Happy Halloween!

We had the usual neighborhood potluck dinner at the entrance to our culdesac tonight. We had chili, sausage, and hotdogs. We had veggies, fruit, and chips with dip. All of our candy containers were laid out on one table so trick-or-treaters to help themselves.

DD was in a cowgirl costume, and once again DS#2 was a Ninja--black this year, not red or white as in previous years. DS#3 was in a pumpkin outfit that Grandma bought for DS#1 about 12 years ago. DS#1 did not want to dress up in a costume, but he went with us to help with his siblings.

We ate first then set off (around 7PM) with the kids to the next block. The next block was having a block party also, so there was a one-stop shop there, too, except it was a long block, so some of the neighbors did stay at their own houses. The kids went door-to-door there. DD had a hard time keeping up with everyone as usual. One of our neighbors, an 8-year-old girl, was so sweet and stayed with DD and even helped carry her bag. We were on our way back the other side of that block when DD decided that she was ready to go home. That was fine with DH and me, so I headed home with three of the kids while he went on with DS#2 who seemed to be the only kid that was really excited about trick-or-treating this year.

It was over so quickly, but the best part as always was being able to socialize with our neighbors instead of staying cooped up in the house passing out candy!

Can You Believe...

Can you believe that the little man is trying to pull up already? He's made such great strides this week! Oh, and tooth #2 just popped out today, too. Too bad he's still not sleeping through the night...

Bobbing for Apples

DS#2 didn't have his two front teeth at this time, last year. His Den Leader had a Halloween party at his house complete with a bobbing for apples game. They had a rule that you couldn't use the stem to get the apple, but they made an exception for DS#2. He didn't seem to have any trouble getting the apples, rule or no rule, front teeth or no front teeth. That's what this layout is about. Tonight we went to that Halloween party again. We arrived late because DS#2 had a soccer game. We specifically requested that they hold off on the bobbing for apples until we got there. I didn't get any photos this time, but DS#2 was even faster at getting those apples. This time, he didn't even get his costume wet. He made bobbing for apples look easy. He had SO much fun! :)

More Random Facts

I don't really enjoy talking about myself, but since Catherine tagged me on her blog, I guess I'll come up with a few facts.

1--I'm very non-confrontational. I remembered this one after reading Catherine's facts. I don't like to admit it, but I run from fights or my mind goes blank and I come up with great comebacks after the fact.

2--I'm afraid of heights. I can go to the top of Eiffel Tower, but I get this weird tingly feeling all over that I don't like. The same goes for rollercoasters. I can go on one, but I don't think I should when I spend the whole time praying that I'll survive the ride. Not fun!

3--I would love to have another child. Shhh! Don't tell my DH. What's stopping us? The fact that I've had three miscarriages and I'm not getting any younger, so the risk keeps going up. Also, the fact that we don't want to sacrifice the time we have with our others. DS#3 is already getting shuttled to various soccer practices and games and other activities. We already have to split up going to different kid events. DH and I would each prefer to go to be able to go to ALL of the kid activities.

4--I would love to have family live close to me, the closer the better. I consider myself very lucky that I have a good enough relationship with my family to feel that way. When I pointed out to my MIL that there was a house for sale down the street from us, she told me not to worry and that they wouldn't move that close to us. I just thought, why not? We're so busy that we probably wouldn't be home anyway. That way, they could go to the kid activities too, if they want to. I want my kids to KNOW both sets of grandparents! :)

5--I'm very disorganized, or at least I always feel that way. People always think I'm organized. That's because I don't like clutter and I like to put it away out of sight. That means the closet is disorganized, as a result.

6--I prefer to be indoors. Today was beautiful weather here, and for a change, I wanted to be outside. Since the weather is rarely perfect, I usually prefer to be indoors--with central air conditioning and heat. My whole family is like that. My parents have consistently refused to go to any of their grandkids' games. They're even more indoor people than I am.

7--I have a hard time throwing anything away, especially scrapbook paper. The problem is that I don't always have time to do anything with it. Recently, I organized a file drawer with my scraps and told DD she could use any of it. The problem now is that she'll give me her creations and tell me that she made it just for me. Of course, there was the one time I caught her doing an "eeny meeny miny mo" with DH's desk and mine...

