And to all a good night!

I have to say I think today was the best Christmas ever. It was at my house this year, also a first. I decided to make it "themed" so we had a pajama party. Lots of yummy food, presents, paper ball fights and all of us sitting around in our pajamas so very comfy. I can't forget to mention the nerf guns either =]

I decided that I wanted to focus on my children this Christmas. I wanted them to be able to wake up Christmas morning, unwrap their presents and just hang out in their p.j.'s all day. Without having to leave home and rush somewhere. So we did just that and Christmas came to us. Everyone wore there most comfy p.j.'s, we all ate way too much and had the greatest time ever.

My morning started at 5:40 a.m. and the last of the family just headed out at about 11:00 p.m. Wow. I am soooo tired. The kids were all very happy with their gifts, I think everyone got exactly what they wanted. So the nerf guns... well my kids have 9 of them in different shapes ad sizes and every one of them were in use from about 2 to 10. That's 8 straight hours of those little foam darts flying everywhere. All of the kids, from age 2 to 42 were playing with them. And having a blast I might add. Lucky for me our house is big enough that they had an area to do it in, all having fun without breaking my pretties. Several comments were made of how they were such a big hit and everyone had such a great time this year. Which made me very happy. I was even asked what my plans were for next years theme, how kick ass is that. My youngest Zakary layed down in the middle of the room where they were shooting each other at about 7 and passed out. He's still asleep. All cozy in his bed. Still in his p.j.'s.

Christmas this year wasn't about Santa. ( all though he is a very important part ) It wasn't about the presents either. It was about family. Spending time with the ones you love the most. And that's what we did. Laughing, smiling, not worrying about tomorrow. Just feeling the magic of what today is. Like were suppose to do on this day. There was something magical about this Christmas. Now I'll admit I just didn't seem to be in the spirit at first but something changed a couple weeks ago. I couldn't tell you what it was, but it sure seemed to make a difference. I guess what you hear is true, all you have to do is Believe.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it SNOW!

Tonight was one of those magical moments. I was tucking the boys into bed an out of the corner of my eye I saw out the window, it was snowing. The kids have been talking about snow for days and how they wanna build snowman's with sticks for arms and put there hat on him =] I know it was bed time, but what kind of mom would I be if I didn't let them all run right outside in their pj's and catch snow flakes on their tongue. After their little fingers and toes were frozen they came in and warmed up by the fire, and eventually off to bed. It was just one of those fun magical moments watching them play and throw snow at each other, giggling and shivering at the same time. I love the little things, they mean so much =]

The Little Things

Sometimes it's he smallest things in life that make you stop and look around. My youngest Zakary was reading books this morning and found a scrapbook of his oldest sister that she had made herself. He came up to me with tears in eyes asking where the pictures of him were. I tried to explain he hadn't been born yet when those were taken, but he's 4, he doesn't get it. I then told him that mommy had lots of pictures of him as a baby too and of course he wanted to see them right away. So thee I was tearing apart my closet to find his baby book... see I've been a bit of a slacker. His three older siblings have crap books from birth till there first birthday, and all though I have everything to put Zak's book together I haven't done it. I can use the excuse of no time, which it honestly feels like I don't have, but that's not a good enough excuse for me when I've got the others done. His baby book I kept up on though. So we looked through his book, which he was very excited about. And then I carried him around the house showing him all of the photos I have of him everywhere. He was very excited. Maybe he thought the baby in all the pictures was just a baby, not him.

Life has been busy for me. Up and Down and back and forth. Sometimes it feels like the roller coaster I live on is just too much and that I should jump off. But it's my roller coaster, I'm the one driving, right? Sometimes I feel like I'm not in control or making the decisions, but I am. It can be a battle to be me, but it always seems to turn out ok in the end. A little bit of chaos hasn't killed me yet, hopefully just made me stronger and I have four beautiful children who are always able to make everything better, even when I feel like my tummy's upside down when the ride stops. I wouldn't be me without them. I've said that a million times and I will say it a billion more.

It's been four plus years since I touched a scrapbook. I think it's time I start. Maybe going through my life in photographs will help me feel a bit more grounded. And if anything my baby wont be in tears cause he doesn't know why he's not in the pictures. Thanksgiving is next week, a time to be thankful for the good things in life. I have four beautiful reasons to be thankful for, no matter what day of the year it is. There's no place to go from here other than up, I better get started. 

