Carved Pumpkins today

So DG had really no interest in cleaning or carving his pumpkin, so it became Daddy's. RA however almost cleaned her whole pumpkin by herself. She wanted to carve it to but her design she really wanted was too detailed and we weren't excited about her using a knife. PG is waiting till tomorrow to do his. We still need candles and place to put the pumpkins. If we put them outside right now, they would be covered by snow in the morning.
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Two Weeks with Grandma and Grandpa H -- in pictures

Mommy and Daddy alone in a picture? Has that happened since the wedding?
Garden of the Gods -- she loves rocks

Her digs after shopping trip with Grandma

the only picture with a grandparent in it and PG made him look silly (and Grandma took the picture) :-)

Bishop's Castle: One man in southern CO is building this castle. It is near a cabin (we got to spend the weekend at) that Blake's aunt and cousins built and own.

More Castle -- this guy Jim Bishop was a rod iron artisan in Pueblo

DG and his cousin -- ok well it is Blake's cousin's son (but I don't know what that makes him to DG so we just call him his cousin)

DG, RA (superstar), N, and H (two out of the three cousins)

So what else did we do? Shopping, Cave exploring, hiking at the Garden of the Gods, playing lots of board and card games, ate lots of good food, spent a weekend at the cabin... Had so much fun. Wish Grandma and Grandpa lived closer. They are gone for a week to visit more grand kids. They will be back for 5 days (Halloween included)!

It's Official...

We are pregnant! That's right. Baby Helgoth is due March 25th. For those of you who know our history of miscarriages, so far everything is looking great. Healthy heartbeat and growing baby. He/She was kicking the doppler last week when we were listening for the heartbeat. It was cute. I have a fantastic Catholic, truly pro-life doctor who has been amazing in helping me through how to handle all our medical background. In fact, when he saw the due date he didn't say, "You are due on March 25th." He said, "Oh the Feast of the Annunciation!" And I thought, "Praise God, a real Catholic doctor." Anyway, I have to say we have been cautiously optimistic around here with the cautiousness melting away and the excitement building. We have picked out names. We are "discussing" whether to find out gender. And PG is so excited to find this baby (where IS the baby, Mommy) and to be a big brother.

Great tips for homeschooling moms and just mom's in general!!

http://theten0clockscholar.blogspot.com/2009/09/8-habits-of-happy-homeschool-mama.html

RA's feast Day

This had to be one of the busiest feast days yet. We let RA pick all the food for the day. So we started at QDoba for lunch. Then we met my parents (Nana & Blue Truck) at a beautiful and very creative park in downtown C-Springs call America the Beautiful Park. It was a 90 degree day so we took drinks and got ice cream. We think Blue Truck liked the park as much as the kids. We didn't take pictures but here is one I found. They have very creative ideas.
After the park, our dentist (whose kids are in the homeschool co-op with us) had an open house and one of the priests from the Community of St. Jean came to do the blessing. He gave RA a blessing on her feast and gave our family a blessing as well. They had a teenager doing face painting at the open house so the kids had a blast. Blake asked her, "How did you learn this?" She said, "I just picked it up." I'm impressed.

As I said RA chose the food for the day, so it was home to ice a cake and make dinner - breakfast burritos.

A fun and tiring day was had by all, especially the feast day girl!

Our Lady Queen of the Angels, Pray for us!

DG's 7th Birthday and celebration - in pictures

Did we pick the right present or what? LotR Risk, what could be better? Even RA looks excited!
Thanks G& G Helgoth

"It's my best cake yet, mom!" Boy he knows how to lay it on thick.

Mom isn't so sure, but if it makes the birthday boy happy.

Next day, The North Pole with cousins

Now this is hard to see, Blake and kids in back, Blake's cousin Cindy next, the boys next, Blake's Aunt Connie after, and first Cindy's husband Darrin. I'm not sure which cars Cindy and Darrin's girls are in but I think RA is with Blake. PG and I sat this one out.

Blake, RA and PG on a tilt a whirl!

Aunt Connie and the boys on the Tilt-A-Whirl

PG is flying

Cindy's daughter with a bird in the magic show. She dressed especially for the North Pole! What a doll!

Time to blog again

I have not felt very wordy as of late. School got off too a good start and then week three and we are all sick. Ok, RA didn't get sick, but the rest of us did. Blake is doing well but on steroids and fighting hard, at home. That is the best! I guess this time of year is rough. He was sick last year around this time too.
Updates:
DG - Still reading up a storm - later post on his birthday. He did receive some books as presents and polished them off promptly. He is starting cub scouts and seems excited. I think dad may be more excited than him. He has had a rough week with no schedule. Those of you who know DG aren't surprised. I am surprised that it surprised me. I am looking forward to a school week this week to get us back in order.
RA - She starts American Heritage Girls tomorrow and is SOOOOOOOOOO excited. The week before we got sick, we went on a field trip for her Five In A Row book - The Glorious Flight (another blog). She also had a feast day (another blog). (Boy I have more to write than I thought!) She is really enjoying co-op and Little Flowers, which makes me happy since I am teaching it.
PG - Is quite the talker. Wonder where he learned that?! He has enjoyed all of our various day trips and other adventures around Colorado Springs. We see my parents most mornings at daily Mass and he is always excited to see "Blue Truck". My mom got him a block puzzle with a picture on each side of the cubes. He has really been enjoying that.

On another note, my dad's dad (my Papa) had a heart attack last week. He is improving but they have to put in a pacemaker and clean out blocks in his stints. My dad went out to see him this weekend and he and his brother (who is an anesthesiologist and my dad and orthopedist) think their mom may be having some heart issues as well. They need lots of prayers.
That is the news here.