Halloween 08'

Last year my friend Shalynn and I spend many many hours sewing Jedi costumes. My mom even pitched in and made Hayley a Leia dress. I was really hopeful that they would love them so much they would want to be Star Wars characters for the next three years. As Halloween got closer it became more and more clear that Bella was the only child who was excited to be a Jedi this year Gabe really has no choice and was Yoda again. Hayley was set on being a Vampiress, Jaden had no idea, and Mariah wanted to be a Jawa. After many bribery attempts and tears (mine and Mairah's) I decided I could make her a Jawa costume following these instructions.

So three days before Halloween I went with Shalynn to the fabric store to find the fabric I would need to make a Jawa. As we were walking out the door I mentioned to Shalynn how much I did not like the Vampiress costume we had borrowed for Hayley. So we decided to "take a look". 30 minutes later we were once again leaving the store, this time with enough fabric for two costumes. The plan was simple. The next day, the 29th, I would cut out patterns. Then on the 30th we would sew from dawn until dusk. It was a crazy plan but very doable. What we did not plan on was me coming down with the stomach flu the night of the 29th. Luckily for me I have an angel for a friend and her name is Shalynn. I really should just start calling her "wonder woman". She came and took the fabric for Hayley's dress and sewed for half of the day at her house. Around 2:00 p.m. she came over and we both continued in a sewing frenzy. Mariah's costume came together rather quickly and then I helped finish the trim on Hayley's dress. We kept saying to each other, "I am so glad we decided not to sew this year for Halloween." Scott did a great job on Mariah's mask. She was so excited she said she's going to be a Jawa next year. I think I'll get that in writing.

Jaden was going to be a storm-trooper that we borrowed from Drake. But after wearing it to our ward halloween party and ripping out the crotch we concluded it may be too small. Lucky for Jaden I had a Jedi costume all ready to go. Gabe was Yoda from last year. And so with the exception of Hayey's vampiress costume the Star Wars theme continued on for a second year.

This year we attended the annual school parade which always makes me dizzy. Isabella's school did a small program in which they wowed us all with their vast repertoire of halloween songs.



After the kids came home from school we decided to carve the pumpkins we had grown in our garden this year. There was one for every kid except Gabe. This didn't matter as he was asleep and will never know he missed out. Please don't tell him. After I cleaned out all the guts we got started on the design. Each kid came up with their own face. Hayley did hers all by herself with no help what so ever from me. I think we ended up with four pretty amazing pumpkins.



It was one of the warmest Halloweens I ever remember. This and the fact that it was a weekend night made it perfect for trick-or-treating. I manned the house with my candy cauldron and Scott ventured out with three kids on scooters and two in the wagon.



Even though it was a crazy week I think it was a successful Halloween. Next year I am defiantly not sewing. Right Shalynn?

the tale of two parties

This year I really lucked out. We had two parties for Jaden and neither one of them was at my house. The Sunday before his birthday we all gathered at my wonderful in-laws house for Jaden's family party. Jaden requested Grandma make her famous spaghetti and my parents brought a delicious salad. We ate dinner, had cake, and opened presents. Simple yet enjoyable.

Every year for our kids birthdays we have a family party. However what they really look forward to is the every other year that they get to have a friend party. This year Jaden wanted to have his party at "Jumpin Jacks". It's a new place really close to my house that is filled with those giant blow up slides and jumping things that kids love. They also have party rooms you can use to do such things as eat pizza, cake, and unwrap presents. This place is a great place to have a party. The number one reason it is so great is that the party is not at my house. Jaden invited four friends-Mason, Drake, Jordan and Kate. Five kids at a birthday party doesn't sound half bad. However when you count Hayley, Mariah, Isabella, Gabriel that certainly adds up quick. My wonderful friend Shalynn came to help so I invited her two youngest Chessa and Jared. And since Mindy brought Drake we let Zander and Amari join in the fun. Even though 12 kids may sound like a lot it's not so bad when they're not at your house and are mesmerized by giant blow up slides. They also come home and go right to bed. Win-win for all.

