Halloween 2013

Jack-o-lantern pizza going in the oven. #whatsfordinner#tradition #halloweenhappiness

Happy Halloween from the Smurfs! (we're still waiting on Gargamel) #shumkids — with Aaron Shumway.

They sewed their own hats and pants... And painted each others faces, which made a huge mess. Roma wins the award for the best Smurfette.. She kept her wig and hat on all night!

Smurfette has kept her wig and hat on all night. I'm SO surprised. She's a ham. #romashums #lukeshums

Riding the Hulet's train around the neighborhood is a MUST every Halloween. #zackshums

Last one, I promise. Gargamel and his cat. We didn't take a family photo because we weren't together I can handle 5 & 1/2 kids solo, but I'm worn out.#happyhalloween2013

The Smurfs were 100% the boys ideas.  They assigned everyone.  I was thrilled to be a cat.  We had plenty of time to plan and sew.  The only things we purchased were their blue shirts at walmart for $7 each.  Roma wore a boys shirt under her white dress and Simon's blue pajama pants.  We forgot to get her shoes so she rode in a stroller most of the night.  The day was a success all around.  Luke and Zack went to the Blue Diamond Elementary school party with Jane and boys.  Ben stayed home to watch the littles while I went to a quick dentist appt.  We spent the rest of the day reading, finishing up costumes and making dinner.  And even though I thought I was on top of things, we were still running out the door.  Ben ripped his homemade pants (right in the crotch) minutes before we left.  I sewed them up again quickly, but they ripped more an hour later.  He could care less.  Glad he had shorts on underneath.  We couldn't find Simon's red hat right before we were leaving, so we grabbed an old Christmas hat and quickly cut off and sewed the top.  He looked like a blue Santa Claus and that was okay.  The kids were happy and I am not a perfectionist.  It's about having a good time and we did.  

Halloween is so much better with the Hulet's train going around the neighborhood.  Roma especailly loved it and kept saying, "I ride train again!"  I love her full on sentences.  She's talking so much.  After the train rides and a few streets in West Chester, we went trick or treating with the Greens in Huntington.  Awesome Haunted House that freaked out Zack more than anyone else.  Lots of candy.  The Smurfs were so cute.  On the drive home Ben said, "I can't believe people dress up as the same thing as everyone else.  I do NOT want to be in a costume that 5 other people are wearing.  Unless those five people are my family."  Cute boy.  He's already thinking about next years costumes.  

* the problem with Aaron not coming home was not that he didn't come home... it was that I thought he was going to be home before the trunk or treat.  And then I thought he was going to meet us at the ward party.  And then I was waiting for him before we went trick or treating.... But he's not good at communicating (and he really didn't know how long he would be there either.)  Frustrated for him more than at him.  I want him home more.  He's such a good guy.  Too bad he has to work.  

October Facebook updates

10/10
Employee at the children's museum: I'm sorry but you need a parent to come in this area. 
Simon (pointing at her): Aren't you a parent? 
Employee: Yes, but you need YOUR parent. 
Simon: Ugh. Fine.

10/16
Cuddling with the handsomest little boy this morning-- 
Simon: mom, I have a crush on you. 
Me: you do? Do you know what that means? 
Simon: yep. That you love someone.
Me: well, I have a crush on you too. 
Simon: and you're a cute mom.
Me: I love when you're sweet. let's have a good day today and not fight about anything.
Simon: no. I can never promise you that.

10/16
Convo while Roma was sitting on the potty-- 
Ben: she's really smart. Don't you think?
Me: the smartest kid I've ever had. 
Ben: only because she has four older brothers. 
Me: or because she's a girl. 
Ben: you're not saying that girls are smarter than boys, are you? 
Me: that's exactly what I'm saying. 
Ben: I'm telling Dad you think that. 
Me: He'll agree with me, if he's smart. 
Ben: I don't think he will. 
Me: and that will prove my point.

10/16
Ben: I asked Dad if he thought girls were smarter than boys.
Me: and? 
Ben: he said, "Yes. Mom is smarter than me." 
Me: I told you so.
Ben: and then he said, "if you like a girl a lot, you should always let her think she's smarter than you, even if she's not."

10/20
It was Sunday. And he was crippled. And I wasn't wearing shoes (or a bra.) But we were thirsty. And he felt the baby move for the first time. And we wanted to celebrate. #latedate #711run #donttellthekids

10/22
"The opposite of play is not work. It's depression." - Brian Sutton-Smith

10/23
Jim Gaffigan is the most hilarious... "if you want to know what it's like having your fourth kid, just imagine you're drowning. And then someone hands you a baby." 

10/23
Luke: are those clothes dirty?
Ben: yep. 
Luke: you better put them in the RIGHT hamper in the laundry room. I've found a lot of your things on the floor this week and that's so not cool.
Ben: yes sir, master laundry nazi

10/24
Simon: MoMo, I love you SOooo much! (trying to hug her.) 
Roma: No. I love Dora.
10/26
Ben: You are the cutest sister we've ever had.
Roma: Yea. 
Luke: You're also the ugliest sister we've ever had. 
Roma: Yea. 
Zack: I'm not sure about that. The sister in mom's tummy pretty much looks like an alien.

