The Birthday Party

Tanner is now officially 11, and so far so good. For his birthday we had a couple of boys sleep over, he wanted Taco Bell for dinner, and we did a pinata. But the real party didn't start until the next day.I didn't get a lot of good pictures, it is hard to run a party with 16 boys and take pictures at the same time. About a month before his party he had made a list of people to invite. He was the captain of one team and Kaden the other. They made their line up and which position each kid was playing. This was revised many times. The boys were very cooperative, there were no fights or arguments about plays. We played a game for about 1 hour. Then it was on to the home run derby. Each kid got 3 chances to hit the ball over the fence (from second base) Tanner was the only one who did it. So we did round two, one other kid did it also so they got first prize. Kevin made me do it, and I showed those boys up I got it over on my 4th try. Then we did a race, the kids had to put a bat on the ground, then their foreheads touch the end of the bat and they spin, then they run, it was so fun a lot of the kids fell down. After that we played more baseball.


Kaden caught in a pickle
Kali (aka gum girl). Kali didn't want to play ball with the big boys so she made sure everyone had their gum.
Then the kids were hungry for lunch, so we served hot dogs, chips, and drinks. Boy can these boys eat we went through about 40 hot dogs, and at least that many drinks.
I made baseball cupcakes for everyone. Then it was on to opening presents. When I made out the invitations for the party, Tanner asked if he could tell everyone to just give money instead of a present. I told him that was rude, but if his friends asked he could tell them that you just want money. So Tanner had 2 presents to open, baseball cards and a football, then he had about 14 cards to open. All together he got $130.00 from his friends. Add that to Grandma's, Aunts, Uncles and Mom and Dad, he raked in over $250.00. I couldn't believe it. He was saving up for a Nintendo DS, and not only did he get that he was able to buy 3 games and have $30 left over. He was on cloud nine. We went out after the party to get his DS, he hasn't put it down since. Thank You everyone for being so generous. Tanner keeps thanking me for such a great party, I think he just liked getting that much money.

Trunk-or-Treat

It's that time again, I love the Halloween season. We had a Trunk-or-Treat at our church but after 3 straight days of rain we had to move it inside. It worked out better that way, it would have been dark outside and we wouldn't of been able to see the cute costumes. We got to choose a room and decorate it. The kids already have a gallon size ziploc full of candy, and it's not even Halloween yet.

What do you call a Sasquatch (big foot)that plants flowers in pots?
Don't lose your head over it.
Kali and her friend Hayley's true personality's come out. (not kidding)

Happy Birthday Tanner

Tomorrow is Tanner's 11th birthday, I can't believe I have an 11 year old. He has been such a great kid. He is so smart, responsible, confident, I never have to worry about him, he gets everything done that is asked. He is so outgoing, and succeeds in everything he does. He always gives 100%. He is celebrating his birthday by having a baseball game, he has invited over 20 kids to the ball park, we are playing a game of ball then having a home run derby. I hope it all turns out we have never had this big of a party before. I just love this kid, he always makes me smile when ever I see him. He is growing up way to fast. I am so proud to be his mom.

School pictures

Time for the lovely school pictures. I know my kids are cute but really how disappointing can you get. I can take way better pictures, (and that is not saying much). I refused to buy these so I hope I don't regret it in the long run. They were $40 to buy the pack, so I just took a picture of the picture just so I had them for the memories.

spooky!!! Pumpkins, fog and chalk OH MY!!

In October we like to take the kids to a pumpkin patch to get our pumpkins, it is much funner than going to the grocery store. This is our first Halloween here so we needed to find a new place to go. We went to Brileys, the same place where we picked strawberries in the spring. It was ok, it was pricier than the one we went to in Utah. So we did all the free stuff that was there, you know us and free stuff. They had a petting farm, playground, nature walk, and a hay maze.The pumpkins were $6.00 so we went to Walmart after and let them pick from their$3.95 pumpkins, not as fun but cheaper.


