Katherine turns 9!!! (and some Halloween pics too!)

Kate and Mikey enjoying the new pink fuzzy chair she chose for her b-day gift

These past 2 weeks have been quite busy!

First and most importantly - our oldest kiddo turned 9 years old on the 14th. It is really so hard to believe that she is half way to adulthood.... 9 more years to graduation, college.... I cannot imagine! I just could never say enough about how proud we are of the person Katherine has grown to be. She is just smart and funny, kind and caring. She does great in school, takes good care of her little brother, teaches her little sister "3rd grade stuff" and regularly tells mom and dad how much she loves us. Happy Birthday big girl - we love you more and more each day!

Never typical - Kate wanted not a cake but brownies, and no restaurant but meatloaf at home on her big day

Yes - that is 13 girls and one little boy in our dining room! It was quite the party.

Pumpkin carving was a good time! Mikey liked the slimey mess. Ellie - the child who goes fishing with dad only if she is allowed to play with the worms the entire time, refused to touch pumpkin guts.

Halloween was a bit chilly and 3 of our 5 had colds, but we still managed to trick or treat our way to 3 full bags of goodies. It took Mikey about 4-5 houses to really understand what was going on. He did not want people to deposit the treat into his bag though - he held his hand out eagerly, checked out the prize and then reluctantly dropped it in the bag at my insistence. We expect him to have is hand out the next several times we ring anyones doorbell.

Here are some pics of the kiddoes all dressed up:

Kate the rock star, Mikey the monkey and Ellie the baby

So many suckers, so little time before my ni-ni-time!

Can't you just FEEL the excitement bubbling out of Ellie?

Kate - you have to sleep sometime... face it, he's going to eat it