Alex the Elf!!!

Tonight we had a huge surprise...an elf arrived on our door step!!! He even came surrounded by smoke! (according to Parker, who opened the door!)

We found out that he is a Scout Elf for Santa! He watches and listens by day, and then reports to Santa each night...only to return the next day...

...as we read about him we found out that when he returns he hides in different places through out the house...and we have to find him...but we can NEVER touch him or his magic will disappear!

We got to name him...so the kids decided to name him Alex!

And best of all...Alex is our very own scout elf and he will come back every year!

IT'S DECEMBER!!!!

It's no secret...I love the Holiday Season! I think my kids do too!

Rylie loves putting the star on top of the Christmas Tree...I wonder what she is going to do when she is too big to lift up there?
I had to throw this one in...this is how Rylie makes her bed...with little Rylie reading books to Felicity, Elizabeth, the kissing frogs, and baby!

Yesterday was the annual children's party at Webb (the company Shane works for). My kids wait all year for the first Sunday in December!

They get to go see Santa...and he even brings each one of them an early Christmas Present from their lists!

I know...it doesn't look much like December in Southern California...we are still getting used to not having any snow!!!

Playing Catch Up!

Ok...so I need to do some catching up! Things have been crazy...need I say more!

Starting with Thanksgiving...Shane's mom and dad came out to spend the holiday with us! My brother Donny was supposed to come too, but at the last minute we lost out to his girlfriend...guess we better get used to that!
Don and Karla brought Ginger with them...I think the kids were just as excited to see her as they were to see Grandma and Grandpa!

I put everyone to work this year!!!

It was a great day! We have so much to be thankful for!!!

On "Black Friday", Rylie and I decided to introduce Grandma to the American Girl Store! Rylie and I took Julie and Felicity to get their ears pierced...and Rylie had to get Elizabeth and Felicity's hair done! Grandma couldn't believe her eyes! It was great!!!

Saturday, Rylie got do to what she does best...play princess!!!

She went to a sneak peak viewing of, The Frog Prince, with her friend Sam! They had such a good time! They got to meet all of the princesses...even the newest one, Tiana!!!

Sunday was the big "8" for Parker! He wanted "soldier boys and dippy eggs" for breakfast!

He was pretty excited that Grandma and Grandpa were able to stay for his birthday!

Parker wanted a plain chocolate cake that he could put Sponge Bob on! So...here it is...he did all of the art work! It was a great weekend!

Happy Birthday Parker!!!

Today Parker is 8 years old!!!

Parker, I can't believe how fast you are growing up! It seems like just yesterday they were putting you in my arms for the first time! I hope you know how much I love you! You are such a great little boy! You are kind, smart, a great friend, an amazing brother, and you always know how to put a smile on my face! This is a big year for you buddy! I hope you enjoy every second of it! Thank you for being my tender heart and for all of the hugs I can never get enough of! I'm so lucky to be your mom! Happy Birthday Parks!

Halloween

Here are some highlights of how we celebrated Halloween this year!!!

It has been so hot, that we put off carving the pumpkins until the 29th...even at that, they barely made it through Halloween!
The kids are very hands on when it comes to their pumpkins...they like to do it all by themselves! Mason carved a ghost in his!

Parker put a Pirate Flag on his!

Rylie did a cat! Yes...she is carving by herself...I was kind of nervous...but she did a great job and still has all of her fingers!

She let Shane help with the hard parts!

We even outlined Rylie's cat in purple glitter!

Rylie and her pumpkin!

Parker with his glitter Pirate Eyes!

Mason's ghost turned out really cool!

The pumpkins out front on display!

So Halloween was kind of a crazy day! We started off with early morning soccer games...then it was time to do some last minute alterations to my costume! Rylie was trying out my cool Go Go Boots!

Susie was kind enough to help me take a couple inches off of my dress. It was kind of like the blind leading the blind...since neither one of us can sew! I ended up having to hem it by hand...all I can say is that it didn't look too bad...and it didn't come out...so I guess it was good enough!

Mason was a Ninja this year...I think it was all about the weapons! He went to a birthday party and went trick or treating while he was there. He had a great time!

The rest of us hung out at home and had the annual Halloween Buffet! The Byers joined us! We had a great time!

Ok...so Shane and I went 70's Disco this year...and we decided to go all out...down to the G0 Go boots and the platform zebra shoes!

Here we are with Brad and Susie!

Parker, Rylie, Sammi, and Brody - all ready to go trick or treating!

Rylie was a Snow Princess!

And...like his brother, Parker was a Ninja!

Here we are trick or treating!

I love this picture...Susie looks just like my mom did when she got married...it was crazy!

After we went trick or treating, we went to the Parker's for their 70's Halloween Party! It was so much fun!

Yes...there was Karaoke! Here are Richelle and I singing "Love Shack"...she's so much better than I am!!!

Rylie even took a turn...she brought the house down with "Hit Me With Your Best Shot"!

We had a great Halloween!!!

Meet Carter and Taylor!!!

As some of you know, my sister Kelsey had her second set of twins a few weeks ago! She updated her blog recently with pics and lots of info! Check it out!!!

http://ourhansenfam.blogspot.com

A House Full of Sickos!!!

For those of you wondering...this is what we have been up to...

Yep...they all have the flu...aren't you jealous!!!