Finley's Forever Family & Charlie!: Life

* Report cards were due yesterday. Conferences are next week. I can't wait till it's all over! There is just so much work involved with getting ready for both of those things. I have pretty demanding parents this year, so I guess I'm a little nervous about conferences. I've tried to kill the really difficult ones with kindness so far. Maybe that'll help me out in the long run.

* Brandon and I escaped to Door County last weekend. A woman from his work got married up there so we made a weekend out of it. It was so wonderful to get away. We slept in late (if you can call 8:00 late!!) and even went on a 10 mile bike ride through Peninsula State Park. The leaves were at their peak of color- so it was really beautiful. Jack and Emma were spoiled rotten by both Moe Moe and Obeo.

*Bampa and Moe Moe have the kids on a fun schedule of story times and playdates and art classes. Jack is loving his Pee Wee Picasso class. He is the king of glue sticks apparently! Today he is at his second zoo class with Brandon. The topic is horses. I'm sure he's having a blast.

*This morning we really started pushing the idea that when he turns three, his deedee's are going to be sent to Africa for the baby giraffes to use. (The kid loves animals, why not?) He'll always have his obeo (blanket) but it's really time for the deedees to be gone. The dentist he saw when he was one said they don't worry about the impact on the teeth until the kids are three. Another good reason to send them away. Jack uses both obeo and deedee at bedtime and then during the day if he needs a break. The rule is both things must stay upstairs and he's really good about it. I'm hoping our nice mailman, Alex, will play along with our shipment to Africa.

*Some shmuck stole our Obama yard sign last week. Jack was VERY upset by it and is glad to have a new one. We stuck it closer to the house in the hopes that nobody would take it. A neighbor from 2 blocks down said he's lost 2 signs already. I'm pretty sure that John McCain does not advocate stealing yard signs to prove a point. I'm assuming our thief is a McCain fan- why else would someone want to swipe an Obama sign?

*Emma's baptism is going to be on November 16th. I spent WAY too long designing the invitations- but I loved how they turned out. We're hoping lots of family will be able to come. You never know with the busy schedule people have these days.

*Next weekend my mom and I are off to North Carolina for a wedding. I hope the weather is nice- it's a wedding on the beach!

*Tomorrow we are off to the same pumpkin patch we went to last year. They still have that super fun slide and hay ride. I can't wait to see how much fun Jack has this year. He had a good time last year, but I really think he'll be into it tomorrow.

*Instead of making their Halloween costumes like a lot of moms do- I took the easy way out and ordered them online! It sure is nice to have them delivered to your doorstep! Jack chose his costume and Emma's. They are both darling. You'll have to wait till Halloween for the pictures!

And now for some pictures of the kids...

Cuddling