PicturE DaY AnD Cornbelly'S

Doesn't Brynna look beautiful for picture day! I thought the relatives would like to see. I almost took a picture of the Bathroom on picture day for this blog. I totally could not believe the disgusting mess that was left in the children's wake. Ultimately it was too embarassing for me to share. I do not know how they managaed it but there was at least a half a container of mouthwash spilled on the counter (with many curlers swimming in the minty liquid) and onto the floor...toothpast smeared in every possible location, dirty clothes including underwear spread all over the floor, well you get the picture...took me over an hour to clean up. I guess I will chalk it up to picture day chaos.

The night before picture day (Thursday...having earlier turned in the rather odd reflections entry's...so much to do!) we went to Cornbelly's...I think this added to the above chaos due to going to bed late. We had to go on Thursday because they had two for one coupons at Hogie Yogi's but only for Tues, Wed, and Thursdays and we figured next week would be "crazy" there...you know it's true... (We missed out on the coupon I found on someone elses blog where you get in to Cornbelly's on this one particular day in September for 97 cents...I am totally going to watch for that next year)...it is a little pricey to take the whole family. The kids had a great time...Brynna was so excited because her pig won the pig race and she won a delightful pig nose she has been wearing constantly. She is pretending she is Penelope (we love that movie!). Her pig was shaquelle O'squeel so if anyone goes..that pig is fast. The kids hummed "Crush" through the david archueletta maze and they were surprised when they came out the kiddie maze. Anyway fun was had by all. Can't wait for the chaos that is called Halloween! I can only imagine what the bathroom will look like then.

I threw in one token picture of evelyn too because we think she is so over the top adorable.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELISSA

Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Melissa, Happy Birthday to You...And many more on channel four and scooby doo on channel two, and jay and jen on channel ten and your boyfriend kevin on channel seven...etc. etc. etc. (imagine some really bad and loud singing). We are also going to have chocolate cookies with sprinkles in celebration of your big day. Me and the kids put together the top "22" reasons we love melissa.

1. You are incredibly beautiful inside and out

2. You make the best orange julius's

3. You play the best tricks (like animals circling my room in the middle of the night)

4. Taught me to eat the fat instead of the meat

5. Taught us all meat is "chicken" and that chicken is frequently "zebra"

6. Our secret hand code (matthew)

7. Is a great example to us of the perfect person to grow up to be

8. Great cookie maker

9. Doesn't make us clean the house all the time...like mom!

10. "We wish you still lived with us...please, please, please come back home...can't Lance learn to be a dentist here!"

11. Makes fun of my secret crushes (You'll never guess who it is now)

12. Helped us with math...she's a genius in math

13. Helped us with our homework

14. Always makes us feel good about ourselves

15. Does our hair really good (mom can't crimp like you can)

16. One of the best daughters I could imagine having in all the history of time

17. Always called me momma

18. Best sensed of humor...always makes us laugh...has the prettiest laugh that makes you want to laugh along

19. Best sister ever

20. No I said best sister ever

21. No I said best sister ever

22. No it's from me best sister ever...

Imagine a brawl breaking out regarding who can tell you your the best sister ever. You know it is true...you remember being here. We do hope you have an amazing birthday. Everyone here loves you very much and is filled with intense missing you and wishing we could be with you to see you blow out your candles. We wish you that the next 22 years will be even more amazing than the last. Your family.

PUMPKIN PARTY AND TAGGING

Pumpkins have been a focus at our house lately. Unfortunately I have had not remembered my camera for any of the fun. Last week, before the big freeze, our kids got to go pick the pumpkins at grandma and grandpa's pumpkin patch. They loved it. The cool crisp breeze had me heading for the car, but the kids spent time analyzing and picking out their favorite carving pumpkin. We also picked several strange mishapen pumpkins due to cross-breading with who knows what squash. Our own pumpkin patch was also full of interesting cross-bred pumpkins....green, peach, yellow "pumpkins" all with interesting twisted shapes. The kids are determined to carve them all...I'm not so sure.

