While Chad's been out...

We've tried to stay busy this last week with...
(in no particular order)
Football games,
Parks,
Preschool,
Playdates,
Playgroups,
Library,
Pumpkin Painting,
Table Painting,
Doctor Appointments,
Walks,
Shopping,
House Projects,
Trunk or Treat,
making cookies,
staying up late,
sleeping in late,
and taking lots of long naps.

I can't believe a week has already gone by since Chad has left. It's really helped keeping busy. Although, we still miss him! One night Tristan woke up crying for his dad, and Devan has mentioned a number of times that he misses him. They have done pretty well though, and I'm not as crazy as I thought I would be at this point. We hear from Chad usually a couple of times a day and it helps to be able to talk with him. It sounds like he's really enjoying the experience of being in such a different place.

Devan's football game went well last week. It was strange for us to go to church without Chad on Sunday, and a little lonely at dinner time. I had planned to barbque on the grill Sunday in his honor (a Sunday tradition he has started), but the matchless charcoal wouldn't light! So I broiled chicken instead (and it turned out pretty dang good!)

We've filled our time with the usual weekly things like preschool (which I'll be teaching for the next two weeks), trips to the library and park, walks, and playgroup. Wednesday we had a special playgroup and I brought things for painting pumpkins. We all brought healthy halloween snacks to share, knowing that our kids would get PLENTY of treats later in the week. We've met a few more of our neighbors over the past couple of weeks and the kids played together a couple of different days. Devan really enjoys spending time with one of the boys his age, and before we went to bed one night he told me, "I love Alexander, he's a really nice boy." It's nice for him to meet more boys, it seems like all of my friends have little girls. There is only one other boy in his church class (and he is VERY shy), and he is the only boy in his preschool group! Tristan had a friend over today, and had a lot of fun.

One day while we were at home I covered the table with butcher paper and gave the boys plates full of finger paints. They had a blast smearing paint all over the table. I'm glad I remembered to take off their shirts before they started because it was quite the mess!

I've had a few late nights getting some projects in the house done. Awhile ago I framed the mirror in our downstairs bathroom, and this week I finally painted the cabinets to match. It looks a lot better! I also painted the baseboards. I painted the guest room, which is now actually the boys bedroom. I'm going to be decorating it soon too! I painted a desk that I had painted awhile back, but it always looked blotchy to me and drove me crazy. AND I fixed my oven!!! I'm quite proud of the last one. I ordered one part awhile ago and installed it and it got part of it working again, but "bake" still wasn't working, so I ordered another part and by golly it works now. So after I fixed the oven of course I had to bake some cookies, and I've been eating WAY to many. That's what happens when you deprive yourself of homemade cookies for so long I guess.

Yesterday I had a doctor's appointment and everything looked good. I had to take that icky glucouse test though... I HATE those drinks. As much as I hate needles, I'm getting pretty use to having my blood drawn and shots.

Tonight was our ward Trunk or Treat. They always make it alot of fun, and my boys had a blast. Devan dressed as "a knight in shining armor" and Tristan dressed as an "astronaut". They both picked out their costumes themselves and have been super excited to wear them. I really enjoy Halloween and it was alot of fun seeing the boys have so much fun. The part I don't like so much however is ALL the candy. Devan does pretty good about it, but Tristan turns into a little monster with it. Last year we gave Devan the option of leaving his candy out for the candy fairy and in return, the fairy would give him money for a new toy. He decided that was a pretty good idea. I think we'll try that again this year. Hopefully Tristan will agree to it.

Tomorrow I have Super Saturday at the church, and luckily they will have a nursery there so I'll be able to go. After that we have Devan's football game. And I'm trying to decide if I'm up for taking the boys to "Boo at the Zoo". I guess we'll see how tired we are by that point.

It seems like every day we've worn ourselves out. Luckily the boys have been good about taking naps with me. It's been fun having some late nights with them and sleeping in. And I feel pretty darn lucky that they have been sleeping in!

So now we've got over a week down, and only 3 left to go. I think we can do this! Oh and I have some help coming in on November 10th. Chad's Mom and Stepdad will be here. We're looking forward to the company :)