Bring on the Candy!

Eric points the way for the kids to get going and get that candy! After all, Mom and Dad usually get donations from the kids; they're so nice. Considering they each have a huge bag weighing probably 5 lbs each, they have plenty to spare. Joey was fun to see running to catch up to his siblings and walked during all the Trick-or-Treating. Everyone was tired at the end of the night. When I was a kid we would all dump our candy out, sort it and start offering trades. So it's fun to watch the kids do it now. All right, time to get back to laundry and cleaning. Bye for now!

.....Okay, so it's later and we just did a church Trunk or Treat. Yes, we needed more candy since the first bags just aren't quite full enough. Actually, this candy will be donated to the kids cousins who are in flight today to Nepal (their Dad works for the Gov. and they are going to live there) and are missing Trick or Treating. And also to their Uncle Gary who is in Iraq for a year. So it's for a good cause. Ethan won a prize for scariest costume; he thought that was cool!
The kids are holding candy bars all the way from Grandma Johnson in Utah, carrying on a tradition she enjoyed as a kid. She would go every year to a neighbor's house who would give away an entire candy bar. Thank you so much Mom, you are so fun!

Rudolph Birthdays

Well after all the October birthdays I am happy to be done making icing. I loved how the girl's cakes turned out and Joey's was simple that the kids helped decorate. They enjoy licking the spatula and throwing sprinkles on it. Morgan loves horses and so picked a horse cake this year. Our neighbor is from India and did Henah on the girl's hands during her party. It's so pretty! Katie had a Halloween Dora party and they dressed up in costumes we've kept over the years. Joey's birthday was at home with the family and I loved it. So relaxing and he's old enough to open the presents and somewhat understand what's going on. We're ready for Halloween and will post pics of that. We love it here in Ohio and are also working on projects around the house. I'm still painting a room at a time, we moved furniture around, hung a TV, and have a room to figure out how to arrange. It seems like it takes so much time. I'm excited for Christmas to come, I love the tree and music and feeling that everyone is caring and giving. But first we have to be spooky so I better slow down. Take care y'all!

More basement pictures

It seems basement updates are all I have to offer lately, but this is what is taking up our time and energy!

The picture with the sheetrock stacked in the middle is the Family Room. The photos with the table saw in the middle (Joseph is SO EXCITED about that) are the master bedroom, and the last two are the nursery.

The large walk-in closet will probably be sheetrocked this weekend.

We start weekly doctor appointments tomorrow. Saturday we have childbirth class and Monday we tour the hospital and finish pre-registering. So much is going on!!!

Found my cable! They aren't in order, but you can see the large hole that was dug, Tim helping fill the hole back in after the window was put in, Nate showing his true feelings for Will, and Joseph evening out the edges to put the window in.

I will take photos of how things look sheetrocked tomorrow (in daylight).

baby shower

Here are some of the pictures from the baby shower. It was enjoyable. I used all my battery on the movie for the shower, so I don't have any pictures of the basement. Catherine with her Mom, Catherine with her diaper cake and wet-wipes ice cream, & with the puppy blanket. This is the theme of the nursery.

This & That

I'm not sure where the cord to connect the camera to the computer is so that is why you haven't seen basement photos yet. Things are coming along wonderfully... I just hope it will be done before the baby comes. I think it will be, but probably not with enough time to do a few things upstairs that I wanted done or to finish the basement bath, which is fine. We are SOOO blessed to have such generous family and friends helping us with the project. It's amazing!

The baby shower last week was a lot of fun! I enjoy looking through the gifts and imagining the little one here... including rocking stuffed animals (or the kitty) in the new rocker... I know it seems silly but it makes me smile!

As for Baby Olson I think things are going just fine. 39 days to go, but who is counting! ;)

I hope all is well with you!

Love, Catherine & Joseph

The Egress Window Is In!

YAY! I'm one happy gal! Photos of the process to come soon!

Krandma sends box of birthday presents and this is the reaction.

I sent a box to my Grandkids for the October Birthdays this month. This was the reaction when the box was opened. Grandma just can't do anything right.

Not really, I sent some Bertie Botts Every Flavor Beans in the box. Katie and Morgan sampled some bad tasting beans from the looks of it. Ooops. I hope the rest of what was in the box was a little better. Love Krandma.

Baby Bellies

Just incase you thought Elizabeth's baby belly was cute, it reminded me of another cute baby belly who is 25 today. Here are his pictures. Newborn, 2 months, 2 years,

as Gertrude in a play, and on his 18th birthday

Elizabeth

Elizabeth likes to show off her belly

Great-Aunt Karen wants new pictures of Elizabeth

Here they are

They are from September around the 11th

My furbabies

I don't like having my picture be the first one you see, and since I don't have a current picture of Elizabeth I thought I'd post a picture of my kids. This picture is not posed; they snuggle on the couch together all the time! I think it was taken at the beginning of the year. They are watching tv, in case you are wondering!!! (From left to right: Anna 2.5 years old, Snicklefritz 2 years, Bentley, 3 years)