Boo!

Halloween happened here.

I made it to the school parade this year, last year I was busy barfing my guts out (thanks Colter). The kids were adorable in their costumes and the high school band was rockin'.

We are all safe and sound after hitting up the neighbors for free candy.

Halloween is the best--don't you think so?

Dear Nudist Colonies,

I get you.

Sincerely,

A Mother Of Five

Tell me the stories of Jesus, or I will make them up myself...

"Jesus is telling Jesus Christ to 'put that fish back in the water!' but he wants to take it home and Jesus is really cranky at him..."
                 --the story of Christ calling his disciples, as told by Adell

Mini-Me...

Adell came into my room this morning asking:

"What can I do for a nose and a mouth and eyes and ears?"

I was stumped.

She repeated her question with similar results on my part.

I thought to ask, "Tell me some of the other things you've used so far." hoping to get a clue as to what she was talking about and what she needed.

"My pants are my legs, my shirt is my belly..." she explained, gesturing to her totally naked body.

"You better show me..."

In her bedroom I found her shirt and pants set out on the floor like a chalk drawing.  She was making a copy of herself with her clothes and wanted to complete the look.  I suggested a plate for her head, squinkies for eyes and a bracelet for a mouth.  She added those items and asked "Hmmmm, what else to I need?"  I waved my arms and hands around until understanding lit up her face.  "Oh, I know!  A nose!"

Close enough.

She added a nose, figured out gloves for hands and some toy car seats for feet.  She was pretty proud of her creation--even if it left her completely naked.

Distracted...

 

 

Oh, I am so behind in my blogging. 

We went to Montana this summer--for the first time in six years.  We spent a hot, sweaty day at Six Flags (and only almost lost Adell twice).  The kids took swim lessons from a lovely teenage girl at the pool down the street.  Wyatt had three teeth pulled at the dentists.  In fact, the big kids have nearly bankrupted our Tooth Fairy with all the teeth they've lost this summer.  Stanford football season started.  Wyatt has been in soccer and both of the big kids started running cross country this fall.  I had a birthday. (yipee!)  Lorien is running for a spot on the Student Council.  Will took the girls out on the Daddy-daughter-camp-out. 

Yes, I have a lot to put up on this blog.

But Colter keeps distracting me.  He is too cute and too demanding.  I spend a lot of time holding him, kissing him and saving him from an overly-loving big sister.

It is a full time job.

 

Colter is four months old now.  He loves to laugh and squeal.  Our house is a noisy place these days and Colter is happy to add to the chatter.  He learned how to roll from his back to his belly.  As soon as I put him down on his back he flips over to his belly.  However, he does not know how to get off his belly.  So, he will spend a few happy minutes--looking at the view from his belly.  Then, he starts to fuss and cry--frustrated that he cannot get off his belly.  We let him cry, hoping his frustration will help him learn how to roll the other way.  So far, it hasn't worked.  He ends up burring his face in the carpet and screaming until we come to his rescue. 

 

He is adorably ticklish, on his back, on his belly, under his chin and armpits.  I try not to take advantage of this knowledge.  He loves to smile at every one.  He is learning about his hands and how to reach and grab things--and put things in his mouth. 

 

He is not sleeping through the night.  He is on a very predictable schedule: down for the night between 6:00 and 7:00pm, up for his first feeding between 11:00 and midnight, up again around 2:30 am and up one more time around 5:00 am for short feedings.  He is usually is awake for the day between 7:00 and 8:00 am--taking his first nap two hours after he wakes up.  The end result is a very predictable night and morning.  After his first nap all bets are off the table.  We have school pick-ups and outside activities for the big kids.  He doesn't get a good second nap and so is cranky and demanding for the rest of the day.  We still love him to pieces--irritability and all.

 

And now, I will have to go back and post-date some blog entries.  For my own sake...

 

 

 



Publicity...

Lorien is running for a council position at school.  She wants to win the "Publicity Chair" where she would be responsible for making all of the posters telling students about upcoming activities. 

She had to make a poster for her campaign and asked for help coming up with a slogan to tempt the juvenile voters.

I suggested:

Don't be a dead opossum.  Vote for Lorien she's awesome!

She went with this:

Her slogan was: Want publicity that's creative and smart?  Vote for Lorien, she's great at art!

Catchy?  Yes. 

Truthful?  Yes. 

Funny as "Don't be a dead opossum..."?  No. 

I did convince her to put the "Don't be a dead opossum" idea on her poster in the form of one of her pieces of art. 

Brilliant.