Emma and her friend Aaliyah used Emma’s stuffed animal stuffer/maker to make BFF “puffed” animals.  Emma chose a doll and Aaliyah a bear. 

They even made paper hearts like they do at Build-a-Bear.

Such sweet girls.  We’re going to have as much play time as we can the next two days. Luckily they are leaving on Thursday.  Emma doesn’t have school that day.  We’ll have to find something fun to go do.

She tells me tonight “I’m going to miss the Stout’s & my dad.” Sweet thing.

Aidan felt a bit left out.  So he had fun after the girls were done.

 

And well, Isaac.  He learned to climb on a chair tonight.  And on the table. Let’s just say I wish some of that stuffing had been on the floor for his landing. Yikes.     

And for the record Emma has always called Stuffed animals PUFFED animals.  We think it’s super cute. I was a bit worried that Stuffed Animal day at school last week might make Emma realize she says it different, but she didn’t. Yay!  She loves puffed animals particularly small puffed animals.

Hypocrite- Hey that’s me!!! A realization I came to as I sat down to tell Emma that her bestest friend she met our 2nd week here is moving.  The friend that lived 2 doors over and was always ready to play.  A friend that she spent allll school day with and then usually several hours each evening.  A sweet girl that I always enjoyed having in our home.  She has a very gentle & calm spirit.  I’ve never seen 2 little girls spend that much time together and cat fight sooo little! I will miss Emma’s semi-clean room  since I can no longer say “she can’t come over unless your room is clean”.

Our conversation (between sessions of holding her and crying) was filled with lies like these:

“It’s hard to leave a friend honey, but you’ll meet new friends.  You’re a sweet girl.  We’ll have to call up some of the other girls we’ve met at the park or that are in your class and take time to get to know them.”

“My heart hurts each day that I am away from my friends. It’ll be hard, but it will get better with time.”

“Don’t let this get you angry & grumpy about going to school.  I know it’s hard but we have to understand that God has a plan.  He brought her in your life for a reason and although we don’t understand why such a great friend is leaving we have to trust.”

“She will probably come back to visit her dad and when she does we will get to see her.  You two can have fun times then.”

Me = Liar Liar pants on fire.  It isn’t easy.  It’s hard to put yourself out there to meet others.  It takes a great deal of time, that I have yet to reach, where it get’s easy NOT having your friend near.  Not having that support and connection makes ya in a funk and it’s super hard to NOT let that seep into other areas creating a grumpy monster.  You will get to see her again, yet that time that should be fun is clouded with the fact that it will be far to short of a visit and lead to yet another good-bye.

For me it’s lunch dates, for you it’s play dates.  For me it’s a shoulder to lean on or a listening ear, for your it’s a partner to play your little “patty-cake, hand slappin” games with.  For me it’s late night talks in a quiet house of sleeping kiddos, for you it’s late night movie & slumber party.  For me it’s working along side a sister in Christ at church events, working and serving together, for you it’s sharing the excitement of taking your non-churched friend to a new exciting church. For me it’s the hug when I’m down & words of encouragement at just the right time, a fellow mother that understands, for your it’s having that friend who’s sick of playing with her little brother too who likes to play school, ride bikes & make silly videos singing silly songs.

I pray that she will be flooded with other sweet friends.  I pray that she will talk with me when she is hurting and work through her sadness.  Going to school has not been a fight this year, I pray that continues with Aaleiyah now absent each day.

And mostly I pray that as we go through the next few weeks or months that I will force myself to reach out just as I’m expecting my 6 yr old to do.

Ouch.  I’m convicted.  It hurts and bygolly I don’t like it.

- Aidan grounded me.  For buckling him in his car seat.  I will fully accept that grounding if it involves going to my room- alone. Gladly. :)

-You question the intelligence of those driving around you when you see a sign that states something Emma learned at 4 years old.

Red Means Stop.  Really??!!!

 

- This was actually heard in our house. Matt (to Aidan): “I do not want to see you play in that manner, especially when I heard your brother responding negatively”. Oh WOW!  We I laughed about that one all day!!! I think daddy spent too much time in KC business meetings writing policies & planning leadership classes for his employees!!! Bwhahaha!!

