Woody & Ariel

This picture is of the kids in front of Noah's school sign before we went into his party. He was too cool to smile in case someone was watching :)

We were at the soccer field last Saturday and an older gentleman who goes to our church came up to us and said "you will never regret the time you spend with your children now, when you are my age. If I could go back and spend even more time with them I would." How true is that. And boy did we need to hear it that day! It had been a fight to find shin guards, get Ella dressed, and make it to the field on time.

When we bought this house six years ago we loved it not just because of its character but because of the extra land that came with it. Matt had a "Field of Dreams" mentality, that he would one day be playing baseball on the extra acre with the kids. Well while it isn't baseball, it is getting used on a regular basis as a soccer field. Every week Matt takes Noah up to the field and works with him while Ella watches on from one of the playsets up there. This gives me time to finish dinner or take a break or simply go up and watch. I love how much they love playing and spending time together. All 3 of them!

Carving Pumpkins

Our annual tradition of picking out our pumpkins and carving them went well this year! We had an extra guest with us that day (Chevas) and he got to make one too. We love this time of year!

Visit with Papa & Nana Siak

Several weeks ago we met John & Kelly and LJ & the boys in Asheville to visit with everyone. The kids got to swim in the pool, we got to eat some fantastic pizza, and enjoy spending time with the grandparents.

Mid-Week Update

Well, the same story is playing out, I have pictures on my camera that I need to download, but do not have the patience to wait for them to load up on this old computer. So for now, here's a run down on what's going on at 860 Virginia Road...

• We are milking Halloween this year. Tonight we went to the Methodist church's Fall Festival. The kids loved dressing up, playing games, getting their face painted, and of course, winning candy. Tomorrow night we are going to the Fall Festival at Marion Elementary for a variety of events. Then this weekend we are participating in Trunk or Treat at Mud Creek with Matt's family (we did this last year and it was a blast). Therefore, we are getting our money's worth out of the Woody and Ariel costumes!
• I had a doctors appointment today. Our little peanut is doing well. It's heartbeat was strong. I've only gained four pounds so far this pregnancy and the doctor was pleased (My mantra is "30 minutes of cardio a day keeps the preecclampsia away). My blood pressure was 120/70 (fantastic!) and evidently nausea, acne, sleeplessness, etc are all considered "normal" carrying into my second trimester. I was a little disappointed that we will have to wait until 21 1/2 weeks to find out the gender of this peanut due to a back up of ultrasounds over Thanksgiving (we are scheduled for December 8th). Since being patient is one of my strong points (ah-hem), I will just have to wait.
• Noah's last soccer game is this week.
• We are gearing up for Ella's birthday celebration week that begins next Tuesday with her first party, one for she & her girlfriends at Chuck E Cheese. Aunt Rachel & HB will be coming in from Wed-Thurs, tons of Siaks & Cannons will be coming in on Saturday for her family party. And Nana Siak will be in on the following monday. We LOVE birthdays around here and are excited to celebrate as Ella turns 4!
• Matt and I are still revved up about the upcoming holiday seasons. Yes, we do put our tree up before Thanksgiving, and we can't wait to do it this year!

One more week to go!

This past Saturday Noah had his next to last Soccer game. He did so well! He got one goal, and almost a second (it was this ---- close!!). He's had such a fun season, and we're planning on signing him up for spring soccer too since he loves it so much.

This is how we do it.

I dread the dentist with the kids. Not so much for Noah's sake, he's always been a big boy, and we don't have to worry about him. But dear, sweet, over-dramatic Ella has had to be restrained on more than one occasion. We've walked out and paid for the visit, yet she has not received all the treatments we have paid for (i.e. painting the flouride on her teeth). Therefore, Matt has to lay on the chair with Ella on top of him just in case she decides to whack an instrument out of the the hygeniest hands or thrash around for awhile.

Yesterday was completely different. In fact she did so well, next time she gets to sit in the chair all by herself! It helps a lot to bribe her with free tattoos, toothbrush & toothpaste, silly bands, and stickers (they give out a complete party favor when the kids are done). We absolutely love our kids dentist and how patient they are with both our kids. Maybe next time Ella will be the pro that Noah has become in the chair. Until then, Matt is going to keep on napping in the chair...

The Phenomenon

My nose, early September

Current nose, today.

It happens every time. By the time I enter my 4th month, my nose starts to spread. My face takes on a different ethnicity. By the end of my pregnancy, my face is almost unrecognizeable. I thought I had a few more weeks before it started. This morning on the way to church I asked Matt if he thought my nose was spreading, and he said "a little bit." Months ago I had told my friend Jen to tell me when she thought my nose was starting to change. Today at Sylvie's birthday party she told me that the process had begun, without me even asking her. The proofs in the picture. The joys of pregnancy...

The first six weeks.

