Happy {late} Halloween!

It was a very chilly Halloween this year. Fortunately we all survived.

Harrison went as Calvin with his side-kick Hobbes. I thought for sure he'd be Indiana Jones what with his new fedora and all . . . but there's quite a bit of Calvin in this kid so it wasn't much of a stretch! So I started googling around to find a Hobbes plush buddy for him, but found out that the creator and artist of the comic strip won't do any merchandising. But I stumbled upon some photos of a Hobbes that a girl had made for her husband - and with only a few photos as a guide, I made Harrison's favorite mischievous partner in crime. It only took me a couple of days - but the stress was acute! I honestly don't know how it came together. I just had the pictures spread out and started cutting different colors of fleece hoping that I could find some way to assemble them in a picaso-esque version of Hobbes. With each step I just kept telling myself, "there's no way that I can keep this up - it's starting to look like it's supposed to and I'm just sure it's going to fall apart any minute!" But fortunately for me and the little Calvin-wanna-be, it came together better than I'd hoped. I woke Harrison up past midnight to give it to him since I couldn't wait to see his reaction. Funny thing is that in the morning he didn't have Hobbes with him so I asked if he was just going to leave him on his bed for the day - he had NO idea what I was talking about - he didn't remember me waking him up at all, so I got the joy of his reaction twice. Heaven knows I probably needed it - what we do for our kids!!!

So Emery went as - you guessed it - Hannah Montana. This is the second year in a row that she's had a long blonde wig - and the second year in a row we have decided she'll never have a long blonde wig for a costume again! Aside from the fact that they are not at all reminiscent of real hair and have a mind of their own . . . she just doesn't look quite right as a blonde! Next year we'll have to think up something not quite so blonde - and not quite so drafty in the Alaska weather!

Jackson helped me choose a cute Monkey online from Old Navy.com and adored it once it got here . . . dressing up half a dozen times - then announced to me he'd repeat the lion he dressed up as last year. THEN when I pulled out the trick or treat bags and other costumes, he wanted to be the dinosaur. I was going to save it for next year since it's a bit big - but with his protesting and my justification for thicker layers, the dino won out!

Aidan was the cutest little furry monster . . . all photos of him are blurry . . . you can imagine a cute little furry monster does NOT want to stay still in terrible lighting for a crisp, clear photo - so just imagine a Sesame Street-like green furry thing with ears and three eyes on the top of his head. He was adorable.

We did the trunk-or-treat at church then Harrison went out with his friend Sam and I took Emery and Jackson out while Dad held down the fort for one group of teens that graced us with their candy requests. I don't blame all the kids and parents - we did the same thing - we went to Kempton HIlls - a neighborhood a few blocks away - the homes are close together and the gamble for getting something larger than bite size usually pays off, if you know what I mean . . . people come from all over Anchorage to trick-or-treat in that neighborhood - big candy bars, cans of soda, among other things - they should just get sponsors and be the city's designated trick-or-treat area!

Surprisingly enough - there was still A LOT of candy in their bags after we spent a week in Hawaii - so kudos to our babysitter for not giving in!

I was going to dress up as Sarah Palin - but I didn't want to get cornered into giving an interview that would be picked apart, edited and misrepresented. Maybe next year!

Happy {late} Birthday Harrison!

So our Harrison is now {9} ! ! !
I, for one can hardly believe it! He had a really fun "Indiana Jones" theme birthday party. Harrison planned it for weeks. He had sketches of obstacle courses he wanted to create and with some reality and help from Dad, the big obstacle they pulled off was a sliding wall constructed of cardboard and duct tape. It was manually closed by Dad, but it was a lot of fun for the kids to try and slide under it without getting scathed. At the very end of the party they had to pick up their gift bag and replace it (like the idol Indy had to switch) and slide under the wall before it closed down on them. We found some printable invitations online. There was a "whipping" contest to see who could whip down the most plastic cups with Harrison's home-made whip. They had a treasure hunt to find little Lego Indiana Jones guys hiding around the living room - and these became the decorations for his home-made cake.