10/26
Simon fell asleep on the couch for about an hour and then randomly joined the family discussion without skipping a beat... this convo is still making me laugh (because of the way he responded so quickly and matter-of-factly..)
Aaron: Hey! it's about time you woke up.
Simon: I wasn't sleeping. I was awake the whole time.
Aaron: so you were just laying down with your eyes closed? 
Simon: I was saying a prayer.
Aaron: That was a long prayer. 
Simon: I know. I just kept praying and praying that your ankle will get better. 
*can't believe this smart-alec is still only three.

10/28
Ben: Mom, if Dad died, would you just want to die too? 
Me: no. I would buy a nice motorhome with the insurance money and we would travel all around the country. 
Dad: and if mom died, we would buy a rocketship and fly to the moon!

10/29
When Aaron left for work this morning, I was laying on the couch feeling sick and unmotivated. He smiled at me and said to "hit it out of the park today." and then gave a full on demonstration of a baseball player swinging, watching the ball fly out of the park and the whole crowd cheering. I rolled my eyes at him but after he left, I immediately got up, started laundry, made a hot breakfast, organized my closet, cleaned the bathrooms, showered, put on real clothes...all before the kids woke up. After school work in the morning, we went out to lunch, visited the eye doctor, grocery shopped, practiced piano, set up dr appts and folded laundry. By the afternoon I was completely exhausted {and wanted to die} but I opted for a nap instead. I had to pick up tacos for dinner & took all the kids to the 100-years of scouting broadcast while also catching up on church obligations. Aaron came home around 8:30 tonight and although it wasn't a perfect day, I totally hit it out of the park. I'm going to bed feeling tired and grateful for my little crowd cheering me on.

10/30-
(every other week I'm supposed to attend Let's Play Music with my boys. This conversation happened this morning..)
Simon: My teacher told me that when moms come to music class they are supposed to stay outside. The whole time.
Me: No way! It's cold outside! Are you sure she said that or are you tricking me?
Simon: I'm kinda tricking you. But, sometimes I wish instead of bringing your mom you could bring your dad.
Me: Me too. But don't worry. Today isn't a day where moms come. It's just the kids.
Simon (smiling big): oh good! But next time you come, don't sit by me, ok? — feeling loved.

10/30-
Something I never thought I'd hear myself say as a mother: "Don't let her play with the mice! That's why their heads fall off!" #justhappened #outsidethepetstore#snakefood

hot air balloon festival

 Every year the hot air balloon festival comes to Vegas-- just down the street from our house.  This is the first year we've been at night and it was amazing... as always.  (hot air balloons are always outside our house... usually every morning.)  But the festival is more like a traveling carnival with rides and food and games, etc.  The kids loved it and asked to buy all day passes next year... which sounds fun, especially with a newborn.  :)

 We rode the ferris wheel as a family and I was so surprised they let us all go in one cart!  Especially when they split up four boys right in front of us..  (I think they were worried 4 teenagers together would cause more trouble than 2 and 2.)  But our 7 was no problem!  We fit with room to spare!  (we had to squish in for the pictures...)

 Roma was not scared ONE BIT.  She kept trying to hang her head over the side and get a better view of the carnival.  Simon, Mr. Tough guy was trying to pretend like he was brave, but he was super afraid and needed to sit on Dad's lap the entire ride.  The older boys were rocking back and forth and I was kind of getting scared myself.  I just didn't want our entire family to die.... although it would have been kinda romantic if we did it all together.

We had been talking to the guy operating the ferris wheel for a while before we got on, and when we got off he said, "I can't believe you young folks have 5 kids!  You've sure been busy!  Are you taking a break any time soon?"  Aaron told him we were expecting number 6 and he immediately said, "OH NO!" while looking shocked and it made me laugh so hard. After a second he congratulated us, but I know exactly what he was thinking.... those kids are crazy!  And we are. 

Dad treated us to slurpies at Maverick.. which was the cherry on top of a great time spent together.  Love my peeps.  So glad they're family too.

breathless charm

Someday.
when I'm awfully low,
when the world is cold,
I will feel a glow just thinking of you
and the way you look tonight.

Yes you're lovely, with your smile so warm
and your cheeks so soft,
there is nothing for me but to love you,
and the way you look tonight.

With each word your tenderness grows,
tearing my fear apart
and that laugh that wrinkles your nose,
it touches my foolish heart.

Lovely, never, ever change,
keep that breathless charm,
won't you please arrange it?
cause I love you, just the way you look tonight.

You are the silliest, sassiest, most darling little two year old.  You get (and look) crazy past your bedtime.  You also get cuddly and sweet.  Tonight you crawled into my bed, squished your way in between Dad and me and nuzzled your crazy hair onto my pillow.  Then you looked at me with your big brown eyes and said, "Please! Puppies and kitties."  while nodding your head.  I knew exactly what you wanted-- to watch videos on my phone... of puppies or kitties or both.  You squealed when I put on a cute puppy video.  When it was over you kissed me and said, "Mom, I yuv u much."  Dear Roma girl.  I love you much and much.  You are such a delightful, bright, beautiful little girl.  Someday, when I'm awfully low, I will feel a glow just thinking of you.  And the way you looked tonight.