Daddy's Home

There are many pros and cons to owning your own business. One of the biggest cons for us has been the time that is required if you are truly dedicated to your business being successful. It is not uncommon for Ben to go into work by 8 or 9 and not get home until 6 or 7. He also goes into work on Saturdays and Sundays to make sure the crews don't need anything. He is always on call and quite often gets called in after hours to help run calls. These are good things to the extent that we are getting the calls but the downside falls mostly on the children. They love their daddy and miss that time to play with him. So when he does come home, they run screaming down the hall "Daddy's Home" and then beg to play with him. I'm sure one day they will appreciate and understand the sacrifices he is making for them, but until then, we are glad when daddy comes home.

Halloween

I forgot to post these after Halloween. Our branch had a Halloween party out at the farm. Aside from when the kids were playing a few relay games and eating, we hardly saw them. They spent most of their time in the huge jump house that was rented.

Getting their faces painted. Ethan wanted fire and Alli got a pattern on her face to match her Anna dress.

We spent our Halloween night at the local Trunk or Treat in Estill Springs. A&E had been invited to attend so we tagged along with Ben instead of trick or treating without him. It was a nice night out in the community and the kids had a good time. They spent a good portion of the night with one of our employees. Our employees really are like a 2nd family to us and the kids love them.

They spent most their time with Rhonda waiting in line to jump in the jump house or get treats.

We saw a lot of great costumes but this little girl took the prize for us. Her parents didn't mind us taking a picture. Her grandma costume was absolutely precious!

So cute!

Caps for Sale

Last week we attended reading time and they read the book "Caps for Sale". Afterwards everyone made a cap and then reenacted the book. Alli was chosen to be the peddler who was selling his caps. My sometimes shy little girl has no fear when it comes to acting and pretend. Here is some of her flare for the dramatic.

Wearing all the caps on her head heading to town to sell them.

Bad sales day and no one wants her caps so she is headed out to the country.

Once in the country, she decides she is tired from all the walking and leans up against a tree to take a nap.

While napping, something very strange occurs.

The peddler wakes to find that all the caps but one are missing. She looks left and she looks right.

Then she looks up in the tree to see all her caps on a tree full of MONKEYS.

Angry and frustrated, she shakes her fingers at the monkeys and demands they give her caps back.

Instead the monkey's just mimic her actions.

The peddler stomps her feet in frustration and is once again mimicked by the monkeys. In complete frustration the peddler throws her cap on the ground. The monkeys once again mimic the peddler and throw all the caps on the ground.

The peddler is able to gather all her caps up and head back to town.

The end :)

October Library Reading Time

We recently started attending the weekly reading time at our local library. The kids LOVE it. Ms. Robin is so fun with the kids and I've never seen Ethan sit so still for a story in HIS LIFE! They also throw in songs and crafts...what could be better than that. Here are the pictures from the last month.

Itsy Bitsy Spider (Web)

 and snack...

Mummy...

 Story Time trick or treating (Fire Fighter and Anna)

 Trying to get a group picture was a tad chaotic.

 Listening to Ms. Robin

 Trick or Treat!

Native Americans

Alli loves anything craft related that we do in school.

Puppy Love

Pepper has and always will be Ben's dog. She has always been the most bonded with him and listens to any command he gives her. I'm not sure what has prompted the recent change but lately Pepper has also really bonded with Alli and of course Alli reciprocates that right back. She loves her big pup!

My favorite example recently happened while doing school. Alli and I was going over some math. Alli was trying to explain something to me and I looked down to notice she was sitting there petting pepper on the head while talking to me. (Normally this wouldn't happen because Alli can't focus on two things at once). But what I found so sweet was that Pepper wasn't just sitting there for love, she was also giving it by propping her head on Alli's knee the whole time.

First Responder's Day

 A&E was invited to join the First Responder Day at the local Pumpkin Patch farm. Ben was going to be there for a few hours so we tagged along for a day of fun. We visited for a while with the first responders, and then headed off to play.

 We jumped in some corn...

 Road a few tractors...

 Said hi to a few sweet barn animals...

 Slid down a really long slide...

 a LOT....

 and sat on a really large swing...

 The farm was a blast, but it was blazing hot. So after being surrounded by pumpkins and summer's last hoorah...I'm ready for Fall!