Evidently in Elementary school the students are evaluated and a report card is sent home every six weeks. Tonight I had Noah's Parent/Teacher conference and I got to hear exactly what I already knew. Noah is brilliant :) He is testing above average in almost every category. And on his report card he got the prestigious V (Very Impressed) in citizenship. His teacher said he is an example for the other children in the class, and she recognizes his good behavior on a regular basis in front of the other children. She told me she caught him staring and smiling at her yesterday and went over and asked him if he needed something. He told her no. I asked him what he was doing, and he said she looked very pretty that day and that he simply likes his teacher.

Tonight we were snuggling and I told him I wanted him to be there to find out if the baby is a boy or girl in a few weeks. He told me he didn't want to go because he didn't want to miss school :) Then after thinking about it he said if we just went to the appointment, and then I brought him back to school, he would probably go.

I hope this love for learning and school continues as long as possible! And no matter what the outcome or what it says for the grade period, he will always be absolutely brilliant to me.

Gymnastics

Ella started her very first gymanastics class today! After walking at the greenway, Kim convinced me to come and check out preschool gymnastics at the Rec Department. Several of Ella's friends attend the class - Carter, Owen, and Turner. She had so much fun! Hopefully this will help her combat any "Scoggins uncoordination" she might have inherited. :)

The Greenway

Marion is moving on up. We got a new greenway (paved nature trail) in town that is so peaceful! Today we met Kim, her parents, and Carter to walk the trail. It's 1.6 miles and the kids did great! At the end Meredith decided she needed to walk for awhile. It was so fun!

Noah... my star

I had a mom moment today. The kind where you are smiling from the inside out. Pride. Big time pride. Noah got a speaking part and a solo in the Christmas play! I cannot tell you how excited I am and how proud I will be on that special night (December 5th, by the way). I will have every electronic piece of equipment we have available and probably borrow some more in order to document this glorious event when my son shines on that stage... I just wanted to let you know. Now me and my permagrin are headed to pick him up from practice...

I have been told I need therapy.

Every year in October I break out the Christmas music. Mid November I put up my tree because I want the full 6 weeks of Christmas decorations in my house. There's nothing better than the pine smell of a yankee candle, my tree with it's 100s of mish-mosh ornaments, my nutcrackers on the piano, decorating cookies and the excuse to eat extra sweets, all the movies we break out during the season, and the simple joy of knowing it's Christmas time around the corner. Yesterday Noah had the day off of school, and we went to Lowe's to push all the buttons on all the animated toys, look at the trees, and the gawdy inflatable lawn ornaments.

So I might need therapy. But I don't think so. I think I'm genetically inclined to love Christmas (I blame my mother and my grandmother). And if it makes the day a little sweeter, go ahead and bring on the season early.

Our visit with Benjamin

Last Saturday we got the joy of going to spend some time with Joey, Rebecca, and Benjamin. That little man is just plain adorable! All day Noah had told me he was going to hold him first, but of course I scooped him up as soon as we got there. Noah did get to hold him and was so sweet and loving to him. We love that family!

The camera is in the car.

I have some pictures to upload, but the camera is still sitting in between the front two seats, and I have yet to bring it in. So here's a quick update on whats been going on in the Siak household.

• Grandma is home from the hospital. Be in prayer that the many blood clots in her body will break up. Mom is doing a lot of traveling back and forth so be in prayer for her too!
• Last weekend we got to visit with Baby Ben (and Joey & Rebecca). He's is so adorable and sweet and snuggly. Pictures will be up soon.
• Noah scored TWO GOALS again last Saturday in his soccer game!!! We are so proud of him!
• Noah also started practice for his very first Christmas musical. He came home Friday talking about it non-stop. We are blessed to have a church member as his 1st grade teacher, and she is also the person in charge of the Christmas musical. I couldn't help but brag about his perfect pitch when I dropped him off at practice...
• With all the talk about the Christmas musical, I decided to break out the Christmas music. It's never too early to get in the spirit!
• Matt is nearing the end of his baseball season and we will all be glad to have him home on the weekends. He's having too much fun playing though!
• Ella had preschool today and they got to take sleeping bags and flashlights for a campout. She loved it!
• Noah had a fieldtrip today to Hollywild and I'm so glad I didn't have to go with him! (It's the place where you drive through and feed animals through the window - gross).
• Ella is my big helper and she started getting allowance too this week. She's having a hard time not understand why $1 won't buy a new baby doll, but we are excited about teaching her about saving up for prizes.
• I was put on Zofran (anti-nausea pregnancy drug) and it has helped a lot with my stomach.
• I took a Baby Gender Predictor Test on the internet and it said we are having a boy. We'll see next month.
  
• And we entered our 2nd trimester of this pregnancy.

We are blessed to be so busy. And yet have time to enjoy each other. I love everything about "The Siak Four + One."

My heart exploded

Hot and sweaty, taking a break.

Saturday Noah had his second game. We were blessed to have extra cheerleaders, Granny, Barry, Mark, and Gabe were there. During the game Noah got not just one, but TWO GOALS!!! And they were the only two goals scored by his team!!! We were so proud! All of us were screaming and jumping up each time, we looked like quite the "soccer parents." All week we have talked about how awesome Noah did and how perfectly he made those kicks. I'm so proud of my little man!

Noah is #5