Mugha (Megha) and Karen

Megha and Karen came over the Sunday before my birthday for dinner and to play. Mike invited them over to help clebrate my big day. My kids were so excited, as was I but I was a little more restrained in my love than they were!

Karen the human gymnasium.

 

 

 

Megha (Annie calls her Mugha) and Jake

 

 

Holding 3 of the 5

 

 

After dinner we had cake. Each of the kids had to take a turn blowing the candles out.

 

 

The whole family.

 

 

Anthony

 

 

Jake

 

 

 

Princess #1 with her mommy.

 

 

My Jake. I don't know what I was doing with my mouth. I must have had cake in it.

 

 

Michael eating his cake with a knife, real nice!

 

 

Jake, Anthony and Jaileigh with Megha.

 

 

Princess #2 with her daddy.

Annie

 

 

My buddies. I am so grateful for friends who like my kids, and still want to be my friend!

Happy Birthday, Amber Jai!

Happy Birthday Amber Jai! 35 (completely random number, I  swear) things we love about you!

1.      I love that you are too classy to swear. Seriously. How many people can break all of their toes multiple times and never have a naughty word cross their lips? I mean, when her kids try to insult each other they say, "You're such a pumpernickel!"

2.       I secretly love when people ask if we're twins. It's a little frightening that my thirty-five year old sister looks the same as me at twenty-one, but I guess its ok if my twin is Malibu Barbie.

3.      I love that you don’t have any remaining evidence that you gave birth to five kids. Is it too much to hope that the stretch-mark-proof genes are hereditary?

4.      I love that you still wear your sexy shoes. It’s always fun to watch Barbie walking with her five little ducks.

5.      I love the way you dragged me into the eyebrow waxing shop and murdered my uni-brow in the sixth grade. Seriously, thank you.

6.      I love that you are blunt, yet kind.

7.      I love that you always have time for a hormonal sister. (I solemnly swear to one day outgrow puberty).

8.      I love, love, love your hair. You really are Rapunzel.

9.      I love the way you love Mike. There, I said it. Don’t get me wrong, I still have a bit of a gag reflex when you guys kiss in front of me, but I love that you guys are in love. (Great choice, by the way. He has excellent taste).

10.  I love that you always have a fish with a plant sticking out of the fish bowl. I also love that you love said fish, no matter what level of grossness accompanies it.

11.  I love that you are my only sister. Really, how could anyone else ever compete for my favorite sister?

12.  I love the way you love on your kids. Who else could thoroughly spoil all five?

13.  I love that you read. I think credit is due to you for making Andy and me somewhat literate.

14.  I love that you always know the perfect gift to buy.

15.  I love that you have awesome friends.

16.  I love that you never sit still. Exhausting, but fascinating at the same time. What are you running on?

17.  I love that you love your family, no matter how nuts we are. Plus, I'm pretty sure you may be the parental's favorite. Dang it.

18.  I love your loyalty. I’m never afraid to confide in you. You will always be my best friend

19.  On that note, I love that you are my best friend.

20.  I love that you are the first person I call when I am excited, upset, lonely, or happy about something.

21.  I love that you don’t have to wear makeup to look flawless.

22.  I love that you keep up with your blog, even though you are insanely busy.

23.  I love that you are always willing to proof-read ten page papers in the middle of the night. Going over every sentence word-by-word.

24.  I love that you know how to shop. Thank goodness you were my teacher.

25.  I love that you are always willing to pick an elusive zit.

26.  I love that you go to the gym at four in the morning. (Again, how do you do it?)

27.  I love that you randomly decide to sew, and then create a masterpiece. It’s disgusting, actually. Totally jealous

28.  I love that you worry whether or not I’m literate when I text words like, “tho,” “totes,” Jealy,” etc.

29.  I love that you allow Mike and I to eat goldfish and chocolate chips as many days in a row as we deem necessary.

30.  I love that you are an awesome driver. Some of my best life decisions have been made after a run-in with a curb.

31.  I love that you didn’t turn Mike and I in to mom for eating her chocolate she was using for Christmas fudge. Instead, you ran to rite-aid to replace it at one in the morning.

32.  I love that your students still love you. I get a little “jealy” when I see them post on Facebook how much they love you.

33.  I love that you never yell at your kids. Perhaps I’ll send my potential future offspring to you to raise. Of course, I’ll have to take credit for how great they turn out. You do understand, don’t you?

34.  I love your magnificent cheekbones. Did you have to grab all the good genes just because you were the firstborn?

35.  Amber Jai, I just plain love you. We all do. Smooch!
Love, Mom, Dad, Andy and Rori

 

Child Labor

The best purchase I ever made was a pack of 5 toothbrushes and a bucket from the dollar store. I filled it up with Dawn and water and let my little ones go to town on the grout.

Jaileigh, Anthony and Jake

 

 

Michael

 

 

 

Jake was more interested in making a mess with the bubbles. Shortly, after this picture was taken he sat in the bucket.

 

 

 

Annie

Happy Halloween!

Halloween was a busy day. The kids went to preschool in the morning. Annie went to preschool too. She was really excited because it was dress up day. I didn't think she was really going to stay. When we got there she walked in, took her shoes off, and said, "bye Mom". Their teacher was so nice to let her stay.

The kids before preschool. Annie didn't want her picture taken, she was too excited to go to school. The sun was in their eyes.

 

 

No sun but still only Anthony looking at me.

 

 

For dinner we made mummy dogs. I made pizza dough and used that for the mummies. I let the kids roll out snakes and wrap them around the hot dogs.

 

 

Jaileigh

 

 

Anthony

 

 

Annie started eating hers before we even cooked it.

 

 

While the mummy dogs were cooking we made mummy pizzas.

Annie

 

 

Jakob

 

Anthony

 

 

Jaileigh

 

 

Michael didn't feel like participating.

 

 

After dinner we carved our pumpkins. Nothing like waiting until the last minute.

 

Annie and Jaileigh

 

 

Michael

 

 

Anthony eating his mummy dog.

 

 

Jake gutting the pumpkin.

 

 

 

Anthony

 

 

 

Jaileigh was so funny! She would stick her hand in, grab some stuff, throw it out and then run in the house to wash her house. Repeat.

 

 

Anthony and Jake

 

 

Michael, Anthony and Jakob

 

 

 

Jaileigh

 

 

 

Annie set up all the little pumpkins and then wanted a picture taken. Anthony decided to jump in too.

 

 

 

Trick or treating

 

 

 

They were so worn out. They wanted to come home about half way around our block. I think they got their fill of trick or treating this year! Since this was their 2nd year wearing their costumes I would say they were well used and well worth the money. I don't think they will fit in them again.

Happy Halloween!

 

I hope you all had a fun, safe, and exciting Halloween!