Happy Halloween

Every year I type the same thing at Halloween...I LOVE HALLOWEEN! I haven't always LOVED it the way I do now but I swear we have the best neighborhood EVER! This year I bought 100 glow in the dark necklaces along with 4 bags of candy. About 8pm, I was completely out! I couldn't believe I had run out, I've never run out before. I ended up going into the house and giving away rice krispy treats because I hated turning out my light when there were still kiddos out there! We get over 100 kids each year and that is what makes it so much fun! A lot of the kids I know from being up the school so much and I just love seeing them all dressed up and excited to be getting candy!
This year my teenager Stephanie deserted her post as candy helper and went to friends house instead. Such is the life when you are a teenager! Friends are more important than mom, go figure! Oh well, we still had a great year and Jason was home to take the younger three trick or treating this year too!
Here are a few photos from carving pumpkins and the kids all dressed up and ready to go out trick or treating! :-)

Why

Why oh why is it so hard to keep updated on this blog? When I first started I couldn't wait to sit down and post little tidbits and "glimpses into our lives" (as I so tagged in my profile). Now I think about blogging but never take the time to sit down and write it out.
Yet, I still LOVE to check my friends blogs and see what they are up to! Just the other day my sister asked me, "are you ever going to update your blog again?" I guess that means I have been slacking. But in my defense I have been a very busy person since my last post on September 2 of 2009. Here are just a few highlights:

September 12: Nicholas had an accident that landed him in the ER
The next week he stayed home from school and I got to play mommy/nurse

October 4: Jasons 29th Birthday :-)

October 11: Nicholas's 9th Birthday

October 21: Drove up to Chicago all by myself with 4 kiddos

October 24: My older sister Kim got married! Yay!

October 26: Drove back to Savannah with all 4 kiddos

So when I write it out it doesn't look like much but between all those things were the normal, Dr. Apptointments, Dentist Appointments, cleaning, packing. laundry, dinner, homework, phone calls with Jason, Celebrations for the Birthdays, Wedding planning, Bedtimes, Baths to be had, Teacher conferences, grocery shopping, and snuggle time/tucking kids into bed each night! Phew! So you see, I have been busy. But I have loved every single minute of it! Even the 4 days in the car with 4 kids...they were AWESOME!
Okay, now I will post a few pics to update everyone and then I will TRY to be more faithful! Thanks for checking in on me! :-)

Easily Entertained...

We live in the South

While waiting to drop off Stephanie at High School today I noticed this truck in the parking lot (see left)

Notice the two big antenas from the back of the truck? Then we have the lovely rebel flag (sort of crumpled but it was still there) If you look really close there are two bumper stickers on the back of the truck those also have the rebel flag on them. Finally we have the mud all over the base of the truck because apparently this person has gone mud bogging (as we call it here in these parts).
Yeah, I would say that about sums it up!
Southern truck in the Southern state of GA! Wouldn't see this one up in Chicago! Ha-ha!

I got an idea...with a little help from Ethan's Drama class! :-)

Ethan came home from school today and I noticed a paper plate in his bag. I asked him why there was a plate in his bag and he said, "oh it's for drama". Upon taking a closer look at this plate I noticed that there were things written all over it. Things like:
I like your necklace, awesome!
You are nice!
You are funny!
You are cool!
You are funny and smart!
You are a special person!
Some of these get repeated a couple times on the plate but each one is written by a different person, in different ink, and that persons own unique handwriting. I haven't taken the time to find out the principle behind this plate but it did make me stop and think that words of affirmation is something we all need to hear more of!
With four children in the house I hear words like, stupid, idiot, retarded, meanie, brat, baby, and you get the idea! It is so easy to spout off words of ridicule and humiliation without even batting an eyelash but words of praise? For a sibling to say, "Hey, you are really smart!" OR "You know what that necklace is pretty cool little brother!". I just don't think there is enough of that or we could could ever hear too much!
Friday nights are family night. We ALWAYS have pizza and a movie and this is the one night pop is aloud to be their drink with dinner. I look forward to a night off of cooking but I also look forward to just spending time together as a family. Watching a funny movie and sharing the time together! When I was little we did the same thing in my family except we were always watching The Dukes of Hazard on TV that night! :-) Ha-ha! Anyway...I am getting away from my point, which is this. This Friday night I am going to add on to our Friday night tradition and tell the kids that before the pizza, pop, and movie we are going to take a few minutes to go around and tell one thing positive each sibling has done or said in the past week, including mommy and maybe even an e-mail to dad!! :-)
I don't want my kids to feel foolish for praising other people and I want my children to be able to take a compliment. Maybe one night we can make a plate and write it all down, or put it on a piece of paper, something to remind each child that they are important, have value, and even when we don't always say it, each one is loved by the other!

Alexis school work

I love when the kids have to do an assignment and write things at school.
This is what Alexis brought home today (complete with 2nd grade spelling):

I like Ice Cream
I like Candy
I love my dogs.
I love GOD!!
I am 7 yers old.
My dogs name is Zoe and blackey.
I love my dogs a lot.
I like school
I have a DSI.

I LOVE MY LEXI! :-)

Just so you know....we are still alive!

Summer is here! We are fully enjoying the hot, muggy weather down here in Savannah! Some will complain and even though there are days I hate the sweat dripping from my brow I honestly would not have it any other way! I love the south, I love the heat, and I love being warm and sweaty versus bitter and cold! So, since I haven't had made much time to tend to my blog here is a short list of things we are enjoying so far this summer:
1) Swimming in the backyard Pool
2) Going to the beach
3) A trip to Little Rock
4) Grilling steaks with daddy at home
5) White little bottoms under sun kissed bathing suit tans!
6) Fresh Watermelon and Cherries
7) Corn on the cob
8) Friends sharing the bounty of their garden vegetables!
9) Ice Cream
10) Summer Reading programs at the library
11) Movies
12) Getting ready for out of town visitors
13) Have no routine or real need to care
14) Green hair from so much swimming
15) Cold beer on a hot Savannah evening!
It has been a great summer so far and sadly, I feel the summer slipping away already!