Halloween

I kept threatening the kids to have their rooms cleaned by 6 or they would not go trick or treating. The girls did a great job, the boys fought. I'm at my wits end as to how to keep these guys' rooms clean! Anyway - by 6 everything was clean, so they got dressed & went out. They got a pile of candy, this picture was taken at the midway point...it's hard to understand how much junk there really is there, but there are several "full size" candy bars there, too. Anyway - I sort them into categories, not sure if it's because I'm anal or if I just want to separate the chocolate out? Anyway - I ended up with 3 rubbermaid shoe boxes full of chocolate and one of suckers, one of what I call chewables (which would consist of things like licorice, skittles or taffy) one of tootsie rolls, - WHO EATS THOSE? no one, they're not real chocolate and they're a sad attempt at candy...one of straight sugar (smarties, pixie stix) and one of hard candy. That usually lasts until the next halloween (giving the kids their choice of junk when they are good or for a special treat) - I let the kids fill up a ziplock baggie of whatever they wanted as long as they could zip it.

Okay - so it's "trick *OR* treat", right? So I handed out tricks - toothbrushes! Everyone got one and I ended up w/ 4 toothbrushes left - so 68 kids got tooth brushes last night. One kid got a little bugged that I didn't give him candy - he was a cocky 10 year old, maybe? and he stepped into the house & saw the pile of candy on the floor and asked "what about that candy" I caught myself before I told him it was my kids' and instead told him that was the candy I took from greedy little kids who didn't appreciate tooth brushes.... then I heard his dad reprimand him on the way out - okay honestly - is halloween a night to "teach" children maners? Seriously...they're begging door to door for candy...and when they don't get it....I'm not sure they would normally know how to act. There were a few older kids that were really excited about it....then I went to get the mail....after the trick or treating was over....and there was a TOOTHBRUSH on the top of the box - sheesh....maybe they already had one?

Church day.

Went to church today. Rossi stayed home sick. About 5 minutes into sacrament meeting Kiersten decided she was sick, as well, so I brought her home. We finished up church and then came back home to find the kids out cold sleeping, turns out they weren't faking it! They both have fevers and "fought" over bath time! As one got out, the other got in and they kept it going like that!

Kiersten blew chunks in her bed so I am washing her bedding now. Ross said he'd fold laundry as long as I kept the baskets full, so I'm working in a frenzy. I hate to do it on Sunday, but I didn't do it all week, it was a "catch up" week and laundry just didn't need to be caught apparently! So I took advantage of all the help I could get, did 8 loads! (and counting, haven't done Kiersten's bedding yet)

Everyone's in bed now. Brynn's awake, Ross is talking with his parents. He does every sunday. I don't talk to mine much, unless I make it a point to call them, and at that dad's watching TV and mom's always going "somewhere" so I don't share too much of anything with either of them. I do get to talk to my in-laws and that gives me the "parental supervision" I crave from time to time.

We did get to read BOM tonight - we missed out on Friday night (up late with Halloween party & my headache) and last night just got busy - I hate missing it, we read quite a bit tonight. Just getting to more of the exciting story parts of the Book of Mormon. Hopefully Kiersten will start to get more excited about it, too!

Still trying to catch up...

Well, today I got up & made breakfast - SHOWERED, got all fixed up while Ross & Rossi mowed lawns & "pertied" up the exterior house, then we went to go see the new Work and the Glory movie. It sure brings appreciation to Joseph Smith and the early saints and the sacrafices they made for strengthening the church.

We went to Home depot & Ross got a new lawn mower. Kali thinks he got a new one cause the old one was dirty - truth be told...it's just falling apart!

Kiersten went to a Halloween party, she quite enjoyed that. Ross went and test drove some cars - found out he didn't fit into the newer Honda Accord, and is in love with a Mercedes Compresser. It's a pretty nice car, except it's a little spendy for a CAR.

Church Halloween Party

So tonight was the ward halloween party - it's a busy day getting everything ready and make sure the kids aren't neglected w/ their costumes. I got some 1/2 price costumes at JoAnns this evening - here's a cute little picture of the nippers. Rossi was the devil, Kiersten was an angel w/ a wand, Kali was Cinderella, Howie is a pirate and Ross is the "pig" daddy.

I still have a headache, so after running around all day long picking up donuts (Ross' donut on a string "booth" for EQ) and making carmel apples for the winner of the donut competition and getting costumes, food, etc, Brynn & I layed low on the dressing up part of the night! Ross gave me a massage & helped the headache go away for a little while anyway! He's a good husband. I sure lucked out in that department.

All better....so far?

Well, when I got up yesterday, I was feeding Brynn and flipping channels, saw a Denise Austin work out show on - and was kind of glad, cause then I could have a little variety in my working-out (not that I am currently working out or anything - but just in case I eventually decide that's something I might want to possibly consider in the distant future some time?) Anyway - this morning I actually put a dvd in to record it and recorded it! How exciting for me? Wore me right out, so I went back to bed.

Brynn slept all night - straight through - that was SO good for me, I had such a migrane going to bed last night, I still have a little hum of a headache, but I feel good enough to move around at least. Although I really do want to get my heart pumping a little bit, I'm afraid the way I've been feeling lately, I'd get another migrane in the works. So for now, I'm just going to continue to catch up.

