We will call this OCTOBER

Well friends, I was without my handy dandy laptop for most of the month of October...I withstood Facebook withdrawls and not posting pictures. It was rough, I'll admit, but I came through like a trooper!

So, I returned to work after my 'minor outpatient' shoudler surgery. Where I had a 'talk' with my 'trainer/mentor' in hopes of improving a seriously lacking relationship in order to improve my 'working environment'....and I'll say this...it was great for a couple of weeks!! But, well...ya know! While it is still less than ideal it is definitely better. I say a little prayer before work starts, and then pray repetitively through the course of my day. The good news is my beloved Carrie Hawkins is now officially a Caldwell HnH social worker! This means I get to see Care every Tuesday at minimum!! Fun for me! She is a gem, and I am so glad to count her as part of a super duper team of wonderful caring nurses, social workers, chaplains, CNA's, Windy and ME!! I sure hope hospice agrees with the lovely Mrs. Hawkins!

What else...Derek turned SEVEN...much to his mother's dismay! How in the world did THAT happen? MY BABY??? IS SEVEN??? I don't believe it...I refuse...(not that denying the fact makes it less that true...) He is a big old first grader, with a perfect report card, and a skateboard!! AND OH, does he love that skateboard!! He sure took to it like peanuts to M&M's! He learned to 'ollie' whatever that means!!! He watches every episode of 'Zeke and Luther' (those of you without Disney Channel aged kiddos or Disney Channel...this is a show about two goofy skateboarders...) So, far the most entertaining thing so far was my son skateboarding in a pair of Wranglers...

We also celebrated my baby brothers 29th birthday at the river like we do every year. Only this year Tim McNarie a.k.a. Uncle Tim joined us! We went to the river and released balloons laden with a Chili Pepper, tossed flowers into the river, and shared many a bittersweet memory...

Tim's story was about Derek's lack of fear, Willie's about Derek's tendency to go shirtless, Daddy shared a hunting story, I shared a story about the Rodeo Club Homecoming parade float, and there were many others shared this day. The day my brother was born, a good day....ALWAYS a GOOD DAY!

And, then there was the "Favorite Aunt Sharla Slumber Party''!!! I had Shyann, Dakota, Eli, and Ian, and Kyla, and Derek all spend the night one night!! TONS OF FUN!! We ate, and watched movies, and Ian and I stayed up all night!! AND I DO MEAN ALL NIGHT!! Turns out, sometimes 2 year olds don't sleep so well in places they don't usually sleep...Turns out, Aunt Sharla didn't remember this....Turns out Aunt Sharla loves her nephew, but doesn't miss sleepless nights!! We had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, and then Lennie and Justin picked up the boys, and my kids and the girls went to church....THEN we came home, and all got ready for Trunk or Treat at the church later that night!!

Trunk or Treat!! Kyla, Dakota, and Shyann were all little old ladies for Halloween, and Derek was a very authentic BullFighter! I set the ladies up assembly line style and turned them into Miss Pennsylvania 1929, Miss Florida 1940, and Miss Munchkin Land 1911!! While Uncle Tim the REAL BULLFIGHTER came over and transformed my little boy into a bullfighter from cowboy hat to cleats!! All FOUR kids won Most Original in their age groups! I think someone should have given me an award since they were my ideas!! But apparently that isn't how it works!

And we wrapped the month up with Kyla getting her braces OFF, and a retainer I can't get her to LEAVE in her mouth....

Busy busy!!

May God Bless each of you has he has this family! With Love, Happiness, Safety, Health, and Faith!