THANKSGIVING 2014

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday. I know we should say thank you as often as possible throughout the year, but if we forget from time to time, we can always make up the difference and say one great big thank you on Thanksgiving! hahahah.

We had a wonderful Turkey Day! We started the thanksgiving season off with a turkey lunch at Khyri's school. The food was surprisingly good! We had turkey, stuffing, veggies and cranberry sauce. Decked out in his pilgrim hat, Khyri chowed down :-)

Khyri's class did a mini skit that talked about the differences between life back in pilgrim days and life now. Khyri's group talked about food. 

At the end of the skit, we were invited to use some butter, that the kids had made earlier in the day, and put it on cornbread. It was tasty! I liked all of the Thanksgiving festivities, but I did notice that it was all about Pilgrims. Unless I'm mistaken, two parties sat down for the Thanksgiving dinner... Pilgrims and Native Americans... They were not represented at all. I need to follow up and ask Khyri's teacher why Native Americans weren't included. Let's not try to rewrite history folks...

For another class project, Khyri had to decorate a turkey, so we went on a nature walk and gathered items from around the neighborhood to use as the feathers. We got dirt, cattails, bark, leaves, and acorns.

It was so heavy I had to reinforce it with some poster board. I think it turned out pretty well! Kielle had to create a board about her family for the thanksgiving holiday. Now I gotta admit I went over board. It was just supposed to be a simple poster or maybe a picture but what do I put together...

I promise in 2015 I will scale back my over crafting :-)

For the actual turkey day, I set my menu and the kids helped me cook. We made all the standard sides and ordered the fried turkey from Copelands. My friend Jennifer came by and shared in the festivities bringing some corn that was to die for. Overall, thanksgiving was super fun and yummy!

Next year I'll dress up the table with a table cloth and a runner, but this was as good as I could get :-) After dinner, Jennifer snapped some family photos...

The Mosleys 2014

We truly  have a lot to be thankful for. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

DRESSING UP IS SO MUCH FUN

October brings falling leaves, cooler weather and of course - Halloween! This year we were a little behind due to Kadir's arrival, but we were still able to get some dressing up in!

I decorated the house with ghosts 3 ghosts hanging from our front tree. Instead of white sheets (we don't need to harken deep south circa 1900s) I purchased an orange table cloth from dollar tree. I used the balls that we had in the backyard and hung them from the tree - voila! simple and cheap. I also went to Aldi and bought three large pumpkins for $3.99. Now this was definitely the way to go. These pumpkins added so much decoration to the front of the house. The decoration that made the most impact however was the spider web cotton from dollar tree. two bags of that stuff and we covered the whole front yard.

We kicked off the dress up season with the Hubby's fall work picnic. In addition to cotton candy, train rides, jumpy houses, and good BBQ, there were face painters onsite.

Khyri was Spiderman and Kielle was a fairy princess. This fairy princess face would prove to be the beginning of Kielle's princess infatuation phase (more to come with the Christmas post).

Kielle had multiple outfits during this Halloween season. For her school parade on Wednesday, she was Zoe from Sesame Street. Check her out rocking heels!

Then for her ballet class she had a special Halloween themed dance outfit with festive tights and a black and orange tut.

Then finally for Halloween she was ... you guessed it - Elsa. I swear every little girl was Elsa this year. Disney had everyone drinking the Koolaid :-) Nana Yvie even spruced her outfit up with a glow in the dark tiara!

Before heading out for some candy, with our friend Sidney, the munchkins sat down for a quick bite - and I mean quick. They were too excited to go trick or treating :-)

We had a few treaters come by the house and the kids liked handing out candy, but that was short lived - the real action was out on the streets! So after bundling up, it was drizzling, and getting Kadir snug in the Maya Wrap, Elsa, The Construction Engineer, and Batman headed out for some goodies.

This new neighborhood is awesome! These people go all out decorating their houses and handing out candy. I can only imagine how much better it would have been if the weather was nice. We went house to house for about 45 minutes and then it started raining too hard and we high tailed it back inside. Halloween was for the big kids, but we did have a mini Halloween celebration for Kadir.

