Fall Fun with Friends!

We were so lucky last week to have some fun visitors! My friend, Tami, from high school, came to Spokane with her two kids. It was so great to see her, in high school we played softball together and shared quite a few classes, but I don't think we've talked since the day we graduated (except when I ran into her in Pullman when we weren't completely sober). It was so fun to catch up and hear what she has been doing for the past 13 years! Wow, it doesn't seem possible, it was like no time had passed, except our live are totally different and we had to catch up in between playing/listening/disciplining our kids! I was lucky enough to hang out with Tami a few different times throughout the week!
Tucker loving the BIG wheel!

Cute little Addie running and running!

As a side note: I got this AMAZING cocoa from Costco and I love it! It has actual peppermint chunks in it and it is so rich and delicious! It is a lovely treat on a cold night! I highly recommend it, Tami agreed that I definitely needed to blog about it. :)

Unfortunately, I didn't get a pic. of Tami or me. I should have had Tucker snap a few, he's quite the photographer!

Funny Business

As I was lying in bed with Brayden tonight, he asked, "When are we going to see Keegan again?" (It has been four whole days since we've seen him). I told him probably not tomorrow because Auntie Sarah and Ally are sick.

Brayden: "Does that mean Keegan is in charge of Owen while Auntie is sick in bed with Ally?" (This is what happened at my house two weeks ago when Dani and I had the flu).

Me: "I don't know, probably." I could see the wheels turning in his head....

Brayden: "Uh-oh, Owen can get into some funny business and I don't think Keegan will be able to handle it." He then proceeded to tell me all the different scenarios that could happen and how Keegan could "handle it." I'm very lucky to have such a good boy, and an even better, big brother for my girls.

Parent's night out!

Wow! This was a parent's night out that was long overdue! Kent was very hesitant to join me, but I dragged him along. My friend, Melissa, and her husband, Todd celebrated their 10 year anniversary. For some crazy reason they wanted a bunch of us to celebrate with them. What better way than screaming into a microphone and making fools of ourselves? Thus, karaoke! I wasn't really sure what a great idea this was....but I was pleasantly surprised. The venue was one of the funniest things I've experienced in a long time, but I don't get out much. They rented a room at a place that solely does karaoke. It is a huge room with tables and chairs and equipment for the singing. We got to bring in our own food and drinks and have the run of the place. Really, these peeps must be making hand over fist just renting out this space for a few hours on the weekends! This is Melissa, getting the party started!

These are some of the husbands, indulging the girls.

These are the girls, Kristin, Melissa, Sarah, Amanda and Saundra. This took me back to my college days, they're singing (or attempting, j/k) "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." It was entertaining for sure. I was not feeling the vibe at this point, so I just sat back and enjoyed the show.

Amanda and Phillip serenading the happy couple.

This is Brian, who I coach soccer with, and who Kent happens to work with. We never knew he had so many hidden talents. :)
Todd and Melissa, the happy couple.

This is my HOT husband. I tried to get a pic. of him and his brother all night, but he kept blinking. This is Kent with his eyes open.

This is when it got interesting for us. I really wanted Kent to truly enjoy the karaoke experience, because he had never sung before..... he decided it would be a good idea if I sang Wild Thing. I said I would, if he would do it with me. By this point I had already BELTED out (I don't sing, I scream, even when I am completely sober) Baby Got Back, Shoop a Doop, ..... and some others. It started with Kent sitting on the couch reluctantly singing, while Sarah and I belted it out and danced.....

Soon enough Kent was on his feet bustin' a move. I think he was trying to sing over us, so we wouldn't damage anyone's hearing.

Like I said, not a lick of alcohol for me, but I am still doing this... Why is Kent staring at me like that?

Good times were had by all, at least we had fun! We were the first to leave (had to be home for our baby-sitter by 10:30, which was late for us), who knows what they said about us after we left! :)

Fall Happenin's

It has been an exhausting few weeks, but I am trying to get into the spirit of things and get over my grumpiness, trying REALLY hard. Last weekend I finally decided we could make our traditional Halloween sugar cookies. It was quite the process.... with three helpers you never know what you'll get. We used the same pumpkin cookie cutter and came out with at least 8 different shaped/sized pumpkins! Talent, I tell ya:

EVERYONE got to frost....

Brayden was very serious about his job and he was in charge of the sprinkles. I have to say he did a very good job compared to where we started a few years ago.... however, the girls are still in training.

I'm not really sure how many each child ate, between baking, frosting and sitting down to actually eat one, but no one threw up from too much sugar, so I consider that a success!

While I was at my outdoor soccer game on Sunday the boys built this impressive Geotrax track while the girls napped. When I came home I was so shocked, it was really quite cool!

I have to make it clear that Kent and B each have their own train. No sharing b/n the two. I had to capture this pic. of Kent. He sat on the couch (after all the work was done) and enjoyed his soda and controlled his remote control train around the track. Whenever he wanted to change it up he had Brayden push the switch on the track. I tell ya, the guy knows how to play! :)



Brayden's words:

This last week B has come up with some pretty funny thoughts. I need to write them down before they escape me. Grandma Phillips came over on Wed. night to help ease my craziness since Kent was out of town. I decided that we should get out of the house and have a Costco hot dog dinner and do some shopping. As we were loading into the ol' mini van, I said, "EEWW our van stinks, what is that smell?"

G-ma: "Yeah, it smells like dirty underwear."

Ellie: "My Daddy wears underwear, do you wear underwear?'

G-ma: "Why yes I do...."

Ellie: "No, YOU no wear underwear, Brayden wears underwear."

Me: I knew where she was going with this so I tried to prompt her, "What do girls wear?

