Halloween Festivities 2010...

The kids all enjoyed our busy Halloween weekend. On Saturday morning I made a crockpot of chili and the littles helped me make cupcakes:)

They took turns filling the cups...

Liam licking the bowl and I think Chip wanted to help;) LOL!

Lorelle and Levi decorating the cupcakes...

Lorelle with her finished product...

Tractor trailer ride from our friendly neighbor...

My boys playing football with their dad...

Leytan and Levi...

It was finally time for the big night of Trick-or Treating. My BBF brought her boys over to go with us. The kids all had fun and got TONS of candy. Levi led the pack...he was "into it"! Let's hope he understands this is a once a year thing. If I see him in costume ringing the neighbors doorbells, then I guess I better have our neighbor (and translator;) Wendy, explain that to him. LOL!

Lorelle, my beautiful Wizard...

Leytan, McClain, Lilyan, Landan, Carter, Levi, Lorelle and Liam...

And they're off!

Lance with Liam's mask on...

The gang...

After loading up on candy, Andy (my future son-in-law:), came over to visit and take the boys to some haunted houses. Thanks Andy! The boys had a BLAST! Also...thanks to my in-laws, Ken and Eva, for agreeing to come and pass out candy so we could take the kids out together. We appreciated it.

Silly Lily on Andy's shoulders...

Levi also joined Liam for his first sleepover on Saturday night. He did great and had FUN! It is hard to believe that he has only been home for 7 weeks. Levi also went to his Sunday school class alone for the first time this morning and went rolling skating for the first time this afternoon. Lots of firsts for my baby boy this weekend! We enjoyed the skating party Wade Family and a HUGE Happy Birthday to Alijah, Aden and Ashton!!! I tried to get some picture at the skating rink but couldn't get any decent ones with the lighting there;( Lorelle is a natural...as she is with most things. Levi and Lilyan tried their best and Leytan actually got the hang of rollerblades today. I even did a few laps around the rink:) Lance stayed home with Landan and Liam. Liam wanted to go but has been having some leg pain. I know another surgery is in our future, probably within the next year:( I am NOT looking forward to that. UGH!!! Also, thanks you my Granny and Don for sending the kids all Halloween cards:) Overall, we had a GREAT Halloween weekend!!! We were blessed with BEAUTIFUL weather!!!

Thank you Lord!

SO Pretty...

One of the reasons I LOVE fall, are the BEAUTIFUL sunsets!!!

Taken off my deck this evening...

NELMSC Conference CHAMPS!!!

Football season has come to an end:( Landan played his last 7th grade football game on Tuesday evening. It was the championship game and it happened to be against the other middle school here in Warsaw, Edgewood. Landan really enjoyed the season. He got a ton of playing time and did a great job. His team, the Lakeview Tigers, were undefeated all year. It will be exciting to follow these boys over the next 5 years. Way to go Tigers! We are so proud of you Landan, especially for being able to maintain straight A's too:) Love you!!!

Landan, #34...

The team after the game...

My handsome Tiger...

With the championship plaque...

One last huddle...

We are the TIGERS!!!

Fall Pictures...

Taken off my back deck:) I LOVE autumn!!!

BIG Family Meals;)

I often get asked, "How do you cook for such a large family?" Well...to be honest I don't cook EVERY night. We do eat out a couple times a week. Sometimes more when Lance is traveling;) Some may think I am nuts to take 6 kids out but I LOVE it for many reasons. The most obvious... I do not have to cook and clean up:) But even better...I get to sit and chat with the kids about school and their days. When we eat at home...I am more like the waitress and the conversation seems much less;( Seriously, the kids are halfway done eating by the time I get a chance to sit down to eat my meal. Sometimes I even feed the kids right after school and then Lance and I will eat separately when he gets home. That way...we can enjoy a chat and the kids always seem to eat dinner better when I feed then right after school when they haven't had time to snack;) I do like to cook though...when I can take my time. I especially like to bake. Cooking for a large family would probably be easier if Lance and kids liked casseroles more. They are NOT fans! I would say we are definitely more "meat and potatoes" kinda people. In the fare weather months, we do a lot of grilling. Our favorites to grill are steak and salmon but we also grill chicken, brats, hamburgers and kabobs. And we also grill lots of veggies;) In the winter, I do continue to grill with my George Foreman and I also use my crockpot a lot more. The littles actually enjoy helping me out in the kitchen and I even get the big boys onboard some too:)

3 of my boys helping me on Sunday evening...

Food for the troops...salmon, bread and lots of veggies:)

I thought I would add this picture. This is my Fall Project...to get all the kid's closets organized. So far, I just have Levi and Liam's finished. Levi helped and was pretty proud of our accomplishment;) Four more to go....

Fall Break 2010...

Wednesday morning we loaded up in our new, big, "black bus" and were off to Ludington, Michigan. We stayed at some friend's cottage. THANKS Berend Family!!! It was a BEAUTIFUL area and house. We spent 3 days hiking, climbing dunes, playing and just hanging out all together, without the distractions of work, school, sports, neighborhood friends and TV. We enjoyed long talks, late into the night, in front of the fireplace. We are a big, crazy, loud, FUN family and a super BLESSED one:) Thank you Lord!!! Here are some of my favorite pictures below. There are even more on Facebook, if you want to take a peak;)

Lighthouse...

Beautiful Lake Michigan...

Lorelle...

Lance with his peeps, hiking through the woods...

My SENSATIONAL six!!!

Another one, lake side...

Action shot of Landan jumping...

The kids LOVED the dunes:)

AMAZING evening sky...

My kiddos and me, enjoying a family dinner...

Levi at the harbor park...

Such a GREAT big brother...

We saw several deer...

Levi, the shirtless, ninja bowler:) LOL!

Lorelle;)

AMAZING family time!!!

Tonight...

was our last night of fall soccer:( The season went by so fast. We really had an amazing year weather wise. I only remember one game that was REALLY cold and wet;) Levi and Lorelle both enjoyed the season and will miss playing this winter. I really enjoyed watching them play one last game this evening.

Jump Levi, Jump!!! Levi bounces around the field:)

Concentrating on the ball...

Yes...if Lorelle sees me with the camera, she WILL pose for a picture during the game. LOL!

This was the sunset view during the games...

What a BEAUTIFUL evening!!!

Race Day!!!

What a PERFECT day for a race! The sun was shining, it was not too hot and not too cold:) Lance let us sleep in a bit and headed out to start the race without us. The kids and I enjoyed a Starbucks breakfast and then headed out to the finish line to watch for daddy. We arrived about an hour before he came across the line but it was fun to watch and cheer for all of those finishing. What an accomplishment. They were ALL winners in my book! This was Lance's first marathon and he did GREAT! He finished the 26 miles in 4 hours and 17 minutes. We are SO proud if him!!!

The gang watching for their dad...

Our HERO...and not just because he ran a marathon;)

We LOVE you Lance!!!