We hosted a Sip & See for Kadir since we didn't have a baby shower earlier. We played Halloween bingo and the kiddos went trick or treating from room to room upstairs. It was really nice and Kadir was in his glory :-)

We did end up dressing him for All Hallows Eve as a mummy :-)

He's too cute to be scary though :-) hahahahahhaha

TOUCH THE TRUCKS?!? YES PLEASE

There are so many cheap fun events for kids in Metro Atlanta. Back in October we went to an event sponsored by Cobb County which promoted safety for children. The event was called Touch the Trucks. It was held in the parking lot of Towne Center Mall in Kennesaw. The sky was overcast, so it wasn't too crowded which meant short lines and plenty of time for fun - instead of whining :-)

The hubby and I were extremely pleased with the hands on attention the safety officers gave the children. It was a great for them to learn not only about the vehicles, but also the different people they can go to if they are in need of help.

Khyri looooooooooves trucks! I mean loooooooves! He knows all the "regular" trucks - bulldozer, steam roller, dump truck, etc. but he straight up wows you when he gets to talking about mini profilers, diggers, excavators, and backhoes. So he was on CLOUD 9 when he spotted this ...

 

In addition to the "worker trucks", there was also a news van onsite that the munchkins could go inside. They got to see how things looked on the new stations. I think they just liked pressing all of the colored buttons :-)

There were fire trucks, school buses, Fedex trucks, telephone repair trucks, garbage trucks, and even helicopters!

For $20 for a family of five, this was a great afternoon outing. The kids left with hard hats and exposure to a bunch of possible careers! This is how I love spending Saturdays :-)

SOOOOOO YUMMY

I cannot stop kissing Kadir's cheeks! He is just so yummy :-)
The last month we have been adjusting to having a new little person in the house. Kadir rarely cries and is a nursing champ! For his first month check up, he had already gained 2l pounds!

We welcomed Kadir home with fanfare and excitement!

He wasn't impressed :-)

But we just can't keep our eyes... and lips off him!

Sometimes the attention goes to his head!

GQ - Kadir

But he can't stop being a part of this loving family... and since he's still small, we will kiss him a much as we want!

LABOR DAY - A DAY OF REST?

My labor day 2014 was anything but relaxing :-) I began feeling strong contractions on Sunday August 31st in the morning around 11am. I told the hubby to call his friends Erica and Marcus and put them on alert. My biggest scheduling concern with Cinco was what was going to happen with Khyri and Kielle when it was "go time" so I started lining things up - putting the extra carseats out, making snack bags, etc. just in cases we had to head out.

Things got pretty intense around 1:30pm, but then I was so exhausted I took a nap. When I woke up, all was calm. No strong contractions, no nothing. Ok! So I proceeded on with my day and hung out with the family, catching up on housework here and there. I tried to jump start labor again by deep cleaning the upstairs bathrooms and vacuuming the top level of the house to no avail.  Cinco was chilling.

Nighttime came and the hubby put the munchkins to bed. All was calm until around 11pm. I felt contractions again and decided I should watch the timing. Sure enough they were 11 minutes apart. I really felt it was "go time" now because these contractions were different; they were lower and towards my back so I put my  body on high alert. I texted Auntie around 12:45am and asked if she was awake; she lives 5 minutes away so I knew she could come hep if needed. She got all excited and I warned - well it may not be tonight. I was feeling contractions this morning and they went away so don't get too excited. I decided that if the contractions got closer I would let her know.

I called her back at 1:15am.

The contractions were consistently coming at 5 minutes away now and lasting one minute so it was time to head to the hospital. I placed my backup call and told hubby lets get going. While I'm kissing the munchkins and whispering "Tomorrow you will have a little brother or sister." in their ears, I see hubby running back and forth between rooms. Guess who didn't have nair a bag packed and ready for the hospital!?!?! Nope. not me - the hubby. When I say nothing! He's running around grabbing stuff and I'm just looking with astonishment on my face. This is our THIRD child! I've been pregnant for 10 MONTHS and you are just now remembering that we may need X,Y and Z for the hospital? My bag has been packed and in the car for 2 weeks now - you watched me pack my bag! Why didnt you get your life right then!?!? Sigh.

My attitude was changing and I was not in the mood - yup I was getting ready for labor! ahahhahah

It was taking Auntie longer than usual to get to the house. I figured she got pulled over for speeding - I was right! ahahhahaha. Apparently she ran a red light trying to get to the house. Luckily the police officer believed her when she said she was coming to assist a friend in labor :-) One time for Smyrna PD. Literally as she pulled into the driveway, I handed her the keys and me and the hubby pulled out.

