Doug is 33

Here's a list of what he is and does have that makes him wonderful. Doug is sadly focused on what he doesn't have this year.
1. Doug's eye smile melts me.
2. He is so stinkin' smart.
3. His bachelors in Chemical Engineering makes him an Engineer NOW!
4. Doug will play games with me even though he'd rather do anything else.
5. He reads me to sleep anytime I'm having a hard time settling down.
6. He makes the best darn Chicken Crawford ever. (secret recipe, sorry)
7. He makes the best darn chocolate chip cookies ever. (secret recipe, sorry)
8. He loves the super easy no-bake cheese cake, and I only learned this after trying to make a real home made kind 3 years in a row for his Halloween birthday, (they all cracked by the way).
9. It makes him happy to see me happy.
10. He is goal orientated, and will always be working toward something hugely new.
11. Yeah, after getting a Nuclear Engineering PhD,
12. He wants to get his pilots license, just for fun,
13. and he'll someday learn how to play the piano,
14. and he'd like to be in the 2012 Olympics,
15. as an Olympic Weight lifter.
16. He only snores when he's sick.
17. He beats people up in his sleep, (professors and what-not).
18. He's ALWAYS in the mood for ice cream, even when it's -30 outside.
19. He loves free T-shirts, (and I HATE them).
20. He reads texts for leisure (finance, physics, nuclear, chemical...)
21. His feet, and only his feet, get cold, even in the summer.
22. The rest of his body is a freakin' furnace, which is nice for me in the winter.
23. He rotates all of his clothing for even wear.
24. Everything out of his mouth is sincere.
25. He's not a camper, but I am, and he endured a whole week in Yellowstone just because I loved every second of it.
26. His best friend, (besides me of course) is still his brother Lewis.
27. Dalton lights up when I tell him that he's good at math like his dad.
28. Joseph is proud that he is good at sports like his dad.
29. Sophia's favorite tea party guest is her father.
30. Jennie ALWAYS reaches for dad when he walks into the room.
31. He stands firm in his testimony of Christ.
32. He loves his family fiercely.
33. He is the most accomplished man I've ever loved.

The pumpkins are carved, and I'm all Halloweened out

I was mainly in charge of cleaning. Dalt and Joe did the designing and carving, Soph made lots of messes, and we all enjoyed doing it with our neighbors the Martins.
Here, Joe carves.

All of 'em in the dark


Dalt designed his own skull, Doug's nuclear cooling tower complete with steam coming out the top, and my bat. Joseph did his very own spider, and I did Soph's traditional jack-o-lantern. Jennie's never got carved, and might actually turn into a pie later in November.

Who knew?

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!
You are thoughtful and care very deeply for your family. A loving home is of great importance to you and you always try to make people feel welcome. Although you have a great capacity to love, you also have a great capacity to hurt, so at times you can be sensitive. You're firm when you need to be, but people trust your judgment and appreciate the kind way you always handle things.

I told you we're crazy around here

Ready for Officers Hollow. Soph is the tiger, Joe is the half dressed Batman and Dalt -thank you for being so mellow- is still Harry Potter.


On the shuttle to Spookfest. Soph is now a Princess, Joe a more dressed Batman, and Dalt -thank you again for no drama- is still Harry Potter.


Look what the real face painter did on my sweet Sophia. Did I mention that at the Halloween Carnival I voulenteered as a face painter, well my abilities don't even come close.

Joseph's a Soccer Kid

Okay, so the scan of the originally terrible and way overpriced photo is equally terrible, but can you see his confidence, his excitement, his pride? I can. It was totally worth the fits over uniforms being in the dirty laundry, absolute hatred for the itchy soccer socks, and $36 bucks. Plus, not pictured here is a soccer trophy, the absolute envy of all non soccer players (especially Sophia). Today was his last game, and we'll for sure sign this kid up again.

First of many Halloween parties.

Halloween time is crazy in these parts. So it begins with the kids school Halloween Carnival. Okay, so I didn't get any pictures of the jam packed halls of unrecognizable kids eating way too much candy and being scared to tears by a 15 foot Grim Reaper, but before the festivities I got these.

Doug and Jennie were Sumo's.

