My Life is Like an Open Drawer

This evening, after most of our Halloween guests had left- Damien played a prank on me.  Let's just say that I have a small habit of leaving drawers and cabinets open.  Let's just say that this drives Damien NUTS!  While I was tending to something in another part of the house tonight, Damien opened every possible door and drawer in the kitchen.  Ali came and found me and told me that I was needed in the kitchen right away!  I came running around the corner . . . to find this.  I couldn't even put up a fight.  It was just too funny.  I was surprised how I could barely move around with all those drawers open!  Truth be told, I probably won't kick the habit because of this funny prank but I sure did get a good laugh!  And yes, I was still wearing my egg.

Halloween Night!

We get an insane amount of Trick-or-Treaters at our house.  It is so much fun to see all of the awesome costumes that the kids are wearing and we love seeing all the familiar faces of our friends and neighbors.  This year, the Uffelmans came over early to take some pictures and have dinner with us.  Brinn and Luke looked so cute and Matthew and Emily got a kick out of their costumes!

Also joining us were Mark, Jocelyn, Gabe and Brennan, Heavenly and Pascale, Ali and Terry, and Auntie Gina!  We had a full house which is exactly what we love on Halloween night!  All of the cousins were loving being together.  As usual, we had some pizza and other Halloween goodies before heading out on the Trick-or-Treating trail!

We got out our dry ice and placed it in our cauldron which is always a hit with everyone.  It seems no matter how old or young you are, dry ice is just kind of fascinating!  This was Heavenly's first time here on Halloween and she fell victim to our annual prank.  Every year, Damien makes his famous caramel apples.  They are not only famous because they taste and look so good, but famous because one of them isn't an apple.  It's an onion.

This year, we set Heavenly up for a 'Caramel Apple Eating Contest'.  Heavenly is always totally into contests and she was going to race Mark to see who could eat the apple fastest and get to the middle of the apple.  When we said, 'Go!' she went for it!  We were all cracking up because we knew what was really happening but she wasn't noticing it was an onion!  The caramel was so thick that she was just chewing that.  And then it happened.  One big bite in and she figured it out and threw the 'apple' on the floor.  We were dying.  We love you Heavenly and love that you were such a great sport!

Damien and I like to dress up every year but couldn't figure out a good costume!  That was until I happened upon this amazing Bacon and Egg duo.  I mean, seriously.  How funny is that!

Trick-or-Treating was awesome!  Pascale had her first door knocking experience and we also found Auntie Gina on our route!  She tried to make it down from SF as soon as she could and we found her!  She ran home and changed into the hot dog costume that I had waiting here for her.  It's funny to us because we have called her Hot Dog Gina since Michael and Claire were little.

The kids stayed out and Trick-or-Treating for various durations.  Of course, my sugar obsessed kids stayed out for over an hour.  God love Damien for staying out there with them!  When they got home, we checked their candy and then they sorted them out into categories in order to trade with each other.  We used to do that as kids, too.  It really brought us back.

This Halloween was exceptionally awesome!  Emily is so independent now.  No more running after babies or worrying too much.  She just stuck it out with the big kids and made it so easy!  We hope everyone had a safe and spooky Halloween!  The kids are already talking about costumes for next year!

Happy Halloween 2012

Whoa!  What a day!  A very crazy, spooky, colorful, sugary day!  We woke up much earlier than normal in order to get all the kids in costume, hair done, make up on, and ready to head out the door for their school Halloween festivities!  This year was pretty low key in terms of the amount I had to fuss over the kids costumes.  They were pretty straight forward costumes with just some minor tweaking here and there.

We headed to St. Chris, sent the kids into their classrooms, and got a spot on the parade route that all 700+ kids would prance down in their costumes!  There were some awesome costumes this year.  I loved seeing both Michael and Claire with their friends.  They were all so confident and looked awesome.  Waldo and Katniss were a big hit!

Then there was Chop Chop- ahem, Matthew who proudly paraded around his Kindergarten courtyard.  It was a classic moment.  Kids marching in a circle, in costumes, for about ten minutes.  I am sure they are all thinking, "When will this be over?  Haven't the parents taken enough pictures yet?"  I love that little guy.  Even if I couldn't see his face underneath his mask!

