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I have a confession to make cyberspace. I am not a big Halloween fan. As a kid I wasn’t really one to like to dress up silly and go door to door to people I didn’t know. I would have preferred just to go to the store and by the candy I liked and sit at home reading a book. However, my mom and brother thought it was fun, so I went along. Plus, dumping out all your candy and trading with your brother, (who thankfully did not like the same candy as you, was pretty nice).

With that being said, it is no surprise that my kids have never really gone trick or treating. Before you all feel like I am the most horrible parent, let me finish. I think they went door to door once or twice, but only when their cousins were here to go with. Other than that, they have gone to trunk or treat at our church to get their Halloween fix. For me it is just easier. We don’t have to walk out in the cold on a weeknight with school the next day. We can just walk from car to car and be done in 30 minutes. I rationalize that it is much safer for the kids to go to trunk or treat because we know the people and they are not out in the streets where they could get hurt.

These are good reasons for not going out in the neighborhoods on the actual Halloween day, but sometimes I do feel a little guilty that I haven’t really made much of an effort, and that is why this year I had decided I would brave the holiday and allow the kids to go door to door. I felt it my duty as a “good mom” to let them since this was the first year Aaron actually wanted to dress up and picked out a costume. Then I little thing called “hurricane Sandy” came along and brought with it extra cold temps and possible rain or snow. Maybe I will try to be a good mom next year. At least they had Trunk or Treat! Right?

As fall break comes to a close, just an update, I did love being home and I did not want to go back to work. I had the best time getting to know my children a little better. I realized Lauren feels dark chocolate is superior to milk chocolate in every way and that lime green is her new favorite color. I learned that Aaron just can’t control himself sometimes, (at least that is what he tells me anyway). I also learned Dylan loves horses, and when I say love, I mean if you take the horse away he will scream and not in a cute way.0..

I will not lie, there were still times when I had to use my go to phrase, “Don’t make me hurt you gringo”. Which for those of you who do not know where it comes from (although you really should know because it is only from the most awesome movie ever). It is from Fools Rush in, which is the only movie I really LOVE to watch over and over again. Other than that I really don’t have those movies I like to watch multiple time, like I’m sure the rest of the world does. I watch it once and I’m done, except this movie.

Now I’m going to go count down the days until Christmas break, and probably watch Fools Rush In.

Our most recent road trip has taught me a few things. First of all, I learned there are TONS of free things to do in good old St. Louis that kids love. There is the zoo. We spent an entire 8 hours there and I think the kids would have ridden that darn train they have until midnight if we let them. Second, they have a CHOCOLATE FACTORY, and although it is a small tour, it is free, and you get a free sample at the end. Third, there is Grants Farm, also free, except for parking and it is a really nice little place. Oh, and there is also the Science Center which is also free, but they do charge for parking. I love free activities that keep the kids occupied.

I also learned always remember to pack extra clothes, even for a weekend getaway, you know just in case your 18 month old feels the need to figure out that is in the syrup container while you are not looking. Gas is cheaper, but if you want a soda, it is going to cost you big time. Never stop at a rest stop with a jungle gym, (unless you want the drive home to take longer). Always invest in a hotel with a hot breakfast and an indoor pool.Oh, and that people in St. Louis must really love pizza because I think there was a pizza place on every block.

All these things are valuable lessons to learn, however the most important thing I learned is that time with your family, no matter if you are tired and grumpy or a sticky mess is the best time ever.

There is one thing I did not learn on this trip and that is, Why is Panera Bread called the St. Louis Bread Company in St. Louis? Did it start there? I’m so confused by this. Anyone know?

The kids are on fall break for 2 weeks. For the first week I get to stay home with them. Since I work part-time I typically do not get a whole week at home, let alone with all three of them. I have been excited for this week for a while. I know most of you may think I’m crazy, but so far I have been in Heaven. As I was laying in bed last night I thought about how the first day had gone.

I have already learned some new things, the first one is, if you have a plan everything goes better and the kids never have to know that you don’t have money for an expensive vacation like most of their friends are doing. Second, I now know why the kids ask to go to Burger King when they get the chance (I am not a milkshake person, but I have to admit those BK shakes are amazing, just don’t tell AJ I had some of his). The third thing I learned is that Dylan LOVES apple cider, and when I say love, I mean you try to take it away from him and see what happens-I dare you! The final thing I have learned in just one day is that the kids love giving me Draw 4 in Uno.

Yes it has only been one day, and yes, I’m sure I will have a post about what was I ever thinking taking the whole week off to be HOME with the kids, but so far so good. Today we are playing restaurant and eating cider slushes, tomorrow, maybe a hike. All I know is I will be spending it with my kids this week instead of my patients. I’m sure they will survive without me for one week.

