Still hot enough to swim

Today, we got home from the grocery store and as I was unloading everything, KL found this little wading pool. I ran to put something away, and when I came back out, she had it all set up and was just missing the water.

Trunk or Treat 08

For those of you who have never been to a trunk or treat, let me tell you, you are missing out. What I wouldn't have given to have had one of these when I was a kid. I remember going down to the church was I was little on Halloween for a party, but still... it was nothing like these are. You get more candy at one of these events in 10 minutes, than in 1 hour or regular trick or treating. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept, what it is, is everyone comes down to the appointed location and parks their car in a big circle. Some people go all out and decorate the back of their cars--there were some really good ones, but I didn't get any pictures of them, unfortunately. Then, the kids come around and you give them candy. Once they have gone around once, they go around again, and again, and again until all the candy is gone. Usually, I come home and just take about 1/2 the candy they bring home and use that for Halloween night trick or treaters. Anyway, here are some pictures of the fun we had this week.

This is a scene of what it is like. Unfortunately, it is dark, so you can't really see, but there are always tons of people and it really is fun.

My sister and brother in law. They looked so good, I just had to take a picture.Dave and KL. She was really quite intriqued by the fact that people kept putting candy in her little pumpkin, though she was less impressed by the fact that we were not letting her eat it all right then and there. (By the way, doesn't she make a cute little cheerleader?)

Jared and Andria stopped by with their brand new little baby Max. He isn't even a week old and this was the first time I was able to see him because we have been fighting colds and I didn't want to get to close to him under those circumstances. He is such a cute baby with the biggest cheeks. Ethan was having a fun time too, just didn't like posing for the picture.

My cute nephew and niece came too. We had fun seeing them. Brody, L, Evelynne.

CK with her little friends. All these girls are in are neighborhood and born within a week of eachother. Mikayla (Batgirl), Sammy (Snow White), CK (Flower)And here we all are. Though you can't tell, I'm actually a cheerleader too. The girls are just sitting on my stylish skirt. Maybe we will get a better picture tonight...

D (football player...of course), his friend Leevon,
KL (cheerleader), Me (Cheerleader), L (Cat), B (Football player)
CK (Flower)

Field Trip

This week I got to go be a chaperone for B & L's field trip. Since cousins Z and A are also in their class, I got to go with them too. In fact, when the teacher gave me my "assignment" of who I would be in charge of, it was my 4 favorite first graders. She asked if she should apologize for not giving me a break, but I told her I wouldn't have it any other way. Also, who better to keep them all in line then me? Anyway, we had a fun time, although it was VERY hot. I think the high was like 94, and it was VERY sunny with almost NO shade. Still, I'm glad I was there. We went out to a place called Fun Farm. They talked to the kids about farming corn, then took them on a little "cow" train ride, they got to go in the corn maze, play on hay stacks and finally pick out a pumpkin.

Here they are inside the maze.
L, A, B, Z

Playing on Haystacks: Z and B

L and A on the cow train

B and Z on the cow train

L and A on the top of the haystack tower

Their friend, Tanner, B, Z, L, and A

Happy Birthday to B & L

I'm finally getting around to putting up the pictures from B and L's bday celebration. We had fun, but it was a busy day!

L has been so excited for months... since the first time she saw the High School Musical 3 movie poster and realized that it was coming out on her birthday. She has making plans to go ever since. I told her she could invite 2 friends to come with her. When I told her this, she was quite distressed because she had already invited about 10 to come along. I made her narrow down her list and here are the girls scarfing down their popcorn just before the movie started.

L, Emma, Lauren, and Anna

The movie ran a little bit longer than I thought and so we raced out as soon as we could, went and picked up our 6 ft sub then ran home to where my family was waiting for dinner and a family party. We were on a tight schedule because we only had 1 hour before we had to leave for the school for the Fall Festival.

