"We do the Mash,
the monster mash"....The kids all dressed up for their annual school Halloween party. It is a really great time, and the kids have a blast. They also do what is called "trunk-or-treating" out of the back of decorated cars. Wow, do some people get into it! We actually saw a dad dressed as a teenage mutant ninja turtle (I didn't even know they were still around and am actually not fully convinced they are!?!) Cars were jammin' with Halloween music, strobe lights, etc. Josh and I were laughing thinking we could have a whole haunted house for the kids to all walk through if we'd take out the seats in the van (for those of you who don't know, we pretty much drive a pimped out church van!) we'd say "oh, only 10 at a time please!" we had all kinds of great ideas! the sad thing is we are both way to into seeing the kids with their friends having a good time to sit out in the parking lot handing out candy for hours! It's the same on Halloween night, we just don't like missing it so we are the "dark house" (hate to admit that!) where the kids have to just walk on by. The sad thing is, since we have a kid in practically every grade, we pretty much know all the kids in the neighborhood so I hate that I don't get to see all their costumes! It's a double edge sword. heehee! I could always be the person who sets out the bowl of candy with the sign saying "take one", r-e-a-l-l-y? Come on now would YOU just take one? Sometimes we can convince my parents into coming over to hand out candy because they really don't care if their house is the dreaded dark house as long as they see their grand kids all duds up. Anyway, the monster mash was a hit in our house and we got lots of candy (just what we need...six kids on a sugar high). Next big event? Trick-or-Treating. Big Family goal: to each end up with a pillow case full of candy! Thanks to Josh we are teaching our kids early about goal setting!

Aren't These Adorable?

Ok, So unfortunately I found myself back at the zoo with the kids. This time I had Josh as back up but we are still down Emma so we didn't have our "on call bathroom runner" so it wasn't much easier. Anyway, the whole point in this post isn't for you to really acknowledge the second zoo trip this month but to see the adorable Halloween sweatshirts I picked up. I bought them from a vendor at Southlands farmer's market. I did get one for Emma too and didn't want to take this picture without her in it but a good friend of mine told me to get over it and take the picture. (she wanted to see the sweatshirts!) Here they are....pretty cute if you ask me!

Playing Favorites?
I haven't mentioned that on Thursday EmmaLeigh left for a vacation with my brother and his family. They went to Florida for 10 days of pure beach fun! Emma was so excited she could hardly stand herself! My brother has two little boys(3 and 2) and their friends who are on the trip also have one little guy(4) who they thought would all benefit from some of Emma's "babysitter magic". They rented a beach house that also has a pool and they are eating up the sun! I am not so convinced that they "needed" Emma's help as much as I think they just really wanted her to go along. Ya see, it's funny how everyone has their "unspoken" favorites when it comes to our kids. Kaidon and my dad are hunting buddies, Mihya is the favorite of one of our closest friends (she can do no wrong in their eyes), Aunt Tiffany thinks Mikael is the best looking, Sharon from the office thinks Kayela is just adorable, all the teacher's at school think Graysie is a "rock star", and obviously Uncie and Auntie ADORE Emma! I guess when you have six, people don't feel as bad playing favorites. Josh and I don't mind either we always tell people our favorite is the one listening at the time...some time's that would be none of them. No, really I like that each of our kids have someone they know thinks they are perfect besides us. Their is something about being loved and appreciated by somebody who isn't obligated to do so. Now, I must admit as much as I wanted Emma to go and be spoiled rotten by Uncie and Auntie I was a little nervous. I think I reminded my sister-in-law about a million times that as mature as Emma is she is still only 10! When Emma called to check in last night she told us she had been stung by a jellyfish which I was fine with but flashes of her in the ocean sent major panic throughout my body. I proceeded to ramble on and on to her about ocean safety and it started with "only go in the water up to your waste...no, no, wait make sure it's only up to your knee so when the wave comes it isn't to deep blah blah blah" Yes, I knew before she went she would be in the ocean but for some reason with her there and out of my control I am stressing out, counting the days for her return. This is one of the things that I am sure she will always remember. I told my brother he owed me big for taking away my biggest help, he told me he'd return the favor by giving me his two kids for our next trip...Wow, what a giver!

Fall Parties

Have you ever tried being in four places at the same time? Well, I can officially say I have. Today four of the kids had their class parties. Luckily they somewhat overlapped starting at 1 going to 2:45. Mihyas was first but I actually didn't make it in time because I had a conference with Graysie's teacher. So, I started out in Graysies room where they played BINGO. Not just any BINGO either, it was "everyone wins at the same time" BINGO because the parent who planned the game didn't think to print out 22 different BINGO cards...hello! I was really just laughing inside because that so easily could have been me! Then, I joined Mikaels class outside in the grass where they were putting shortening and bird seeds on a pine cone to place on trees for the birds to indulge. Great idea! .....did you know what a mess shortening and birdseed can be on wood floors? I do! Then I headed to Kaidon's class where they were just getting started on things. The theme of this party was "let's see how much sugar we can get them to eat in 45 min." really not the class to do this with! He has 16 boys, 5 girls in his class. I am not thinking we need MORE energy in one room! It was pretty nutty! I took some pictures and as I was doing it I even had one mom say "oh, you are so good I barely ever take pictures!" I didn't really share that IT'S ALL FOR MY BLOG ADDICTION!


