In the holiday spirit!

Please click on the link below to see how our kids get in the holiday spirit! Too funny!


http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1120020530

Babes in Toyland

Ross and Elizabeth are taking part in our little theater guild's performance of Babes in Toyland. They were allowed to choose the toys they wanted to be. As you can see, Ross chose to be a baseball, and Elizabeth chose to be a china doll.

I wasn't quite sure what to do about the baseball costume, but it came together pretty well with fabric, foam, and red duct tape. Luckily, we had a Mulan costume from last Halloween, but I didn't know how I wanted to turn Elizabeth's blond hair black. Thanks to a suggestion from my friend Emily, we found that FamilyFun.com (my favorite costume idea website) shows how to make an Asian princess wig out of black tights, bubble wrap, a hot glue gun, silk flowers, and chop sticks. It's hard to see in the pictures, but it turned out great.

The kids don't have speaking parts - they just walk in a toy parade and wave to the audience two different times and then participate in funny, choreographed battle scene. Then for the last half hour they just stand on stage and act scared, mad, surprised, etc. It's such a great production! Last night was opening night, and it runs through Sunday afternoon.

Earlier in the week I was giving the kids directions on where to go to meet me as soon as the play was over so we wouldn't become separated. Ross said, "Well, Mom... it might take a little while because I'll probably be signing autographs afterward." I think my humble little boy has seen his Uncle Ben perform a couple of times.

Mallory's new trick

Mallory has just learned to wave. In this video, she doesn't do it for long. She waves ALL the time to anyone who will humor her. At the mall the other day she was the welcome committee for all of the shoppers. Just about every time she sees my sister Andrea she starts waving. It's always fun when they learn new tricks!

Meet our little Indian

Introducing "Strong Storm." We attended Drew's preschool's Pow-Wow today. The kids decorated their costumes and made musical instruments earlier in the week and invited the parents to a Pow-Wow where they sang a song, read a story, and shared popcorn. The children got to pick their own Indian names. Some kids chose Dancing Deer, Red Bear, Princess Bel-bel, Soaring Eagle, Wild Bronco, etc. My two favorites, though, were Walking Beaver and Horse Rock.

Here we go again!

Of course we had to put the kids' crazy glasses on Mallory. We didn't leave them on long, though, because she rapidly turned her head from side to side, trying to get them off. Oh, we're so glad she's here for our enjoyment!

Elizabeth had to get in on the action too.

They wanted me to try them on too. The girls get their good looks from me, don't you think?

Proof that Edward is secure in his manhood

Elizabeth decided to give her Daddy a beautiful hairstyle. What a good sport!

Veteran's Day

We were in Cape Girardeau on Sunday - Veteran's Day. We drove past a park that had the most amazing display of American flags. It was breathtaking. I would guess there were around 500 full-sized flags lining the road. These pictures don't quite do it justice, but you get the idea.

Happy Birthday Edward!

Today is Edward's (and of course Jan Ellen's) 32nd birthday. In honor of him, I will share 32 things I love about him. In no particular order:

1. He kisses me everyday.
2. He tells me he loves me everyday.
3. He takes time to play with our children everyday.
4. He is a wonderful provider for the other five of us in the family.
5. He also knows how important it is that I stay home to raise our children.
6. He is so funny.
7. He thinks I'm so funny.
8. He shares his very favorite candy (peanut M & M's) with me.
9. He has such integrity.
10. He doesn't yell at me when I have a fender bender in our new van TWO WEEKS IN
A ROW!
11. He eats all of my dinners without complaint.
12. He has amazing faith.
13. He is very handsome!
14. He is humble.
15. He holds me if I cry.
16. He plays "beauty shop" with Elizabeth.
17. He makes me any kind of cake I want on my birthday. His strawberry shortcake turned out
amazing this year.
18. He sends me out alone to the library or to see a movie when he "senses" I've had a rough
day with the troops.
19. He still makes my heart pitter-patter.
20. He is compassionate.
21. He is a considerate boss who values his wonderful staff.
22. He is friendly.
23. He teaches Ross and Drew to respect women.
24. He makes me feel like I can do anything just when he is near me.
25. He changes diapers.
26. He would rather be home with his family than anywhere else.
27. He doesn't sweat the small stuff.
28. He cleans toilets.
29. He gives people money if they are in need.
30. He stops to give people assitance if they are having car trouble, even on holidays.
31. He is honest.
32. He is still my Prince Charming after 10 years!

