JENNA TURNS 3

Last weekend Traci made cupcakes so we could celebrate Jenna's birthday while they were here. Time got away from us and we never did. . .together. Traci's kids ate theirs minutes before jumping in the car to head home. Mine had theirs a little later when they came home from church. A couple of days later I told Jenna she was going to have a birthday. She replied, "I already did. I had cake."

But we ended up celebrating Jenna's birthday with a trip to Chuck E. Cheese. It's something she's been talking about ever since her best friend Taylor celebrated hers there and Jenna got a hug from Chuck E. Cheese himself. She invited 3 of her favorite friends and with a 100 tokens they played and rode to their hearts content. One of my favorite things at Chuck E. Cheese is the Sketch Portrait. I tried to get all 4 of the kids in one picture but couldn't quite seem to get them at the right level or looking at the camera at the same time. But I think the picture captures the attention span of 3-4 yr olds. perfectly! Jenna got another hug from Chuck E. Cheese but this time she was a bit more timid towards him. I don't think she remembered him being so big!Who says you have to grow up. I saw Jason sneak a few tokens for himself.

Even Eric got in a few rides.

Later that night we celebrated as a family. Kelsey and Jenna made Jenna's pink cake.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JENNA!

Pope-Morrow Weekend

Last weekend Traci came for a visit. I'm not sure how many of these we have left together. Hopefully a few more. But I know what it's like to be apart from your husband so I really hope their house sells soon and this waiting game they're playing will soon be over.

The key to having 9 kids in one house without a basement is to get them out of the house. Traci loves it when their visits coincide with our monthly YMCA Family Night. It's free, it's fun and the best part of all is it requires no clean-up. Kelsey went to her school dance. It was sponsored by the Student Council and she worked the concessions. I asked her if she danced. She said yes but refused to show me her moves. Later she told me they made $1500 that night between the admission fee and concessions. WOW! I was blown away. I'm thinking of sponsoring my own dance.

Then Saturday we headed to Grant's Farm. It would have been fun to go at night because the place was decorated and would have been quite spooky. Every time Jenna saw a Halloween decoration whether it be a ghost, monster or goblin she would point and say, "There's Halloween!"

Jenna didn't care for the animals.We all took a turn but Kate wins the best shot. The girl knows how to act.This is Traci and I being funny. "We're yelling, "No, no, let us alone." The kids didn't share our sense of humor. I do believe we embarrassed them.

Before Traci left she turned to me and said, "Let's plan a sister trip once a year." Even though we get to see each other doing these trips we rarely do anything together that doesn't include cleaning, cooking or planning outings for the kids. By the time we get all the kids in bed we are too exhausted to even turn on a movie. One of my favorite times with Traci was a couple years ago when we went to D.C. to help out our younger sister Kellie who just had a baby. We hung out together, took long walks together and saw the sights downtown. Sister trips are definitely on the MUST DO LIST. That includes you too Kellie. Husbands take note and let the planning begin!

My Mushy Gushy Husband

I just learned something new about my husband. He is a sentimental pack rat. Yesterday, as we were working in the garage, putting the summer stuff away, I came across a large box full of tapes, cassette tapes-you know, from the 80's. I showed Jason and mentioned getting rid of them and he literally parked himself between me and the garbage. I reminded him that I knew for a fact that he hadn't listened to them for at least 10 years. 10YEARS-at least!!!! He didn't care. He wanted to keep them. I also reminded him that we don't own a cassette player to even play the tapes on. OH, and have you heard of i-tunes? He then came back with "Well, they may be worth something someday." Yeah, just like the 8-track. He wouldn't give in. So then I tried to make a break for the garbage and he started chasing me around the front yard. I'm laughing and he's laughing and since there was no way I was going to get past him I just dumped them out on the grass. As he was sorting through them I asked him why he wanted them. He said they held sentimental value. Come on-cassette tapes? So we compromised. I let him keep as many would fit in a shoebox. It was so funny I just had to get a picture and then I left him alone to this tender moment. Just him and his sentimental tapes.

Giant City State Park

Summary of our Overnight camping trip with the Durlands

4 hrs. packing for trip-while reminding Kelsey that it's an overnighter and she doesn't need all those clothes!

2 hr. drive to a Giant City state park (call Perezs and miss our exit by 10 miles)

Stop at Wal-Mart and indulge the kids with the treat of their choice-donut holes, Swedish fish and popcorn chicken

Arrive at campsite and first piece of business is cleaning up Jenna's business.

Put up camp. How come there are no tent poles for our tent?

9 kids running around enjoying their freedom, 1 sick with the stomach flu (Eric)

Roast hotdogs and eat cookies.

Do these cookies have peanut butter in them? Fortunately, Ryan only took a bite and doesn't have a allergic reaction. Whew!

Time for bed-all sleep soundly (Luckily, what Jason thought was the bag of tent poles for our nice big tent was actually our old small tent)

Breakfast over the campfire-pancakes, hash browns and hot chocolate (who needs a griddle anyway-we're roughing it!)

1 mile hike. Estimate time 1 hr. Real time 2 1/2 hrs. Lots of caves and rocks to explore.

Who's the best shot with the slingshot?

Pack up camp

Play at "Boo" Medieval park

Drive home-don't you just love the DVD player?

Unpack-which basically means throw everything into the laundry room

Eat the spaghetti dinner Kelsey made us. (Teenagers are good for something!)

Shower-we STINK!

Fall into bed exhausted-Oh wait, I have Sharing Time tomorrow.

Promise to self-No more overnight camping. It's got to be at least a couple of nights for the work to be worth it!

