Well it has been THREE days since I have blogged last so this entry is going to be a doozy! The question is – where to start? At the end where the mind is more fresh on the details? The beginning is logical… the middle to cover the day that was the most action packed? I have to admit, after being married to Ken for almost 9 1/2 years the best choice is the most logical choice… Saturday it is!

No sleeping in for this family of 7 this Saturday… Michaels had one more free make it and take it event that Ken and all 3 boys headed out for bright and early (well early for us – around 11 am). The main activity was making duct tape bracelets… there were left over foam visors from the previous event (we did not go to that one) so they ALSO go to decorate one of these each. This left myself, Echo and Trinity to hang out, watch tv and play quietly!

Our afternoon was booked up nicely as well! Due to finances (aka imminent van repair payment hopefully) and a lack of assurance as to the exact date cheques would be sent out from Wisdom (just couldn’t risk having the van repaired and the amount needed more be THIS amount!) we limited ourselves to just a one day pass to the local Telus Science Centre which is currently hosting the Transportation Lego Exhibit (until beginning of January). Luckily if we hold onto our receipt when we CAN afford the family pass (costs well over 100.00 for the family) we get that amount taken off the account.

Whole family in front of the main display (Zander red)

Well with our limited seating in our current vehicle (have I mentioned lately how thankful we are that mom lent us her car?? Cuz we are!) we had to source out not only friends interested in sharing the activity BUT a friend who had room in their vehicle… thus Sean was added to the mix! And, with his enjoyment of the Lego – TED came with too. Ted had crashed at our place the night before as he and Ken had stayed up to the wee hours of the morning playing some PS3 game that apparently has no pause or save.

This exhibit was full of interesting items for transportation, including our local High Level Bridge built by the local Lego association.

A portion of the bridge

One of our favourites was the Titanic, they even had tiny scaled down people.

Close up of a portion of the Titanic

Emanuel fell in love with the little mega blocks section where the kids could make and race cars down an incline. He actually spent most of his time over there, first with one of his brothers and then with Daddy. The room itself was relatively open so we could see him from where ever we were in the room wandering around (thank goodness we had FOUR adults for 5 children).

Emanuel racing his car

Zander and Gavin and Trinity spent the majority of their time at a table playing with the regular Legos.

Around the table (Gavin right)

Zander made up this neat little thing that had a truck type piece that slide across it over a trough.

Zander's creation

Gavin worked on a bridge, walked away for a minute and it up and disappeared so he made another creation that looked an awful lot like an itty bitty guillotine!

Gavin and his Legos

I spent my time making a zebra inspired doorless building that one of the boys later suggested looked more like a cow!!

My zebra/cow-esque doorless building

Poor Echo spent a lot of the time asleep but woke up with all the noise in a bit of a snit.

Such a face!! But a very noisy place for her.

We spent almost 3 hours there (well worth our 54.00 entrance fee). Which meant our afternoon was about over by the time we got home. I sat the kids down to colouring pages while Ken and Ted ran out to get a few things at the grocery storey but our day was about done. Early to bed for the kids in preparation of our busy Sunday with Grandma Anna and Mike! But a nice lengthy evening visit for the adults with Ted and Sean. In fact, we made up 2 chocolate zucchini cakes – one to eat here (we even convinced Ken to try it and he DIDN’T hate it – like he thought he would) and one to take to mom’s which ended up being frozen and stored there for our next visit when she can make icing to top it off!

We used my mom’s favourite recipe to make the cakes!

Chocolate Zucchini Cake

1/4 cup soft margarine/butter

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 3/4 cups white sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 1/2 cups flour

4 tbsp cocoa

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground cloves

2 cups grated zucchini

1/2 cup sour milk (add a shot of lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk)

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup chocolate chips (we left these off)

325 oven

combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, cinnamon, and cloves and set aside

cream margarine, vegetable oil, and sugar together

beat in eggs and vanilla

add baking soda to sour milk

alternately add dry ingredients and milk to batter beginning and ending with dry ingredients

fold in zucchini (if using frozen zucchini be sure to drain excess liquid before adding)

grease and flour a 9X13 pan and pour in batter

chocolate chips may be sprinkled on top

bake 45-60 min.

