Hey, just some pics from Disney

 Way back over spring break, we were able to spend some time in Florida, which included 3 days at Disney. What a privilege to be able to take this kids to the most magical place on Earth.  We did a lot of riding rides, eating food and walking!  Andy kept track of how far he and the boys walked each day and they literally were able to complete some of the shorter hikes for their hiking merit badges.  The girls and I opted to get a double stroller.  One of the things we got was the PhotoPass that recorded pictures of us on rides and at different points in the parks to our Disney account.  It was nice not to have to take pictures of everything with my own camera.  And, now, I finally have time to share some with you.  These are from Magic Kingdom, where we spent all of our first day.  We got there early, like 8 am, and stayed till right before dinner.  We missed the nighttime fireworks, but no one cared, because we went back to the condos to swim.

Our first pictures at Disney!  Right before we split up boys vs. girls to go ride rides and see sites.  I pretty much had to pull rank as the mother and force them to take these pictures.

The girls got to meet a couple princesses.  First up: Rapunzel.

Kinley practicing her curtsy. 

The boys rode the Haunted Mansion.  I don't remember them being too impressed.  Cale seems to think something is funny.

Liam hated this ride.

The boys thought Space Mountain was okay.

The ladies also got to meet Tiana.

Not too bad, and fun to look at.  Stay tuned for more, when I get a chance.

Expedition 2018-a snapshot

Our big trip this summer was an almost 2 week trip to points west, a goal to travel to states we haven't been to yet.  We called it Expedition 2018 because it sounded cool and it really was starting to feel like an expedition with all the miles we were going to travel.  Mission accomplished.  We added Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas to our list of states we have been to.  Our initial plan was to camp in a camper for this trip, but that plan died on the side of the road about 1 hour into the trip.  Lucky for us, Grandpa Jerry came with our van and picked us up so we could keep on going.  Camping turned into staying at hotels, which was also a fun time.  We have already earned a free night with all the rooms we had booked for the trip.  Here are just a few pictures, one from each state (almost).

Cousins!  First stop, Iowa.  We got to spend the night at Uncle Jim and Aunt Courtney's house.  Xander and Everett were fun to play with and it was nice to see their house for our first time.  

Next stop, Minnesota and Mall of America.  We came, we shopped, we ate at Rainforest Cafe, we rode some rides at the amusement park in the mall.  

Then, on to North Dakota and Teddy Roosevelt National Park.  The painted canyons were beautiful.  It was cool to see geological formations different from the flat farmlands of the midwest. We stayed in the area for a few days.

Then, on to South Dakota.  We went to Mount Rushmore (the starting point for the idea of this trip) and Wind Cave National Park.  

We stopped at Chimney Rock, Nebraska next.  This was a lunch break stop on our long drive day from South Dakota to York, Nebraska.  It was so still out there, you could here the wind rustling through the grass.

No picture of Kansas City, KS.  We stayed the night there, had some great BBQ and made a spur of the moment decision to go to a marble store.  We got to see a marble making demonstration and, of course, got some marbles.  

After driving through Missouri, our last stop was to see more cousins in Illinois-Maddie, Abbie and Jacob.  We got to spend the night with Grammy Pammy before heading back to our house.  

It was a long trip.  I hope the kids can always look back on it and take away some good family memories.  We are already making plans in our head for Expedition 2019. 

end of school year time pics

Chillin in our hotel room, waiting for everyone to get ready to eat breakfast and get back on the road.  I have time to actually post.  Here are some of our activities from May.

Dance wrapped up for the year, and, with it, Kinley and my weekly lunches.  We enjoyed eating at our 2 favorite restaurants: Jim Dandys and Applebees.  We pretty much had the menus memorized at each restaurant.

Kinley, helping me with a Mother's Day project for church: a photo booth.

Ewan, dressed up for wax museum day.  His teacher picked the category "outlaws, gangsters and pirates".  Ewan picked Baby Face Nelson as his character.

