It's Candy Day!

I would be reported to social services if I didn't share some pics of my kids in their Halloween costumes. And as I sit here and stuff my face with candy waiting for trick-or-treaters to come ring my doorbell, what else do I really have to do? :)

1950's Diner Girl/Paige

(Thanks to Grandma Guikema & familyfun.com Paige won a neighborhood costume contest!) Dorothy/Miss Zoey

Mr. Candy Corn/Zach

New Week - New Attitude

The inside of the dryer.

Last week was a doozy. Tuesday night we locked the keys in the van as we walked into a school function and then Wednesday I washed & dried an enormous load of laundry where a pen exploded in it. No tricks this week, only treats ... please. (Thanks to the internet and other laundry losers we found a way to get this off. What did our mothers do before Tide.com?)

Time for some cute quotes from my kids:

Zach: Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Zoey: I've been dreaming about how I'm going to look in my costume so I don't need to try it on.

Paige: I look pretty in this picture. (So humble! :0 )

Inspirational Posters that tell the Truth

Spelling Test Score: 18/20. Nice work Paige, you master speller.

Gimme a Break (Notice I spelled give me wrong!)

These are just five out of the twenty impossible spelling words my 8 yr. old needed to learn this week.

1. eclipse
2. astronomy
3. satellite
4. observe
5. Uranus

I think it's a sure sign that these are too difficult when the parents need to look at the paper to make sure they are spelling it right! (Darn school district that emphasizes academic excellence!) I'm tempted to tell Paige to "throw the game" on Monday when she takes the pretest. Three or more wrong and we would be on easy street. :)

Double JJ = Double the Fun

Since it's the month of October, it's time to celebrate my dad's birthday. My dad who wanted no celebration, recognition, or fanfare when he retired from teaching and coaching baseball, absolutely, positively, loves to celebrate his birthday. He is the only professor I know who would bring in birthday treats to his college students. (If you are actually reading my blog dad, may I just say, I find it very endearing.) So with all that being said, he decided this year's celebration would take place at the Double JJ Ranch in Muskegon. My Aunt Mary was the interior designer for this resort and has a suite that is just plain SWEET. 22 Pettinga's descended upon this place and played, ate, slid down some cool water slides, walked a corn maze, rode a horse, laughed, and had fun. Thanks Dad for so generously giving us a great weekend getaway on your birthday and for giving us the gift of having you as a dad and grandpa every day.

My brother-in-law had his digital video camera and if I can get my hands on some of that footage, I will be posting that too! (I was told by some family members that I would need written permission to use this but since when I have followed the rules? I'm the baby of the family after all!)

Zach Needs a Nap

Seriously? You would think this kid doesn't own a bed!

Growing Up

After the girls saw the pictures of their oldest cousin going to a highschool dance for the first time, they got to thinking about when they will be able to go someday. This was our conversation over breakfast this morning.

Paige: I wonder what boy I will go with to a dance.

Me: You don't have to go with a boy. You can go with your friends too.

Paige: No, I'm going with a nice boy.

Zoey: I'm going with a nice boy but he's gonna be cute too.

Paige: It doesn't matter what they look like on the outside, it matters what's in their heart.

Zoey: Nope! He's gotta be cute. Oh --- and funny too.

When did these two grow up? In this picture, Paige doesn't have her glasses yet and check out those cheeks on Zoey! Slow down girlies, slow down.

#1 reason I am ready for cooler weather: So I don't have to shave my legs every day. :)

Honest

What Bothers Me by Paige

(Sept. school journal entry)

One thing that bothers me most is fake crying to get you in trouble. Don't like it. Hate it. How do I know? One word. Sisters. That's what bothers me most.

Eating a little Humble Pie

Definition of Humble Pie: To be forced to humble or abase oneself. O.K. I admit that I take some credit for Paige's amazing writing ability and the fact that she is ahead of her age in reading. But I wasn't prepared for the fact that the very same day that I posted one of her school journal entries, I would get a call from Zoey's teacher saying Zo needs a little extra help with reading. Hello humble pie. Why do you have to taste so bad? :)

Paige; Future Novelist

My Quiet Place by Paige, age 8

Sometimes you need a quiet place. Bright green grass tickling my feet as I walk at my quiet place. Enormous logs cushioned with soft green moss. Mini-creeks pass by with the little fat frogs jumping in and out. Blue jays and hawks swooping around me. Golden sun beats down on me like lasers. Little mists come out of nowhere. Amazing shiny rocks, big, little, around me like a shield. At the end of the valley I look up humongous trees everywhere. Dirty little paths lead everywhere as if they were expecting me. Yellow, orange, red, and green. Little fawns and their mothers and fathers of all different creatures and babies all look at me and it seems they are almost whispering --- "hunters are coming, hunters are coming". The valley is my quiet place.

(Spell checked by mom. Content all Paige.)
Her teacher's comment to this piece was one word --- wow. You can say that again. :)