Halloween

I know it isn't until tomorrow but I think tomorrow is going to be a pretty busy day so since I have some time on this lazy Saturday morning I wanted to post. Last year my kids were characters of Toy Story and we decorated our van with Toy Story stuff for our churches trunk or treat. This year Jeff wants to do a crime scene with our van so the kids are going to be clue characters. GG is Mrs. Peacock, Monkey is Coronal Mustard, Red is Mr. Green and Peanut is Mrs. Scarlet. Their costumes are a little lame but it was the cheapest easiest ones I could come up with to go with the van. I am really hoping that the weather will be fairly warm tomorrow! I also may come back and update this post with a picture of the kids in costume :)

Just two days ago my kids had no costumes and now they each have two!!! In years past Chipotle has given free burritos on Halloween to people who come as a burrito. I was planning on getting some tin foil and wrapping up the family this year. Well Chipotle is doing something different this year. Check it out here. If you come dressed as a processed food you will get a burrito for $2 and that money goes to Jamie Oliver and the food revolution. What a great cause! After some thought, I came up with some costume ideas. Peanut is going to be Mrs. Scarlet and will be in a red shirt with a skirt and red leggings. If I take the skirt off and put a ketchup label on her she has a second costume! Monkey (Coronal Mustard) will be in all yellow...print out a mustard label and we have our second one done! GG wants to be mac and cheese so she will wear two boxes on her arms. Red is going to be cereal. I pulled two boxes out of the recycling bin, cut them open and taped them together! I am going to be a bag of chips...same concept as the cereal but with bags. And Jeff is going to be a hersey kiss and wrap his head in tin foil ;0 We are a family of junk food...haha. I hope to have pictures of both set of costumes!!! ***update*** I didn't get a picture of us in our food costumes. We were so hungry by 7pm that we threw them on and ordered then the kids took them off so they could eat. They really weren't anything special anyway!

Parenting...

Tonight was Mom's night at boys truth in training (TNT). The things we do for our kids I tell ya. It was a theme night of western so I carried a toy gun in my pocket and wore a cowgirl hat and pig tails. Then they had us peel apples in a game...oy was that messy ;) I got to sing with my Monkey which I LOVE doing. Then we played games in the gym! That was interesting to say the least. This is the first year Monkey is in TNT so I had no idea what to expect from this night. The games are NOTHING like the Mom's night in GIRLS TNT! I actually got hot from playing the game. Though I will say it was a really fun game. It was a human version of foose ball. I heard something tonight during the devotion that I really think is quiet important. Wendy talked about how she knew that her mom loved her no matter what. I really hope and pray that my kidlets know that I love them no matter what silly or stupid things they do. I want to be their hero. Though I think role model would be a better term but this year in the boys TNT they are talking about heros. I hope Monkey knows I love him because I could of told him I wasn't coming because I am a JAM leader. Actions speak louder than words and I want them to know they are my first priority after God.

Unsure?!

I have no idea where this blog post is going to go! I have so many ideas I want to write about but not sure what is going to actually come out. I think what ever pops in my head will be what spills out onto this post! Consider that your fair warnings of the randomness that is to follow ;)

My oldest brother is going to be having another baby...number 7! I am a little shocked but not really. It will be my brothers 4th biological child. I'm excited about another baby but not really sure how I feel about them actually being the ones having the new baby. Their youngest just turned 1 in September. There is a lot of stuff with them but I really don't feel like taking this post in *that* direction! I think I will just be happy for a new bundle of joy.

I am kind of sad about this Friday. We have 3 leadership teams for the Jr. High ministry. Jeff and I are on team one or as we lovingly call ourselves Team Luke. (No we don't have anyone on our team named Luke) This week our team is planning the night. We are doing a Harvest theme. Jeff is doing the gym games that will have something to do with carving pumpkins and making scarecrows. He won't give me anymore details than that. The down stair games are going to involve eating apples from a string and candy corn. Then snacks are going to be apple cider, pumpkin something, apple and carmel dip. The reason I'm not going is that Peanut got invited to a friend's birthday party. It is at a place we have never been to so I am excited about checking the place out. I just can't be in two places at once. I really need to figure out how to clone myself!

