38 Days on the Market

It was a typical Saturday morning. The kids were pretty good, with a hint of hostility and a dash of tartness here and there, but no knock down, drag outs or anything of the sort. Mid-day they noticed the white car sitting in front of the house. An hour or so later we get the call that someone wants to see our home. Ninety minutes later we are out the door.

We go to the store and look at Christmas decorations, and pick up a couple of things. The kids have fun perusing, everything from ornaments to Christmas dish towels to shower curtains. With the exception of Morgan they are very good. About mid-way thru his legs just won't work anymore. Typical. A while later we check out.

On our way home we pick up some ever so nutritious fat food. In the car the kids are having the usual chit chat. I hear bits and pieces, but block the majority out as I drive and listen to the radio.

Halle vocalizes her hope that Tristen doesn't dump our food all over the car (which he's done recently). Tristen gets defensive.

Tristen tells Bryson he ate all his fries, Bryson playfully pulls his hair or something of the sort.

Bryson asks Halle if she can give herself goosebumps, because he can think of creepy stuff and get goosebumps. Halle says, "Yeah."

Bryson asks how, and she responds that she gets goosebumps when she poops. Everybody looses it - a truck full of funny laughter. When it quiets down I hear her soft voice from the back state so brazen and simple, "Well I do."

Caden detests the movie Goosebumps (or maybe it's a mini-series). Either way, he hates the theme song. Morgan leans over in his car seat toward Caden, "Hey Caden," and whispers somewhat sing-songy, "Goosebumps." Caden shrieks.

To get even Caden yells, "E.T.!" who Morgan finds ever-so-disturbing, resulting in Morgan's infamous, irritating down to the marrow in your bones, blood curdling scream.

This continues with Gremlins, Signs, etc., etc. until we pull into the driveway.

I tell the kids to put on p.j.'s and wash their hands.

We pile into the Master Bedroom to eat on the floor to watch, "The Education of Little Tree," which is a really good family film. Morgan had zero interest so he pestered Halle and Caden the entire movie, but it was still enjoyable. We read a couple of books before bed, and then I tucked them in. It's been almost an hour and it's still not quiet. I did all the dishes, wiped down the counters, cleaned the splattered Microwave and vacuumed up all our crumbs just in case.

Last Sunday we got a call at 9 a.m. while EVERYONE was still sleeping. We had an hour and twenty minutes to get up, get dressed, spruce up the house and skedaddle. I even sat the kids clothes out tonight. It likely won't happen twice, but if that phone rings in the morning, we are prepared.

Pig In a Blanket

When we were in Indiana getting ready for the long drive back to Texas I opened the back of the truck to find that Halle had so lovingly wrapped up her piggy in "blue blanky" and stuffed it into her purse that was a gift from Aunt Chandra. I laughed to myself and grabbed my camera.

As I'm posting: All five kids traipse in to see what I'm doing. Tristen reads the post out loud while Bryson laughs and Halle's eyes well with tears.

"Why?" she wants to know.

I explain to Halle what a pig in a blanket is and why I took the photo. The three oldest boys are laughing. She starts crying and says, "I left my pig at Grandma Karen's." She has tears streaming down her cheeks as she explains she had him in the car, but somehow left him behind. But now she's on my lap and absolutely sobbing.

And so I look at my boys, still smirking and snickering. Tristen says that "no" he didn't take it.

Bryson still laughing, "No, it wasn't me."

Halle's still crying.

"Tristen?" He's adamant that it wasn't him.

So I look to the right, where there stands a very quiet little boy, "Caden?"

His response is a simple, "Yeah."

All then he starts in with his excuse. He'd heard the boys talking about Halle's piggy and since sometimes she makes him mad, well....

He patted Halle's back while she cried and apologized.

But little Morgan was the most protective of all. The only brother who didn't laugh at her while she cried, and after everyone had cleared out of my room he came back and told me that Halle left her piggy. I sort of nodded my acknowledgement. He walks out and yells, "Hal, you're gettin' a new piggy."

Boo!

Here are some photo's from Halloween:

Troy as a fearless Pittsburgh Steeler, Hayden as a pirate (think Smee), Caden all Commando, Halle as a pretty with pink Pirate, Tristen as Frankenstein (and like he was told, he played him well), Bryson as Michael Jackson (with the moves to match), then there's little Morgan there in the front - the cutest little Scarecrow you ever did see, Brantley is a bench warmer for the Pittsburgh Steelers (don't worry Brant, it's better than being the water boy) and then we had the famous and fabulous, Harry Potter (staggering resemblance to Hollitte, is he not?)

Maddie rocking her witch robe, sitting with Michael, Halle and Trent

Brant, look hard and you'll see Caden, Morgan and Smiley Smee

My crew with Uncle Trent

Told everyone: "I'm a scary crow."

Home Sweet Home....for now anyways

So I made the drive to Indiana to pick up the kids and spent a couple of weeks there, visiting with family. Autumn in the midwest was great. All the big hardwoods, colorful leaves, scattered acorns and more.

"Familyar Field"

Grandma's chickens

"Glaring Rooster"

Halle pushing Caden & Morgan in the wheelbarrow

The kids and I drove up to Holland during a couple of our weekends home, camping at the state park and hanging out with Brian. It was absolutely beautiful up there in October. The kids had fun, especially Caden and Morgan. Morgan asks repeatedly when we're going camping again. And of course we visited Lake Michigan. The kids asked to get their feet wet...which was code for, "We're going wading in our clothes, in freezing water and we might fall in."

We have also found our new favorite pizza place - which is in Saugatuck. Saugatuck is just south of Holland - an artsy, quaint little town full of mom and pop shops that attract a significant number of tourists. I highly recommend a visit.

Pizza's real good mom!

Brian, Caden and Morgan peeking thru the window

mesmerized by the gory and authentic looking Halloween decor

Caden 9/19/10- "A stone's throw away"

The famous Red Lighthouse

Bryson, Morgan, Uncle Trent, Caden, Tritter, Halle -

before they got drenched

"Hello WORLD!"

"Waves of laughter"

Fun at the beach wrapped up with a beautiful sunset