Halloween

the witch, the unicorn, the tree frog, and the ballerina

Halloween was a highly anticipated evening - but not necessarily with excitement.  In years past, the kids run off the school bus, get their costumes on, and we spend the next few hours with our neighbors.  So, this year, they kept asking what we were going to do.  Could we go back to MN?  I kept telling them that I thought it would be best if we made new memories in our neighborhood.  We were asked to join some friends for trick or treating in another neighborhood, but I had to work, so Matt and the kiddos hit up our neighborhood.  And oh my, were they successful!

It was cold and rainy (thank you Sandy), but they were not to be dissuaded.  That morning at work, my boss asked me when trick or treating was that night.  I was very confused and told him so.  He explained that there are set hours in each suburb that trick or treaters are allowed out.  We had a good laugh over the silent dog whistle that blew that only trick or treaters could hear.  I looked it up on our city's website, and sure enough: 6 - 8 PM were trick or treating hours. CRAZY!

But, our clan hit up the church around the corner early.  Apparently, they didn't get the memo and they started their trick or trunk at 5 PM.  So, off the troop went to the church around 5:30, then they could hit up the houses on our circle on the way back.  They came home having found a house just a few doors down that gave out KING size candy bars.  They were quite pleased.  Brandon and Matt warmed up and went out again and hit the next two streets over.  By the time I got home, they had created the Daddy and Mommy 'tax bucket' for us with agreements that when the bucket ran out, we could raid their stashes.  Good stuff.

All in all, they were quite happy with the evening and definitely made some new memories.

Maria is 6

My baby is 6.  Does every mom remember every morning their kids were born and what they were doing at that exact moment however many years ago?

Maria has been quite the addition to our home.  Her smile and giggle are contagious.  She is quite competitive and there are no words to describe her stubbornness.  As a youngest, she WILL be heard, no matter how long or loud she has to say it until someone acknowledges her.  She has issues with clothes - the sleeves and pants need to be tight on her ankles and wrists.  She rolls over her pants waist so it feels just right.  There are about 5 outfits she wears over, and over and over again.  She loves to play with dolls and pretend just about anything. She could (and does) spend hours every day just coloring. She is great at the game Memory and keeps up with her siblings in pretty much everything.  I guess that describes a youngest. They do anything they can do to keep up.  She's reading, writing, trying to add and spell and do all the things the big kids, do.  She's a completely different child in a group than she is one on one.  But for today, we are glad we have our 6 year old Maria.  Happy Birthday baby!  I asked her who her friends were - and she told me 'everyone in my class.'  I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up - 'A normal mom. Y'know, the kind that stay home and do nothing all day.'  Nice.  At least that's better than what I thought she meant.  I figured she wanted to be a normal mom, unlike me - the crazy one.

We have a few traditions on birthdays.  They get streamers hung on their door. They get to choose the meals.  There is a scavenger hunt for their presents.  Candles.  They get to use a special plate and cup.

The menu for the day was donuts for breakfast and clam chowder for supper.  She wanted chicken noodle hotdish for lunch, but since she was at school, I made that for supper the next night.  She also wanted a chocolate layer cake like you see on the box, but she wanted a toy on top.  So I made a bowl cake, cut it in half, and put chocolate mousse frosting in between and on top.  Barbie was a bit too tall for the dress but we just kept piling on the mousse until she was fully covered. It wasn't professional - but it worked.  And capturing Maria licking the mousse off Barbie's plastic wrapped legs was priceless.  I haven't made birthday cake in quite a few years.  None of the kids really like cake, so we usually just make brownies or candy cane pie or get some really yummy ice cream!

Maria has been begging for an American Girl Doll for years.  Before we left MN, I found an Emily on Craigslist and asked a friend to pick it up for me.  She totaled her van in the process but we got Emily and about 5 outfits. (It was a snowy, icy day - but I still feel guilty!) So, a year later, the doll is hers!

reading the clues to Sunday's scavenger hunt

the scavenger hunt rewards

she wanted chocolate layered cake with a toy - wahla - barbie dress

birthday breakfast

birthday scavenger hunt

scavenger hunt rewards

Me and my Emily

Pumpkin Carving

I love carving pumpkins.  Its just so much fun - and I love lighting them up afterwards - and I like eating the seeds.  Every year we look at pictures online to get inspiration.  Then the kids either draw out what they want on a sheet of paper or on the pumpkin.  Anika and Brandon are mostly self sufficient now which helps tons.  My dad has been growing our pumpkins for us for a couple of years.  He also has been part of the carving for many years. This year he even carved one of his own.  My mom got in the action by taking pictures and washing all the seed for us!

The final product - Maria said hers needed eyelashes

seriously?

The fruits of our labor - 4 different flavors

Maria's - Jessica's - Grandpa's

Brandon's

All Anika's - the middle one is LOL then a heart of Love, the word JOY, then a peace sign

Not sure who made the bottom one but the top one is Brandon's from Cadets.  He won the competition with it!

Trunk or Treat

Our church had a trunk or treat night at church.  We weren't exactly on time, but we made it and had fun.  It was COLD, but some friends were serving warm cider and that helped!

The girls - a kitty, an invalid, a mummy, and a vampire
 

the boys - a vampire and a skateboarder

the trunks lined up in the parking lot, a couple of cars had left by this point

The ceiling is leaking

Last week Sunday, Maria came upstairs while I was getting ready for church to tell me the ceiling was leaking.  It has rained here every day for more than two weeks, so I was immediately concerned.  My first thought was my upstairs washing machine, so I ran to that room, but everything was dry.  I asked Maria some more and she said the ceiling was dripping on her, so I had her show me where...... directly below Matt and I's beautiful new ceramic shower!!!!!!
We assume that a drain pipe or a valve has issues, so we stopped using the shower as we have a home warranty, so someone is supposed to come and look at it - within 24 hours - but that hasn't happened yet either.
So, we decided to start using the shower again, and now it won't leak.  Go figure.  We are still going to have someone come in and look at it!  At least we have two months before the warranty ends!

Halloween Party

The local YMCA, where I work, had a Haunted Harvest Party that we attended.  The kids were thinking it would be like the Harvest Party at the Y that we frequented in MN,  but not so much.  They did enjoy the evening however and we got out and did something new.

There was a haunted hay ride, which consisted of a car with a trailer going around the 1/4 mile outdoor track and having one person jump out and say 'Boo'.  There was the jumpy house - where we spent a lot of time.  There was a play 'The three little pigs' where they incorporate the 4 points of the  YMCA - the big bad wolf was hilarious. There was a craft (wolf and piggy masks) and snacks.  I helped out check a bunch of people in when we first got there but I joined our gang after things calmed down. 

All in all it was a fun evening out.  Brandon opted to attend the birthday party of one of the boy's from his soccer team.  A night hanging out with boys was a much better option in his opinion.

a vampire

the wolf and the tooth fairy

Matt and the kids in the jumpy house

the ballerina

Another soccer season comes to an end

Tonight the last games were played - at least we think so.  Anika's team has a chance to play on Saturday yet in the season ending tournament, but we'll see.
All the kids enjoyed their seasons. There were quite a few goals and assists racked up and several goals stopped.  Anika typically plays defense, the other three play every position.
We may try indoor soccer early next year.  We'll have to see.
Jessica and Maria played on the same team again.  They had one time in MN as well.  They called themselves the pink flamingos.  They won all but one game during the season, and the last game they beat an undefeated team!  The coach gave the whole team each a matching pink carnation.
Brandon and Anika's teams won most of their games - with a few losses.