Halloween 2011

Getting ready to go to Trunk or Treat at the church. The kids made their own costumes. Joseph was an AMC Pacer car, Spencer was a computer...well, he was actually Windows XP...Connor had a railroad crossing gate on his back and Elizabeth was cute with bwoo hair and her outfit my mom sent.
At first she didn't know what to think of it all, but when the candy started coming...she more than happy to participate!
Joseph and Connor doing the penny throw.
Spencer fishing.
After the party, we went to Walgreens to show Daddy the costumes and the loot accumulated. It was a total bummer that he had to work, but fun getting to go see him. (And Mike at the register had candy for cute trick or treaters.)

We also carved a pumpkin (had to wait for Halloween day cause if you carve one too soon, the raccoons eat them) and we also baked a Halloween cake for dessert! I do believe I can now declare...another successful Halloween!

My Love Affair...

...with my Nook! I joke that my best friend after Travis is my Nook Color. (and also my original Nook...but I loaned that out, so at the moment it's just me and my Nook Color) I've considered giving it a name, but I'm not really that kind of person. All I know is that I am positive that I would be lost without it. I currently have 261 books. (and 125 magazines---thanks to their free 2 week trial on all magazines!) A very large portion are free e-books that I have acquired..the classics and B&N's free Friday books...but there are some that I have bought and have read over and over and over. Here are a couple of my favorite reads lately.

Okay...I haven't read this one yet...I'm eagerly awaiting it's release in 11 days...but I love all the other books in the Inheritance Cycle and own them all on my Nook.
These books have been my mental saving grace. There is something about these books that make me feel happy and safe and smarter. I don't know what it is. They aren't about magic or really fantasy...they take place in the 1300's and they are totally teenage boy books...but I have learned so much and have fallen in love with the characters. There are 10 books in this series...I own them all and have just finished reading them for the second time. I think they have replaced my Harry Potter books for now, because I can have them on my Nook and read them much more conveniently. They are easy reads, but very entertaining and like I said...they make me happy!
Anything by Rick Riordan is a good read. My boys loved the Percy Jackson movie. I love....love...love Greek mythology....I even took a class my senior year in High School called...Greek and Roman Mythology. You know what else I've always loved? Egyptian history, archaeology...all that good stuff...and guess what? Mr. Riordan the Great also has a new series (yes, I have both books) that are like the Percy Jackson books, only it involves Egyptian stuff. Awesome!

I have also recently read Pride and Prejudice, The Secret Garden and Swiss Family Robinson. I have sooooooo many books that I haven't even begun to read...but will eventually. I feel sad for books that don't get read.

Oh, and I have a couple of these books too...for read aloud time at night. The kids love Judy Moody, and the Magic Treehouse...Plus I have some great interactive books for Elizabeth. And I even subscribe to the Smithsonian magazine!

Yep...I LOVE my Nook. That's all I have to say...well, no, I could go on and on and on and on...as most of you know me would agree...But, I will say no more. I think I'm gonna go re-read the third Inheritance cycle book in preparation for my newest book. Or browse for a new freebie! Woo hooooooooo!!!!

She Cracks Me Up!

Yes:

It's raining...

She's wearing my shoes...

She has no pants on...

Her legs are green...

She's as happy as a clam...

AND

She's absolutely adorable...

This little girl cracks me up. She brings so much joy to our home. She brings out a sparkle in her daddy's eye that no one else can. She is the cherry on top!

A Visit with Aunt Tracey

Last weekend we drove over to Renton to visit Travis's parents. His oldest sister, Tracey came up from Vancouver. Tracey has ovarian cancer. She just finished her last round of chemo, so we got together to celebrate that event. It was a good little visit. Tracey is an amazing person. She has such a positive way about her, despite what she has been facing.

Connor charmed the pants off Aunt Tracey.
Elizabeth actually let Tracey hold her a couple of times...briefly.
The oldest and the youngest together.
We had his mom take a group photo...photography isn't her strong suit. (o;
Spencer is such a goof!
I told the kids to look cute for me...this is what I got...cuteness!

Cause They Are So Cute!

I took the kids to church today by myself because Travis had to work. They all looked so cute! When we got home, I told them to go stand by the house because I wanted to get a picture with my phone. Spencer kept trying to NOT pull a face...therefore pulling a face... And I LOVE how Spencer and Connor are holding hands...and that Joseph is helping Elizabeth stay steady on the log she was standing on. I LOVE MY KIDS!!!!

Connor...Condor...Conrad...Kohwoh...*

Happy 7th birthday to my little sweetie!

Connor is one of the kindest, sweetest, funniest little boys I know! He loves sponges and toilet floats and smoke detectors. He loves doing laundry and riding his bike. He is a joy to us and I'm so happy that he is ours!!! We love you, buddy!

*Connor...birth name. Condor...nickname, silly. Conrad...Grandma Teese's nickname for him. Kohwoh....What Elizabeth calls him.

Izdet...

that's what she calls herself...Izdet...it's really cute...and I don't want to ever forget.

Official!

Travis finished his classes for Walgreens and is now officially an Executive Assistant Manager! Woot woot! I am so super proud of him! He has worked for a long time to get this. They moved us clear over here, then he took the classes (three-three day sessions over four months time), now he has completed the class and his promotion is official and we will finally get the stinkin' raise. (o: It's been tough out here living in a house with extra expenses...only having his mgt wages. This is such a blessing!

So a big thank you to everyone who prayed for us and gave us encouragement. It's been a good week!

ELEVEN!!!

Yesterday my oldest baby turned ELEVEN years old!!!! I am not old enough to have a child that old...although...some of my friends that got married the same time as me now have 16 year olds...but that's their problem. (o; I can't believe how quickly time has flown by. I am so proud of the person that Joseph is. He is very kind hearted, thoughtful, creative, eager to please...all wrapped up...with a short fused temper like both his parents to make him complete. (o:

Joseph is our miracle child. He came as I was beginning to sink into a pit of despair...seriously. over 5 years and no child, I felt that my life would never be complete. And then along came Joseph. I thank my Heavenly Father every day for sending him to me...all of them, of course, but Joseph was the beginning. So, here I am...the mom of a tween boy who eats everything! I'm pretty proud!

A Do-Over

I haven't blogged for a long time. I keep thinking it has to be a big long story every time...with pictures. But, my current blog reading frenzy that I have gone on has shown me that short and sweet is fine...and good. So...that is what I will do. Because I love looking back on my blog at the things we did and said.

So...in the spirit of do-over's that have been very important to me lately...I begin again.

Today is my birthday. I'm getting old. 37. I don't feel old though...and Travis will be 40 in eleven days. That's old. Well...until I get there. Then it won't be. I think. Although last night Travis and I sat down to read after the kids went to bed. He handed me his Kindle and said, "You might find this interesting." Then he laid down on the floor to wait for me to finish...but he never made it that far. He began to snore. I finished the article, put down the Kindle, picked up my Nook, began to read...the next thing I know...it's an hour and a half later...Travis is asleep on the floor...I have drool on my chin and my neck has a crick cause I fell asleep in the chair...

Maybe we are getting old.

Anyway...Happy Birthday to me!