HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ASHLEY! Ashley is 14 - yes 14 today!!! I can't believe it. Time has gone so fast...... This is an old halloween picture of Steve and the kids. Everybody hit Ashley's blog and tell her happy birthday please!!!http://ashescrapola.blogspot.com/

Piper has been quite the character this weekend. On Friday afternoon she found these shoes in her closet. And needless to say - she hasn't taken them off only to go to bed. Also, her love for play doh is now matched with the movie Annie! I swear she now eats, sleeps and drinks play doh and Annie!

We have had a pretty lazy weekend. I have done laundry all weekend and Steve swept the house today. We did a bit of errands. Of course the grocery store and Target we hit this weekend. I think we spent Steve's paycheck at the grocery!!

Today I have made a cheesecake and potato soup already. Both just sounded good. I hope the both taste good. I haven't ever made this cheesecake recipe before so we will see.

What a beautiful weekend it was. I can't believe how hot it was yesterday!!! Yesterday my wonderful husband put his 3 coat wax job on my truck! I helped as much as I could (while Piper was taking a nap) but Steve did most of the work and this was after biking!!! He ROCKS! It looks great! I didn't realize how bad it needed it. But while working on this and I started to break a sweat I thought "we will just go back and jump in the pool to cool off" - NO CAN DO- it's closed but it sure felt like summer so I wasn't thinking clearly!!

We had a nice weekend.

Friday night - Piper and I got our hair cut. She sat still like a good little girl. We actually got a good trim job done on her. It's in a bob just below her chin. She still has this little section of hair that needs to grow a bit more to stay out of her eyes - but we are getting there. After the haircuts we went to Cebolla's for supper. OK - it was my idea to eat there - but I am done eating there for quite awhile now. I think it just doesn't taste that good anymore because we have eaten there so much in the past. And while we were eating - Piper got upset about something and she was crying and sticking her fingers in her mouth (which she does sometimes) she stuck them in to far and she pukes everywhere! It wasn't alot - but it was still puke! She was sitting with her dad - so he had to clean it up. But then she wanted to come to me and when I got her - she stunk!!! Nice for the supper table! By time I put her down for bed I was freakin' exhausted from the week. I know we were in bed by 10!!

Saturday we went to the grocery store early to try to avoid some of the people. Piper was alittle cranky at the store 1. because she was off and on awake every 30 min from 3 o'clock on that morning and 2. because we were shopping at Kroger and it's not very busy so I let her out of the cart and she wanted out of the cart but this week we went back to Meijer and it's busier there so we weren't letting her out. So, the grocery store wasn't very much fun! After that we headed home, ate lunch and down for a nap miss grouchy butt went. She slept for 2.5 hours......ahhhhhh nice. I did some of my chores and Steve decided to go take a bike lap over at Franke. So, just I get ready to sit down and enjoy whatever time I had left - Steve's dad shows up - just as Steve is getting ready to go biking - Steve leaves and his dad comes in to visit with me! No nap or reading for me!!

Sunday Piper and I just hung around home while Steve went biking in Warsaw. Piper is really in to stickers and play doh right now (see Steve's blog) So, her and I went over to Michael's craft store to just check things out. We ended up with this bucket of things to use on the play doh. I used the coupon for 50% off a reg. price item and got it for $5! Man - we have got our money out of it already!! But shit - it's all she can think about right now. Even this morning when she came downstairs - she comes walking in to the kitchen carry the bucket and a can of doh! I told her we couldn't play right now and BOY did she turn on the drama - sobbing, big, big tears! I think I am going to have to hide it! I also got her one of those "grow a" - where you put them in water and they get bigger - we got grow a goblin - it's this pumpkin guy. So, I put him in a big bowl of water on the table and she gets up and checks on him and talks to him! That's my kid!

Ashley has a volleyball game tonight. Piper and I are even going to it! I am feeling brave!

Steve and I are talking Christmas presents already - about what to get the kids and everybody! I would like to get it done early this year. So far I have my dad, steve's dad and my niece done! I bought somethings for my mom and all the kids but still have stuff to finish up. We went to get Steve's mom's present Saturday night at Target - we had been watching something on sale. And wouldn't you know - they were all gone! Shit!

Time is just flying by! I am sure you all feel the same way too. I haven't been bloggin' much lately - I haven't really felt like it. With everything that is going on with everything just kinda gets you down some - you know what I mean.

My work is getting to it's busy time. Between now and February - will be some pretty busy times for me. Got to keep my focus and my will on my work some how????

All the kids are doing great! Ashley's volleyball season is almost over. Last games are a tournament on the 18th. I am sure she is not looking forward to it being over. She loves playing it and I think she loves that is keeps her busy and out of the house.

Riley is doing good. He was going to play football - but then changed his mind. We hope that we can get him involved in winter basketball. He has played for several years but didn't last year. It's kinda a pain for us - on our weekends have to make a trip to Albion every Saturday morning from Nov. till Feb. BUT IT IS WELL worth it. He needs all the help to get moving and not be a couch potato he can get!

Piper is getting to be quite the big girl.... she is talking more and more. Still not saying EVERY word consistently but she is doing better and says stuff out of the clear blue sky and you are like holy shit - did you hear that!

Steve and I celebrated our 6th Anniversary in September. We bought our nice tv as our gift to each other - plus he got me 2 purses and I bought him bike grips. He took me out for supper that night. I really, really enjoyed that (even with Piper along) it was a nice evening. I picked the Toscani's downtown and I had a couple glasses of wine -- so I was relaxed! He was going to buy me flowers but he gave me the choice of dinner or flowers and girls.... I will pick dinner every damn time.... TO NOT HAVE TO COOK! I will pick food any day!!

Piper and I had a WONDERFUL 3 days off last week. It was cold so we couldn't do much outside but we still had a great time. I got SO much stuff done. I worked around the house, had the furnance guy do the tune-up, took the dog to the vet, went to the dr., went to my mom's work fall festival, visited with some friends! It was great. Only thing bad.... just made leaving my little girl and coming back to work that much harder. Each time I am home with her I have a harder and harder time coming back to work. I wish I could get my paycheck and stay at home. I just feel like I am missing so much of her growing up.

COOL NEW BLOG! Thanks Jill for the ideas and the website! I have been wanting something like that forever and could find anything!

I am a stay at home mom for 3 days! Yeah! Hopefully get something posted soon!