Wise words

I am home. I am sick. I am happy. We will work on you later! Muah!!

We are off to Oregon. I wanted to post about Halloween, fall fun and such.... but the unwanted visitor came and left a dent in my time. I am hoping we stay well and have a wonderful time in Oregon with family and perhaps friends. I have much to be thankful for and always feel so blessed that we are able to spend this holiday with family.

Happy Thanksgiving to all those who mean the most!

Remember to count your many blessings!!

Look who is visiting....? Mr. Bronchitis Bacterium (an unwanted visitor!!). Right before Thanksgiving... right before we leave... Yep, Coleman and Finn are down for the count. Let's hope it stays away from the rest of us. Darn. DARN!!

Oh Thursdays.... I guess it is good that the next day is Friday..... and then the weekend!

(because every SECOND counts.....)

I just want the world to know my Thursday schedule.... it is TORTURE! I should pick up the boys from school so that I don't feel so rushed, but I can't make myself be in the car any more than I already am...... I think the worst thing about Thursday is dinner. I actually am personally tortured by dinner on Thursday (not my dinner though.... thank goodness!).

Boys walk in the door about 3:40

I leave at 3:45 with Finn and Tate

4:00 Drive to Kentlands to tutoring for Tate

Drive home and pick up Coleman

4:30 Drop off Coleman at Bretton Woods for tennis

Drive home and pick up Gabe. Drive back to the Kentlands.

5:00 Pick up Tate from Tutoring

Dinner (usually at Wendy's in about 20 minutes..... I HATE the smell and food of Wendy's. I try NOT to eat there, but I usually eat a fry or two and later regret that. I am such not the fast food fan and my body does NOT like it at all!!)

A disclaimer: I do try to go to the Italian Gourmet Market for sandwiches and pizza, but sometimes they are too slow..... every second counts.

5:30 Take Tate and Gabe to Art Class

Drive home and try to get some normal dinner ready..... sometimes.

6:30 Pick up Coleman from tennis

7:00 Pick up boys from art class

Home again, home again giggity gig.

Bedtime cannot come soon enough.... Awwww Thursdays, you make me car sick!!

Busting out into the blissful teenage years....

time to bust out into the teens

the door opens

he peeks out

coming out... our darling teen!

it is early.....

there he is... Coleman Paul, 13 years old!

our morning tradition.. birthday treats and balloons

6:30 am and cute as ever

tres leches cake and much wanted birthday gifts

i always love when the kids look at their cake. it is a sweet moment.

coleman carefully blew out his candles

are YOU a fushia bean? we may have one in the family!

Happy birthday Coleman! We love you sooo much!!

p.s. the party

For Coleman's birthday party, he chose a few friends to go out and work at the haunted forest. They had a spooky, great time. Old Man Eric took them out and set them loose on the victims. Ha ha ha ha ha!!

Wise words

Just breathe. (o;

Tuff Mudder

Gabe's party was a BLAST! I just could not NOT post all these pics. WARNING: there are many!! Thanks to Jennifer, all my helpers and especially Eric for creating such a fun, exciting obstacle course. It was a great day for all!!

the awesome birthday boy

Eric with our adopted daughters

Watch out! Coleman and Jack will spray you!

And so the birthday boy starts the course....

Only to be squirted by brothers and Harout

Gotcha!!

Still chasing Gabe... Finn cannot get enough!

After round ONE.

Tommy, a good friend of Gabe's

Gabe making his way out of the spy zone

One happy, dirty boy! Love him!

Little Dirty Johnny and Gabi

Harout and Benny on the balance beam

Natalie was really hungry.... ewwwww!

A better variation of the egg race.

More "helpers" (o;

Someone got Mommy. A perfect handprint!


Perhaps the best pic of the day... Aidan.

Can they make it?

Some of our favorites!!

Christopher and I held our own with the sponges. I think we knocked some kids silly. Oops!!

Here are some of our dirtiest darlings! Who is that handsome winker?

Sotir is fierce!

My favorite helper!

Gabe is getting it...

Can he recover!! Yes!!

Sydney, the best tuff mudder and sport around!

A quick game of trash in your neighbors yard...

Oh no! The birthday boy is hurt.

It was "him"!! That is shocking....

Busted.

Hosing down Tate and all the darlings.

Handsome boys and the loves of my life!

Pizza

Cupcakes

Camouflage friends

That's my man. I sure love him!

Everyone got a shirt instead of a goodie bag. I think it was a grand idea! Makes for a great pic too!!

Giving his Daddy a kiss for a job well done!

The perfect party. Thanks Daddy! We love you! And we sure love the birthday boy!!