8 Amazing Years

Here we are more than a month later, but I just couldn't let such an important event as Superkid's 8th Birthday pass without mention. It REALLY was a spectacular birthday. Superkid has been talking about Cold Stone birthday cakes ever since my birthday, and with the impending move, he didn't have to twist my arm! The kid has good taste.
To celebrate the occasion, we partied at the CIRCUS! Good times. If you ask the kid's the best part was the concession stand (just like anywhere). I personally was mystified by the contortionists. Okay and the motorcycle guys.
But the best part was just hanging out with these guys.
I asked Superkid what was on his TOP 8 LIST
Having a family
Having clean water
Reading the scriptures
Hot wheels
Legos
Christmas
Grandparents
Sprite

Happy Birthday Superkid!
These have been the 8 best years of my life.

14 Millionish + 1

Today was Superkid's baptism day, making him officially counted among the ranks of Mormons. This kid is awesome. Just one dunk.

He was dressed to kill.
Pops had a man-to-man chat with Superkid about how in the old days men would dress in armor to defend themselves against the world. These days a man needs a well fit suit. I don't know a kid more fit to wear a suit. ...although, Superkid did mention that we would rather have the armor.

There are so many friends and family members that we wish could have been here to share the day with Superkid. If I had a million dollars I would have flown everyone out for the occasion. Instead, you all get the pics. ...but at least you don't have to wait!

We were well loved by our local friends and family. It was wonderful to have a so many great friends to share the day with.

So here is the Happy Family...

The Proud Parents...
Pre-dunk...

We were especially glad that our RI cousins could be here! They shortly will be our Colorado cousins, and Todd already is, so it was especially great to share the day with them!

Embracing Selfishness

Last night I read the "Selfishness Cure" chapter from Miss Piggle Wiggle to the young Toads. I took a moment to define selfishness. I said something like, "Selfishness is when you won't share your toys with anyone. It means that you only think about yourself and not how other people feel." Tadpole pulled his pensive expression and thought for a moment. Then he smiled with the satisfaction of putting together a long perplexing puzzle and said, "Hmmm, I'm pretty sure I'm selfish Mom." Giggling inwardly, but outwardly trying to convince him of the virtues of selflessness, I dove into the importance of treating others the way you want to be treated blah.blah.blah. and then continued reading. At some point Little Chief took hold of the Lego train Tad had made and started playing. Soon Tadpole noticed, walked over and repossessed his toy. He looked at me and said, "I'm just a selfish kid mom."

Our Favorite Things...

Let's just say that the kiddos are acclimating to their new environment just fine.
Little Chief is a major fan of our NEWEST family member, Shadow (who he calls, "Woof"). It is a match made in heaven. Shadow gets lots of back rubs and table scraps, Little Chief gets someone who doesn't get *frustrated* with him...
Sad, I know... but he is a busy boy and it was a busy month.
Little Chief is also a major fan of all the low hanging fruit around here!
This is a mischief maker's paradise.
Although, his FAVORITE part of the house is the dog door. Suddenly the world is open to him, he can just get up and leave whenever he wants and roam as far as he wants... so long as he doesn't want to roam past the fence of the dog-run.
The closets here are rooms unto themselves. When we first went to tour our new space, the kids all claimed their closet. The concept of having a whole gigantic bedroom was too much to digest. While the young Toads have adjusted to sleeping in their cavernous rooms, their closets remain a grand place to hang out, and the first place we look when we can't find them (which happens all the time in this mansion).

Superkid's office/Tadpole's train terminal...
Abizella's Pony stable/'Lil Chief's wrecking zone...
Tadpole and Superkid's room...
Abizella and 'Lil Chief's room...
Other favorite places include...
The LAUNDRY SHOOT
(are you kidding me! The sheer joy of putting your dirty clothes in the hamper!)!!!
Miss Abizella's private art studio...
Superkid's music hall...
And my personal fav, the one-size-fits-ALL-THE-KIDS-old-fashioned-claw-foot bath tub.
Good old family fun!

Remember Us?

We have just emerged from the most wildly busy month of our lives. My mantra for the whole month of October was, "Just hold on! It will only be bad until November!" When it rains, it pours. Moving is bad. Add to that 4 kids, getting your former dwelling ready for renters (I'm convinced way worse than selling), and then pile on the busiest work month EVER for both Pops and myself. I don't know how Pops did it all, because in the thick of it I was away 12 hrs./day, 7 days/week. Actually, we were bailed out more than once by our church family. Our friends spent one full day of moving all our earthly belongings (which turns out to be 80% books, 10% wheat, 10% everything else), and the Relief Society showed up to paint. Seriously, they knocked out the whole house in 4 hours.

On the morning we went to U-Haul to pick up the the moving truck, we were headed back to the house to start loading and Tadpole asked, "Mom, can we go home now?" I said, "That is where we are going now." When we pulled up to our old house Tad said, "Not that home! Our new home!" The kid knows a good thing. We are all happy with our new home. Even so, I couldn't help but re-live some of the good old days. Even Superkid got a little emotional at one point. I explained to him we all love this house, but home is where the family is. He said, "What?! This is the only house I know, this is the house I grew up in." I get it Superkid.

This is how the old place looked when we left her...

It actually looked spectacular when we handed it over, which actually meant many picnic nights for the kiddos while Pops and I worked like slaves.
It got so bad that the kids burst out in tears whenever I said we were going to McDonald's for dinner. Can you believe they begged for clam chowder?
It is SOOOOO Good to be in November! We are SO happy to have things settle down and take some time to settle in. The good news is we have returned to the land of blogging AND I found my camera. Stay tuned.

Oh Glorious Apples!

I have good old Lis-R to thank for taking me on my very first apple picking excursion7 years ago. Oh the happiness of being heavy laden with kiddos and bushels of apples!

She and the rest of the dizzy Gillespie's came to town to re-enact that first hollowed occasion.
And the Andrus', my faithful picking companions through the years, joined us as well.

Apple picking is number one in Superkid's book. He talks about it ALL YEAR LONG.
For him, it means birthday time is near!
And even though he and his friend Gabby look like they are on an uncomfortable first date...
They had a great time together.
Hey, you just can't fight chemistry, which they have obviously had from the start
(yes, I am saving this for the wedding)

But I digress, back to the apple picking!
Love this cheesy face.
The labor of love...

Tadpole is the #1 tractor enthusiast!
Little Chief and Big Chief...
The sweetest sight EVER... Little chief sacked out!... clutching his apple cider donut.
Abz was in GIRL HEAVEN! This place was pony central. Turns out Claire is a major fan as well. Since Abz's favs are packed for the move, they made their own!
It's official, we all love the Gillespie's! We need some Las Vegas time!

What Makes Us Happy

Oh, how we LOVE our cinnamon rolls on Conference Sunday!
This is one tradition that is not going away;
at first mention of conference the kids scream with glee, "Cinnamon Rolls".

This time Tadpole was my chief assistant.
Pops and I decided to package up a plate of rolls and take them to Joe and Holly. On our way over Tadpole said, "What are you doing with those cinnamon rolls?" I said that we were bringing them to our friends to share. Tadpole said, "I don't want to share the cinnamon rolls, I want to eat them all." Pops then delivered an eloquent sermon at the importance of serving others and how when we serve others it makes them happy and us happy too. Tadpole patiently listened and when Pops ended Tadpole said, "Are you sure that Joe and Holly are sad?"