We drove around town tonight, stopping at our favorite places, seeing our favorite people, eating treats and listening to playlists of kids Halloween movie songs. Brady and I sipped coffee as we drove. Kids rioted in the back, totally overstimulated and sugared up. I got out with the kids for a few houses, and helped bring the babies along. They were a whole thing to get in and out of each place, so the plan was to only bring them up to some doorsteps but not all. However, the fomo was real, and when they didn’t join, there were many tears.

We wrapped up on our street, though we missed one of our neighbours. We tried!!! There is now candy and chip bags everywhere in our house, and everyone is tucked in for night 💜

My favorite thing today was when the kids got a little bit cocky about candy in the van, bragging about getting better things that others. Wavy cut in and exclaimed “Halloween isn’t about candy, guys! Its about costumes and TOGETHERNESS!” 🤣 It was VERY adorable. I loved it.

I really hate taking pictures without the babies in them because they ARE part of our family. However, it worked out today that the babies were in the stroller and the five bigs were all in a clump. So here you have them 💜

Dekker was an inflatable chicken. He collected candy in a chicken nuggets bag.

Laela was Elphaba from Wicked.

Rowan was a baby.

Solly was a vampire.

Wavy was a witch.

Spoons was a skunk.

LD was a pineapple.

Munchie Mix was leftover. Yes. I wrapped the baby in tin foil.

It was an adorable evening, and everyone was SO beat, they went to bed easily upon arriving home. And hopefully I won’t be far behind. I know Brady is on the same page as me. Hopefully Munchie agrees.

It was a lovely day 💜 The afternoon, specifically. Cher and I parcelled out two hours of time to sit in the living room on purpose, not work related, and we broke in this house with our first crafternoon. We haven’t had one since Bitner days. Those days were also pretty full, but nothing like these 😅 So while it was overdue, we snuck one in today 💜

For those hours, we sipped iced coffee that Cher procured earlier in the day, we watched Stranger Things. She drew. I crocheted. It was peaceful and happy. All three babies napped, though Munchie Mix tried to disrupt the event a time or two. It didn’t stick, though, and the restful bestie time continued. #thebestfulrestietime

We hope to sneak in one more super quick crafternoon this coming week 🤞 I’m working on learning a new crochet skill – wearables! So I’m pumping out little sweaters for the babes and loving it!! Doing it alongside my best friend makes it that much better 💜

Thanks for the date, girly!! Same time next week? 😘

The youth groups are having some light Halloween fun. Tonight is pumpkin palooza. The kids were supposed to “dress pumpkin” and to also bring a pumpkin.

This is all very manageable. Except the kids are nerds, so they have to do things differently. I wonder where they get that from. 🤔

So first we have this nerd. He gets points for creativity. Sort of.

And then Laela, who I cannot show you because her costume was carrying around LD, who was dressed in a pumpkin onesie, stem on the hood and all. They went into the church together, and I waited in the van for 15-20 minutes until the pair came back out. Apparently LD was VERY popular and adorable, dancing to music and playing catch with some of Laela’s friends. I was honestly super stoked that Laela wanted to bring a toddler to youth, of all places. Her space to be away from the little ones. I think thats special. 💜

Kids are at youth. First batch of kids are down. Next batch won’t be far behind. And then hopefully, food for Brady and I! Assuming Munchie Mix allows. Someone’s been a little ornery in the evenings lately… 😒 Still cute!

Today was the day everyone dove into costumes and decided what they wanted to wear for Halloween. Have your opinions about older kids, but I love that Dekker and Laela still want to go out with us all! Its nice to have the entire gang together for the evening. Its become a really fun tradition.

I’m not saying yet who is going to be what, but I can confirm it will be a CUTE scene! We even have good costumes for the babies that they’ll be able to be warm in, so hopefully no one will be miserable. I ordered the finishing touches just now on Amazon (and least I THINK they’re the last things??) and from there, I think we’re good. I’m a bit of a buzzkill, and I don’t buy the kids new costumes. Rather, we have dress up clothes that they work off of. Dekker borrowed a costume this year, which he WILL NOT stop wearing around the house 🤣 When you see what it is, you’ll just laugh. Or maybe you already laughed when you saw him scootering around in front of the house in it today. Weirdo. He wore his costume to youth tonight. Laela wore hers to a Halloween party she’s at tonight. Rowan is set up for warmth and comfort on Halloween. Solly is going simple, and he will also be warm. Wavy will freeze, as she does, but she will somewhat match Laela. Meanwhile, LD and Spoons will be in cozy things, and Munchie Mix will be in a costume that works in or out of the car seat. Everybody wins!

It was fun to get costumes sorted out today. To make up Laela’s face. To plan for the Friday evening. To order the little bits. To know we have the privilege of another Halloween with the little ones. So much to have fun with and be grateful for.

I went to tuck the kids in tonight, as I do every night. After I prayed for Dekker and Solly in their room, I went to each bed to give hugs. Solly insisted on kissing my cheeks a few times, exclaiming that I could NOT leave without sooooo many kisses. Fine by me, I told him, and kissed him back.

