Rocking New Year's Eve

The original A-team
2008+2 = my mom doesn't throw things away too often!
Welcome 2010!!

We had our annual New Year's Eve bash at (my bro) Craig and Jodi's. The theme this year was American because Craig, being the kid that he is bought a cotton candy machine. Seriously. An industrial-size one. It is awesome. Maybe someday I will buy one because I LOVE cotton candy.

Here's the menu:
Homemade Root Beer
Hamburgers
Hot Dogs, Brats
Corn Dogs
Chips
Salad
Fruit
Hot fudge Sundaes (and homemade caramel, reeses pieces, and bananas)
Jackie's b-day cake
Funnel cake that never got cooked because we were too full.
COTTON CANDY

Craig working his magic
All the kids got their very own!! What a dream!


It was a fun evening with Beatles Rock Band, talking, playing, food and the countdown to midnight with balloons falling from the sky (okay, ceiling).

Last year we set New Year's resolutions as a family. Our kids all accomplished theirs, but Sam and I were lacking (mine--learn to sew and improve my Spanish--umm, I sewed Boo's Halloween costume, does that count?).

Here are some new goals. Maybe if I post them I'll actually follow through:

Sew 3 things--including a dress
Exercise 3 times a week (seriously. I am only 6 months prego and I've gained 25 pounds. Awesome).

I of course have a long list of goals in different categories--Health, Spiritual, Relationships, but these are on the family goal list.

Did you hear?

We had over a foot of snow two weeks ago (and it's ALMOST gone). So, we enjoyed it for a couple days till it was black and nasty and then we headed to Great Wolf Lodge to enjoy a little summer in the middle of winter. Four of my siblings and their fams went and we had a fabulous time. I even rode some of the slides (shhh--don't tell my Dr!).




And for those who haven't heard...IT'S A.....


GIRL!!!! Luke slumped his shoulders, but got over it pretty fast!

Doesn't it feel good?

When you get a strike? Some reactions from a recent (okay, try over a month) bowling trip.


Sometimes you can't even believe it!


After his 1st strike


This one just ran around the whole place and tried picking up the balls.


Sometimes they had a little help from this contraption or


From daddy.

Fall Fun

Seeing as it snowed here, I figured I better post these pictures from our Fall fun. S. played hooky from work and his bro, Jesse joined us for our yearly Cox Farm trip. We met up with the A cousins and had a fun time on the slides, corn maze, hayride and of course eating kettle corn.

Christmas Surprise

Did you know...

That I'm pregnant? Yep, 20 weeks and we had the ultrasound last Monday. I'm sure you're wondering what we're having. You'll (and we'll) have to wait until Christmas. There is a special envelope hanging in our tree that has the secret. I feel like a kid waiting for that Christmas surprise. So, if you happen to come to our house--NO PEEKING!!

Any guesses on the sex? S thinks it's a girl. I think it's a boy (and Little Man does, too).

Remember and Respect

We started a new tradition in our home this year. I got the idea from Nie Nie. Every year she has a special Back-to-School dinner for her kids. They have a theme for the year. I think it is a wonderful idea and helps the kids get excited for school.

Our theme this year is "Remember and Respect." I wanted to emphasize the fact that they need to remember what WE have taught in our home. That we might make different choices than our friends. That we have different rules and expectations. I also wanted them to remember to respect their classmates and teachers and themselves.

We invited all the cousins (and Grandparents on both sides and aunts and uncles). We had apples as our centerpieces, we had a big poster with the theme that they helped decorate and hats with the theme and their names. We ate dinner, had the grown-ups tell stories from their school days and talked about the theme. We all ate at one long table. No "kids' table" for this party. Even though it was a little crazy with 11 kids I think they still got some good out of it.

After dinner (Indian Food--homemade, of course!)--we had a fashion show with some of their new outfits, and then dessert--A rice krispie treat school bus and some chocolate cream puffs and coconut-creme cream puffs. We decided to do the party that morning so Aunt Mary and Uncle Mike could come, too, so there aren't many pictures since I was running around doing things. But the table looked really cute!

Trick or Treat Smell My

Happy Halloween!! We've had lots of events this Halloween season (that's right, it's not just a day, it's a WHOLE SEASON)! Starting with an adult-only Halloween party, 2 parades, 1 school party, 1 school function cancelled because of too many sick kids at the school (sick with what, you ask? H1N1 and other flu-fun), 1 church Trunk-or-Treat, 1 trip to Elevation Burger in costume to get free milkshakes, and one night of Trick-or-Treating + Charlie Brown and the Great Pumpkin. Here are some pictures to prove it all.

S and I decided to be Mary Poppins and Bert instead of JFK and Marilyn or Jackie O so the kids would know who we were.

The kids? Star Wars. Why? Because they are OBSESSED with Star Wars Wii. It's going to kill me. At least we have a 30 minute a day limit (plus none on Sunday). Hopefully that will keep me out of the funny farm. S. dressed up as Darth Vadar for Little Man's b-day (I'll eventually post pictures of that) and I was Leia, but we liked our Mary Poppins and Bert better.

The costume low-down: I love saving moolah on costumes!

Mary Poppins: total cost $3.75 for flowers and berries on hat + black spray paint. Had shirt, skirt, ribbon for bow tie, used my 101-year-old gma's hat and spray painted it and glued flowers and berries. I had S.'s g-ma's white gloves and the parrot umbrella from Mary Poppin's on Broadway that was my sister's (this isn't pictured).

Bert: Total cost: $2.
Had jacket, shirt, pants, boots. Spray painted wooden bar we had around the house and cut cardboard for the chimney sweeper. Bought face paint and red material for scarf. Used my dad's hat.

Princess Leia: Total cost $1.49. Made the dress from an old kitchen curtain that had shrunk in the wash. Used no pattern. Found belt at a second-hand store. Used her real hair.

Luke Skywalker: Total cost $0. My mom made his vest for his birthday party a month ago (Carrie--I got the idea from you!). Had pants, shoes and light saber.

Yoda: $0 Borrowed hat and jacket from a friend. Had green face paint.

And there you have it! You can do Halloween for 5 people under $10!


Little Man's school parade



A picture with all the cousins after piano lessons.




Mary, Bert and the Star Wars gang.



After our Adult-only Halloween party. I think this might be a tradition! I'll do a separate post on this--oooh, maybe even on the FLOG that hasn't been touched in over a year!