Trick-or-Treat

I just sent Dave and the kids out the door to go trick-or-treating! They were very excited. Livvy doesn't know what the heck is going on but she loves candy so once she catches on- watch out!

Off they go...


Here they are all suited up for the event:


Taylor marching in his school parade:


Sara is sitting with Taylor at his school program. They make witches brew (aka: rootbeer) and each class performs a song. It was cute! Sara started off the day as a witch but after she pitched her apples and caramel all over her dress when we got home, we opted to turn her into Sleeping Beauty.


Livvy went and hung out with Aunt Amy while Sara and I went to Taylor's school. She had a fabulous time helping them eat their pumpkin goo. She is just so cute. I can't even stand it!

ATTENTION

Those of you looking for a make up artist for your Heavy Metal Band, look no further. Sara is in the house! And you should hear her rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." A.ma.zing.

Pumpkin Decorating

Saturday night we took the kids to a Pumpkin Patch to pick out their very own pumpkins. They had a great time riding in the big wagon and wandering through the patch. We brought our treasures home and helped the kids decorate them.

I know Olivia kind of looks like an orphan. I'm not quite sure what is up with her face. I think she was ticked that I made her hold still for one tiny second to take a picture.

Taylor is always the poser. I took some other pictures where he was posing on top of the pumpkin (more on top of the pumpkin than he already is). Don't ask...

Our little diva holding her very own diva pumpkin.

Out to the front porch we go. Livvy was standing at the storm door screaming her lungs out (not crying, just screaming) because we wouldn't let her outside. Rough life that baby leads.

Flashback...Saturday

Between winterizing my yard, projects around the house, and watching after my kiddos, the blog has fallen by the wayside. Sara is in the bath right now singing her little lungs out and I feel inspired to post this picture as my flashback. And yes, Dave is monitoring her. Geesh, I'm not that delinquent of a mother.

This picture is of David, Micah, Natalie, Ryan, and Mark. Mark is the one nearly showing his business. Tsk. Tsk.


I'm not sure if this kind of thing would fly these days. There is probably something illegal here. However, back in 1981- nothing was illegal. I mean really, my family, all 10 of us (that includes 2 parents), drove around in a white station wagon, purchased brand spanking new the year I was born- 1977. I remember Mark sitting in the baby seat (any one else remember the duct tape on that thing?) and the baby on my mom's lap- four of us in the back just rolling around. If we used the two optional seats in the very back that flipped up and faced backwards, we maybe had 8 seatbelts. Ha! Those were the days...

Daddy to the rescue

The other night we were over at Mike and Amy's house having ourselves a good ole time. The kids were running about and as usual, Sara had to go pee. She goes into the bathroom and leaves the door wide open. No big deal- until we see Livvy booking it as fast as she can for the bathroom. Lately Olivia has had a slight obsession with the bathroom. More than just the bathroom though, the toilet. I do a good job keeping the toilet lid and the bathroom door closed. Other members of our household (aka: Sara) do not. Back to the story- Livvy runs in there. Neither Dave nor I want to go assess the situation. We sit and stare at each other, having our usual non verbal stand-off:

Dave: You go.
Nat: I went last time.
Dave: No, I did.
Nat: You're right but you still go anyway.
Dave: ehhhhhhhhhhh.........

Nat: Remember how I am home with them all day and never get a break?

Dave: FINE.

This mental dialogue could go on all day because really, who wants to get up from the table, the games, the snacks, and a good time to fetch a strong willed baby intent on dipping her fingers in and supping from the toilet bowl? Not I. Not Dave. Not anyone else at the table. Anywho, Dave gets up. Not much time has passed. Mere seconds. He runs into the bathroom and already... a casualty. The binky is swimming in the toilet. Dang it! Dave reaches in and rescues the binky.

For any of you that have yourselves a binky baby, you will probably appreciate and/or understand the rest of the story. The rest of you just might barf.

Dave grabs the binky and informs the rest of us what has happened. Rather than toss it (heaven forbid), Dave rushes it over to the kitchen sink. He douses it in anti-bacterial soap and gives it a good scrubbing. While standing in the kitchen he notices a pan of boiling macaroni on the stove. He tosses the binky in for a good sterilization. So I guess today we need to send out kudos to Sydney, who unknowingly ate fecally contaminated mac n' cheese. The water was boiling... We also need to give a shout out to Livvy who was happy as a clam to have her binky back in her mouth just moments after it was nearly flushed down into a watery grave.

Clearly a case of parenting at its finest. Way to go Dave!

Witches Night Out

Last night Sara and I went to Witches Night Out at Gardner Village with some friends and family. It was fun to have a girl's night out! We started the night off eating dinner at Red Robin in our witch garb. We then headed over to Gardner Village where we had to park a mile away and walk there in our heels. I might have to rethink that for next year because my feet are still killing me. Either way, we had a great time.

For those of you who don't know about Witches Night Out, I will explain. Gardner Village is a shopping area that is basically set up like a little village. The shop exteriors are old houses, barns, etc. It's really cute. The shops are more or less little boutiques. For Witches Night Out, everyone dresses up in Witch costumes and comes to shop, play, and eat. They have music, a stage for witches to dance across, food, drawings, and good shopping deals- you can cackle for coupons or one store had a "pick your potion" thing where you chose a potion and each potion had a different coupon. Sara was such a trooper and got so many compliments on what a cute little witch she was. As always, I must post pictures. Sara is just too cute not to!





Sara and mommy all witched out!


Here we are with Dave's sister Amy and her daughter Jessi. So fun!

Flashback Friday

My siblings and I occasionally banter back and forth about our childhood. Who was my mom's favorite. Who was she the most sympathetic to. Who was she the meanest to. You name it, we contemplate it. Mostly we do this to tease my mom and she stands there wide-eyed, pretending to be Switzerland. I figure my kids will do the same. And just to help them out, I will let them know right off the bat- No worries kids, you were all equally loved, honored, and...neglected. I have pictures to prove it. Everyone has had their moment. And I'm sure there will be plenty more moments to come...

Me: Just a minute honey. Mommy has to finish doing the dishes.

Baby: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Taylor



Sara

Olivia