to go to the Gingerbread House and they had a cancellation for morning while we were there and we got it! Cool. Carmen loved her first day and wants to go back.

School starts in Omaha

School has started already in Omaha. I am not excited about it starting so early. However, Kaitlin was ready. Carmen and she were beginning to get on each other's nerves. Kaitlin loves her teacher and is excited that she is now a "grader" (in first Grade) not just in kindergarten.

Carmen wants to go too. I had decided to keep her with me for awhile longer but maybe I need to reconsider....

Munchkin Junction

All I have been doing lately is preparing for a consignment sale and volunteering for it...Oh, and taking care of my family in the meantime. I don't know how people work full time and take care of a family. I feel so blessed to be able to stay home with my children. I realize more, this week, what a blessing that is because I have been doing this sale and my Sister-in-law has been taking care of my kids more. Here's the URP to the sale:

http://www.munchkinjunctionsale.com/

You'll have to cut and paste it to see it.

I have been reading a lot lately and some of the books have made me really think. Kite Runner is one of these books and so is Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck. Kite Runner has been eye opening and a reminder of the fact that there is real misery in the world. Pavilion of Women is interesting because it reminded me how to really love others.