Virtual Coffee

Hey, you guys!!  Thanks for coming over for some coffee.  For once, it is actually cool enough to enjoy a hot cup of coffee!!!  The highs for this week are in the mid to low 70s and I am excited for them.  I have some long sleeves that I'd love to wear.  I told Julia she'd need a jacket for dance class this morning and she was shocked.  "Why?!  It's not hot today?"

This girl goes out and rides her bike every morning.  Obviously, she's getting a bit big for that tricycle, but she loves it so much.  We have a bike with training wheels in the shed that used to be Elisabeth's.  We're going to get it out this weekend and make sure it's working right and show her how to ride it.  I think she'll love it.

So, Evan is gone for the week at a JAG course in Virginia (the state).  The girls are missing him like crazy.  It's all they talk about.  I printed off a calendar for Julia and we've been counting down the days until he comes home.  It's been easier this time with him gone because Julia is older and almost completely self sufficient.  Last year, when he was gone in July for 2 weeks, it was rough.  Julia was still super intense and I couldn't be out of her sight for a minute.  Now, she's a bit more independent and can be in a room near me and just check in. A lot.

Do you realize that Halloween is in less than 2 weeks?!  I love Halloween.  My girls are going to try on their costumes this weekend and make sure we have all the things they need.  Julia is going to be her favoritest doll, Pink Baby.  My mother-in-law made her dress and she is so excited.  She's going to take Pink Baby with her when we trick-or-treat.  Elisabeth is going to be Hermione from Harry Potter.  We are going to finish the 4th book tonight and the movie is in the mail and should be here today, so we're going to watch it this weekend when Evan is home. I have really enjoyed reading the series to Elisabeth.  She's so into the story and loves to predict what's going to happen. I bought her her own HP book collection for her birthday.  She doesn't know it yet, but I am pretty sure she's going to scream with excitement when she opens them.  But, I am only going to give her the 4 books we've read and then as we finish the last 3, I'll give them to her so she can reread them as many times as she wants.  She asked me if she could keep my books in her room.  Um, no. Those are mine (aren't I such a first child?) and I have 2 more kids I have to read the series too.  Then she asked if she could take mine with her when she moved out.  I laughed at her.  Now, it won't be an issue because she'll have her own.  Julia has already asked if I will read Harry Potter to her when she's bigger.  I am looking forward to it.

I have been wanting to make some cut-outs to put in the windows for Halloween for a couple of years now. I got the idea from my Martha Stewart Halloween magazines (dude, that lady has some FABULOUS Halloween decorating ideas).  This year, I finally got around to making them.  We have so many windows, I was excited to take advantage of them.

I am super excited with how they turned out!

The owl is in Julia's room.  She has a witch's face in the other window.  Elisabeth wants to make her own owl, so I've left her some black posterboard for her to draw on.

Evan's been calling every night on our "big" phone.  We finally got a landline so Elisabeth could call her friends in Colorado without having to beg to use our cellphones.

Oh, you noticed that it's a rotary phone?  Yep!  It was mine from when I was little.  We've been saving it for when we would eventually have a landline again.  The girls love it.  And, the sound quality is WAY better than cordless and cell phones.  We love it.

Well, it's time to take a very excited Julia to her dance class. That girl loves dance.  Signing her up was one of the best things we've ever done for her. She smiles a huge smile the entire time she is there.

Thanks for stopping by!!  I'll see you next week!