Our Halloween has come and gone and with it a day to remember. It started bright and early with the appearance of Cousin Veronika with chocolate scones in tow. The kids were VERY excited… there was art to give her and stories that just HAD TO be read. Echo has grown quite accustomed to her now as well so it was a welcome break for me off and on all day. Have I mentioned how spoiled I am getting being so close to such amazing family?

We made a run to the convenience store with the kids’ allowance. I do believe we thoroughly entertain the convenience store employees when I come (even with a helping hand) with all 5 kids in tow. What amazes me is how different each kid is with their money. Trinity doesn’t understand how much she has and just wants a slurpee (mommy DID foot the extra 9 cents), Zander took his time thinking and spent it ALL on a bag of chips, Gavin wanted a slurpee and had enough from the left overs from last time and Emanuel.. bought 5 nickel candies and still hasn’t TOUCHED this week’s allowance!! 

Time to go and spend allowance

I was VERY appreciative to have an extra set of hands helping me get all 5 kids ready (and myself for that matter). Ken had to work right until quarter to 4 and then hop into the shower so I would have been on my own otherwise. Since we had our resident make-up artist here there was some additions done to two of the costumes and yours truly got her pretty face on. I was amazed that Trinity not only let us put the make up on but was able to NOT rub at it until the very end of the night. Veronika used a water based make-up that was easy to clean off. 

Becoming Hello Kitty

Gotta have that black ring-tailed lemur nose

All 3 of the adults dressed up. Veronika was a zombie complete with fake blood. Ken did his impression of a rather hairy pirate and yours truly was told she was a princess this year by the kids. Gotta get as much use out of the dress as possible right? I forgot how heavy that thing is, but warm!! 

Here you can see our completed Kitty AND our zombie cousin

In costume and at the mall

We actually managed to stay on track time wise and were out the door before 4:30 to find… HAIL! Just temporary and not overly cold but right when I took the pictures of the kids out front of course. 

In the hail... so not the most organized photo

Then it was off to the first of the two malls in town. One started at 4pm and was closer to us anyway so we bundled everyone up into the van and Veronika’s vehicle (girls in one boys in the other) and off we went. Thankfully the stroller fits easily in the back of hers so we were good to go. Echo even did some trick or treating, but could only take Petite Sheepette. Fat Sheep was too… well you see where I am going with this! 

Little Bo Peep and her smaller sheep... and itty bitty candy bag

The mall was rather packed and lots of places were handing out candy, there was even some games! And some highly inappropriate employee (female) costumes, but nothing too extreme…

Playing one of the games

After doing the rounds at that mall it was time to pack back up and head to the next. This one is newer and further south but along our way to Fydo and Kristen’s. There we met up with Karyn, Lauralee and Victoria halfway through. Apparently though the mall had advertised their hours of trick or treating at 5-7 here people showed up at 3 which meant a lot of the places were already out of candy but the kids did not do too badly!

With the ladies

After we finished our second mall we had been out for around 2 hours already and it was time to head further south to Kristen and Fydo’s neighbourhood. So we said good-bye to the ladies and continued on, took a wrong turn but made our destination. Kristen had already left for her work out but we were able to have our pee break and a brief visit with Fydo before doing one of their closes and half of another street. I think it was another hour later of what the kids term “real trick or treating” before we called it quits. Trinity was tired but once she realized she got to RING DOORBELLS! Well she was off! When we got home she wanted to do one more house so we went next door with 3 of the 4 (Gavin said his feet hurt and he was DONE) and then undressed and relaxed for the night. 

Fydo and crowd... didn't have time to make the camera like it being night as everyone was done. But notice, our Little Bo Peep started the night as a girl and turned into a pumpkin!

There was a mountain of candy to go through and 4 VERY worn out and happy kids… so after some defrosted fruit in bowls and a candy each and a  thorough tooth brushing it was BEDTIME. What a great day! And they did relatively well listening to directions. YAY. 

CANDY

Last one to fall asleep... fell asleep book in hand

This morning we woke up to excited and slightly out of sorts kids but with careful maintaining of NOT gorging on sweets and not pushing too much organized learning we made it through somewhat unscathed… well until Echo got into the chocolates bag where I forgot there was a couple chocolates you could TWIST OPEN… which she DID and popped in her mouth. So Echo has had her first chocolate… well most of it as we took it away and gave her some bits… now to wait until tomorrow to see if it upset her any. I know what SHE thought about it… she is her mother’s daughter! 

Chocy face

We did finish up our Halloween worksheets. I had some from last year that were stationary paper with a Halloween theme. So the twins each wrote out a sentence stating what their favourite part of Halloween this year was. The other was a printout from education.com. The Creative Writing page. They had to read each partial sentence themselves and then we talked about an answer which I wrote out for them on scrap paper to write out themselves. For the younger two I wrote their answers for them, but it was a great way to end our interest in Halloween (that and packing up all the decorations). 

Worksheet

In the afternoon it was relatively warm so 3 of the kids went out to enjoy the sunshine. We are definitely going to have to start working on mittens and hats, pack up the sandals and either get Trinity into pants or buy her some tights. 