The drive was fine; the roads were empty. I was feeling good because I felt we had enough time to get to the hospital safely this time *flashback to 1/13/2011* We pulled up to the Women's Center and wouldn't you know it the parking lot/ drop off area is under construction. Minor panic, but no big deal we'll just park a little farther away - we have time. So we parked and I walked ever so slowly to the building, stopping twice to ride through contractions. We go to the front desk and I answer some questions. I think because I was so calm everyone else was calm. Nobody seemed to be in any sort of STAT readiness. hahaha.

We head up to the second floor. I'm still feeling good. The contractions are harder, but nothing to cry out about. I got to the labor desk and even joke with the lady , "This is our third baby we like coming here ahahha." This is going to be a smooth delivery.

Straight into triage and I strip down and hop on the table - still smiling and  laughing. The nurse comes in and checks my cervix. 4cm and 70% effaced. Hmmmm not what I was thinking... or feeling for that matter. But ok if you say so! I go to the bathroom and weigh myself, because at this point I'm bored. 4cm could mean a long time to wait until 10cm. I was still feeling strong contractions, but she said 4cm, so apparently it was all in my head. I do design; she does babies. I'll take her word for it. I waddled my 195lb butt back to the triage room. What is taking so long!??! This is why I did not want to come to the hospital early - waiting. They asked if I wanted pain meds I said no.

Scratch that - YES! The contractions are coming strong and heavy now. Every 2 minutes apart. I feel like I can not catch my breath. I'm hitting my doggy stance rocking back and forth, hubby is rubbing my lower back, what the hell is happening?!!?! If this is 4 daggone centimeters - give me some drugs! It is way too early in the morning and I'm already exhausted. If I have to ride through contractions like this for another hour or so I am not gonna make it. This cannot be 4cm!

Newsflash - I'm going through tranistion. This is the worst part of labor. But I can't reconcile the 4cm and transition; they don't go together. Let me squat down and get into a more comfortable position. WOOSH - my water broke. Oh hell to da naw... I've been duped! 4cm?!?! You a lie! Now its time to panic because 1. Nobody is in the room and they all still think I'm damn 4cm and 2. Its GO TIME!

I'm yelling "My water broke!.. My water broke!. They're all calm ok.. "No big deal we'll get a wheelchair." There is blood and fluid all on the bed, my feet and hubby's feet. The Mosleys like to leave a mark! When that lady (she's just a regular old lady now because I don't think y'all know what you're doing... You can't be trusted. So, no nurse for you - just lady) comes into the room I look her square in the eye and say, "When I had my daughter she came 10 minutes after my water broke. We need to hurry up."

I don't know if it was the 10 minute warning or the look of death I gave that woman and everyone else that came into the room, but all of a sudden folks started snapping into action. Mind you, I'm still in the damn triage room. They hadn't even moved me to a delivery room yet. So I manage to slide into the wheelchair and this fool is asking me do I want my shoes on... what the hell!?!? shoes?? LADY - if you don't get me into a delivery room I swear I will hit you with this daggone shoe - just roll me damnit!

Down the hall we go. The cold air feels soooooooo good. I'm actually calm for a moment, which is nice. We enter the room and I say, "I need to go to the bathroom." She says, "Pee or Poop." "Pee." Fine. I go in. As soon as I hit that toilet I'm trying to poop - BIG NO NO... I start pushing. I don't know why she let me in there - rookie. I'm in an irrational state at this point all I want to do is get this baby out and you let me go to the bathroom? She comes rushing in - Hubby pulls me off the toilet. No baby in toilet today. I don't know why, but as I get off the toilet I reach back there and wouldn't you know it - a head! yup a head!

