Pumpkins, pumpkins and more pumpkins

This year Miranda and Matthew both went to the pumpkin patch for field trips. Matthew recieved a little one then picked out one for the family. Miranda and I both got a small one on her trip and then Allyce gave all 3kids their own pumpkins that came from the garden. The other night the kids and I carved theirs and I let them do their own since I have the kid safe carving tools it was pretty interesting to watch and quiet amusing too. There was pumpkin flying everywhere! We saved the big one to do with Daddy, we want daddy to join in the fun too!

Happy Birthday Michael

Yesterday Michael celebrated his 10th birthday. Double Digits! And he was quick to mention only 6more years until he can drive. YIKES!

From 2days to 10 years

I know I sound silly when I say the kids are growing so fast! But it is so hard for me to believe that my baby has gone from 2days to 10 years in a blink of an eye!

Apple Knockin 2008

This year Danny was hunting and Tony was sick so Angie and I lost our minds and took all 5 kids apple picking by ourselves. We had such a good time. All the kids got along, ate more apples in one day than usually eaten in a month, and if the apple picking wasn't enough they even spent time in the fun corral with inflatables and rides. Matthew and Dominic loves the airplanes, and unfortunatley those are the only pictures I took of the kids on the rides. Maybe next year.

These Better Be the Last Set!

As part of the safety night the county sheriff's department was there and able to finger print the kids. The kids thought it was very cool, but were warned this better be the last set of prints they do. If not they better not call me!

VPP Safety Night

Once a month the Parenting Partnership at school offers a family fun night based on different themes. This month was safety and emergency services. The kids got to see an Air Evac Helicopter, K-9 unit and Elroy the Elk. Elroy is with the Missouri Elks Lodge which runs a Say No to Drugs Unit. The kids had a lot of fun. Their favorite was the K-9 demo. They showed how the dogs followed commands, searched for drups and then attacked a bad guy. Michael and Miranda even got to try on the training sleeve they use to protect from the dog actually biting.

Boxing

Thank you Aunt Rhonda for the wonderful boxing gloves! The kids love them, and so does Danny! Rhonda got Michael and Miranda a pair of boxing gloves for their birthday so they have been boxing alot. And so far nobody has gotten mad or hurt while doing it, (yet!) I am sure my good fortune is going to run out sooner or later!

Lets all Skate, Maybe Not!

This year for Michael and Miranda's birthday we rented out the local skating rink for a party. It was just us and family and a few of the kids friends. Everyone had a blast. Well I think. I only fell once and Danny twice, I think Ben spent just as much time on the ground as he did skating, (poor guy). My nephew Joe get the award for funniest though! He sat on the floor put on his skates and asked where Michael was (keep in mind he has never been skating before), my mom pointed to Michael across the skate floor, Joe stood up and was off, well his skate was off anyways! As soon as he stepped on the floor he fell and apparently he was so excited to see Michael he didn't bother to check that his skate was tight. And since he didn't get hurt it was safe for me to laugh. Dominic was all about the cake, he even wanted to stay for the party after ours to get more cake. Matthew's best friend happens to be the brother to Michael's best friend so he got to skate, and it was funny to watch them fake fall and wait to get up. I think it would be fun to rent it out and have an adult skate there. Ang and I were skating she glanced back and started laughing I asked what and she replies "Danny's rolling!" I look back and sure enough he had fallen and was rolling across the floor. It was comforting to know later that night when he talked to Ben that we were not the only ones in pain! But we have a recovered and ready to roll again! (don't worry the look on Miranda's friends face is laughter not panic!)

More Pics from Kurts

Funnest Weekend Ever!

This past weekend was our 2nd annual weekend at Kurt's. Kurt is a fellow firefighter of Danny's and he and his wife Joanna own property in southern IL., and the past 2years have invited the whole crew to come over for the weekend. We ride all sorts of atv type things, fish, relax and just have a great time. All the kids get along really well. They range in age from 13 to 4. And even though Michael and Matthew are the only boys everyone gets along and has fun. I think the highlight for the kids this year was the trampoline, burning things with the magnifying glass, and catching bugs. Yes even the girls were catching bugs, and I think they burned more leaves than anyone! Danny's highlight was catching the 6lb bass out of the pound and mine was the argo ride with Joanna. (an argo is a atv that goes from land to water). Thanks Kurt and Joanna for hosting such a wonderful time and we can't wait to do it again. Mattie is already talking about camping in your driveway again!