The HAPPENINGS!

Lots have been going on around here so let me update you.

First we attended the Rotary Club Pancake breakfast at school last Saturday morning. Pancakes were delicious like always. It was John's birthday so we headed out to do a little bday shopping for the traditional blue jeans and shoes. That is what he asks for every year. The kids wanted to make him a golf build-a-bear, but I finally talked them out of that. Saturday night we headed to a pig roast in the 'burg. Yes you read right "pig roast". It is horribly gross in my personal opinion, but the family loves it. Even Uncle Danny ate it yuck gross! that is all I have to say about that. It was freezing so we weren't there long. The fire was the neatest thing there.

This is a look of "Mom I'm cold and ready to go home."

Sunday I took the kids to the movies to see this. So totally awesome (I"m such a geek), but I'm still getting made fun of because I cried through most of the movie. Yes I did. I think the nostalgia of prom and graduation were to much for me to contain myself. It was really good though so if you get a chance go see it.

Nick is totally into this now. Don't ask me...I have no idea. It must be a 1st grade thing. We are the proud owners of two stormtrooper costumes and a Boba Fett costume. You can see below he has worn them so much he lost the butt of both of them. John and him play Star Wars everynight now and yes it drives me crazy. He is in these costumes every waking minute (minus school). Here is a good action shot of the boys having a "fight".

Caroline is still totally in love with Zander. Yes dd I'm crazy or was under the influence of strong drugs at the time of purchase. I still can't believe I have a cat living in my house. I do not like cats. All I can say is it was those big brown eyes. She has not put the cat down. She carries it like a baby, reads books to him, sings to him and is the first thing she gets when she gets home from school. I think he stinks literally, but she says he doesn't. Go figure.

Nick's homework this week was for the family to create a turkey out of materials we wanted. The only stipulation was it has to attach to a piece of black construction paper. Here is our turkey. His name is Randy the Candy Turkey. My fingers are still numb from using the hot glue gun. If you would like to know the % nick did and the % John and I did is is about 1 to 99. He put the first 3 pieces of candy on and that was it. But it is finished and ready to turn in and I think it is pretty cute if I do say so myself.
We also carved our pumpkin tonight. After scooping out 1 spoon of insides Nick looked up and said " that is gross I don't like it." and off he went. I should not be suprised he hasn't liked pumpkins since his first pumpkin. Caroline was all into it and carved one of her own with the little pumpkin carving tools. Here is the finished product.

This one is Caroline's...

Here is Nick saying "Dad this is gross." Check out the look on his face.


The way cool family pumpkin.
Nick's pumpkin. Notice the top is not cut off. Is is just scrapped on the outside.
Tomorrow Caroline has her fall party at school and Nick has his Friday. They are both excited about Halloween Friday night. Nick is being a fireman and Caroline is being Mitchie from the movie Camp Rock. We are praying for teenagers and firemen. No I won't let Nick dress up as a star wars man and he is not happy about that. I'm not sure how you pray for a star wars character and that has always been the rule. You can only dress up for something you can pray for. WE will be having the Hoagland's over for pizza and trick or treating.

Please keep me in your prayers. I have to take the educators test on Saturday. It is a 4 hour test that cost $150 to take. I have to score 173 on all 3 parts. You can not be admitted to the College of Education without that score. I don't want to have to take it again bc it cost so much.

I think that is it from here for now.

Oh one more thing. Nick had the next part of his testing Tues morning and he goes back tomorrow morning for the last part. She will then set up and apt with us to tell us the results.

Happy Fall

Well, the leaves are changing and falling. We are finishing up the kids halloween costumes. CAroline is dressing up as this . WE got the boots and shirt from Disney on clearance. Nick is dressing up as this. They are both looking forward to trick or treat. We are having some of their friends over to have pizza before then we will go trick or treating to the few houses around us that we know.

Caroline and me are both home from school sick today. She has an ear infection and i have bronchitis. We are sitting at the music store waiting on Nick to finish drum lessons. WE will be headed back to school tomorrow.

Zander is doing ok. I don't think his legs have hit the floor for more than a couple of minutes.

That is all from here for now.

The *ZANDER* Chapter

Ok call me stupid, dumb, crazy, etc. I am. Caroline bought a kitten this weekend. It is the big news from the Potts' house. The Humane Society was "giving them away" and we came home with one. No I can't believe it either. She is incredibly happy and he is cute (right now).

No I'm not a cat person so we will see how it goes. She has been wanting one for about 2 years now so the adventure begins. He got his first bath tonight. Yes I will be giving the cat a bath.

This picture pretty much sums up today...crazy!

