Halloween 2012

Halloween around here was kind of a last minute affair.  I think Mark and I were both to tired to think about it any sooner.  We finally gave into the kid's pleadings on the Sunday before Halloween and carved pumpkins.  We usually do this way earlier so we can actually enjoy them sitting on the front step.  oh well.

It was still a fun night!

Well, mostly fun. ;)

6 pumpkins for a family of 6!

Papa's, Mama's, Zina's, Wilson's, Sammy's & Davey's.  (Sammy requested that Davey's be a sad one. :)

Zina and Wilson decided on the Friday before Halloween that they wanted to be Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker.  So Zina and I ran to target only to find that a skywalker costume was $35. Ya, not going to happen.  So we went next door and bought some fabric instead.  They were pretty thrown together but you couldn't really tell unless you looked close.  And they were super happy about it so I chalked it up as a couple of hours well spent. :)

And it's a good thing my new baby was new baby enough to still sleep 24/7 (he's not anymore - now he likes to sleep during the day instead of at night.) :)

Sammy went through a couple of costumes.  Pumpkin, Peter Pan and finally decided on Spiderman which we already had. Hurray!

And when Darth Vader came knocking on the door after work everyone was pretty darn excited. (except Sam who was super worried and kept saying, "Don't hurt me, don't hurt me."

Our little Star Wars/Spiderman clad was a hit at the village trick-or-treat. Then we headed over to trick-or-treat with the Christiansen's and Condie's.  It was wet, rainy, and freezing cold, but the kids held out for quite a while.   We ended up at the Christiansen's for hot chocolate while the kids watched Scooby Doo and ate their candy.   No pictures of that :(  but it was pretty funny handing out candy.  As soon as someone knocked all the lights went out and Darth Vaders theme song started up nice and loud.  Then Darth Vader answered the door.  Some little kids were pretty wide eyed. 

:)

And now Sammy's candy is ALL gone.  He stayed home from church yesterday sick.  I wonder why?

Happy Halloween. :)

Life with 4

Life with 4 has been pretty fantastic and I blame it on a few things.  

1.  Our decision to home school.  We set our own schedule that can be changed at any time.

2. My two oldest kids.  Can you believe I have older children that make having more children easier?!  Zina and Wilson are such fantastic helpers.  They are getting some great practice at being parents some day!  Especially my Zina Z.  She is amazing.  I am so grateful for this kind, thoughtful, funny, smart, sassy 7 yr old.  She is a natural mother and I love her!

3. Mark's easy peasy schedule this month.  Mark has been home by 2 or 3 almost every day this month.      It has been fantastic on those "I'm going crazy" days.

4.  My recovery.  I can't believe I feel so good.  And I've been saying that for weeks!  I have felt truly humbled and so thankful that I have been able to bounce back so quickly.  I have started running again, Davey is a pro at nursing, and the other children just seem to have adapted so well.  So thankful.

5. The vocabulary/perceptiveness/low maintenance of my 2yr old.  When Sam needs something he is amazing at being able to communicate it or just go without. 

I think it must be a trick.  Heavenly Father is saying, "See you can totally do this.  There are other little spirits up here waiting to join your family!"  Either way, I am grateful for His help in doing all of this.

And albeit we are only about 4weeks post par tum.  I'm already excited for those other little spirits.

(shh - don't tell Mark he might faint on the spot.)  

And some pictures of everyday life around here.

Zina's Pumpkin Poem she wrote for school.  

This is the 2nd draft. (and I'm pretty sure Wilson took this picture.  Thanks Wilson!)

Love this sweet addition.

I was trying to capture his long blond eyelashes.

Apple picking at play group.

Mark spent about 15-20 hours cleaning the leaves off our lawn.  We have a lot of lawn and some BIG trees (not to mention the neighbors tree's too!)

I love his wings. :)

Zina learning to sew.  (She had been begging me for weeks)

Such good helpers!  

Fall means a lot of work around here!

8yr Anniversary/ 30th Birthday

My/Our Birthday Anniversary Weekend came and went in October.  Things were a little crazy with a 2 week old baby but we still managed to celebrate a little bit. :)  Well, celebrate Mark and Becca style which is pretty laid back and just the way we like things.

So grateful for this guy.

  I am so SO grateful for the Spirit telling me that this was "HIM."  

That guy I'd been dreaming about for years.  The one I used to pray for in High School. (Did anyone else do that?  Pray for their future spouse? or am I just weird?)  This guy has exceeded my expectations in every possible way.  I can confidently say that real life is much better than my dreams ever were.

And life is good. So good.

8 Years!

Our Anniversary landed on a Wed. and Mark had to be at work early in the morning so we just put the kids to bed and had a cozy little date at home.  Where I totally rocked him in ticket to ride. :)  

(for first time ever I think)

Ok so the kids were only sometimes in bed.  We had a few visitors.  But by the time our date "ended" they were all snoring. :)

Mark was so proud of his photography skills.  I have about 20 photos of me and the roses he brought home because he was trying to get the perfect picture.

wait for it.

He thinks he's so smart figuring out how to change the focus and get he picture he wanted in about 5 minutes.  He probably knows more about my camera now than I do.  Although i was patiently coaching him through the whole painful process.

My birthday landed on the Friday after our anniversary so we dropped the 3 oldest off at a friends house and went out for some birthday shopping.  Mark helped me pick out some super cute boots for my birthday. (I think it's the 1st time he's been in a mall in 2yrs)  and then we stopped at Sweetwater Donut Mill and picked out a dozen donuts.

Yep.  We took 1 bite of each donut.  Then I told Mark, "I think I'm going to vomit."  He replied, "me too, let's vomit together."  It was really romantic.  Trust me. 

But they were yummy.

And now I'm 30.  

And I'm pretty ok with that.  I am so grateful for all that I have been blessed with.  I can only imagine the blessings that the next 30 years will bring!