This week has been so much better since tuesday. I have been calmer and the kids seem to have been better. Yesterday we invited some cousins over (my nieces and a nephew) and we painted some pumpkins with them. Our garden produced 5 rather large pumpkins so the kids went to town painting. It was fun. I will post pictures later. Then later we made cupcakes and cookies and then Kaylee helped me frost cupcakes. She tended to eat more frosting then she put on then cupcakes. It was fun though.

So Ethan has been sneaking things lately. He is to creative about it though. In the past he snuck some otterpops and hid in the pantry to eat them. Lately it has been starburst. They are in The top of the pantry. Thursday while i was feeding Taylor, he got the stool and got a hold of the starburst. I knew what he was doing because i could hear him move the stool and open the pantry. So when he filled his pocket he came down by our rooms and said that he was going to play "hide from monsters" aka hiding under a blanket to eat the loot. I called him to my room. here is our conversation:

"what?"

"come here."

"why?"

"Come here."

"why?"

"I want to talk to you."

"just a minute"

then he ran to the kitchen to return the loot and then came back. I talked to him about it, he denied it at first but finally admitted it. He has taken candy a few times without asking lately. I have tried to explain to him that he shouldnt lie and he should be honest but i dont know if it has gotten through to him. I have told him it is not ok to steal and lie. I think what got to him was when i said "if you steel anymore you wont go trick-or-treating" hopefully that is encouragement enough. Hopefully i can explain things enough that he will understand.

I just looked over at my daughter who is 2 and saw her "feeding" her doll like mommy feeds the baby. how funny.

Taylor started solid food last night. Rob fed her and she loved it. We gave her Rice cereal mixed with apple sauce. I know it is 2 foods to start with but she really loved it. I hope the amount she ate doesnt make her have any problems.

Yesterday Ethan came into my room with a hand towel and wanted it tied around his chin and mouth so it would look like a beard and mustache so he could be santa. Then he and Kaylee went to their rooms grabbed all their blankets and "wrapped gifts" for me. They were playing "santa." It was cute. I ended up with quite the bundle of presents. They are some very creative kids. It is awesome.

My kids are great. They always keep me on my toes. Hopefully next week goes well because Rob will be out of town. well take care for now. 'til next time.

renee