Where have we been?

Well, no busier than anyone else. But few spare minutes in a day. And more items to do than there is time for. Perhaps at nap time today I can post pics. It just takes time to download pics, save to file, rotate, and load. So, what have we been up to?

• Playdates with new kindergarten friends. Age 5 and Kindergarten is a great time where kids can play on their own, with occasional peek-ins to make sure all is okay. Nice to see Simon develop friendships.
• No more nap time for Simon, rare is the need for a nap.
• Except with this time change! Never before has it affected our children than this time. We have been up between 4:30 and 6:00 every day since. The kids pretty much fall asleep during dinner and can't stay awake past 6:30-7:00 p.m. Yesterday Norah napped at 3:00 p.m. and woke at 3:30 this morning. Some naps were needed. We are tired.
• Recovery time after creating all aspects of Halloween; whew, that wore me out. Pics to come I promise.
• Dealing with the wolf hat arriving in the mail on November 5th. Simon wants it, it is fleece lined and warm so a fun winter hat for him. Not sure if he will actually wear it.
• Eric working on the basement project. Updated pics to come. Simon LOVES LOVES the project and "helping" his Daddy work.
• Creating gifts for Christmas. Have two hats to make - one for a niece and one for a nephew. Other little niece's is ready to wrap! And my own kids' handmade slippers are completeed. Considering making a superhero cape for Norah.
• Celebrating vertical day, quite low key this year. Not many activities, due to Halloween recovery. But just wait until next year (11-11-11).
• Spending our days in the bathroom and saying things repeatedly like: "Are you wet or dry? Do you have to go pee? Did you pee in your underwear/pull up? Is you pull up wet or dry? Mommy has to go potty so let's have you try. Keep sitting there. Underwear is fun to wear - so keep it dry." All while having potty parties when successful and celebrating with smarties!
• Preventing Lil' Miss from climbing every second of the day. (Pics to come on this as well.)She has been caught climbing everywhere. We had to purchase this for furry friend (stuffed animal) storage because her basket kept getting dumped out and used for a stool. You know, to turn on the light to avoid taking a nap. This product met all our requirements: squishy to prevent climbing, plastic so not breakable and washable, can see through the holes to find desired furry friend, and big enough to hold a loving collection of stuffed animals! It's amazing what becomes a stool or a step - baskets, containers, cabinet handles, chairs dragged everywhere, counters, under bed rolling containers, etc.
• Reminding Lil' Miss to "Play with toys, not tools. Are you touching Mommy's things?"
• Listening to constant, and I mean constant, talking from Lil' Miss as she does not stop! So fun to have a little chatter-box and she can be quite hysterical!
• Reading daily to Simon, having Simon read daily, practicing his writing, and keeping up to date with his school.
• And both of us working as well and trying to complete the typcial household tasks, or putting them on hold!