All grow up..... almost :)

So I came to the conclusion that I must be getting old.....older :) See when I think of a coffee pot on the counter I think of my dad in his recliner watching some old movie sipping his cup of Joe. For me, I conveniently go through the drive thru and order my very complicated drink (because I'm so darn picky) with no thought or work involved, I just hand over my cash and get a sweet treat in return. Well tonight I went out and bought a coffee pot. Followed by a trip to the local supermarket to by some coffee. I got a nice little one, 5 cups. Very inexpensive too. It even has a reusable filter which I was unaware coffee pots had. Those frequent trips to Starbucks adds up and if I make my own I can add as much syrup as I want!

Then standing in the coffee aisle being quite overwhelmed with all the choices, I finally picked some. I got a little bit of three different kinds to try. There is a pumpkin spice, peppermint, and chocolate macadamia nut. I got some peppermint, pumpkin pie and white chocolate syrup as well. I like my coffee extra sweet =] After I made my selections I ground the beans in the grinder there at the store and I must say they all smell quite nice. We got home and I set the coffee pot up on the counter, ran a cycle of water through it and then got it all ready for tomorrow morning. I will be making pumpkin with a bit of chocolate mixed in. I put my grounds in the freezer and everything is all set. I even called a friend earlier to get some coffee advice about makers, grounds and sizes. Lucky for me she is quite the coffee expert.

I had thought about buying a coffee pot for the last few weeks. Each time I grocery shop I stand in the coffee aisle staring at the big wall of choices trying to wrap my head around it. Seems as it could be quite overwhelming if you have no clue what you're doing. I was so glad that I got some good advice, went a little later in the evening and the store was almost empty. I kinda like the idea of waking up and smelling fresh coffee. It kinda makes me think of Christmas as a kid at grandma's you know. Just that warm comfy feeling. Well I'm off to sleep. Tomorrow starts bright and early with Nathan's Boy Scout community service. We are cleaning up the grounds of a local school. Then the girls have volley ball ad Zakary has soccer. We are going to visit Grandma tomorrow, she hasn't been feeling well, then to a friends B-day bash where were required to wear 'bad shirts." I'm gonna need that coffee in the morning, wish me luck!

A little this and a little that......

Boy have I been busy! I haven't even had time to post. Well here are a few things I've been up to, in no specific order. About a week ago I went and visited a cousin i haven't seen in many moons. I had so much fun! We sat and chatted and our kiddos played like we did when we were little :) We have so man things in common which is crazy for the number of years we've been outta touch. I can't wait for more visits with her and her beautiful children.

My parents got moved, well for the most part. I said good bye to the house I grew up in, and have shared so many memories with. I held it together well, until I got in my car and was by myself. Then ohh did the tears come. Now don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for the change for my parents. They needed this. There will be many many new memories in the new place, but there is something a little sad about letting go of the place you grew up in. As soon as we got my mom mostly moved my dad left for his annual elk trip in eastern Oregon. He looks forward to this trip so much each year and about the time he left I'm sure he was in need of a little away time =] I hope he gets some rest in cause as soon as he's back it's crunch time to get the rest of the old house moved.

I went with Nathan on his first grade pumpkin patch trip. The weather was warm and sunny, got to know some of the new mom's and brought home a Green pumpkin for Zakary. Then we had our Girl Scout pumpkin patch trip in which it down poured on us. We had a good time. we went to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. This is there first year of having a patch and the kids really enjoyed it. It was a more farm like patch, not so over commercialized like most of them are. We will be going back next year. Kaitlynn went to the haunted houses with some of her friends. She's the perfect age for it where it's fun to be scared. Lucky for me she's going with all of her girl friends and not in the shoulder of a boy to make her feel better, well not yet at least but I know it's coming soon. Rebekkah and Nathan had there Harvest parties at school. No costumes this year. It seems the schools take more and more away from them each year. Sure isn't anything like what it was when I was a kid. I am happy to say Zak's babysitter is back from her Australia trip. It was fun having Melissa and Kylee stay here though. It kind of gives me my "baby" fix having Ky around :) Zak is still very much my baby though, and he knows it. It will be good for all of us to be back in our routines. Sports is even over in a few weeks and life will be a bit less crazy. The kids like playing, it's good for them, just hectic to be in four places at once though right!

