Halloween

Halloween has come and gone and so I guess that in a month from now the pictures won't mean the same. So I will put off the housework for another 30 min. and get suck into the blogging world.

Breck only wore his costume for about 15 minuets over 2 nights so it is a good thing there is at least one picture. (The second night I completely forgot about his costume for the Allen family gathering) He was a spider. Thank goodness for leftover costumes that can be pulled out 5 minutes before it is time to go. You would think it would be more exciting for me to get him ready for his first Halloween. Who has time?

I have to gloat about Lexy's homemade wings. They turned out great! I only say this because they were so fabulously easy that anyone could do it. I didn't have a pattern but came up with the pattern on my own and went to work. I was glad to talk her out of making the dress the night before because she had a black dress in her closet - duh! So if any ones child wants to be a bat next year let me know. I have an easy way to make wings.

Kalley was a fairy-using Lexy's costume that I made two years ago. This one has come in handy for three Halloween's in a row! I Love it when that happens.

Her is our Super Girl, Cassidy, ready for take off. Halloween is her Holiday! She was so giddy as she went from house to house filling her bag with candy. She was in Heaven.

Now it is time to put the Halloween decor away and get ready for the next Holiday.

Oh to live in a Blog World!

I have finally figured out why I stay away from blogs.

I feel completely inadequate when I am done.

So I have decided that I want to live in a blogging world where everything is perfect.

If I lived in a the blogging world my house would be perfectly clean.

The weeds would be picked in the front yard.

The windows would sparkle.

My children's costumes would be sewed for Halloween a month in advanced.

I would have exercised for an hour this morning and every morning the week.

Caramel apples would be decorating the kitchen counter.

But I don't . . .

So those are all the things that I would love to be doing. We will see what gets done before tomorrow night and I will surely blog about them when I am done.

Instead I will stop feeling like a failure and

count my blessings!

1) My Sweet (and ever so humble) Husband, who would be horrified to know that I was mentioning him.

Who works tirelessly for our family.

Who could probably count how many days off that he has had this year since they usually are Sundays and a few escape vacations.

Who loves his children selflessly and wants what is best for them.

Who reminds me when I am being less then my blogging self to be better and kinder.

Not to mention those gorgeous blue eyes I get to look into every day - and then graciously passed them on to his children.

2) My "Beautiful" - Lexy.

Who loves to make things nice.

Who puts thought and time into all she does.

Who takes care of her baby brother like any seasoned mother and doesn't complain.

Who helped me get the house ready for book club last night and loved every minute of it. I was grateful for her company.

3) My "Sweetheart" Kalley.

Who is always loving of her sister's and brother.

Whose little giggle makes me smile.

The fact that I can figure out what she is thinking because I have felt that way my self at least once.

She takes after me which helps me understand myself a little bit better sometimes.

3) My "Clever" Cassidy.

She came into our lives like a whirlwind and hasn't stopped since.

Who is shy yet daring, adventurous yet a homebody. All she every wants is candy and has licked the frosting off of more cupcakes then I can count, just to leave the cupcake untouched.

Her and I sat and cleaned my bathroom and closet this morning and she was right beside me the whole way. Till she found the toys that "mean ol' Mr. Pillowcase" ate during the summer.

She reminds me to stop and enjoy the small things.

4) My "Little Mister"- Breck.

Everything!!! He is still in the sweet and perfect baby state.

Whose little eyes sparkle.

The laughs he gives me because he thinks I am funny.

The way he needs me - and only me.

He makes me feel worthwhile!

This post has been more for me then anyone.

It is my chance to stop and see how blessed I am instead of wishing I lived in a Blogging World!

Kalley came out yesterday in full pregnancy attire. I had to take a picture! She had put a tutu on under her dress and it looked so real. Mainly because you can imagine that it continue on to make her bottom of equal proportion - like me when I am pregnant. So I had to throw in a good old (yeah, I'm not pregnant anymore) reminder. Kalley refused to show her bottom for the picture and you know I did the same thing. Who wants that for a memory?

Our BIG boy!

Breck is growing way to fast! He is such a squeezy guy. I love the baby chub, so I had to post some of my favorites. He has just started rolling over and finally enjoys being on the floor more. The stage that I could do without is the drooling! I don't know if you can see it in the above picture but there is drool all over his chest and tummy. I swear he is always soaked unless he has a pacifier in his mouth.

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It is always so fun to watch a baby sleep.

