mudding and taping

It really smells, not like the egg fridge at Sams either. They hung the drywall on Firday (all that noise plus a baby with an ear infection makes for a long day) then I woke up Sat morning thinking someone was trying to fumigate us! The glue they used was so strong smelling. Luckily it was a warm day and we could air out the house!
We have been looking for carpet the last few days and I am feeling like we are buying a used car. We hear a different story at each store. HELP!

ELMO turns 8!

The yuumy cake!------ Brock, Em & Paige at CEC.


After recital ----------------------the loot

traditional bbay cake pose

Our Emily turned 8 today! She is a very energetic girl but on her birthdays she seems to have an extra energy about her. Her celebration started on Tuesday when we went to Chuck E Cheese's for dinner (might we recommend you eat at home and play games only there). Then on her birthday me and Grandma Beveridge took her to Cafe Rio for lunch. Her and Jake ate a WHOLE pork salad (I forgot to take a picture of that). After school we went to pick out a baptism dress and came home to eat her bday dinner (sweet and sour chicken and peas) and open presents. Then off to a piano recital. Yep, she had to perform on her bday (if I was really smart I would figure out how to put the video of it on the blog). Paige was performing in a graduation recital and all siblings have to perform also. Em played "Mary had a little lamb" and did a great job (so did Paige). Then home to cake and ice cream.

The party will continue with a family dinner on Saturday. And it will all end with her baptism on December 6th. Celebrating eight year old birthdays seems to last a while.

Our Emily loves to play soccer, bake (or just crack eggs) and play piano. She is our family cheerleader and is always helpful. If she sees something she can do to help she will. She has a very carefree personality. Happy 8 Em! We love you!

Beautiful!

This is a beautiful sight. We have been in our home for 5 1/2 years. Working (OK-only Brad has been) on the basement for 2 years. We have Sarah sleeping with us (OK again-she would be even if she did have her own room) and the boys and girls are doubled up in their rooms. I know we are still a ways away from completion but it seems to go faster after this part.
BTW-a room full of rained on drywall smells like a carton full of eggs but it is still beautiful. I think I might cry.

Jake isms

On a Saturday before soccer I was reminding Jake not to use his hands in the game and he said "I'll show you things you can't use: arms, your armpit, because that would be really hard, your elbow and your hands."

Driving home from the pumpkin patch "Mom, I am having a problem deciding who I should marry."

"This is Halloween"

Here are our little "trick-or-treaters". Rian snuck off to his party before I could get his picture taken. I took our little pumpkin (has now been worn by all 5 "Luci" children) to a few neighbors and "the Dad" took the others around the neighborhood. About 8:00 I got a call asking to be picked up. They were tired and it was raining enough they wanted to come home.

Sarah and I had fun watching all the costumes and it was warn enough to pass out candy outside and we got to listen to live musical entertainment provided by neighbors. One neighbor counted over 300 children this year. We get a lot in our circle because of our neighbors. A few really go "all out" for the day.

The best part about Halloween for me? The day after when we hit Target and Wall mart for the sales. We got good stuff this year. "the Husband" went with Jen and I. I was left (with a tired baby) to watch 4 carts of decorations and candy while they shopped. I did have to scare off a few onlookers who wanted out goods and a few employees who wanted to restock our stuff.

Found this picture of Rian from 2 years ago. A little blury, but it is all I have of him in this costume. This is what he wore this year to the party. Cami, the boys have grown a foot or two in two years, don't you think?

"I'm Jack, The Pumpkin King!"

As usual, we started carving pumpkins about 9:30 last night. We turned on "The nightmare before Christmas" and got out the carving tools. At 11:00 we were done (since we only let the kids pick easy faces this year). We had to do a test run. For this picture I asked the kids to make the same face as their pumpkin. you can see who even chose to participate.

None of the pictures with lit pumkins turned out. We will try again tonight.

Happy Halloween!

pumpkin patch

I don't think my middle child has ever been to a pumpkin patch, at least with her family. So today I decided to take these two to a local pumpkin patch. I just wanted to take a few pictures for blogging and srapbooking. Just so Emily would have evidence that she was neglected.:)

Today is so beautiful. Days like this makes me think I could live somewhere where there are only 2 seasons: spring and fall.

We came home with a urban turban gourd (something like that), a pumpkin, and a mini snake looking gourd all for $3! And Jake got to run around in the pumpkin patch for a while looking for his pumpkin. Maybe I will take Emily back tonight.