The costumes

The costumes (L-R): Kelly (Hermione from Harry Potter), Adam (The Count), Patrick (Hobo), Jonathan and Kenny (Puppeteer and puppet guess who is who), Mary Jane (Princess with a broken shoe), Megan (the blushing bride)
Beth and Mike (the Dharma Initiative Workers from Lost)

Happy Halloween!

Snow Fort

I eased up and let anyone with snow pants and boots go outside. Kenny decided to stay in. They all made snow forts and Mary got in trouble more that once for throwing snow balls at the boys. ("I'm just a little girl and didn't know better," she said.)

It's the Great Pumpkin, Malmducks

If it wasn't fall break, we would have had a snow day.

Kelly has a lot of guts (in the trash bag.)

Meg carves a happy face.

With everything Patrick is precise.

Jon's looks like a skull.

The totals: 100, 90, 50 and 40 pounds! Next summer we'll shoot for the 1,000!

We gathered in the fruits of our labor, the giant pumpkins from the front yard, before the first frost and put them in the garage. October 28th is our traditional day to carve pumpkins, yet we have around 8 inches of snow and it's still falling. So we moved the fun into the family room- after Kenneth went to bed.

Happy 9th Birthday Kelly!

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9 today!

Let's play computer

Patrick put a DVD in and it would not come out. Only after a screw driver, some tweezers and a head lamp did the ruined movie come out.

Princess Mary

In the last few years I've cut back on Halloween, I used to go to the costume store and have a blast and pay a bunch of money. I now tell the kids to make their own costumes out of stuff they already have. On Saturday Mary had a Halloween dance party at her friend Lily's house. Mary came down in her Fairytopia costume, she got for her birthday. The costume was ripped and missing decals and would have been fine for a dark trunk or treat but this was an afternoon daylight party. Guilt. I took her over to Target to find a costume, a dress up thing that she could wear many times and not a Halloween one shot. This is what we found, I had to get the crown and matching purse and she asked if she could get the matching doll- how many dolls does the six child get to be the first owner? Yeah, the doll too. She looks precious and she was most impressed with the soft padded hanger that came with the dress.

Thirsty?

Cold snowy day

It's hard to drag your blanket , get buckled, and play when you're wearing a puff-a-lump coat.

Dinner time

It's dinner time, is Kenny in his chair eating egg rolls? No, he is slithering behind Mama trying to get her attention. I think the snake gets it.

It's flat

I was huffing and puffing up Smoky Hill from Quincy. I felt horrible and I wasn't going very fast even though all of my effort. I looked down and I had a flat tire. So Friday, Mike had my bike in the family room for repair and Kenny could not stay away. He had bicycle grease from his nose to his toes. He wanted to help pump up the tire so he grabbed at the pump and jumped up and down. I didn't know a flat tire could be so entertaining.

I want a worm

Kelly had a bag of gummy worms and Jonathan wanted one. He was holding Kelly and Kenny was pushing Jon off the coffee table. She held her ground and did not relinquish any worms.

Won't

Kenny hides because he doesn't want his pants changed.

Grandma Kathy

Today was a funeral for a dear friend Kathy. For my daughter Kelly this was the first death of someone that she knew and loved. Kathy invited Kelly over to spend time with her grand-daughter Olivia about 4 years ago and more invitations followed about twice a month from then. Olivia and Kelly became best friends and spent many weekends at Kathy and Bill's house. Kathy would paint the girl's nails, fix them special meals, make cotton candy and crafts. Kelly said that Kathy would play Old Maid with her and Olivia and Kathy would always get the Old Maid card. The time she spent at their house was fun and my other kids would always want to get invited over too. Kathy told me the one time after she had four of my children and her three grandchildren over, that it reminded her of what her house felt and sounded like when she was growing up- she was one of the younger children of a large family.

Kelly cried and cried during the service today. It's hard not to feel sorry for ourselves for our loss. Bill and Kathy were going to take Kelly and Olivia to Disney Land this next summer. But, Kathy is so happy on the other side of the veil. It's great to know that this is a temporary separation, through ordinances of the restored church of Jesus Christ we can live with our loved ones again. Death is just a step in our progression.

FHE treat

We had animal cookies for our family home evening treat. Megan gave a lesson about the difference between a journal and a diary. Jon said that Journals were more manly and Meg said that Journals keep more important introspection than a diary. (The younger children didn't have any input except they wanted to sing Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam for the closing song.) Mike said my blog was more a diary- he doesn't feel all my feelings and insights pouring out from my blogumentary? His loss. Anyway, she encouraged everyone in the family to keep a Journal.

Spud Lightyear

Jon hung up the school pictures in the living room. He was wearing the same shirt as he had in his picture: coincidence, maybe not.

After Kenny's nap he grabbed a baked potato from the counter and started to eat.

Kenny loves his new Buzz Lightyear pajamas, not.

Favorite day

I love our neighborhood's dumpster day. This year we had one in May and today. I had a rug, some chicken wire and a bunch of stuff from the side of the house to send to the dump. I love the guys who pull the stuff from my minivan without fear. I don't mind sitting and waiting for my turn in the long line of my neighbors- I like to see what they are throwing away. I saw some some old couches and lots of tree branches. My garage is getting close to fitting one of the cars back in- not mine.

Silly boy

So, this is what the handles are for. I'm not sure I can bend that way.

No Luv(s)

Kenny has a new skill.

We fueled ourselves and forgot the car

*Random picture of our car that ran out of gas. I don't know why this picture was taken, just when: sometime in August.*

Mike and I were at Chipotle and came back out to the car and it wouldn't start. We were out of gas! Mike kept saying, "this has never has happened to me." Now if it were dark and we were on a back road... My sister-in-law came with a full gas can and saved the day. I love having family in town.

Puff a Lump

Kenny gets in his cold weather gear for a quick trip to return the library books.

How Firm of a Foundation

It was conference weekend. We printed some bingo cards off the internet and used gummy bears/worms as markers (as the leaders give talks the kids listen for words on their Bingo card). In two of the sessions "Bible" has kept the kids from a blackout. It's great to feel the spirit and hear the messages from church leaders to help keep us on the straight and narrow.

Adam kept wondering when they were going to say "free". He said, "I don't think anything in the church is free." I told him that the truth would set him free. Amen.

Opposite opinions

Megan and I took Kelly over to her friend Olivia's house this afternoon. Kelly wanted to bring her bike so Jon loaded it into the back of the minivan. Once we got there, Meg said that she would get it out. Meg asked Kelly to grab part of the bike to help her lower it to the ground. Kelly grabbed the bike and began to lovingly stroke the bike and say how much she loves it. Once Kelly went into Olivia's, Megan told me she hates that bike- she had grease all over her legs and a cut on her shin from trying to get it out.