Fall Fun at Dewberry

Camden's pumpkin

Meg's pumpkin

The Girls

Marshall found a little girlfriend in the pumpkin patch, or so he thought, until he realized all she wanted was his snacks...it didn't matter how cute she was, NOONE gets between Mister and his snacks!

Everyone with their pumpkins...except Durham is upset that Marshall stole his pumpkin, so he refused to be a part of the picture as protest

Posing with Pumpkins

Marshall's favorite thing to do was to THROW the pumpkins out of the wagon, so I spent the rest of the day just trying to keep track of our flying pumpkins

Kyla's teeny pumpkin

The boys hauling the pumpkins

They loved watching the "singing chickens"

it was weird, but entertaining none the less

Marshall, Camden, Megan, Kyla, Durham,& Luke

How CUTE are they!

This post should have been posted already, but I took sooo many cute pictures, I got overwhelmed and couldn't decide which one's to post. Several weekends ago, before Halloween, Eric's parents, his sister and her kiddos all met up with us and went to Dewberry. Eric was out of town. It was a little warm, but a beautiful day. We all had fun, and the kids LOVED being with their cousins. We all have so much fun when we are together and the kids are all the same ages, well actually they are all a year a part--it has been fun, but for the last 6 years either Rachel or I have had a baby (usually me) and it has made for 6 kids in 6 years, and LOTS of excitement! There's Kyla ('02), Camden ('03), Megan ('04), Durham ('05), Luke ('06), and Marshall ('07)--I guess Rachel dropped the ball this year, no baby!

Our Good Citizen

Click on the pic to really see how proud she is

Kyla is a model student! I have to brag...when she was in Kindergarten she was the first student in her class to receive the Citizenship award for the class the first 9 weeks, and low and behold in First grade she again was the first to receive the award. The award is a pretty big deal because each class has two students chosen every nine weeks, and they get a little key chain trinket, a certificate, and have their picture up on the wall at school. The Citizenship award is given to those who set a good example, are helpful and kind, and have "exemplary" conduct. She also recieved the Principal's Club Award for excellent conduct, and Straight A Honor Roll. She was very proud of herself, and I am very proud of her too. She obviously takes after...well, I cannot tell a lie, her DAD! If I could only get her to bring her sweet "exemplary" behavior home with her we'd be in business.

HALLOWEEN 2008

This year we decided we were all going to dress up as character's from the wizard of OZ. I had been tellIing the story to the kids, then McDonald's came out with the toys in their Happy Meals, and the kids were sold. I figured that I would have a time with a few, if not all, with not wanting to wear their costumes, but they all loved them EXCEPT Dad...he pouted and refused to wear the "Wizard of OZ" costume I made for him. I could only remember the floating head from the movie, so I bought a black sheet, cut a hole in it and told him to wear it--he was NOT impressed. I got him to wear it breifly during the ward trunk-or-treat, but no luck after that--PARTY POOPER! :) I dressed as the scare crow, which Eric said is appropriate...NOT funny! Durham was the Tin Man, because he got to carry an AX, Kyla Dorothy, of course, because she is the STAR of the show. She was very proud of her costume, complete with basket, Toto, and red ruby slippers--Thanks Gammy for making it for us! Cami was Glenda the good witch, and Mister Marshall Man, the Cowardly Lion.

Eric had a meeting that afternoon in College Station, so we all went along, and met up with Kara, Cadence (Superman) and Cotulla (Angel). We visited with my brother and Trick-or-treated a few dorms on campus. We got TONS of candy, all of which I carefully inspected and pulled out any defected pieces...funny thing is all the TWIX and many chocolate bars had to be confiscated for more full inspection. Man, I have GOT to start going to the gym again!

The girls "following the yellow brick road"

Marshall

"Cowardly Lion"

Durham & Dad

"Tin Man" & "Wizard of OZ"

Durham testing out the Tin Man ax on the poor tree

a tuckered out Tin Man

Camden

"GLENDA THE GOOD WITCH"

Kyla
"DOROTHY"

Chowing down on the night's spoils--a successful haul.

I think the scrary part of this picture is FOUR adults chasing SIX little ones through the busy dorm parking lot in the dark--oh the thrills! P.S I think that's about a 5 foot drop off the back of the wall Kyla is sitting on! Gotta love it! :)

Strolling the Halls of the dorms--not a bad idea, since we do live in Texas, and the dorms are AIR CONDITIONED! I have to give Kara a thumbs up for the dorm idea!