OK, so take a good look at Mikael. See how he is wearing a coat? It is actually Graysie's cheer leading coat!! Yes, the sleeve says "All American Girl" and the back says "Cheer" in huge letters. This morning I left early and Josh took the kids to school and had a conference. Well, I had dressed the kids in their Halloween party shirts and left (yes, Josh did do the girls hair take a look at Grays, he does a pretty good job too!). Well, when I went out to take a picture of him at the party I was looking for him and it took me awhile to actually spot him. Once I did you can imagine how horrified I was! Seriously, we have had battles for the last week on Mikael not wanting to wear a coat. He keeps saying "I'm not cold" and I keep going "OK, doesn't sound like a good choice to me but whatever!" well yesterday his teacher even asked me about why he hasn't been wearing a coat in 40 degree weather and I told her "I guess if he gets cold enough he will get one but he is refusing to wear one!" So, as you can imagine I was a little irritated that today, when it is 70 degrees out, he chooses not only to wear one but to wear his sisters! Why does that make sense? Well I asked Mikael and he said "It was on my hook" like I am some sort of idiot! Anyway, tomorrow I am going to put one of the girls purple or pink coats on his hook just to see if he wears it. (pictures to follow)

Guess Who?

Isn't this so cute? I don't think the pictures give it much justice but I just couldn't resist posting this. I picked Kayela up from school the other day, walked in and her whole class was "unrecognizable". She was very proud of her feathered mask and even wore it to daddy's office. The funniest thing was that she can't really see out of the eye holes so she was walking into things, falling down, and getting really frustrated about the whole situation but the mask remained on! She has it next to her bed now....I don't really know what her plans are for it being there but we will see, I am sure it is some drama waiting to happen.

Non-stop!

I haven't updated in awhile because our lives have just been crazy. I think it is my normal state of mind but I feel better if I say it's "been crazy". As if there will be some miraculous change where my life with 6 kids could someday not be crazy! I think we are on our game the most when things are just a little nutty around here. Each time things slow down we bring on a new challenge and when that feels "normal" we go ahead and add another one. We must thrive with change!

Here is our life in pictures:

We took the kids to the circus last Thursday night. We go about every other year and I always wonder before we get there "why don't we do this every time the circus comes to town?" and then the show starts! I never really enjoy it much and I end up feeling really bad for all the caged animals. The picketers were outside when we got there and I actually was irritated that these people had nothing better to do but stand out here opposing the circus. One handed Graysie a flyer and hysterically enough she handed it right back saying "no thank you!" she obviously didn't know what it was but I was pretty humored by it. After the show however, I felt like I should join the picket lines for the next time the circus comes to town! I don't have enough time on my hands to start being a circus animal activist but I don't think we'll be going to the circus anytime soon...it is really sad.

On Saturday night I took EmmaLeigh to the Rapids game. We had so much fun! Her whole team went and bonded off the field for the first time. Emma is really funny though because she is like her dad when it comes to fashion so she was irritated when her coach had them wear their uniforms because she wanted to see her teammates in "street" clothes. I had to laugh to myself. Her babysitting is really paying off because she bought herself a Rapids t-shirt and hat. I love seeing how proud she is when she purchases things with her own money.

Sunday my brother and sister in-law took the kids to the zoo and to see a movie. They have two sweet boys who LOVE their cousins and of-course the kids LOVE them back! I heard they were good but I really didn't care because Josh and I were out of there! We went to Keystone on business but left early in the day so we could have a few hours before our events began to spend some time together. We had breakfast and lunch together alone and it was really good to unwind and catch up. We had a few good laughs...mostly on my behalf but that's typical. (Josh really only laughs when someone else is making an idiot out of themselves!) Our business stuff went well too and we had a ton of fun with all of our agents.

Josh actually was bribed into singing karaoke ($100 for KW Cares) here is proof.

Funny how he will sing in front of 3000 people at church but hates doing karaoke in front of a bunch of drunk people who wont remember anyway! He says the fun in karaoke is when people really suck (I have to agree I did laugh a lot!).

Josh got to cross another thing off his "bucket list". Andy Andrews, an author and motivational speaker, spoke to our agents. Josh had the privilege of taking him back to the airport and spent 2 hours alone in the car with him. Sounds kind of funny to say out loud but he was thrilled! He got to talk to him and connect on a personal level so he was really on cloud nine. One of Josh's dreams in life is to get on the speaking circuit to change people's lives in a positive direction so I can only imagine how fulfilling it was for him to be one on one with someone who is where he wants to be. WOW! If you don't know who Andy Andrews is, you have to read his book "The Seven Decisions" it will change you!

Oh! By the way, I survived my boot camp! Now, I can't say I really enjoyed every minute of it but I do feel so much better and have so much more energy. I lost 2 lbs. and 3 inches (a measly amount compared to some) so it is a great jump start. Be glad I don't have before and after pictures...ha!

Well duty calls....I'm back in the saddle again!

What Happens....

when your 10 year old gets a hold of your camera? I have proof, here it is:

The first two pictures I wasn't sure who had taken them. The picture of both of them she had done in front of the mirror. Graysie obviously contains herself when we take pictures of her, ha!