Dressed up cutie

Alexis' hair is taking forever to grow. Finally I've been able to put it up in little pony tails, but they don't stay in for long. She isn't use to stuff in her hair so she rips them out. I just had to take pictures before that happened. She just looked too cute.

First real snow

Yes, we've had some snowfall before now, but this is the first real snow fall that we could play in. The kids got all bundled up and headed outside. Lex is sitting on the beginnings of the boys' snow fort. That's as far as it got since the next day warmed up and melted it all.

Doug threw a small snow glob at Lex and here she is trying to give it back

Evan decided to go down the slide

Doesn't he look cold? Afterwards we went in for dinner which included hot chocolate

Boring Life

So I'm thinking our life must be really boring when the highlight of our Saturday is the cutting down of the tree in our front yard. This tree was huge and a nuisance. This past spring as I was trying to plant a flower garden right by my house I found roots from said tree growing right up next to the foundation not to mention popping up all over the yard. The decision was made it had to go. Doug was going to cut it down, but I think someone didn't want him to. Every time he tried to climb up to test the waters so to speak the wind would blow like crazy. So we hired someone and you know what? No wind when he cut it down. Anyway here we go with the cut down.

Standing tall

Getting limned

Topped off

More and more getting cut

All down on the ground

Now next spring when the roots try to send up sprouts everywhere, we will cut a layer off the remaining truck and liberally apply Roundup to get soaked up and thus kill the tree roots and all. Yes, I'm a little nuts cause this is exiting for me. That tree was a bain in my life and I'm glad to be rid of it.

Brin Get Married

Another sibling married and I had the pleasure of being there with her as she got ready. The wedding is over now the reception to plan and carry out.

Getting her hair done

Hair is done and talking to Jeff

Here I am Jeff. Come take me away!

Stiking a pose

Ready to go

Getting her shoes on

Halloween

This year we decided to have a small Halloween party for the kids. We live out in the country and it is real hard to go trick or treating unless we want to drive to town and I really didn't want to do that this year. The party was my solution. The kids could eat, have fun, and get candy from the treasure hunt.

Some of the food we ate:

Mummies, Fingers, Bones, Witches Brooms, Grapes, and Chessy Pumpkins

We had a couple of activities for everyone to do. We read stories, made bookmarks, played pin the cat on the broom, and as mentioned a treasure hunt,

This is at Christopher's school party. Evan got to participate in some of the activities.

Here is Chris making his cookie

Alexis decided to try on Evan's costume. Watch out she'll get you!

Our little Wizard of Oz troop.

The Tin Man

The Scarecrow

The Cowardly Lion

Basketball Camp

Ben and Chris are getting to the age of sports participation. Now I don't know why but for some reason Doug has stated that each child needs to complete 2 sports per year. Here it is already November with that statement hanging over us and we have yet to enroll in one sport. I'm not a fan of trying to do two sports at once like soccer and baseball in the spring. So when I saw the handout for a three day basketball camp I jumped on it and said it counted as one of the sport requirements for the year. The boys love it. They each received a t-shirt and a basketball. Thing is it only cost $30 for each of them. I think the shirts and balls cost at least that much but I'm not complaining. These are shots of the first practice.

Look at that form!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins Everywhere

Pumpkins everywhere at least the guts seemed to be everywhere. We decorated 5 pumpkins this year and some of them were huge. We got them from my dad's garden and were able to get big ones. They just don't sell them huge at the stores. Evan and Alexis decided to paint theirs while Ben, Chris, and Doug carved theirs. It took a total of 3 nights to get them all done, but we finished before Halloween so thats what counts.

Lexie painting her pumpkin

Finished look

Evan painting his pumpkin

Finished look

Daddy and Lex gutting the pumpkin

Chris gutting his pumpkin

Ben gutting his pumpkin

Their finished work