Happy Birthday Kara!

I had to wait to post this until kara spilled the beans about the our forthcoming little one. Otherwise, how could I write about how she couldn't stand the thought of a birthday cake? Instead we had birthday nachos. Yes, with candles. Sorry, no pictures. Despite the birthday, December was not a very fun month for Kara. So sick, and such bizarre cravings: breadsticks, kool-aid, Twilight novels... But she's been a champion through it all.

Bless you, Kara, for going through this three times previously for our three goofy children, and still being willing to go through it again. You rock my world.

lest you think i've vanished off the face of the earth . . .

Here's Will's take on what has been going on for the last few months:

First, you eat a baby. Then, it goes in your tummy and makes you sick like this--aauuugh, aauuugh, aauuugh (vomiting sounds).

halloween

So. Here it is. The Halloween post. Our kids had a great time. There was a church party, a school carnival, and then a whole lot of trick or treating. Brandon's family joined us for trick or treating because our neighborhood is perfect for it. The weather was amazing--warm enough that no coats were needed, since the costumes were pretty warm. And there was a full (or close to it) moon hovering right in between the mountains. It was so much fun to walk around that the plastic pumpkins were full by the time we got home.

Elsa and Henry were Jedi Knights. Not any specific Jedi, just Jedi. Elsa refused to be anything too girly--no Leia or Amidala or anything. Will wanted to be a Jedi too, until he tried on the robe I made for him, and then he immediately wanted it off. But, he was obsessed with the hand-me-down Buzz costume from cousin Brenna. It didn't matter how sweaty he was, how much of a hikey he got, or how much the elastic was cutting off the circulation to his feet--he was keeping the Buzz costume on.

The Halloween fairy came again and left a watch for Henry, slinky dog for Elsa, and green plastic army guys for Will. They were all thrilled, and the Halloween Fairy has gotten a little fatter this week.

It was a delightful Halloween all around.

Oh yeah, Henry and Elsa had to be something curriculum-oriented for school. So, Elsa had to be an Egyptian/Cleopatra and Henry was a skeleton. Like the last-minute costumes? These were done the day before with $1.50 in ribbon and a few pennies worth of masking tape. It was a little ghetto, but it worked. And don't they look happy?

first camping trip

Here are my favorite quotes from our first family camping trip back in August:

Henry (while roasting his hotdog on a stick, which took a little longer than expected): Is this fun?

Will (first thing in the morning; only the two of us were awake; there was rustling in the bushes next to us): What was that?
Mom: There's some kind of animal in there. What kind of animal do you think it is?
Will: A bear.
Mom: Uh oh. What do you think the bear will do?
Will: Maybe he'll come out and say, "Hi. Can I have some chips?"

Elsa (on a walk around the little lake/pond): Look there's a little hole. I wonder what lives in there.
Mom: I don't know. What do you think it is?
Elsa: I think it's zombies.

And, this is why I'm not super anxious to go again, although I'm sure I'll be dragged out next summer anyway:

she's finally six!

Little Elsa Loie Lou finally turned six. I say finally because I have been mistakenly telling people she's six for a couple of months now. She suddenly seems to be so old. It makes me a little sad, because she really is so young still.

She's brilliant and determined. She has a champion attention-span. She has her own mind and is not easily swayed. She truly enjoys life--every bird and flower and blade of grass gets noticed by Elsa. She laughs easily and finds humor in many things--especially William lately. She is so loving and gentle when she's not sword-fighting and wrestling with her brothers. She is consistently content and happy. She is completely wonderful and makes my life so much happier.

school's in session

Time to play catch-up again. I wrote this back at the beginning of September, but I had some picture issues. There are more catch-up posts to follow, as soon as all picture issues are resolved:

The kids have been back in school for a few weeks now. They are all loving it. Elsa was a little nervous upon arrival at the school. But, she warmed up after about 30 minutes, and was really happy about it when she came home.

Check out those long skinny legs!


The best smile a nervous Elsa could muster.

Henry's class got straight to work. That's him front and center.

Will also started preschool 2 days a week. I love Miss Wendy, and she seems to have already worked her magic on him. She actually said she's so grateful for him because he is an example to the other little boys by tracing his letters the way he's supposed to. Go figure. He sits and traces and colors neatly in the lines and does all kinds of things I can't get him to do at home. I'm so impressed. Maybe he'll turn out all right after all.


It is a little lonely having Henry and Elsa gone all day. And, I forgot how crazy the evenings are during the school year: doing homework, going to cub scouts and flag football and dance and meetings. But, busy is good I guess, and the kids seem happy. Goodbye long summer days.

mmmmm . . . cortizone cream

I was getting the kids ready for bed a little while back, when I heard the following coming from Will in the bathroom:

Aaack.

Yuck.

(Spitting.)

Yucky.

Aaack.

I went in to dicover this: