Every year we head up to Mueller Park On the Sunday of the October Conference for a family picnic with Chad's family.  We love going there and taking pics of the kids. 

Gratitude...

So we have had such a couple of months.  Chad's company he works for is restructuring the sales team and whole company actually.  So last month there was a conference call letting everyone know they were going to be doing lay offs and that everyone should be recieving a letter of either an offer or that they are let go.  The letters would be sent out by Nov.23.  Needless to say Everyone was freaking out.  Chad talked to everyone in his region almost daily.  Speculations were flying. 
We personally were about 98% sure  Chad would be one let go.  The thing was Chad has already been hired by this Financial company and is studying for tests that he has to take and pass before they can contract him.  So the lay off would have been good because Chad could have taken the Severence Package and we would have had health insurance through until the baby was born and would have pay up until he got the tests done with and contracted with the new company.  I thought this is okay Chad was going to quit anyway.  The problem you may ask.....  I have been struggling with Chad quitting Nutro and goint to work at the Finance place because it is Commission based.  We would be taking a HUGE Risk financially, losing his company car, (leaving us with one car) And a new baby all in just months.  I was freaking out.... I prayed and felt like everything was going to be okay and that what ever Chad decides to do we were going to be just fine.  I held on to that feeling and am really leaning on faith.  Well Nutro decided not to send out letters and that they were meeting personally with each person to let them know of their fate.. Chad walked in on Monday ready to accept the Severence package.  Walked out of the meeting with a dagger in his chest... why? because they offered him a new position and because they offered the position he could not take the Severence if he didn't want to accept.  So he has no choice but to stay on with Nutro for insurance and pay untill the Baby is born. 

My turmoil:  What does the  lord want us to do?  On one hand it is a miracle that he was offered a position.  His old boss was even shocked not because of Chad's work but because they are letting go of so many people.  People that have been with the company for 15 plus years and a lot people are asked to relocate.  So it looks like a blessing from the lord that he was offered a position that also allows us to stay here.  But then it is also a miracle he was hired at AXA the financial place because everyone there has a degree in finance and is right out of college and start there.  Chad has no finance background or a degree and he doesn't know why they hired him.  So is that the lord telling Chad that he should go into this field?

Chad's turmoil:  He really wants to do the Financial thing.  It is where his heart is and he really wants to go into this field.  But he knows we have a baby coming so he understands my concerns with the commission based job.  He is very confident in his ability to do this new job.  Understands the economy is crazy but is a very faith driven person.  He is really not liking Nutro.  He hates Corporate America and is really a Self Employed type person which is why he has always been happiest owning his own buisness and doing his own thing.  He says is the lord testing us to see if we will take the risk? 

I wonder if the lord wants us to take risks? 

Anyway too much thinking is bad I think.  Anyway just needed to let it all out.

Kids do the darndest things.....

Just had to post some funny things Karleigh has said today....
While at Smith's marketplace we were shopping for a baby gift for my brother and sisterinlaw and Karleigh kept picking up things and saying " mom my baby sister want this"  IT was so cute.  I let her pick out the outfit to bring her home in.  It will be a very cruel cruel trick if this baby comes out a boy. 

Warning this funny thing may be TMI but funny nonetheless so skip this if you don't want to be grossed out....

Later while at Smith's I had to use the restroom.  Karleigh came in with me and stood behind me next to the flusher handle.  She says "oh mom you poop" I said yes Shhhhh please whisper.  Then she tells me to scoot back on the potty I said no I am okay she said "no mom I not want to see your poop"  I am laughing and tell her to move to the front of me.  Next she says I get you a wipe mom  she reaches in my purse and she precedes to tell me she will wipe me.  I say Shhhhh no mommy can do it herself.  All the while trying to hush her, not laugh, and decide if I should stay in there until the other ladies leave or just hurry out.

While making dinner tonight Kar comes in from outside and looks at the stove and says mom what you making  with a confused look on her face because nothing was on the stove... then says what that smell in my nose mom... I chuckle and say that smell in your nose is dinner and showed her it was cooking in a pan on the counter.  I thought it was cute.  the smell in her nose.  she is so cute!!!!!

Halloween

Karleigh was going to be thing 1 but I never got her shirt made.  So she was a chicken.  The cutest little chicken I ever saw.  She would go around saying  "bak, bak, bak"  and flapping her wings.  So cute. 

Colton chose the Cat and the Hat thanks to PBS that has the show now.  And Preston was thing 2. He was very specific that he was Thing 2 not Thing 1,  I am not sure why that is.  Needless to say we had a Great Halloween.  Probably my favorite year so far.!!!!!

Pumpkin Carving

Our Good friends the Squires and Nichols invited us over for Chili, breadsticks, and rootbeer.  And of course carving pumpkins.  Chad grew some massive pumpkins this year in the garden and we were not going to carve them but decorate them with vinyl but the kids decided to carve them.  It was a lot of fun.  We loved being with friends.

Preston's parade

Here is Preston he was Thing 2.  This is at his school for the parade in the morning.  He loved his costume and it was so simple it cost me 5.00 to make.  Love it. 

Isn't he soooo cute!

Colton's Preschool Party

Leaving for Preschool

making spider cupcakes

singing 5 little pumpkins

Colton's Preschool had a really cute Halloween party.  The kids had a lot of fun playing musical chairs, decorating cupcakes, playing don't eat pete, and trick or treating door to door.  They sang a cute little song and then we went home.

Colton is loving preschool and I am so glad.  He can't wait to start kindergarten next year so he can go to Preston's school.