I love it!

More Funny Pictures at pYzam.com

When I grow up, I want to be...

Drew is very into ninjas & spys right now. Actually he says "inja." Yesterday he was talking to me about his "inja skills" and told me, "When I get big I'm gonna be an American Family Inja." What a creative career!

Getting a jump start on Christmas pictures!

Miscellaneous Halloween Pics

Finally, the real thing! Trick-or-treating on Halloween.

All of the Wright cousins

" Jackpot! Maybe this dressing-up nonsense isn't so bad afterall!"

Mallory REALLY enjoyed her first sucker! She kept getting it stuck in her feathers, but that didn't stop her. She enjoyed a feather-covered sucker just the same!

How hysterical is this! Anna was the cutest cave woman ever!

The bone in her hair was the best! And yes, that is her real hair. I haven't yet found out how fun it was to wash that out.

Our friends, the Williams, invited us to go trick-or-treating at the state park where they were camping the weekend before Halloween. We enjoyed the candy, s'mores, chili, and good company!

Mummy-wrap Ross

Drew and his buddy Cade

Let the Halloween festivities begin!

Yesterday we went Trick-or-Treating to the downtown businesses. The kids really enjoyed a jump start on the candy hunt.

Mallory is the cutest baby chicken on the planet! She leaves a trail of white feathers wherever she goes. The chicken feet are my favorite!

Drew is a "nice" Frankenstein, according to him. He doesn't like any of the scary stuff, so he wants everyone to know he's nice. He's seen this costume in magazines and just had to have it. It was a bit pricey for me, but thanks to e-bay, we got a good deal. It's basically a fleece jacket and is perfect for picky little Drew!

Elizabeth had a lot of fun making people do a double-take. Ever the drama queen, she had fun acting like a granny. She'd stop and say in a granny voice, "Oh, my back! You guys go on without me!"

Ross has had an alien encounter! The jammied-feet are stuffed. His real feet are the alien's feet. He also enjoyed throwing people off with the get-up. Thanks for the idea Family Fun!

A very tuckered-out little chicken

Sailing, Sailing...

Drew took Mallory on a high sea adventure a couple of weeks ago. They were dodging evil pirates & hot lava left and right!
They are reading the treasure map (a.k.a. Candyland game board).

Pumpkin Carving

Usually, we let the kids paint their pumpkins. They pick a favorite image from the computer, I trace it onto the pumpkin, and they paint it. Unfortunately, my craft paints are still tucked away in a yet-to-be-unpacked box in the yet-to-be-organized basement. Bummer. There was much disappointment in the disturbance of routine. Drew would have NOTHING to do with touching the pumpkin "guts."

The boys wanted a little help with their designs, while Elizabeth is crafty enough to do her own.

Be cool about fire safety!

To celebrate "Fire Safety Week" Drew's preschool took a field trip to our fire station. He was excited to climb into the big fire truck.

Mallory is always swarmed by the little girls. She's usually a pretty good sport. For those of you that went to school with me, the little girl in the leopard headband is Heather Matthews Millers little girl, Morgan. She is such a funny, spunky little thing!

Drew was all smiles as he climbed aboard!

Drew and his best friend, Cade. Now, he's no Sterling, but Cade is a pretty good substitute when Sterling isn't around. Drew calls Cade his cousin, and Cade calls Drew his brother. Whatever the relationship, they are good buddies. Their big brothers have been classmates for the last three years also.

Gross

If you have a weak constitution don't read this blog entry!

Yesterday I was driving myself crazy trying to finish up Halloween costumes. I was on the floor really concentrating on my stitching while Drew and Mallory were sitting beside me playing. I looked up at Mallory and noticed she was chewing on something. I made a comment about her tasting something, and Drew told me, "She's just chewing on her spit-up." That's gross enough, but no, he was fibbing. Upon closer inspection, she had a giant Drew-sized booger on her lip. That's right. He was sharing his "treasure" with her. Poor baby.

FHS Homecoming

Here are some shots of the kids enjoying the homecoming parade. They brought their bags to catch the loads of candy being tossed from the procession. Who needs Halloween?

Playing dress-up

No, it's not the little girls who are dressing up Mallory. It's the boys! Grant, Harrison, & Ross found My Buddy and introduced him to Mal.

They determined they probably wore the same size clothes.
It was a tight fit, but they sure got a kick out of Miss Mallory!