Today I have a legitimate reason to have waited a full two days to update – this was Echo’s baptism weekend coupled with pumpkin carving for the 4 other kids.

Saturday started off slow with all of us sleeping in some. Then cleaning, prepping, sorting and the like. Ken had to run out to get groceries and run errands and then the people started arriving. We didn’t get visitors until late into dinner time. Chris and Chris got here just as Ken and Ted arrived with the shopping and pumpkins.

First we towed all the pumpkins into the basement where Ken had set up an area for us to take pictures.

Then they had to be brought BACK upstairs for carving. Ted, Ken and (he)Chris did  the majority, but the kids got the opportunity to dig out the guts.

Sean showed up later as did Karyn and Esther. Karyn came with the bits and bobs to have chocolate fondue, (she)Chris and I did a slurpee run earlier… and we settled in for a lovely late evening. Stayed up way later than I should of and had quite the battle getting the kids in bed with all the company here. The twins and Emanuel shared Emanuel’s room so that Karyn could sleep in theirs. Esther lucked out and got the couch and Chris and Chris the quiet room. Full house with Ted and Sean heading back to their respective homes around 2 or 3 am.

Our morning was hectic as to be expected. 5 children to dress and 6 adults to ready themselves to get out the door by 10:40. Zander had to have his arm redressed, Trinity her ponies put in along with the clips I had made for her out of ribbon flowers. Echo had to have her gown put on (a task in and of itself) and of course all the kids fed. And then being the crazy people we are – photos!

We then had to play musical cars to get our whole family to the church. Ken and I took our loaner from mom with the girls and the boys all crammed in Esther’s rental with Karyn leaving Chris and Chris in their own vehicle. One stop to gas up and we all made it in time (though Karyn and Esther over shot and were the last in right as service started).

The baptism was early in the service and went so well! Ted used our camera to video tape the whole thing. The twins were asked to fill the basin and Emanuel got to light the candle from the Christ candle. Nathan held Echo and was the one to introduce her to the congregation. It was not until the minister took her and poured/splashed the water on her head that she started complaining.

There was also a “Baptism Rap” written by the minister where the kids were asked up to play the percussion – loudly and out of beat but they had a BLAST. And communion where all 5 children got a blessing. The service was a little chaotic as the minister’s wife broke her leg BADLY on Thursday and had surgery Friday night and she was a big part of the planning and didn’t have the time to finish her portion.

We met up with Mom, Mike, Sean, Ted, Nathan, Anna and Ada met us at the church. Of course the kids wanted to sit with Grandma and Mike (Gavin chose Aunty Esther). Trinity demanded Mike’s TOTAL attention!

We stopped off to pick up the cake at Safeway as well as ice and other odds and ends then back to the house for lunch.

The night before Ken had made up our potato soup so all that was left was the dumplings and frying up sausages. A different meal from our usual party fair but yum! Alan and Xinny and their two kids met up at our home (they had a prior commitment during church). Which made the kids happy.

Lots of playing and visiting and eating of course. And Echo actually was willing to be passed around. She spent a nice chunk of the afternoon snuggled up with Aunty Esther in fact. Baby Anna also go in on the snuggle round.

So this evening we were down to Ted, Ken, Echo and myself. Watching tv, eating left overs and resting. The kids were sent to bed early. What a weekend! Now the week is rather tame BUT we have high hopes on our van getting repaired. The mechanic is sourcing out a used transmission… new is rather beyond our means. The plan is to be at my mom’s for Halloween regardless. There is a safe Halloween at the local mall including a haunted house and then trick or treating in the neighbourhood. The kids are so looking forward to it. Oh and I have to take pictures of Miss Echo in her baptism splendour.