What I would really like to tell you. . .

It's finally here. It seems like we have been decorated for months - ready for Halloween. I carved the last pumpkin this morning. Cole's pumpkin is a spider web and Katie has Winnie the Pooh. We even roasted the pumpkin seeds. Cole is going to be Capt. Jack Sparrow and Katie is a ballarina. We will be traveling to see Kyle and KC tonight. Cole is ready for trunk or treat. He keeps asking exactly what is it? and how much longer until we leave? can we get dressed up yet? There is one more pumpkin - can we carve it too? He has been up since 6:30 this morning. Someone pass the pumpkin seeds - it's going to be a long day.

The long awaited mountian trip has arrived and past. The kids enjoyed playing with Grandma and Papa at Tweetsie Railroad. We all enjoyed eating too much at the Daniel Boone Inn. The weather on Friday and Saturday left something to be desired. Rain and 25 mph wind let us know that the mountains are winter bound way before us flat land folks. There were spots of leaves left - other places we were limb viewing. It was a great weekend.

The past two mornings I have been questioned by both kids. "Is it Friday yet?" they both ask. They are both so excited about going to the mountains. I really think that they are most excited about leaving school at lunch time. I am going to pick them up around 11:30. Katie gets to miss nap and Cole gets to walk out of class three hours before school is dismissed for school break. I believe they would not care where we were going - just as long as they were getting out of school early. Is it Friday yet?

Today Katie found a box of new crayons that I had stashed away. It was like Christmas had arrived early. She was so excited to find the crayons that she ran into the living room to show Cole. Katie then began to draw lots of pictures. Cole wanted paper to draw too. It's funny how a simple box of crayons can change an afternoon. It only cost a quarter for a box of crayons - but the time they spent drawing was priceless.

Today, David and Cole went to Raleigh for the NC State Game. It was a first for Cole. He has not stopped talking about it since he walked thru the door home. He earned $20.00 for working around the house for the last three weeks. Pa gave him an additional $5.00. He came home with a wolf for himself and a cheerleading bear for his sister. All of this was purchased by him with his own money. I don't know many kids that would buy something for their sister with their own money. Especially a sister that did not help with any of the chores. Cole has decided that he wants to go to State for college. This makes his dad very happy. Makes me happy because I look good in red. Go Wolfpack!

Last week David and I decided to have Cole and Katie go to sleep without any help from the two of us. This means that Katie cannot be rocked, and Cole must go to sleep in his bed and stay there all night. The first night was bad, but not as bad as we thought it was going to be. Cole cried and Katie did not understand why she was not being rocked - but we made it. This is night nine - the kids are fine. I have to admit - I miss rocking Katie and snuggling with Cole. I know that they adapted much quicker to this growing up thing than either myself or their dad has or will. So tonight, I will put Katie to bed and tuck Cole in for sleep. Tomorrow morning I will wake up and get them out of their rooms - just like a normal house - but in my heart I wish they were still small.

This morning I told Katie that she and I had to make plans for Saturday. I told her that her dad and Cole were going to a State football game, so we had the entire day to do something together. She said, "We can go shopping." Sounds good to me. I asked her what we could buy. Her response, "Cereal." This is a response that her dad will love - maximum cost would be 3.50. I think that Saturday she needs a lesson in what girls really do when the boys go away. Bring on the nail polish - grab your purse and hold on!

I have never really understood how to prepare children for the death of a family member or a close friend. Mr. Roger has been a part of my kids lives. He has a brain tumor and is not doing well. I have tried to prepare Cole and Katie for what is going to happen. They know that he is sick and that he has something that they cannot catch. Katie was concerned that she may get sick if she sits beside him. I told them that he has cancer and the medicine that he takes is not working. Cole prays for him every night in only a way a child can pray - from the heart and sincere. I pray that I know the words to say that will help Cole and Katie understand what is happening. I pray that I can be honest and clear. I pray for a miracle.

Last night the kids (along with Dave and I) were so exicted to have our Friday movie night. This time we had invited the Ingram family over. We had a boyscout meal complete with smores and a fire. Then we had set up our movie with a very large projector screen and a projector. The original intent was to have our movie outside, but winds and weather did that in. We set up the movie in the building complete with popcorn and goobers. The kids lounged on an air mattress while the adults kicked back in chairs. I have to say, it made our Friday movie night that much more fun. We have decided to keep everything set up for another round tonight.

Tonights homework involved Cole reading part of a poem. For some reason Cole could not read this poem without laughing so hard and turning red. The poem started out, "The tree stands still on a hill, on a hill. The tree stands still on a hil. A twig is on the tree, on the tree. A twig is on the tree. A leaf is on the twig, on a twig. A leaf is on the twig. " You get the picture. Cole read this poem many times using different voices. So I decided to show him how to read poetry. This only made matters worse. More laughing. I then had him read the poem for his dad. Even more laughing with David making matters worse. I see that poetry appreciation runs in the family, in the family. Poetry appreciation runs in the family.

Friday night David wanted to go to the football game at Anson. Katie and I have not attended a game with the boys. We loaded up and took off to Katie's first football game. She was so excited about the cheer leaders. They started cheering for the Bearcats. GO BEARCATS! Katie then stands up and says GO BEARTITS! Over and over again. David and I finally told her what to say. When the cheerleaders said DEFENSE! Katie cheered CJ! CJ! Yep - our little cheerleader. Cole just sat and watched the game. He helped me carry the hotdogs and drinks. Ever the perfect gentleman. Saturday we took off to the Pumpkin Patch. The kids had a ball finding the perfect pumpkin. By kids I mean Cole, Katie and David. We all had loads of fun. The "three kids" went down all the slides. I had to haul David out of the patch with only three pumpkins. He had picked out the largest pumpkin in the field and wanted the guy to come help haul it out of the field. Needless to say, I had t...