Note the near empty cake pan!

Sunday was a Sunday School free Sunday so we were free to leave whenever mom and Mike made it to our home (after all still limited seating in the vehicle). Ken had a bit of a work related emergency that slowed us down but we were out the door around noon 5 kids, costumes and other accoutrements in tow. We even had 3 garbage bags worth of things to donate to the Clothing Depot. I am hoping on more for our trip down to mom’s with the van. After all if we are not using it why not give it to someone who can?

The boys all went in Mike’s truck and we took the girls. The plan was to meet up with at the mall (there is only one in the town they live in) and take in their haunted house and Halloween activities put on by the local high school (where I graduated from in 1997). The haunted house was a little too… haunted for our little ones and they had to be kindly escorted through… BUT the cookie decorating was enjoyed by all…

Trinity wouldn’t fish for her own goody bag but they all had one in the end and my mom has the pictures they took at the wall cut out with spots for faces. We decided to skip the face painting and head back to mom’s house for dinner and a rest before she and Ken braved the streets with the much anticipated Trick or Treating (aka legal begging).

But first – THE DRESS! That is right – with my mom sewing is a passion and has she ever gone all out!!! My dress for Chris and Chris’ August 2011 wedding is all but done! So I tried it on and took pictures (and got permission to share them here). The under shirt is in two pieces so it was a little awkward taking pictures with it slipping off my shoulders but you get the idea. She had to adjust it for “boobage” and still needs to shorten the skirt and add some embellishments but it is all but done!

She also has Echo’s dress all but finished (there will be a black strip of fabric added to the bottom for length when she is closer to the day) which matches my mom’s gown (already done!!).

And Trinity’s work in progress. Mom is not quite happy with the sleeves. So she will keep fiddling but so far so… AMAZING!

After supper and a nap for Ken Echo and I saw off the 4 kids with Daddy and Grandma Anna while Mike took a nice long bike ride (he has to put the Harley up soon for the season).

This left Echo and myself to hand out the candy. It really did not get busy until Mike got back from his ride and even then it wasn’t too bad. But did the kids ever make a haul! And this was only 4 small city blocks!!!

There was even a lady giving away stuffed animals (with tags on and everything!).

We headed back home Sunday night as mom had to work and we got home around 8:30. Bedtime for the kids after hugs of gratitude for Grandma and Mike (did I mention Trinity was absolutely STOKED about having her Mike for the day?? Cuz she was!). That reminds me – there was a little stop over at McDonald’s as well – lunch there, supper at mom’s.

I have to share a picture of mom and Mike’s pumpkin – done by the resident Harley aficionado using a Dremel, to which mom was quick to say – created a MASSIVE mess… that HE cleaned up after of course! Very cool!

Today started slow with everyone being a little exhausted… Ken had a server issue that he was working on remotely from mom’s on his netbook that bled into this morning as well so it was quiet. Then in the afternoon we implemented our continuation of Saturday’s educational experience. Instead of worksheets and books and the like we drug our massive Rubbermaid tub of Lego’s upstairs to start a day long exercise in creativity. They are working on a little city. Tomorrow morning is a continuation on that and then in the afternoon we will do some of our reading pages.

Oh for anyone interested in GREAT Halloween activities for NEXT year I got some of my new print outs at this UK site. Now I am working on my main Christmas lapbook project for December… getting together the print outs and preparing for that. November I want us to focus on the human body. Still have to sort out that mini office but it is progressing… slowly.

I have to pack up our Halloween costumes. We plan on keeping our Little Red Ridinghood hood and the peapod of course, but the other ones will go in the box to be sold or (as with Gavin’s) head back to the Clothing Depot. Gotta get this place organized. If only Ken has a calamity free week. Wednesday is Echo’s first batch of shots. Thankfully Nathan is willing to come and sit with our boys and probably Trinity so that we can take her. Oh and it looks like tonight I get my stocking pattern finally! I will be posting an “as I go” series of photos here on the blog of this and the next stocking project. I am excited about that, I think a lot of my restlessness has been based in a severe lack of stitching time. So it is definitely time to correct that!

Sleepy baby in sepia