It's Halloween!!!!

Anna went to a party and trick or treating with a couple friends. She had a blast and looked mighty cute.

The pictures are somewhat out of order. I always loved coming home and sorting and counting my haul. It's fun to see my kids doing that.
I was lazy with dinner this year and only did the worm burgers and bones. The kids love it.

Not the best picture to show how it looked, but the kids were mighty pleased with all 8 of their pumpkins lighting the path to our door.

Abby changed her mind at the last minute and decided to be a racoon. She kept calling herself a skunk.

Isaac was Buzz and loved it.

There was a minor wardrobe malfunction, but Noah still looked pretty good. He was pretty happy with his look.

The kids are all tucked snug in their beds. Kevin surprised us by coming home. It was a real Treat. Unfortunately he had to go back. But he was here to take the kids out while I got to stay home and hand the candy out. We went to the church for a party and trunk or treating and then the kids went around our loop. I think they brought home as much as I handed out. It's always fun to see all the kids in their costumes.

Pumpkin carving

Kevin and the kids spent the weekend carving pumpkins. The kids love this tradition. Isaac is so pleased with his little pumpkin.

Busy at work.

Anna is into carving her own pumpkins now.

Abby and her witchy pumpkin.

Noah hard at work.

Sundaes on Sunday

When Kevin comes home for the weekend, I try to have some of his favorites for dinner (this weekend we had chili, homemade fried chicken and chicken parmesan) and dessert. I chose sundaes and let the kids have at it. We had marshmallows, sprinkles, mini-chocolate chips, peanuts, cherries, bananas, whipped cream, caramel and hot fudge toppings. Abby tries to master the whip cream dispenser.

Anna digging in.

Isaac likes his with lots of whip cream and marshmallows.

I think the only thing Noah left out was the kitchen sink!!!!

The festivities begin! I made them all wait until everyone had their bowls in front of them before making their sundaes.

Visiting Kevin in Hillsboro

Anna was thrilled at being at Chuck E. Cheese's. She did manage to have a good time.

Kevin and Noah playing air hockey. I'm not sure who won.

Isaac doing the motorcycle thing. He surprised me and actually completed quite a bit of the course.

Abby wanted to try. She had fun, but I don't think she even got her motorcycle moving.

The primary program for the kids is this coming Sunday and in order for Kevin to make it, we had to rearrange some schedules. I gave up my weekend at my mom's, Kevin switched being on call to last weekend instead of this weekend and the kids and I drove up to spend the day with Kevin. We had so much rain, we were limited to indoor activities. We had lunch at the kids' favorite buffet. Which I am a bit scared to admit was very nice inside. We had lunch with about a hundred airborne soldiers and the kids thought that was so cool. Abby was especially impressed with the "army man girlies", having never seen a woman in uniform before. We did some shopping, visited the bookstore and then hit another of the kids favorites: Chuck E. Cheese. I am pleased to announce we made it out of there with having only spent $10 on tolkiens, but managed to have enough fun for 2 hours (I had a coupon). And thankfully we were still full from lunch and so we did not have to partake of the cuisine. We didn't leave until after 9 and so the kids fell asleep on the way home. Next time we might be so lucky as to have the zoo lights up for Christmas and do that.

Frosting Cookies

We spent the afternoon frosting cookies. I was really good and let them decorate all by themselves. Normally I am a bit of a cookie nazi and have to have perfection.

They were all pleased with their creations. And even more so when I let them eat one! Noah said that he prefers happy faces to frowns, and so his cookies are all happy.

Isaac was pleased with his creativity makinghis unusual colors. He even gave one of his pumpkins freckles.

Abby used a whole tub's worth of frosting on her cookies. She likes a bit of cookie with her frosting.

Raingutter Regatta

Noah had his Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta on Saturday. He built, painted and got his boat ready by himself. The boys had a blast.

Noah winning this race.

I'm pretty sure that the talent lies in the blowing of the air, rather than the design of the boat.

The kids had a great time.

Pumpkin Patch

The whole gang--Noah, Isaac, Abby, Kristie (Anna's friend), and Anna

The girls on the hay ride.

I think Isaac had more fun throwing gourds than picking out his pumpkin.

Isaac and his buddy Hunter.

Noah and his prize.

Friday was a no school day and the kids and I gathered with a group of friends at a local farm. We had a hay ride and picked out pumpkins. It had rained quite a bit the past week and so we all got wet and muddy. It was a great day and everyone had fun.

Pumpkin Carving

The kids always look forward to pumpkn carving with Kevin. It is a treasured tradition. Kevin is the best pumpkin carver and always carves one to match each child's costume. Just so you don't think I am saying all these things because I am married to him, here are some of last year's pumpkins.

