Happy Halloween!!!

10 Days in the USA...

I never thought it would be a problem game. Please don't get me wrong this is an enjoyable, educational game and we love to play it as a family. However, we have played it many times with John and Chloe against Jesse and myself. Jesse and I always managed to win, sometimes just barely but always won...until Monday! Yep! John and Chloe finally took us down and I'm happy they did. Chloe wanted to change partners but I just had a feeling that night was going to be their night (no I did not throw the game). Just my guts talking to me so Chloe stuck it out with her dad. This is them right after. Can you see the excitement???

The girls get a new "school"...

and Mom finally gets a break!

A little over three weeks ago, I had an idea of moving the girls into the bonus room and the classroom downstairs. I just kept looking at all the space we were not using upstairs and the girls stuff was everywhere downstairs. I called John and he said if I thought it was a good idea we would do it. Of course, me being me, I started moving things immediately. That night I wanted John to help me move my desk and a few other big things downstairs. We were standing in the new classroom (once Jesse's room) and John said, "Do you want me to paint while its empty?" Well, DUH! So instead of moving furniture that night we went and bought paint. And we bought paint for Chloe's old room which was going to be a room for John. Three weeks later we almost have the house back to normal (except the girls' room), though there are still a few things left to do. We love the new classroom! I haven't taken pics of John's room yet. He is still working on a few things, but hopefully soon we'll have pics of it too.

Preparing for Halloween

We went to Charlotte the weekend of John's birthday and my parents took the girls to a pumpkin patch to get pumpkins. They were so pleased! Each of them picked out their own pumpkin then picked out the design to carve into it. I think they both did a great job. And John did a great job carving!








Jesse's pumpkin!











Chloe's pumpkin!

Chloe amuses me...

as always. The girls and I decided, after being cooped up in the house all week (and since Jesse is doing better), that we would go to a drive-thru then on to "our spot" to have lunch today. On the way we started discussing how long until our trip and Halloween. Chloe's response to the conversation was, "So much happiness." I had to laugh. She knows exactly what makes her happy and she is not afraid to say it out loud.

Too much going on these days...

and not nearly enough rest! There have been a lot of changes happening over the last three weeks (hence not enough time to blog properly). The girls are getting a new school, which in and of itself is a huge undertaking. We are rearranging the house, so John can get his very own space to do with as he pleases. His first decision was to paint (something I was not expecting, which is part of the reason the process took so long). He chose a great color called Bamboo and it looks great! We have moved both girls to the bonus room with all their toys, beds, TV, etc. We are still moving a few things around, but I think when it is all done it will be fabulous. I just need Jesse to be better so we can finish it. I'm really hoping a lot of things are accomplished this weekend so the new week starts off right.

Happy Birthday Linda!...

We were very sorry to miss your birthday dinner last night, but John said he would have felt very bad if anyone got sick. We hope you enjoyed your meal and that today is as wonderful as you want it to be! Happy Birthday from the Lugoff clan!

John's birthday and other things

My intention Sunday was to blog about John's birthday. We went to my parents for the weekend. My parents watched the girls while John and I spent the entire morning, and part of the afternoon, at IKEA. We've been looking forward to going for a while and were very excited about getting to go by ourselves. We actually had lunch there, just us! The first meal together alone in years! It was wonderful. And yes, we did buy a few things and found some future purchases. John promised the girls we would take them back one day so they could have lunch there too (the meatballs were incredible!!!).

Of course, my Mom had to get John a couple of more gifts for his birthday (a sweater and a tombstone-to go with the other Halloween stuff from earlier). I think he enjoyed himself. I mean who wouldn't with birthday cake, apple pie, cookies, chicken and dumplings and of course the BBQ!

While my intention Sunday was to blog about all the exciting things that happened this weekend, Jesse starting getting sick Sunday afternoon. She really didn't feel great all day Sunday but it started hitting her hard late that afternoon. It has been a whirlwind of cleaning and laundry ever since to try to prevent the rest of us from getting it. I was worried a lot about myself there for a bit. The pooch has had her own problems and been waking me every hour to hour-and-a-half every night for about two weeks. Being tired and having the flu in the house is very worrisome. So far it has only inflicted Jesse. Poor baby! Her fever is down, but now she has a cough that I am listening to/for very carefully. I'm hoping the end is near, but only time will tell.

A trip to the dentist...

yesterday was very interesting. Our appointment was a 9:30. Usually by then the front and most of the second rows of the parking lot are filled, but yesterday I parked on the front row with one other car. When we got inside there was only one family waiting, again unusual. Our dentist (there are 3 or 4 in the office) has eight chairs, which are usually full. Yesterday it was just our girls and three boys in the office. I was told they had no other patients for hour then they would have two more and until after lunch. The dentist said it had been like that all week. I think the flu has many people down and I'm glad to know they are staying at home! I hope everyone feels well today.

Happy Birthday Scott!!

We hope you had a great time at the Brave's game and didn't eat too many hot dogs! Enjoy your day today!

What a day!

This morning I took my friend Wendy out for a belated birthday treat. We had a great time talking about, almost, everything.

I got home a little after 12:30. I was standing in the kitchen waiting for my lunch (John and the girls ate before I got home), when a flash of light caught my attention. I looked out the kitchen window and saw a van turning around in our drive way. No, it was pulling into our driveway. Wait! That's my Dad! Yep, my parents surprised us with a visit today. Seems that Mom just couldn't wait for John to get his birthday present. You see she bought him the platform for the Halloween village and she thought he should have it too. He loved it! Before they left this afternoon he already had it set up on the breakfast bar. I think he is still tweaking it, but still very happy.

I'll post a pic soon.

John's birthday...

yep, it was early. We were suppose to take him to Red Bowl for dinner but somehow yesterday afternoon he and someone got to talking about oysters. We wound up at Harbor Inn eating fish. He was happy with his clams and oysters and that is what matters for a birthday celebration. I told him at dinner, since we were doing his birthday dinner early we would go ahead and give him his gift.

I think he was very surprised about his gift. He had been looking (this year and last) at the Michael's Halloween village stuff. And he had made several comments about we should do that sometime. Well that is what we did. The girls and I picked out a lot of the smaller things for him to design his own village. He really liked it! I'll post a pic when we get it set out the in its permanent home.