The CREEPY HaUnTeD HoUsE on my brother's street

Kyla made it through...

Durham made it through...

The other's were content to wait outside.

We used my little brother's house as home base for out trick-or-treating excursions. We changed clothes and ate there. They don't have any kids yet, so it was quite a "treat" for me to see him pacing around his house while six kids age 6 and under ran around like maniacs, excited for Halloween to finally be here. Sorry Harley, but it was HILARIOUS--you need to start the babies soon, or you are going to have a heart attack one of these times we come to visit.

So after we all got dressed up, we had to go outside and ring the doorbell, so we could get some CANDY!!! Jordan, my brother's wife is dressed as "Prince" the singer--purple satin pants, five o'clock shadow and all, very cool!

The kids mooching more candy from Uncle Harley and Aunt Jordan, again. Their's was the one of only three or four houses on the street with their light's on so the kids thought they needed to knock on the door several times to make up the difference.

My brother Harley as Elvis...the kids didn't quite get it, but they thought he was funny anyway, and since he let them Trick-or-Treat at his house THREE times, they thought he was pretty cool. Thanks Uncle Harley and Aunt Jordan for all the CHOCOLATE!

Halloween was a Blast! Okay, so it was a little EXHAUSTING chasing around SIX little ones, all hopped up on sugar and "goof balls", but we had FUN, and most importantly we lived to tell about it!

So Mary tagged me--yeah, my first TAG. P.S. Love your new background Mary!

Where is your cell phone? I dunno, haven't seen it in 2 days, hope noone's trying to call!
Where is your significant other? Bedroom watching election results--BORING!
Your hair color? Um, artificially blonde
Your mother? Crazy
Your father? A looney bird--um, maybe that's where I get it?
Your favorite thing? Family
Your dream last night? None, I only dream when I'm pregnant, and I'm NOT pregnant-yea!
Your dream/goal? Huge house in the Bahamas--how's that for a dream?
The room you’re in? Eric's office
Your hobby? Decorating my house
Your fear? Terrified of the DARK
Where do you want to be in 6 years? A subdivision
Where were you last night? Looking for a house to rent in College Station--no luck
What you’re not? Happy to be in the middle of nowhere
One of your wish-list items? Neighbors
Where you grew up? Waller, Texas--time to get out of here!
The last thing you did? Ignored Eric when he said time to put the kids to bed :)
What are you wearing? Jeans that are too tight--I need to work out!
Your TV? Never watch it
Your pet? Never going to have one! Oh yeah, never mind we have a cat "socky" anyone need a cat?
Your computer? Laptop
Your mood? Stessed
Missing someone? Ashley
Your car? A gas gusler
Something you’re not wearing? Socks
Favorite store? Ross--what, it's fun!
Your summer? A blur
Love someone? ERIC, Ashley, Kyla, Camden, Durham & Marshall
When is the last time you laughed? Seconds ago when Cami showed me her booty
Last time you cried? Today, funny cause I NEVER cry!

So let's see... I TAG Kara (cause you are supposed to be reading this), Jeri and Nicole

The Haunted Castle

The other day we were shopping with the kids in Walmart, and there strategicly placed on an end cap (I think it even had a light from heaven and angels singing--kinda like the Sword in the Stone) was the Haunted Castle Cookie Kit. My first thought was eeew, how long has that cookie been in that box, but of course my children brought me around. We have all heard of and made many wonderful memories with the old "gingerbread house", but why wait 'til Christmas for the sugar coated fun? So I shelled out the $10--yes, I know, NOT a bargain (comercialism and consumerism at it's best) and brought home our prize. After listening to the "can we make it NOW?" every 20 minutes all week, I finally said okay, and sunday after church we created our MASTERPIECE!

the anticipation was KILLING them...

Mister was a good helper

We had to make sure we got the candy decorations just right--one on the castle, two in the mouth.

CHEESE! HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!

We had a great time, the candy was very tasty, and the end result was a very spooky Haunted Castle!

Camden is 5 Years Old (October 10)

Camden starting to open her presents...
Kyla thinking maybe her not getting any presents might not be that fun...

One of the presents Camden got was a Littlest Pet Shop toy. Cami liked it okay, but Kyla LOVES Littlest Pet Shop, and was absolutely beside herself, and unconsolable at the injustice of Camden getting a toy that SHE likes...oops I better do better shopping next time.

