BOO!!!

Halloween did not dissapoint this year. Ella was a high school musical cheerleader, but to my surprise, she let me get jiggy with it and make her the walking dead. I have to say, she got great reviews from all. It is so nice that Ella has her cousins to share all of the holiday's with too. Ella tolerates Quinn more all the time- he actually seems to be pretty fun to hang with. How can I tell? I do not hear quite as many, "Quinn stop it!" in a horrible whiny voice. Anyways, the kids looked so cute in their costumes. Our new neighborhood is also jam packed with so many kids too. I did get a little crazy with the fake mustache on Margot. I just had to! As for my fav holiday- it was a good one! One observation... did anyone have trick or treaters still knocking on their door at 10pm? I did. Tiny kids with their parents. Hmmmm....

Homecoming

Taylor had his homecoming dance this weekend. He has a nice girlfriend and she is a Senior...score Taylor. Check out the kid in the kilt- and the table full of monster... OOOHH Party!!! I won't tell what Mom and her friends would have been drinking. Did I say that?

Happy Birthday to Taylor... How do I have a 17 year old?

It is Taylor's birthday today. I tried a little surprise party for him by telling one of his good friends to invite all the other friends over. I was nervous, because when you have a teenager, often your best intentions can go over like a wet noodle. Also, I totally did not think that the kids would keep it a secret. Anyways, I told everyone to get here at 6:30. Taylor had to work until 7. Perfect, right? Well, Taylor called me at about 5 and told me that a kid at work came down with a rash, so he was going to stay later and cover his shift. I said, " Well, Taylor, it's your birthday, I think someone else should cover for him." He says, " It's OK Mom, there's nothing going on and I want to earn extra money, so no big deal." Trying to not be too obvious, I said "No, Taylor, I think you should come home by 7:30 to spend time with us". Now panicking, I called his friend that works with him and asked her to call their boss to let him know there is a birthday waiting for him. All the kids get here, and we are partying down.... just me, Ella and 10 or so 16 and 17 year olds and it is 7:45 before I finally here from Taylor. Next, his girlfriend gets a call from him and I think he was hinting around to her that he wanted to stop by her house. Wow, I realized then that he really had no idea about his party. She played it off pretty good and she told him she just woke up. Then, she told him she had to go to the store with her Mom. I bet by then he was really starting to feel a little Sixteen Candles. When he walked in, they all jumped out and screamed Happy Birthday and he was really surprised. Anyways, I will pat myself on the back because my teenager actually has been smiles all night.

Grandpa Mike's visit has been action packed.

So, since my Dad only visits once per year, we have to jam it all in to get through the fun. First, we had a get together so he could see baby Margot for the first time and visit with us all. Next, it was off to the Puyallup fair for one last belt buster. The kids pretty much saved us though because all they wanted to do is ride the rides so we did not get much eatin' time. Kiley and Jason joined us, and the kids all get along great! Quinn is a joy because he just tags along with the big kids and is game for anything. Even MUTTEN BUSTIN'!!!! Yes, we entered Quinn in the Sheep riding competition and it was the single most best thing that I have seen in a long time. You must must must go to Lonnie's blog and check out the footage. I cannot believe that Quinn actually went through with it, there were so many kids that refused the moment that they sat them on the sheep. That was one of the rules, that no kids would be made to do it. He was the youngest kid to go for it I am proud to say as most were 5 and 6 year olds. Also, we had to get Quinn in on the action this year, because at his svelt 55 pounds, we knew that by next year, he may not make the 65 pound weight limit. So, at Quinns expense, we all had a hootin good time! After the fair, we came home and Dad made a fish fry out of the crazy amount of halibut he brought from Alaska. Yum!





Look at the hands on that kid! Plus, he can catch with his eyes closed!

The kids had fun riding rides at the fair... Quinn keeps right up with the big kids too. Fear is not a problem!

Quinn and Ella miss grandpa.... Guilt alert.

Everyone luvs a happy baby!

Grandpa got to meet Margot for the first time.

If your a Husky, then Oklahoma just sucks!

Derek is taller than Grandpa Litterell now. OOH, take that Sooner hat off!

Hi Ho Silver..

My daughter thinks it is funny to make the most hideous faces... very cute indeed.

The fake cow milking booth. One of our must do's of the fair.

First stop was of course the elephant ear booth. They are getting fancy this year with a backdrop to take your pics. Whatever... remember when elephant ears were 75 cents? Now I think we paid $6.75. Inflation.

Grandpa Litterell made a surprise visit this week and we all had a nice visit. It was only for a couple of days, but we made it work. He took Ella for a quick spin around the fair (She has to visit the milkin' booth every year). Then it was off to Dereks football game, followed by dinner out to Pizza. The highlight of the visit was him taking Chuck to the Husky Oklahoma football game so that Chuck could watch firsthand his team getting punished by a very good Sooner team. They even got to sit in the Oklahoma section as Chuck proudly wore his purple and gold and had insults tossed at him the entire day. He took it like a man though. In his dreams the Huskies will again rise to the top...

P.S. I really hate going to Walmart, but they had Pony rides- how could we pass it up?

First Day of School.

The kids went off to school and we are all excited about that. I have taken a first day of school pic of Taylor every year since he started, so it is fun to continue that tradition. This year's pic of Tay is pretty special. For once, he smiled as a teenager and it makes me laugh.. When you guys actually have teenagers, you will understand my joy! Ella is so excited to be able to ride the bus- finally. I am liking it too as all I have to do is stand on my front porch and the bus stops about 50 feet away. Nice...

Derek remains elusive about his first day of school pic- he leaves the house at about 6:30 am to walk to school with his friends, so I have not been able to catch him. I think they stop at Winco on their way to grab lunch. Winco is where all the kids hang out. They are obsessed with it in fact- something about 60 cents for a 2 liter of soda. All of the kids are liking our new house as they have so many friends to hang out with. If you ask Chuck and I, we will tell you there are too many kids to hang out with, but that is our problem.

Finally!

So, when you are the wife of a landscaper, you get to see him create really cool things like waterfalls and such, and always wonder when you will get your very own. Well, after much begging, I got my own little waterfall. I think it is so cute, small, but cute. It is for sure the smallest that Chuck has ever done, but it fits our yard. I love it, and I think I have fulfilled one of the feng shui requirements of running water.