Speaking of birthday parties why do they always happen in twos??? It seems that lately every time we get an invitation a second one comes. Though they are never on the same day! Like for instance we have the one on Friday night and then we have one on Saturday. These are also both convenient because the whole family is invited. In Nov we have two on the same day just at different times. The first starts at 3:15 until 5pm (for Red only) and the second one starts at 5pm (adults only). They are about a 40 minutes drive from each other. At this point I think I am going to go to the second one alone (it's my friends 30th) and Jeff will just have to take Red to the other one party and I will need to get a sitter for the over lap in time until Jeff gets home.

Ok I think this is the last thing I want to write about. My house smells so yummy today! I made granola and brownies from scratch! I haven't even started cooking dinner yet. Homemade soup on a day like today is just awesome. It doesn't take long to make either :)

Girl Night Out!

I have a wonderful group of girls to hang out with! I feel so energized and ready for the rest of the week. It is just nice sometimes to regroup and relax. I have the world's best husband for taking care of the kids while I was out. He made dinner, made lunches for school tomorrow, and got them to bed. He is a very hands on dad and I feel so very blessed to have him in my life and as my husband and the father of my children. I just don't say that often enough. I love you Jeff.

Perfection...

In my mind today was as close to perfect as they come! We got up and headed to the pumpkin farm with grandparents! It was an absolute BEAUTIFUL day out, 65ish and Sunny.

We found some bats while we were there...
some scary

some sweet

we also found some really small children!

we had to bail some jail birds out

I took a enchanted pumpkin ride with my prince charming

time for a camel rides!
the girls...

the boys

they were trying to shoot the girls...haha

snack time...APPLE CIDER DOUGHNUTS!
Yummy

thought we should tire the kids out and let them JUMP.
they got some great air these are only a couple of the pictures we took

Once they were good and worn out we went out to eat with my dad and step mom. We were going to go to this restaurant that my dad took us to every Friday night for pizza when I was growing up but they got their license revoked. So sad, but it was so cool to look inside and have all those childhood memories rushing at me. After lunch my parents gave us presents from their recent trip to Greece and Turkey!!! This afternoon the kids racked leaves and I got new pictures for my blog! They played in those leaves for over an hour.
GlamorGirl and I left and picked up her violin. I just realized that we have a guitar, violin, drum set and recorder in our house...like we need more noise makers ;) Now we are starting the good ole fire pit and having some homemade apple cider!!! Sorry no pictures of that ;) See it was PERFECT!

Poor Ole Blog

I have really been neglecting you! I thought this year was going to be great having 3 mornings to myself but it has proven to be the most busy weeks ever! I think I finally have my routine down with a few adjustments needed. Just to get an idea of my week this is what I do.
Monday: drop 4 kids off at school, go to chiropractor appointment, grab some groceries from Aldi and Valli, help with lunch at school. Then I pick up the two littles and we head home and it is homework with Red and nap for Peanut. Get older kids from school...homework, dinner and bedtime routine.
Tuesday: 3 kids to school, get the rest of the groceries from Trader Joes, take Peanut to Gymnastics, then go pick up Red. Then lunches, homework and nap. Get older kids from school...homework, dinner and bedtime routine.
Wednesday: Drop 4 kids at school, go to Bible study, get grocery before getting the littles from school. Lunch, homework, naps. Get older kids, homework, off to church for dinner and Awana clubs and JAM.
Thursday: 4 kids to school, chiropractor, do a good cleaning of the house, get the kids from littles from school. Lunch, homework, naps. Older kids from school, homework, dinner, and bedtime routine.
Friday: 3 kids to school, come home and do all weeks worth of laundry. Red from school, lunch, homework, naps. Older kids from school, homework, dinner and off to church for JAM.
I'm busy...

