Snow

I really don't know what I am worried about when it comes to the snow here in Buffalo. It snowed in Connecticut and we were able to manage fine. I know that it probably snows more here and for longer but really it is the same...cold and white. Right? I am trying to embrace it and will attempt to get the kids skiing and snowboarding this year to keep us busy. The kids are really excited about skiing and I only hope that once they get out there that their excitement will continue so that we can go more than once.
Miranda was notified that she made the travel soccer team. She begins indoor practice this January. She is really doing well in school but we still have our moments when I know that she misses her friends in Simsbury.
Isabella, Aaron, and Elijah are doing great at school. They really can't get enough and want to do more "homework" when they get off the bus. It is really fun to see them learn things so quickly and eagerly.
Whenever I miss our lives in Connecticut I just remind myself of the many blessings I have to be thankful for......my family, our friends, our health, and the love we have for eachother.

October

Josh and I took the kids to The Great Pumpkin Farm in Clarence, NY and it was such a great experience. There was a magic show, hay rides, a spooky Boo Barn, carnival rides, crafts, face painting and of course pumpkin picking. We had a great time or so I thought. The next day Elijah and Aaron went on a field trip to a closer (and smaller) pumpkin farm with not as many amenities. When they got off the bus I asked them which farm they liked better and they said with such enthusiasm "Zittler's was the best". I guess we will try that one next year.

First Day of School

The first day of school went fine for the kids, they seemed to have adjusted fine. Two weeks into it at Nativity, the transition was very challenging for Miranda. She was overwhelmed with hours of homework at night and the complexities of fitting in at a new smaller school seemed too much for us to handle. So with much deliberation we moved Mir to the public school and into 4th grade and we knew at once that we had made the right decision because everything flowed so much better. A week after that we moved the other kids to the public school so that we could be at one location and begin to establish community. It took a while but now all the kids are fine and into a grove.

Miranda's Birthday

We were lucky enough to have Josh's mom Sam come out for Mir's 10th Birthday. We had a really great visit with grandma Sam which included a drive out to Niagra Falls. And as a special treat we had a visit from our old neighbors the Mahers from Simsbury. Miranda's friend Brenna from Simsbury remembered her birthday and sent a Maroon 5 poster. The thoughtfulness from our family and friends really made Miranda's birthday special.

Late Summer

The kids start school in two weeks and I feel a little torn. On one side, I am eager for them to start school to meet other kids and on the other side I know how busy our family can be when school and activities begin. This summer started out as a challenge for the kids because they were not used to spending so much time together and they tormented each other so much I thought I was going to lose my mind. But as time went on they realized that their siblings were all they had and now they disappear playing for hours with each other. Miranda and Bella camped out in my closet last night after much effort to create the perfect fort.

Aaron taught himself to swim this year and is very proud of himself. He is jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side with no problems. Elijah is fine as a spectator sitting in the sun (when we have it!!!!). It has been really rainy here this summer with temperatures in the 70's, I really hope that this is not a precursor to the winter we have ahead of us.

Josh is busy too. He is now a regular in a hockey league and he just started playing beach volleyball with his co-workers. Last night was the first volleyball game and the kids and I went to watch and it felt a little weird walking into a bar called Flattery with four kids in tow. It was fun though, almost like watching Olympic beach volleyball.

As for me, I think that I might of caught a huge break moving to NY. I was thinking of what I could do to keep busy and I planned on going back to school for my masters in Accounting in order to sit for the CPA. Well, as I looked into it further, I discovered that NY is one of the very few states that has not implemented the requirement for a masters in order to take the CPA. The requirement does change August 2009 so I have a year to get ready for the test. Still pretty hard, just a shorter road to the goal.

Our camera was broken for most of the summer so I don't have too many pictures but here are some......

Still Here....

I have been told that I need another post and sometimes that is exactly what I need- a kick in the butt to get things going.

It has been a relaxing summer with the kids as we really don't have that much of an agenda. We are enjoying the luxury of lazy mornings playing at home. By lunch the kids want to "do something" so we usually get out of the house.

Josh got the kids their own poles and now fishing is on the top of the list of things they want to do. Yesterday, we went to Green Lake to fish. Miranda was the expert helping us all with casting and fishing etiquette. Bella was the only one to catch a fish. As soon as she caught it we all ran to her - Bella caught hold of the fish but as soon as it moved she panicked and dropped it on the ground. It started to flop around under my feet and I did the freak out fish dance trying to get away from it. By now all the other fishers in the area were probably wondering why we were fishing in the first place and hoping that we would all be quiet as to not scare all the fish away. Thank God the fish unhooked itself and flopped back in the water to save itself because we were obviously of no use. No one else caught a fish and that's a good thing.

The girls and I went to see Kit Kittridge which was a great movie for all especially those with a little American Girl interest. It was a real treat going to a movie with out Elijah who want to go home 3/4Th's through any movie.

That's about it for now. I hope that everyone is well and enjoying the summer.

First Post

This is my first attempt at blogging. I am a procrastinator by nature so of course I waited until the night before my sister left on a plane back to Florida to write my first post. It didn't help that for most of her visit with me it was the two of us keeping 8 kids busy and fed. I wouldn't say that it was time wasted, I would much rather hold my nieces and spend time with my sister than sit in front of a computer. A lot was accomplished in her 3 week visit - a trip to Canada and the Falls, a fun-filled day at Darrien Lake Six Flags, a rainy day at the Zoo, Explore and More Museum for the little kids, Flag Football camp for the big kids, a birthday party for three (Aaron, Elijah, and cousin Monica), and many trips swimming. It was fun but now it is time for me to say goodbye to her and the kids and for me to start making a life for us here in our new town.

So far, the people that I have meet have been very nice and welcoming. We were invited to a neighborhood pool party, the kids had a blast and we meet many nice families. However, the invitation said to bring an appetizer and Carrie, my sister, made a taco dip for me to take saying that everyone loves taco dip. So I brought it to the party with 6 kids in tow only to discover that there were 4 other taco dips on the table. Really what are the chances?

I hope that you check back once in a while to get the lowdown on us Livingstons. If you miss us be sure that we miss you too.