We took Nick to the Psychologist yesterday. It went well. We go back next Tues. and Thurs. to complete the testing. She noticed yesterday he is very easily "visually distracted" meaning it takes a lot to keep him interested with his eyes. I will let everyone know when we find something out. Just please keep him in your prayers.

That is about it from here this weekend. Hope everyone else had a good weekend.

Here comes the TOOTH FAIRY!

Caroline lost her 1st tooth tonight. It has been loose for about 2 weeks. She was very nervous about losing it and pulling it, but she was very brave tonight and got it out. As soon as it came out she rattled off a list of people she needed to call. You see the excitement on her face while telling everyone on the phone. She is looking forward to the tooth fairy coming tonight. We will let you know tomorrow what she brings. We're off to bed. Look at that beautiful face. Oh I love her so much. I kept telling her I was going to cry when it came out, but I held myself together. I just can't believe they are old enough to lose teeth. Where does the time go.

drums, gymnastics, and tea!

The weekend was full and fun. We started Friday night off with Nick starting drum lessons. Wow, was he excited. The practicing, "is too hard Mom." is mostly what I hear. I guess that is par for the course. His teacher is teaching him how to hold the sticks and cross his hands while playing the snare and cymbal.

Saturday was orientation for the College of Education. Let's talk about the hoops. I can't believe some of the things I have to do. Oh well it will be worth it "ONE DAY". Then I rushed home to get ready for the American Girl Tea Party. We went with Lily and her mom Pam. You will not believe I didn't take my camera, but I didn't. The tea was at Churchill Downs and I didn't want to carry it all afternoon. After we got there I couldn't believe I didn't take it. There were so many wonderful opportunities to take pictures. The girls had their dolls hair styled. We got to look at the accessories and dolls up close and personal. This was Caroline's favorite. If anybody wants to send $250 I'll order it for her. Ha ha! After the styling and looking we were seated at a round table for 8 with pink everywhere. We were served turkey and cheese, pimento cheese, and pbj finger sandwiches, fruit and cookies, and there was a basket on each table with bags of carmel corn, smarties, gummy bears, and jolly ranchers. The fashion show was the big event of the tea and we got to see each doll as a real person modeling. They also showed their pj's, holiday outfits, and original. After the show all the girls came back out and sat on the runway and signed autographs. It was so totally cool, especially for a 6 yr old. CAroline had a look of amazement on her face through the whole thing. I so wish I had my camera.

Sunday was cleaning and reading. I'm trying to finish a book for a class on slave religion (horrible) and we went to eat dinner with Jennifer. It was good to get to spend some time with her.

We welcomed a new "blair" to the family on Friday night. Zachary Todd is Joey and Sara's newest family member. Isn't he gorgeous?

We also found out Sunday night Chris and Beth are expecting another baby in May. Katherine turned one year old this week. Happy Birthday Katherine.

Nick is still having problems in class at school so we saw the Pediatrician on Tues. and talked about ADHD and auditory processing problems. She sent me home with a packet of papers to fill out, for the teacher to fill out and Ms. Hunt (last years teacher) to fill out. We filled them out and faxed them in and Dr. Abbott's conclusion is "his primary problem is not ADHD." We have been referred to a psychologist for psyco-educational testing. Please keep him in your prayers. Our goal is to figure out what the problem is and start fixing it. His teacher this year loves Him (of course) and is very supportive and willing to do whatever we need her to do in class. This week she will be giving him his spelling test orally instead of on paper. We are very blessed to be working with such great supportive people.

Ok I have gone on enough tonight. Here are some fun pictures of Caroline practicing gymnastics in the basement.

Tiger Fun Fest and other stuff!

We had a very busy week, but a good week. I took both of my finals this week(I thinkI did good) and the kids had Tiger FUn Fest on Thursday (their version of field day). It was a great day!

Here are the highlights!

Here are Lily and Caroline before they started running and then they ran around the track holding hands. It was hillarious.

This is Nick hiding from Tony the Tiger. He hid during the whole event. Maybe one day that boy will get over his hang up with mascots.

We had Friday off and the kids are off Monday (I have to work) and we all have Tuesday off. It has been a good weekend full of running errands. We had to get some fall/winter clothes because the kids have outgrown last years clothes. Caroline had a birthday party today and Nick wasn't invited so he went to his friend Dietrich's house to play. They both had a great time.

This is a picture of Caroline before loosing any teeth. Her bottom front teeth are loose, but she still hasn't lost one. I figured I need a picture of the before. I will let you know as soon as she looses one.

That is all for tonight I have to work tomorrow so I'm going to bed. I will post later.