There is this field we pass every day when we go to school. A lot of the times it is in a blanket of fog. This is not a very good picture, after I dropped the kids off I went home and got my camera and walked to the field, and a lot of it had already burned off. I will attempted another picture another day. It is very creepy looking.


I Love my little girl. She love to draw and craft just like her mama. She is very good, this is the chalk art masterpiece that we worked on together. After this, we (including the boys) made body outlines they were trying to beat each other for the funniest pose. I got to dark so we couldn't take any pictures. It has finally cooled down enough in the evenings here to enjoy the good outdoors.

Time Warp

Last night we had a party at our house. My friend Amelia was throwing a birthday party for her friend and mine, Laura. Amelia's house was not big enough for the crowed of people that were invited so she asked me if we could do it at my house. It was an 80's themed 30th birthday party. It was so much fun to see everybodys takes on the 80's. We had the punk rockers with The Cure and Def Leopard concert t- shirts, to the Madonna lace, layered socks, florescent colors, Mohawks, slap bracelets, Whip-it hats (i didn't understand that one), big hair. We had Micheal Jackson, and Prince playing in the background, and played an 80's trivia game.This is me and Amelia
This is the birthday girl Laura and her sister, they got the award for the best costumes.
Next weekend we are invited to a Pig Picking birthday party I will try to take pictures. You roast whole pig and just pick out the kind of meat you want to eat. Gag me with a spoon!!

The pitching machine

So last night Kaden had his last ball game of the season. He has wanted to pitch all season but due to his lack of experience the coaches have put him in the outfield or on third base or in the dugout for an inning. Last night they played a team that has not won very many games and Kaden asked on of his coaches can I please pitch. The coach made a deal with him, he told him if he hit a base run he would let him pitch. So Kaden got up to the plate and whacked the ball and got a double. So true to his word the coach let him pitch the next inning. He was so excited and kind of nervous. As were me and Kevin and the coaches I'm sure. Kaden got on the pitching mound and threw a strike, OK he's got one but they just kept coming, you could just see the coaches faces light up. He struck out the first two guys up to bat then the third guy swung once, strike then swung again got a hit, an easy pop fly to first base. He was caught out by the first baseman. That's three up three down, Kaden was the hero for the inning. His whole team ran out on the field and were jumping on him and slapping his butt, and cheering. Kaden, me, Kevin, and the coaches could not wipe the grins off our faces. They ended up winning 12 to 3. Their team was 8 and 1. Way to go Kado.

On another note Tanner and Kaden have been watching Kid Nation. They love it and want to be on it more than anything. So about a week ago I let them sign up, they had to fill out a 15 page questioner, and do a 3 minute video. So we will see if they get in. Tanner asks everyday when he gets home from school if we got the call. I told him not to get his hopes up.

My latest projects

So this is my newest wood project. I went to an antique shop a few weeks ago and loved this shelf. So I copied it.Here in NC the summer does not end until late October- early November, so being still 85 degrees I decided to redo my front flower bed. When we first moved in it was all white gravel. Then I planted a few things this spring that all died when I went to Utah for a few months. So it has looked very sad for a while now. So now 9 hours and $100 later this is what you get, it is not finished, but for now it is until it cools down.

ECU family fun fling

So as you all know we love free things. We had another opportunity to go do something fun as a family all on someone Else's tab. ECU (East Carolina University) invited all their students and their families to come have a night of fun, and that we did. We got to go bowling
look at that form.
mini golf
hula hoop contest. Tanner and Kaden won their hoops dropped exactly the same time. So they each won a t-shirt.
car races
arts and crafts.
And got to climb a rock wall, the kids all made it to the top, I didn't even try.
We had a great time, and came home with 4 new free t-shirts.


PS Wes this is what you get for complaining that there were no pictures of you on my blog, I hope you are happy now. Miss you tons.