What is catching up? I am not sure I ever was where I wanted to be so I have a goal or a place to feel "caught up" one of these days - maybe I'll be pushing up daisy's - but one of these days I'm totally going to have a completely clean house, dishes, laundry, mopping, everything so that I can sit down and say - gosh - I have nothing to do - and MEAN it!

Sick Day?

Just got back from getting Brynn's shots - break the heart. She just cried for a second, then konked right out.

BUT I'm a little miffed...Howie fell asleep last night at about 7 - which is HIGHLY unusual and didn't wake up until 10:30 today when I woke him up to go to the doctor's for Brynn. Okay - he wet - which is also not normal for him - and so I put him in the bath - which is also not normal for him (hahah - just kidding, sounded like it fit, though) and then I came back in here to get Brynn ready - went back in there and he was laying down in the bath trying to sleep EEEEEK - so I got him out, got him dressed and had to carry him to the car, he doesn't have a fever at this point. But I'm thinking something's wrong - last time he acted like this - he had pnemonia.

SOOOO - get to the doctor's check Brynn in - ask if there's another openeing, nope, can't see Howie. Whatever, so I went back w/ Brynn, Howie climbed up on the exam table and fell asleep. - oh - rewind - he COULD NOT walk from the car to the doctor's office - he had NO energy - I had to carry him. - okay - so nurse comes in - measures Brynn, takes her temp, asks about Howie, I said he wasn't feeling well, this is highly unlike him and I think he may have pnemonia, do they have a pulse ox machine? no they don't (what kind of dr's office doesn't?????) anyway - she sort of shrugged and left (didn't even offer to take his temp) SO then the doctor comes in - same thing - looks at the table, "what's wrong w/ him" I said he was sick, he has absolutely no energy and can't keep his eyes open, I don't know what's wrong with him...she sort of ignored it and then did Brynn's check up - UH - HELLOOOO?? I swear if I was a doctor, I wouldn't care WHAT other snotty nosed kids were in the other waiting room, obviously there's something wrong w /the boy - and how hard is it to listen to his lungs? What? Afraid of liable? Fine, check his butt in & THEN listen to his lungs - I totally can't believe they had no COMPASSION on a dead, lifeless looking kid! So I had to wake him up after Brynn got her shots & carry him to the car because he COULD NOT EVEN STAND UP! On my way out, the nurse sort of looked at me & chuckled the "my, your hands are full" chuckle - uh - WTH?

Anyway - so I came straight home - I wanted to feed brynn, but she's out cold in her car seat - so Howie climbed on to the couch, started to drift out then told me he wanted Eggo's. I'm thinking that he's feeling better - but NO, I make his eggo's he sits down to eat them and pukes in his plate. I cleaned up the mess and then he asked for more eggo's! UH - so I made him more - I figger if he's got the appetite, let him eat, right? So far he's wide awake and ate two eggo's and a handful of chips....what do I make of that? I'm keeping him home from school today, JUST IN CASE!

And nice to know that today is my "make dinner for everyone" day in the co-op thingy - hopefully everything will go smooth from here on out. (I'm moving, but I'm not going anywhere!)

TRYING

Kali is still having a hard time getting "moving" in the morning - I think it might be because Kiersten has her alarm go off at 5:00 a.m. She's trying to be like Ross or something, but he's quiet when he gets up, she sort of wakes everyone up, so I told her no more getting up before 6. I feel like I have so much to do around the house and I can't seem to get into gear. I did clear off the desk today - I'm going to try to do something about the clutter. Trying to finish the last of the thank you cards for Brynn, I don't remember who I sent them to and who I didn't...and who I forgot about alltogether. I also need to get these pictures out to family...not sure who I sent it to and who I have left to send them to. I totally feel unorganized and scattered! WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?! I did take a B vitamin suppliment today and am feeling a little more energy, though.

Back into a routine.....

Kids back in school today! YIPPEE! Kali didn't want to go until I reminded her that she had a disney lunch box - that got her dressed quick. Shot them out the door and tried to lay back down, but Brynn was being so durn cute! Too bad I don't share that same sediment during the night! She WAS sleeping through the night the week before we left for DL and then all the week we were there (maybe she knew I couldn't deal w/ being tired all day long) she slept all night long, but the last two nights - NOPE not gonna play THAT game. Anyway - today she's been kind of fussy. Not sure why, she's liking the swing, though.

OH - and I'm in this dinner co-op thing - guess what's for dinner tonight - frozen macaroni and cheese with lil' smokies. Gosh, how do I tell them to step it up a notch?

Sunday again

So we figured out if we're going to catch up on our BOM reading, we have to read 7 pages a day - I hope we can get it done!

Last Day - PTL!!!

I'm SO ready to get home! Aaron wants to meet up with us & have us sleep at his place one more night, but we're so tired from the festivities all day long running from place to place that we're ready to get home - plus, I don't think he is prepared to accomodate 7 people in a normally quiet peaceful home! SO we packed up and left.

I was so tired I actually fell asleep in the car on the way home - how'd THAT happen!? We made it home & unpacked and SLEPT until 8:45 when Kiersten woke us up for church - "we're going to be late" uh - ya THINK?