Last night I also got to go to the YW pumpkin painting activity. I was personally a little freaked that it wouldn't turn out well or alternately large amounts of paint water or actual paint would end up coating some portion of the RS room. I covered a large portion of the room with large garbage bags and prayed. I shouldn't have been worried. We have the best girls anywhere. They were extra-ordinarily creative (bees, ghosts, wicked witches, sports themes, funny faces, etc) and clean-up (thanks to all the leaders) was quick, easy and there was no trace left behind. What a great calling!

Also I am going to try to respond to my first tag.

8 TV shows I like to watch

House

Monk

Psych

American idol

Ghost whisperer (with aubrey)

Pushing up daisies

Heroes

Criminal minds (this gets kind of intense sometimes)

8 Things that happened yesterday

Woke up at 5:40am

Went to work

Picked up treats for YW

Picked up fastfood for the kids (so unhealthy!)

Loved talking to the youth and leaders at the pumpkin painting

Helped kids with homework (that haunted house is taking way too long)

Cleaned the kitchen

Fell into bed

8 Favorite places to eat

Olive Garden (You can't beat that salad)

Cafe Rio

Sundance

PF Chang's

California Pizza Kitchen

Costco hotdogs (oh Yeah)

Mi Ranchito

Chili's

8 Things I'm looking forward to

UEA weekend with the kids

Twilight movie coming out

Seeing aubrey in Hale's Christmas Carol

Thanksgiving with my brother in calif (if all works out with rehearsals)

Going to the beach and seeing seals

Seeing Melissa, Lance and Evelyn again

Reading a new book

Retirement with grandkids

People I tag

I don't know 8 people with blogs that look at my blog (my blog is somewhat boring even with my cool halloween countdown and new music:(

but I will tag Melissa, lance and evelyn (that's three right)

and Natalie again since she hasn't responded yet.

SUNRISE, SUNSET

It is a hard thing to let go of a child. It really is true..."quickly go the years". I think too fast. I sometimes ache as I wish I had a portion of that time back. I think fondly of the years that Melissa was a baby, child and teenager. I think back to her beautiful bouncing blonde hair and beautiful eyes. I remember her humor in mimicing with perfect accuracy the crows from dumbo. She was so smart and quick and good. I can see all of this again in Evelyn who is the image of her mom. I guess I will not let Melissa go...I will just enjoy the additions of love she brings to our family with Lance and Evelyn. I guess I will hold them all within me and let their beautiful souls warm my soul. I'll need that warmth as the cold season comes. I'll remember as a mom of a feisty teenager, sweet fith grader, gruff voiced fourth grader and wide-eyed kindergartner that we only have these spirits for a little while until they soar into independent lives. I almost cried today reading Brynna's kindergarten class "Skeleton Hiccups"as Brynna looked up into my eyes with a sense of supreme joy and specialness at being "star of the week" and having her mom share it with her. I was so grateful to be able to share it. It reminds to make the most of all these moments of childhood, even the hard ones.

HOUSE FOR SALE BLUES

I woke up this morning..duhduhdum...the house was for sale...duhduhdum...again had to clean it and change the smell...oooohhohh I got the house for sale blues..duhduhdum. OK it really doesn't "smell". However, it is a very hard thing for me to have this house up for sale. First of all I love this neighborhood and I love this house. Second of all I have a hard time keeping the house clean all the time. I feel like it is going to make me crazy focusing on each room's organization, cleanliness and "depersonalization", especially while living in the house with four kids. Soooo if anyone reads this....please save me. Find someone who wants a very well build house that has had lots of love. Recently installed handscraped walnut floors on the main level and beautiful new carpet in the upstairs bedrooms and wood floors in the downstairs bedrooms. A great kid friendly yard with a built in swingset. Close to Barratt elementary and closer still to the best friends and neighbors ever to be found. Oh...and a freshly painted laundry room (thanks to lance and melissa). Very negotiable on price. Open to all offers. I can't do it much longer. The constant cleaning is killing me. Seems like I spend 14 hours one day cleaning like a freak and the next day....disaster. Oh and anyone wanting to organize a garage this weekend?........