Mamma's Tea Party

The critters didn't have school on Monday for whatever reason. That was fine with me!  I love it when the critters are home! I gave the critters a couple of chores to do and while they were sorting dirty laundry, I put together a little "tea party" and took it down stairs to share with them by the cozy fire. I cherish the look on their faces when I came down the stairs with all these goodies... for them! They quickly put all the sorted dirty laundry in the laundry room and we set up our tea party, which was actually hot cocoa, and nuts, rice crispy treats, crackers and cookies.

We then sat around sipping cocoa and chatting. Then we played cards and then watched a movie. I haven't chilled like that in MONTHS! It felt so good! Then we went outside and burned the burn pile... you know, all the branches and misc. wood and stuff you collect all summer...I can't laze around ALL day! It was such a nice day.

October Birthday's

We celebrated Penguine's birthday a few days before the actual day. She wanted better than _________(you fill in the blank) cake: Chocolate cake with carmel ice cream topping drizzled over it, then whipped cream and toffee chips on top..... can you say tummy ache?  I can't believe Penguine is 12! She "Graduated" from primary, although she still bore her testimony of Jesus Christ in the Primary Program last Sunday, and she went to her first mutual last week, and Young Women's this past Sunday. in her words, "I LOVE IT!!! It is So cool!"

Steelhead turns 14 ... oh - TODAY! Happy Birthday Steelhead! We celebrated by having the Elk Family over for dinner: Fajitas, salad and spanish rice, and of course, Steelhead's favorite, German Chocolate Cake with that carmel coconut frosting (that not everyone enjoys, so we put chocolate frosting on part of it).

Here are the critters from the Funny Farm and the Elk Herd. These guys are all the best of friends and have so much good, clean fun together!

Halloween fun before Halloween

Saturday Zookeeper got up at 4:00 and worked. Hunter got the critters up at 7:00 to clean the church at 8.  They ended up being the only ones that showed up to clean the church and it took them almost 3 hours to do it. Zookeeper got done working while they were gone and when they got back, the critters went outside to play. I had a big list of chores for them to do, but Hunter put his foot down since they had been cleaning all morning and told me to let them play. I know, I need to chill out sometimes, so I did. Martin and I ran to Walmart and got pumpkins to carve. I started downloading these and they now appear in the order you pick them, instead of backwards like they used to... so here are the finished products first, and then there we are carving them.

This is Zookeepers critter... I got second place and a huge candy bar... that I put somewhere and I can't remember where it is. Oh well, it's nonfat if I can't eat it!

The first place pumpkin and Bee's cat - can you see the cat in the carving?

I made everyone do the gutting out on the patio.

Monkey's pumpkin was so huge he couldn't bring it inside, so he just careved it outside.

Inside where it was warm, sipping hot chocolate and carving our pumpkins.

Porcupine helping Steelhead.

Martin came up with his own design. He spent hours on it. It turned out very cool, but I don't have a picture of it yet.

Here are the Halloween Party Goers... we had a couple stay home.  Monkey is Robin Hood, Porcupine is Harry Potter, Zookeeper is a Pirate, Yak is a pumpkin, Penguin is a Gypsy, Bee is Laura Ingalls Wilder (notice she has Charlotte, her doll) and Martin is a Pirate. We went to our Ward's Fall Harvest Festival. There were some really great costumes. People had put in Tons and TONS of work to that night... and the kids cleaning job went to pot. They were actually kind of upset about that, but it was a good lesson in serving and doing what you are asked to do... and not question why. We had a lot of fun at the party. It was dinner and then a carnival with lots of games for the kids.

I had a friend take this for me at the party... I'll see if I can get a better one, my friend said he posted the pictures on Facebook.

Lotsa Firsts

Yak is doing so many new things. He has started eating cereal. It's funny how babies are different right from the start. Lemur hated baby cereal, but Yak loves it. I have started mixing carrots and such in it. He had his first cracker the other day and thought that was pretty yummy. He rolled over last Sunday - 10/25/09 and has been grabbing things for a couple of weeks now. He is still as yappy as ever. Today he was laying on the floor in the hall by the dining room, and he figured out how to swipe at the cold air return and make a wonderful noise. He did it over and over and over again and laughed and laughed... until Lemur wrapped him up in his blanket and drug him across the room and smothered him with kisses.

