About time

I love Oliver's hair long, and always hate to cut it. He said he wanted a super short hair cut like his Dad's. His smile still makes me laugh, maybe for Christmas he'll get his 2 front teeth.

Happy Birthday Little Turkey

Violette's birthday fell on Thanksgiving (which was absolutely delicious), but we pretended it was on Saturday. We HAD to wait for "Baby" (Solomon).

We love how she is her own person, sometimes it can be a tad difficult. She came downstairs the other day ready to go in her outfit she picked out herself. Truthfully, if she could be naked all day she would, no matter the weather.

This child can smell candy a mile away. Remember how she use to chew through boxes?
Now nothing is safe. She is constantly walking around the house with "snacks" she has gotten all by herself.

She was quite the helper on Thanksgiving. She peeled 3 onions for me.

I love my husband and son.

Her breakfast morning. Do you love spiderman as much as we do? Don't worry she does have girly jammies too.

Her cake turned out so cute. I wish these pictures would show how cute it was.

I love when we ask her where her ear is, she wiggles it, and when we ask her where our ear is, she grabs our ears and wiggles them too.

The party guests.

Oliver was the entertainment for the party. The kids loved having the car go through their legs.

Yes our Tree went up the day after Thanksgiving, actually we got it on Wednesday. If I could I would get a tree for my birthday in October.

Seriously aren't they so cute? I know you want to make some. They were super easy, they just take a little time. Go here.

Things we as a family are Thankful for this year: (in no particular order)

Birthday Girl and her siblings

teachers and school

yummy food

things that make us laugh

make up (Penelepe)

and Gravity, because without it we would be floating all over the place (Oliver).

Our week

How about this lovely outfit? She does dress herself everyday. Even on days when she asks me to help her, I'll pull something out and then she'll say, "No I want to wear this." On Friday they have theme days at school. Last Friday it was mix match day.

Our "Little Mother".

Oliver's first diorama. The Raft by Jim LaMarche

Oliver's teacher from his first grade class, Miss Sacco, is brilliant and I love her. She organized a fundraiser for "not wanted" candy to be sent to our service men overseas. Oliver said they "raised at least over 400 pounds". If that really is true - that is sick. Can you believe all that candy could have possibly been eaten by the kids. He also thinks his school got the most out of any schools in the state. Even if it's not true - I still love the fundraiser. Our kids were only allowed to keep 14 pieces each (2 for each day for the week). They were great about it and didn't even complain. What good kids.

Halloween

My favorite part of Halloween is the food!

The kids were completely grossed out when I told them we were having intestines for dinner. Well....they were completely grossed out when I told them what intestines were and what was in them. They couldn't believe I was feeding them body parts.

Our church party was fun as always! I wish I would have taken more pictures of everyone. I might have to steal some pictures from blogs and post them on mine. That's legal right? Just in case you're not sure who we are - we are Mary Poppins and clan. I asked Penelepe what she wanted to be for Halloween at her school and she said Jane. I told her everyone wouldn't know who she was without the rest of us, and she didn't care. She later told me her teacher knew who she was and she DID NOT have to tell her. Pretty amazing teacher.

Mrs. Banks, she was my favorite.

Someone had the Brilliant idea of making Goliath and then using a sling shot to shoot marshmallows at him (thanks sugardoodle). Did you know it is illegal to buy a sling shot in the State of New York. hmmmm - really annoying. Ok, not all sling shots are illegal, but they don't sell any in New York, at least not in Buffalo. We did use a legal style made from a wire hanger.

At Halloween I think all kids wish Rozannah was their mother. Lorenzo and Solomon were so cute.

All homemade, including her blue fairy costume.

My handsome "sweeper".

Trick or Treat

Is there anything more adorable than little kids holding hands?
Yes, we went to the mall to trick or treat. The kids loved it, of course.

The scary mask is Steven, he did take it off for most of the time - it was way too scary.

Avery wouldn't even sit down because he was so scary. Sorry Avery.

October

I walked into the kitchen just in time to stop the flood. She is such a helper.

October was a blur! One major highlight was a visit from Momma Lee. If you are wondering what we did.... we ate and ate some more. Thanks Kristin for posting this amazing salad recipe on your blog. I could eat it every other day. Everyone MUST TRY it, so if you don't know what's for dinner tonight you Have to Make this! Don't forget to roast the cashews, that's my favorite part. also I leave out the hot peppers because I'm a whimp and no cilantro because one day I know my husband will all of a sudden realize that this is the best salad ever and we can live happily ever after.

Our fall harvest of carrots. Our little pool garden shocked me with how well it did. I was so disappointed with our tomatoes, some horrible rat got all of them, at least I think it was a rat, maybe a bunny, I prefer to think it was the rat, because obviously bunnies are way cuter.

Nothing warms my heart more than Oliver reading a book to Penelepe, by his own free will.

I also love how they all have to sit on this chair to watch a show, when four inches a way is a larger more comfortable chair.

No this isn't Halloween. I love her Peanut Butter Stache.

Trip to St. George

After I returned home from St. George, I went to download all my pictures and something happened to my memory card and I lost all of my pictures from the trip! GRRRRRR. I love that Rozannah is just a block away. Thanks for the pictures!

This park was so much fun. Oliver and Penelepe would have loved it! Don't worry we'll go back.

This swing was my favorite.

Since Jesse and I are twins - we also weigh the same amount. (Ok that's not really true).

It is not a secret that Violette loves Baby, aka Solomon. She still can't say his name, but Solomon can say Violette's name - it's so cute.

Pictures that I lost - but don't want to forget:

1. Violette finally asleep at baggage claim in Vegas after staying awake the ENTIRE 5 hour flight. I learned my lesson and didn't give her any juice (aka crack for children) on the flight back.

2. The cousins skyping with Oliver and Penelepe back home.

3. The "boys" outside almost the entire time shooting with their bows or throwing knives at targets.

4. Girlfriend. Tavi's new puppy Pug that Violette absolutely feared. Bloody murder screams whenever the puppy even looked at her. On the last 2 days Violette was almost ok to be around Girlfriend.

5. Our Midnight Volleyball game. Ok I didn't get a picture of that - but that was too fun to forget as well.

6. Sparklers.

7. Falon's amazingly clean house, delicious HOME MADE BREAD, and HOME MADE CHOCOLATE TURTLES, all the while being the mom of baby twins and 2 other wonderful kids. Amazing! How do you do it?!

8. Last but not least, me crying because Blue Bunny went out of business (again) and I couldn't get a cotton candy ice cream cone.

All of us siblings there to celebrate with Rebekah and CR.

All of us except Lexi who is still playing in Australia. We missed you Lexi!