Here are the pictures of Anna doing her fashion show for Troy since he will be gone on Halloween. The other is Karlie getting one of her two first quarter awards - one was for excellence in mathmatics and the other in excellence in language arts, for the sixth grade. We are so proud of her! We also recently had parent teacher conferences: Karlie is soaring in all areas... tends to be slightly moody sometimes, but hey, what's new...we love her just the was she is! Her teacher loves her witty humor as well as the way she challenges herself. She got all A's with a B and a B+...to which her teacher said that there was no reason that she should be anything other than a strait 'A' student, but she see's noticing that if it is a subject that she doesn't find completely interesting...she does just enough to get it done, instead of going above and beyond, like with the areas she really likes. But we are fine with A's and B's, she has a competitive edge that probably won't allow herself to be too lazy! :)
Connor is also doing great academically, he sruggles in other areas: focus and socialization - or trying not to be so social! Talk, Talk, Talk...too much for the classroom. It is something I try to work on at home too, so it's no surprise that it's a issue in school. His teacher says that his mind is processing so much at once, it is almost impossible for him to not talk some of it out! She wants him to try out for the GATE program (Gifted & Talented Education), it starts in 3rd grade, so he will be able to take the test this year. Karlie has been in GATE for 3 years now, as well. Connor is also in a once a week art class in Eureka, and is loving it. I think it is a good outlet for some of the millions of things he thinks and sees!
Anyhow, the kids are doing amazing in school, and I suppose there will always be something to work on! We are so proud of them!

Well, October is almost over, and the holiday season is fast approaching...just check out Costco, where most of the aisles are covered with giant Santa's, ten feet worth wrapping paper (per roll), and every toy that my kids see on T.V. & usually scream "I WANT THAT!" :)
I say every year that I will start my shopping early, and this year is no different, other than I already have! Good feeling.
I recently was able to go on a scrapbooking trip that happens twice a year...and completed two albums! One was a super simple candid summer photos album...but hey, it's done! I always have so much fun, this year was no different. Good people, good adult conversation, good food... and time away always makes you appreciate what is waiting at home. My mom and Troy stayed with the kids, and they deserve a vacation for allowing me to get away for 4 days!
The other happening we have in progress is potty training! The twins are showing every sign of wanting to be "big girls"...they take off their diapers every chance they can, yelling "potty, potty!".
Olivia went once for my mom, and is a little more interested than Soph, but Sophie follows along side her sis. Not ususally is she the one who follows, but with this- she is letting LuLu (our nick-name for Olivia) take the lead! It is a daily stuggle to allow them to sit whenever they say they need to, but yet still stick to our schedule. It will be worth it in the end, and hopefully we can be buying them undies for their 2nd birthday in mid-January!
Troy left for Colorado this morning at 5am, for his hunting trip with his grandpa Reco & Dennis, (as well as another friend of theirs) so Annabelle did her little fashion show of possible Halloween costumes, for him! She is loving the costume side as much as the idea of all the candy! Photos of the rest of the kids in costume will be on my next post! My birthday is Wed. the 5th of November...for which two of my sisters and I are going to San Diego to see a Madonna concert! Isabel, Chiara & my birthdays are all with in a couple of weeks of eachother, so it's the 1st annual sisters birthday trip...pics to follow as well! Hope everyone is having fun getting ready for their own holiday season :)

October Events

Scrapbook retreat - scrap room
Potty training has begun...it's a crazy job, with two kiddos!
It will be a whole new world once they figure it out!
The babies just adore their daddy, and what a great dad he is, they are lucky!
They like me too a little bit!

Our trip to the Pumpkin Patch

So we decide to take the girls to the Pumpkin Patch in Blue Lake, and it was a tad bit windy, but the girls had a blast. We rode on the tractor, took lots of time to pick the perfect pumpkin...and then finished the day with dinner out! All in all it was successful! Soph kept wanting to run off and go to the far end of the patch, Olivia fell several times and hated that her hands ended up dirty... Anna thought she could pick up the largest pumpkin she could see...they were all having fun, and that's what counts!

The girls on the way to the Pumpkin Patch
Such a windy day!
Anna is all smiles
Pastori's... minus two
LuLu, Anna & Soph

The five kiddos!

Karlie trying her hardest NOT to smile
Connor being crazy!

They are always moving...this picture has a lot of TRUTH in it!

On our way to Annabelle's first day at ballet...

"Look at my Ballerina twirl!"

Olivia and Sophia

Nothing like a daddy's love

The Twins and I at my sister Isabel's house

Well Annabelle has had a few weeks of ballet, and finally she doesn't cry when she has to walk in the room. I have to literally push her in the room and shut the door, because she seems to say "no, never mind momma...I want to go home"...but has a blast once involved. Everyone says it is for attention, but it is still hard to just close the door behind me! The funny thing is she will talk about ballerina twirls, about tu-tu's, dancing etc., the whole week, & on the way there, but then change her mind! But she is all smiles when I pick her up...so I know she has fun.

Connor is taking an acting class in San Bruno, CA for 6 weeks (we finish Oct.25 &26) and is loving it! He is such a creative exaggerated child, that this is fitting him perfectly! He has the choice to pursue commercials, T.V. auditions, print ads. (etc.), once he is all done with his 6 week course, but we are taking it one step at a time! We are fortunate that his Great-Grandma Glenda lives about 5 minutes away from where the classes are held, and she has been an amazing host for us on the weekends. (His classes are 10am-12:30, Sat. & Sun.) It's so nice to be able to spend some time with her, and her with the kids, on a regular basis!
Karlie and I have been able to spend some much needed one on one while down south for Connor's classes, and I love every second...she is just growing so quickly! My mom is an angel to stay with the kids (and Troy) to help out while I am gone. Don't think I could do anything without her, she is such a blessing!

The twins have been fighting a nasty virus, so we are in the healing process with them, I am sooo ready for a healthy household! I came down with an awful flu, and have yet to get completly rested :) But fall is here and we are all bound to come down with something ;(
Potty training slowly creaping in and is on the horizon...so to ME. that is a BIG deal!

Troy was able to take Anna fishing in the bay once and she LOVED it...even caught a fish with her daddy and her Papa (Dennis). But her favorite part was to drive the boat! And now he is ready for hunting season! He has gone once and is planning on going tomorrow with his Grandpa Reco. His big trip to Colorado is coming up right before Halloween... so he is doing his "Big Buck Dance" daily! (Such a power to positive thought! )

I am going to Weaverville in a couple of weeks for my scrapbooking trip, and am looking forward to getting away, and getting LOTS acomplished!

Well that's about it for tonight! More soon :)