Halloween

Halloween was great this year. This photo was taken in North Plains and as you can see, the misty fog was beginning to settle in the fields; perfect for a night of Trick or Treating.
The Wolfe's graciously invited us to join them because we live out in the boonies!
Madeline was a scary witch.
Christian was a zombie.
Brighten was Cinderella.
Anderson was Batman.
Evan was Napoleon Dynamite.
I will post close ups later, but you get the idea! Hope you all had a great time tonight. I have already partaken of several Almond Joys and Butterfingers from my children's stash. Evan is already asleep due to a sugar induced coma, and Patrick and I are now going to watch a movie...

National Novel Writing Month

Ok people. It's now or never! I will be up at 12:01 am writing my first novel. Don't all cheer at once. You can do it too if you want. I have a screaming good story to write about! Go to nanowrimo.org and sign up if you dare. Wish me luck, and if you see me, ask me how it's going. 175 pages isn't that terrible in 30 days!

I Love Dance!!

...please read as you are listening to the last song on my playlist....


My children received their first dance lessons in the womb. They were instructed in the fine art of rhythm while I danced around the house. They learned to appreciate the subtle differences between ACDC and Enya....ok, not so subtle... But seriously, Madeline danced to the music before she could walk. Anderson and Evan are the residents in training for the next big break dancing movie. My girls have taken dance since they were three. Christian has taken a Hip Hop class and a tumbling class. It is Nature and Nurture when it comes to movement in our home. Last year, to get them settled down for prayer, we started singing MC Hammer's "Pray" and now the kids get all there wiggles out before they kneel. It's always fun to watch what they come up with. Evan trys to mimic the "River Dance" and Christian does a mean Napoleon Dynamite. Anderson is our slam dancer. So these pictures are of our family jammin out to Joan Jett's "I Love Rock and Roll" Everyone is schooled in the art of air guitar. And the toilet brush is clean so no worries!

Fall into Me....

I love Fall. I was born at the beginning of Fall. My fondest memories occur in Fall. I have been pregnant in fall, but never had a baby in the Fall. Fall is a time of shedding off the old and preparing for the new. This year I can completely enjoy the majesty of it all. Last year, I was in a hotel. The year before that, I was in Utah. Utah cannot hold a candle to Portland's Fall. I have written poems in college about Fall...I LOVE Fall!!!

FHE

This was a great article that I used for my kids to understand why we are such pests when it comes to what they can do on the internet. Internet safety
I hope this helps all the Mom's and Dad's out there understand how to explain internet safety. Fortunately, my kids were completely mortified by what Pornography was...it was actually quite funny. I thought Christian was going to get sick! You can get as complicated as you want by providing props for all the food. The kids loved it and I thought it actually put the point across better than I ever could have.

Wilson

The puppy that could have been called Aslan (from Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe) is now an inside dog. With the disappearance of his trusty sidekick, Roman, we have made a huge change in our household. The hyper puppy that chewed on the corners of everything, has been replaced by a sleepy lover. He hasn't knocked anyone over or tryed to climb on the furniture. He only got into the garbage once and has been a faithful wrestling partner for the little boys. The addition of hair and a hundred pound obstacle is worth it when compared to getting calls from the neighbors on a daily basis that he is in their yards and they are going to call the pound...I have had enough of groveling and apologizing. When he goes outside, we put him in the garden, which is completely fenced. I feel bad for him, looking for his buddy and not finding him. So yes, Stacey and Dad, he is an inside dog now. And he is perfectly happy and behaved. He doesn't jump up on you or get in your space...in fact he is sleeping at the foot of my bed right now!

Cruddy Croup!!

I just had to share this photo of Anderson all snuggled in the blankets. He has been so sick for the last few days. I didn't even realize that a five year old could still get Croup! He is feeling better and hopefully Evan wont get it too!

Time Out For Women

I am clearly a deprived Mormon Woman. I have never been to EFY (although I did save up money to go by babysitting two boys with ADD all year!!! Then, no one wanted to go from my ward because they all went the year before...THANKS!). I have never attended Education Week or Women's Week at BYU. Not knowing what exactly I was missing out on, I casually accepted a free ticket to attend TOFW. Now that I have attended a mass exodus of women all in love with Kenneth Cope and loving that he calls everyone "babies", I have arrived into true Mormon Mommyhood. I loved all the talks and was spiritually fed. But more importantly, I was reminded that there are women all around me going through the same things I am. We all laughed together and cried together. We all swooned over the "Spiritually Bipolar" Redneck Mormon group. And I got a free bag out of it! Thanks Stace for sharing your addiction of bags with me!
Patrick, bless his heart, took care of the brood for me so I could have some time to myself. He had fun cooking with the kids. He always has something fun for them to do. I just make them work their hineys off, and he makes them work, but has this uncanny knack for making it fun that mommy does not have.