Here are some highlights over the past week. Wed. I went on a field trip with GG's class. It was really a cool place it was a settlement from 1890ish area. Then that night it was moms night at Girls TNT so it was a full of my oldest daughter and it was so much fun. Thursday we carved pumpkins. I do have pictures but they aren't on the computer yet. I saved some of the pumpkin goop to try and make pumpkin pudding. It should be interesting! Tonight we have JAM which I am in charge of the gym games along with another leader. Tomorrow we are going to a pumpkin farm with my dad and step mom. Maybe go to the homecoming game at school not sure on that one yet. Sorry for such a random post!

testing

so on Thursday I went to the doctor. In the course of the visit we decided it was time to retest my blood for the c4a, leptin and VEGF and see what a year of good eating and clean environment has done. I am trying not to think about it but it keeps popping up in my head. What if the levels are the same? What if they are lower but only a little? What if they are higher? There is nothing I can do but sit here and wait the month to get the results back. 30 days. I really hope it is good news because right now I feel like I am falling apart. At the kids' orientation I slipped and pulled my sciatic really bad. The chiropractor and I have been working at helping my body heal from the pull but it seems I keep reinjurying it. I get so mad at myself. Other than me *feeling* OLD...I have really been enjoying my new role in youth ministry. I never thought I would say this but I love the junior highers!

As far as the kid front goes I could use some prayer in a situation with my oldest. I plan on writing about it at some point I just don't feel I should right now. But I could still use some major prayers in it. God knows the details! Other than that I feel like lately I look at my kids and can't believe how big they have gotten. I was trying clothes on Peanut and she doesn't look babyish anymore. When did she get SO big? It is weird at different times I will look at one of my kids and think, "man they have grown" I don't like that feeling though I know it is going to happen. Ok so this post was all about me tonight...

Babywearing: A Call to ACTION

I started babywearing right after my babies were born. I love the ability to keep my babies close and do things I needed to get done at the same time. We could go on an outing and I could keep the baby warmer this way!

(Peanut not even a month old)

We could take the kids to fun places like the children's museum and the baby could still get a nap while being carried in the mei tai...

Water slings make swimming so much easier with babies!

Hiking is much easier too!

They get to experience things up close while in the sling.

Sometimes it just makes parenting so much more FUN!

Over the last almost 10 years (wow, it is going to be 10 years in a 3 months) of parenting the sling has been the one item I have used with all 4 of my babies. Whether it is to use the sling for one of the ways mentioned above or to comfort a fussy baby or just to reconnect I have loved my slings and cherish the memories of slinging all of my kiddos.

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is going after all slings, pouches, mei tais, and the like. It makes me so sad. And as much as I feel for the parents who experienced such tragedy I know that slings are safe, healthy, wonderful additions to parenting if used correctly.


Steph at Adventures in Babywearing are calling all mothers who have worn or are wearing their babies to speak out and tell parents that babywearing is SAFE.

Now that was relaxation!

My hubby and I went away for the weekend just the two of us! We left Friday at 1ish and headed north. We stayed at a quaint little bed and breakfast with some other couples from our church. I think this year we had about 25 couples there, it was more than last year. It was just so nice to only have to worry about ME for a whole weekend! I was able to take a long bath and shave my legs without rushing. I laid in bed and watched tv with my hubby with no interruptions from little people. We even brought a puzzle with us and were able to put it together together and with other people from church. I could go on but I will just say it was such a nice break from reality. I really enjoyed the social aspect of it and hanging out with other couples our age. I did pretty good with my food while we were there but I know I could of done better as I did have some stomach issues. I owe a huge thanks to my sister, Aunty Becky, for taking care of my crew while we were gone. They had a great time and she did a pretty good job keeping things together. Now I must go make lunches come to the realization that my break is over and real life must go on!

should be...

Right now there so a few things I can be doing other than blogging but I sit here tired and feeling like I got hit with a truck. My sinuses are not my friend today. Yesterday I went to the chiropractor and she adjusted me to help drain the sinuses and I think it is working because they certainly are draining. This weekend my hubs and I are going away and I was really looking forward to it, I still am but I feel like I am going to be doing way more sleeping then I planned so my body can fight this. On one hand it is good we are going to be kidless and free so that I can have rest but on the other it is a bogus time to feel like this. I washed all our clothes yesterday but didn't fold or put them away and that was one of the things I wanted to get done before we leave. I still haven't even started packing yet, it is only 2 days so not much packing needs to be done but still I have to put some thought into it. I guess I shouldn't be too hard on myself as I did, pay a bill, put money in the bank, returned some things at the store, bought some needed things (toilet paper and such) and got gas in the van. This post is so random all to say I have no motivation today!