Halloween 2009

Halloween this year was really fun. We have never done a family theme before and the kids loved it. They were so excited that Mark and I dressed up with them and that all our costumes went together. Zina especially liked it because the whole idea started because she was determined to be Princess Tiger Lily.

Princess Tiger Lily & Peter Pan. People often thought that she was Pocahontas and he was Robin Hood until they saw the whole family together. Then they loved us!

Music Makers party friday morning. Wilson with a whole bunch of cute girls. :) We also got to go to a costume party friday night. Thanks Steph! It was seriously a lot of fun especially because of the NO KIDS!! :)

I just thought they were SO incredibly cute. :) Love these two.

This is what we did Thursday morning. I built the kids a fort and they ate all their candy while I cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. My house had been seriously neglected due to the making of costumes...and now it's dirty again. :)

Captain Hook and Peter Pan sword fighting.

The whole family! Made with love by yours truly. :)

The trunk or treat was surprisingly chilly. I think they are still adorable.

Both kids really got into the trick/trunk or treating. Zina was giggling in between trunks she was having so much fun and now when we mention candy Wilson's eyes light up and he starts to get excited too.

Scary Stories

This week I spent a lot of time bending over my sewing machine. Zina decided she wanted to be Princess Tiger Lily for Halloween and convinced Wilson to be Peter Pan. There was NO changing their minds once they had decided. I figured I could make Princess Tiger Lily but I was pretty skeptical about Peter Pan. After a trip to the Disney Store to find out they were all sold out of Peter Pan I knew I'd have to make it. A couple friends sent me this tutorial and I figured I could make it too. Then Mark decided to be Captain Hook and of course I had to be Wendy. AHHH! I can sew a straight stitch but this was seriously testing my sewing skills. Anyways, this post is NOT about our Halloween costumes. All I'm trying to say is that I had been spending a lot of time sewing one night when Mark came in and said, "Mama, we're having a family conference in the playroom." Well, I surely can't miss that so I set my sewing aside and went to see what was up. Mark made us turn all the lights off and sit around a single candle. He'd been busy making chex muddy buddy's or "Ghost Food" You shake them in powdered sugar and he'd told the kids it was ghost powder and if they ate it they would turn into ghosts until midnight on All Hallows Eve. It was hilarious. The kids were wide eyed and enjoying every minute of being scared. We sang the classic Halloween song that even Wilson knows all the words to because they love it so much. Later that night I heard the kids whispering in their beds about how they were now ghosts because Papa had convinced them to eat the "ghost food." It was really fun, and really spontaneous. Thanks Mark for a great memory and the perfect spooky evening.

I love the looks on their faces!

More Halloween pictures to come.....

Jack-O-lantern

We had some friends over this week for some yummylicious dinner and some pumpkin carving fun. I have been feeling the need to celebrate Mark's dwindling exam schedule to only 1 per week. Thank you Halloween for coming just in time and thank you friends for celebrating with us!

Jeremy and a poor poor pumpkin.

The Hinton Family (minus Dad who might be gagging over on the couch and I think maybe Andrew is holding his breath) Ha - to funny!

Zina Zee Zizzle and her papa

Wilson and Mama Becca. Yesterday I said something about being a Mother and Wilson looked up at me concerned and said, "You not Mother, you a Mama Becca."

I stand corrected.

Madison Kate and Steph!

Mmm, kidlets eating yummy dessert which I ate for breakfast the next morning and am currently craving.

I'm allowed. I'm pregnant.

Happy Halloween!

I love Zina's scary pose in this one. I had no idea she was posing until I looked over the pictures after.

Wind

I have a confession. I love the wind. Today it is windy (or if you are from southern Alberta you might say it is a slight breeze) and it is making me happy. When it gets windy here I start to feel... peaceful? nostaligic? happy? I'm not sure how to describe this feeling, but it is a good feeling. Even when I was a kid growing up I loved the wind. I felt like it blew the cobwebs from my mind and I could breath deep fresh air straight from the mountains. So thanks windy prairies for the feelings I'm feeling today.

Family Visits & Birthday Surprises

This past weekend Grandma Judy and Aunt Marilyn came to visit bringing Kate, Ellie, Wade, Piper and Jade with them! It was such a party and we are so glad they came. Mark has been so busy that it was nice to have some company to keep us from being lonely! The little kids had so much fun playing together. Kate, Ellie, and Zina giggled and giggled all night long. Cousins are the best!

Wilson and Wade

Picnic at the Phoenix Zoo

I told Wilson to say cheese but he must have had a mouthful because this is what I got.

Ellie, Kate, & Zina playing at the Zoo splash pad.

Talk about hard work for the adults! It was a pretty good way for the kids to see the Zoo though.

Giraffes! Wilson, Kate, Ellie, Zina & Wade

It was actually a super hot day and we were so exhausted by the time we got home from the Zoo that we put the kids in their swimming suits, gave them popsicles, and put the sprinkler under the tramp and then I think we all took naps. Everyone was happy! Zina is missing because she actually slept for 3 hours after we got home!

Mmm, Fresh salsa, water fun, and 100 degrees.

It was our anniversary so Grandma and Aunt Marilyn had a Pizza party with the kids while Mark and I ate out at a little Indian Bistro. It was fun to try something different and we even had a belly dancer for entertainment.

And of course with all the hot weather we couldn't pass up the pool. Thanks to our friends at San Lagos for letting us use their pool!

Cute little Piper chill'n while we swim.

And a cute picture of Zina all decked out for who knows what.

Oh ya, and because today is my birthday my Dr. let me have an early ultrasound and

IT'S a BOY!

We are all very excited, except Zina who was pretty disappointed, but I think she's getting over it. :)

5 years

5 years, 2 1/2 kids, 9 moves, 2 countries, 4 states, and millions of happy wonderful memories.

Thanks, honey, for the roses, the jade, the yummy food, the belly dancing, and especially for being you.

Bring on the next 5.