Party Girl

 Hard to believe my little girl is almost 1!  She had a great time at her party!

 No danger from a candle from  kid who is this crazy about cake!

Happy birthday sweet little monkey princess!

Cousin Time

 Tonight we had  a little 'kid swap.'  Aunt Sam took Cam to watch a KSU basketball game, and we got sweet giggling fun with our nephew!  The kids had so much fun playing with the little man!

I am so thankful once  again that my kids have the blessing of having their cousins close!

Cousins are the best!

 Cam came home and informed me he had a choir concert the other night.  I did not have this on the master calendar, so i pulled out the school calendar, where it was listed as an 8th grade concert.  I asked him about that, and was told 'because I have such a mature singing voice mom!'  The 8th grade choir, plus a couple of 7th grade boys did sound pretty good!  I am unclear on if I have to attend a 7th grade concert or not.

Truly her father's daughter, this kid can sleep anywhere!!  We have been enjoying a little down time between activities.  It is high school buffer week, so Colin has been home after school.  Cam won't start basketball for a couple more weeks, soccer season is over, and momma is basking in the glory of being home in the evening.  The glory won't last long I am sure!

They Killed the Mockingbird

Colin came home from school the other afternoon with one of his friends.  Not that I wasn't happy to see the friend, but they hadn't really told me of this plan.  Colin told me they had to get together because they have a huge project due for freshman English, and had to make a video.  OK. 

I then hear him ask Quincy if she wants to be the main character in their video.  I quickly reminded Colin that Quincy is 6.  He said its ok mom - we need a girl who acts like a tomboy to be Scout from the book "To Kill a Mockingbird."  I had to admit that I was pleased for a moment, because I remembered this book and thought "wow! he actually read it!" 

 I then hear him say "Quick, Cam go dress up as a woman!" 
Cam will do anything.  Sometimes I genuinely worry about that boy. 

 So we are making a video for freshman English in which Quincy is the main character, and Cam is dressed as a green haired woman?   Yes!  Its gonna be great mom.....just wait and see.

5 minutes later I see Colin getting out the chainsaw from the garage.  I know it has been a long time since I read that book, but I don't remember any chainsaw part?   NO chainsaws allowed!  Colin then told me if he flunks freshman English it will be all my fault.  Sure, blame the mother. 

Happy Halloween!

Everyone who knows me very well knows that Halloween is my all time favorite holiday.  I encourage my kids to dress up, we spend all sorts of time trick or treating, decorating, and enjoying acting like kids.  If I could have a scary movie marathon and still have kids sleeping at night, I would totally do it!

 This year, Mallory had to work.  She did not dress up to go to work, even though I thought the residents would have totally enjoyed that.  So this is her costume.....a dietary aide at Brookside!  She is forgiven since she came home from work and took over the candy handing out duties!

 Harper was a Unicorn Princess.  It was a great costume for her, and she was very excited and proud of it.  She did wear it for most of the evening, but ended up with the unicorn's reins around her neck because she said he was "heavy" and she was tired! 

 Saige was a cat for her first Halloween.  This did not go well, as the hat was too small for her big head, and she did not appreciate my pinning it to her hair with clips.  She did wear it for a little while!

 Preston was a dark knight.  He was disappointed because he could not carry his sword in the school parade, and it made lots of cool noises, but he got over that as soon as he started collecting candy!

 Quincy was a clown.  Simple and fun!  She said that she will never be a clown again because the wig got too hot and itchy, and made her head sweat!

 Madison was  a mad studying student, because she has 3 tests tomorrow.  I think this is very wrong of her teachers, and plan to tell them that they ruined her holiday!  (Ok I really won't tell them, but I did try to act sympathetic on her behalf!)  I thought that she should have dressed up at least a little, but she didn't.  I forgive her because she volunteered to take Harper and Quincy trick or treating.

 Colin....notice this is the same pathetic costume he has worn for about 3 years now.  He stuck it on to go to grandma's house, but said he is too old for Halloween.  He then told me he was going out with his friends to scare little kids.  I nixed his plans, and he ended up having a bonfire in the back yard with them instead.  He should learn that you do NOT tell your parents these type of plans!  :)

 Cameron was a beekeeper and the neighbor girl and her dog were his bees.  Supreme effort and an A+ costume!  Plus it cost absolutely nothing (a true bonus).  He did lose his girlfriend over this, as apparently skipping her Halloween party in order to go trick or treating was not an appropriate way to celebrate the holiday.  He didn't seem overly upset by it! 

 I enjoyed watching the school Halloween parade downtown.  Preston and Quincy had a great time too!

 You might notice that although Colin did not do a good job of dressing up, he did wear the Halloween shirt that I got him on a clearance sale.  I think he actually loved it! 

Another successful Halloween!  We had a great time.  This girl was sad at bedtime....she told me she hates for it to end!  Me too!

Anniversary

Today is Jim and my 19th anniversary.  Every day is a journey with that man.  He drives me crazy, makes me laugh, suprises me with his insight, and makes me happier than I ever thought possible.  He is also a great daddy to our kids.  I am a very blessed woman.  Now get ready cause its margarita time!

Pumpkins!

 After messing with this for a long time, I have given up getting these photos in order!  :(
The kids had yesterday off from school, so we went on our annual trek to Shaake's pumpkin patch.  We had a great time!

 Cam didn't go to the patch with us....he ditched us for his friends!

 The rest of us had a ghostly good time! 

 I don't know if you can tell or not, but Quincy is sort of crying in the above photo....that is because Colin and Preston "lost" her in the hay maze!  I think it truly freaked her out!  Once in a while, something rattles her cage!

 Colin reported to me that in the 4th grade he was the king of the monkey bars.  He went all the way across and then said "oh yeah, still got it!"  Quincy could not let that pass without pointing out she is in 1st grade and can do it just as well! 

 I do love some great pumpkin hunting and carving!