Here is the scene at dinner. Note we already have some kids dressed up in their Halloween costumes. In that one hour, we had to eat, open presents and get all the kids dressed. It was crazy, but fun! (little side note: one of the reasons they have a fall festival at school is because they kids aren't allowed to wear their costumes to school on Halloween. It makes me upset every year that my first grader's can't wear a costume to school, but they let the high school kids do it!!! Anyway... I could get going on that one, so I'll just move on.)

Birthday cakes. B wanted a football cake, and L wanted oreo truffles. Can't fault her there! She's got good taste! I decided to make them in the shape of hearts to make them a little bit more special. For those of you who haven't had the oreo truffles, you are really missing out! I can't help but believe that they are litterally a little peice of heaven on earth and so easy to make too!

Here we are opening presents. L and Anna and Sam: L and A are matching cats for halloween, though they don't have all their accesories here so it is a little hard to tell.

B opening his favorite present of the night... OJ! He loves it and it has been his favorite present since his birthday last year and Christmas! He is a funny kid and we love him.

L's favorite present came from my sister, Jill. My little pre-teen just loves the hot sticks she got and askes me to put them in her hair every day.

As soon as the party was over, we went to the school for our festival. I didn't manage to take any pictures there, but the kids had fun just the same. It was an action packed, but fun birthday and I hope they enjoyed it. Once again, I'm just so thankful that I have those two little munchkids to celebrate!

Fruit Leather

A couple of weeks ago, my mom called me because she found an amazing deal on pears. Only $0.25 a pound. That means I got a whole box of them for only $10. Unfortunately, I kept forgetting to go and get them from her so by the time I got them, they were pretty ripe and required some immediate action.

I really didn't feel like doing any canning, but I had recently heard how easy it was to do fruit leather, so I set to work. It made a bit of a mess as you can see, but still not as much as canning would have done!

When all was said and done, I ended doing 8 pans. I had to use my sister and neighbor to help me bake it all, but I'm happy to say it turned out. The kids will eat it! D even loves it! :-)

Here is me anKL proudly standing over our accomplishment. See... she's excited to eat it!

Music and Lyrics

For those of you who haven't see the movie Music and Lyrics, I have to tell you... you are really missing out. I was just recently introduced to this movie. I had no desire to watch it at first becaue I'm not a fan of Drew Barrymore and I'm so-so on Hugh Grant, but wow! What an absolute pleasant surprise. I laughed so hard through the whole thing. Here is just a taste of what it has to offer...

My Tireless Twosome Turns 7!!!

4 yrs old

It is hard to believe that 7 years ago and a day, I didn't know my little twins. It is hard to imagine how life was before any one of my kids. It is just hard to imagine how I didn't feel a sense of loss without them! Anyway, today my little cuties turned 7. They are really excited. While B is trying to play it cool, L woke up at 5:30 and then when it was time to leave for school, ran out the door yelling, "I'm 7! I'm 7!" Now, to pay a little bit of photographical tribute to my little sweethearts.

This is one of the earliest pictures of my twins. I tried to find the ultrasound picture of when I found out there were two, but no such luck. Still... here they are early on (B is on the right and L on the left):

Here they are with their daddy just before we left the hospital:

Here is the first picture we have of my boys all together. D (3 1/2 here) has always been such a good big brother to B.

This is as soon as we got them home from the hospital and in their bed for the first time.

L, Me, B... first birthday (D looking on)

Just a couple of cute pics... L 6 mo, B 4mo

Christmas 03

When they first started preschool, it would really wear them out. They would get off the bus and just crash on the couch. This was taken during their first week about 15 minutes after they got home. (August 05)

With their cousin Zach at Grammy's birthday party. Jan 07

Boys sporting their mohawks that Tracey and Emma gave them. April 08

Blessing Outfits... 3 mo.
(don't know if you can tell from this or any of the other baby pics, but B use to have the bluest eyes! By about 1, they started turning green, then settled on a light brown. Still very cute!)

1 Year Old


2 Years Old


3yrs old


Preschool...4yrs old



Preschool...5 yrs old


Kindergarten (almost 6)


1st Grade (almost 7)