Emily basically rocked her Super Girl all day, all the time.  She felt so amazing in her costume and didn't need a parade to showcase her outfit!  She drew all kinds of attention and loved every minute of it!

The kids only went to school for half a day and then we went back home to regroup and regain some energy for a fun night of trick-or-treating!  Sugar high anyone?

Where's Waldo?

Waldo?  Where are you?

Waldo- we are going to be late for school!

It's the Great Pumpkin Night!

Same story, different year.  I surprise the kids, turn all the lights off, steal all the pillows and blankets from their beds, bake cookies, serve hot chocolate, and we watch the ever classic, It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.  Just needed to document that it happened and the kids LOVED it!  On that note, I love my kids and hope they let me do this every year for them.  Think of it as a homecoming of sorts.  I truly cherish these days where they are all here with me- at my fingertips.  My love for them is endless, much like the hot chocolate I served them tonight.  Halloween is tomorrow!

Carpool Pics?

We can't be the only family that takes ridiculous pictures in the car when we are trying to kill time.  Please, tell me there are more of you out there.  I mean- once you have dropped off your older family members and need to wait a few minutes before your class starts, don't you take pictures like these?  We are totally normal.

Pumpkin Carving

When you live in California, you have to time your carving with the actual day of Halloween.  If you carve your pumpkins just a day too early, you will end up with pumpkin soup on your front porch.  I, of course, learned this the hard way.  In Washington- you can carve your pumpkins weeks in advance.  The crisp, cool weather preserves the carving where as the hot heat melts the pumpkin down here.  I guess the old saying, 'You live and you learn' applies here.

Tonight we carved pumpkins and it was fun to see how into the process the kids got!  Now that they are all older, the standard triangle eyes, nose and jagged mouth pumpkin just isn't good enough.  Instead, all four kids wanted to carve a pumpkin from a stencil in the carving book.  In theory, I was excited they all stepped it up a notch.  In reality, that meant I had to do a lot more work and save them when they made a disastrous cut!

Emily and Matthew loathed cleaning out their pumpkins.  I made them do it for the most part because I knew they could.  If they need sensory therapy when they are older- I will gladly pay the bill.  We had such a fun night.  What was supposed to be a thirty minute activity turned into an hour and twenty minute extravaganza. Although the kids were tired when we were done, they were more than proud of their amazing creations.  In the words of Michael when he was about five years old, "The pumpkins looked smooty ootie ootie!"

THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS WIN THE WORLD SERIES!

P-P-P-Poker Face for Caritas!

Tonight, we went to an dinner/auction which benefited a CYO camp called Caritas that Damien and a lot of his siblings worked at over the years.  Mark and Jocelyn are on the board for the camp and asked if we would like to attend the fun evening!  Gina was staying at our house so she agreed to come with us!  We had a wonderful night.  There was great food, some impromptu dancing (Gangnum Style), and some ridiculous karaoke to Lady Gaga's, Poker Face. 

For the record, the ridiculous karaoke was sung by me and Gina.  We offered to go first to start the party.  We started and then it was . . . crickets.  I swear.  And even though it sounds like a fun song to sing karaoke to, it is not a good karaoke song.  Think about how many times you have to say P-P-P-Poker Face P-P-Poker Face.  Gina and I stuck it out and finished the song but pretty much ran for the door when we were done.  But she and I both value a good memory and folks, that was a good one.

The dinner/auction was beautiful and we hope that Caritas benefited in a huge way!  Can't wait for next year.

Giants are in the World Series!

We'll See You in Heaven, Haripal

Today, we received sad news that Damien's brother, my brother-in-law, my children's uncle, and one of the sweetest people I have ever met- went to be with God in heaven today.  No one expected to hear this saddening news.  Damien was about to head to SF to watch the the Giants play Game 1 in the World Series when he got the call from his Mom.  We are all shocked, saddened, and just in disbelief that our dear Haripal is gone.

