"Santa Claus is Coming to Town"

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Love,

Keith, Kendra, Ryleigh, Zack & Kendall

"You're extra special so have a great day!"

Zack's golf-themed birthday party on Saturday was quite a success!We (barely) missed the rain for our outdoor shin-dig. It held off just long enough for us to have a putting contest, a driving contest (seriously, I don't even know if that makes any sense - drive contest, driving contest?? Whatever...) and a chance to beat the crap out of each other with the golf clubs. Just kidding. Kind of.

Zack's last two parties have been sports themed. Next year, I am going to to suggest my favorite sport. Kickball, anyone?

"Six Years Gone"

Zack turned six years old on Saturday.

When I asked him how it feels to be six, he paused and said,

"Like I'm seven plus four minus five."

Happy Birthday, Buddy!!

"I'm Four Years Old"

My baby is four! Today was her actual birthday (November 29th) as well as her "baby animals" themed birthday party. We had a very fun day filled with lots of friends & family, a big jumpy house, lots of mini food (to go with our 'baby animals' theme),

cupcakes,

presents,

and a new bike with a baby seat for her animals and baby dolls. Kendall had a perfect day.

*

Dear Uncle Joel,

Thanks a lot for playing hacky sack with me, Uncle Matt & my dad today at Kendall's birthday party. I really like playing games with you. Mommy says that I'm lucky to have an uncle who acts the same age as me. She's so funny. I'm only five and you are bigger than me. I don't think you're five. You're probably a lot older, like six or seven. And you drink beer, so that must mean you are maybe ten or twelve. Mommy said that all the beer you drank today was the reason you accidentally kicked me in the face, split the inside of my mouth open & gave me this fat lip.

I will think about how much fun we had all week when I am eating my food through a straw.

Love, Zack

"She needs Fabulous"

Kendall got a haircut!

Actually, both of the girls got haircuts, but Ryleigh didn't like any of the pictures of her, so here you go. If you'd like, you can picture Ry in the green shirt next to Kendall with an identical 'do. Go Ahead. We'll wait.But Kendall! How frickin' cute is she?

She told the hairdresser that she wanted her hair washed, cut like Ryleigh's, blow-dried & styled, thank you very much. I wish I'd brought my camera to the salon, because then I could have documented the beginning stages of my three year old's journey to becoming a trophy wife. Next she'll be asking me to take her to Dr. Stab for her Botox injections.

*

P.S. The fish is actually named Dead Zone. My bad. And, for those of you keeping score, he's still alive. I think. I haven't checked in a day or two.

"But have you fed the fish today?"

I'd like to introduce you all to the newest member of our family.

This is Death Zone.

We received D.Z. at a U of R Halloween Carnival. This, of course, was about twenty minutes after I left for work with the parting words to my loving husband, "Honey, whatever you do, please don't let them win a fish."

When I got home that night, he was sitting in a cup on the table.

*

Actually, he's starting to grow on me. He doesn't shed or poop in the yard. He doesn't hump every ball we own. He doesn't shred his doggy pillows. (I'm looking at you, Freddie...) Of course, he also doesn't get fed a whole lot. Which is why I decided to take wagers on Death Zone's Death Day.

Anyone?

I'll give excellent odds...

"Haunts and Ghouls of every size"

Halloween around our house is always a day long event, and this year was no different. Book Character parade at school, Dad's work, State Street, Church carnival(s), Olive Street & then trick-or-treating. By the time we got home, the sugar had wielded its magic and the jumping, leaping, running, and whining for "one more piece of candy" was inevitable.

I can't help it. I like candy.

Kendall was a blue bird.

Whenever she walked to a door she yelled, "Squawk! Trick-or-Treat"

Zack was a mummy.

He knew every 5th person we walked by on State Street. Including the guy he thinks we saw at Vons the other day. Ryleigh was a pilgrim.
Her costume choice is generally locked in for the following year by Nov. 1st. I'll keep you posted. (She was a 4th grade costume winner in her parade at school today!)

"You Say It's Your Birthday"

Ryleigh turned NINE this weekend!

We invited twelve of her friends over for a great "Hollywood Award" style slumber party on Friday night complete with red carpet, Hollywood hill, LOUD music, fashion shows, spontaneous bouts of giggling, hours and hours of crazy front lawn dancing, tin foil dresses, sparkly nail polish & mass consumption of sparkling drinks. In this case, apple cider.

At many points during the evening's festivities, it looked an awful lot like a college kegger. Those nine year olds can P.A.R.T.Y.

I'm exhausted.

(Yes, Zack was the only boy there. Obviously, it was a downer for him.)

"The flag still stands for freedom"

At this morning's Patriot Day Assembly, Ryleigh did a phenomenal job at her first foray into public speaking.

