Halloween at Noah's school

Noah's preschool class

Noah saying "cheese". He doesn't realize yet that he's not smiling when he says it.

Noah showing his Spiderman muscles.

Muscles

My son is officially obsessed by muscles. One night last week, Landon was in the shower. We heard him crying, so we ran in to see what was wrong. We asked him what was up, and he told us that he didn't have big enough muscles. While sobbing uncontrollably at this point, he says that his muscles aren't big, and girls like boys with big muscles. Please note that we had noticed the towel rack was off the wall, and I immediately yelled at Noah because he was a lot that particular day. Landon proceeded to tell us that it was actually he who had knocked down the towel rack while he was trying to "get bigger muscles". We figured out that he was trying to do chin-ups. Of course, Jason and I were doing all we could not to burst into laughter. Landon was very upset, so we didn't want to make it worse. We tried to tell him he had huge muscles and that everything was fine--they would get bigger if he ate right, exercised, etc. We finally calmed him down by promising to let him use my 5 lbs weight to build his muscles after his shower. After he was dressed in his pjs, I gave him the weight, let him do a few bicep roll thingys, and he was fine. He showed me his newly gigantic muscles, and all was right with the world again.

That lady better watch out for karma...

Today I went to vote in order to avoid voting with a 5 year old and a 2 year old on Nov. 4th. I had gone earlier this week, waited in line for almost two hours, and then realized I had to leave in order to pick up Noah from preschool. Before I left, I ventured into the building to go to the bathroom because, well, I'm over 37 weeks pregnant, and I had to go! When they saw me, they said I didn't need to wait in line because I was pregnant. Two hours too late, but good to know because I decided I could try my luck again later in the week while Noah was in school. So, today I headed to a different polling place (the main Gwinnett County voter registration office) and went straight to the front to inquire about going with the disabled and handicapped voters (as they told me to do on Tuesday). I kindly said "I was told Tuesday to not wait in line and come to the front". The rude, rude woman behind the table looked me up and down with disdain and responded with "Why?" I rubbed my pretty-much-full-term belly and said "because I'm about to pop out a baby". She said "pregnancy is not a disability, so you need to wait in line". I was a bit shocked by her curt reply and told her that was fine and I would go back to the other site that told me I should not wait. For anyone who knows me, I am not one of those pregnant women who walk like they're 80 years old and moan and groan with pain. I take pride in the fact that I remain active all through my pregnancy, that I can play a little soccer with my boys when I'm 37 weeks along, and that I continue to run our household until the very end. When I was in labor with Noah, I insisted that I walk up to the hospital doors to see if they were unlocked (it was 3am) even though my contractions were about 3 minutes apart. That's just who I am. So, for me to ask if I could not stand in line took a little bit of humility on my part. On Tuesday, I had waited for 2 hours without complaint, so this woman's rude behavior upset me. When I told my mom the story, she told me I needed to get on the news and tell everyone. This is not something my mother usually says, so I knew I had the right to be a bit hurt and angry with this woman. Instead of "reporting" her or complaining to our registers office, I have decided that karma will do it's job. I have faith in that! :)

After I left "the bad place", I went back to the Centerville Community Center, the place I had gone to on Tuesday. I went straight to the front quickly, but that's because once again I had to use the restroom (ah-the joys of pregnancy bladder). As soon as the man "working the door" saw me, he asked if I was voting and said that I could go right in. Everyone at that precinct was as nice as can be. I was amazed by their kindness and the smiles they kept on their faces even with the hundreds of people standing in line. I was in and out within 35-40 minutes and was treated with respect the entire time I was there. People were quick to offer a chair, and even the people who had been waiting for hours in line were polite. These people will receive a different dose of karma. That alone makes me feel better about the mean old lady. Although I admit that I still want to go up and show her that I'm proudly wearing my "I'm a Georgia Voter" sticker! Watch out, lady, karma gets you when you least expect it!

Annual Halloween Party

Yesterday my parents had us all over for their annual family Halloween party. Since my parents don't get to see the kids on Halloween night, they invite us over each year so the kids can show off their costumes. They give the kids so much, and we're very appreciative for all they do.

Front: Noah (Spiderman), Davis (skeleton), Landon (Power Ranger), Hannah (dead sleep-over girl), Matt (surgeon)
Back: Morgan (herself), Josh (suck-up grandchild), Austin (sign-"Yield for hot chicks")

Landon and Noah looking at their loot.Landon and his cousin Matt.

My Spiderman (check out the muscles)

I don't have much to say about this. Do I have to admit that's my brother???

Picking out our pumpkins...

She can come home now...

This isn't the best picture, I know, but I wanted to show her crib bedding. Her name is on the wall, so we didn't want to show the whole thing yet. :)

Spoiled much?