Last weekend I needed some me time, and what better thing to help me relax than baking. I made all sorts of fun things. Kaitlynn and Zak were home so they helped, mostly by tasting everything =] I made rainbow jello, Green velvet pumpkin spice cupcakes, and a pumpkin pie!

The rainbow jello I saw on one of the blogs I follow. It looked so fun, and was. All the kids loved it.

The green velvet pumpkin spice cupcakes are something I created, and boy did they turn out yummy. I took my red velvet recipe, which I got from the yummy Paula Dean, I put green food color instead of red, and pumpkin pie spice instead of cocoa powder. The frosting was vanilla butter cream with green food coloring so it matched too. I had some eye ball decorations so they looked like little cyclops and three eyed monsters. Zak looooved them, as he loves anything green. He takes all the green gummy bears out of the bag when I buy those and eats them, and those are my favorite flavor gummy bear!

And my pumpkin pie! I bought a pumpkin and baked it, mixed it up and baked my pie. The crust was store bought, I admit it, I need to practice on my pie crust. I made some pumpkin pie tarts to go with it too!

Here are some pictures of it all........

Rainbow Jello

Rocky likes it too!



Mmmm yummy!



One eyed, Two eyed, Three eyed Green Velvet Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes



Home  made (except for the crust) Pumpkin Pie





He was having a grumpy mment =]



I will post again soon with all of the rest of our halloween fun we had!

We should have named him Houdini

So it was movie night last night. Jackass 3D. I have to say it was pretty darn funny, when it wasn't totally gross. My girls were asking to see it but I said not till I did first. The answer to that is definitely NO! Too many boy bits. There were a lot of boy bits in it. Kaitlynn needs no encouragement for silly antics. Soon enough I'm sure she will think of them on her own. We went to the 7:30 movie, so we were home by 10. It was kinda nice to be home somewhat early on a Saturday night. Well it was early for us. So as we're laying on the couch watching T.V. and heard some noise on the porch. I looked over and saw Spiderman our goat outside the sliding glass door with a look on his face saying let me in! We were so surprised to see him up there neither one of us thought to take a pic. See Spiderman is our escape artist goat. No matter how secure  the fence is he still gets out. He was even climbing it for a while. I know hes a goat and it's what they do but he really should take some lessons from Freckles our other goat. She is content with just hanging out in her pen, as long as she has something to chew on f course. Zak really wanted the goats to sleep with hi in his room when we first got them. At four it just doesn't make sense why mom won't let the goats sleep inside no matter how many ways you try to describe it. Maybe if Spiderman keeps trying Zakary will get his wish.

Some time for me

So today I woke up with the intention of having a nice relaxing day, not too much to do. Nope. Not today. It seems as if as soon as I think I have a minute to myself the phone rings or I all of a sudden remember something I forgot to write on the calendar. Let it be known that the calendar is so full right now there is not much room to write anything else. But you know I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. You see I am new to this whole blog concept. It is something I have thought about for a while but just never done. I recently got in touch with someone I haven't seen or talked to in quite a while, and by reading her blog I found inspiration.

My parents are moving out of the house I grew up in, The house who I became "me" in. It was my mom who called today. She is so excited about moving into her new house and wanted me to come help her figure out how she wants to redecorate because the new place has some not so awesome features that could use a little love. As I pulled up in front of my parents house and waited for them to come out so I could follow them to the new place it brought back some memories. I even kinda got a little teary. I guess the reality that that will not be "home" anymore is setting in. It didn't help that there was a sappy song on the radio that I quickly changed either. So we go to the new place and Zakary my 4 year old is running through the empty house and crawling into the empty cabinets instantly. Rebekkah my 10 year old is trying to convince grandma to re wallpaper the kitchen in Tinkerbell, and you know it wouldn't surprise me if she did =]

So here I am, writing away, and who knows who will ever read my blogs. But that's the fun of it right? I think I'm going to enjoy my typing form of babbling, and I think I'm going to enjoy helping my parents create their new "home" as well. I will do my best to ensure Tinkerbell is not the theme either =]

Tomorrow is another fun filled day of Soccer and Volleyball plus Soccer and Volleyball photos on top of it. Wish me luck. I do however think I get a night out tomorrow. Woo hoo!