10 days

I am getting ready!!!! Ben leaves tomorrow for deer hunting and he will be gone until next Sunday. Not this coming Sunday but the following. That is a long time to be "on my own". Now you would like that I would be getting use to it by now but I am not sure I ever will. Each year the kids get older it is easier but for some reason it continues to get harder to to discuss him leaving. I think it has a lot to do with the kids being pretty aware of Daddy leaving and that makes both Ben and I a little sad. It is also an adventure every time and I do enjoy the special time I have with all the kids and some of the fun stuff we have planned. I also want to say I could not really do this "on my own" and Thank God for my super family and for my in-laws as well. They are all very helpful. On that note it is going to be a busy 10 days. November has been crazy so far the way it is. I got to go to my first work conference on the 1st and 2nd in the Dells. It was an overnight thing and I actually learned a ton and had a super time overall. We got to do some shopping - O.k. I did a lot of shopping! Ben held down the fort at home and everyone survived. I may have to find some more out of town trainings to attend!!! Then we squeezed in the St. Peter's pizza fundraiser complete with making and delivering pizzas, Rettler Family Thanksgiving celebration , our newest niece Abigail's baptism, and a weekend trip up North to celebrate Grandpa Gerald's Birthday. I have even found some time to start (literally just started tonight) getting out some Christmas decorations. I am getting excited that Christmas is just around the corner. I get nervous thinking about all the stuff to do but then I realize it will all get done - it always does. And every year it has gotten easier because the kids can and like to help with decorations and making cookies and stuff. It is so fun to watch their excitement. Shopping is getting harder though. The kids have so much already! I am looking forward to my next update about our x-mas picture session, cookie decorating, a couple of Thanksgivings day celebrations and some black Friday shopping all within my 10 days of single parenting. Wish me luck! And not to forget some luck for Ben at getting a big BUCK!

Could not post without a few photos!

Cameron enjoying the new falling snow Up North!

Calvin is working as usual - even in the snow!

Clayton getting ready for his snowball fight!


The partial snowman that the kids made with Grandpa Gerald.
Ok, Grandpa made it and the kids watched.

The kids Thanksgiving Tree project Up North.

Kenzie - I sure hope this is not a vision of what is to come in our future.

I like to think she just missed her princess chair from home and needed a new throne!!!!

Kenzie - Looking good in hats! Having fun!

I am also going to try and make a goal of blogging some of the funny things that get said in this house everyday.

Today it was at dinner when Cal announced that he could not have much soda because it would make him hyper. It was funny. Guess we must have told him that one.