Is there any way for me to blog anymore but randomly?

I love that my biggest boy reads this exact book to Wee One!  Brishen made me read this book to him sooooo many times when he was little.  I still know the names of too many types of construction vehicles because Brishen was obsessed with knowing them all at the very same age as Wee One is now.  Wee One is now the one obsessed with all things vehicle.  We saw a cement mixer in action last week, so now that is his favorite picture in this book.  

I made sugar cookie dough to make Halloween cookies.  We just didn't get around to actually making cookies with it until Halloween was over.  The kids still had a blast.  Wee One was the first to try the dough.  That was the end of trying to do anything else with it for him.  I try really hard to occasionally let my kids have the experiences that my older kids got regularly.  It takes more effort and commitment on my part, but we are doing better all the time.

And then there are the good intentions that never quite work out.  I have this awesome book about making fun things out of cardboard boxes.  This box right here was going to be a school bus.  I bought the yellow paint.  I kept the box for days.  Those days turned into weeks.  The number of boxes piled on top of it, each one with a purpose for its future fun.  I finally let Brishen destroy them all yesterday, and the recycling truck picked them up today.  The yellow paint will have to find a different purpose.

When we sadly had to give up our trampoline due to foster care regulations, we bought this jungle gym.  We had no idea at that time what good use this would get.  What other toy can have tons of kids hanging off it at the same time and not take up the whole yard?  The kids love it!  Even Wee One has started climbing it.  He's a little too daring, so he scares me, but he will not long be left out of the monkey business.

 

We never got around to most of our Thanksgiving crafts, but we did to the obligatory hand print turkeys.  I had some left over paint after doing the hand prints for the little ones, so I decided to make my biggest kid join in the fun.  I practically had to tie him up and force his hand, but he did finally cooperate.  He has one giant hand print!  The picture below of his hand really cracks me up!  I doubt there are many teens who suffered such indignation.

This is how Wee One eats his toast and his quesadillas.  He is very upset when you won't give him more after finishing each piece in this way.

I truly cannot keep my kitchen floor clean.  Each and every meal ends this way.  My older 6 are pretty good and tidy eaters, but that still leaves 2 little ones who can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time.  It's even worse after big bowls of cereal.  Ugg.  Some day I will look back and long for these days again, I'm told.  (I do actually believe that, too.)

The mornings are cold.  Basia decided to take all the heat for herself.  I, for one, have never done that, right, Dad?

Basia and I got to do the Run or Dye with our good friends.  This is the end result.  It was so much fun!!

Yes, he now uses all sorts of stools and chair to get himself into all sorts of trouble.  Jon may mention here that his coffee pot was mysteriously thrown and cracked. 

Goodbye, November!  December's on the way!