Rise of the Guardians

 Halloween (Yes, Halloween. Roll with me on this one. Remember? 8th baby!)

Anyways, Halloween was quite a day for everyone this year. As always, the children decided on a theme for the family which Nanna then lovingly indulged with homemade costumes. This year they really put her to the test with the movie theme Rise of the Guardians. Each child was able to pick a holiday character to assume for the festivities. Olivia helped out a bit with the sewing, but in the end Nanna had to apply all her expert powers to pull this one together. She did a mighty fine job! Xavier pranced around as the Easter Bunny all day and the next, Marie Claire even wore her crazy Elf costume all night, Quinton took his costume to church as St. Nicholas for All Saints Day, and my lovely ladies pranced about in feathers and glitter from house to house. The kids won the 'Best Family Theme' award at the community party for the fourth year in a row. I do believe it a category that was invented just for us. :-) Kolbe slept the night away with me while I laid down on the couched and chatted with Great Grandma Ricky. Stephen and Nanna drove The Guardians around the ranch until their candy bags overflowed and their blood sugar levels reached the seizure point. Yes, it was a successful night!

 "I really like it. I wish it was another Halloween day. I really want to it to be another day."

Thank you, Nanna!

We love you!

Happy Independence Day 2012

A little jaunt down Fourth of July past.

2006 (On the front steps of our new home)
Olivia, Grace, Quinton, Collette

2007
Quinton, Grace, Olivia, Collette

2008
Collette, Olivia, Dominic, Grace, Quinton

2009
Quinton, Collette, Olivia, Dominic, Grace

2010
Collette, Olivia, Grace, Dominic, Quinton, Xavier

2011
Collette, Dominic, Quinton, Xavier, Olivia, Grace

2012
Grace, Quinton, Dominic, Collette, Marie Claire, Olivia, Xavier

St. Valentine's Day

Here are just a few joyous moments of our day today.

This brought back so many memories of school Valentine parties.  

Just a small portion of all the children present today.

Even the big kids got a kick out exchanging Valentines.

My birthday girl smiling...

 and singing...

and shining...

and blowing. I do love nine year-old birthday girls

Nanna, Collette is looking to get her ears pierced because you know you took Olivia when she was nine and Collettie remembers!

It was a delectable day.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Independence Day

We stayed home to celebrate the 4th with an old fashioned community party. The littles, especially Dominic, could not wait for the big day. The older children regaled him with stories of fire truck rides and giant slip 'n' slides until he was ready to burst with excitement.

The afternoon began with the much anticipated fire truck ride and parade.

This was Quinton's first year to decorate and drive in the parade. That's the Bumble Bee he's driving with Xavier as his side kick. Poor Xavier fell fast asleep within a few turns through the neighborhood. Quinton was thrilled to have won a prize for his decorating- a hamburger and chips for lunch!

And, of course, there were hours and hours spent slipping and sliding.

After all the fun in the sun and water, everyone headed inside for games.

Doesn't Gracie look older?

Grace and Dominic enjoyed a quiet moment together.

The big kids played every game available as many times as possible so they could collect oodles of candy and small plastic trinkets.

Xavier did his best to dismantle the game table. While this did not garner him a prize, he was the best at it!

After a very full day that also included a cake walk, boat race, and horseshoe competition, Stephen took the awake and vertical children to see fireworks from the mountain top. Unfortunately, that part was less than impressive. Oh well, we'll have to find sparklers again for next year.