Noah's B-Day & Trunk-or-Treat

Noah missed the Trunk or Treat last night due to a 104 temp (Lucy's was 103). He was happy to get the candy Sophie picked up for him and has been sneaking it all day (all of them are master sneakers of candy today), so apparently the candy made up for the missing out on the party.

Ben and Sophie had a ball at the trunk or treat--My Sophie pics will have to come next time, as someone else snapped those. She was Cinderella. She decided last-minute by choosing out of her plethora of costumes in her dress-up box, but looked way cute as usual. Ben was a great looking pirate. You can't see it well, but he has a way-tough winged sword tattoo on his chest.


This was a night photo, so it looks all crazy--but spooky! We did our trunk for the trunk or treat into a big ghost--the car version of the lazy-parents' Halloween costume--throw a sheet on it!Lucy is going through the very snotty process of getting her two top front teeth, bringing the teeth total to four. She walks independently a few steps each day but it is not yet her primary mode of getting places, although she is very, very proud of herself when she stands on her own and shuffles a few steps. She has been sick for a week with what appears to be two different illnesses, including coughing and fever (although the fires may have contributed to the coughing. She had to stay home from church today (Thanks to Sis. Wright for bringing home all my kids!)

Noah is officially three! Here is a rare glimpse of all of my children happy and uncomplaining. Noah was particularly excited about his new Hot Wheels, particularly a very exciting semi.

Oh, you wanted a closer look at that amazing cake? Ok! Yes, it is shaped like an 8 and he was 3, but it's fine because it's a racetrack, which 3 year olds love. It was just two rounds with Oreo pavement, tic tac lines, and coconut "grass" that I used on on the pan around it as well.
I didn't realize the kids would actually want to play on the cake, so in the end it was kind of trashed, but its purpose was served.

We celebrated Noah's birthday at the Noah's Ark Exhibit at the Skirball museum. It was amazing--the best children's museum I've been to. I can't recommend it highly enough--we'll be going back there soon. Just tonight Noah was telling me the story about the Ark--it really made an impression!

Oh, I also met with Ben's principal, who, after seeming entirely at a loss about what to do, recommended a part-time school, part-time homeschool situation (weird that my husband and the principal came around to the idea of homeschooling again before I did). We'll give it a shot. I have a great book about discovering a child's learning style that has been a huge insight into Ben--being free to do the hands-on field trips again will be so helpful. I love them too.

I sometimes worry too much about how I'll be perceived going back to HSing yet again, but I'm committed to doing the right thing for Ben and following the Lord's guidance, so I really can't stress about everyone's opinions. Anyone who objects is free to come live my life and I'll come mess up yours--we all think we'd do a better job running others' lives than we do our own, don't we? I'm guilty of that sometimes but am determined to cut it out--people do the best they can and are entitled to inspiration for their own kids. We need to just be there for each other regardless of our differences and quit with the judgments. But, until that time, I'll just ignore the raised eyebrows and try to keep my own under check.

David's off in Florida for work until Wed or Friday. Wish me luck...