Kinley had her very last day of preschool.  On to kindergarten!

Academic awards ceremony for Cale.  

I had the privilege to help with Kella's first grade field day.  It felt like forever outside with a group of 7 kids.  In the hot sun.  

Had some great mornings with coffee, snuggling with Jasper, while Kinley watched some television.  We wake up slow in the mornings.

And, last day of school for my middle and high schoolers....

...and my elementary and primary kids.

And, now we are in the midst of our big summer vacation, which I have titled "Expedition 2018".  June will be almost done by the time we get back and we have July to make the most of, too.

Halloween 2017

\This year was a year that we actually put some effort into the Halloween costumes.  I know, surprising, since this is one of my least favorite holidays.  But, it's for the kids and they had a good time.

Kella's 3 headed dog costume turned out great.  Thanks to my friend, Amanda, for the idea.

Then, we have Liam Potter.

And, Kinley Kitty.

Here is the crew before the older ones ran off with their friends.  Cale dressed as the Phantom from Phantom of the Opera (my suggestion as he was looking for a last minute costume) and Ewan was Thor.  I even got/forced him to wear a beautiful blond wig for the pictures.  

So pretty.

Andy did a great job finishing up some very last minute pumpkin carving.  Then, he helped pass out candy and got to walk Kella to some houses.

We finished the evening by watching the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and eating lots of candy.

snapshot of October

Here we are in November.  And, here is a look at some of the things that happened in October through the eyes of my phone.

Cale got in to the All-Region Junior High Band.  Pretty good for a 7th grade French horn player.  He follows in his brother's footstep as Marcus was in this same band last year as an 8th grader.  He will have a day of practice and then a concert the next day.

One last pumpkin patch field trip for Kinley and me.  The weather was cold and drizzly.  I was not sad to wrap up this trip and go to the golden arches for lunch.

For fun, I ordered blood typing kits for anyone who wanted to do it.  Namely, the boys.  They were all game to this and the results came back:  Marcus A-, Cale and Ewan A+ and Liam AB+.  None of that standard O+ blood for this house of gingers.

Liam and I like to have sleeping contests after I get home from a night of work.  Guess who wins?

Over fall break, we got to see our friends and Kella and Emma started working on their Christmas lists.  One thing on Kella's list: she wants to dye her hair-half purple and half black.  Andy says that girl has seen too many super hero shows.

I hauled the troops to IKEA.  Mostly cause I hate myself and I like to go shopping with 6 distractions.  Tactical error on my part, we got there at lunch time and I had some very hangry children until we got to the food court-halfway through the store, no less.

Winter is coming.

Winter is still coming.  Honestly, does anyone really buy the fur or is it there for a Game of Thrones pic?

Almost done shopping...

Making great use of some nice weather-the sandbox becomes the ocean front and I get to imagine what our next water bill will be.  Fun fact: everyone playing in the sandbox in this pic is over the age of 11.

Cale got braces.  This means 2 of the boys now have metal mouths (Ewan) and Liam will get an expander placed in November so we will be sending all our extra money to the orthodontist.  (Just kidding.  But, dang.)

We put the missus in karate.  She pretty much knows all the stuff anyway, because she has been around karate with her brothers since she was born.  So, why not make it official.  She has already leveled up to a yellow striped belt.  And, it's super cute to see such a little karate gi.

Oh, the love of siblings....

Halloween prep:  Kella as a 3 headed dog.

Liam Potter

Kitty Kinley

I have a couple more pics on my actual camera that I will actually share when I actually get a longer chance to sit at the computer.  Let's just say we had a good candy haul, I overbought for the trick-or-treaters, and we have no self-control or discipline with regards to how much candy to eat.  I guess that makes the candy not last as long in the long run.

Many days my time is spend playing with Kinley.  She likes to change the dolls outfits like they are teenagers and serve them tea.  I try to get them to sing Broadway show tunes (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, The Story of Tonight).  Mostly I get shot down.  Tea parties are very serious here.

A full October here for the gingers.