Thanksgiving break

 Our thanksgiving turkey.. i cut a felt blanket into a turkey and had the kids velcro their blessing.

 Shaun and I went to the temple and brought the kids back Book of Mormons. they have been big into reading them lately.

 Carter has been sneaking into our room at night. Luckily he gets in on Shaun's side. This night he was so cute propped up waiting. I have some really good blessings. This is just one of them!

 Decker is teething.. or has been for some time. Apparently he will stick anything in his mouth. gross. Shaun was dying laughing it tickled so much.

 I thought i would have more time on my hands with the 10 day break but this is about all I got done and it only took an hour. I love them! but where does all my free time go??

 Happy thanksgiving! it was a low key day with just our "little" family but we had plenty of food and lots of fun

 This boys getting too big on me! he decided to go looking for some pants! he is standing up on everything and trying to stand without help! he's almost, but not quite 8 months! too fast!!

 Another Day off school the kids painted some canvas. I loved their art and its hanging in Decker's room

 WalMart shopping with my buddy! she had her own little cart that she couldn't live without, and of course i caved to avoid a tantrum!

 I went to lunch with Jordan. she sits with all boys. so funny!

 It was a warm day the other day. this potty trained little girl likes her windows rolled down!

 Jordan's painting. followed by her sleeping in a box? it was a tiny box that had a tree in it, but i guess when you add a pillow everything is fine.

The fed Ex guy delivered a package and hid it really well so funny?

This was a fun week filled with crafts, Carter had strep throat, potty training Ellie, and shots! it was nice to have the week off, but we stayed really busy!

Black Friday

So who knew black Friday was no longer on Friday! apparently I can't blog regularly or read ads?! I have been looking online at deals because last year I bought everything online and it was Christmas all month long. I loved the UPS guy!
Well this year I didn't see that good of deals and Decker woke up at 5 am so I fed him his bottle and decided to "brave black Friday" I'd seen a few door busters the girls would love. Wal-Mart, 5 am was DEAD! I got the first spot next to the store. there were cashiers waiting in the isle for customers and it was so quiet! apparently the rush was at 10pm on Thanksgiving!? how is that black friday? Don't worry, I may not have gotten a few doorbusters, but in case you were worried my shopping was ruined, don't. I managed to buy a few things. Christmas was done by 7am. Shopping for 5 kids is not cheap, even with deals! but its done. Now if I can avoid the stores and online shopping for a month. I'm set!

Decker man

 this kid is seriously getting so big! he may not be chunky but he sure is tall and smart! he has been practicing standing and is getting very brave and trying to stand one handed

 here he is waving! he knows how to ham it up!

we did a little editing on this one for privacy sake, but this is what I found when i got him out of the morning. We've had every kid do this and every-time is absolutely disgusting and funny at the same time. how are they so clever to get the diapers off??

Happy Halloween and more and more and more and more

 We had a street Halloween party the weekend before Halloween. We had some chili, candy, crafts and a parade. we are lucky to be on such a kid friendly street! There are SO many kids all under 9! its great!

 Ellie in her crazy shades

 Trick or treating the neighborhood. Carter was Thomas this day and Ellie was a "princess"

 Attack of Decker! he was all about stealing the kids candy. Ellie was not happy about it.

 Me and Jessie have been sending each other our outfits and making really awesome faces to boot! here was one day.

 Ellie was such a trooper shopper! she is so good when she gets everything she wants! She crashed on the way home but dont worry she had her new pumpkin bucket and candybar!

 These are what our mornings look like. After my walk in the morning Decker usually wakes up about 6:30 before i get the kids to school so we play i his room until Carter and Ellie join us. The LOVE hanging out in Decker's room. coloring and playing with his toys is a special part of the morning.

 Yeah this happens... more often than i'd like.  the kid wont keep clothes on and loves showers. She also keeps asking to go potty but I am not ready for that, so we opt for mornings in underwear and diapers the rest of the day.

 Decker the Dinosaur

 Carter decided to do his hair like daddy :)

 Ava, Ellie, Kailey and Maddie at the 2nd annual cookie party. it was a crazy hectic day but turned out really fun!

 I tried to get rid of some of Ellie's clothes but she found them, and tried to put them on.

 Decker is standing and walking along furniture! he is defiantly faster than any of our other kids. he sits up, crawls and waves.. its like he knows he wants to be a big kid already!

 Cookie party

 Decker eating food off the ground.. yeah i moped don't worry

 Ellie is the worlds best and worst colorer! she also is totally fashionable! she changed from pajamas, into pajamas with a hat! she will find crayons or more likely markers anywhere and draw on anything... not good. turns out she drew on the walls yesterday while Shaun was home. she also likes to draw on books, tables, piano benches, crib sheets. she's good and sneaky! but its kinda funny non-the-less. i think that happens when its your 4th and there is no telling this kid no.

 cookie party with the neighbors and  friends!

Kailey was cat and the Hat and Jordan was a witch.
These pictures are out of order for the last two weeks, but thats pretty much how i feel! i feel like im taking things day by day. luckily we're having fun and staying busy!

Trunk or treating

Chick-fil-a trunk or treat. it seems like we are making traditions this year! we went out with the Simon's and Larsen's and had fun.

Jordan and Izzy

 We also met our neighbors here bounce houses and dinner, can't beat it

 Ellie the ice cream cone

Kailey and Chloe

Birthday weekends are the best!

 For my birthday I asked to go camping, so 3 1/2 hrs later we ended up in Hamilton Branch. It is the start of the season here and the weather was perfect! Kailey is playing the game Shaun made me for my birthday. we spent all day playing it. It was a very thoughtful gift!

 The Spectators. All the campsites were on the water and we were at the end so we had a little peninsula of beach the kids could play on just a few hundred feet from where our tent was set up.

 Jordan collecting stuff. She is a collector of EVERYTHING! It was in the 70's during the day and the mid 50's at night it was great camping weather!

 The is the view of where we had our tent and fire. We brought 2 tents. one for sleeping and one for changing/clothes and stuff. a very smart idea when you have 7 people, one who is a baby and is in a port-a-crib and needs naps.

 Ellie is such a character. She is seriously awesome, when she gets everything she wants. She decided the balls on the stings meant for the game worked better as a necklace. needless to say playing became an ordeal after she realized we had to take her necklace.

 She also refused to wear shoes 90% of the time

 The kids played tag and pretend all day long

 getting ready for s'mores and tin foil dinners

 Decker Loved the campfire and the fact that he was held for 48 hrs didn't hurt

 Decker being happy

When we got home from camping Shaun pulled out my birthday cake and we all had ice cream cake for dinner. It was a fun weekend, very relaxing, and a much needed family get-a-way. Breaking my foot within the first 5 min of getting there didn't even mess things up. but it did teach us a few things: bring ace bandages a first aid kit and IB profen or tylenol! luckily we didn't have anything to do beside hang out at the camp site. and i had bought myself a cot for my birthday which made sleeping in tent not so bad! We came back and both though we should do that again sooner rather than later. I do feel older now 31 is no 30. But I have 5 happy, fun, cool kids. I love where we live, minus the lack of family, we have a great job where I can stay home and I have a husband who has/is learning that when I say I want something (baskin robbins birthday cake, or to go camping) just do it and I'm a happy camper, literally haha! I'm one lucky girl! Happy birthday to me!