October...Fall where are you?

October should mean cool weather and leaves falling but it is still hot and a leaf has not yet fallen!!!

Although Autumn has not arrived, 2 babies have!

Craig's sister Becki & my sister Jackie gave birth this month! I am an auntie to 2 new boys!!!

Introducing....

Lucas Scott Schroder  Born October 10, 2012  8 pounds 2 ounces

&

Finnegan Cory Ottesen  Born October 16, 2012   8 pounds 10 ounces

Liv's sweet quote:

I was out of town and when I returned the kids picked me up at the airport and Liv said,

"Mom, we only cried for you one night and then the rest of the nights we were ok.

But, I was thinking of all of these things in the front of my mind and you were always in the back".

Leopard Leaders

   

At Olivia & Sevrin's school they have a monthly value and the school recognizes kids from each grade that have been an example of these values each month on Monday mornings in front of the whole school .

Liv & Sev were both chosen as the leopard leaders this month!

Liv was the 2nd grader chosen for Respect & Sev was the chosen 1st grader for the same value.

So proud of these guys!!!

This one makes me SO proud ;)

My parent's back yard. Isn't it pretty?

 Looks so fallish!

Halloween

Carving Pumpkins!

Pirate lady Livy, Sev the ninja, & Rapunzel (Maya)

The whole trick or treating clan!

Lucy the cat, William the mouse, & Tommy is cheese!

Liv & Sev

Rapunzel, Flynn Ryder, & Pascal

Pascal/Lucas

The very angry caterpillar (Finn)

Sev's October Quotes  

Like I mentioned, this year October did not feel like fall. It reached 90 degrees one day this month. One of the hottest days of the year!
Anyway, I picked up Sev & Liv from school that day and asked them how school was and Sev said "I am like a turkey on Thanksgiving....cooked"

Sev's quote:
Sev was holding his new nephew Lucas and was caressing the baby's little feet..."oh my gosh, his skin is super soft! I wish I could have a blanket made out of his skin"

September: Sev is Six!

 
 

Sevy

Our son is 6!!! Time goes by WAY too fast when you have children!!!
Sevrin continues to spice up our lives with his witty humor, he is sweet and complimentary.
I thoroughly enjoy having him around.
Sev's interests at 6 years of age are math, science, making people laugh, cooking, and playing legos.
I am excited to see what kind of young man he grows up to be, but I hope time slows down and he stays 6 for a while :)
Happy 6th Birthday Severoonie!!! We LOVE you!

 

 

Food Fiiiiight!!!

We usually celebrate the kids birthdays with a family dinner at Craig's mom and dad's house.
For Sev's family birthday dinner we thought we would surprise him with a food fight.
My brother in law Scott asked Sev to read a paper that he was holding that said "Food Fight", once Sev read the words, all of the adults would stand up and start throwing food.
The reaction was not what we had anticipated.
All of the kids started bawling their eyes out, screaming and running for cover.
Sev enjoyed it for about 1 minute and then said angrily, "I'm done! I'm done!"
Liv was the only one that got into it. All of the adults had a blast.
I think we need to wait about 4 years for that one to happen again.

  

Maya & Lucy hiding from the madness!

Jackie's Baby Shower

My sisters and I flew home to Albuquerque, NM (my home town) to throw my sister Jackie a baby shower. We had a blast. My sisters and my mom can do some serious magic.
They had a great vision for the party and it looked beautiful!
We can't wait to meet baby Ottesen!!!

My sisters and I in my dad's truck with no air conditioning

Future parents 

Mom & Dad's Visit

My parents so kindly try their best to come for a visit when the kids have a birthday.
They made it this month to celebrate Sev's 6th birthday!
We had so much fun.
We made it to the Oakland zoo. If you have not paid a visit to this zoo you should! It is a gorgeous park.
Sev's zoo quote:  Sev & my dad raced to a bench to sit down and Sev says to my dad "So you're not much of a runner are you"?
We ventured to the city and rode the trolley to Ghiradelli square.
And saw a very cool performance of Batman Live at HP Pavillion.
Thanks for coming Mon & Dad! xoxo

August Top Ten

10. Let's begin with a quote from Sev shall we?

Sev: Mom has your face always looked like this?

Me: Like what?

Sev: So pretty like this (putting his hands on my face) Have you looked like this even when you were little?

Me: Yes :)

Sev: Mom you will always look pretty, even when your hair is a disaster

 9. The big 10

That's right Craig and I have survived 10 years together in paradise  ;)

I feel lucky to be able to say in all honesty that each year gets better and better

Looking forward to many more years with this guy 

8. Malibu

We combined Craig's Birthday and our anniversary along with our brother in law Scott & my sister Kell's bday by celebrating a weekend away in Malibu, CA!

We got together and rented a beach house with friends/family and celebrated all weekend with delicious food, games, swimming, playing on the beach, and best of all...laughed our butts off  :)

With a total of 9 children, it was impossible for the kids NOT to have had a great time!

Where is Rich?

Dexter is ready for the beach

7. Birthdays, Birthdays

August is our craziest month for birthdays! 

Craig, my sisters, Kellie & Jackie, Craig's dad Ron, Craig's sister Mandy, & our brother in law's Scott, Pale, & Jamey ALL have August birthdays! 

I wanted to do a little spotlight for each bday but there are just too many, sorry  :)

SO, happy birthday August birthdays!!!

6. Meal Worm
One evening Olivia and I went out to dinner (just the two of us) and I learned that she and her class are growing meal worms. She was telling me that some have survived and some have not made it. Then she showed me what a meal worm looks like. Here is a picture of her interpreting a meal worm:

5. Slushies!

On Pinterest we saw that you can make slushies at home with a zip lock bag, some salt water, sugar, and Kool Aid. 

We put it to the test and it was successful!

The kids also created a new dance. The  "slushie dance". They put on gloves to shake the bag because it froze your hands. 

4. Chick Fil A

I have blogged about my love for Chick Fil A....well guess whaaat?

The first northern CA store just opened in San Jose. 

I am seen there A LOT :)

3. Liv's sweet little quote:

"Whenever I say a prayer, it comes true.

Jesus is nice"

2. Summer Fun

We had a great summer; trips to Utah, Malibu, & LA, visits from cousins, and lots of time to play with friends and family.

1. Back to School

Summer is over and the kids are back to school! 

I have to say that Summer did not fly by the way I thought it would. 

A fun time was had by all but I think Craig, the kids, and I are glad that the kids have something to do everyday. :)