Visitors Part 2

Okay there were more pictures -- lots, and lots more pictures. But I narrowed it down to these.

Visitors come and gone :(

Steve's parents were here over Thanksgiving this year. I don't know how we've lucked out the past few years and have visitors at Thanksgiving. It serves to remind us of all we truly have to be grateful for. The kids were thrilled to have "G-ma" Alice and Pappa Roger here. It just seemed to go too fast, especially now that it is over. It seems like they were only here a few days but they really were here for 2 weeks. We didn't go too many places because Alice still is really suffering with back trouble. They did go to Alex and Haydens Thanksgiving Feast at school and the last day we took the kids out of school and went to one of our favorite localities -- THE AQUARIUM! It totally rocks! Anyway we loved the visit, and especially loved seeing the kids getting some grandma/grandpa time.

Frustration Moment

Okay, I admit it...I am lame. I never post anything new. I am completely overwhelmed with life lately -- and I have a stupid kink in my neck (and 'no' kink wasn't a snazzy way to stay 'Steve'). So here is my latest list of excuses why I haven't been blogging: 1. My house is a wreck...all of the time. 2. I am cleaning all of the time (given #1 you would think that this scenario just isn't possible) I'm here to tell you ...it is, darlings, it is possible. The sad thing is I know some 'neat freaks' (some of them you might know personally) and I am not one of them. I JUST WANT SOME ORDER!! 3. I cannot keep up with my laundry. It is the rotating mountain of laundry that will envelop and smother me if I don't keep moving. 4. Steve's parents were just here for 2 weeks. That means since I paused to talk to them I am now a month behind. (I did love the 'pause' though :) 5. It is now Christmas season which means a whole smattering of Christmas 'must do's and 'must gets'.
HELP... I'll be in my room sucking my thumb.

Birthday Boys

Jacob and Alex have their birthday 2 days apart in November. I can tell it is going to be a point of contention (probably only for me) in the upcoming years but this year, the first year, it turned out to be alright. Of course I wasn't throwing 2 birthday parties -- not that we've ever been major birthday party-ers. Poor Alex hasn't had a birthday party with friends since he was 2, and I'm fairly sure that he doesn't remember that one. I think Aubrey has had 2 parties and Hayden the most with 4. How could I be so unfair?! The truth is Alex doesn't push for them like the others. I guess he can't complain Tyler hasn't even had one. Oh well, here are some pictures of our festivities.

What happened in October

This is what the Marshall Family did in October. They are in no particular order, although I did try but couldn't get the pictures to cooperate.

#1. Alex made a 'litter bug' for school. I thought it was cute.

#2. We celebrated our 13th anniversary. It was simple and lovely. We each got $10 to spend on each other which turned out really fun, and there were no expectations and they were just goofy gifts. I realized sometimes after running around all day trying to get a nice dinner together and finding a present, you just look bad in a picture! Needless-to-say after I saw this picture the diet has started....again!

#3. We went Trick-or-Treating. It turned out great! We went down 1 street and the kids were satisfied and getting thirsty so we went home with not too much candy, but they still had fun.

#4. Tyler got caught playing with Barbies. Actually he was playing with Aubrey who is not shown in this picture, but this picture shows Tylers exuberance for everything he does.

#5. We decorated the house. Okay, I don't think you can really see our decorations very well but we really had fun with the webs this year...at least I did.

#6. We fed the missionaries. We have been having them over every Saturday for "brunch", and then Steve has his correlation meeting with them. It has been fun to think of fun new breakfast things to feed them. They are very grateful and will eat ANYTHING I cook. Could you ask for a better audience?!

#7. We carved our pumpkin. This is a annual tradition at our house. Steve always carves a groovy pumpkin. This year he tried to involve the kids, but eventually they had to get to bed and he had to finish up on his own.

#8 We went to our ward Trunk-or-Treat. Our ward usually has it at a farm of some members in the area, but it was raining that day so we did it inside. I won first place in the chili competition! (It was judged by the missionaries, who we spend a lot of time with, so I don't know if they were completely unbiased) Notice that everyone's costumes are different than they were on Halloween. I didn't really have my act together so we scrounged some things up (the Egyptian look is courtesy of Steve's boss) Anyway, at least we got there, which as I recall wasn't easy.

I'll try to be a better blogger in November. Steve, Tyler and Jake have had a long-lingering cold since the trunk-or-treat and we just found out that Steve has pneumonia. Now I have the sniffles. What is up with that?! Maybe I can just lay in bed and blog....NOT!

To our Vermont 'Cousins'

WE MISS YOU!! Come back!!

Girls -- ARGH!

Aubrey told me this morning that I couldn't lay on her bed because I would make it stinky. And she was completely serious. (My question: Do I really stink so bad? Sure, I haven't taken a shower today but I haven't been living on a desert island for a month without soap) And then she proceeded to cry and throw a fit because I wouldn't get off her bed. I almost couldn't believe she was serious. I finally just left the room to let her cry about it. So why did this steam me so terribly? and where did she learn this ability to jab a hot poker into someones feelings? What I didn't mention is last week she couldn't stop saying rude things about my hair when I got it cut. I think she even said, "Dads not gonna like it". I can tell it's not just about being honest either. Some of the things she has said are intentionally meant to hurt. What is up with that? Where do they learn that?! It's not like I run around lobbing insults at people. In fact, I could say I think it is rather unlike me. So is it just written on her DNA or what? The only thing I can figure is that it is the "natural" girl in her. (see scripture of the day) And I guess I have to teach her correctly how to deal with her emotions -- now I just have to deal with mine.

