TrIcK or tReaT 2009

We had a fun Halloween as usual. It was nice having it on a Saturday this year. We were able to spend most of the day together. We started the day off with a soccer game, a birthday party, then headed to Spaghetti Factory, where they give the kids FREE meals if they dress up! Isn't that great! All the employees were dressed up too. It kept Ella very entertained and quiet during dinner. Especially every time a server dressed as the count (from sesame street) walked by. She just about died when he came and talked to her. She LOVED it! Then we went to sweet street in the Stadium District, then finally to trunk or treat. It was a VERY busy, but extremely fun day.

A southerner (like the mullet) and a fairy princess

Buzz Lightyear & Venom

Grandpa met the kids at the door with a scary mask. Luckily no one was scared, they all thought it was funny!

A Halloween Party

Ella's BFF Mia threw a little Halloween party the week of Halloween. They decorated Laura's famous sugar cookies, ate yummy food, read spookly the pumpkin and had lots of fun.



Yes, she does have 2 bows in her hair. I almost always put a bow in her hair, but recently anytime she finds another bow, she insists that she wears it also. So, if you see her with 5 bows in her hair, it's not because I am trying to create some new fashion, it's because this 2 y.o. loves bows and wants to wear them ALL! I think the max we've gotten up to is 7 bows and clippies at the same time. But this phase isn't over yet, so we might be able to beat that!

unglutenated

(yes, I know that "unglutenated" is not a real word)

This is my sis-in-law Jaqui. She's is uber-talented. She is an amazing photographer and super kind. She is fun to talk to and be around. Can you tell I like her? Well, this summer this cake loving, pastry adoring girl, found out that she has Celiac Disease. Therefore she has had to completely alter her diet to eliminate anything with gluten. (Major task, I tell you)

Well, I've always been one for a challenge, so I have taken a liking to making some gluten free recipes for her, particularly sweet things.
So, since cupcakes are just about my most favorite thing in the world, and I know how much she's missed cupcakes, for her birthday I made her gluten free vanilla cupcakes with homemade buttercream frosting. THEY WERE SO GOOD! There were some things that were a little tricky, but the end result was delicious.

Even Joseph wanted a bite. Sorry buddy, maybe next time.

yum!

cracked eggs?

Ella has a fascination with eggs. She's not my first child to have this fascination. The kids love to help me cook, and usually they ask if they can crack the eggs. Why do they always choose the messiest part of the job? Not sure.

Well recently Ella has come to practice when I was not supervising her. She's quick, and quiet, and I am usually well distracted with her baby brother or something else when she decides to practice. I suppose this could be considered a talent? She is very good. She gets a bowl, the eggs and cracks away. She doesn't usually spill, and there aren't ever any shells in the bowl. This has to be a talent. Especially since I have NEVER shown her how to crack an egg.

Gotta love 2 year olds. Gotta love the incredible Ella!

Let's Eat!

Joseph was probably the best at eating food for the first time. No gagging and spitting... he just slurped that cereal down.
I had to fight Ella off of me the entire time. SHE wanted to feed Joseph. She's been waiting for this moment his entire life, so of course, I had to let her try. Joseph was a little wary, but they both did a great job.

Love these babes!

On the Market

Yes, the rumors are true... we have put our house on the market. It is for sale, clean, cute and ready for some buyers. Send 'em our way!

This might be why I have been so absent from the blogging world. We have been working our fingers to the bone. Finishing the last of those wonderful projects, packing up boxes, riding ourselves of unneeded and unwanted junk. Cleaning, organizing and, and, and... all while trying to maintain some normalcy (soccer practice and games, piano lessons, school, homework, etc) the list seemed daunting and unending, but now everything has been checked off the list. We are ready for you buyers!

As I am now finding a few extra minutes to do something other than work on my house, I hope to be diligent at updating the blog. More definitely to come!

Happy Halloween Everyone!

The fresh smell of pencils, crayons and paper...

Back to School--here we come!

It's a bitter sweet time of year. I love having the kids all home with me. I don't have to worry about schedules, we can play and work and do all sorts of things together. I love how much fun the kids have all together and how much the boys entertain their sister.

But going back to school means, I have a moment to myself. Even if it's only but a moment, I enjoy nap time. It usually means I can get caught up on cleaning, or other work I may have. I like going to the store with 2 kids, rather than 4. We are back to being on our normal schedules and the kids really enjoy school.

Always many more reasons, but I will save the long list for another time.
My 2 older boys. So cute, so fun... the rest of us at home WILL miss them while they are gone all day! I thought it was so cute that they grabbed each other's hand in this picture. I just asked them to stand by the tree, so the brotherly love wasn't staged; it's really there!

My big 2nd grader!

My Kindergartener
(first day of ALL day school, wow!)

The things they were most excited about:

• wearing their robot shirts, or other NEW school shirts
• eating lunch at school!
• recess, and recess
  
• seeing their friends they hadn't seen all summer
• a little bit excited about learning, maybe a lot, but not excited about homework