As I was leaving the room, Sol sat up and speculated.

“If I told my class that I kiss my mom goodnight every single night, they would probably be like *sigh* Solly, you got rizz. Or something crazy like that.”

😂

You heard it here first, guys! Kids who kiss their moms goodnight have rizz!

Whatever the heck rizz is…

🥰

I’m pretty sure people are supposed to mix up their style from time to time. Mine is not consistent, but it is the same in a few ways. My hair is always a bright color, though the color itself changes. But with that, I don’t care too much about the style of it. My clothes are comfy, and either from Costco or Value Village, for the most part. My glasses change from time to time, or I wear contacts. So. Styles change. Right?

But let me tell you. Today, my entire family confirmed that there is a reason I only have hair on one side of my head.

😂

Because I look like a DOG with hair on both sides!! Hahahahaha!

Yes, I know its because we’re all very used to it looking the one way, and when I did have hair on both sides, it was also very normal. But WOW am I in no rush to change that back. No way.

The wide eyed head shake from the kids was confirmation enough 🤣

The days feel a little extra challenging lately. Some things are amazing, and some things are rough. I’m not sure if my fatigue is reflected in my humour, but on the off chance, here is something I laughed WAY too hard at just the other day.

I have no excuse for thinking this is funny, but I really think it is. Its the “hoo boy” for me 🤣

If this is at all your kind of humour, this guy writes a really dry comic called Strange Planet, which gives me a super lame chuckle most every time I come across it. Give it a look if you need a good “har har” type laugh.

Goodnight, friends.

Today, Laelas team of girls got let out at lunch to head to a tournament in the city! I haven’t been able to make it to as many games as I would have liked to this season, but with some fancy footwork and extra help, we were able to make it work that I could bring her in and watch her first game!

First we filled up. Which was cute.

The price wasn’t cute, but the gas attendant sure was!

We stopped for iced coffee and donuts before heading aaaaall the way across the city to Sask Christian. There is a weekend tournament but the seventh graders only play today. Which, at first, I thought was annoying, and now I’m glad. I’m grateful for a Saturday at home.

I was able to watch their first game, which they won 💜

They have come SO FAR since their first tournament. They play really well together, have way more strategies, hold their positions, and encourage each other SO beautifully throughout. I am incredibly proud of those girls. But this one is my favorite.

Isn’t she just the cutest thing??? Ugh. Whether she’s rocking patterned pants or bright shoes on the court, she stands out one way or another.

Her season is already drawing to a close, and while its been a challenge trying to organize the schedule, I do love watching her, cheering for her, and witnessing her hone a new skill. And as an added bonus, she’s pretty good at it!!!

Beautiful job, Cougars ❤️🤍🖤 I am SO impressed by you!

Tell me you have a toddler (or two toddlers) without telling me.

These days are days of chasing.

Days where the toddlers learn how to open doors.

Days where they toddlers realize they can pull open drawers.

Days where toddlers undress themselves and cry when they can’t redress as easily.

Days where I find my seasonings unpacked all through the house.

Days where the toddlers think saying “no” is funny.

Days where toddlers rip things from each others hands and push each other off couches.

Days where toddlers…

Days where toddlers…

Days where toddlers…

The list goes on.
The days are long.
But life is rich,
and I wouldn’t trade the toddler dynamic for anything.

💜

We’ve always wondered along the way how it would look with our kids, if the older ones would get protective of the younger ones. Not to gender stereotype, but I’ve definitely been curious if the boys would feel protective of the girls. And I think we had our first experience with one of my kids intervening on behalf of a younger sibling. It was unexpected, and it made me both sad and also relieved. And also I laughed. So, a mix. Here goes.

My younger three walk to school together most mornings. A couple of weeks ago, a kid biked past mine and called Wavy a stupid loser. Which, might I add, she is NOT!! Now, when I heard this story, before the hair on my neck could even prickle, I heard the next part.

Rowan got loud and said he could NOT talk to his sister that way!! Which I LOVED!! 💪 because darn right he couldn’t!!!

In the retelling of this story, this was the part where Rowan got wide-eyed. He told me the kid then turned on Rowan and called him a fatty pants. And in that moment in the dining room, all three kids burst out laughing (those three included Rowan) and in his belly laugh, he assured me “and I KNOW I’m NOT a fatty pants!!!”

And honestly, I’m not sure it could have gone better. Except maybe that kid could have not insulted my children and called them names. They don’t ever interact. They barely know of each other. It was just a kid being mean. Though the kids have also told me that home maybe isn’t so easy for him, which isn’t an excuse, but could be a reason. Other than that, though…

I love that Rowan stood up for Wavy.

I love that the rude comments rolled off of both my kids’ backs and no one took them seriously to heart.

I love that Rowan kept his cool and didn’t continue the fight after he was called a rude name.

And I LOVE that we could all laugh at it after.

Wavy is not stupid, nor a loser.

Rowan is not a fatty pants.

Still hurts to hear it sometimes. Kids can be pretty mean. But that experience brought out some really beautiful things in my kids, in my opinion.

Way to stand up for your little sister, Ro. You are a VERY loving big brother.