TRICK -OR- TREAT

Halloween has to be one of my favorite holidays, second to Christmas! I love putting up decorations, carving pumpkins with my kids, Halloween parties with friends, spray painting hair, doing make-up & GLITTER, trick-or-treating and picking out my favorite candy bars from the kids treat bags. What is not to love about this holiday? It's a great kick-off to Fall.

Macy was an Oregon State cheerleader. GO BEAVERS!!!!

Nicholas was Spiderman (in red).

Karlee was a "Rainbow Fairy Princess" (her words exactly). I had to get creative with this one but I think we got it right! She was delighted!

Hope you all had a Happy Halloween!!!

Pumpkin Patch Time!

Today, Nicholas and Karlee had their first field trip to a pumpkin patch with their class. It was so sweet and they were so excited! Nicholas's favorite part was "the tractor ride" and Karlee's was, "getting an apple." They had a great time running around in the mud, picking out their own perfectly sized pumpkin and going on a tractor ride.

After picking out pumpkins, it was back on the tractor and over to the corn maze where all the kids, MOMs included, got totally LOST. Half of the kids were crying by the time we got out. Seriously?!?!? What were we thinking dragging our 3 year olds in there?

Happy to be out of the maze! : )

Pink! Pink! Pink!

We moved the girls in to the same room together and what color did they chose for the walls? You guessed it...PINK!!! Well, actually, Karlee chose pink and what Karlee wants...Karlee gets! They couldn't be happier being together and all I hear are giggles and laughing at night when the lights are suppose to be out!

Karlee loved painting! She stayed by my side the whole afternoon watching and helping me paint! She was so excited for her new room! I know, I know... some of you may think I'm crazy to let my 3 year old help, but she was so very careful and actually did a really good job!

Macy jumped in too!

I LOVED putting this room together start to finish! Before it was a bonus room that we were using as Macy's bedroom/toy room. While I was in Utah, Mark framed in a closet and built shelving and everything with help from a good friend. Now, this room is ALL GIRL and fun! The girls LOVE it!

I LOVE it!

I love this closet! It has literally changed my life! I needed storage desperately and I finally feel organized now that I have it! Oooo...I love being married to a handy-man!

Home Alone!

I never thought the day would come when I would have everyone in school and I'd be home alone with the house all quiet, staring at a few hours all to myself! I had a day like that last Thursday and it was WONDERFUL! I love my kids and all but I haven't heard "quiet" in my house like that in over 3 years. It was sweet, sweet bliss!

So what did I do, you ask...well, my neighbor came over and we put up raspberry jam and had a very nice, uninterrupted visit! I showered, actually DID my hair...curled it, no less...and ate lunch. Wow! I've forgotten that it used to be like that! I know I will miss those days when my little ones were running all around me, needing me every second for this or that, but until I miss those days...and for now, I'll enjoy my peaceful...quiet... bliss if only for a few hours!

Macy is officially a 1st Grader! Wahoo!

When I asked her what her favorite part of 1st grade was, she responded, "Lunch!" She seems to be loving it. I miss her a TON when she's gone & we all get so excited when it's time to go pick her up. Nicholas & Karlee miss her especially!

Karlee and Nicholas started preschool and are loving it, too! They've been waiting rather impatiently for their turn to go to school. Their day finally arrived. They couldn't be happier & have no problem with me leaving them. They've already made lots of friends in their class.

The End of Summer!

So, I kind of had this "Summer-To-Do" list with the kids. Things like playing in the water fountains downtown, meandering through the Saturday Farmer's Market, eating lots of snow cones, picking berries for jam and swimming almost every day. I think we did it all!

One particular thing on my list, that I was NOT going to not let happen, was a day at the beach. Well, if you know anything about the Oregon Coast, it's not the type of beach where you go and lay out and bask in the warm sun and swim in the ocean. First of all, the temperature is usually in the 60's, sometimes 70s and the water is ALWAYS freezing! So I was kind of dreading hauling my kids out there but they always love it. Sand is sand and the ocean is always something majestic. So with my mom still here, we took off for an afternoon and had a great time at the beach, building sand castles and looking for seashells. Of course, there was chowder and fish 'n chips at the end of it. That's worth a drive to the coast alone!

I hope when my kids remember summer, they remember these kind of days!

Macy Turns Six!

Wow! Macy turned six in August! She was SO EXCITED for her birthday to arrive! She'd been counting down the days since the beginning of summer which you can imagine, felt like an eternity. Her birthday fell on a Saturday and to make it even more special, Grandma Brenchley was here to celebrate with her. My mom was a lifesaver particularly when it came to getting food ready and decorating for the party. I was so glad she was there to help! Thanks, Mom!

The first thing Macy wanted to do was open presents. It was like Christmas morning. She just couldn't wait. The thing she wanted the most was an American Girl doll, which she got and was thrilled about!

We held her "Barbie" themed birthday party at Peak Elite and had the whole gymnastics gym to ourselves for two hours. Macy was in heaven. She's become quite the little gymnast. Any bar she comes in contact with, whether it's at the park or on my treadmill, she's doing flips and pull-overs. It's fun to watch her love and enjoy something so much and be really good at it, too!

Blowing out her six candles!

Such a fun group of friends!

This girl is loved!

Six things I LOVE about Macy:

1. She loves to be silly and laugh. She gets this second wind at 8 o'clock every night and she is bouncing off the walls. I don't know where it comes from.

2. She loves music and singing at the top of her lungs. She makes up her own dances and actions to songs from Scripture Scouts to J. Lo. She should go in to acting or something yet she is so shy in front of big crowds. Primary Program...forget it!

3. She is the GREATEST big sister to Nicholas and Karlee. They ADORE her and she keeps them busy playing house and Barbies. I love that especially!

4. She is a sweet friend to every one and makes everyone happy.

5. She is very obedient and does her best to always to do what is right.

6. I love Macy because she is my best little friend. She's my oldest and I think I will always have a special place for her in my heart.

Happy Birthday, Macy!

We love you!