October is OvEr

Field Trip to .....pumpkin patch for preschool

Field trip to Bowen House

Friends

Carving our 40 pound pumpkins

Trick or Treating Fun at preschool

Halloween!!

Election Day!!!!!

My favorite part of all of this:

Our family night election dinner!

Addi wanted apple to win. Doesn't it look delish?

The kids come up with candidates (aka dinner options) and make posters to persuade the voters. For family night we have a couple speeches and then vote! Tuesday night we eat the winning candidate! :)

My favorite poster this year:

"What's better than a cow? A chocolate cow! Vote for Chocolate Milk!"

Finally....Addi's turn

Starting in June, we have Blake's birthday. Then mine. Then Emmalee and Jerek's in September. And then finally Addi has her turn in October. After each birthday celebration we hear, "When's it going to be my birthday?? Is it my turn yet?" So yes it is finally Addi's birthday and we are all very happy that it is here. The relief of finally having all the birthdays finished is also saddened by the realization that my baby is 5. FIVE!

Celebrated with friends. Had their hair, makeup, and nails done.

before

after

Addi is full of life and opinions. She loves clothes, shoes, jewelry, and I have no say in what she wears anytime of the day. She adores her older siblings and is 'so boring' without them. I love that she is all about being a big independent girl but will always play the part of baby of the family and cuddle with me when needed. She has a bright spirit that completes our family. She is a JOY!

Happy birthday to my baby girl!

Camping fun

We borrowed this awesome camper/rv/motorhome thing for a weekend getaway to the mountains. A dear friend of ours just couldn't take it out anymore and has been asking us all summer to take it out for a spin. 

We.loved.it. 

It spoiled us and I don't ever want to sleep on a sleeping pad again as long as our friend owns this!

Packing to go was a cinch and when it was time to leave, NOTHING to take apart, nothing to put away, just throw everything back in and head out. Awesome.

Ode to Addi

Addi biffs it

We did have one incident on our camping trip. Addi was riding the scooter down the hill and totally fell on her face. Scratched, swollen, blackened nose was the result of that trip. Thought it might be broken but apparently kids have a harder time than adults in breaking their nose since their cartilage is so much more flexible. Phew. I think stitches are enough for one year!

I have a TEN YEAR OLD!!

Double Digits!

Em couldn't have been MORE excited for this birthday. I can't believe how grown up she is! 

Em is a GREAT girl. She loves to read and write stories. She is becoming an excellent pianist. She is a great helper and has watched her siblings several times so mom and dad can attend meetings. I can't believe her life under our roof and influence is half over. The rest of time is going to fly. 

She celebrated her day into the double digits by doing getting her ears pierced.

After the tears came, Addi made it all better by commenting, "Oh Emmalee, you look BEAUTIFUL!"

Emmalee's day

Balloon surprise. We had to do it the morning of since our big girl seems to think she doesn't have to go to bed before her parents.




Earrings!






b-day dinner








Ah! 10!! Over half-way done living with us!