I hope I didn't bore anyone with these facts about me. I don't have anyone left to tag, so if you're reading this and you feel like sharing seven random facts about yourself, please do!

He's Crawling--No Kidding!

DS seemed close to crawling a few days ago, but we didn't realize he was this close. Today, his siblings were putting the TV remote control in front of him to see if he would move toward it. He scooched at first, and then, like a lightbulb turning on, he figured out how to coordinate his arm and leg movements and he was really moving. I wanted to take a video of this event, so I set my old red cell phone (this boy is drawn to red like his Mama) about a foot in front of him. In a matter of seconds, he was using the phone as a teething toy. Now, I have to figure out how to resize that video so I can post it here. He is growing up way too fast!

Avoiding Lectures

I'm supposed to be working on a lecture for tomorrow. It's one that I've given before, but I still need to practice it so I don't stumble over my words. I don't know why I can't shake this horrible nervous feeling every time I have to give a lecture. Meanwhile, I've distracted myself by making brownies to bring. Food always distracts everyone into thinking that I'm actually doing a good job of lecturing. *WINK*

I actually scrapped yesterday. It was my turn to host the Monday Sketch Challenge at ScrapAddict and I picked Annette's awesome sketch. Look how little DD and DS#2 were!

First Tooth

Today, we discovered a sharp edge along DS#3's bottom right gum. He's finally got a tooth! I know he's not technically behind, but the other kids had their first tooth by four months. I guess he just wants to emphasize that he's his own baby! I'll try to get a photo when you can actually see the tooth instead of just feel it.

This afternoon, I pressed down on his gum right beside his first tooth. He got VERY upset. I don't think tooth #2 is very far behind. I just hope he lets me sleep tonight more than last night. He woke up several times, and apparently I was coughing a lot, too. I was so tired that I barely remember any of it.

We're Not Tired

These were photos I took yesterday. The photo of DS#3 was at DS#1's soccer game yesterday afternoon. He only slept through half of that game. At DS#2's game yesterday morning, he slept through the whole thing. At least it wasn't hot yesterday, because I had this warm little body on my lap the whole time.

The photo of DD was taken after we got home after DS#1's game. We had just pulled into the garage and we realized that she was "toast". I couldn't believe that she was doubled over so much. Unfortunately, she awakened when DH removed her from the car. Oh well! That girl really needs more sleep than she gets.

I'm Moving...Temporarily

I decided that I like some of the features on this new site better...for now, gentle readers, please join me at Truly Blessed on Vox for the time being, and feel free to give me feedback as to which site you like better.

He's Crawling!

Well, okay, I don't want to call it "crawling" quite yet, but this baby is moving faster and faster while on the floor by himself. Last night DH put the TV remote control on the floor about a foot from DS#3's outstretched hand. He was bending and extending his legs until he got closer and closer. Then, because he was looking up at me taking a video of this (I wish I could figure out how to resize video so I can put this on the blog), he turned over and got pretty much within reach of the remote control.

This morning, the remote control was about six inches from his outstretched hand and with one newly coordinated move of his arms and legs, he was able to reach that remote control. Darn, I guess we need to clean out all that miscellaneous stuff in the living room--like the magazine basket!

Another Computer Junkie

Here he is--another computer junkie. With six computers in the house, including the two laptops, there will be plenty to go around... :)

Two Outfits

These are some photos of DD from this weekend. The Cowgirl outfit is a hand-me-down from my niece. I actually bought this outfit last year for my niece's birthday. With only one daughter, I can justify a purchase better when I can get my niece to wear it first.

The goalie outfit was from her soccer game on Saturday--before her mood turned pouty. She looks happy, doesn't she? :)

Airport Security

I forgot to tell everyone about what happened at the airport here before we went on our trip to Disney. After we had checked in at the curbside kiosk, DH went to park the van while I went to the security checkpoint with the four kids. We also had one stroller and two carry-on backpacks, one with the Game Boys and one with the camera and my Ipod. We had to take off our shoes, of course, and I realized that DD had her light-up sandals on. I knew from previous experience that those set off the alarm, so it was just as well that she removed them. Of course this meant that she would have to go barefoot. Ick!

