New sheriff in town

Yee Haw! I think this has been my favorite costume of all the ones we've done before. This is the first one that Nolan has actually enjoyed and doesn't try to rip off immediately. In the past it's like he knew immediately that I wanted him to look cute and was ready to tear it off like the Hulk. We've got the whole get-up...the boots (they're stuffed with socks because they're too big), chaps, vest, horse and even a hat that lights up. I think he would sleep in this costume if we let him with lights on and all. Now I just might have to break it to him gently that mommy and daddy are the real law around here.

Patriotic Prayers

I love bedtime. It's just such a fun time to get to spend with the boys. We have our routine down. Take a bath, brush our teeth, brush our hair, get on the jammies, read books, say prayers, sing songs, turn on the music and lights out. We start out with "Now I lay me down to sleep..." and then on to our God Bless list. Usually that entails anyone or anything that might be on his mind from that particular day. From Bandit (our dog) and all the grandparents to God blessing Elmo or even his friend's dogs at school who he's never even met. One time we were even God blessing our windows and the stars outside.

So last night after our prayers, we usually sing songs. He's a huge fan of "He's got the whole world in His hands" but I was trying to change things up a little so I asked him if he wanted to sing "Jesus loves me". He replies, "No, I want to say the pledge of allegiance." I was so shocked that he said it and I didn't even know that he might actually know it. So I was curious to know. Sure enough, word-for-word he recites the pledge of allegiance. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. It reminded me of the National Lampoon's movie where the grandma busts out with the Pledge of Allegiance instead of a prayer at Christmas dinner. So now I'm not sure whether to say Amen or put my hand over my heart when we're saying our prayers!

Pumpkin Patch

Every year we go and pick out a pumpkin at a pumpkin patch. We normally go to a church right across the street from our church. Well this year we had to find a new pumpkin patch because it wasn't open. So I searched online and found one in Arlington at a park and talked my parents into coming along (always good for backup with the boys). So everyone looks all cute in their fall outfits and we take a 40 min drive to go get a pumpkin. Once we get there, apparently the website I looked at must have been old because the only thing we found was a greyhound party (yes people with greyhounds apparently have parties) and a baby shower. Thankfully an angel with an iphone hooked us up and found another pumpkin patch online and gave us directions. So back in the car for another 30 minute drive to south Arlington to find this place. Nolan is really getting impatient and wants to know where these pumpkins are that we keep talking about and Campbell is getting pretty testy because of all the stop lights...he prefers only highway driving. AND Justin is almost to his point of no return when it comes to grumpiness because he's hungry. I swear, I have to make sure that all three boys are happy and have eaten before we take any family excursion or any one of them could have a meltdown at any point.

So as I'm driving in Arlington trying to find this stinkin' pumpkin patch, I just start laughing out loud. Justin does too. It was one of those moments where all you could do was laugh. Justin and I have a saying that we've used all too often...FORCED FAMILY FUN. That pretty much sums it up. Thankfully, he's such a good sport about it. We finally get there and it was actually a blessing that we were all over the place because by the time we got there the weather was absolutely perfect and the lighting was amazing. Nolan loved the pumpkins. We're having to reinforce that they're not balls and aren't to be thrown. I can see pumpkin smashing in his teenage future. Here are a few of my favorites and the rest are on Snapfish.

A new kind of pacifier

Well this is definitely a new way to pacify Campbell. I was trying to snuggle and kiss him the other night and I guess he thought my chin looked pretty yummy. It was pretty hard to explain why I had a hickey to everyone the next day. Here's proof that it really was Campbell!

Fire safety

This week was Fire Safety Week at school at Nolan's school. His school sent home information you should talk about with your kids regarding fire safety protocol. I wanted to see what he learned from school and he may have not gotten it just right but I think he got the main points. #1 Pray to Jesus #2 call a 3-digit phone number #3 just make sure you roll on the ground.

Mrs. McDonald/Mommy

Yep, I'm back at work. I think I was living in denial for so long that I can't believe that it's actually here. I'm more than half way through the week...boy, has it been a week or a year? Really, it hasn't been as bad as I built it up to be in my head. I've just been acting like the sheriff's back in town with my kids and so far it's working.

I've been working my tail off trying to manage working and doing A LOT of catch up while still trying to get out the door to be with my boys. It's one of those jobs where you could literally work 11 hours a day and there is more to do. You just have to make yourself leave and remind yourself that it can be done tomorrow and my family needs me (and I need them!).

Of course I was nervous about Cam's first day at daycare. I must admit it wasn't as hard as when I left Nolan and cried for the first two weeks. The hardest part this time was letting go of my obsessive control habits and letting someone else do it. First day was pretty rough with Campbell they said but each day they say he just keeps getting better and better. Today he was all smiles minus a couple of diaper changes that he was pretty unhappy about. The thing about working is that when I get home, I just can't get enough of the boys. I want every single second to be playing, snuggling or laughing with them. I'm definitely looking forward to the weekend to be with them. When you have this to come home to how can you not be watching the clock all day?

Family time

You know that feeling when you're on vacation and you are trying your absolute hardest to enjoy every single second and not think about work? That's where I've been all week. It's been this constant knot in my stomach every time I think about it. So what do I try to do...not think about it. But when you tell someone to not think of an elephant, what do they immediately think about? AN ELEPHANT! Ugh.

So I've made sure that we have a super fun weekend that is just about the fam and spending time with one another. Of course I have this story played out in my head where it almost feels like when I go back on Monday that I may never see my family again which I know is totally untrue. It's just keeping my priorities straight. I'm so grateful for this time that I've had with my boys and especially this very precious time with Campbell. Yes, there were days when work didn't seem so bad and times when I was in tears because I was wondering how I would make it teaching with such little sleep. But here we are, Campbell is 14 weeks and sleeping 8-10 hours a night. PRAISE GOD! It's bittersweet that now Campbell is all smiles and giggles and sleeping like a champ and I have to go back to work. I feel like I'm going to miss out on all the fun stuff now that we're past that rough newborn stage. In some ways it feels like I've been on maternity leave for a week and other times it seems like I've been off a whole school year. I went back to work this week to get lesson plans ready and it was so great to have the kids run up to me and give me hugs. I feel blessed that my job gives me the feeling about making a difference.

So here are some pictures from our fun-filled weekend. We went to my cousin's daughter's, Aubrey, birthday party. Nolan actually bounced for over an hour in a bounce house. We've been scared of those for three years. It's like something happened the day he turned three and everything clicked...potty training, fearlessness, etc.

Erin, Aubrey, Kristi, Katelyn, Andrea, Campbell, Nolan and Cody

Grandma and Granddad with Campbell

We're getting ready for the birthday party!

Those killer blue eyes!