I look up still hunching over, literally trying to keep this baby in, and say, "This baby is coming now." I'm not screaming - I'm just putting y'all on notice. If you wanna roll with the Mosleys then you better come the hell on cuz this train is bound for delivery is T minus 5... 4... Everyone in the room screams NOOOO. Oh so now y'all are pressed?!? Why all the yelling you ask? Why in a room full of professional nurses can't I deliver this baby!?!? Well because THERE IS NO DOCTOR. These folks still have not called the doctor to my room yet! Well of course not - I was at 4cm. Hmph. What in the world!?!? So here I lay on the bed and they keep saying - dont' push. don't push. Has anybody got a hold of Dr. Whatsherface? Tell her mom is 100% complete. She's ready to deliver. The Doctor is not answering. WHAAAT!?!?! So I'm panicking. Somebody up in this camp is gonna put their nursing degree to use to-night!

I'm turn over on my side stare at hubby, grab onto the railing, and squeeze my legs closed. He's saying don't push. I'm saying don't push. Everybody's saying don't push!

Don't push. Don't push. Don't push. My body is telling me to push. Don't push. I'm pushing. This baby is coming. I swing my legs open and out pops a head into the nurse's hands - because the doctor still has not gotten into the room. One more push and we hear a cry :-)

It's A BOY!

On Monday, September 1, 2014 at 3:14am Kadir Lafayette Mosley arrived weighing 6lbs 15oz.

 

I worked hard on Labor Day, but Kadir came right on time - even if the doctor didn't! :-)

WHAT'S YOUR GUESS?!?!

We are anxiously waiting for Cinco to arrive! I've been having minor contractions and everything is prepared for when we come home from the hospital.

LITERAL LIONEL

Ok so Khyri is really coming into his own. He loves asking questions and talking about the world around him. As his preschool teacher, Ms.Wakiaa, used to say "Khyri knows everything about everything!" ahhahaha

Anyway, we've had a few funny interesting encounters with Khyri because he is very literal.

While speaking with a woman in a store
Woman: How old are you?
Khyri: I'm Five.
Woman: Do you think you are having a little brother or little sister?
Khyri with the serious "Are you kidding me lady stare? : I'm not having either. My mommy is having my little sister I think.
Woman: Oh you're right! You are so smart.
Khyri: I can't have babies; I'm a boy.


Coloring in Kindergarten class:
*There is a picture that Khyri colored in class. The teacher wrote a note on it saying that "People are not purple and dogs are not green."
Me: Hey Khyri, let's work on redoing this classwork. What does this note say?
Khyri: It says "People are not purple and dogs are not green."
Me: Do you know what that means?
Khyri: *Blank Stare*
Me: If you don't I can explain it.
Khyri: I don't know what that means.
Me: Ok well, when we walk around do we see purple people?
Khyri: No.
Me: What color are dogs? Are they green?
Khyri: No, they are brown, black and white.
Me: So why did you color the person purple? Why did you color the dog green?
Khyri: Mommy, the directions said "color the picture." I used purple and green.
Me: why did you choose purple and green?
Khyri: My favorite color is green and Kielle's favorite color is purple.
Me: But you understand that the teacher wanted you to color in the picture as if it was real life?
Khyri: Now I do, but that's not what the directions said. I didn't know I had to pick certain colors.

Math in Kindergarten class
Teacher: Khyri you need to do your math practice
Khyri: I don't want to
Teacher: You have a choice; do your math or go to the office.
Khyri: I choose the office.

At doing the unfinished classwork
Me: Khyri what do the instructions say?
Khyri: It says to draw a duck (grabbing for the brown marker)
Me: I think the teacher is expecting a yellow duck
Khyri: Ducks are not yellow.
Me: Well rubber ducks are.
Khyri: In real life ducks are not yellow. When we go to the duck pond, the ducks are brown.
Me: You're right. Well let's just draw a yellow rubber ducky to satisfy your teacher.
 
At home discussing the infamous Principal's Office visit
Me: You got sent to the office?
Khyri: Yes, I was given the choice
Me: But you do not want to go to the office Khyri. That's not a good choice. Do you understand why you should have focused and done your math work?
Khyri: No, she gave me a choice; I made my choice.
Me to Daddy: I don't even know what to say.

So my Kindergarten son sat in the Vice Principal's office for 45 minutes on Friday because it was never explained to him that the office is not supposed to be a place you want to go to. Its supposed to be a place of punishment. and the thing is, now he knows that nothing really goes on in the office.  He got to sit there and talk with the Vice Principal and read some books. He is not pressed at all. To him, he simply was given the option and he chose the office, because math was too easy - might as well see what the other option holds right!??!

*sigh* this is going to be a LONG year.