Oh, you know, the usual...just trying to catch up (lots of pictures...you've been warned)

I think I neglected to post pictures of the 4th of July...

 

 

 

...and random pictures from the summer...

She went to swimming lessons with a cape on.

 

 

Uncle Mike's train is always a treat!

 

Mr. Fox took the kids to a street fair and a new superhero was discovered.

 

Ding Dong cake for my dad's birthday
(picture of him wouldn't upload...I tried several times)

 

It was super delicious, but the white filling should have been even thicker

 

A total goof with her own sense of style.

 

Chick wore these boots for two years, I think.
I finally told her that they had to be thrown away.
Seriously, she cried in her room for half an hour.

 

 

We got together with some of Fox's friends from his pre-marriage days.  Clearly they've been as busy as we have!  It was fun...the kids got to know each other running around the playground, and then we went for ice cream at Sub Zero (super awesome!)

 

 

 

Otter learned to scowl, and did it often
but she seems to have outgrown that phase.
It was pretty funny while it lasted.

 

The older three kids all took swimming lessons. 
Moose's was a parent assisted class (though in this picture he's with his teacher). 
He wasn't very willing to participate, and I regretted putting him in...
maybe he'll be more ready next year.

 

It was a Loooooong time coming, but I finally made my magnet menu board!

 

oh, to be a twin.

 

...and the first day of school...

 

 

...and random Fall days...

 

 

 

 

I remember being treated like a doll...I guess it's the role of the last child.

 

 

Fossil cookies for pre-K.
And the bones on the tray were from polymer clay. 
The bones were buried in sand for an excavation project.

 

Autumn cookies for pre-K.

 

We got to attend E's baptism and birthday dinner.  Nice cake, Kayla!

 

...and from Halloween...

 

Owl and Otter wore the same costumes as last year!
Last time they were a little big, this time they were a little small.

 

 

Halloween lunch.  Trail mix toilet paper bats,
jack-o-satsumas, a Mummy juice box, and a themed zbar.

 

...and Thanksgiving.

Jude did a fantastic job on the kids table.  They had a great time...
well, we all did, but only the kids are pictured.

 

Monkey, on her Thanksgiving birthday, with the amazing quilt that Grandma J made! 
I'm totally going to steal it from her one of these days ; )

 

Birthday cake #1.

 

The other night I played hookie from life (and a meeting) and took a bath (with a mug of hot chocolate, the last few chapters of a book, and a notepad).  I wrote down my New Years Resolutions.  One is to blog once a week (most likely it'll be every Sunday evening).  Lately I seem to only have blogged about parties and the little "photoshoots" of the kids, and have totally neglected all of the special little day-to-day moments.  I have a terrible memory, and I don't want to forget this beautiful time in my life, so I plan to work on blogging more.  Starting today (since I already have my list all written and all).

And for your  viewing pleasure: a dance presentation by Chick, Monkey, and Moose.  I had a good laugh watching it...this is from early November...pretty cute of all three : )

 

Fairy Party: Part 3 (Fun and Games)

Ok, now for the really fun stuff: the games and kids!

Let me introduce you to my friend, Shannon.  She is Monkey's Sunday School teacher.  When she first moved to the area I was almost due with the twins, and after they were born she came over to help a lot. And she's just such a nice person that she volunteered to come help at Monkey's party.  And she's so cool that she wore wings and fancy fairy-like clothing with fun shoes!  (I provided a head wreath for her). 

And I've mentioned my friend Jill.  She's Monkey's Pre-K teacher.  She also taught Chick, back in the day.  Plus she's my friend. She's fantastic.  She came to drop off her daughter and nephew, and ended up staying to help.  She took most of the pictures.

I couldn't have made it through without both of these fantastic ladies!  Thank you, Jill and Shannon!!!!

The first thing that the kids did upon arrival was to get their costumes on.  I had accidentally told Fox that we only needed three bow and arrow sets, when we actually needed four.  So Moose didn't get one...but actually it was probably for the best.  He was the youngest,  and is often too rambunctious and aggressive so I think I'm glad that he didn't have his own.

 

Once dressed, the kids went on a fairy hunt (I'd hidden the pipe cleaner dolls around the room).

I know this is blurry and doesn't show her face...
but I really like this one of Miss C hunting for her fairy.



 

Then they came one at a time to get their faces painted.

Once they'd all found their fairies (or elves) and were all suited up, they played "Fairy, Fairy, Troll" (the fairy version of "Duck, Duck, Goose."  They were supposed to fly rather than run.).  Shannon directed that game (I was painting faces and Jill was doing the individual pictures on the stump), and they played it for a while.  Chick said that was her favorite part of the party.

 

 

Next we played "Fairy Circle" (the fairy version of "Musical Chairs").  It was set to a soundtrack of Enya : )

 

Eliminated onlookers

 

down to the final two.

Then I got out a bottle of "pixie dust."  Not the little little bottles that the kids got (theirs had Pixie Stix Powder inside), but a bigger bottle with fine glitter.  I explained that if they made a wish using the pixie dust then maybe their wish would come true.  So I sprinkled a little into their hands, and we all turned around and blew three times.  I hope some of their wishes come true.

 

Then we ate.  And sang.  And ate some more.  (This was Moose's favorite part).

 

 

Monkey's favorite part was after we ate...she got to open presents.  She got really awesome presents.

 

 

Fairy Shannon glows : )

After the presents we still had a few minutes, so we played "Fairy Freeze" (freeze when the music stops) for a little while.  Then they just looked at the presents and whatnot.  I got out Monkey's pop-up book to try to calm things down (though they weren't super crazy or anything...but I didn't want it to escalate, you know).  It was fairly stressful reading the pop-up book though...I said, "Remember no touching" and "Everybody sit back down" on repeat through the "reading" of it.

Then they got their bottles of pixie dust and it was done.  Really it was all a blur for me, but looking back at the pictures was fun.  Lots of happiness and cuteness.  They are a good group of kids. 

I asked Monkey if she was happy with the party, and she said, "Yes, it was just like I planned it to be."  ha ha!  Glad it worked out for her ; )

 

Fairy Party: Part One (Things Made and the Birthday Fairy Herself)

 

Fairy Party: Part Two (Décor & Edibles)