Gratitude

So I was looking at someone else's post this morning and they were talking about this being a week of gratitude.  So, I thought that maybe everyday (although I'm not promising anything) I should express gratitude for something.

Today I thought I'd express gratitude for the most important thing in my life.

My family. 

I married a wonderful guy.  It's like Scott was made just for me.  He can make me laugh like no one else.  I love all his little quirks and the fact that every few years he has to switch hobbies, which usually means money.  I love the fact that he has a coat for almost every occasion, (he apparently needs a few more).  I love the fact that he's a great dad and loves our kids so much.  I love that he loves me, even with all my quirks.

I have amazing kids.

Regan.....

I can't figure out how Regan got so smart!  I love how at 12 years old, we are finding so much in common and we love to read the same books and see the same movies.  I'm so proud of the young woman she is becoming. When Regan was a little girl, she had so much imagination!  We would play this game where Regan would loose her voice and I would have to find it for her.  So I would find a voice, but it would be the wrong one, so she would maybe bark, meow, or pretend to be some other animal.  One time she started to pantomime.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard.

Hali......

Hali is my diva.  She's such a girl.  She's been dancing since she was 3 years old and loves the costumes best!  She loves anything to do with fashion and make up and looking good.  But she has such a loving heart.  She loves her friends and doesn't like to hurt anyone's feelings. She was by far my best baby.  We could take her anywhere and she never caused any trouble.  I think she might be saving up for when she's a teenager.

Porter.....

Porter is ALL boy.  He's rough and tumble, but loves his mommy.  He's my cuddler.  Nothing better than hugs and kisses from my little man.  He's a tad destructive and tends to torture Zoey, but he doesn't ever do it with malice.  He just has a LOT of energy and he's really curious about everything.

Zoey......

I know, just look at that picture!  I just want to squeeze that face all the time! Zoey is a daddy's girl.  She's the one that runs to the door when Scott gets home and throws herself around his legs.  So, cute! She's learning to hold her own with her brother, which doesn't make him very happy.  Mom, either, for that matter, he's taught her how to hit.  Zoey can be really feisty when she wants to be.

I was really blessed with my cute family.

Car Troubles...

Meet Betsy.....

Betsy was my car for 8 years.  We shared many adventures with her.  We even drove across the country and into Canada with her.  She was a good car, but just got too old and finally had to be put to pasture.

Enter Lola....

And when you say Lola, you have to say Lola.  Lola is salsa red.  Hence the name Lola.  She's a beaute!  Lots of power and the entertainment package.  Lola has been part of our family for two years now and she's very much loved.  Over the summer Lola started giving me attitude.  Not much, but of course, her attitude was only for me and not for the guys in the repair shop.  Figures.

So, a couple of weeks ago, Chuck (not pictured), who happens to be Scott's manly truck, decided he needed a new transmission.  Lovely.  We gave him a rebuilt transmission, that still cost us $3500.  Stinkin Chuck.  Well, Chuck was in the shop for a week, which left us with one mode of transportation.  Not fun, but manageable.  Leave it to Lola to up her game.  Her battery kept going out at really inconvient times!  Stinkin Lola!  So, as soon as Chuck came home, Lola went in.  Luckily, Lola's battery was still under warrenty, so she didn't cost nearly what Chuck did, but still.  So not a fun week.  They better both behave themselves for the next little while.  Santa's watching, you know.

Hali's Last Year In The Single Digits!

Hali had her 9th birthday on Monday.  It's crazy how fast they grow.  I still think of her as a three year old.

I mean, seriously.  Who wouldn't want to look at that face everyday?  Course, Max back there is pretty cute, too.  Oh, I just want to munch on her face!

I guess she's pretty cute now, too.

If only I could get a picture of her with her eyes open.  *sigh*  It wasn't a friend party year, so we had an informal cake and ice cream party.  We had family and some friends over to celebrate and Hali had to have a Hannah Montana cake.  Let's see, Halloween, Birthday.....do you think she likes Hannah Montana?

On her actual birthday, we took her to dinner.  And of course, she chose the Mayan.  Ugh.  At least we don't have anymore kid birthdays until June, so we'll get a bit of a break!

Happy Birthday, Hal!!

Finally......Halloween!

It looks like the worst of the sickness has left us behind.  We still have a few hacking, but no more vomit or fever's.  YAY!!  Somehow, Regan and I managed to remain germ free this week.   We can't quite figure out how we got so lucky!  Anywho......  on to Halloween!

Wednesday night Hali's dance studio had a trunk or treat.

I know you aren't supposed to be in the trunk, but it was really cold that night, so the kids were doing anything they could to keep warm.  My one complaint about living in Utah is the weather on Halloween.  I love it when it's warm, hate it when it's cold. I mean, what's the use of having spent so much time on a costume, just to cover it up with a coat?!  So, meany mom, didn't bring any coats.  Therefore, the children froze.  Poor Zoey was visibly shivering as she went from car to car.  I'm so mean.

Next up was the school costume parade:

And that would be pretty much the only picture I got.  It bugs me that the teachers have these kids practically running through the isles!  Our parade was supposed to go from 9:00 am until 9:45.  They were done at 9:15.  Hello!

Halloween night we took the obligatory pictures of the kids in their costumes.  Porter was a knight.  Zoey was Little Bow Peep, but her individual picture turned out blurry.  Bummer.

Regan was Medusa.  Can you see the snakes in her hair?  Look close!  It took me forever to get those things in, so you all better look!

Hali was Hannah Montana with the costume deal of the century!  Disney store for 12 dollars!!!  She almost didn't go trick or treating, because she was showing signs of "the sickness", but I felt so back for her that I let her go.

The kids were being dorks and wanted to pose for this picture.  The knight is saving Bow Peep from Medusa.  Yeah.  My kids are not boring.

My kids are always begging me to do something Halloweeny for dinner on Halloween.  So one year, I made witches hands out of chicken, I've died food with food coloring, used orange peppers as jack o lanterns and put spaghetti in them.  This year I went easy.

Mummy dogs.  Easy.  But a great sacrifice on Mom's part, because I don't like hot dogs.  The things we do for our kids.

Those Darn Pigs....

I should be posting about Halloween  and I will, but right now four of the six in this household are sick.  We suspect the swine flu.  The simptoms match.  So, we are all holed up in the house trying not to go crazy.  Poor Porter's had the worst of it so far.  He's the only one throwing up.  So, give me some time and I'll post pictures.  Thanks for your understanding.

Sigh

This isn't exactly the view I wanted to see from my door this morning.

Ewww! Just....Ewww.

Porter:  "Mom!  Zoey dropped her lollypop and I picked it up and licked it.  Then I went in the bathroom and I washed it.  And I washed it with soap!"

He then pops the lolly pop into his mouth.

Mom:  "Ewww!!  Porter!  We don't eat soap!"

Porter:  "Why?"

Mom:  "Um....because it tastes gross!"

Porter just gave me the most cofused look and walked away with the lollypop back in his mouth.  I mean, I have sented soap, but I can't imagine that the sent makes it taste any better!

I Know, I Know,You All Get The Point.......

  My door is RED!!!

Anyway, before I get to the main point of this blog, I just had to add this picture.  A lovely girl named Emma took this picture at Elyse's wedding and it's just too cute!

Last week we took the kids to get their pumpkins.  We went to the pumpkin patch that is right next to their school, but of course, I forgot the camera.  Typical.  I did, however, pull the camera out for the pumpkin decorating. 

Hali and Regan were determined to carve their pumpkins this year.  We used to do it when they were little, but found that Scott and I did most of the work because the girls thought the insides were too slimy.  So, a couple of years ago I found these little babies:

 

No mess, no fuss!  LOVE THEM!

But Regan and Hali really wanted to carve.  So, we made them do it.  I wasn't touching the slimy stuff.

They now realize that it's tough work to carve a pumpkin.  And before you know it, they look like this:

I'm not sure that will stop them from trying again next year!