Book Club

I love to read! Love it. It's hard for me to find books to read on my own though. I'm lost without suggestions. I pick up books at the library wondering if this book that I know nothing about would be worth my time. So I was excited that our Book Cub was starting up again. The last time we met was in the Spring so when we finally got together this week the discussion was hardly stimulating but the food sure was! Let me clarify-the book discussion was hardly stimulating, no one could remember this book from 5 months ago. But the tangents from the discussion were amusing. I've been on a reading binge lately. Traci asks me when I have time to read and somehow I just do. You tend to make time for those things you really want to do. Which doesn't give me much of an excuse for those things I should be doing but don't. Anyway, an author I've been enjoying a lot lately is Shannon Hale. "Goose Girl" and "Princess Academy" are a couple of her Young Adult books but "Austenland" is a book for all those Colin Firth-Pride and Prejudice fans. Fun reads. I thought I'd post our Book Club selections for the next year.

The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather
Austenland by Shannon Hale
The Ladies Auxiliary By Tova Mirvis
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak
ISAAC'S STORM by Erik Larson
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See

Any other good reads out there that you'd recommend?

Kelsey IS the next VP

I am so proud of her. All day I wondered how her speech went and what was the result. Come on, I know cell phones are banned at school but we know that at least half of the student body has one so she could have given me a heads up at lunch or something. It's not nice to make a parent wait! She said her speech went well and they laughed a couple of times. I'm sure those lines are the ones I put in because you know I'm such a funny and witty person. HA HA. I know you're laughing at how I'm NOT. I know some of you would like to see her speech but I don't know how to put a video on a blog yet. I think what I am most proud of is her willingness to jump. You know that feeling you get when you are about to do something you want to do/don't want to do-like jumping off the High High dive. Despite the nervousness and doubt she jumped anyway.

Here is her speech:

My name is Kelsey Morrow and usually I run for Cross Country, but today I am running to be your next Vice President.

It’s hard to choose who to vote for when you don’t personally know the candidates, so, in hopes that you aren’t forced to randomly circle a name on the ballot, here’s a bit about me:

I am the oldest of five siblings, I enjoy doing sports, I play the clarinet in band, I just got my braces off after four years, and I love to make cookies.

I want to be your Vice President because I think we have a great school here with fantastic students and teachers. I want to be a part of it in every way that I can.

I am just like you. This is a big school with a lot of students. A lot of you don’t me and maybe you don’t think that you are known either. I want to help everyone feel like they are a part of this school and that is why I am here today. I want to represent you.

As your vice president, I will be ready and willing to listen to the insight and ideas of others. Since my dad is in the military I have been given opportunities to visit different parts of the world and work with people of different cultures and backgrounds. Having four younger siblings has given me patience and the ability to be a good listener. Not to mention all the hard work that is involved. Being the oldest you are always the one who is left in charge.

I am organized, responsible, and a hard-worker. I really try to give it my all. I’m not afraid to voice my opinions or stand up for what I believe in. I have a lot of ideas for student council. I know together we can make a difference.

So remember to vote:
Kelsey Morrow for a better tomorrow.
I am Kelsey Morrow and I approve this message.

Calling All Speechwriters

Kelsey is so much braver than I. Although quiet, she doesn't let that stop her from doing those things she wants to do. Last week she was picked to be a Student Council Representative. From that group the officers of President, VP, Sec, etc are chosen. Kelsey decided she wanted to run for VP. Things are done differently than when I was in school. Instead of running in front of the whole Jr. High she will just give a speech in front of the rest of the student council. I guess that's to keep it from becoming a popularity contest. We are enlisting your help. Her speech can be only 2 minutes long. How can she make that speech an unforgettable one? How can she be funny, clever and serious in 2 minutes? Any ideas would help calm her nerves. I am no help. This is totally out of my element.

Oh, and you only have 1 day. She has to give the speech on Wednesday. Sorry about that. Thanks!

The Piano

I did it. I played my first song. It's called "My Computer" and when I play I feel my body sways to the tune. Really my first song was "There is Green Hill Far Away", a song my friend Sheila taught me so many, many years ago. But this one I'm actually playing a chord so I think technically "My Computer" will go down as the first. Ever since I was a little girl I've wanted to learn to play the piano. But the piano our generous neighbor gave to us two years ago has sat unused except for the occasional song Kelsey attempts to play for us for FHE. Now that I'm done having babies the timing finally seemed right. A friend mentioned she started giving piano lessons and I asked her if she'd be willing to teach me. My practice is sporadic and is constantly interrupted. Mainly from children wanting to take a turn. It seems the piano has suddenly become the center of attention. But I love it. It's been fun to challenge myself and learn something new.

Kate & Her Ponytail

Notice anything new? Is there a reason why Kate's been wearing her hair back these past couple of days?

After waiting "Forever" she finally got her ears pierced. "Forever" meaning her best friend got hers pierced months ago and she's had to wait. Wait because Jason didn't want to let go of his little girl. He used the excuse that Kelsey was 10 before she got hers pierced. That meant Kate still had to wait 6 more months. She didn't think she could hold off that long so Jason made a deal with her that if she kept her room clean and didn't take "forever" to clean it when she was supposed to that in a month she could get her ears pierced. Kate knows how to clean but a 10 minute job sometimes takes her hours to accomplish and lots of, should we say, encouragement. Well, the first month went by and we saw no real improvement. Kate was surprised when at the end of the month we told her, "maybe in another month" Although she was upset she later admitted she thought that we would just let her do it and that she hadn't really tried to improve. So the next month she made herself a little calendar to mark off her good days. And on Tuesday when the month ended her dream of having pierced ears came true.