PUMPKIN CARVING

Preparing for a pumpkin carving contest at The Olive Garden made my house look like a pumpkin patch for a few days. 

We got rained out for trick or treat, but trudged along anyhow. I forgot to take a picture of the four kids together before we left the house. We had Rapunzel, a Power Ranger, Sofia the First, and Dorothy. By the time we got home everyone was drenched and happy about their candy. Paul and Camille were to only two I managed to get a picture of in costume. The other two were in their pajamas before I could get the camera out. 

Riley complained and said it wasn't worth the work to get the candy (because of the rain). Riley kept trying to skip houses and go home, but Paul kept running up to EVERY SINGLE HOUSE. He said it wasn't a fun day. When I told Riley she better not fuss when Paul ends up with more candy she started going to every house again. Maybe next year I can convince them to let me take them out to eat instead. Maybe. Not. 

Camille's latest idea of fun: she goes outside and spends 30 minutes at a time on the swing. Charlie tends to push her a little too high for my comfort, but they have fun together.

Check out those legs and dirty feet. 

Oh this footprint! This has been on my floor since Monday. When I got home from work there it was. It made me smile. It is still making me smile, so I'm avoiding mopping like I should. I know that my children were well loved, safe, and played with while I was gone. I just can't beat this kind of life.

Just Cookies...

These really are wonderful! A dear friend gave me her cookie recipe. I've been making it for months and changing something every time! I know, shame on me. I've been trying for years to get my chocolate chip cookie recipe exactly how I really want my cookies to be. (Slightly crispy on the edges, super moist and soft on the inside). I also want them to stay that way for a couple of days, not only straight out of the oven. Her recipe was good just how it was, but not juuuust right. I think, finally, maybe...

I don't think the girls even realized I was baking. They were probably too busy scheming their next attack on me. So when I offered Camille a cookie her whole face lit up. She ran to the kitchen grabbed a bowl and waited for me to drop one in. I really wish I'd have had the camera in my hand to capture that look. 

Don't you wish you were my neighbor?

Oh what fun...

Once Charlie started the fashion show Riley really got into it. She grabbed 2 red blankets and put them on the stairs to make "red carpet." She proceeded to design the girls outfits and continue the fashion show.

Camille ate it up!

Riley practiced her photography on me this morning, so I had to take a picture of her first to put the camera on the right settings. She's a much prettier subject than me. She only cut my head off in 2 shots and took 2 blurry shots. Otherwise she did pretty good. See below:

Paul stuffed his pocket with crayons to head to church this morning. He was so adorable I couldn't resist snapping a few pics. Church turned out to be a bit of a disaster, but not because of him. Riley Mae needs an attitude adjustment. She now knows that if she doesn't participate in mass the first time on Sunday that we will return for the evening mass. She has promised to do better next time. Denis and I are debating nixing the crayons for Paul and Charlie already. They are still so young to sit through mass for an hour and 15 minutes though. However, maybe cutting out the crayons will avoid half of Riley's issues. She says, "it's not fair they get to color." I say life isn't fair and they are younger than you. Get over it. We'll see how it goes the next few times. 

Paul's creative double decker. 

Fun with our zoo family:

Probably half of the animals in the book aren't even at our zoo. This adorable passport is a free printable from here. I saw several online, but none of them were just what I wanted. The nice thing is they put some empty pages in the back for "sketching" in your own animals. I almost made my own version in photoshop, but got lazy and decided to print the pre made. I'm sure glad I did. It took long enough just to put these 5 together. I can't imagine how long it would have taken to make my own. The kids loved it so much they said I have to make one specific for our zoo.

I'm pretty sure I have a picture of them in the Tiger cage from almost every time we go to the zoo. This might have been Camille's first time though.

This is right before I made Colton tear up. I was playing the "don't smile" game in an attempt to get him to smile for the camera. It was about to work. He kept having a slight grin and then it all went south. One day...

Charlie erasing one of her drawings in her passport because it was to many scribbles. I think one of the big kids said something to her. At least she was making effort to use it. Who cares what her drawings looked like. 

These big kids played with this parrot until they got it riled up. I can't decide if it was mad at us or happy. It sure was "screaming."

In the middle of being entertained by the parrot Camille lost a shoe on the other side of the parrot fence. At least it wasn't the monkey pit water where we needed a zoo keeper to retrieve it (Riley Mae)!

This is the parrot all riled up. The kids loved it.

Sweet Liam was excited about the parrot.

I'm not sure what these ladies were talking about to Liam, but he sure wasn't interested. 

They were enthralled by a turtle. We normally only see the Tortoises, but happened to see a turtle so they were fascinated. 

This is what happens when you try to get them to turn and look at the camera. 

Aunt Aymee stopped to talk to Camille and I kept walking. When she stopped talking they grabbed hands to catch up. Camille had a frown and looked at the ground the entire walk, but she never fussed. I wonder what Aunt Aymee said to her. 

The boys working on their passports:

I asked my kids to sit down together for a picture and this is what I got. The least likely to cooperate was the only cooperative kid. Go figure. 

Aunt Aymee said we have a picture here with just Riley, Cooper, and Colton when they were little. I think I need to go back and find that. What a difference a few years makes!

I was hoping for a better picture, but I'll take it.

I definitely should have picked a better location. We were heading to the playground and I knew the kids would get disguising and red faced so I was trying to fit in a few pictures while they still looked decent. Better luck next time on my part. 

I know I already posted this on Facebook, but I'm sharing again because I love it so much! Quote from my dad, "It only took me 11 grandkids to get one to like me (as a baby)." As you all know they ALL love him to pieces now. 

She sure is learning to be naughty lately. I have noticed that she is VERY teachable with routines, habits, etc. when I STAY on her behind. If I slip up at all she's right back at it though. Examples, holding blanket during the day, sucking thumb, sneaking things she knows she's not supposed to have, pulling chairs up to the counter to reach things, climbing the stairs, opening the pantry and helping herself ALL day long, and on and on and on. She gives me mind numbing exhaustion, but is so much FUN in the process.

I found myself laughing out loud at her over and over this evening while she played "monster" with the 12 year old neighborhood boy. She already knows how to charm people. 

To those of you that think I need to come help organize their house: See the background in the picture below. You may want to rethink that. I don't know where people get the idea that I'm oh so organized and have it together. I'm totally normal, I promise. Ask my family, they'll tell you the truth. Just look at that kids hair too!

The kitchen toys have, by far, been the best gifts to sweet Charlie. I must have a million pictures of her playing with these.

This little blue tug boat was a toy that MaMa Henrietta kept at her house for the grandkids to play with. When she died my Aunt Robin sent it our way. My kids play with this EVERY time they go outside. Every time I see them play I think of her. 

Chubby legs and tippy toes. 

"I can do it myself" age. I remember when Charlie was this size and I took a picture of her trying to reach something as well. Another one's turn...

This man was meant to be a dad.

Play dough. Enough said.

The hubs still gives me flowers.

I am trying so hard to keep this mess out of her face. By the time she learns to leave it in I'll be able to tuck it behind her ears. Ah well. 

Anticipation of some fun later this week with our Zoo Family:

Probably half of the animals in the book aren't even at our zoo. This adorable passport is a free printable from here. I saw several online, but none of them were just what I wanted. The nice thing is they put some empty pages in the back for "sketching" in your own animals. I almost made my own version in photoshop, but got lazy and decided to print the pre made. I'm sure glad I did. It took long enough just to put these 5 together. I can't imagine how long it would have taken to make my own. I may do it one day to include some of the animals not in this one, but this is a start.