I went through first with the baby. DD went after me. She set off the alarm. Great! Remember how she was all made up from Libby Lu the day before? Well, I was a little aggravated that I didn't think of this sooner, but I thought it was the tiara setting off the alarm, so I removed her tiara. Well, the pouting started, even though I told her I would put it right back on. Ugh! In the meantime, I'm trying to keep an eye out for our stuff to come out the other end. DD goes through again and again the alarm goes off. Then it dawns on me. What's setting the alarm of is the gazillion bobby pins in her hair!!! There was NO WAY that:

1) I was going to take off all of those bobby pins then and there,
2) DD was going to let me take her hair down after she already had her heart set on showing up at Disney with her hair up and her tiara in place
3) I could stay calm when DD is crying and while my other kids are barely visible on the other side of a plexiglass wall with our valuables and my oldest is getting all of our valuables off the security roller thingy while carrying the baby all by himself!!!

The security guard guy obviously did not have kids or had never traveled at the airport with kids, or he would not have told me to stay calm!!!

Luckily, in the end, a couple of security people brought all of our stuff over to where DD and I were standing, waiting to be checked individually with that hand gadget. It took forever, though! We had just sat down at our gate when DH arrived from parking the car. Next time I want to park the car...except that I'm more likely to forget where I parked the car...

Nursing Gymnastics

I wish I could take pictures or heck, even video. I'm lying in bed trying to nurse this baby, and he is either trying to push off by putting his feet on my belly and straightening out his legs, or he has his up leg raised straight up in the air. The only way I can settle him down is to shake or tap his bottom with my hand.

Okay, I guess he wasn't all that hungry. He is now downstairs playing. DH and I always worry that he doesn't eat enough, but he is still growing, so he must be eating enough, right?

As the Wind Blows

DD's mood changes as quickly as the wind blows. Today, she told DH (who is her soccer coach) that she was going to run as fast as she could during the game. She did okay at first, but then she "was pushed down". She was in tears! I'm sure it wasn't on purpose. After all, those five and six-year-olds are concentrating on the ball, and not each other. Well, her mood shifted and she started crying. I had to convince her to go back out on the field so one of her teammates could have a break. She did okay for a little while, and then she started crying when her shoes got untied. As he was tying her shoes, DH asked her why she was crying. She said that it was because her shoes were untied. He asked her why this was so upsetting and she said it was because she couldn't tie her own shoes. He replied that he was tying them, so she didn't have anything to cry about. *SIGH* I am SO not looking forward to the preteen/teen years!

A Hoot

Sometimes, DD is such a hoot! Tonight, DH took her with him to DS#1's soccer practice. She apparently was chatting away the whole time they were there. She saw some "big girls" playing soccer. DH asked her if she wanted to play soccer when she got "big". She told him "Maybe", so he told her that maybe she could play another sport instead. She told him, "I love skiiing." Of course she's NEVER been skiing before. She was too young to take lessons the last time we were in Colorado visiting my in-laws. DH told her that she had never been skiing, but she could learn to ski when we go to visit my in-laws next year. She apparently went on to talk to one of the soccer moms there about how she was going to be skiing. She's my little chatterbox, that one!

At home, I was getting her ready for bed. I was telling DS#2 how he shouldn't lock the bathroom door so we could still get in and get DD's stuff to get her washed up for bed. He said that he locked the door because DD would barge in on him without knocking. I told her not to do that and that she should knock before entering a closed room. I went on to tell her how she would demand privacy in the bathroom later. She insisted that wouldn't happen and that she would always let her brothers in. She said, "I love my brothers!" That girl is a hoot, I tell you! :)

6 months old

DS#3 is six months old today. He celebrated by getting three shots at his pediatrician's office. He was out of sorts starting last night to most of today. Here's to hoping he'll at least sleep well tonight.

