Halloween pictures of the ones that dressed up.

The Pirate, Ghost and Dorothy.

Here are the pictures of the kids that dressed up.

Gonzales Kids!!!!

HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

No Mom I'm not scared.

She had so much fun on that thing.

I love them soooooo much!!!!!! Even when they don't smile for the camera.

Mikeala always the clown of the family.

Well today was Halloween one of my favorite holidays. I love the fall even though today it didn't really feel like fall because it was 88 degrees outside, but I'm sure it will change soon. Today the kids didn't have any school so we got up and got ready for the day and they spent part of the day with their dear old mom. Dad had to work so they were stuck with me. I told my big kids if they wanted to do something with their friends tonight they had to hang out with me today. (Sometimes you have to make ulitmatums.) Anyway we went to lunch at Chili's with my gift card, I won second place in the chili cookoff last night at the elementary school. After that we went to the pumpkin patch, (not a real one but as close as we get). They have different rides and things for the kids, it was alot of fun. After that I dropped off the ones that were going with friends and then Austen and Mariyah hung out with me and Mikeala and I took them trick or treating. They had alot of fun, its still fun to go but a part of me wished all the kids were with me. But I guess that's what happens when you get old, or your kids get old. After we were done trick or treating I took Austen out to his aunt and uncles house to spend the night with his cousing Dallan, he was really excited to go. I love this time of year, I love the colors and the way it smells outside in the morning and even though life is busy I think people are happier. It just makes me wish it could last all year. Well I hope you all had a great Halloween, we all sure did.

Aarika and McKenzie Homecoming 08'

Two of my beautiful girls.

What would we do without sisters.

Today was homecoming and I got up at about 8:00 a.m. and got ready because of course the girls didn't have their shoes yet. So we went shoe shopping this morning and got home at about noon and thats when the hair started. I started with Aarika's and then McKenzie's and then Stephanie's and finally Jennifer. It took me five and a half hours to do all their hair. Lots and lots of hair. It was a long day today but it was worth it, these are the things as a mother that I cherish. They were once so small and now they are so grown up. To much for me, I wish they were little again. I feel like when me kids were small all I could think about was I can't wait for them to be big and now I wish they were small again. When people used to tell me "oh they grow up so fast" I never thought I would get out of the stage of my life of being pregnant of nursing a baby. When I was in that stage I thought it would never end but then one day you wake up and its all over and you say where did the time go. Its fun to see the stages of their lives but I don't think I am quite ready to let go and let Aarika go to college next fall. It kind of makes me sad actually it makes me very sad but I am also happy for her to move on to the next stage in her life. It will take me a while to get used to and then McKenzie will be going. Yikes it seems like they were just playing dress up and playing in their little kitchen. Little piece of advice to all of you who are in the pregnant or nursing stage with little ones, enjoy it. Even the days where you just want to quit your job, just stop and take a breath and enjoy them. Well enjoy the pictures.

Cousins!

Beautiful Girls Look Out Daddy's!!!!
I love this picture because it sure captures Halle' personality. She is so funny. They were playing in Austen's room and I didn't knock on the door and she said to me "you need to knock." I said ok. Such cuties.

I am so thankful that my kids live in the same town as almost all of their cousins. I love that my kids have lots of cousins to hang out with and make memories with. It's so fun to watch all the stages of their lives and be a part of it. Last friday night Aaron and Jenn brought Mallory and Halle over while they went to dinner and I took pictures of the kids and they are so cute. I always tell my kids that if you never have any friends you always have your siblings and your cousins. It makes me count my blessings that all my siblings live fairly close and our kids can play together and have good strong relationships with each other. Well here are some of the pictures.

Mckenzie Homecoming

Ok so it was five thirty in the morning shes a little sleepy.

Sunday morning I got a call at 5:00 a.m. for a client that was is labor so I got up got ready and was walking out the front door, I opened the door and there was a sign on the door and then another one in the yard with a bag of candy. Mckenzie got asked to homecoming, yes not even a week before but have no fear we found a dress today. So now both my daughters are going and I have both Aarika and Mckenzie to get ready on Saturday and one of Aarika's friends. Annalyse has double headers that day also and my brother is getting married. Calgon take me away. I will be glad when this weekend is over, I am looking forward to it, its just stressful but I will make sure and enjoy it. These are the things I love as a mom getting my girls ready and all dressed up for homecoming. Its exciting, sure does make me feel old though. It just seems like they were two and three yesterday. Time sure does go by fast.

Wisdom Teeth!!! OUCH!!

This past friday Aarika got her wisdom teeth out and now she has no wisdom. Ha! Ha! I still don't know why they call them wisdom teeth but regardless she got all four removed. She was hilarious afterwards I was laughing all the way home and now she looks like a puffer fish. He dad is endlessly teasing her and she laughs, we all laugh. I haven't been able to get a current picture because she catches me every time. You can just imagine her little face looking like the nutty professor. Enjoy the pics and feel free to tell her how lovely she looks.