Kyla finally composed herself, kinda, and gave Camden the sweetest gift ever. Wrapped up in her leotard, because she didn't have any wrapping paper, was one of Kyla's prized Littlest Pet Shop animals-a sweet little dog. It was so touching, it almost made me cry-actually it did, but I tried not to show it. There is nothing more special than to see your children selflessly show their love for one another. That was a very special gift to Cami. Kyla is a sweet girl. I have wonderful children.

So Camden's birthday was a little crazy. First, we have had sooo much going on and sooo much stress (more on that in a later post) that I did not even try to plan a birthday party for my precious Camden. BUT, I had to make the day special, after all 5 is a very big deal. So I woke up early that morning, made some heart shaped pancakes just for Cami, stacked them high and stuck a candle in. Then, I woke up my precious angel with a kiss, hug and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! She came into the kitchen for breakfast, and when she sat down I lit the candle and started to sing "Happy Birthday". Sounds great right??? WRONG! She was FURIOUS!!! She did NOT want a candle in her pancakes, she did NOT want to blow it out and make a wish, she did NOT want to be sang to! She screamed and cried like only she can, and stormed off to her room. So that was the start of the wonderful morning. Finally, I blew out the candle and we coaxed her to come eat as long as no one acknowleded her or her birthday in any way. So, okay, I thought maybe this not having a party thing was a good idea...

But then, when we picked her up from school, she jumped into the car, happy as a clam, with a HUGE Happy Birthday hat on, and her teacher told me what a wonderful day she had had--they had the princess cupcakes I had sent to school, and they sang "Happy Birthday" to her THREE times--she loved it. WHAT??? Maybe I just can't sing, is that it? And, it only got worse...

After we picked Kyla up from school, the girls got home and decided that they were going to decorate the house for Cami's birthday party, and fill up water balloons. I thought it was a pretty cute idea, until about an hour later, while still decorating and filling they stopped to ask "so when are all of my friends going to get here for the party?" OOPS! Um, about that...they aren't. I felt about two inches tall (and yes I am taller than that normally). Luckily, Grandma Judy and Papa Dennis did come over with presents and we went out to eat. My parents came over Sunday with presents and we had a brownie cake--although we were not allowed to sing to or look at her, and she again refused to blow out the candles. Oh well, she's my Cammers! She is 5 years old, and Yes, that really is a big deal!

BONFIRE!

We finally decided to cut up and burn some of the limbs and such that blew down during hurricane Ike. Eric had fun firing up the chain saw, and the kids loved the HUGE bonfire we built--we may have gotten a little carried away. The fire got so high and hot that it burned several other trees around--but it was fun, oh the things you can do in the country!

Marshall is so very proud of his spot in the wheel barrel

Marshall and Pa

I had to post this picture because I thought it was so darn cute! Marshall thought it was soo fun to climb up on top of my Dad's back. Ashley always called my Dad Papa Dwight, but when Kyla started talking she couldn't say it so we all called him Papa White. My dad decided a few months ago he wanted to be called Pa, and wouldn't answer the kids unless they called him Pa..so Pa it is. Whatever they call him, they think he's a lot of fun!

Gig'em Aggies

Last Weekend I got to go with Eric to College Station to watch the Texas A&M vs. Kansas State game from awesome air-conditioned box seats. It was really nice because the game started at 1:15 in the afternoon and it was HOT! The game wasn't all that great, we lost! BUT, I did get to meet up with my girlfriend Shannon, she lives in Dallas and I don't get to see her much (we were roommates in Europe, on our Marketing study abroad trip, and she was Maid of Honor in our wedding). Anyway, I had a great time walking around campus and North Gate with Shannon, Eric and friends, reminiscing about the good old days. When we were young and cute and without responsibilities. We went by the Century Tree where Eric proposed to me in front of our family and friends, then to Fitzwillies and sat and chatted. It is amazing how fast the years have gone by, and how much we have all changed. It was so much fun to just spend a few hours in the past. But then, on the way home I had to really think about how blessed I have been. I wouldn't ever want to go back. I have a wonderful husband, five beautiful children, and a great life. I may not be young (30 really snuck up on me) and cute anymore, and my life is FULL of responsibilities, but I wouldn't have it any other way!