Let's be Honest here.

We just got the kids to bed after an evening of trick or treating. We had fun, and as you can see, we were the Big 5 of the Wizard of Oz. Joel and I usually don't dress up, but this year we have a costume party, so we thought we may as well do it up right! I have to laugh as I look at this picture though, because we do look like such a happy perfect little family. And we are a happy family- we have a lot of fun and love each other very much, and the majority of the time we do realize how blessed we are......but literally 15 minutes before my dad snapped this picture, Garrett was in full on melt down mode about his costume. ("NO! I want to be an AXE FROG!") My dad was begging him to get it together and Joel and I were threatening Garrett with losing the trick or treating privilege, while in private I was hissing (yes, hissing) at Joel that this whole stupid thing was his idea. (Not entirely accurate, even.) And that is the nice version.

Somehow, although I have no idea how, we pulled it together and had a really fun time trick or treating. Once the candy starting hitting Garrett's bag, he forgot about the Axe Frog (axe from the tin man costume, and frog costume from last year), and was happy to be a tin man. Carter was THRILLED about people giving him a LOT of candy, and Maddy was...well, usual Maddy. Easy, compliant, and filled up her candy bag even though she really doesn't like candy. No kidding.

Hopefully out of all you who read this blog, we aren't the only ones who have moments like these! I am so glad we pulled it together to have a nice evening- Halloween only comes once a year. But I know in years from now when I look at this picture, I will think of where we were 15 minutes before. Oh man.


Trick or Treating Nana Pam.



My boys!



"Trick or Treat, MOM!"


The Happy Family at the end of the evening.


The Ryans stopped by for a quick Halloween greeting. Carter and Molly were so pleased to see each other!




Garrett's favorite part of the evening!



We're tired!

Family Project

Yesterday I realized with a start that we didn't have a proper trick-or-treat bag for Carter! The kids and I visited the botique-ish shop that my mom got The Bigs' bags a few years back, but of course they had none. So Maddy suggested that we make one! We all got so excited and went to work last night. We all contributed, and had a great time. (Well, Carter's contribution was constant entertainment...) For those of you who know ANYTHING about us, you know we are NOT a crafty family, but hey! We can pull together in a pinch! I won't say that the finished product is completely fabulous, but I do love it. I love that we all worked on it, and the love that was put into it from The Bigs for their little brother is simply something money can't buy!




Proof that I actually did some stitching!


Joel- multitasking!


Go Garrett!


Finished product- cute, huh?




Little Pumpkin with his older brother and sister.

A few more from Idaho.

On Sunday, we had some time to go visit with Grammy and Papa. Grammy took the kids on a walk (Carter is always on the lookout for yard art, and there is an abundance in that neighborhood), and Papa took us all on Golf Cart rides.


About halfway through the ride, Carter finally got really comfortable, and insisted on sitting between Papa and I instead of on my lap. Then he put his sweet little hand right up by Papa's to 'help' steer.



Grammy and Carter have always been great buddies.




I love this picture of my Grammy and my babies.


That night we all went over to Marian and Thom's gorgeous new house for dinner and Grammy opened all her cards. Berkley gave her this beautiful picture. She found it in the Old Calvary Baptist Church that my grandparents used to go to (and my mom and her siblings went to as kids, I think). It was a bulletin from 1952, and Berkley framed it herself! Isn't that amazing?







Sissy reading Grammy the card I picked out. (I cried, of course.)


And Sissy reading Grammy the card from her, Garrett, and Carter.

And Also!

Happy Birthday to Aunt Jenell!

We're sorry we don't get to see you until this weekend, but we sure love you. You are a great sister and auntie to us.

We hope you and Baby Dakota get feeling better soon.

Love,
Joel, Sarri, Madeline, Garrett, and Carter

Happy 80th Grammy Jackie...

This weekend my mom, the kids, and I headed over to Nampa, Idaho to help her celebrate. It was a whirlwind trip with not enough time, like always. But the party was so nice and Grammy was so very happy with her party. We estimate that there were nearly 200 guests! It blows me away when I think of how many people's lives she has been a part of. So amazing.



Little Miss Guestbook...



Garrett's first piece of cake.


Gorgeous centerpieces. Maddy and Aunt Bec drove all over looking for mums. When I called them just after they found these, Maddy said, "Mom! We hit the jackpot!"



Aren't they so cute? Grammy just looked absolutely beautiful.


This is how Carter spent a good chunk of the party. He did wake for a bit, and then Uncle Chad got him back to sleep. So sweet.



Grammy and her sister, Aunt Charlotte.



Garrett's 2nd piece of cake.



The younger generation. Some of these are distant cousins. (Their grandmas are 1st cousins.) My mom and aunts got a kick out of seeing my kids run around and have fun with their cousins' grandkids. Life sure comes full circle.


Minnie visiting with Uncle Bill, while Bissy chats it up with Jared. :)


Aunt Peggy and Uncle Sully surprised us and drove all the way from Salt Lake City! Here is Papa visiting with them and Uncle Bill and Aunt Carolyn.


It was a very special day filled with so many family members and friends. Tonight we are going through the cards with Grammy and there are HUNDREDS. It is incredible the amount of love people have for my grandma. What a legacy that is for the rest of us. My mom, aunts, and I were talking this morning about how it would be doubtful if the rest of us added together would have that many people celebrating with us.

