Family Pictures ... and One Awesome Photographer

I have sooo many postings to catch up on (I hope this weekend). Just to start, on Nov. 7 we all went back to Mt. Pleasant to celebrate Grandma Marx's 95th birthday. It was soooooo wonderful seeing to many family members - some I haven't seen in more years than I care to count! The best part is that my cousin, Nathan, has a photography hobby and he does some wonderful work! We pressed him into service and somehow, between a full-time job and family life (including a beautiful little baby) he managed to put this photo gallery together. We were grateful to have all of our family together (including Bryce and Tess) for these photos. You have to kind of wade through to find us as it is all mixed together, but I think it is well worth the effort. The link is http://photomarx.smugmug.com/Family-events/Grandmas-95th-B-day/10580200_7b32x/1/735136925_SQqFS#735136925_SQqFS

Happy Halloween 2009

There has been sooooo much going on and I just couldn't blog because I have been sick sick sick. NOT the swine flu, however, just a respiratory infection. We have been hugely blessed by great friends during this past week or so - wonderful families who came in while I was out of commission and kept us fed and took kids and were just in general wonderful!

The usual Halloween drill is that I and the kids get dressed up and I pick a fight with Byron to get him to come with us as we go to the little Trunk or Treat at the church and around our local neighborhood. Last year, the kids really didn't get into the spirit of things (but I had fun). This year, I am still just not feeling up to heading outside - or picking a fight. So, much to Byron's relief, he is off the hook. Our good friends have some teenage kids who desperately want to be allowed to go trick-or-treating, so they are taking (along with their mother) our kids out to the festivities. There are three teens (including Robert) and three babies ... perfect!

The kids, thanks to TV and school, have been practicing all day for the big event. I had already decided to put Joshua into the Jedi costume I made for Robert back in Oregon. It fits him perfectly and he wore it to school yesterday.

For Ben, I didn't really have a costume. He picked out a dinosaur pattern, but when I got sick - that pretty much ended any dinosaur ideas. I was looking through my box and thought I could fit him into Robert old CSA uniform. I was just worried about what he might think he was supposed to be. Since we don't do any Civil War stuff. He solved my problem, however, by getting into a fight with Joshua. He kept insisting that he was a pirate (how random is that?). So, I put a handkerchief on his head and he said "Aargh, I'm a pirate!" Problem solved. With the wool pants (which are pretty scruffy), his old sandals, and the shirt that is so big it exposes his entire chest and balloons the sleeves ... he looks perfect! I really just wish I had some clip on earrings (not that he'd keep them on). I decided to take eye liner and give him a beard and a mustache ... and chest hair! He keeps opening his shirt to show it off ... I thought Josh was going to be my ham, but Ben takes the cake this year! Who's the man!

Ginny loves Tinker Bell and I had found a pattern that had all of the fairies from the movie on it and allowed her to choose which color "Tinker Bell" she wanted to be. Of course, she chose the pink one. All told, her costume cost $6 ... that's my kind of costume. Huge thank you to my friend Leslie who came over and actually finished the costume this week because I couldn't focus enough to sew! As with Ben, I decided to add a little make up. I wish I had taken video of her trying to hold still for the lip stick ... when I finally convinced her to stop licking her lips before I could get it on her! She did pretty well for 2 and a half. The only disappointment was that I did not get her wings stiff enough. I tried adding wire after the fact, but it didn't really work ... I'll have to make a new set another time.

Robert wanted to be a marine, so I called to get a set of my brother-in-law's fatigues. He's in the Army, but I figured it was close enough ;-) At any rate, that fell through, so I told Robert he needed to be creative. This is what he came up with... he is a Secret Agent. Byron tried to get him to take his shoe off and talk into it, but he didn't go for it. This is his best Secret Agent look ... what more can I say?

Byron and I are going to hang out and study (and watch college football) this year. I can't wait to hear what fun the kids have! I am so not getting sick next year ...