Southeast's Fall Festival 2011

Charlie took a break from being the event's photographer and helping with the Trunk and Treat to spend time with the Shrek family.

The Shrek "Dragon" was in rare form. I take that back; Dragon was his wild self that night. No one was mentioning to the three year old Dragon that in Shrek the dragon is actually a SHE!
Poor baby Shrek wasn't diggin' the green tube ears...Fiona made him wear them anyway...despite that they needed to be trimmed to a more appropriate baby Shrek length! Fiona was shocked baby Shrek dealt well with them all night. Maybe he got subliminal teachings this summer from his precious cousin, Julia, who tolerates her bow bows with much ease.
It's great what can be thrown together the morning of an event with much prayer and a few stops at consignment stores and Hobby Lobby! Thank you, God. No mom wants unhappy kids in costumes!

Big Kids' Costumes 2011

Puss n' Boots and the Gingerbread Man from Shrek:

Both girls were tickled with their outfits which so pleased me! I was so thankful they liked what they were wearing and how they looked.
This is our only picture with Fletch actually wearing his Shrek green tube ears! He did his own green face paint. We attempted to make a Shrek belly for him but nothing pleased him in that regard. His major complaint was having to wear Sarah's boots for Shrek booties...he was fine with the idea of just wearing tennis shoes. But Shrek wore brown booties, Fletch! Sarah's boots were just right for the costume but boy, oh boy, was he not thrilled with wearing something that was a GIRL'S! Oh my, MY!

Sarah's First Ever Art Exhibit (October 2011)

Sarah's art is now on display in the main hallway of our church. She has her very own wall. I believe she is the youngest artist to have the whole wall to display multiple works. She is so delighted to have this opportunity to display her art.

When Charlie came home from work on Tuesday (Oct.25) and said, "Sarah, I have some exciting news. You've been selected as an artist that can display work at church," he watched the big elephant tears slowly roll out of her eyes and down her cheeks because she was so touched by the opportunity. Charlie was holding back the tears when he saw his daughter get so moved by the surprising news that she'd get a chance to display her work. He had her select some pieces from our home and when he left for work Wednesday, all but two were unframed. When she showed up for youth group on Wednesday night, this (photo above) is what she saw. A whole wall of framed work that her Daddy had spent close to two hours at Michael's having done before the church activities that night in order to surprise her. She was shocked! The tears welled in her eyes yet again!

Snow Fort Fun

Sarah and Fletch spent hours building a snow fort using plastic buckets to form the snow bricks. They were looking for twigs, sticks for the roof, and when I suggested they use the lightweight sleds for a roof they replied indignantly, "Mom, this is an all-natural snow fort! We are only using natural things for it!"

Parie just eats snow constantly as she plays. She is always scooping up a handful as she walks along whether climbing back up the sledding hill or playing around in the yard.
Parie's quotable from the past year when she gets even slightly warm, "Mom, I'm BURNING!" So walking back up the sledding hill this week she wanted to take her coat off and just wear her snow pants with her lightweight three-quarter length sleeved shirt...I said, "No, leave your coat on." Isn't that what Moms are supposed to say? So I got the, "But Mom, I'm BURNING!" Parie quote. That girl is often one extreme or the other now. She's like me in that she is often cold and needs a warm hoodie on but if she is moving around in the slightest she'll get "Burning!" Sarah is still prone to being hot (rarely cold like me or Parie) and Fletch would never, ever wear a jacket if I didn't ask him to...maybe a Payson or a Charlie thing. I seem to remember my mom saying Payson would never wear a coat if he wasn't forced to. Charlie wears a coat now in CO more than Fletch would (if I wasn't around reminding him to please wear it!)

First snow PLAY day, Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011

Of course, we had to make snow cream! Fletch was the only one who didn't want any. He is the least of the sweet tooths in our family. He and Charlie definitely prefer salty to sweet foods. Those crazy boys. Tommy also weirds me out that he often doesn't want and turns down chocolate items. Not sure he is my kid after all! Unfortunately, Tommy is still obsessed with sausage, hot dogs (uggh!) and pizza. How embarassingly American poor food choices! Poor fourth child.

Sweet Tommy said to me after tasting the snow cream for the first time this year, "Ohhh, THANK you, Mommy! Make snow cream. You good cooker!"

Tommy also had another quotable that day that melted me. He saw Noah attempting to sign "more" while he was eating lunch and said, "That's like our friend. (pause) Our cousin. When I play wid' her. 'Cuz her like me. (pause) Her L-O-V-E me!" (I knew exactly what he was talking about but asked him to clarify just to make sure..."Which friend? Which cousin?") Tommy said, "Jew-ya. Ummm, no Samanth-ya." He remembered correctly that it was Manfers who would sign "more" when she wanted him to continue the game he was doing as he interacted with her this summer.

Picture Day at Options (Oct.25, 2011)

First grade Parie:

Loving her stylin' outfit:
Noah was NOT himself...little under the weather this week, poor guy!

New used toys for fun activities...

We love Play it Again Sports. The store rocks! We've found great roller blades, a hockey stick, and now raquetball racket and scooter. Paris had been asking for a pink scooter, and Charlie had been wanting to play raquetball with Fletcher. Now, both activities are being greatly enjoyed by the kids. So fun that that store has items that greatly enhance our family time! Fletcher loves going to our local rec center with Charlie to hit some balls with him. Paris is having so much fun scootering around loving her PINK scooter.

Safety first with great protective eye wear!