When I met Damien back in college, he told me a lot about his brother.  I couldn't believe all that this sweet young boy had endured in his short life.  Born in India, healthy and happy- Haripal was done an injustice when his parents (who were fearful of a few seizures he had) threw him down a dry well and left him there.  Rescued days later, by the Sisters of Charity (Mother Teresa's sisters') Haripal was taken to a local hospital and was treated for his serious injuries.  Many injuries he sustained from the fall in the well were going to be life lasting.  He lost the ability to walk, to move his arms at ease, and would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.  Through all of his pain, for all of the lonely days he spent in an orphanage, for all that his poor six year old body had to endure- he smiled through it all.

The Swendsen Family, who was known for adopting children with many different needs, were approached about taking Haripal in.  Mark and Marlene already had ten children but the agreed to take Haripal for the weekend.  Then they were asked to take Haripal for the week.  Then they agreed to take Haripal for life.  Helping Haripal with his daily needs was a part of everyone's life at the Swendsen household.  Together, they empowered this amazing child, gave him opportunities he couldn't have dreamed of in India, and truly became a part of the family.

We are so sad that Haripal is gone.  While we deal with our own personal sadness and loss- we are thinking about Haripal in heaven.  We are thinking of him walking, running, and moving without any limitations.  He is now free. Although we will miss him tremendously- we know that God will put his arm around Haripal and give him new life with him in Heaven.  We love you Haripal and will never forget you.

You Got Boo-ed!

The tradition of 'Booing' someone in our family started the year we moved into our house on Willow Street.  It goes a little something like this.  Someone knocks at your door or rings the doorbell.  You got to the door and no one is there!  Then you look down and see a basket/bucket of candy and Halloween goodies.  It is SO much fun to get Boo-ed!  The kids go absolutely crazy!  The only thing you need to do once you have been Boo-ed is to Boo someone else!

Every year, the kids Boo Brennan and Gabe.  Regardless if we have been Boo-ed by other people, they talk and plan about Boo-ing their cousins.  Last year, I parked around the corner and let Michael, Claire, and Matthew Boo them.  They rang the doorbell and tried to run to the car and get away before they found us, but they were discovered and captured before we could drive away.  This year, we had a little bit different strategy.  The six of us decided to park blocks away, hide on the side of their house and just send two kids to put the basket on their doorstep, ring the doorbell and then run back to the side of the house where we were waiting.  Michael and Claire rang the doorbell and then we heard everyone in Mark and Jocelyn's house screaming and saw them running down the street to try and find/catch us.  We quietly stayed on the side of the house and then snuck around into the backyard, went in their back door, and sat on their couches and pretended to watch TV.  When they had exhausted their search efforts and thought we got away- they came back into the house and were startled to see us there!  It was awesome!  Heavenly and Pascale got their official first Boo-ing, too!  We love this time of year and look forward to the Boo-ing that comes from our family and friends next year!

National League Division Series Dinner

We are all rooting for the SF Giants to make it to the World Series!  With a win tonight- we are in!  What do you make your kids when they are glued to the television watching the game?  San Francisco bread bowls with clam chowder, of course!  My kids were ecstatic when I brought them each their own tray with their own personal bread bowl.  It was a real hit!  Some may call it a home run!  Go Giants!

Hat Overload

If it wasn't obvious- Claire wears many hats in our family.  Literally and figuratively.

Auntie Gina

Someone loves their Auntie Gina.

Pre-Halloween Party

Today, we went to a really fun Halloween party at our friends Jack and Anne Grimes house.  We had the best time!  It was a costume party so the kids were really into it.  I hesitated at first because I was worried that the kids would ruin their costumes.  Then I realized I was crazy and thought, "Why wouldn't I let them wear them as much as they can and get more bang for our buck?"  Yes, at times I am nuts.  Michael dressed as Where's Waldo.  Claire was Katniss from Hunger Games.  Matthew was Chop Chop from the video game Skylanders.  And Emily dressed as herself.  Okay, just kidding.  She was Super Girl!

As exhibited by these pictures, the kids loved the fun lunch, the pumpkin carving, the running around aimlessly with the other kids, the candy, more candy, and being able to debut their costumes!  It was a great test run for Halloween and we feel so happy and blessed that we were able to have a fun afternoon with our college friends!