What would all of you do with a whole week off?

Today I have been thinking about the funny things that my kids do that at the time I am not sure are so funny.

First, my daughter, who thinks her fashion sense is superior to any other, dressed in all navy for school today, except for her purple socks and black tennis shoes. Oh and she did her own hair. I wish I had thought to take a picture at the time,  but then again, I figured I would save her the embarrassment of me showing it during her teenage years.

Second my baby, Dylan, thinks it is hilarious to climb to places he should not be, and then when caught, just smiles and giggles, so of course so do I. Then last night he found his brother’s red washable markers. When I panicked thinking he had been cut or burned, he laughed hysterically at me, as I tried to remove the washable marker that clearly was not.

And last but certainly not least, my son Aaron. Oh Aaron how I love him. When he was asked if his mom was pretty he paused, and then replied, “Well she makes pretty things.”

I guess I do…….

As I may have mentioned before, my 5-year-old son Aaron is full of surprises. He certainly has some of my stubbornness and sarcastic sense of humor. He told a friend that gets him on the bus that he was not getting on the bus, when she started to get stern with him about going he replies, “I’m just kidding!” He will tell his sister he, “hates her” but then takes her laundry basket to the laundry room for her.

He is also very realistic. He is not good at the grey area, or the abstract. If you tell him to “shake a leg” you better not be expecting him to hurry but rather to actually be shaking his leg. Needless to say you have to be careful with what you say sometimes because you never know how the boy will interpret that, and as all kids do, he remembers EVERYTHING!

Now you all may be wondering why I have shared these bits of information with you, well just wait it’s coming. Yesterday as we were all getting ready for church, Aaron comes in, hair a little wet above his forehead and he says, “mom, I’m sick I can’t go to church, I have a fever”. He knows that being sick is the only real reason to miss church. I touched his forehead and in fact it was very hot (however from the evidence of the wet forehead I knew he had taken a washcloth with hot water to make it that way). I told him to get the thermometer.I took his temp and then told him, “it’s only 97.1 so I think you can go to church.” He stomped off very defeated. He thought he had outsmarted me and was going to get to stay home. He is only 5! My 8-year-old has not even thought of something like that. All I could think was, what was I going to do when he is older and has honed his “Ferris Bueller” skills?

Hello out there. I have decided today I am going to vent to cyberspace about Fall, or as some of you prefer-Autumn. First of all, even though I LOVE fall (I think it has to be the best season around). The pesky bees and other bugs go hide somewhere. The leaves change colors and there are APPLES, which means APPLE pie! And I can’t forget that the weather is cooler with less humidity, and for this frizzy haired girl, that means normal hair for a few months.

I know none of this sounds like complaining, but here it comes. Fall this year also means that it is time to get out the warmer clothes, but it is not cold enough for coats and gloves all the time, just sometimes in the morning. It is not exactly cold enough for the heat to be on, but still cold enough you want it on. It is when you must have long sleeves and short sleeves at all times on hand. I usually would not be so grumpy about this except this year I have packed up most of the fall/winter things in hopes that we would have moved. I do NOT want to go through all my packed items and sort through and drag out all those clothes. I know, I’m lazy, but I really don’t. The other issue I am having with my beloved Fall is that my son seems to be allergic to something in the air, and me too this year. I can’t stop sneezing! To sum it up, I really need someone to buy my house, so I can move and just unpack all of my fall/winter things in my new house, and I can go back to loving Fall again. That’s not too much to ask right?

So, what do you all think of Fall?

Today I am thinking about growing up. When I was learning to drive my dad told me it is always important to look ahead and know what is happening up ahead so you can anticipate any potential obstacles and avoid accidents. He said most people only look right in front of them. That is very good advice for life to make sure you are always looking ahead, especially when raising children.

When our kids are babies we are thinking about when they will sleep through the night, and when they will finally start walking and talking, and then when they will be potty trained. When they are 4 you are looking ahead to when they will be in school. Then when they are in school, you look ahead to when they are old enough to be home alone and take on more responsibility, after that, you are looking ahead to college and beyond.

I realized today, that with all the looking ahead, sometimes I forget to look right in front of me. Dylan, my 17 month old, looked down in the car and said “turtle”. He was actually pointing to his toy turtle. The day has come, he is starting to talk, and he is not my little baby anymore. Where did the time go? Cyberspace, my dad’s advice is great and important, we have to look ahead, but sometimes in life, we need to not forgot to look at what is right in front of us and enjoy the moment. So, for me, today make sure you take the time to enjoy something that is right in front of you!