This one is a bit hard to see, but it has a poodle and music notes and a 50's theme. Anna wore a poodle skirt (that I made!!!!) and looked very cute.

Noah was Buzz Lightyear for the third year in a row. He loves Buzz and grows slowly (lucky for me!!!)

Abby was Dorothy and looked as cute as can be in her sparkly red shoes. She wanted to wear them everywhere!

Kevin was rather pleased with this one and it is among his favorites. Isaac was as cute as this pumpkin in his Mickey costume.

This year we will have a couple of witches, unless Anna changes her mind. Isaac wants to be Buzz and Noah is going to be a vampire. I am excited for this year's pumpkins. The kids and Kevin will be carving their pumpkins while I am visiting my mom in Seattle. I will make a special dinner with a fun dessert and they won't even know I'm not there.

Excited for fall

Abby could spend all day feeding the goats. She giggles as they lick up the feed from her hand.

One day I am sure she will feel too old for this. Thankfully this isn't one of them.

Good friends!

Isaac got bored and wanted to be done quickly. Pretty soon there were 3 heads in the bucket!!


The house is fully decorated and the kids are getting excited. We can't go to a store and not go down the Halloween aisle and push every button that makes noise. It is a sad fact that I have as many Halloween decorations as Christmas. This week we spent some time at one of the farms close to our house. We inspected pumpkins, picked out cornstalks and fed the goats.

Isaac's fall

A week and half ago Isaac took a tumble over his handlebars. He looks great now.

Getting to know us...

I have had so much fun reading friends and families blogs that I decided we should do it as well. I can't guarantee that it will be updated as often as it should, nor can I promise spelling, grammar and content to correct or as entertaining to you as it is to us. I am hoping this will be a good way to keep in touch with those who live far away and that we don't communicate as often as liked. It is, of course, a wonderful way to brag about the children and show off their cute little faces.

The kids are now into school about a month. They are all enjoying it. The girls are loving it. Anna is in the 5th grade and loves her teacher. She is starting to think that boys are cute--yikes!!! She isn't playing soccer at this time, but misses it and wants to keep playing. She has discovered reading to be an enjoyable past time, but not quite as fun as listening to Mom chat with friends. They grow up so fast!!! She is in Activity days and loves those. They are every other week, at our house. Lucky her, Mom is one of the leaders. She is a great help around the house and is wonderful with Abby. They are the best of friends. It's pretty fun to watch.

Noah is still Noah. Easily distracted, but smart as all get out. He was just diagnosed with asthma and now on medication which is helping a lot. He is not as challenged in school (he is now in 3rd grade) as I would like. We had him tested last year through the school and he has been "tagged" as intellectually gifted. A bit intimidating that bit of knowledge is!!! He still loves video games, but enjoys riding his bike and playing outside. He is in Scouts and loves it. He was the top seller for his fund raiser selling $236 in candy bars and beef sticks. He has always been the charmer.

Isaac is 5 and in Kindergarten. He likes going to school with Anna and Noah, but not getting up in the morning. He seems to like school, but doesn't talk much so I have to guess about a lot of it. He is quite the athlete and if it has wheels, tries to conquer it. He likes to play video games with his brother. He loves soup and takes pleasure in being the soup monster at our house. He is quite good at tormenting his brother and sisters. Also a role he relishes.

Abby is almost 4--December 1st. She goes to preschool twice a week and wishes it was every day. She doesn't realize that she is littler than the others and does a great job of keeping up. She has a great sense of humor and frequently has us all laughing. She is always yammering and sings constantly. She is not what you would call a quiet child. Her favorite food is hot dogs and when asked what she wants to eat, she promptly says hot dogs, no matter what time of day.

Kevin is really liking his new job in Hillsboro, but hating the commute. We got really lucky in finding some very nice people who are letting him rent their basement, so he can stay up there during the week. He has been working there since February. The kids and I miss him but are very grateful for a job. He is very good about letting me have a few hours to unwind and be by myself on Saturdays.

I am keeping busy holding down the fort here in Eugene. Our living situation has given me a whole new perspective on single parenting and why the Lord wants us to do it together. I look forward to bedtime and pretty much crash when they do. I had a rough time after dad passed away and still miss him and think of him daily, but am doing much better. I am up with kids in the morning and fix their lunches and see them off. Such a small thing, but it thrills Anna. I serve the ward in Activity days. It's a great calling.

This is a lot longer than it probably is supposed to be. But I wanted to get everyone caught up on the comings and goings of our family. I am looking forward to keeping in touch with everyone through this blog. We welcome any comments and hope that all our friends will consider doing a blog as well.