My 2nd favorite part of the morning was listening to all of the Franklin kids sing "God Bless The USA." When they sang the first verse, they were all a little quiet, but when they got to the chorus and belted out, "And I'm proud to be an American..." they were LOUD and proud and, let me tell you, when the group of kids in front of me put their arms around each other and started swaying and singing, there wasn't a dry eye in the place.

Especially not from this proud mom.

"There are so many colors in a flower, Let's use every one."

The (mostly) true story of Kendall's first day of Pre-school.

Once upon a time, the cutest three year old on the planet got to attend her first day of preschool.

Her enormous pussycat backpack had other ideas.

Kendall had been anxiously but patiently awaiting this day for many months and was not amused.

So she kicked its ass.

And the humbled backpack never again tried to assert itself over Queen Kendall.

The Beginning.

"Lonely, I'm Mr. Lonely..."

So, anybody know what this is? Anyone?
Hello?
Bueller?
This, my peeps, is a house sans children.

Yes, it's true. They all went to school today.

All of them together. At school. At the same time.

I don't know what to do with myself.

(Well, besides sit around in my underwear and eat ice cream out of the carton at 7:50 a.m. - but doesn't everybody do that?)

"On a Pot of Gold with a Silver Lining"

We went on a mini vacation to Stateline. We had a really fun time even though a lot of the fun rides were pretty much closed the entire time. Well, I take that back. They DID let us use the water slide for 65 minutes on the day we were leaving before they unceremoniously kicked our butts out of the pool for maintenance. The maintenance they apparently couldn't get done the previous 58 hours the pool was closed. But I digress...

In actuality, it must have cost them a fortune to have us stay there for three days. Since we don't really gamble, and they gave us $160 in free buffets and $340 in free ride wristbands, we didn't spend any money while we were there. (Unless you count the anti-nausea medicine I had to take after going on the virtual roller coaster. I am not young anymore.) SCORE!

"Keep on Rockin' in the Free World"

Aunt Kelly took Ryleigh to her first concert - The Jonas Brothers! When she got home, I asked her how she liked her First. Concert. Ever. She said, "Well, it was really loud."

I have so much to teach that child.

"Because you're sweet and lovely, girl, I love you "

Kendall is amazing.

She dances, sings, performs skits, and can throw out an insult faster and meaner than a 10th grade cheerleader. For example:

While waiting in line at the local super market:

"WOW! Mom - your hair is turning really, REALLY dark brown. Here. At the top. And I see gray hairs, too. I like all the pretty colors on your hair, mom. Except, I don't."

While organizing her old clothes to give away:

"Mom, where are all of these going?" "Well, honey, you've grown out of them so we're going to give them to a friend of mine." Silence. More silence. I glance over to see her staring at me, slack jawed and wide eyed. "YOU. HAVE. FRIENDS?"

I hope she's saving for my therapy.

"Whose broad stripes and bright stars"

We had a very entertaining Independence Day.

Unfortunately, we lost someone very dear to us that day. Our blender, Blendy. He was a good blender. He made excellent smoothies and fantastic cocktails. I will always remember the time when he and I first attempted a Hollandaise sauce. What a mess! *sniff* He would not have wanted us to be sad, though. He went out on his own terms, with a cocktail in his pitcher and a fire in his base. We will miss you, Blendy.

"Until your haircut looks its best"

Ryleigh finally got the haircut she has been waiting for.

She has been telling everyone that she had it cut by a professional.

As opposed to my amateur status, I guess.

"Inevitably, the first day of school came"

Wednesday was the first day of school for Ryleigh and Zack. Ryleigh started 4th grade.
Zack started Kindergarten.

After our orientation morning, I asked him if he wanted me to stay for a while. He said, "Why?" I said, "Well, I don't know. I just thought that I would stay if you wanted me too." Pause. "Mom. I need for you to go so that I can teach all my new kids how to behave."

"If I had my druthers I'd go fishing"

Keith and Zack went camping with Mike and Camden on Wednesday.

They fished.
They got dirty.

They burped a lot.

And they played with fire.

It was classic male bonding.

Without the strippers.

"Well, Hello there Good old friend of mine"

Constance came to visit last week and brought her two adorable kids Maximus and Savannah.
It was so fun seeing her and meeting Miss Savannah. We had a great visit where I promised her that I would never tell her kids about the time we got pulled over twice in the span of 45 minutes while driving her VW bug. And that she flirted her way out of the ticket. BOTH TIMES. That conversation concluded with my wavery rendition of, "Did you ever know that you're my hero..."

"Won't you let me meet you at the pool"

At the pool on Tuesday, I discovered that my children's personalities can be well summed up by how they play in the pool.

Ryleigh swam laps. I lost count after twelve.

Zack cannon-balled off the side and did kicky/splashy underwater somersaults.



Kendall practiced her S.I. swim-suit pose and swapped perfect summer sangria recipes with a new friend. They're playing canasta on Thursdays.