Fall Fun

My dumb computer won't let me download any more pictures right now, so oh well. I'll try again another day. But, while we were at the Fox Family's house Chamealon played in the leaves with the critters. Most of the time they stood around and watched her and let her act like a crazy woman. Once in a while they would join in the fun and throw leaves in the air or jump in the pile. I'm so glad my critters have an energetic, fun, crazy aunt to do these fun things with them, because I'm so non-energetic and fun anymore. What a boring mom I have turned into. Too tired to do the zany crazy things that make life fun. Must be time for a change in my attitude. So, after playing in the leaves, we had a hot dog roast in the back yard, and then I went to bed (3 nights in a row with 8+ hours of sleep... I thought I was in Heaven!!!) and Mrs. Fox and Chamealon stayed up and dyed Chamealon's hair a pretty dark brown. It looks fabulous, but I did not get a picture. Shoot. She looks stunning though, I love it. Saturday morning we got up and headed out by 10:00 or so. The critters were soooooo good in the car. We stopped in Bliss and ate lunch, let Lemur run around a while (and Aunt Chamealon) and then we made it home in good time, just in time for me to work for 4 hours. Chamealon stayed and played with the critters and gave them baths and dinner while I worked. Hunter and Martin are elk hunting right now and the other critters were gone for the weekend. Chamealon left around 8:30 p.m. I appreciate her help so much this last week. It was fun spending time with her and Mrs. Fox. I have such great sisters and I love being with them. I am definitely the old boring one now though.

So this week will be sorta quiet. We had a crazy sorta Sunday. I got called to be the Primary Pianist and started playing today for the Primary Program next Sunday. Then I gave my lesson in Relief Society - on Eternal Families, the Sweetest Union. I agree. It was a great lesson.  I'm sad not to be teachig RS any more. I have really enjoyed preparing a lesson once a month.  I'm trying to have a good attitude about playing the piano in Primary.  I'll keep working on that. :)  With Hunter and Martin gone all week, we are looking forward to dinners of pancakes and cold cereal.  I am having to work my regular schedule, plus an extra 6-10 hours each week as we transition into the new eScription program that we are starting. It will be a good program I think, just take some getting used to. As with any transition, we all have to work extra hours to stay on top of the work load.

So I did these blog posts kind of backwards up-side-down topsy-turvy.  It's been so long since I posted anything. Hope you can figure it all out!  See ya!  I still can't find the spell check. Does anyone know where it is?

I took a little trip

I had to do some training for a new transcription program we are switching to at the end of the month in Idaho Falls. SO:  Chamealon drove me because I was so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open, and we went to Rexburg so I could see the changes at "BYUI". Wow, lots and lots of changes!  The Temple was the most obvious change, and boy is it beautiful!!!  We went to a park whille I fed Yak and Cheetah met us there. We then spent the night in Rigby with a friend from High School. I was so thankful for Amy's hospitality, although I was not a very fun guest. Our two little boys, same age, had fun together, but I was too tired to be any fun at all. I just couldn't wait to go to bed... and I did and slept for 8 hours. It was sooooo wonderful!! Chamealon drove me to EIRMC where my training was and then spent the day driving Yak around while he slept and then bringing him to me to nurse. What a super duper sis!  Lemur hung out with Amy and her kids and had a blast riding bikes and playing. After my training, we drove to The Fox families house and spent the next couple of days with them.

I'm not sure who was having more fun... Vixen or Chamealon!  We brougth her some fun stuff for her new doll house that her mom and dad built!

On Friday my cousin put together a lunch with us sisters and her mom and 2 of her sisters. We had such a great time chatting and eating (great food!!!!) and of course the critters had fun playing (and fighting). They have a creek/ditch in their back yard and we had to throw sticks and rocks in... splash!

Of course all of the critters wanted what ever bike/rider thing the other critter was on.  I've forgotten how much fun having a 2-year-old is.... he was so mean to his cousin Tod.... just would smack him for the fun of it.  Grrrrr! Poor little Tod, the next time he sees Lemur coming he's going to freak out and run the other direction!

Quick Trip to the Ranch

Six of the critters and Zookeeper took a quick trip to the Ranch on a Sunny Saturday (after one of Monkey's football games). Hunter, Martin and Steelhead were deer hunting, and we wanted to play too. The Lizard Family were at the Ranch and we hadn't seen them in a while, so we loaded up and (propped my eyelids open) and went over to the ranch. The critters had so much fun playing with uncles, aunts and cousins.

Tents, Trucks and Tom Cats

Hunter and Martin put up the Wall tent getting ready to go hunting. Hunter had to make the poles for the tent; cutting pipe with the hack saw... Lemur had apparently watched him and the next day this is what I found him doing... (he has a piece of pipe in his lap). Of course all the critters had fun sleeping out in the tent.

Lemur is pretty excited about the pickup!! (and yes, so is Hunter!)

The kittens went for a ride one day with Lemur. It was a round trip kind a deal. They all survived.