Halloween

I realize that I am behind on my blog and Halloween seems so long ago now. The fact is things have been crazy and I am going with the adage better late than never.

 This year Leo had 2 costumes (depending on the moment he was a white ninja or a black GI Joe Robot). It just the GI Joe costume was the only one I got a photo of.)

 Little Miss's costume changed a lot this year too. At one point she was a bride, fairy, or a princess. In the end she combined the bride's costume with fairy wings and called herself a princess. Regarding the makeup Midge got a face painting kit and wanted to do everyone's makeup this year.

Baby Huck wore Leo's old costume from the same age. 

All night long Ken and I kept having flashbacks.

Midge designed her own costume and was a mad scientist. We even bought her alka seltzer so she could have exploding concoctions. The kid's loved trick or treating. Huck thought it was amazing that people would give him candy and he tried so hard to keep up with the older kiddos. Midge swore she was going to keep up with Leo this year (she didn't). Once again he kept trick or treating for a hour longer than her. He has been beating her since he was 3. 

 Huck wanted to stop and eat the candy after each house.

 We got a surprise visit from our favorite family friend, Bro. Hunter. Awhile back Little Miss was angry with the family. As she went into her room she yelled out, "I hate everyone in the whole world...except for Brother Hunter." She loves Bro. Hunter. Although it took a lot of patience on his part to get her to come to him, now if he is in the room she begs to go and see him.

 The annual counting of the loot. It is also a good opportunity to scope out all of Ken and I's favorites.

The Big 40!

As I side note I need to point out that my oldest kiddo has decided to start a blog. It is connected to mine and she would love it if you popped over and left her some comments: http://myfavoritehamster.blogspot.com/

My sweet husband turned 40 yesterday. I am so glad that he is older than me and can 

hit all of these milestones before me. He asked for his favorite dinner of little meatloaves, 

mashed potatoes, salad and peas. I had plenty of help in the kitchen. 

 We got him a new Duck shirt for his present. Considering that the old one has multiple holes in it I think it was about time. Of course he thinks he still needs to keep the old one for running.

 The whole gang of munchkins and an extra neighbor munchkin.

 For his cake I had a vision of a reese's peanut butter cup. So I made chocolate cake and used this 

for the filling and covered the cake in this frosting. At first when I made the frosting it was a disaster.

 It wouldn't whip up for me at all. So I just stuck it in the fridge, shed a few tears, and ignored it 

and when I decided to look at it again I decided to whip it once more and it turned into magic.

 The cake was amazing so delicious. Which may be why when I got home from work today 

there wasn't even a scrap left.

When I gave my little guy the spatula to lick the frosting off it he thought he was in heaven. 

 So I got the special privilege of going with my son on his field trip to the fish hatchery. I was the chaperone of a great group of boys. They were so funny. The teacher throughout the day would tell the kids, "stick to your parent like glue". Whenever she would say this the four of them would race over from where ever they were and bear hug me. They were hilarious and kept me laughing so hard. 

The weather was gorgeous all day it was sunny, blue skies and beautiful. 

 In order to get the kids to stop talking and pay attention they would yell fish face and the kids were expected to stop talking. It worked great. This was my group's version of fish face.

They played a game with the kids to show them they life cycle of a salmon. This first part the kids had to try and make it through the turbine on the dam. Many of the kids didn't survive. When they asked the kids where they think the dead fish went one student yelled out, "heaven" then another kid piped up, "no the bad ones go to hell." All the adults started laughing. The below student was a dead fish.

 My son surviving the natural predators. 

 The only survivors. They told us usually only 5 out of 30 salmon fish survive. The hardest part is the baby fish making it out to the sea.

 I was shocked when I saw that on the agenda they were going to have a bonfire and allow all the kids roast marshmallows for s'mores. Really 7 year olds holding flaming torches!

 The kids did amazingly well. I thought for sure someone was going to end up with a burnt marshmallow in their lap.

 Throughout the day Leo would come up to me and give me a big hug and tell me he loved me. 

I love this kiddo, and I was so glad I got to share this day with him. 

 The highlight of the day was allowing the kids to have a cup of fish food and feed the rainbow 

trout at the viewing pond. The kids tried to feed the sturgeon. I told them it wouldn't eat 

their food, but it didn't stop them from trying.

 Later in the week Mimi and Papa were able to come down for Leo's last football game. We were laughing about how Huck was just chilling out.

 Leo did a great job playing and the team tied.

 It was so warm that day and he got so hot and sweaty. His hair is getting so 

much longer and we aren't exactly how to style it. 

 Midge said that I had to take a picture of her amazing big bubble. 

 The kids love the support of their grandparents and especially love the extra time 

they get to spend with Papa now that he is retired. They told me this weekend that they 

would like to just move in with them.

My life my words