Our Halloween Adventure

Wow, it was a glorious fall day. It was so beautiful, we went for a nature walk with the kids and found this . . .

Snowman totem poles

and a grasshopper.

Then we went back into town to get something to eat and in true Halloween style this was staring at us through the window of the restaurant . . .

(cue freaky Halloween music . . . .)


Did you scream? Did you? Did you?

Muuahaaaaa . . .

Apparently praying mantis' live in WI . . .

This guy is 4 inches long!

We named him Luther - in honor of Reformation week . . .

And no, I doubt I'll be sleeping well tonight with visions of those beady eyes staring at me . . .

Suddenly, Clark has been forgotten . . . this pet doesn't shed, smell or poop . . . but now those characteristics don't sound so bad compared to this alternative . . .

Mom, can I have . . . ?

Carra has a sweet tooth like no other. If you were to ask her what her favorite food is, I wouldn't be surprised if she said, "Gum." I don't dread Halloween because of the haunted theme. I think it is all the candy that makes it scary. There is usually enough to frighten any mother out of her wits.

This morning, Carra hopped out of bed and asked me if she can have a fudgesicle. I reminded her of the rule that she needs to eat breakfast first- and then proceeded to give her the options for breakfast (i.e. cereal or eggs). She agreed and headed to the kitchen to find something to eat.

Ahh, yes. The problem has been solved . . . I came back to find that she is eating breakfast. This morning she is having . . . .

Butter.

All so she can finally eat her fudgesicle.

Consider this my new entry for "mother-of-the-year" . . .

Colorado

Here are a few fun memories of our week with Buff's family.

Carra wants me to inform everyone that she has officially lost 2 teeth now. I am hoping I don't have to post about every tooth lost. . . Actually, Mikayla lost a molar too this week (Do you get the feeling that the theme this week was "teeth" . . .). Because hers had a filling in it, we are making her dress up in a tooth fairy costume and leave money under our pillow. I am not a sentimental person big on traditions, but I think this may be a good reason to start.

Brice and Mikayla are now officially old enough to learn to drive . . . the 4 -wheeler and go-kart. Of course, they were never allowed to take it out of first gear, so they never went fast enough to get into too much trouble.


Owen is officially old enough to drive Pansy . . . and without a "seat" too . . .

Helping Grandpa

Cooper

Corralling pumpkins

Buff . . . alo
Yes, we took this picture.
He was an impressive fella.

Byren
He is so photogenic . . .

Owen . . . or is that a scarecrow?

So which one is the pumpkin?

Mikayla and her green pumpkin . . .

If only I could have gotten him to smile,
they would have been twins!

This is the scarecrow Buff built . . .

This is the kid that Buff built . . .
(in case you couldn't tell . . . )

The trip

Well, we are home.

Over the (Mississippi) river and through Nebraska (where there are no woods) to Grandmother's house we went . . .

After packing 6 people into our vehicle and traveling 32 hours together, no one managed to kill each other - even though they tried. The seat belt law has saved lives again. They couldn't reach each other.

Overall it was a quiet trip - but not entirely uneventful.

1. Buff, the conqueror, conquered Nebraska - in one loooong trip. We swear Nebraska gets longer every year . . . Have the people who believe the world is overpopulated and we are running out of room for everyone ever driven through Nebraska?????
There is a lot of land . . . a lot of road . . . . and no bathrooms . . .

2. Brice was very excited when he spotted a "flock of cantaloupe" (known to the rest of the world as a "herd of antelope").
No, he will never live that one down.

3. Owen was very confused when he finally got to see Grandpa's horses. "Where are there seats?"
Apparently the saddles are extra . . .

4. It is official. It is very boring when Grandma drives the four-wheeler. She goes around all the mud puddles. Seriously, what fun is four-wheeling if you aren't wearing some of the dirt when you're done?! (This complaint is from Brice).

5. It is frustrating when you can't sleep because your nose is constantly dripping. It is quite terrifying to realize that it is actually blood that is dripping . . . It is very funny when you realize it is because all four kids are sleeping on the floor and your sister just kicked you in the nose thinking you were the suitcase . . .

6. Carra single-handedly conquered at least 3 of Grandma's jars of pickles. I think she now sweats vinegar.

7. I now realize there is contradiction in our definitions.
When I say windmill, I am thinking . . . .







When the kids hear "windmill", all they know is . . . .









8. A miracle. I, Tina, the non-reader of the family, read 4 books. Do I have to admit that 2 of them were on a 5th grade reading level for school? What else was I supposed to do for 32 hours in the car - between food fights and shouting contests? (Now I know why Buff always turns me down when I ask if he wants me to drive . . . it's easier to ignore the chaos when your driving.)

9. And because no trip out of town for the Powers family would be complete without it . . .

What do you get when you combine a 9 year old boy, a trampoline and a tricycle?

Chipped front teeth . . .

Yep, we get to spend lots of time with our dentist this time - all because we wanted to get away again. . .

(Vacation history for those of you who don't know: So far we have managed an CO emergency dentist appointment - requiring a trip in the ambulance to the emergency room (Buff 2003), stitches in IL (Mikayla 2005), a broken arm in IL (Mikayla 2007), and now broken teeth in CO . . . )

Hey, at least we are consistent . . . (and now broke . . . no pun intended . . .)

(Note about the picture above: He wouldn't pose for me, so I had to trick him to get the picture. All that brown stuff on his face is from Owen and his chocolate covered marshmallow . . .)

More pictures to come . . .

Speaking of growing . . . up . . .

I know I post a lot about the little kids in the family, but we all have to admit they do cuter things more often than older kids and just make the material easier to come by.

So here is my update of the older kids of the family.

Today I am feeling old, sad, excited, nervous and everything else in between.

Mikayla has had her first official babysitting job. You know, the kind where they pick her up, pay her and everything!

I feel old because I still picture myself as the mother of young children. I am excited because it means she may actually be old enough for me to leave the house once in a while and leave her in charge. I think I'm nervous because I wonder if she is really ready - sheesh - I remember being 12 and I am amazed that no children were harmed when I was in charge! (Actually, I'm 36 and I'm still amazed that no children have been harmed . . . )

It's just one of those sappy moments where I picture my toddler pushing the baby stroller across the living room . . . and then . . . bam! . . . she's now making money doing it . . . where did the time go? When did she grow up?

Speaking of up . . . here is where I found Brice today . . .


Yeah, it will be a while before we will be leaving him in charge . . .


Oh, and I found this wandering through the house the other day . . . .

We can't find any info as to identify the species or origin . . . it's just so . . . happy . . .