Note the hail/frost stuff still there even in the late afternoon with the shade

We had a visitor in our yard as well – a rather pretty grey cat that the kids thought was the most amazing thing around. 

KITTY

Being as today was Tuesday and Karyn was able to get here before 6:30 we took Trinity and Emanuel to their weekly pj storytime at the library. It was all about feet and they danced the hokey pokey… sort of. Trinity thought it was the funniest thing ever. The craft was colouring bodies and feet of animals and gluing the right ones together.

Library Hokey Pokey

We had one casualty of Halloween, apparently when the ladies got to our house to start handing out candy they found our jack’o’lantern, in pieces! Someone smashed it! Poor poor pumpkin. 

So our Halloween did not go according to the original plan BUT we made the best of the back up plan. Family, friends, trick or treating, costumes… we had it all! And while I still want to get our family to my mom’s very soon we do have to wait until the van really is reliable! In the meantime… anyone interested in visiting? Well come on over! 

Two teeth and a little bread in the side of her mouth

Best Zander and Echo picture yet! And he got her up there and down again safely all by himself!

Well the weekend has come and gone and with it two VERY warm days. Saturday topped out at over 30 degrees Celsius. Hot enough that the kids didn’t want to play out in the sprinkler and the pool for very long at all! I am definitely going to put a new kiddie pool top of my list for next summer. Our princess pool is great – for Echo and Trinity but just too small for the boys! They did enjoy themselves for the time they were outside. 

Maybe our last bathingsuits in the backyard, what a cute group

Out in the sun WITHOUT a pull up

I snuck Echo outside with her blanket and Petite Sheepette to take pictures in the sunshine. She has been rather fussy this week and we finally figured out why… she has cut two molars! She is such an odd bean… no front tops, she goes for the painful molars. At least we think they are molars, she has a very small palate so it is hard to tell the exact placement. Goes along with the teeny tiny feet, hands, everything, but all well in proportion. I am hoping to get her into her birthday tutu dress and see if we can get some more pictures. But timing and weather have to coincide, and her mood of course. 

Sunshine baby

It was a slow crafting day on Saturday, too much cleaning, too much heat and too many cranky kids… but I did finish the Vivid Squirrel! I tried to finish a sock owl, but made a mistake with the wings… oops. Thankfully I have enough sock pieces left over to wing up the last 3 owls tonight. Then it is time for Dollarama and more socks! 

Vivid Squirrel

Saturday evening we had boardgames with Kristen, Fydo and Sean… Echo has finally warmed up to Fydo and Kristen and has always been in love with Sean! We stayed up late chatting after gaming. It was an absolute blast.

Playing blocks

Gaming!

We managed to get our timing right and Skype with my dad and my sister Kat (you will remember that she is newly married… you can read about the event on the official announcement HERE… her husband left on Monday for Kuwait for 6-9 months!). It was great to hear from both of them though the kids kept it a busy call, making noise, arguing, spilling something… so it was just like dad and Kat were here on a regular day! He looks great and I am told feels a ton better with all that extra oxygenated blood getting where it should at a good pace. 

I had another pattern sale… the D20 again… and this time the buyer linked my site. I figure I should do the same in return. She is a crafty individual and has an Etsy store you should check out! I look forward to seeing what she does with my pattern! It is always exciting to have someone want to purchase one of our patterns and even more so to have them mention you on their blog! I am hoping to get some more patterns up on our site and maybe connect with more people who are interested in them. I would love to know if you downloaded one of our free ones and see what has been done with it! And if you REALLY feel like it, purchase one and do the same – every purchase adds to my eBay Christmas shopping fund!  

Oh and something else that got lost in the hectic life that was last week – I got a package in the mail! A friend was moving and hadn’t been cross stitching anymore so she sent me her stash! There is thread, hoops, even an unfinished project I am going to take up and see if I can complete! What a pick me up for a harsh week! 

A stash!

And then I was able to sell a few baby boy/outgrown boy items on Kijiji AND send a couple large bags of playclothes on their way through Freecycle on the same day! My goal right now is to sell enough BOY stuff that I could buy some new/used GIRL stuff. Once Trinity is out of her size 3’s I have a small pile of hand-me-downs and then I am out of clothing for her. So if anyone is interested in trades, working out a deal and preferably local or at least coming my way… that would be helpful! AND if you have the shopping urge our Miss Trinity loves getting clothes for Christmas and birthdays (seriously no lie, especially if they are Hello Kitty OR pink!). 

Speaking of Trinity – well  we ran out of pull ups yesterday and were not really wanting to use money needed somewhere else to buy more so we crash coursed our potty training. We have done a bit of laundry, cleaned a few floors and are seeing GREAT results. Now going out shopping we would definitely put on the pull up but we had poop in the potty and everything! She was getting a little frantic about wearing the undies and then came out crying that she had pooped, well quick sit on the potty, a slight scrub of the undies and we had a success! So she earned her sport bottle, has not used a pull up all day (well wore one a couple times but didn’t pee in it!) AND is a big girl now!