On a side note...Last night the bishop of my ward gave me the go ahead to start a blog for the YW. I took 150 pictures last night at the Daddy Daughter Dance. I couldn't help but remember my own daddy daughter dance and sharing Bishop Neilson. It was a fifties theme and no comments on the legs please. It was the late 80's and I was in love with mini skirts K? What can I say...you work with what God gave you!! Sorry the Picture is so bad but it's a polaroid and a picture of a picture!

Childs Play

Kids are so creative. Our favorite "toys" in the house are craft and art supplies, blankets and pillows, legos and various building blocks, and dress up clothes. These are not always the cleanest options to play with, but my children genuinely enjoy there time with each other. They only went to school two days this week due to conferences, so they had plenty of play time. A Halloween play was put together, decorations were made for the windows, forts were made, and "School" was played. Yes, I let them play on the computer and watch movies too, but they always love being creative more than everything else..

If you were stranded on a Deserted Island...

The kids are all home for the next few days while their teachers hold conferences. Needless to say, my house will be a disaster area and lots of fun will be had by 5 frolicking children. I promise to post all the fun pictures of what we are doing to pass the time, but for now, I wanted to ponder the above question.
If you were on an island with the ability to have fresh drinking water and a source for fire, what would you have to bring with you that is required for your survival? I am not talking Survivor here...bringing chapstick etc or a bible...assume you had that. I am talking Swiss Family Robinson. Ever seen the film? Sometimes I feel like I am living that life right now. Learning how to grow your own food, raise your own livestock, building what you need, recycling everything is what we are doing now. But what is it that I couldn't live without?
It would be a mode of communication to future generations. I saved answering this question a friend had posed for me for this forum, because it is, in a way, the answer. Whether is is pen and paper, brass or gold plates, papyrus it matters not. But in order for my posterity to learn and grow from my experience I would need to record it. My old journals have been such a source of inspiration for me lately. Kevin's journals, I hope, will be a strength to his children someday. Nephi was bound and determined to get the plates of brass for his family as they headed off into the wilderness to pass on to his posterity.
Memories fade, but can be switched on like a lamp if they are recorded and preserved for a future date. I think that is why I love this whole blogging business. I can turn to it for a source of memories when my own start to fade. God brings all things to your remembrance. I think it must be very important indeed that we remember what hills we've climbed and what waters we have passed over in order to not only help ourselves remember but also for our families and loved ones to learn from.

I Have a Boyfriend!

I thought that would catch all of your attention! But seriously, I do. He has the words "EXTRA FIRM" written on his side. LOL!! He's very soft and I sleep with him every night. Patrick is always telling me to "get your boyfriend out of here!" I had another one once too. He was a lot longer than me and helped me keep my baby belly from getting smashed! Ok, I know he's a pillow, but still he is in my arms every night to help me keep my back aligned. Patrick calls it "My Boyfriend." I couldn't go to sleep without him. I have 10 pillows on my bed and this one is special. Incidentally, why do we have 10 pillows on our bed? I have no clue. But if I don't hold him all night, my back hurts the next morning. I guess I could find a chiropractor, but my boyfriend is free and is always there when I need him. I am thinking of giving him a name and a special pillowcase with a face on it! What do you think? ;)

Lazy Sunday for ME!

( Look, someone actually took a picture of me!)
Today, I worked so hard at church. Being a Secretary to a Young Women's Organization of 45 is quite the undertaking sometimes. So I didn't get to even listen to the talks today, I was too busy out in the foyer making flyer's. Then, during Sunday school, we had an impromptu YW Presidency meeting which invariably happens almost every Sunday. Five Birthday cards had to be signed, an agenda had to be filled out, handouts had to be distributed, etc... When we finally went into YW's, I was a little scatter brained. Pulled it off though...of course. It's me! As we were starting, my lovely 2 year old had to be brought to me. He has been kicked out of nursery twice now! This kid is cranky! I found him asleep underneath his sister's bed this morning. I can only imagine what kind of night he had and how much sleep actually occurred. So Mama fed the baby and laid down with him. It took all of 2 minutes for him to be absolutely out! He was out for 4 hours! All the kids went outside with Patrick and made a rain shelter for the Goats. And what did I do? I was lazy and just laid on the couch listening to music, dreaming of the future and soaking up the gorgeous fall sun. The Pacific Northwest is like living in paradise! Having a moment to yourself to reflect doesn't happen very often as so many of you can attest. My daughter even made dinner tonight. I love Sundays!