- The ENT said Isaac’s ears are the same, but he’s in no hurry to mess with the tube that is crusted.  His plan is to check him each month through the “winter or illness” season.  My quarterly deductible says “YUCK!”

- The other night I was on the phone with a friend catching up.  It was a bit after 9, but didn’t expect Isaac to be sleepy since he had napped from 4-6 pm.  I thought he was behind the couch playing in the toy room area.  It was awful quiet so I decided to look.  He wasn’t there.  I search the upstairs thinking maybe he had snuck up to pester sleeping sissy.  I check all rooms & closets.  No where.  I come back down stairs and check the only room left…the kitchen.  Here’s what I found…

Guess he loves the memory foam mat & the sound of a running dishwasher!

 

- Luckily after 2 1/2 weeks of being sick it sounds as though our niece Libby is on the mend and will hopefully be home from the hospital this weekend.  Poor lil’ girl got a form of food poisoning that lead to complications that had her in the PICU for over a week!  I can’t imagine having one of my kiddos sick like that!! 

The same day Libby was moved to the PICU and wrenched my heart to want to be closer to “home” I also got GRRRRRRRRRRRRreat news!!  My brother finally announced he has a girly friend!! Her name is Beth.  We of course had speculated that for some time, but for their own reasons waited until now to make it public.  Joy doesn’t begin to explain that news!!!  Again my heart hurts to be so far away for celebrations of great news too.

Then I get a call that my bestest friend’s husband would be having last minute/emergency surgery for severe pain in his arm due to an issue with a disc in his neck.  Oh my aching heart!!  I would have given my right arm to be able to be there with her!!

I’m trying my best to rest in the idea that we are here b/c we feel it is where God wanted us to be.  But man it is hard!  Life seemed so uneventful when we were in KS. Now all these instances where we could lend a helping hand or be there to support those we love and have helped us so much. 

- On a HOME note I’m am SUPER excited to be preparing for our trip back for Thanksgiving and then I just booked a week long trip in February!! Yay!!!

- Do you watch Glee?  If not, don’t.  It’s addictive. What’s not to love about a show with love stories, drama, song & dance. :)  And I’ll let the record state that MATT started watching it first!!!

- Have you started Christmas shopping yet?  I’ve started my lists and think I might buy one of Emma’s gifts this week.  It’s on sale at Target. $15 off of a $35 item.  Not too bad!! I have tons of little ideas for Aidan.  Only 1 idea for Isaac.  Poor little guy.  Oh well.  He’d be excited to get the box his diapers come in!! :)

Our super hero’s were dressed and ready for CaNdY!! 

It was amazing the difference a year makes.  Emma Captain America Girl was much less fearful of others dressed in costumes this year!!  She was super excited (& has already eaten) her peanut butter cups she received!!

Aidan decided after about 5 houses that he was tired and ready to go home.  In Derby we would drive the kids to different houses around town.  Here we walked the circle around our part of the development.  Guess Iron Man needed more of his “power”. 

Luckily Aidan did not repeat his version of the “Trick or treat smell my feet” His version was a bit shorter and went like this “Trick or Treat give me my underwear.” :)

Isaac loved Trick or Treating!!  He also enjoyed his first wagon ride!

He totally got the concept of “knock on door- get candy”. When our first neighbor didn’t answer he kept knocking and grunting pushing his bucket against their door! :)  He loved riding in the wagon with the buckets full of candy!!

   

My flash makes this picture look weird.  It was super dark and the guys with the candy were sitting behind this guy dressed in black with a mask that had red glowing eyes.  As the kids walked passed to get candy he would stand up to startle them.  Emma and Aidan kinda jumped and were unsure.  Isaac didn’t care one bit.  He kept thrusting his bucket to the guy wanting the candy!!

We had a good time and the kids seemed to really enjoy it.  3 buckets full of candy…minus what Isaac kept handing to people in exchange for the candy they were handing out AND the candy he kept throwing out the wagon!!  One bright spot was at our very last house we met a woman who had a boy Aidan’s age (dressed as Bumblebee the transformer) and they boys clicked and played well while I visited with the mom.  They also have a little girl 2 weeks older than Isaac.  She kept trying to “talk” to Isaac, but he was totally missing the flirting she was doing!  The mother stays at home (for now…until Jan.) so hopefully we can get the kids together for some play dates that don’t involve Aidan getting beat up and bitten!!