I love the chubby little feet! No wonder I don't put shoes on him - would they even fit?

I love to marvel at how babies have indentions for knuckles instead of bumps. So I had to take a picture to remind myself of that sweet stage.

For those of you who haven't figured out that I have just added 7 new posts at one time, please keep scrolling down (the last one is the best). I sat down to only post that one but have since got a little blog happy. I have to post this video of Cassidy telling a story that she claims is true. The funny thing is is how over dramatic she is. She had told me the story earlier in the day and we had figured out that the "cat" that she thought was a fox, was just a wild cat. So she just kept telling everyone the story and I loved that it became a "ferocious cat" and had to get it on film. One point that needs to be mentioned is that I don't now when this ever happened, if it even ever did.

The 2009-2010 school year begins!

So now the craziness of summer is over. I don't think I will complain so much about homework because it is a blessing to have them off and busy. Lexy is starting 4th grade and Kalley is starting 3rd. So what do the rest of us do? Sit around in our pajamas!

One short story that doesn't have a picture to accompany it! One week into school I had woke up early and showered and was getting a head start on the day. I hadn't had a chance to dry my hair yet so the towel was still placed on top of my head as I got the kiddos ready for school. I didn't think anything of it and waved my kids off out the door. After a minute or two I heard Kalley scream, so I went to see what it was. I walked out to the driveway and saw Kalley jumping up and down yelling "our chicken, our chicken", and saw Lexy running in the road to fetch a chicken. They were already late to school so I realized that I had to run across the street to fetch the chicken. So with Breck on my hip and Cassidy tagging along in her pajamas (neither of us with shoes on) go to get the chicken. So now if you can just imagine this picture. Me with a towel on my head - no shoes, but dressed (bra and all)- Breck on one hip and chicken on the other - with Cassidy following behind. This was a miracle chicken who had been missing for 3 weeks and was written off and "eaten by neighborhood dog" or "died of dehydration or starvation". It wasn't until later as I was finally blow drying my hair that the question went through my mind - "did I really have my towel on my head?" Oh well, we all need humbled every once in a while!

Lexy turned 9 - on June 26th! That is how far behind I am.

Lexy turned 9 this summer and had a small gathering of friends. For her birthday she decided that she wanted her hair cut short. I was OK with it, Dad wasn't so sure, but when it is a birthday request who can argue? It is a cute hair cut, but I am ready to have her long gorgeous hair back. Her hair is the hair that I have always wanted - just thick enough and no frizzy, wave thing if it isn't dried thoroughly.

Pinetop to visit with family!

We made a quick trip to Pinetop to spend time with Patrick's brother Ryan, and his family, who were visiting from Utah. This gave us sometime to also spend with his gracious Aunt and Uncle and his parents who also came up.

The girl's made a fairy village and kicked back!

In the meantime us adults sat around and chatted, while Breck slept!

Mexico 2009

We had a wonderful trip down to Rocky Point at the beginning of June. We got to stay at a condo in Bella Serena, which was absolutely beautiful! Here we are on our first trek down to the beach.

Kalley spent her time finding sea creatures. There are about 20 tiny crabs in her pail. Lexy spent her time making sand castles.

I spent my time under the umbrella with Breck who was only 2 months old, and who wouldn't love making this guy smile.
At least until the tide went out and we could go look for crabs. Kalley is a mini me of me - if you can't tell? My favorite part of the beach is finding wildlife. Besides catching regular crabs and hermit crabs, we caught a couple of tiny fish and shrimp. Here we are on our crab hunt!

Patrick loved to spend his time playing with the girls on the beach. Lexy and Kalley finally ventured out by the last day, but only Cassidy was brave enough to go in the water at first.

At night time we came back and showered and ate dinner outside on the patio, and just enjoyed the breeze. Here is the view!

Here are all the happy faces!

And the exhausted bodies!

It was over way too fast! I love coastal living!

Deer Springs Ranch

Our first adventure was Deer Springs Ranch just outside of Kanab, Utah. I have been going here since I can remember. We had a weekend with my parents, my brother Mitch and his family, and my sister A'Lisa and her family.

Where else can you still do this and not get taken to jail?

My favorite part of the Ranch is riding horses and we all got to ride them thanks to my Uncle Dale - the real Cowboy!

If you are wondering where my picture is -because I did ride- well it was one of those pictures that we hopefully not ever turn up! Just when you feel like you are looking good after just having a baby because your stomach is much smaller. Well, then you have a picture that reminds you what you really look likeand reality has set in!

