THANKFUL

For me, this month is all about giving thanks, reminding myself of my blessings, and not taking anything, no matter how small, for granted. I was so happy to have my mom and grandma visiting for a few days, and while I wish we could have had them stay longer, I am thankful for the time that we did have. In fact, if we hadn't had that (canceled) conference, I wouldn't have seen them until after Christmas, so I know we are especially lucky to have found this time together! We have lived here in Mississippi for over 4.5 years now, and while it's starting to feel like home in more ways than one, we still get weepy (weekly, if not more often) over the fact that all of our family is so far away. The only thing that makes our constant lack of family interaction bearable, is the camaraderie that has grown between us and our friends here. We are so thankful for them! Whether it be parties or date nights or playdates, we are lucky to have found ourselves in a group of people that really care about us and our children. So, thank you to all of our friends here for making the 'Burg feel a bit more like home.

For example, after 2 days off from studying due to our trip down to New Orleans, Jay was backed up with schoolwork and needed a lot of time to catch up over the weekend. The solution? I took the kids on a 6-hour adventure to Jackson to play at a brand new, HUGE playground that Sophie discovered. And because Alex came along as well, we were able to keep our eyes on the 3 big kids and make sure none of them got into anything beyond their abilities. So a huge thank-you to Sophie and Alex for spending the morning (and lunch!) out with my munchkins. They had a blast, and I couldn't have done it without you!

This playground is awesome! It has 5 different play structures (plus a teeny set of structures for itty-bitty toddlers - the crawlers and early walkers). James managed to play on almost everything (with a little assistance along the way for the "big kid" stuff). Cora had me running after her and pulling her off ladders constantly (she can go up a couple of rungs before she gets stuck). She was determined to go up the "rolling pin" slide and figure out the climbing walls (there were 2 of them), so I pretty much had to keep her within arms reach the whole time. They both loved it, and we spent almost 2 hours there, playing with Manu and Alex (while baby Leo snuggled in his Ergo with his mama).

This little fire engine structure was a favorite for the boys:

Cora wanted to climb up after her big bro SO badly!

She rocked out on this little dolphin: James navigated these pods a few times:

This is where he said "I climb a BIG ROCK!"

There were lots of musical "instruments" interspersed throughout the 5 play structures:

And a cool exploration wall for the little ones:

This was the craziest slide - you had to straddle it! James and I declined a ride, but Manu rode with his daddy and seemed to like it.

James was more interested in climbing up to the top of the tallest structure and riding down the 2 tunnel slides (alone, and with me and Sissy). I'm not sure how tall they were exactly, but they required 2 sets of stairs and a long ladder to get to the top. (Note to parents who accompany their children - these structures were meant for KIDS, so us tall adults need to be VERY careful when climbing into tight spaces - my head still hurts where I slammed into the metal roof above that ladder)

The playground also had a fun spin toy and a rocking "boat". I didn't think Cora would want to go, but she asked to get in with the boys, so I set her between them and told James to hold her tight. He was so good about keeping his arm around her - made me so proud!

At the end of the adventure, following snacks and potty breaks (shout out to James AND Manu for telling us when they needed to pee, then actually going!), the kids swung and stomped with Alex until we decided it was well past lunch time. Then they piled into the cars without complaint - again, making me so proud that James understood the adventure was over and that we'd be back again another time.

After lunch at Lenny's (where the kids ate FREE!), I started the drive back to the 'Burg. The kids were asleep before I even got out of the parking lot...

BABY DADDY

SLEEPING BABES

N'AWLINS

When in New Orleans, the best way to start your day is with cafe au lait and beignets at Cafe Du Monde. So that's what we did. The 4 of us easily devoured 3 orders, and the kiddos highly enjoyed dipping their french donuts into the powdered sugar after each and every bite.We contemplated splurging for a carriage ride around the French Quarter, but they were ridiculously overpriced. And they weren't even horse-drawn buggies. They were mules. Instead, we walked around and showed the kids the peddlers, and Jackson Square (of course!), then headed back toward the hotel......where the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas happened to be right next door.James was terrified of those little parakeets... Cora was fine, as long as they didn't get too close. Jay and I thought they were hilarious climbing all over us, when the only food we had to offer was on those little $1 "feed sticks". The aquarium was smaller than we remembered (we saw EVERYTHING at a toddler's pace in an hour and a half), but it was nice. And not at all crowded, which was surprising, given the holiday. It was great to get out of the 'Burg for a bit, that's for sure!

WHIRLWIND TRIP

Our visit from Grambot and Great-Gramma was FAR too short this time, and it was hard to believe we really had to turn around and take them back to the airport yesterday morning. Good thing we started the day with donuts! And coffee, of course.

After a quick stop at the Natchez visitor center and Magnolia Grill...

...we high-tailed it to New Orleans and the airport. Following a teary drop-off (especially from Grambot and James - I had to send her running so she didn't see/hear him meltdown when she left), we went into the city and checked into the fancy hotel we would have spent the whole week at, had our R&D conference not been canceled. The kids LOVED the view of the river. They squealed every time a boat went by. They could also see the train tracks and a big fountain. We went down for a closer look before dinner, but had to retreat due to icy-cold winds.

No worries, we enjoyed that fancy hotel. Room service and a movie (Cars 2, which was far less toddler-friendly than the original). And LOTS of running back and forth from the window, yelling about lights and trains and the full moon. Miraculously, we ALL slept for 10 hours straight. And our wild sleepers managed to stay on their respective beds (there was concern of floor crashing). We'll go ahead and call this hotel stay a success.