Successful Potty = Hello Kitty goodies!

Since the boys got Kinder Surprise eggs at Sunday School we had to walk down to the convenience store and get a box for Trinity too… they don’t sell them as singles so we bought a box of 3 – for 4.67! OUCH but it does break down to about the normal price per egg… just OUCH. So she had one as did Mommy and Daddy. Yum! And the toys were all fun. She wore a pull up there as at times the washroom is out of order – they have had some vandals come in and plug the toilet. 

Kinder yum

Our evening wasn’t too busy, I ran out with Karyn (Echo in tow) to get a forgotten grocery and some supper… but I think I am just feeling the stress of the week. I am hoping to start tomorrow with a smile on my face and a heart centred on homeschooling and my children.

Be sure to check out Fat Sheep’s Site… her adventures are ongoing!!!!

Fun in the sun with her sheep

So where did I leave off?? Hmm getting to the “church” on time… well we did one better – an hour early! With all the kids involved and He Chris’ stepdad having had a couple heart attacks the day before and only out on a 2 hour pass we figured it was best to be SUPER early and prepared. Sadly that is where the organization and MacLean time ends… but the fun continued.

The bride's arrival in style

The decorated car in the sunlight

We found a little corner to hide the bride in while we waited for the time and then we… waited. The groom’s mother ended up WAY behind schedule (she was in charge of the wedding cake/cupcakes as well!) but his stepfather made it! I got a lovely picture of She Chris with him before the ceremony.

I think his name is George

The kids were a wee bit bored… ok VERY bored but we managed to keep them occupied with our multitude of baby wranglers and some colouring books I picked up at Dollarama on Thursday.

Waiting a bit

With the bride

The JP (Justice of the Peace) was lovely, but she had another wedding at 3pm so she waited as long as she could for the mother of the groom but the show had to go on. Things went rather well though mom had to steal Emanuel’s shirt cord for the handfasting as the mother of the groom was also going to do that. All in all it was a lovely ceremony.

So sweet

The signing... Sean was making me laugh about the first dance so hard I thought I would cry

After the ceremony it was onto pictures. Luckily the missing parent was collected and there to be a part of that.

Captain Morgan anyone?

A close up of Petite Sheepette for those interested. That is Mae's arm

Echo and Daddy

Ken and I took some time and with Karyn’s help as well I got some special pictures of my dress while waiting for the rest of the people to arrive. It was hot and the kids fussy.

Seated with flowers

Standing

A little ethereal

With Ken's cloak

OH the anachronistic ladies! Here they are!! Beauties all 3!

So lovely

But we got some lovely shots. And when the bride and groom were done with us we headed off for much needed and earned slurppees at 7-11. Where, of course, I got out of the car in front of someone I recognized from high school (name escapes me)… but at least I got my pepsi slurpee!

Slurpees

There was another hour before the dinner was scheduled to start so we hung out in the hall again waiting on the bride and groom. Ken had a nap of course!

Napping on the floor

Dinner actually ended up starting a little late BUT it did get under-way eventually. A bit unconventional… the speeches (the few there were) were BEFORE dinner… mine as well. But then finally food! The kids seemed pleased though the table of cupcakes was screaming for them to touch quite loudly I am told! 

Fat Sheep enjoyed the event from the headtable as well with her date Mae. There was much hilarity and boisterousness from that corner of the table! She was amazing, Mae… with a dress malfunction we were able to head off at the pass she was able to deal with it all with great humour. Though she says the Chrises now owe her BIG TIME as she is not a dress kinda girl and pretty much burnt herself to a socket through out the evening. Fat Sheep REALLY enjoyed her time with her lovely date! 

Fat Sheep and her lovely date

I love love LOVE this picture of Mae!

After dinner was some random visiting… then after much urging the cutting of the cake… we had to do some more waiting before the dance but the kids decided to get the party started on their own. Trinity especially was quite the little dancer! 

Dancing

Just a picture I thought was cute

After the bride and groom dance we had the bridal party and then we were free!!! I changed into a different dress as mine weighed a ton… there is ONE picture that I have of it… the polka dot one. I swear I felt almost naked!

You can just see the other dress on the right

After dancing and sending Echo home with mom, taking the rest of the kids home in the  van and cars where their seats were those of us staying at mom’s headed out to the liquor store for some supplies and then stayed up late into the evening hanging out, drinking and generally enjoying the evening. No pictures of that, but trust me fun was had though we all trickled off to bed in the end… some of us earlier than others (the latest being up until past 4 am!!). I actually drank a bottle of Boones (less a glass Ken spilled before any of us were even buzzed!) and a jello shooter my cousin bought me (a new thing for me). So when Echo woke up in the middle of the night it was her sippy of water and back to bed for her! No nursing until later the next day. But it was fun. I especially enjoyed getting to know Jocelyn better and looking through everyone’s pictures!!! I am sure once I get other people’s images I will have some to share of things I talked about here that I did not have a picture for! But that was THE day! And what a day it was! 

Esther and her adopted brood...

Had to share this picture of one of the little guests!