She really is awesome.

This is what Ivy wore to school today.  The fancy necklace Grandma Pam got her for her birthday and her homemade shirt that says "I'm awesome deal with it!" (it actually says I'm awfsome, we ran out of Es so she used an F and a sharpie to make it work, when she's made up her mind to be awesome, there's really no stopping her) the part of the outfit that you can't see are her basketball shorts and her brown suede flats. I find that nothing says "There's no pinning down my style" like a fancy necklace and some basketball shorts. She would also like you to know that she can keep her eyes crossed like that longer than anyone else in her class.

I know you've been waiting

I figured election day was the perfect time to do the Halloween post.

I guess the theme at our house was agression.

Here's Eli-

Ivy, the viking queen.

Here she chops a braid to show that she's not one of those vain Norse women.

Eli didn't get the memo that blue vans and a spiderman pillow case are not usually issued to soldiers.

Here we have little Hannah Montana. That's not her real hair, just in case you were wondering.

This times 3.  Good times.----if you're a dentist.

We just let them eat til they're sick.

Or silly.

This is for Jon.  Yes, I dressed up.  As a bee. A worker bee.  Ha. Ha. And I let Sylvan take my picture. Ha. It was hilarious.

Hope you all had a SUPER fun Halloween too.

We got all dressed up.

Today Brandon and Ella came over and we put up the Halloween decorations.  I will post those pictures later.  The fun part of the day was when we got all sugared up on candy corn-

And everyone got busy trying on the Halloween costumes.

Eli decided NOT to be a fairy.  I can't tell you how glad Sylvan was to hear that.

That spooky thing behind Ella is Brandon.

Here we have the studious viking 50's girl.

I'm not really sure what this is.

Ella has a bit of a dark side.

I think Edge looks really cute.  Don't you?

Ella is so sweet.

Or is she?

more video!!!

Wes got new shoes. Now he can do this.

Almost.

Weekly update

Before I tell you about our SUPER EXCITING week, I want to say

"Happy Birthday Laura!!"

Since I'm pretty sure Laura doesn't read our blog, though I don't know how she can stand to keep away, what with it being so EXCITING and all, would someone let her know, that for the first time in YEARS, we didn't forget her birthday? (actually, we usually remember everyone's birthdays, just not far enough in advance to get a card in the mail. Sorry!)

Thanks.

Eli made dinner again. We are trying to have the kids each cook a meal once a week. It's just as fun AND tasty as you are imagining it to be.

I'm kidding. They all do a pretty good job. This week Eli made homemade pizza. It was really good. Sylvan helped him and he even made the sauce from scratch, which I never even do.

Kneading the dough was had work, as you can see. Unfortunately we don't have any pictures of the finished product, but trust me it was delish!!

Here's Ivy doing homework. This is what she wore to school.

Obviously there is no such thing as over dressed in the 3rd grade.

This week Ivy convinced me to let her walk home from school. She walks with her friend Rylee and they love it. The only problem is that it is still a little warm here, so every afternoon Eli has looking out for his little sister by leaving a refreshing Capri Sun on the path to the front door for them.

He's pretty nice, for a boy.

This is Ivy after the LONG (not really) walk home. She hadn't had her rejuvenating fruit flavored drink in a bag yet when this picture was taken.

Yesterday Eli went to Scout Day Camp, where they learned important life skills like how to make a rocket from a water bottle and built marshmallow catapults. This is him all ready to go.

And this is the view inside his lunch bag which he photographed and insisted I put on the blog.

Eli and Ivy want EVERYTHING to go on the blog, several times a week they tell me "Get a picture of this--for the blog." The other three boys are not as eager to have their lives spread all over the internet. They want to remain mostly anonymous. I told them they will never get to be the Jonas Brothers like that, but they mostly don't listen to my advice about how to get famous.

This week started with a holiday and a day off from school.  So like all teenagers Edge decided to take a break from his labors and have a bbq with his friends.  Those kids are so crazy.

The brought their own chairs and wore their best "day off" shoes.

Actually, I'm pretty sure those are their everyday shoes.  Jealous?

The decided to grill their gormet Totinos pizzas.

Which ended up being not such a good idea. 

On Tuesday Ivy made dinner.

Spagetti and Meatballs.  It was delish!! (No comments needed about the giant soda buckets, thank you very much.)

Wednesday there was a Court of Honor and Nate advanced to 2nd class while Edge and Wesley each picked up all 3 of their citizenship merit badges. (Edge was working that's why he's not pictured, it's not because we don't like him.)

Friday was the Father Daughter campout, and as always fashion was Ivy's top priority.

This horse was there, I am assuming that was a good thing.

How was your week?

Mom has been here this week so we have spent a lot of time with Jon and Misty's and Scott and Heather's families.  On Tuesday evening we went to J&M's.

Jaidyn and Emma

Ivy & Ella-They do hair.  Horse hair.

Scott and Annie. 

Nate had a scout camp out this weekend, notice how prepared he is.  If it's sunny, he's set.

Um, yeah, she did her own hair.

I didn't take any of these pictures, but the photographer insisted they be included in this week's post.

On Friday Ivy had her first sick day of the school year.  Eli isn't sick, just sympathetic.

This is my brother, some people say he's kind of mean. All I know is he's always bossing me around.

On Friday morning I wore this skirt to assert my fashion independence (and embarrass my mom) and I got this great little plant at Trader Joe's.

These two, I promise you, were up to no good.  I never got any proof, but I had my eye on them.

Some people are really cute and like to have their picture taken.  Others, while still pretty cute, are not so fond of the camera.

This is Emma trying to get me to pick her up.  But I said "Forget it kid. You gotta learn to walk some time and I'm not coming down to the kindergarten to carry you to recess."  Because that's the kind of aunt I am .  Loving but practical.

Oh yes he did go out like that.  To a party. This post proves over and over that our family has some serious fashion sense.

This is her FAVORITE meal.