Let's see.... Carter's reading at a 5th grade level (he's in 3rd) and is a "whiz at math" according to his teacher. He's still having some adjustment issues, but overall seems to be making some friends, even having a playdate after school with a classmate. He and 2 of his cousins will begin curling in October, so watch for some updates about that.
Henri's loving Kindergarten, especially since there is no nap involved and he gets to spend the morning running errands with just mom on the days Valerie's in school or playing Skylanders Swap Force (the game du jour) without his brother taking over. He also loves riding his bike. He's gained no weight but has shot up a bit and I had to put him in a little larger sized shirts (5-he's still 4 in pants and has to wear belts or elastic waist on everything)
Valerie loves, loves preschool and while she's glad to see us at the end of the day, there are a few days where she says, "no, I stay school." She doesn't like days when the boys get to go to school and she does not. I have finally gotten her to wear dresses with the assistance of heavy cotton tights which she loves. Now I just have to pick up a few long sleeved t-shirts to go under the dresses she screamed about all summer to get some wear out of them. Because.... she's also growing. I think we'll have to bring the size 4s out a few months before she actually turns 4. Even though Henri grew, Valerie's only a 1/2 a head shorter than him and she was a full head shorter just about 6 weeks ago. She's also only 2 pounds lighter, finally getting to 30 pounds.
Paul is gearing up for curling season, in a weekly pool league with some friends and still commuting 1 of 4 weeks each month for work. He meets with his group via Skype and will be glad when his current project is wrapped up, hopefully in time for relaxing for the holidays.
I've retaken up running and runs 5K almost every day and did a long run of 9K this week and I'm getting faster! I've also been trying ice skating once a week at an adult skate time at our local arena during one of two chunks of time all 3 kids are in school each week and I'm progressing at that as well. I stay upright though everyone else is much faster and laps me as well as manages to have conversations while skating. I'm not quite there, yet. I've also been watching what I eat and am down 8 pounds in the last month which is good because I'm hungry. Very hungry. This may be part of why I'm getting faster. Easier to run with less weight to carry! I'm also getting ready for curling season which starts next week and went to another weekend scrapbook retreat this month. This time in Amish country in Ohio. It was really nice to get away and even though it was a long drive, it was very scenic with all the leaves changing and I was able to get caught up with my pictures as well as make Christmas cards for this year! I'm also interviewing contractors to finish our second bathroom.
We're still on the same path immigration-wise though I need to renew my U.S. passport as it's about 6 months from expiring. I've filled out my paperwork and gotten my photos and will send it off as soon as my parents head back home from visiting us in November. Then I'll be non-traveling until it comes back to me and I need to get to the border to renew my visitor status record to extend it to my new passport expiration date. The kids all have health insurance now though we're still waiting to hear back from the doctor we'd like to use. We live in an aging area and that includes family doctors, so it's very difficult to become a patient of someone. We are only getting in to this one because of family connections and he's very, very busy. I'm currently taking suggestions for dentists in the Buffalo/Niagara NY area so the kids and I can get a checkup or we'll go to our old dentist if we head home for March break.
We got haircuts since although V looks so cute in barrettes she won't leave them in, so bangs are a must and the boys were getting shaggy.... I also realized my highlights were tired and am trying on "cappuchino" for the fall. I think it's a bit dark, but it's exactly the color of Carter's hair! I have 6 weeks to figure out if I like it or want to lighten it next time around.
I took the kids ice skating. Holy Moly was that a process... Yes, we have the walkers and V has double bladed skates that strap to her shoes. So I got the boys' skates on. Then realized I forgot V's so I carried all 3 kids out to the car, drove home, grabbed the skates, got back, carried everyone back in, put hers on... she kicks them on and says, "no skates" so I grab her in just socks to watch the boys, then she wants them back on, but will have nothing to do with the walkers (the boys pretty much walked on the ice with the walkers for 40 minutes) so I had to try skating with my very limited ability hanging on to both her hands and "skate" her in between my legs, meanwhile she's still trying to decide if she wants to have her feet down or not and my skates which are not broken in have decided I'm skating at an awkward angle and are KILLING me. So, it was not fun, but they all agree to try again and Henri even was wanting to go to the afternoon session... I may take them out one at a time in the future. The good part was that it was completely empty except for us and a lady with 4 little kids so we had tons of room. They all had fun, but Henri really likes it even though what he does is kind of ice walking...
This is what I woke up to this morning...
I tried taking a family photo on Thanksgiving.... which was last week for us.
in the next two weeks we'll have two pumpkin patch trips and Halloween, I gotta go now because I haven't even started Carter's way complicated costume. Sigh.