Brayden: "BA-GINAS! (vaginas).

Sandy and I trying to stifle our giggles....Me: "I was thinking panties, but yes, girls have vaginas....

Brayden: "Boys have penises!"

I'm so glad we got that all cleared up.

Today I was folding clothes on my bed and I had the clock radio on.

Brayden: "Where's that music coming from?"

Me: "Dad's clock radio."

Bradyen: "Does Dad listen to that music to lull him to sleep?"

Seriously who says that?

" YAY for MOPS School!"

These are my big girls....I know all these pics. look the same, but I couldn't choose b/n them, so I posted almost all of them. Sorry.....this was yesterday before we went to MOPS. MOPS is a mom's group that I go to. We went last year and the girls have been asking all summer when we get to go back. They were more than thrilled when I told them it was time! They INSISTED on wearing their backpacks to MOPS school. Dani also INSISTED on wearing her "sassy shoes." IDK where she gets that, I am all about my comfy shoes.

This is both of them yelling, "YAY FOR MOPS SCHOOL!"

When all was said and done, they were a little cranky when I left them in their daycare room. The lady said they cried a little and were clingy. Hopefully next time it will be a little better. They seemed happy when I picked them up to go home though!

Happy Birthday Daddy, Uncle Kelly and Auntie Shelby!

We had a busy party weekend! Auntie Shelby and cousin Hunter came into town. We celebrated Kent, Kelly and Shelby's Birthday! Shelby is 11 months older than Kent and Kelly. Can you imagine?!? Sandy (my MIL) had three children under one for a few weeks there....I always think about her when I am having a rough day, or a rough few days..... I do ask her for advice but she honestly doesn't remember ALOT! I'm sure she was just on survival mode for a good five years, at least. Ok, back to our weekend.... this was mac & cheese and hot dog night at Kelly and Sarah's. All the cousins, except Noah, who we missed! Keegan, Brayden, Dani, Owen, Ally, Ellie and Hunter.

Keegan and Brayden delivering the birthday presents.

All the kids couldn't wait to find out what Kent got! Sandy got him some cold medicine, it was percfect, we've all been pretty sick this week!

I know this pic. is blurry, but Ally looked so cute, I had to post it.

Owen giving Hunter love.

Shelby, Great-Grandma, Grandma, and Great-Grandpa.

Kent, Shelby, Kelly, Ellie and Brayden.

Auntie Sarah and Uncle Kelly were brave enough to have the boy cousins (4) sleep at their house and we got all the girls at our house (my girls plus Ally). I am pretty confident I got the best end of the deal because the girls just played with their kitchen and played "Mommy and Daddy." They were so darn cute, it was nice to just have the girls. Ally even taught Dani and Ellie some of her ballet moves. Two and three year olds doing ballet is almost as funny as watching four and five year olds play soccer!

The next morning we went to Sears to get Halloween pictures of all the kids. What a grand idea to begin with, plus the morning after a sleep over, not the best plan..... we got it done, but the pics. could have been better. Oh well, it's a good memory and the pic. tells it all. I will post it when I pick it up.

A day with Dad AND booger soup!

For a while now, I have wanted Kent and I to be able to rotate weekends and take each child one at a time, for some "special one-on-one time." Sunday was Brayden's first day with Dad! They went out to breakfast at the buffet by themselves, and enjoyed a magnificent breakfast. Then they came home and started a project that we picked up at Home Depot the day before. It is a fire station bank. They had to sand it, nail it, paint it and put the "decals" on. It was very sweet watching my boys work together. Brayden is such a good listener and follows directions so well, the project turned out great! Kent took the time to make sure he didn't go against the grain and consistently painted in the same direction. Who would have thought of this? I have to say I think I would have handed over the paint and let him have at it. The end result is amazing, and you can tell they really worked hard together!

I don't have a pic. of the final product, maybe later......

As I was working on the kids' Halloween costumes, (yes, I'm making them, more to come in the future) Kent started to get dinner ready. We were going to have clam chowder and focaccia bread. Brayden let Kent know he did NOT like clam chowder. Surprisingly, Kent let B pick out the kind of soup he wanted from the cupboard (I am assuming this is only because there wasn't a whole lot of clam chowder and he didn't want to waste it, when the kids wouldn't eat it anyway). Unfortunately, Brayden picked broccoli and cheddar soup. I don't even know where this came from, or why it's in our cupboard. My only assumption is that I bought it for a recipe, then forgot about it.

As Kent was dishing up the bowls I could hear the conversation from my bedroom.

Brayden: "EEWW what's the chunky stuff in there?"

Kent: "Boogers. It's booger and cheese soup! Doesn't it look yummy?"

When I walked out to the dining room B was sitting at the table with a disgusted look on his face.

B: "I"m NOT going to eat this.

Kent: (Who tends to be a hard ass when it comes to eating and manners at the table). "That's fine, you can go to your room and if you decide to eat, you may come out, otherwise we'll tell you when dinner is over."

B bolts out of his chair to his room. The rest of us sit down and enjoy our soup and bread. After 5-10 minutes with no sound from B's room, Kent says, "Maybe you should go talk to him."

I went into B's room and pretended like I didn't know what was going on.

Me: "What's up, what is going on?"

B: "I DON'T WANT TO EAT BOOGER SOUP!" Then a whole stream of tears came out.

I, of course, burst out laughing, wouldn't you know? I let him know that Dad was teasing and we wouldn't feed him boogers, "Remember we tell you NOT to eat your boogers? Why would we feed them to you? With a huge sigh of relief he ran back and got into his chair and devoured his dinner.

Wouldn't you think with our sarcastic personalities our children wouldn't be so gullible? Hopefully they'll start to catch on soon!