Trick or Treat

Flipping through the pictures to post I realized my older boys are missing.... made me sad that they are growing up so fast.
Anyways, we had a very busy Halloween! Andrew was Dan from Bakugan and Emily was little red riding hood; she hated putting her hood up! We had Andrew's last soccer game then went to the church for trunk or treat then off to the Bailey's for a pre party then off trick or treating with a bazillion kids down to the Edwards. We had yummy soup and hung out while the kids recuperated from walking forever. A few of the kids even went to a haunted house down in Willamette -where they were chased by a joker and a man with a mask and chainsaw - Emily had to sleep with a very high watt light bulb all night! Michael hung out with friends and trick or treated dressed as 4 amigos and Zach hung out with friends watching movies.
A fast but fun filled day - of course Sean thought its all ridiculous but I dressed up as a good witch just to embarrass him :)

Halloween Goodies

Because I had nothing else to do today; only a class party to plan and a costume to sew.... I had some much fun though! I made these fun treat bags for the girls at Emily's cheer - I love photoshop!

40 Years and 40 Things About Me

1. I could easily live without television.

2. I could not live without my computer

3. I love Mexican Food

4. I’m short enough to be able to join the Little People’s of America

5. I love taking pictures

6. I think I am fairly creative

7. My favorite creative outlet is to scrapbook

8. I dislike the water

9. I can’t swim

10. I absolutely cannot cook – I can bake though

11. I am so blessed to have my family nearby

12. Running outside with a friend on cold dark mornings is the best

13. I love to read and read and read; Stephen King to Stephanie Meyers

14. Sometimes trucks pass me on the freeway

15. Crooked things drive me crazy

16. Fall is my favorite time of year

17. Spring is my least favorite

18. I dislike change but I’m getting better at it

19. I am fairly quiet until I get to know you

20. Andrew makes me smile at the things he says

21. Emily is my girly athletic girl; the best of best world

22. Michael’s outlook and creativeness inspires me

23. Zach there much he can’t do (maybe drive….JK)

24. Costco chocolate cake is die for!

25. Ann Taylor Loft is my favorite clothing store

26. I haven’t bought a new pair of shoes in forever!

27. I have only lived 6.6 miles away from where I grew up….

28. I am honest and I do not like to break rules

29. I love my tiny wrists:)

30. A good wind storm is the best

31. A snow storm is almost just as good.

32. I would love to storm chase and see a tornado

33. I have jumped out of airplane

34. I can kick butt sledding in the snow

35. I would rather be cold than hot

36. My stupid mini van is extremely functional

37. I would love a black Mercedes wagon

38. Halloween is favorite holiday

39. If I could go back in time I would be Pioneer

40. Life just wouldn’t be same without diet coke!

Autumn in West Linn

I was in awe last fall at the drive into my neighborhood, the leaves changing color was spectacular -this year I made sure to get a few pictures. It is truly beautiful; it seems to change daily and increase in intensity. I am so blessed to witness this amazing view everyday!

Happy 7th Birthday Andrew

Andrew was thrilled to have 3 birthday - one more than Emily. Its always a contest ya know. We were in Klamath Falls for a golf tournament for Zach and so Andrew celebrated his actual birthday in K Falls. He woke up to donuts and a new bike! What a great deal since we rode bikes all over the Running Y! With Sean never home we celebrated a family party the night we drove home. We pulled in and Jenna had decorated the house all perfect and Sean wrapped all the gifts and Grandma and Grandpa came over and we had a great celebration! So here are 7 things I love about Andrew:
1. He says the funniest off the wall things
For Example: In explaining before his friend party we talked about saying thank you etc. and so I said "What do you say when you get two of something or you get something you already have?" "That's easy mom, I say Thank You very much it will go perfect with my collection!"
2. He still likes to cuddle
3. He is a fantastic story teller
4. His front teeth are loose and so he talks funny
5. He loves to wear pajamas
6. He loves to be outside
7. He could go days without watching TV

Happy 7th Birthday Andrew

Fender Bender

This summer all I do is drive everyone every where. Last week I had to drive Zach to his tournament in Woodburn race home to get Michael and take him to SK8 camp in Lake Oswego come back and get Emily and Andrew ready to go back to get Michael then back down to Woodburn to get Zach and bring everyone home. Somewhere in there we picked up Michael's friend Taylor in Tigard and took Zach back up to the Oregon Golf Club before we headed downtown to North East Portland for appointment. Traffic coming home was awful on I-5 so Emily and Andrew and I took highway 43 down thru Lake Oswego and we made awesome time 15 minutes - yes! Then bam literally out of know where we went flying forward hard. You know those commercials where the happy family is chatting and bam the get hit - well that happened we never saw it coming or anything. Thank goodness the kids were tired and gelled in front of the tv watching Sponge Bob and not squirreling around in their seats. So much for me making great time! The police came and apparently the girl behind the car behind me grabbed her phone and slammed under the SUV in front of her and the SUV rammed into us. Great - that's all we needed because I have all the time in the world to deal with this. None of us were hurt and they car is still completely functionalble - I just look more stupid now driving the ridiculous mini van around all beat up. We ended the day too with the long drive out to Newberg to stay out there so we could be an hour closer to Zach's tournament the next day. Ugh! The car is still not fixed - what a much un needed headache!

Creature Feature

We celebrated Emily's 9th and Andrew's 7th Birthday with a birthday party at home with the reptile man. I have to laugh that I figured no one would really come considering it was during the week and during the middle of the day and during the middle of the summer and with only 1 week notice but just about everyone came and it was so cool! Unfortunately Emily developed a fever in the middle of it but despite that glitch it was amazing and so much fun! He brought a viper and rattlesnake, a kissing lizard, a wall climbing gecko, a huge boa and an alligator and much more. The kids all got to hold a snake, alligator and everyone helped to hold up the huge boa. So much fun!