Day at the Park

The fall weather has been so nice that Marc was able to take the kids to the park on Saturday. His intentions were great. . .giving me a much needed break from "them". But by the end of the trip the smiles turned into grumps. McKenna stepped into dog poop and if you know McKenna there isn't much worse that can happen. She still hasn't worn the shoes. She insists the dog poop has with stood all the cleaning her dad did. Conner was smiles at the beginning but he wanted to take the pictures himself and when he wasn't allowed became a grump as well. I just think the grumpy pictures are so fun.

Piano Festival

McKenna had her first piano festival and did such a great job. It was a duet competition and her partner forgot her music on their first song-Salior's Song and on the second song-Monster Play she played the first two lines twice messing things up. McKenna handled it really well and just waited for her partner to find her place. If was really fun to see her hours of practicing really paying off. It was such a nice recital and the younger kids all loved watching and supporting her. They were actually all quiet and still for the entire performance. I just need to figure out how to duplicate their behavior for church.

43 Shopping days until Christmas

Yes, I know we haven't even had Thanksgiving yet, but driving around my neighborhood at least a dozen homes have their Christmas lights already up and since we have been having great weather it really isn't surprising but-they are on! Not only the lights but the Christmas music is on the radio 24/7. The stores have all there Christmas decorations up and music playing so I hate to admit but I am getting a little stressed. What with 5 kids, 1 husband, in-laws, parents, siblings, friends, Christmas cards and a partridge in a pear tree to buy for, with nothing yet purchassed. . . I am feeling the pressure. What with piano, gymnastics, art class, activity days, Relief Society meetings, temple, volunteer work at the school, Enrichment meeting, piano festival, helping a neighbor clean windows and a date night-all just this week-I wonder where I have the time to shop?
My next question is how do you take a Christmas to California (driving) with 5 kids who still believe in Santa? I don't have enough room for my kids let alone for extras! They might literally be sitting on some of their gifts as we drive. Who knows maybe we might just have to write a letter to Santa asking him to either come a little early or that we will be out of town so leave the presents and we will get to them when we get home.
Our family home evening tonight was about beginning this Holiday Season with the thought of giving rather than receiving but that is the part that stresses me out-giving. But as we begin to hopefully change our kids focus about what "I" want for Christmas to rather what does "she/he" want me to make (Yes, we are making all our family gifts this year). I hope they will begin to realize this season isn't about what we get but about family, giving and the birth of our Savior.
So with only 43 shopping days left may we all have enough time to enjoy this season and not just worry about our shopping lists. I say this more for me than for anyone else!!

Surprise!!

We pulled off the surprise. Kylie has been wanting a surprise birthday party since last year and keeps asking for one. Well McKenna came to me and wanted to plan one so it was on. McKenna created a guest list and delivered invitations-some to just the mothers who then didn't tell their children for fear they would spoil the surpise. There were a few close calls-the day of her birthday I was in the classroom and one little girls came over and told her she couldn't come to her birthday party because she had gymnastics and all Kylie got out of that was she had gymnastics today too. After school she went to the neighbors to play and then when all her friends arrived I called her home and she was SURPRISED!! Mission accomplished. She kept saying the rest of the night "this is the best day of my life" and for a seven year old that has to be pretty good.

Halloween

Halloween was a little different this year with Marc being away for the week but we pulled it off and the kids had a great time. I decided to do the whole trick-or-treating thing early so that I could then come home and be there to recieve the "tricks". The weather was warm and we were home by 7 and in bed by 8. They have candy to enjoy for weeks and so the day was a success.