So school has gone well so far. Robbie was called to the prinicpal's office for the first time. Not for fighting or for jumping around in class. He was trying to be funny and didn't realize just how WRONG his actions were and just how much trouble he was going to get into. The dust has settled, and so far so good he's getting the message. Having the pricipal talk with him had way more impact than me or Mike would have had. Besides this incident, he's adjusted to school well. He has surprised me, I'll see him practicing his letters all on his own, and drawing pictures without me asking him to. Of course we knew he would be less mature than his peers, which showed with his trip to the office but he is holding his own.
Charlotte has been having a blast. So many friends, so many stories... what is a girl to do? She is driving me batty around her uncooperativeness especially surrounding clothes and shoes. A storm has been brewing for weeks and just came crashing down like a tsunami over the past 2 weeks. She claims to have no clothes, of course this is not true and her closets and my bank account prove it. But nothing fits just right. After exhausting every please, and thankyou, and trying every deal I could muster I had in me, I was forced to play hard ball. She got ALL privliges taken away. Toys, Soccer, Gymnastics, Playing with Friends. EVERYTHING. It seems to be working. She's putting up less of a fight now and I see the glimmer of a light at the end of the tunnel. Let's hope we can get there.
Mary-Anne, is well Mary-Anne. She is mostly left to her own devices. Today she scribbled on 3 seperate walls with crayon. Mike is going to blow his mind when he sees that. Of course I didn't know about it until it was too late becuase I was trying to make supper, the dog had once again ran away and the other two kids were asking me for something, all while trying to fix a blind that had falled down in the girls room. So yes I didn't notice the art work until it was too late. Rats! But Mary-Anne really is sweet, she just has a lot of energy (like all our kids) and I really cannot channel it right. But she is a happy little girl, with a feisty personality, so watch out world this girl is something and she is just pickig up speed.
So far besides the normal chaos, this autum we have gone pple picking. That was good fun as always. Here is the Hudson Story of the day. So Mike and I debated weather we should take the dog. Since he has gotten sprayed by a skunk on previous trips my vote was for NO. I did not want to smell that stink the whole drive home again. Plus Mike's parents were arriving for a visit and we were to get them from the airport on our way home from the valley. So the final answer was for the dog to stay home. Off we went for our magical apple picking time. For some reason Mike is good for the first 1/2 of the day, then as we get to the pears he starts getting anxious to leave. Imagine, Robbie and Charlotte and getting on eachothers nerves as they got their bags confused and each thought the other bag was theirs. My mom is trying desperately to make them understand it doesn't matter. Mike is at the car yelling for me to hurry up and I turn around to see Mae with her panties around her ankels. "I go Pee?" Well geese, not that I was happy about it, but what is a girl to do. So I said, fine and I took her boots and panties off so they wouldn't get wet and let her go. No one was around so I figure we were 'saf'e' that was until she said "I go Poop?' Oh wow! I need to stop her their. "No No Honey, we go poop in potty!" I grab her and say I take you to potty. (there is a porta potty about 800m away through tall grass, and muddy ponds... but in Cordele style I think "I can MAKE IT!". No, I didn't make it, and Mae pooped all down my leg. Of course I didn't see it or feel it but I smelt it. At the same time Robbie runs to me looks and says "What's on your pants mom?". Oh man! I get back to the car after trying to clean my pants with socks. Yep I said trying to clean my pants with socks. But what else could I do, she obviously has a fiber rich diet if you get my drift, and I had no wipes, no clothes, no water, only apples and the clothes on my back. We pile into the car, this time without a skunk smelling dog, but a _______ smelling mom. Fantastic! I did however make Mike stop at a store so I could buy new pants.
As I mentioned Mike's parents were here visiting. It was a lovely visit. The kids enjoy them more and more each time they come. Robbie really hit it off with Tom and they enjoyed playing golf. Charlotte and Margaret have always enjoyed playing games and cards together and I think Mae was just pure entertainment for everyone. We dont' do much in relation to tourism while Tom and Margaret are here, they've been here enough that they have done mostly everything. Even Tom remarked how being at Hennigars Farm is like Groundhogs day. It is the same year after year. But it is that repetition and familiarity that makes a tradition. Hennigars farm is in the Valley and we tend to go there for ice cream and let the kids play with a few animals (bunnies, goats). But the kids like it, so we go.
I've typed long enough, so I will just show some photos now.
Charlotte was trying to get the apples at the very top.
Robbie chose the easier way to get the high apples.
You have to give Charlotte credit, she is determined and go to the top.
Mae loving the day.
Grandma giving a helping hand.
A moment in history.
Wagon ride time.
Valley race weekend. Kids run was Saturday.
This was Mae's first race. She went the wrong way, walked and yelled at her daddy, but it she got aroudn the track and got a medal. Yippee!
Charlotte was just practicing unfortunatly she chose to not run. She got a big case of nerves right before. Too bad, she would have done great, but there are always other races.
Robbie was the star of the day. No he is not running alone, way back behind him, in his dust is everyone else. He WON! Running in lane 4 he still beat everyone.
We went for a walk from the cottage we rented. Mae like the door on this shed.
