Happy Halloween

We had a fun Halloween at our house.  Ryan helped the kids carve their pumpkins while I was at work.  Then when it was time, I took the kids Trick or Treating, while Ryan handed out candy to the kids who came to our door.  Sherri Gotschall helped keep track of all the kids as we went door to door.  It was a cold night, but the kids didn't mind 'cause they were happy to be getting candy.

Rachel with her Pumpkin

Gracie

Joshua

Morgan

Jaxen

Morgan the Karate Kid, Jaxen the Fireman, and Gracie the Ballerina,  Joshua as Bob the Builder is absent.  He did not want to pose for the camera and was having a tantrum in the background.

And of course, Halloween would not be complete without FiFi the Pink Poodle (Rachel).  Isn't she cute?  Gracie didn't even mind sharing her costume with her sister.

California Vacation

Last week Becca, Bryan (my brother and his wife) and I met Ryan in California for a fun adult vacation.  The weather was great and we all had a great time.  We went to the Ghetti Museum, saw Jimmy Kimmel Live taped, shopped, and went site seeing on Catalina Island. Then when Becca and Bryan left, we went to the Newport Beach Temple and went site seeing around the area.  It was nice getting a way for a little while to good weather and kid free.

Ryan and I at the Newport Beach Temple.  It's a small temple, but very beautiful.

Ryan and I at the Ghetti Museum.

Ryan, Becca and I on Catalina Island.

Bryan and Becca

Bryan, Becca and I posing in front of the Hollywood sign.  (Way up in the back).

Family Visit

This weekend was busy, but in a good way.  I ran another 5k and beat my time by 4 minutes.  Then we had our family picture taken (pictures to be posted at a later date).  Then Ryan's sister came for a visit and we had a good time hanging out and eating good food.

Mariah and her youngest Spencer (The kids loved playing with him.  He is a very happy baby.)

Spencer

Grandma MacPherson and Jaxen

Mariah, Joshua, Spencer and Art

Gracie, Spencer and Joshua

Gracie, Spencer, Joshua and Rachel

Joshua and Spencer

Holland Rescue Run 5k

Holland Hospital was one of the sponsors for the Holland Rescue Mission's Annual 5k event. They asked for some employees to run and I decided to give it a try. Anyway, the kids were happy to have me run another race, because they were sure Ryan would take them to get doughnuts while they waited. Gracie even said the night before, "I want mommy to run a race, so I can have doughnuts." So if/when I run a race next year, I think the new tradition is Mommy runs and the rest of the family eats doughnuts. Aren't we teaching healthy habbits?


Joshua playing after the race


Jaxen



Gracie




Rachel





Everyone after the race posing for pictures.



Waiting at the end of the race, while I catch my breath.



The kids after the race telling me about getting doughnuts.



Me comin into the finish line.

Park 2 Park 5k Race

So at the beginning of this year, I decided to start exercising to get healthy.  I started out on the  elliptical machine, then after visiting my good friend Carmen in Florida, started to run in the mornings during the summer.  She had me convinced it was the way to go, even though I hated running in high school and college.  Well, she was right.  I have lost inches and some weight, but feel a lot better.  I told Ryan that if I kept it up, I would run a 5k at the end of the summer.  Well, by Sept. I could jog 4 miles without dying, so I signed up for my first 5k.  If you know me, I am not a competative person, so I was a little nervous as to how these things worked.  I made Ryan and the kids come for moral support.  I had a great time and am proud of myself for completing the race without stopping or walking once.  I wasn't the first, nor the last, but I did beat my own time.  I made it across the finish line in just 36 minutes.  Yeah for me.  I also had the best cheering section waiting at the finish line for me.  Thanks Carmen for getting me motivated and started.  Here are some pictures.  Ignore the ones of me and enjoy the ones of the kids.

Me with my number waiting for the race to start.

Me again.

After crossing the finish line and all the kids running to meet me.

All the kids telling me they didn't want me to run anymore.  They missed me for the whole 36 minutes I was gone.

Morgan, Joshua, Gracie, and Jaxen posing while I catch my breath and drink some water.

Ryan trying to get everyone to pose together.  Rachel would not stand still, so you just see her hand to the left.

Our Princess got a Haircut

As most of you know, Morgan had very long hair that she thought made her like a princess.  She loved her long hair except when we needed wash or comb it.  It was down to her lower back and snarled easily so we started braiding it at night to make it easier to brush.  It was looking a little scraggly, so I took her to get it trimmed.  While there I convinced her to donate it to Locks of Love.  I told her that some little girl would get to have beautiful princess hair just like hers if she donated it, then she could grow it back to be like a princess. So, they cut about 11 inches off.  She now has a cute little bob that brings out her face and dark brown eyes.  I think she looks cute, and she loves the way it feels when she shakes her head.

Fun this week.

Here are the pictures for Jaxen, Gracie and Morgan on their first day of school.  They were all so excited to be going after watching Joshua leave for school all last week.

This week, Ryan and his parents took the kids along with Zach's kids (Jacob, Abby and MaKayla) to the Allegan County Fair.  They loved all the animals and the rides.  They didn't want to come home.

For their birthday this year the 4 older kids each were given a new bike.  Morgan loves to ride hers, Jaxen will occasionally and Gracie refuses because she doesn't want to wear the helmet.  Joshua loves his bike and rides it whenever he can.  It is still a little difficult for him, but he does not let that stop him.  Here he is after putting his own bike helmet on backwards.  Gotta love it.