We are a little worried about how small he seems and how slowly he seems to be growing (compared to his siblings), although we know he is growing. Well, he weighed in at 15 lbs. 10 oz. (20th percentile) and is 27 inches long (70th percentile). So maybe he'll be tall and skinny. I can handle that. :)

Yesterday, we didn't do a big celebration for DS#1's 12th birthday because he had school and then soccer practice in the evening. He did request a chocolate cake to snack on after school. I haven't baked a cake in a long while, but I dug out an old favorite, Coca-Cola Cake. I don't like icing, and this cake has marshmallows baked in for a nice sweet topping. Here is DS blowing out a candle on a piece of Coca-Cola Cake. (We only had one candle, so it seemed appropriate to cut a smaller piece of cake to put the candle on.) DD really seems like she wants to do the blowing, doesn't she? ;-)

Birthday #12

Tomorrow is DS#1's 12th birthday. The kids are in school tomorrow plus the boys have soccer practice tomorrow evening, so we celebrated his birthday tonight. We usually go out to eat, but he instead asked his Papa to grill some steaks and then for dessert, he asked to go to Brindles, his favorite ice cream shop. We also went ahead and opened his presents today.

He's been asking for a Nintendo DS forever, so he got a pretty red one today plus a couple of games. DS#2 picked out a Lego Bionicle to give him also. Of course, DS#2 was the first one who started playing this toy that he was giving to his older brother. DS#1 didn't seem to mind. He really is such a great big brother.

Next week will be his celebration with his friends. He and four of his friends will be going to Laser Quest and then out to dinner. I would love to go, but those boys seem more comfortable around DH. We'll get him the ice cream cake that he requested. Good choice, I think. ;-)

Yes, my baby boy is growing up. He is noticeably taller than me now. He looks like he'll be DH's height soon. What's even more important to me is that he is such a great kid. He has averages of 97-100 in all of his classes, despite skipping a grade last year. He is always asking DH and me if there is something he can do to help around the house, like folding the laundry or loading the dishwasher. He doesn't hesitate to pick up his baby brother when he gets fussy, especially at night. We don't know what we would do without his help with his siblings sometimes. Yes, he is growing up into someone I'm proud to call my son. :)

Spirit of Aloha

Tonight I'm going to describe the dinner show that we went to on our first night at Disney. The show is called The Spirit of Aloha and it is shown at the Polynesian Hotel. The show time was 8PM but even though we got there a half hour before the show, we still had to wait in this super-long line. The only thing that made it more fun was that we were in line with our friends. What was holding up the line was a "mandatory" photo. I already knew I didn't want the picture because DS#3 was asleep in his stroller and we didn't dare take him out of it. So, the family photo included the baby barely visible in his stroller.

We weren't able to sit with our friends, unfortunately, because we all had pre-assigned seating. We had made our reservations at different times. I must have made our reservation at a great time, because our table was right in front. This was great because, even though our kids were tired from the trip, they were right there in front of the action, so I think the show held their attention better. Unfortunately, DS#2 has this thing about "looking at girls". He had his back to the stage for most of the show! The only time we insisted that he look was when the act included the performer using fire as his prop. I took mostly video of this performer, but here's one I took of him twirling the stick with fire on each end.

Because we were so close to the stage, we caught DS#1 eyeing the dancing girl in her little costume. He noticed us looking at him and he smiled. We try not to tease him, but we're just trying to get used to our little boy growing up. I didn't get a great photo of him, though.

DD was being her shy self, and although she had talked about "learning how to dance" before the show started, she did NOT want to go on stage when they asked the kids to come up and learn how to do the hula. I walked with her up there, and she had the biggest frown on her face!

There was so much food--barbecue ribs and chicken. The dessert was this yummy dark chocolate mousse that was shaped like a volcano. We had a great waiter that kept the food coming. Our waiter also took one of the leis that they gave us and put it on the baby's head. He didn't seem to care, and I got this adorable photo!

The show ended past 10PM and we were all exhausted. I took the first shift back at our room and took a shower with DD while DH took the boys to the pool. DD was asleep within minutes of getting in bed, even with her brothers making noise in the room. We didn't all get into bed until almost midnight--tired but still very excited!

October Kits

I'm trying to get my November assignments done, so I'll have to hold off on more Disney pics for now. I almost forgot--it's a new month, so I can show my pages done with the new October Scrapaddict Kits.
These first two are from the Autumn Equinox Quick Fix Kit using the Daisy D's Autumn Collection papers.

The last two are from the City Slickers Quick Fix Kit and the City Slickers Overdose (OD) Kit using the Dream Street Jack Collection papers.