Thanksgiving...survival

This year we hosted the big event. It was fun.


Rich's sister Cheryl and her family from AZ made the trip up.

My brother Mat, sporting his mountain man look, with my soon-to-be sister-in-law Kellie are now back in Portland, OR after a year of traveling the world.

Great-grandma Bywater hung out with the four little ones.

The classy spread. Can't eat Thanksgiving on paper plates! It only took me four dishwasher cycles to get it all clean. I was happy to do it! See you all next year.

Freaky Elves

Freaky Elves--Beware!!

I took all four kids on Wednesday to Gardner Village to see the elves. All was well until one of the elves moved --I think he snored-- Anja freaked out and the tears didn't stop until we got home. Love those Christmas memories...

New Moon

Of all the books this was my least favorite. I got so tired of hearing Bella whine (yes, I know it was only in my head since it was a book). I was a little reluctant to go to the movie but decided it couldn't be worse than the first and last year it was so much fun to see grown women painting their faces white and trying to talk to each other with fake fangs in their mouths...they didn't disappoint this year. Add in a few wearing werewolf attire and you have a well rounded collection of crazy women.

I went to an early showing Thursday at 8:30 p.m.-- glad it wasn't midnight! I was pleasantly surprised at how much better the movie was and how little they dwelled on Bella's "hole in her heart"-- thank goodness.

Now, I'm one who doesn't mind a sexy man on the screen but I threw up a little in my mouth when Bella and Edward started to "make-out". First thought: "Rob Pattinson needs to brush and floss his teeth." ((more kissing)) then, "He needs to cut his fingernails." He was so gross. seriously I was disgusted. You know that guy in high school who everyone kept saying was so cute and you would nod in agreement but in your own head you're saying, "They are all blind." That's Edward. He invokes nothing but vomit from me. Bella didn't look as stoned this time around, that was nice-- maybe the Mormons on the set told her to sober up.

The highlight was being with my girlfriends, none of which wore fangs, my mom who was dresses as a 50 year old not a blood sucking vampire, and of coarse--JACOB. His shirtless scenes were worth my $8 bucks. Thanks Chantelle.

Things to do in a fancy dress...

I love fancy dresses. I loved them when I was little and I love buying them for Anja. She loves to wear them and prances around telling everyone she's a princess. I do love this phase--
but was shocked when I saw this last Sunday out my front window...

In her fancy dress, WHITE dress coat and Mary Jane shoes?? Where were her big brothers?

Barbies into Mummies

22 beautifully mummified dolls all lined up in row...

Spencer showing off his technique..

Connor deep in thought...

And Jensen trying not to be grossed out by having his hands dirty.

It was a fun way to end a unit on Egypt for our mighty first graders. How long do I have to leave it "proudly" displayed in my living room before it can move into a less conspicuous spot?

Halloween, I know it's kind of late

So it took me a week to get them up... life was a little crazy around here. But, for the grandparents viewing pleasure (and any of my friends who wonder in by accident) here are the pic's.

Nadia as a stylin' bumble bee..

Carter as some sort of gross chest bleeding thing..

Jensen as the transformer Bumble Bee and Anja as Tinkerbell.

Anja with great-grandma Bywater at her live-in center's Halloween Party. It's always fun to go trick or treating inside and see all the sweet people who are always happy to see you (and give great treats).

Jensen with his two best friends at school: Connor and Spencer.

Rockin' Mom

Sometimes I'm a cool mom. It doesn't happen often and it's not verbalized more than maybe twice a year by my oldest child. That said, I was called a rock star by this same son at the end of a particularly cool activity.

What might you ask could cause my usually cool son to say he loves me in public? Nothing more than a night of sword fighting.
On October 28 a friend and I put together the biggest, baddest, coolest Medieval festival this side of I-15. Why put in hundreds of hours and ask my husband to foot the entertainment bill? Because we care more about our kids and their educational experience than the BofT or the two moms who told the first grade teacher I wasn't "qualified" to be a room mom..
Thanks to my friend Rhetta for helping track down the Kingdom of Artemisia and their cool fighters. The Hall of Arms was rocking! Thanks also to the friends who helped track down the feast food that fed our 75 Lords and Ladies from the fourth grade. And thanks to Lynley who let me borrow her lovely costume.
Sometimes, this mom and her friends do rock..(patting your own back is occasionally required to off set the many more times you are kicking yourself). It was a blast and I am glad it is over. Thank goodness I wont have a fourth-grader next year!