Happy Thanksgiving.

Kevin had to work in the morning, and the rest of us slept in (for a little bit anyway). Most of the morning was actually normal - family prayer, family scripture reading, some kids had school stuff to do, I fed the baby... After breakfast the kids read books and played while I made lunner. We enjoyed Cornish hens, sweet potatoes, real mashed potatoes, stuffing, and fruit salad. Everyone was pretty full after all that yummy food! They were all very excited to head outside to play in the snow! There was about 1/2 of an inch of snow and they were delighted!

 

I actually got Harmonie into Ben's first snow suit. It's a little big but it worked. She was so excited to be going outside. The boots she ended up with were a little big because I didn't find the smaller ones until she was already outside. It was fun to watch the kids playing, sledding, shoveling, and having a good time together.

I was going to make an apple pie but was a little worried about the age of our canned filling or using Gala apples instead of Granny Smith. I decided on cherry instead. While it baked the kids watched a movie. After the movie was over, and the pie had cooled to an eatable temperature, we all enjoyed eating the pie and talking about what we are thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Happy Halloween

I decided to start the morning off with some jack-o-lantern pancakes. I colored them orange(ish) and tried to make chocolate chip faces. That didn't work out as well as I wanted, so I just darkened some of the batter and made awesome, one-of-a-kind faces on each pancake. They were fun!

We spent most of the day doing school stuff. I did entice the kids with a movie at 2:00 in hopes that it would motivate them to get their work done. It sort of worked. My visiting teachers came and were a little disruptive - only because my kids love to visit with them as well, and they had goodies for the kids.

It has been rainy all day so I wasn't so sure about trick-or-treating. Well, let's be fair... We don't live on a street that is trick-or-treatable so I feel a little odd just driving to some other neighborhood to pick up candy from strangers just because of this odd holiday. I did find out that the Bridgeport Historical Society was sponsoring a Trunk-or-Treat near by but with the yucky weather we feared that it would be mobbed (they moved it indoors). Kevin ended up taking the kids, dressed in their "costumes", to the store to do some grocery shopping, and pick up their own candy - they each got to pick a bag. They also came home with two cans each of Kroger brand pop that the store was giving away to kids for Halloween! After the groceries were sorted and put away, we ate glazed popcorn while we watched The Emperor's New Groove and just enjoyed being at home together! What a wonderful way to spend Halloween! Maybe that will be our new tradition - at least until we live in a trick-or-treatable neighborhood!

I did think about taking pictures before they headed off on their adventure, so here they are in their costumes.

K - cowgirl

B - doctor

H - elephant

D - princess

M - cook

E - vampire

 X - princess

 

Their loot!

Movie time in costumes!

(This is actually their third time - but I didn't take pictures of the other events. Saturday was the ward party, Tuesday was the library party. Some kids are in the same costume, while others kept being something different. I guess that's the fun of dressing up. Ben was a doctor each time. Marissa was Dorothy from Wizard of Oz the first time, and a vampire the second time. Emily was Mulan the first two times. Xiomara was a vampire the first time , and a rock star the second time. Kemiah was a soldier the first two times. Domonique was Piglet the first two times. Harmonie was always a cute little elephant. Camdilyn didn't dress up, and neither did I.)

Happy Halloween

We started the day with yummy pancakes - banana, coconut, chocolate chip pancakes!

Ben was very creative with the batter and really enjoyed his time helping Mom.

We took them all Trick-or-Treating for the first time. Well, Ben went when he was 1 1/2 but he doesn't remember, and Marissa was in the stroller and doesn't remember either. So, this was a first for them. It was a last minute decision so no one was really prepared. The girls rolled with it and were able to get themselves together. Ben had a really hard time with the whole idea and almost didn't go. The first house was a friend of ours - practice. The kids were very unsure about going to the door and asking for candy. They didn't think they were expecting us and they were all really nervous. Unfortunately, our friend wasn't ready, so it was a total bust and Ben was ready to just go home. We went to a few more houses and the more we went the more fun the kids had. On one hand I was glad to give them the experience. On the other hand, maybe they don't need to get used to expecting strangers to give them candy when they ask for it. I guess one day a year it's okay but truly, I think it's a strange holiday tradition and our country wouldn't be the worse off if we discontinued this tradition. I'd be just as happy sitting around our living room sharing our favorite candy with each other. Or doing jobs around the house to earn it. Anyway... 

