Life with the Hinds'

HAPPY HALLOWEEN From Belle and Mickey Mouse!!

Warning...this is a very mommy bragger filled post. I am a proud momma today and am not ashamed to tell about my awesome kid...you've been warned.  Matt and I went to our first (of many) Parent/Teacher Conference last night. I admit to being a total dork because I was so excited to go. Imagine all the scrapbooking opportunities this will give me. Plus, hopefully, I would get to hear that my kid is pretty awesome and as amazing as we think she is. It's always nice to hear others tell you that, I admit it. Matt hurt his back, so he might not have been nearly as excited as me.  (I guess building a house and moving large sheets of plywood by yourself in tornadic winds is not a good idea)  OK, he doesn't get very excited about things like this, I do. Guess we balance each other out! Anyway, back to the conference and bragging on Peyton... Here it is...her first report card!! I may frame it. I can't believe we've gotten successfully through her first school quarter! Oh...

Mandy and I went to the school end of month assembly Wednesday morning. Adam got to go up for his birthday. He got a cookie. Then the whole school sang Happy Birthday to all the October Birthdays. He also got to stand up and be recognized for his perfect 1st quarter attendance! It was so exciting! I'm such a proud Aunt!! He took the microphone with confidence and said, "My name is Adam.  I am 6!!" It was pretty adorable. Mandy and I left feeling pretty pumped up for the day. Everyone was so excited and the band even played for them!

The Pre-K had an open house/family fun night Monday night. It was a fun evening. Kalee really enjoyed herself! She was especially excited to show Daddy her classroom. This was the first time he's been there! The teachers had lots of fun things to do for the kids. There was a painting area so the kids could paint a leaf. Mrs. Cooper helping Kalee Jo get all the white covered up! She got to make a macaroni and animal bead necklace. Daddy helped. Then as he tried to tie it, he dropped all the beads on the floor. He had to restring it! They had balls, frisbees, and different things in the gym to play with too. And, of course, the favorite...tricycles in the gym! Peyton was at dance...and to quote Adam, "missed all the fun!"

I made treats for Peyton's Halloween party today. I think they turned out pretty cute. Strawberry cupcakes with oreo ball pumpkins and eyeballs!! I hope the kids like them!

Yes, I am behind on picture posting. I have been more into house updates, so decided to devote a few days to my kids. Here we are at the Homecoming Parade. Mae and Kalee Jo. LOVING Mae's bow!! Kalee let Mae pick up the candy... Then held out her hand like Mae was supposed to give it to her! I told her not to be so lazy!! You want candy, get up there and get it yourself! Peyton, Adam and Davis At the PTO Fall Carnival. We only got to go for about an hour. The girls had a blast on all the blowups. The slide was the favorite. They went really fast and had no control over their bodies! Kalee almost looks scared, but she had so much fun! Peyton going crazy down the slide. Good thing her skirt had undershorts!! It was here that I realized Peyton is starting to really have friends. She found a girl in her class and wanted to play with her the whole time. Mommy, Daddy, and Kalee Jo are no longer cool enough!

Megan came to visit for a few days. She took the kids on a trip to China. Meet our flight attendant, Faye. They all had passports so they could get their tickets. They checked in and checked their luggage. Kalee had one bag to check, thank you. Peyton also had one bag...neither of them take after their mother. If I was going to China, I can only imagine how many bags I would have taken! Waiting in line to board the plane. Some of them spend their time digging for gold... Faye welcoming us to our flight. Are you digging her scarf? I thought so... Ready for take off. I think I got in trouble for being out of my seat to take this picture. Snack and drink service in flight. Almost to China... We landed and immediately went to get some food! Peyton is a total pro at chop sticks!! Kalee chooses to use them to stab. Something was hilarious...I'm not sure what! They made Chinese lanterns. Then settled in to watch Mulan with their leftover flight snacks! They had a blast with ...

In other house news... I have a garage floor! I have told Matt that I think his garage is bigger than my house. He just smiles. Then mentions how he would love a shed too... The bosses having a snack.   We have a subfloor.  I am a PRO at the nail gun. A Pro, I tell you. It makes me feel powerful. It is pretty much the only thing so far I have helped with. I had a 2 hour window of not being sick. That doesn't happen very often. Guess the baby decided I needed to help with the house too! Walls!!! Matt, Kevin and Pop worked hard one weekend and got nearly all exterior walls put up. It's so exciting. It actually looks like a house! On a side note... I did buy the girls skates. We took a trial run on Nan and Pop's patio. Peyton's skates ended up not fitting. Boo...  Kalee tried.  It didn't go well. Thank goodness Nan was helping!! I think the skate party will have to wait until they are a little more experienced!!

So...in 1881, my Great, Great Grandfather built this house... I've dreamed over this picture my whole life. I loved this house. (sorry it's not the best picture...it's a picture of a picture.) Here is the house and land shortly before my parents got the property. We think this was taken in 1971. The house was in poor repair. It had been vandalized and had sat empty for a few years. Mom and Dad decided to tear the house down in February of 1980. I was just a few weeks old! The cost of fixing it would have been more than building new. It had running water, but no bathroom... So they tore it down, took the lumber from it and reused it. They basically built their house from this one. Mom and Dad's front doors are the house's front doors. They kept the stairs. Score!! They were hung in Mark's barn. They were waiting for me and Matt! Matt wouldn't agree to building me a replica of the old house...I did ask, trust me! He did agree to using the stairs. I reconfigur...