Crisis Averted.

Camera recovered. And no, Joel did not crawl under the house.

In true Sarri style, it was recovered in an unusual place...put there by Baby 1 or Baby 2. (Or possibly Big Kid 3, but not Big Kid 4.) Anyway, thank Goodness.

Off to charge the battery. ;)

I would take a PICTURE, but....

This will be a photo-less blog (and I know those aren't as fun). You'll see why if you read on.

Carter and his 'accomplice' (Molly) were playing nicely and quietly today while I was cleaning up. I was in the same room as them, and after a few minutes I hear a sweet little innocent (NOT) voice say, "UH! OOOOH!" I wish you could hear how darling Carter says this. It really is about the cutest thing in the world. However, when the cuteness is uttered, it is usually because Mr. Cute himself did something extremely naughty.

So I look over at the partners in crime and see that they have effortlessly and quietly figured out how to pull a heater vent out. And they are gawking at the big hole in the floor. I rushed over there, replaced the vent, doled out a fair share of "NO! NO!" and "NOT FOR BABIES!" and went on my way.

A few minutes later, the wheels in my mind started turning (they are creaky from being home for over a year now), and I realized that my camera wasn't on the table by my computer. I popped the vent off again, grabbed a hanger, and went fishing. I pulled out an old film camera that had been sitting in a basket nearby while I had cleaned out the coat closet. I couldn't see anything else. I searched the house high and low for my real camera, and no luck. Finally I asked Carter. "Where's mama's camera?" He walked over to the vent and said, in a low voice, "Doooown." His voice was sad and with a hint of remorse.

I held Carter, looked him closely in the eye, and said, "That is NOT nice. NO taking Mama's camera! NO NO!" He leaned in, eyes wide and serious, and got so close that our foreheads and noses touched. And he just stared at me. (Not extremely productive.)

I grabbed the hanger again and I can feel something down there, but I can't get it! Molly's dad thinks he has a whachamacallit that he can stick down there with claws to pull it out. I hope so! I mean, I wanted a new camera, but I didn't want it to end like this! Plus, it has PICTURES on it!

*Sigh*

Sockmonkeys! Times THREE!

Check out what I found on Esty, thanks to my friend. I ordered all 3 of the sockmonkey ones for Carter's room. I have been searching for such a set for the past 2 years. So excited! Maybe Aunt Minnie will help me pick out frames?

Isn't all her stuff cute? I am trying to figure out how to incorporate more of her stuff into our kid areas...maybe the new playroom? Hmmmm.

Pumpkins!

We were lucky enough to get a break in the (pouring, drenching, sideways) rain yesterday, so we ran out to the Pumpkin Patch. The first time I went there was my first year as a kindergarten teacher, we took our class on a field trip. I was pregnant with Garrett that year, and we haven't missed a year since. This year was a pretty quick visit, as we had to go to an Elite 8 (plus Average 2...wink!) function at Hannah and Merrick's, but it was fun.







I like how Joel is merely a floating head in this picture!








Look at that mud! That's Oregon for ya.

It's been a while!

I am so glad to know people read this! I have heard from a few of you that it's been a week since I last posted. What can I say? The weather's been gray, life has been busy, and we've had company as well. I haven't been great about taking pictures the past few days, and honestly all this rain has got me feeling a bit BLAH!

However...we have had some fun this last week, so let's see if I can recap.

Carter has learned about hiding. When we forget to close doors upstairs we hear him calling in a muffled voice, "Mamaaa! MAMA!" And we have to go into all the rooms until we find him shut in my closet in the dark. This time it was the pantry...and it was a game.




Watch those fingers, Buddy!

Maddy had her first sleepover! That was pretty big stuff. One of her bff's came over after the soccer game Friday night, and they had a GREAT time. Joel and I sat in the other room and giggled at all the fun things they said. It made me think of all my sleepover days with Sara, and just miss her so much. I would have loved to pick up the phone and call her to tell her about Maddy and Diana. I am so thankful Maddy has some great friends.


After playing dress up, they played "Webkinz" on the computer. If you don't know Webkinz, you should!


On Saturday, the Gibsons came to visit (Bill, Vanita, Jenell, and Dakota) and to catch one of Maddy's soccer games. They spent the night and Joel and Bill worked really hard on the playhouse/shed Joel is building. (Have I showed any pics of that? It is going to be so cool!) Us girls and the kids got to hang out, visit, and play. It is always so fun and easy to have them here. When it was time to say goodbye on Sunday, Jenell and I decided she needed to stay a couple of more days, so she did! We always have so much fun together!

Vanita and Carter at the soccer field.


Go, Sissy! GO!


Jenell and our boys.


Milk drunk!



Sissy made her FIRST SOCCER GOAL EVER!! In the game on Monday, she SCORED! Unfortunately I missed it. I am still so bummed. The weather was crummy so Jenell and I decided not to take the little boys out in it since they were fighting runny noses. My friend Teresa had Maddy call me right after the big moment. She was SO excited. We all were...it was a LONG time coming! (This is her 4th season!) We were so proud!



Now we are back at it...dealing with the rain, busy schedules, homework, and housework. Okay, not so much with the housework! Have a great week.