FIRST FAMILY CAMPFIRE

We had a campfire at our Halloween party, but neither James or Cora spent much time around it, so we decided to celebrate fall appropriately with our house guests and spoil the kids with marshmallows. They LOVE their new headlamps from Grambot and PawPaw! They had fun looking up at the leaves blowing in the trees (there was a storm brewing, so the wind was strong), swinging on the swing with Grambot, watching the fire, listening to the night noises, and, of course, eating too many marshmallows.

Cora went to bed on time afterward, but James fought the good fight. He doesn't want to miss a MINUTE with his grands. He eventually crashed on the couch next to his Grambot though, and looked too cute not to photodocument:

BEDTIME STORY

JUST ANOTHER FUN AFTERNOON

When we arrived at our favorite park late this afternoon, we were pleasantly surprised to find Sophie and Manu and Leo arriving as well. We stayed for almost 1.5 hours, playing and chatting and enjoying the fall weather. Honestly, if the sun hadn't gone down so early due to the time change, we likely would have stayed even later!

Cora liked Manu's new potty chair just as much as her big bro's...

The boys were TOO cute doing potty time together. Manu cracked me up, wanting his shoes and pants and undies completely off before he'd sit still and try to pee.
All 3 'big kids' spent lots of time in the baby swing...

But not Leo. He's still far too little. Instead, he enjoyed the comfort of a grandma's arms while the big kids played. My mom was in heaven getting to hold this sweet little guy! (Though Cora wasn't too thrilled at first with having to share her Grambot with him...)

Towards the end of the afternoon, the kids took a snack break. It was awfully cute seeing James and Cora and Manu hanging out together, just sitting at the top of the stairs, talking amongst themselves. Such little people they have become...

WAITING

At the airport in New Orleans, waiting anxiously for the arrival of their Grambot and Great Gramma:

And on the way home, after a satisfying dinner at Middendorf's:
We're so glad you're here!

WELL, THAT DIDN'T LAST LONG...

...I'm such a sucker!

We parked next to the cart return today, and BOTH car carts were right there. So when James said "I ride in the little car!", I couldn't come up with a good argument against it. Obviously they were available. So I buckled them in and off we went! They loved it! They drove, snacked, and drank their milk, side-by-side, while I shopped and had the entire cart all to myself and the groceries. We even managed to make it home with intact eggs, a full carton of raspberries, and non-smooshed bread. I think we'll be doing this again...

DONATED

Our new daycare had a big yard sale this morning.

This is what we donated:

And this is why:

EXTRA HUGS

Whoever does the early shift these days always gets extra love and hugs from the kiddos in the morning. It's nice. So very nice.

MOMMY'S DAYS

After running 1.5 miles with the kids in the jogger on Tuesday, James requested "I go up the BIG stairs!", so I let them loose on the Illinois Memorial.

Good thing we were alone, since they decided to lay in the middle of the room and howl like coyotes. They are so LOUD! And they loved the echo. I have a feeling Daddy taught them that trick last week.

Then today, since I had run yesterday (2 miles - my personal best so far since I've started back to running, and it was in my Vibram FiveFingers), I decided to take the day off and take the kids for ice cream instead. I've had a giftcard to Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory burning a hole in my pocket since my birthday (thanks again Michelle!), and I wanted to get James a couple pairs of cheap fleece pants from the outlet mall for school (we have to keep 1-2 full outfits for him in his school bag, since he's still considered a "new" potty trainee, and still has the occasional accident, or two...). Lucky kid got a new pair of shoes too (I realized while walking around that his toes were touching the ends of his tennis shoes), but Cora was sorely disappointed that she didn't get any. And James was actually quite sad at first when I vetoed the "Light-ing Queen" shoes he really wanted (U G L Y). Good thing Mama holds the wallet!

FAMILY PORTRAITS, OCTOBER 2011

We had our friend Katie, of Katie Carter Photography, take family portraits for us last month. We had plans to go down to the Trace, but forgot that the bridge was out, so we made a spur-of-the-moment decision to take our portraits on the side of the road, against a cool fence around a farm. James wasn't too sure about the activity (we've never done a real family portrait session before!), but he cooperated and gave us some good smiles. Cora, on the other hand, was not impressed with anything. Well, other than picking flowers and climbing the fence. She still looks cute though. And I'm glad Katie thought to take some of just Jay and I at the end. We haven't taken any "couple portraits" since December of 2008. Maybe we'll make a trip to the coast in the spring to meet up with Katie and do another session. I definitely want to make a better effort to take more family portraits in the coming years. Thanks Katie, we're so happy with the finished products and we wish you the best of luck in your new venture down south!

And don't worry grandparents, we have the CD ready to upload to Snapfish so that you can order copies for yourselves. There are lots more, these are just a few of our favorites!

3 WEEKS LATER...

It's been over 3 weeks since Cora weaned, and my milk has finally completely dried up. It sure took a lot longer than I thought it would! What this means is that I actually have my body back, in whole, for the first time in almost 3.5 years (during which time I've been pregnant and/or nursing). It feels so weird. And yet so freeing. What this also means is that I am in desperate need of non-nursing bras that fit...

In other news, it's been 2.5 weeks since the kids switched daycares, and it's likewise been 2.5 weeks since James has requested television at home. Seriously! See? I TOLD you they were watching too much TV at his old daycare. The kid could care less about it at home when he isn't stuck sitting in front of it off-and-on all day long at school!

And it's also been 2.5 weeks since James has had an accident. We suspected that all the daycare drama was the reason for his recent bout of accidents (happening almost every day or every other day for the last month he was at his old daycare), either his way of telling us something was bothering him, or that his random round of teachers were not doing their job in taking the kids to the bathroom as often as they shold have been (which was what we were hearing at the time). Either way, we KNOW he's happier now, and that's what's most important. Getting back to no accidents is an awesome bonus!