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 : )

 

Trying to Catch up: Halloween stuff.

Last Halloween we went down to Arizona to visit Mr. Fox's family.  We had a fabulous time, but I never got the pictures sorted through and blogged!  Oops.  I'll try to do a little catching up soon... but in the meantime, here are the kids in their costumes from last year.

Chick as a ballerina

Cute Sir Cousin in the background

Monkey as a bee

Moose as a homeless bum.

This year, despite the poor job economy situation, I'm happy to report that Moose got a job as a builder and is no longer homeless.

To continue the trend, his costume next year will be Bill Gates ; )

Monkey was a monkey.  It's funny that what originated as a funny little nickname to use on this blog has become rather a defining thing in her life.  She likes all things "monkey" and took her monkey collection to preschool for show-and-tell.

Chick was Fancy Nancy.  It was a fun costume...but Chick is all about comfort and was not happy to wear an itchy wig (and mean Mama that I am, I insisted that if she wanted to get any candy or go to any parties she had to be wearing that wig!).  This is her "but it's ITCHY" face.

Owl was a zebra.

Otter was an elephant.

We did a group pumpkin (mostly the two bigger girls and me), and I thought he turned out pretty darn cute.

I dressed as a pirate for the ward Trunk or Treat, and had fun putting together stuff for our trunk decorations.  I made a fabric sign that said, "Ye must first walk the plank, lest ye be cursed" and Fox made a little platform plank that the kids had to walk to get to candy.  I had a full-sized Jolly Roger hanging, and a "treasure" with the bowl of candy in the middle.  When I hung the flag up, Moose said, "oh, pretty!" 
1. probably the first time the Jolly Roger flag has been called pretty.
2. that boy has too many sisters!

The last time I dressed as a pirate was 2002...the year that Fox and I were getting flirty
but had yet to go on a date/engagement/marriage. 

 

Anything shiny, gold, or silver that we own got put into the trunk.

By the time the kids came out for the trunk or treat it was dark and cold, and the parking lot was poorly lit.  So really my efforts were for nothing, but it gave me a creative outlet for the day I guess.  I do so like doing that kind of thing.

Before we carved the pumpkin we played around with putting the babies into it.  Otter was fascinated, but Owl was not amused.  at all.

Anyhow, it was a fun holiday.  I have always loved costumes.  This year I had to keep everything pretty simple (because I'm still in survival mode) but enjoyed it anyhow.  On the actual day I was sick, so I stayed home with the babies and passed out the candies.  I prepared jack-o-lantern quesodillas and sent Mr. Fox and the older three out for trick-or-treating and to our friends' house for a party. 

I thought I'd have a nice relaxing time watching old episodes of Bewitched, but two hungry babies and a bunch of trick-or-treaters thwarted that plan.  The kids came home happy and excited...and then Moose had a meltdown because I didn't let him start eating candy (or something...I don't remember exactly now) and peed in his clothes.  good times.

Have I mentioned that we abandoned potty training?  I can't keep up with laundry that comes with willfully wetting one's clothes.  When everyone has settled down and are not showing signs of new-baby-stress (including especially me) then we can resume.  You know, when he's not such a two-year-old.