Group shots

Here we are with Jalen...the ISU football player.

With the Wilson's...Sullivan wouldn't stop punching Brent and Tess thought she owned their house...we were dragging them out the door!

And at Grandma and Papa's...all the grandkids. (Minus Tess who was too busy getting a snack in the kitchen and Jackson who doesn't live here! Kylie, want to move here?!!?)

And with that...Im off to watch a scary movie with my hubby! Trick or treating is exhausting! ;)

Tricks and Treats 2009

They couldnt wait for the clock to hit 5:30 so we could get started!

We've got Minnie Mouse (about sick of pictures at this point), Rocky Balboa, A butterfly and an Autumn Fairy.

And yes, this one...takes her mother's breath away...and causes my heart to stop beating.

I had so much fun doing their hair and makeup! They loved it too.

Racing to ring the door bell!

Its amazing how she seemed to know what she was doing right from the beginning! And really, what could be cuter?

So excited! Get me some more candy!

I dont need help!

Who can I punch!

Gilligan and Klinger

So the bank staff all dressed up like tv shows from different decades.

Jason's building was Gilligan's Island...Jordan's was MASH.

I cant really even comment...pictures are much better than words

The messiest

And this little peanut is why we should have been outside. She didn't really get why we were all so hung up with the big orange ball...she found the 'guts' MUCH more fun.

And by fun I mean stirring and flinging all over the kitchen.

But we never stopped her...because this was how much fun she was having.

And could you tell this face no?

Yeah, I didn't think you could.

Carve it up

We carved our pumpkin tonight too. Please remind me next year to do this when its nice enough for the mess to stay outside.

Seriously so excited!

And because Daddy was home...I actually got in a picture!

You cant imagine how much fun he had!

Lauren got to do some of the cutting this year...you can stop being old now.

I wanted to try doing the mouth this way...

And I love how it turned out!

Just what the dr. ordered...

You know when its like the stars align and you are given what you didn't even know you were asking for?

That was our night.

We ended up just the 6 of us...all 6 of us...in our own house...THE ENTIRE NIGHT...and healthy to boot! Its been a long week of sickness and Jordan working like 140 hours...so tonight was amazing.

It was just what we needed. And we made the most of it.

Lauren and Avery just being silly...and cute.

They are really such good friends...I hope it lasts.

And I know it might not be something their mother should say...but seriously, they are beautiful! All of them!

I told them all to JUMP!

Keep it up!

And then Avery landed on her back...opps. She's mid air at this point...still headed up...before heading back down she was totally vertical to the floor. It wasn't a soft landing!

And Tess jumping was like the funniest thing you've ever seen!

Look at that leg!

uh? What are you doing?

Friday Fun

So I cannot find my camera...and its a shame because they kids have been being very cute this morning making cut out sugar cookies and owl treats.

Sully and I made the dough for the cookies last night and he told me when he woke up, "Mommy I dreamed about making pumpkin cookies ALL night!!!"

There's truly nothing he likes more than cooking! So fun.

Since I cant find my camera here is a pic off Cassie's blog of what the owl treats look like - VERY easy, VERY kid friendly...

Happy Friday!!!!!!

Delivery

Do you think the McDonald's people know how much money they could make if they would deliver?

Cause today I'd give anything to have them deliver lunch for my kids...

I'm just saying.

on my heart

Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord your God is with you, He is might to save.

He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love,

He will rejoice over you with singing."

Dont you just love that?

I admitted defeat

Saturday I came down with a horrible allergy attack. Constant sneezing, coughing and at one point, wheezing.

Sunday wasn't a good day.

This morning at 7 am I admitted defeat and took my temp and found a temp of 101. I figured it had developed into one of my regular sinus infections that I've been plagued with since my pregnancy with Sullivan.

I went to the dr. this afternoon. Yep, sinus infection and terrible right ear infection. I guess my ear was oozing...Seriously.

I feel like my head is in a vice grip. I'm headed to bed with the prayer of a better day tomorrow.

Thank goodness for drugs.

Jordan has a horribly busy week at work...after baths he was headed back to work and I knew I had to come up with something for the kids to do that would involve me in no way, shape or form.

So they got to make a fort in the living room and watch The Letter Factory.

I NEVER say yes to forts...never.

My living room is a mess now but I didn't have to lift a finger during any of it, they had a fun time and they all went to bed happy.

And Tess was not about to be left out of the fun this time.

(I guess I did get off the couch for 1 picture.)

SPOILED

My kids are so spoiled by all their uncles and cousins.

All Tess had to do was look at Jordan and he'd pick her up.

Sully followed Joe around the entire time we were at my mom's. Joe was great about letting him 'help'.

Last night there was some serious Wii action going on. Check Sully out!

Tess LOVES Nick. She may have picked a favorite lap!

Work Day

Today was work day at my mom's house. I guess one of the benefits of having 7 kids...6 of them boys...has its advantages later in life. Like when they come home to help!

We winterized windows, cleaned china, raked leaves, mowed, dusted, ripped out bushes...the list goes on and on.

Here's Nick in my dad's old tool belt.

I'll admit that just the site of that tool belt can bring tears to my eyes. My dad loved a good project. It seems to fit Nick better than anyone else...meaning he is SO much like my dad its scary. We had a lot of fun today and laughed a lot, but I cant help but think about how much better today would have been if my dad had been around. Oh I miss him.

Even the kids helped out.

Sullivan was in boy heaven all day. Helping the 'guys' out and dealing with power tools. What more could a little boy ask for?

Following Uncle Joe to watch Uncle Nick with a chain saw!

Baby Joshua

Joshua is 2 months old already and a very smiley little guy.

Serious cuteness!

He wanted to play with the big boys!

Water, Water, EVERYWHERE!

Lots of really exciting stuff out there for the Water4Christmas campaign.

check it out here:

Water4Christmas

Etsy - Water4Christmas

Water article

What am I missing?

So we have these leg warmer things...I see lots of them on other blogs.

But I dont get it...is she supposed to wear them under pants? They would never fit under there. Is she supposed to wear them under a skirt? Thats not warm...Id do tights.

So while they are insanely cute...I dont see the purpose?

A New Day!

Its a new day, its Friday and everyone seems to be feeling a lot better.

Better moods, no fevers since yesterday morning and Sullivan's cough is MUCH better.

So we started the day with a fall craft.

sponges, paint

Mommy's artistic tree

Three anxious kids! No school today here!

Sullivan loves craft time almost as much as cooking time. And as you can see...he's better. And I'm SO glad. Because he was so awful yesterday I was seriously considering military school.

They loved this. LOVED it.

We made Fall Trees.

Tess wanted to play too. So she got sponges and water...no paint, Im not crazy.

And this is 1. reason why she didn't get any paint.

She still had fun!

Finished product.

Tess has been a little more clingy than normal today. I was working on making scotcheroos and I HAD to have some help. Lauren came and got her and 5 minutes later I went looking.

Lauren had put on Tess's favorite video...a montage of pictures set to music by Uncle Garrick on Lauren's 2nd birthday day. We put this on and Contessa is glued to the tv. It is precious.

And really and truly...Lauren is the BEST!

We're getting ready for 3 of my brothers and their families to arrive tonight! Cant wait!