Mom & Dad arrived Thursday around lunch time.  Dad survived the flight, but didn’t care for all the traffic!  To make matters worse I had to pick them up at their airport near Mesa & then go to the main Phoenix airport to pick up Matt then drive all the way home.  Hopefully the mountain scenery kept him a bit sane.

Emma & Mimi had a tea party Thursday evening.  I think it might have been more of an attempt by Emma to eat the brownies.  But she had fun no the less.

 

We had been wanting to take Mimi to Mimi’s Cafe.  There are a few all over town and luckily one very close to the Halloween event we wanted to go to.  We had seen Mimi’s featured on a Food Network special on the best comfort foods.  Their specialty was grilled cheese.   Unfortunately it wasn’t listed on their dinner menu…maybe next time.  We all left STUFFED!

The town of Peoria held a Halloween event that featured hot air balloon illumination.  Pulling in we knew we were in for a crowd.  WOW!  Lots of people….tons of little superhero kids I might add.

Jumpolines of every type, carnival games, trick or treat with bikers showing off their motorcycles and about 4 or 5 hot air balloon baskets.  My kiddos were too scared to go up and push the button that would fire up the hot air balloon.  Darn.  That would have been a great pic!!

The Hulk had a nice ride around with lots to look at!  Like the Hulk coordinated pacci? :)

 

Capt. America girl  & Iron Man striking a pose!

I was shocked at how unafraid the kids were.  There were several bikers with scary masks.  I think they were more focused on the candy!!  Papa found some bikers to visit with that had blue lights on their bikes like Papa just bought for his. 

The balloons were really neat all lit up in the dark.  It was amazing how HOT it was when they fired them up.  I’m guessing a ride in one is pretty warm?!

   

Ring toss Arizona style.

They won these wonderful noise makers for their cactus toss.  They are shaped like lips!!  This picture should haunt them in years to come!

Against Matt’s predictions we did NOT lose any of our children.  There were soooo many Iron Mans, Transformers, etc.  Aidan was so excited any time he would see some one he would try to go off and play with them! :)  Mr. Social.

Great time with our visitors and only 3 short week until we are back “home” to see them!!! Yay!!!!

Last Thursday a note came home from school, which is a near miracle itself, sharing that the 1st quarter award ceremony would be Friday morning.  Mimi & Papa were in town and we all decided to go cheer Emma on.

She received a certificate for Honor Roll as she got all A’s and 1 B.

And perhaps her teacher does know a thing or two because much to our delight she also received the girl citizenship award for her class.  The Tigress award to be exact.  It was so cute.  They called her name and she covered her face with both hands embarrassed to have everyone look at her!! :)

We got to thinking later in the day and remembered she got the Respect award last September in her Kindergarten class!! Yay! Go Emma!

Here’s Emma & her “knows.a.good.kid.when.he.sees.one” teacher.

*It is still up for debate if her teacher gave her this award to rub in to me how well she behaves at school and what a diva she is at home!! :)

Matt learned of a LEGO event happening this past weekend at a mall in nearby Glendale.  A master LEGO builder was there constructing an 8ft tall Yoda to celebrate the opening of the malls new LEGO store.  The kids had a great time!!

Here’s a shot of the smaller Yoda that appears will be inside the larger 8 ft Yoda.

The instruction sheet to build a 4x brick that is a larger version of the basic small 8 “peg” lego.

Aidan so proud of his block!!

Emma’s block.

Handing the Master LEGO builder our blocks to add to the project.

Their Certificate as a LEGO builder.

Another LEGO creation they loved.  And here’s cutest.best.baby.shopper.ever.

 

We stepped away from the LEGO event to go into the Disney store.  When we came out the master builder was quizzing the crowd on Star Wars trivia.  Matt TOTALLY could have won…..won a Star Wars Lego kit!  He looked so sad to not be a part of the contest.  My teary Star Wars geek. :)

And one last note.  This is an actually traffic sign on our way to the mall.  If you have to count several times on the sign and then compare based on lines of car beside you to even know which lane you’re in- that’s a bad thing. :) Evidence #34 why I do not drive unless necessary. :)