The big 1-0

10 years old. Jaden in a nutshell: Way to big for kisses. Still lets me hug him and whisper "I love you". Isabella's hero. Loves to build things-legos rule. Enjoys video games (gross understatement). Is as tall as Hayley. Favorite food is Grandma's spaghetti. Will do chores without being asked-usually so he can play video games. Keeps his room clean-also so he can play video games. Favorite chore is unloading the dishwasher-I love this. Is super-duper smart. Extra good at math. Reads his Book of Mormon every night. Let's Gabe play with his toys. Has awesome scooter skills. His favorite snack is my Clif Builder Bars. Is awesome at Tae Kwon Do. He has his blue belt. Teases his sisters endlessly. Doesn't like to be teased. Has a growling monster that comes out when he is angry. Tender-hearted. Still has two favorite "sleeping toys" named Snowball and Snowball Jr. He's brave when it comes to rides at Lagoon, but he still doesn't like to go downstairs by himself. He is my best toy-room cleaner. He is developing some super dance moves, one day maybe I'll capture them on film. Is now a Webelo in cub scouts. His best friends are Drake, Kate and Jordan. His best friends forever are Hayley, Mariah, Isabella and Gabriel. I love you Jaden. Happy Birthday. You Rock!!

party for the "big kids"

Back in 2001 my super friend Mindy had a Halloween Party for the "big kids" only. This started a tradition that I look forward to every year. I love to dress-up. I mean I really love it. The last few years we have stopped buying all our costumes and have found the beauty of renting. This way we can get really cool costumes for the same price as buying a cheap looking one. It's getting harder and harder to come up with great ideas. Because we take it so seriously the expectations are very high. This year I think we pulled it off. In fact I think this may be my favorite costume ever. Scott was Lucius Malfoy and I was Bellatrix Lestrange.

If you think it's childish that grown people would dress-up for Halloween then you should see the games we play at our parties. There was a candy-corn toss, pumpkin bowling, and bobbing for worms in cool-whip. Good times.

I have more pictures to post but unfortunately Mindy still has them. More to come...

taking up the whole stinkin' ride

I know that I have a lot of children. I am well aware of it. However most days it really doesn't seem like that many to me. That is however until we go to Gardner Village and take up all the ponies on their pony ride.

Belt Testing

My little minion's training is coming along quite nicely. Before long I shall have command over my very own army. Mwha ha ha ha! (For those who don't know that was my evil laugh). With the world the way it is I think this will come in quite handy. There progress is coming along very nicely. Their combat skills are improving. Hayley and Jaden both advanced to blue belt. They had to show off their various skills which included breaking a board with their elbow. Mariah has finally made it completely through "little dragons" and has graduated to the "big kid classes" as she likes to call them. She is now a yellow belt. Being that she is now a yellow belt she has joined her two older siblings in the prestigious "black belt club". This means that now she gets to go 4 days a week and learn sparring. It also means I got to pay more money. "Yeah for mom!" At her belt ceremony Mariah got to preform her "skills" with all the other "little dragon" graduates. She has really come a long way.

my twin

"Now, you are family. Okay. All my life, I had a lump at the back of my neck, right here. Always, a lump. Then I started menopause and the lump got bigger from the "hormonees." It started to grow. So I go to the doctor, and he did the bio... the b... the... the bios... the... b... the "bobopsy." Inside the lump he found teeth and a spinal cord. Yes. Inside the lump was my twin."

Ok ok it's not really my twin. It's not even really a tumor. My saliva gland is full of saliva. I wish it was my twin. That would be so much more interesting than what it really is. I have a saliva duct stone. When I eat something it just pops right out. The stone blocks my saliva from flowing and it all pools in my gland. After my CT scan they discovered the stone is right under my tongue. So it's off to the surgeon for me. Yeah.

multi-tasking

Look at me! I can wash dishes AND my baby at the same time. I know I know. I am one talented lady.

conference weekend

I love conference weekend. I love spending the weekend with my family. I love not having to get said family ready for church. I love love love hearing the counsel and instruction from our leaders. I love that in October we head up to my in-laws cabin to watch conference.

It was a a bit stormy but Scott managed to get one ride in before it got too bad. Gabe and Bella were the only ones who wanted to go for a ride. It was rainy and there were legos to play with. I didn't want to go either but made Scott take my camera. I am glad he did. The leaves were amazing and most of them were gone after the storm.

fine...i'll do it myself

The other day I had some friends over. Gabe was delighted to have two friends to play with. When it came time for his nap I decided against putting him down because he seemed to be enjoying his playtime. I thought he was playing down stairs when Shalynn came in and told me to go look in Bella's room. This is what I found on Bella's bed. I guess he wasn't having as much fun as I thought.






































I am such a good mommy.

Family Pictures

Before Adam and Danielle moved to Wisconsin Danielle took family pictures. Danielle has been working on the pictures and after much photo editing and head swapping sent these to me. We completed this shoot in less than an hour. These cute pictures are the result of Danielle's superior skills with photoshop. Thanks Danielle.


Here is the whole gang.


Here is our fam. Lots of head swapping had to be done to make this descent. Doesn't Scott look serious.



My brother Adam, his genius wife Danielle and their three kids Kennedy, Seth and Caleb.



My sister Janie and husband Ryan with their adorable baby Elizabeth.


My three youngest siblings Mystery, Jonathan, and Faith


The "original Taintors"


My parents with all of their grandkids.