Dalton was Harry Potter.

Joseph was a dead shark. Sophia and I were Geisha's.

I've never done homemade Halloween costumes before, and I know for sure that I couldn't follow a pattern, so I just made it up as I went along. We bought Doug's costume (inflation fan and all) a few years ago, but I made all the rest. Sally found the scarf for Daltons costume at DI, and we had everything else to make the perfect Harry. I made Joseph's shark for less than 5 bucks, and the fabric for the geisha's was only $1 a yard (since I didn't know what I was doing, I have tons of leftover fabric... maybe I'll do pillowcases.) Jennie as a sumo was a HIT! Even when we were separated as a family in the crowded elementary halls people would see Sophia and I and say "Oh, you look darling, but have you seen the Sumo dad with the Sumo baby?" Yep, they're mine. I love a party, and it's a good thing cause there are several more before Halloween.

FREE!

If you think you would fit into my maternity clothes, you can have 'em. White blouse, velvet dress, some shorts, a pair of jeans and some cute patterned T's. I'm taking what isn't claimed to DI, one week from today.

Sophia is 3!

Sophia had a WONDERFUL birthday! Everything for her Princess Tea Party was prepared ahead of time, and I felt virtually no stress. We invited 16+ kids, and since they're pretty young, many parents, and babies came too. We played games, colored a petal for pin the petal on the flower, dizzied ourselves, and did our best to pin it on. We ate a little lunch which included Sophia's favorite meatballs, fruit, and tea sandwiches. Vivi pointed out that even though this was supposed to be a tea party, no tea was served, instead, we had apple juice in Princess cups. I didn't have time to frost the cupcakes, so decided to lop some frosting on top of each one just before giving them to each child, and let them frost each cake with their fingers, this was of course a hit! Then everyone was begging for Sophia to open the gifts they brought. I love how children get excited to watch the gift they picked out, or wrapped, or decorated, or wrote a card for, get opened. The sweet little 3 year old didn't disappoint! My friend Joanna hit it on the head when she said little Soph was just like a Mini Miss America. Each gift was opened with a squeal, and gushed over with unprompted thank you's. I've actually never seen anything like it, she was so excited with each new deck of cards or magic wand she couldn't really contain herself. We then gave out thank you bags to each of the kids, and really we lived happily ever after. She spent the afternoon playing with her new toys, and being super obedient, and acting all potty trained, we had macaroni and cheese for dinner, and she went to sleep without her pacifier. Sophia at three has been a delight. I love this girl!

(p.s. I hate posting without pictures. I did just get the e-mail stating that they've shipped my camera back to me... I'm just waiting.)

Sophia

Uncle Lewis did a photo shoot of Sophia the other day. He takes my kids and turns them into monsters, graffiti blurbs and whatnot for his Masters in Photography projects. How could you turn her into a monster? Okay, I know exactly how it happens, but seriously, doesn't she just look so angelic?

Jennie is ONE!

Today, this very day a year ago, I was so happy to see my Jennie out of my belly (seriously!), healthy and perfect for the very first time.



Today, she walks (just yesterday she took an absolutely confident stride to her daddy), talks (ut-oh is her favorite word), has strong opinions (about anything she thinks is hers, especially anything I would call garbage), plays simple games (peek-a-boo and The Gravity Game top the list), loves her siblings, is crazy about her daddy, doesn't care if her face is covered in spaghetti sauce or boogers, eats dirt, is curious about all things poisonous/dangerous/lethal, climbs up slides and onto pillow piles, and is currently babbling to herself contentedly here in my cloffice (thank you Jeni and Ike) trying to put on my shoes over her footie jammies. I did NOT love being pregnant, but I sure do love her. Jennie is just delightful.

Oh, and for Jennie's grand deluge of gifts, we offer... her new forward facing car-seat!

She'll also recieve a cupcake, and some balloons. Isn't it great to be one.

Today we have lots of Conference to watch, Sally (my sister in law) and kids to pick up, but for sure the highlight will be sharing cupcakes with anyone who wants to stop by after the afternoon session of Conference.

p.s. After I develop the film, I'll post real time pictures. My camera is in the Kodak hospital. I miss it so badly.