Here are all the kids waiting for the turn to ride. And that is Mason (Mitchel's boy on the right) who really knew how to act like a cowboy!

Summer was crazy! I think we had 2 1/2 months of fighting and a baby not sleeping. It wasn't until I sent them back to school that I realized - they were the problem. Breck will sleep for 4 hours straight now! Needless to say we were trying to get the house in order so that the first day would be as smooth as possible. Without fail no one was cooperating and so Mom started yelling. I went in my room to feed and put Breck to sleep and gather my sanity before heading back out when I found Cassidy being oh so sweet! I had to get it on film. Now that I have some peace and quite maybe I can send a quick update on our summer, (The parts that were enjoyable!), and blog again!

For those of you who know what I freak I am about how the vacuum needs to leave straight lines you will especially get a kick out of her carefree vacuuming approach. I don't think that she had ever vacuumed before. And if you are wondering what she has on her head - they are ear plugs for shooting guns. I got them for Patrick a while ago and he had never used them. Once we got the Oreck vacuum and realized how load it was we decided that they would get used after all.

Lessons in Life

My children have been learning a very hard life lesson. Since Breck was born we have lost 3 animals, all of which resided inside our home. I have already blogged about Maddie but we also lost 2 gerbils. Lexy and Kalley had both bought themselves a gerbil just over two years ago. Jasmin died 6 days after Breck was born and then Flower died on Saturday. It wasn't a surprise when the first gerbil died because she had seemed like it was coming for sometime. But Flower was a surprise. We think she may have chewed up some of a pom pom string and choked on it. She wasn't doing to good in the morning and by the night time we found her dead. So both Gerbils are now together in heaven with Maddie. The kids have had to learn that animals, as well as people, all have to die. They have taken it pretty well. Now we just have 10 chickens - I am thinking summer vacations are going to be a little smoother!

Breck's Blessing

We blessed Breck on May 3rd. Because the flu had visited some family members on both sides we seemed to not have as many there. But I also think that we just aren't used to more of Patrick's family leaving us for Utah, since we blessed Cassidy. We miss all of you! It is great to have such wonderful families!

The McConaghie's

The Allen's

Maddie

Maddie joined our family on June 3, 2003, she was Lexy's 3rd birthday present. She has been a typical dog - most of the time annoying but always excited to see us and willing to make us feel loved. On Saturday we had to put her to sleep after I accidentally ran over her. She couldn't handle us leaving her and if we ever left her inside she would bark and drool till we came home. She just thought that she was one of us. Saturday was no different! I didn't know that the boards that kept her behind the fence had blown down and never saw her as I was backing up. It wasn't until on got on the street that she must have really panicked that we would leave her. That is when my back wheel rolled over her. The worst part of it is that all the kids were in the car. She got one last car ride to Petsmart, to Banfield Pet Hospital ,where they looked at her and knew in a short time that she wasn't going to be O.K. The closing words from "Marley and Me" have really hit home. It says, "A dog has no use for fancy cars or big homes or designer clothes. A waterlogged stick will do just fine. A dog doesn't care if you're rich of poor, clever or dull, smart or dumb. Give'em your heart and he'll give you his. How many people can you say that about? How many people can make you feel rare and pure and special? How many people can make you feel extraordinary?" Just like the movie, Maddie loved us everyday no matter what.

Easter 2009

Here are the girls in their Easter Dress, ready to go to 8:30 church!

And here is our little guy in his Easter get up!

This is after the Easter egg hunt at my parents. All of the grandkids were there including my older brother's friend and long time neighbor of ours from Utah - Chirs Trapnell's kids.

This is what Breck and I did while the kids hunted for eggs.
Here is Cassidy doing one of her seductive poses. We can't get her not to pose in a picture.

Here is Lexy in the tree. They always end up climbing the tree after pictures. So next is Kalley in the tree.

Baby Breck

Breck joined our family on April 1st. He came in at 7 lbs. 4 oz. We were afraid that he would April Fool's us and come out as a girl. But he didn't - in fact there were no April Fool's day jokes that day.

Here are the proud sisters!

Here is the little guy with bags under his eyes. When they showed him to me I noticed he had big lips and wrinkles. The wrinkles have since gone away so it must have been his lack of sleep. Ha, Ha is that possible?

Here is the proud dad before we left. Yes, those are bags under his eyes and those are deserved. It had been a couple long nights.