Firefighter, Princess, Cowboy, Marshmallow, Soldier, Cowgirl

Miss Harmonie fell asleep in the car with Dad.

After a few pictures she actually smiled at me in her sleep. Sweet, happy Harmonie!

Happy Halloween!

Call us hum bugs but we stayed home tonight. After the dress up party at the library last Tuesday, then a party at our friend's house on Friday, and the Church Trunk-or-Treat on Saturday I figured we had had enough of this holiday. And the kids certainly have enough candy to last them a while - especially since we usually only let them have one piece after lunch and another piece after dinner. I guess I should have taken pictures after each party because most of the kids changed costumes. But here they are on Saturday - little baseball player (she was the same for all events), pioneer girl (who actually wanted to go bare foot but once we were at the Church she was sorry she didn't have a jacket), the vampire (who was so happy he found his orange teeth to complete the costume but then didn't wear them very much), Mulan, police officer, and cowgirl.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just thought I'd toss in a little post to say how thankful I am for all I have - family, friends, health, love, the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, a living prophet of God to lead me, scriptures so I can teach my children the way home to our Heavenly Father, the atonement of Jesus which makes it all possible, and so much more. It's a wonderful day to really focus on what we have been blessed with and all the potential yet to be!

Trunk-or-Treating

We went to the parking lot at Church to enjoy some Trick-or-Treating. People from the ward gathered, with decorated car trunks, and handed out sweets to the kids. It was still light out and my friend came to help me with the kids. She took them around and I sat at my trunk with the baby. (It's the first time I have ever handed out candy.) My friend even took my camera to get pictures of the kids. It was a bit windy but nothing like it has been so we'll be thankful it was a breeze and leave it at that. I really think Halloween should be changed to the last Saturday of the month rather than the 31st - but maybe that's just me. Happy Spooking to all!

Here's my gang: Ben is a vampire, Marissa is Mulan (but she wore her coat on so you couldn't see her dress), Emily is Cinderella, Xiomara is "The Incredible Shrinking Woman", Kemiah is an elephant, and Domonique is a pea (see the next pic).






Some of the cars had games for the kids to play. This one was a stuffed animal tossing gaming. Notice Emily and Xiomara's hair is blowing.


This one was a riding game and they tried to knock over rolls of paper towels.

Xiomara just finished her turn. I saw her from my trunk... she knocked over most of the paper towels but there was one still standing so she hit it with her hand.

Two of my girls with Curious George and the Man in the Yellow Hat.


Why do kids really like the fake fangs?

She ate candy the whole time she was collecting it. The only reason she came home with any in her bag is because it takes time to eat each piece.

Ben was very excited to get his own set of teeth to complete his costume.

Me and the baby just hangin' out in the car.


I brought our jack-o-lanterns to decorate the trunk. I hope to get our carving pictures posted, too.

They look great!

Happy Memorial Day!

I am so grateful to all those who have given their lives so that I may enjoy freedom! I have a new appreciation for these men and women because of the history course work I have done with my kids in their school. We went over all the wars that America has been in and it was a learning experience for me - I don't remember much from my elementary days. It is also amazing to me how war has changed and how the views of the people have changed. Anyway, I'm so grateful that we are still free and I pray that we will stand up for the Constitution of our Country. It was founded by men who were led by God and we need to stick with it - or be destroyed by our own doing.

Our ward had a picnic at a park so we took brownies and enjoyed socializing. The kids really enjoyed being able to play with their friends and run around. There were several different playground areas. The one the kids liked the best was the big wooden boat.

When we were done with that, we stopped by a friend's lake to swim. I figured the kids needed that, too, because it's been so long since they have been in the water and they all love to swim. They loved it. Kemiah stayed out of the water, until the very end, but probably because I wasn't in the water. The other kids went right away and enjoyed swimming, a paddle boat ride, and canoeing. The family that owns it said we could use it when ever we wanted so it will be a nice summer activity.

Ben and Ashley, a girl in his Primary class, used the plastic pool as a boat. It was fun, until it sank. Luckily, it was easily recovered.


Some of the gang taking out the canoe. It was really fun to watch them having so much fun, and they never tipped over.

It was really a nice day. Thank you to all who made it fun. Thank you, again, to all who made it possible - keeping us free!