Dear Next Computer,

We are pretty simple when it comes to what we ask our computer to do (which is why we still have our computer from 6 years ago). The list as of last week was:


1-Download Music
2-Play Downloaded Music
3-Surf the Internet
4-Don't be Super Slow
5-Have some program that lets us print off random fliers.

Well, this week my brother Chuck came to visit us and opened us up to the world that is PhotoBooth. We have edited our list of tasks that
our computer is required to perform:
1-PhotoBooth
2-Everything else is optional.

I Didn't invent the sewing machine!

Earlier this week, Jonah told us about his school day. He was laughing and saying how silly his teacher was because they "cut the food and make a face." It was fun to hear him describe how ridiculous the making of Jack-O-Lanterns is. It really made me think about how weird some of our traditions are. This week as we got closer to Halloween, I tried to see the festivities through Jonah's eyes and imagine some of the questions that he has to be asking himself.

For thinking it was so silly, Jonah really enjoyed it. In fact, all the kids wanted to do was play with the "pumpkin brains" (except Emma, she thought it was pretty gross).
We only carved one pumpkin this year. We wanted to give everyone a part of the design so we let the kids do a drawing for each eye, the mouth and the nose.

Everyone was very proud of the final result.
Well, as I posted before, Hudson had decided (last November) that we would all be Star Wars characters. So, here we are: Emma as Queen Amidala
Hudson was Darth Maul. The other day he had a school party and afterwards washed his makeup off by himself (with 3 bathroom towels). This time, rather than ruin the towels in our bathroom that no one can use (more on that in a minute), we threw Hudson in the tub and scrubbed him down. The water was so black after his bath and he thought that was great.

Now to the towels: We have a bathroom. We use said bathroom for several things, like, you know, bathing, washing hands as well as other things. Now I assume that when when we have company over they are aware why we have a bathroom and what we do in there. But, we have to pretend that we have never showered in there or dried our hands because our towels have never even been wet. We have very nice towels that just hang there, while the towels we use are hidden in a top secret location. Seriously, this makes no sense to me. It's just like the ten pillows on my bed that I can't lay on.

Here is Sammy as an Ewok. Gracie has been telling everyone for weeks that Sammy is "Chew-Wakka!"
Here is our Star Wars family. It's weird how things have changed this year. With seven in our family, a picture of all of us with 4 looking at the camera is acceptable. If you get a picture with 6 looking at the camera, there's a good chance we're going to frame it and put it on the wall.


Very cute Yoda is.
Oh, the candy of Halloween. The sweets and the cookies are nonstop. Gracie, to no one's surprise really got into the eating of the sweets. She had cookies and a donut and candy and popcorn and more candy and two hot dogs.
Well, all those sweets caught up with Gracie and she puked it all up halfway through Trick or Treating. Yes, Shelly took a picture of Gracie's throw up.
An hour after blowing chunks and she's eating DOTS. Is there a better day than Halloween?

Totally different topic, but Sammy has a new favorite food: Spaghetti!

Dear Tasha,

We want to thank you for being our cat and the many memories that come with that. You are a unique cat with no tail and one blind eye. We appreciated how you would allow five kids to dress you up and drag you around the house without even complaining. Well, we can understand how that got old, but we cannot keep a cat who has decided that she wants to eat Sammy and Gracie anytime she sees them. It is for that last reason that we found you a new family and wish you well.

The Stewarts
Emma was so responsible with Tasha. She would feed her every morning and would even clean her litter box, that is until Shelly decided that Emma was making a bigger mess than Tasha, and Shelly took over.

The whole family really loved this cat (except Shelly) and the the cat hated the whole family (except Shelly). Hudson especially loved Tasha and every morning he would move the kitchen chair (where Tasha slept) to the window and open the blinds so that she could "feel the warm sunshine." While she soaked up the rays, Hudson would kiss her over and over again.
Poor Gracie loved the cat and the cat just wanted to eat her. During this photo shoot with the cat, Tasha bit both Gracie and Hudson. Hudson and Gracie forgave her instantly but Mom did not.

Goodbye Tasha.

Thank goodness we got new clothes for school

Today Shelly heard the tape dispenser going crazy in the next room.

Shelly: Hudson, are you making something?

Hudson: Yeah!....Tape shoes....Come see, they are really cool.

Shelly: Tape shoes?

Hudson: Yeah mom, now I can walk in stickers outside and my feet won't hurt.

Hudson wore his tape shoes all day today.


Yesterday we had the Primary program and the kids said their parts and sang their songs so well. Nana, Papa, Grammy and Grandpa all came to see.

Hudson to Grammy, before going up to sing: "Grammy, I have to sing really loud, cause my Mom can only hear out of one ear."

Let Your Voice Be Heard.

Let's all make sure that we all get out and vote. No matter who you choose, the important thing is that you do choose.



Don't you wish we could all just get along?

We are ready for some Candy!

I have been as excited for Halloween this year as I have ever been. Now you'd think I've been so excited because our kids are at an age where it is so fun, or maybe because Jonah, as a 5 year old, is getting thrust into his first Halloween and we get to witness his discovery. Well, if you thought that I have been anticipating Halloween for those reasons, then you would be wrong. I have been excited because of Shelly's costume. You see, we as a family (Hudson and Emma decided) chose to all dress up as Star Wars characters. I am not the world's biggest fan of Star Wars, but when Shelly was assigned by Emma to be Princess Leia, this is what I pictured:



Unfortunately, this is what Shelly was thinking:


Today we went to a neighborhood harvest party. I learned a lot about Star Wars that I never knew before, like:
Jango Fett and Darth Maul can dance a mean Quick Step. Also, Yoda gets pretty grumpy without a nap (the sugar rush doesn't help).


I also found out that Princess Leia makes a yummy cherry cheesecake. There has to be some midichlorians flowing in her blood, because non Jedi cannot make a cheesecake so flavorful and creamy.

Also, on a side note, Yoda, can't you just use the force to pull them boogies out?

As it turns out, Darth Maul has a weakness for sugar cookies. I never would have guessed.
Darth Maul as a child on vacation with one of the Clones(His friend Boston).

I think that someone should write a book about Darth Maul as a schoolboy, you know before he is bad. They could make it about how he is teased ruthlessly by a young Obiwan Kenobi because Darth Maul has a red and black face. It would really turn the Star Wars movies on their sides, you know who is really on the Dark Side of the Force? They could even make in a broadway musical and call it "Dark Side". Someone reading this is going to have the skills to pull it off too. Tell you what, acknowledge me in the book and you can have this incredibly original idea for free.
The other day Gracie fell asleep while we were sitting together on the couch. Now when I say this never happens, I mean this NEVER happens. It was great and Shelly thought it was great too. In fact, while Gracie was asleep, Shelly asked me to get the table set for dinner. When Shelly saw that I was holding a sleeping Gracie, she set the table herself.

What's that? Sammy needs a diaper changed? A blowout? Darn babe, you know I'd be all over that if it weren't for Gracie sleeping in my arms. I even got to eat dinner on the couch and watched Ironman. I love you Gracie!
Just a cute picture of Emma before school the other day. She was also dressed up at the neighborhood party, but none of the pictures turned out. She is Queen Amidala and Sammy is an Ewok and we will get pictures up of them after Halloween.