It was a lot of fun and I think since he was in on all the planning and decisions, he'll remember it for a long time! Happy birthday my little adventure man!

Updates:

Dan and I are home from Hawaii {sigh!} and trying to get back in the swing of things - for the next couple days I'll post updates of what has happened the past few weeks . . . there's a lot to cram into one post so I'll spread it out for your reading enjoyment!

Things are going well and we're glad {mostly} to be home . . . we missed the kids terribly - it was our first vacation without children and although we had a fabulous time . . . we were happy to come home and see them.

So from the low 90's and high 80's to low-high 20's . . . we're adjusting back to reality! More on that later . . . and halloween, and birthday etc etc etc!

You just know . . . you know!

So last night I got to see a brand new 4 day old sweet baby boy. My friend Michelle had her third boy - Graham. He was so tiny and wrinkly and cute!!! My sister in law Megan just had their second child - a brother to Gwen, and he's just as squishy cute!

So . . . how do you know when you're done having kids??? You just know. I never understood that when people told me. I couldn't fathom having that sure, undeniable knowledge that there wasn't another little one waiting to come to our home. But it's different when I see a newborn now. Just different. I don't have that "next time" feeling. Or a longing. Or wonder. I just know.

So although they are still beautiful and tug at my heart strings - although they are just so darn squishy and tiny and lovey . . . I am calm and peaceful in the knowledge that I will never have another newborn myself. It's not only made me change my perspective on us being a "complete" family . . . but it's also made me focus more on the stages of my older kids. Knowing that I have overflowing blessings from four little people with whom I am lucky enough to experience their childhood. I'm not waiting for another family member - it just feels . . . complete. I love that feeling!

Been Busy . . .

So I have been busy lately. You know, sometimes I just feel like I fall short on so many things - but lately . . . I've gotten a boost - mainly through getting things done!

Last week was a crazy, eventful week - one of those, I was so busy but I couldn't tell you all the things I did kind of week.

Although - I can say that I changed a tail light by myself, made a "Hobbes" stuffed toy without a pattern, and did a LOT of paper counting in the form of inventory at the store. On the day that I finished Hobbes, I felt so darn accomplished. I'll post photos soon - Harrison is going to be Calvin for Halloween - I'll give you the full story on THAT panic-inducing experience later! Oh - and of course there was a lot of illness going around.

Two Sundays ago must have been quite the exposure! Poor little Jack ended up throwing up through the night Monday and into Tuesday . . . come to find out - ALL the kids from nursery were experiencing the same illness at the same time . . . then passed it on to their family members. So it filtered through our family - all except Aidan - (knock on wood!!!)

So I just wanted to let you all know I'm still here . . . we're all healthy at the moment and eating a little too much pre-Halloween candy. Do they make a bag smaller than 10 lbs?????

This guys' funny!

So if you didn't watch the McCain/Obama roast last week - it was hilarious!!! And I think the reason we haven't heard more about it in the media is that by all standards - McCain won this one!

He knows how to deliver a joke and I can't tell you how much I laughed! Obama . . . well . . . not so funny. Dry, yes. Boring, yes. Not funny at all - NOPE!!!!

Oh The Things That You'll Find

Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You're world is the laundry!

Wash, dry, put away!

You have lights in one pile.

You have darks in another.

You have kid piles and dad piles

for baby, for mother.

You're a mom and a wife so you've done this before.

You are able to task laundry, dishes and store.

You launder on auto. Perhaps thrice a week.

Do not begin to act lax, or dyed wax it will leak!

With your head on school projects and toenails to clip,

With even your smarts you are able to slip.

And you may not find any

Of those rocks, clips or trash.

But on a random day of grace

You may encounter some cash.

But it is on those days rare

No scrutiny, beware!

In pockets they hide

so frequently, too

those items that say, 

"what?" "where" "huh?" "who?"

And when things you gather

seem odd and unknown -

It just might decipher

a child's stops coming home.

OH!

THE THINGS THAT YOU'LL FIND!

{Silly little spoof of mine from my favorite: Dr. Seuss' "Oh, The Places You'll Go!"}