Boats Mama!

These photos are so precious that they deserved their own post. Evan is starting to put two words together. Although most people can't understand him, I can. I'm his mama...he was just so cute watching the little motorized boat at the lake. I couldn't resist snapping a few shots. My dad is going to love this! He loves boats and knowing that "Junior" likes them too will give him a smile.

The pumpkin patch

Happy Birthday Jack Wolfe! We had a great time at your party. We went on a train ride out to the pumpkin patch and watched the boats in the lake. It was a crisp 48 degrees and quite sunny out, but freezing with the wind. I forgot how cold fall can be when it just sneeks up on you from nowhere. Christian really wanted to bring home this bunny, that is until it scratched him. Evan was asleep for his friends party for the first half. He woke up cold and I held him most of the time. That is quite an accomplishment seeing as he is just over 40 lbs!

Picture Day

Do you ever feel ripped off? Like you just flushed your money down the drain? Well, today is picture day, and I am feeling ripped off. Having 4 kids in elementary school together is a flood of duplicate paperwork, volunteer requests, and quadruple fees. Needless to say, my children will not be getting the deluxe package of pictures this year. We are getting the $8 lame package just so we can have one on the wall, and later, in the scrapbook. Sometimes I feel like the only reason I pay for these usually horrible pictures is to document the losing of teeth and self inflicted haircuts! So if you don't get a picture this year, don't feel bad.Christian is sporting two missing teeth. I told him to open his eyes more and this is what I got!
Brighten is missing her two front teeth. She still looks like a cherub to me....my baby is growing up!

Fear...

Yesterday, I was hailed by a neighbor to stop. Cringing, I expected to hear that my kids had destroyed something or that my dog was harrassing their dog. But I recieved even scarier news than that. A cougar had been spotted on his property trying to kill his dog! My children's bus stop is on his property! The cougar was out at 7:15 in the morning, the exact time my kids get on the bus. Needless to say I was a little unnerved. It gets better...our dog has been missing since friday morning...Roman, not Wilson. A cougar can kill a horse, cow, elk, a dog, a small curly headed child!

So now this gun hating democrat is going to learn how to load a shotgun today incase she needs to blow the hind quarters of a cougar off to save her child, or goat or whatever....

PS...my kids are driven to the bus stop in the morning by their father or me now...it's a 15 minute walk through forest to get to their stop! Too many risks for me. I might be picking them up too...

Conference

I was hungry today...for spiritual strength. I found it in Dieter Uchtdorf's Talk. There is hope through Jesus Christ, not only to survive and thrive in this time that we are called to pass through...( me...I've needed hope to get through these months of trial and tribulation), but also in our glorious future that awaits us. That man is a man of God! His talk to the Relief Society on Creativity and Compassion was amazing. I must admit that I have a soft spot for this man. My favorite companion on my mission is his daughter-in law. And in the middle of all this spiritual uplift, my husband is printing out his notes on the Book of Mormon to give to the Jehovah's Witnesses who are at our door this very minute...way to be a missionary Honey!

My visual reminder of hope...

When we first moved to this home, the strawberry plants were weak and small. Strawberry season was in full swing and I had not one fruit. With careful watering and weeding and a hope that maybe I could revive them, I have reaped the reward. These are huge unblemished strawberries. This is my visual reminder, that there is always hope. And in a little while, with faith and love, I will be rewarded...infinitely!

PS..anyone want to go to Rome when the temple is dedicated? Patrick will probably have to drug me to cross the ocean, ( I have a phobia of deep water that I can't see through.) I have never been farther that Navoo Illinois. So much for world travel... Congrats to anyone that has a new temple coming there way! That is fabulous!

PPS...principle of compensation...Amazing Elder Wirthlin, and Angels by Holland, made me weep...

Back to School Boogies!!! Yuck!!!

It's 73 degrees in the house and I am freezing! Crap! I cannot be sick...but alas I think I am. Lethargy, blah, and now sore throat and fever. It's days like these, that you want to be ten again. What I wouldn't give to stay in bed and watch old movies and eat soup all day. Not gonna happen, I know, but a girl can dream...I haven't been sick in a long time. My children are back in school. That's probably where I got it from. Those evil little snot nosed kids sharing boogies in the hallway with my delightfully social children. Somebody shoot me! Stacey...bring me the Cherry coke stat!