continued...Great Day

So, I need to finish telling about Saturday and why I had a great day. 

First off, did I mention that it was the first Saturday, not including 3 separate occasions when I was out of town, that I've had OFF with the family!  And it's just the start of a whole bunch of Saturdays to come.  Yippie Yeah!

I was great to wake up with the family, and get our day all going together.  WE got some house stuff tended to, and I realized Robbie and Zacky really cold NOT drag out the wearing of a few pair of jeans any longer.  Robbie's were far too tight, and Zacky's had holes in the knees or were flying high above his ankles.  We used to do shopping trips all together as a family ALL the time, but haven't done so very often over the last year.  So I figured we'd head out.  It was a relaxed shopping trip because there was not ONE thing we had to hurry home to get to.  The older kids got to try out the new Rock Band because they had it set up in the men's clothing department at Walmart.  THAT was cool.  Randy is so good on the guitar, that some other teenagers that were waiting to play, asked him to stay and play a couple songs with them.  He had a great time!  Zac and Robbie loved the chance to get some NEW clothes, and Curtis and Craigan were actually perfectly content with the fact that they and Randy were just along for the ride (and to get groceries with Dad.)

For the month of October, we've made Friday's dinner "Halloween Friday".  One dinner that was a hit was the "Corny Sloppy Joe Pizza."  (little tip, it's easiest to 'cut' your face using a toothpick.)

Then we made dessert one weekend of "Globlins" (well, the kids did.  we saved it for Saturday when we had the missionaries for dinner. :o)

Here are their works of art (they opted out of green):

Since I was sick Friday, Saturday was our FUN night.  We decided it was going to be a Movie/Game/Halloween night!  We watched  "Mad Monster Party."  (clips are available on youtube if you want to see what it's like.)

 

 

 

We enjoyed some Very Yummy Tarantula Tacos.  

 

As soon as Craigan and Zacky were happily settled into bed, thanks to a full and tiring day, Jase and I sat down with the older kids and enjoyed a game of the new Harry Potter Clue.  Let me just say this - VERY fun game.  It's got some extra twists to it, so even if you have never seen Harry Potter, the game itself is still very fun.  And it's not just the "Harry Potter" version of the original Clue game, so we all really liked the added changes!  The funniest part is that I was so completely brain fried, I was NOT keeping very good track of who was possibly showing someone something, and so I had VERY few clues marked off to figure out "who dun-it?"  The kids were super giggly, the result of too much snacking and not even Starting until after they're usually IN bed.  Suddenly, it's my turn, and I get this bright Idea, being totally silly to play off the funny stuff the kids were doing, and picked stuff they'd either ALWAYS guessed as well as one they NEVER guessed.  Suddenly, my lack of ability to hold a game face killed my chance to win - SO I thought.  The kids NEVER caught it...but Jason did, with that little smirk on his face.  He he he.  Well, Curtis went - nothin'. Randy - Nothin'.  Robbie heads into the room I'm in, and Jason HANDS her the same pieces to guess what I had.  OH, I am SO sorry to say, she was giggling SO much that she made NO connection to the pieces and the fact None of us could prove her wrong.  LOL.  Silly girl.  So, Jase is up next, and - OH, important to note that he's been drawing in his sketch book thee entire game, yet still staying plenty involved.  The kids thought he'd never win because he 'wasn't paying attention.'  LITTLE did THEY know.  IN to the center he goes, and TA-DA, he blows the kids out of the water.  He and I cracked up when we realized they STILL hadn't realized that I, ME, MOM was the one that figured it all OUT!  LOL.  That's okay, they can enjoy dad's multi-tasking skills and be completely impressed. :o).

It's the Simple things in life we need to take time to enjoy.  I haven't taken enough time to focus on the basic things I love about my family, and I only hope to do better.  I've never been one of those Mom's that does the cute notes in lunches, or cut their sandwiches into shapes with cookie cutters.  The whole Halloween Friday came about thanks to a checkout cookbook by Pillsbury.  None of the meals take more time (so far) they they would minus the Halloween-ie twist, but it's FUN. 

Thank you, Jason.  Thank you, Kids.  It really was a wonderful weekend. 

OH - speaking of wonderful weekends... we are SO excited for THIS upcoming weekend.  Steve is coming with his kids to visit!!  His boys and Curtis were attached to each other SO much during our reunion this summer, and ALL the kids just adore their Uncle Steve.  We love all his kids, and the short weekend will never be enough time to cram in a ton of fun, but it SURE will be great while it lasts :o) !!!