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.

100% Adorable right?

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.

Pumpkin babies (Zander red)

Just us girls (note the Kai Lan doll from Chris and Chris)

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.

Mucking in (Gavin front)

Finished pumpkins

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!

All 5 dressed for Church (Zander white shirt)

Whole family (Gavin left)

Me and My Man

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).

Trinity and her God-Mommies

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.

At the front

With the water

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.

The box they give all the baptized kids

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!

Trinity and her Mike

Grandma and Mike with the girls

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.

Cake!

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.

Playing in the livingroom (Alex is to the left there)

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.

Miss Anna

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.

Echo and her godparents!

So the clock is ticking for us to get the house clean and organized (or at least MORE organized) before the baptism. It is going to be a small group for the baptism and luncheon after but that works as Echo is not a huge fan of large crowds. Her special Grandma Anna made gown is hanging in our bedroom complete with its beading off of my wedding gown. When we originally got my gown from a friend it had beads on it that we didn’t want so mom took them all off and saved them, we then put other beads and sequins on the gown. Leave it to mom to save them for something so special. She even hunted down lilac accents which was no easy feat!

Of course today was going pretty much on schedule and that is definitely almost NEVER ok with the world… so what happens? Ken runs out to do some banking and Zander comes upstairs screaming bloody murder and holding his equally bloody forearm. A wet washcloth and a call to Ken later and I am packing a little bag with snacks, toys and a sweater and seeing the two of them off to the emergency. It seems our healthy streak is very much broken. But in the past 4 years (since Emanuel’s hernias and Zander’s seizure) we have only been to the hospital twice for the kids and both times were this summer! Not bad for 5 kids with 4 being very active! The end result – 6+ hours and 4 stitches!

All wrapped up (Zander)

The emergency run put a full stop on lots of my preparations. Luckily Saturday morning is clear – not so lucky, still no van so all of this falls on Ken’s shoulders… Well tonight we tidy, bake and make our lists! What a day!

Little Mother in training

There are some weeks where organized schoolwork is just not so much in the cards. Lots of creative drawing and imaginative play but we are still out one cyan toner cartridge so my hands are tied a little with some of my more complicated plans.

Trinity and the markers

The days are ticking down – we are almost to the baptism and a few family members have alerted me that they will be unable to attend. Thankfully my mom and Mike, one set of the godparents and quite a few close friends will be here. I have strung all my cut out bows on ribbon and have my party supplies in the waiting. The kids are very excited though even after the Minister explained Baptism to them while he was here yesterday Zander keeps mistaking this weekend for Echo’s birthday. A little soon for that!!

Little Echo

So with planning to be done and kids to keep occupied our house is a busy and LOUD one! And honestly, we love it.

Trinity and Mommy

Playing on the floor