Tent Time!

With General Conference here again it was time for the Semi-Annual Tent Building Extravaganza!! We got smart this year and used sheets and Steve's wood-working clamps for maximum tightness and coverage. We might change it a bit tommorrow...wait and see. My favorite talks for today's sessions..Elder Holland's talk on Angels but Elder Christofferson's talk on 'Becoming a Zion people' running a close second. AWESOME, AWESOME! I tell you, the best talks are always on Saturday afternoon. I was very touched and inspired.

If you look closely you can see my drastically new hair! YIKES! I went from about as long as I had ever had my hair to PDS (pretty dang short). And I went from PDB (pretty dang blonde) to what I believe my natural color is. It is quite a change. It took me about 3 days to get used to seeing myself in the mirror.

Garbage is good for the soul

Today we went and did some service as a family as part of "Unite!", a multi-faith service day here in the area. We took the kids and picked up trash and cleaned a walking path near the Chattahoochee River. It was actually minimal labor, nice weather and the kids were pretty good trash pickers!

Growin' up, up, up...

This is Jake enjoying the Raingutter Regatta from Steve's shoulders. I just happened to catch the right little look from him. He is getting so big. I would normally hate that, but he is acutally getting cuter by the day!

The Catamaran King

The "Alley Cat" and the Alley cat!
Blow! Blow! Blow!

Yes, He actually is jumping!

The proud boy.

Tuesday night was our Cub Scout Pack Raingutter Regatta (or Raingatta, as we like to call it). Alex won first place! He was so thrilled and still is. He has to show his ribbon to everyone. After not winning one race in the Pinewood Derby (well maybe one) this is real excitement to an 8 yr old boy, and to one as simple and guileless as Alex, it is a true joy. Steve and Alex named it the "Alley Cat" which is one of Alex's nicknames and also the boat was a catamaran style. It was really a simple design (thank you internet) and was by far the fastest boat. Of course, one parent had to make some comment to Steve that the "unwritten" rule is that the boys not spend more than 5 minutes on their boat. But KUDOS to the boys. They were completely thrilled for Alex and just thought it was a cool boat. It was a good learning experience for Alex on how to be a good sport when you win. He had the "how to be a good sport when you lose" lesson already. I think he did great!

Don't try this at home...

..it might give you a ring around your head! (Disclaimer: no surgical gloves were harmed in the making of this blog. Oh sorry, one did get ripped.)

Lovin' Strawberry Shortcake

Our Family Home Evening this week was inspired by Aubrey telling me earlier in the day that Steve and I have round tummies and that we should have 'flat' tummies. (We think so too, its just not that easy to wish them flat at this age.) After a moment of guilt, anger, and embarassment I thought to myself, "Maybe she doesn't realize that being fat has a negative connotation but she is just stating a fact". The Chinese people used to say "You are fat" all the time but to the Chinese it is just like saying, "You have blonde hair", it is just a statement of fact. So I asked Aubrey if being skinny/fat was bad or good. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that my five year old is well versed in the doctrine of today's tabeloids. She is not even the little bit of Chinese that I would have wished. So after spewing off something about eating so that we are healthy and making sure that we are active, and well-after dropping her off, I was still stewing about it. A little later I came to the conclusion that this might be the opportunity to teach the children that it's not what is outside but what is inside that counts. And that goes for all types of appearances. I found the "Loving your Neighbor" lesson in the Family Home Evening manual and then was reminded of a song from a Strawberry Shortcake episode that we have recorded. The girls in the episode are playing dress-ups and put on the play "Strawberella". I will share the words of the final song. Perhaps you would like to use them. I think they are inspiring. It turned out to be a great lesson for our family.

You are not your clothes,
You are not your hair,
You are not the dress
that your mother made you wear.

Rich or even poor
I couldn't really care
You're simply beautiful you.

You could be a prince
with the finest clothes,
But it wouldn't make you any nicer...I suppose.

If you looked down on us
While turning up your nose
You would not be beautiful you.

It's not how much you sparkle,
That makes you like a star.
It's what's inside your heart,
That tell you who you are.

Clothes don't make the kid,
It's the other way around
This is what I've finally found
That it's not about the way you look
It's about the things you do,
That makes you beautiful you

I am not my clothes,
and I am not my crown.
And I am not my rags,
'Cause in my heart I wear a gown.

So let's go out and play
like we've never had a care,
About the things we think
we're supposed to wear

'Cause it's not the way you look,
It's the things you say and do
That make you beautiful,
That make you beautiful,
That make you beautiful..you!

Random Favorite Photos

Okay, I obviously update this blog in fits and starts. The past couple of days I have been updating but I have some pictures that don't really require their own blog...just more grandma bait..