Mom Questionnaire

So I got these questions off a friend of mines blog and thought I would have my kids answer them. Some were funny, some were sweet, some were not nice but all in all it made me feel like a great mom. I think sometimes as mothers we need to know these things and to hear them to let us know what we are doing isn't all for nothing. Thanks Vicki for the idea. Here goes its pretty long because you know I have a bazillion kids. Ok just seven.

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Aarika-Remember who you are.
Mckenzie-Did you do your homework.
Mikeala- Remember who you are and what you stand for.
Michael- Do your job.
Annalyse- I love you.
Austen- Good Job.
Mariyah- Do you love me.

2. What makes mom happy?
Aarika- When her kids excel.
Mckenzie- When the house is clean.
Mikeala- When we do what she says.
Michael- Doing my job.
Annalyse- To do what your told.
Austen- When I do what I'm told.
Mariyah- When I do my homework.

3. What makes mom sad?
Aarika-When we dont do our best.
Mckenzie- When we are mean to each other.
Mikeala-When we don't listen to her.
Michael- Not doing my job.
Annalyse-When we don't do what she says.
Austen- When I am sick.
Mariyah-When we do things we are not supposed to do.

4.How does you mom make you laugh?
Aarika-She has funny remarks.
Mckenzie-She makes jokes.
Mikeala-When she says dorky stuff.
Michael-Me
Annalyse-When she says something funny.
Austen-When she tickles me.
Mariyah-When she tickles me.

5.What was you mom like as a child?
Aarika-Probably wild.
Mckenzie-Bossy like a mom.
Mikeala-I don't know.
Michael-Mean
Annalyse-My mom was a very good child.
Austen-I don't know I wasn't there.
Mariyah-Like me.

6. What is her favorite thing to do?
Aarika-Stuff with her kids.
Mckenzie-Being a doula.
Mikeala-Take care of babies.
Michael- Read
Annalyse- Going on vacation in Arizona.
Austen- Watch me play baseball.
Mariyah- Play with me.

7.What does your mom do when you're not around?
Aarika-Worry
Mckenzie- I don't know, clean house go to work.
Mikeala- Works, Cleans
Michael- Read
Annalyse- Go to work.
Austen- Clean the house.
Mariyah- Go to work, do laundry.

8.What is your mom really good at?
Aarika- Being a doula.
Mckenzie-Being a doula.
Mikeala- Cooking
Michael- Reading.
Annalyse- Being a doula.
Austen- Being a mom.
Mariyah-Helping babies.

9.What is your mom not very good at?
Aarika-Hmmmmmm Patience
Mckenzie-Patience
Mikeala-Patience
Michael-Football
Annalyse-Being messy.
Austen-I don't know she is good at everything.
Mariyah-Pulling out teeth.

10.What does you mom do for her job?
Aarika-Helps bring life into the world.
Mckenzie-Helps other women give birth.
Mikeala-She is a doula.
Michael-Doula
Annalyse-Doula
Austen- She's a doula.
Mariyah-Helps babies and mommies.

11.What is your moms favorite food?
Aarika-Fresh Salmon
Mckenzie-I don't know anything healthy.
Mikeala-Salmon
Michael-I don't know.
Annalyse-Salmon
Austen- Salmon
Mariyah-Fruit Salad

12. What makes you proud of your mom?
Aarika-All the stuff she can juggle at once.
Mckenzie-When she does her doula stuff cause I know she loves it.
Mikeala-Her becoming a doula.
Michael-Being my mom.
Annalyse-How much she loves me.
Austen- Her being the best mom.
Mariyah- When she does good things.

13.What do you and your mom do together?
Aarika- Go eat, shopping to get homecoming dress.
Mckenzie-Watch our shows together.
Mikeala-Go shopping.
Michael- Watch TV
Annalyse- Go to softball practices.
Austen-Go to the park.
Mariyah- We play.

14.How are you and your mom the same?
Aarika- We both like control.
Mckenzie-We look alike.
Mikeala- We both are good at cooking.
Michael- Both Cool.
Annalyse-I had blue eyes when I was a baby.
Austen- We both like reading.
Mariyah-We have the same color hair.

15. How are you and your mom different?
Aarika- We have different views on some subjects.
Mckenzie-Our outlooks on some things.
Mikeala-I have brown hair, she has blonde.
Michael-I am cooler.
Annalyse-All of my looks.
Austen- I skateboard and she doesn't.
Mariyah-I don't have front teeth.

16. How do you know your mom loves you?
Aarika-She tells me and shows me.
Mckenzie-Cause she says so.
Mikeala-She tells me and cares what I do.
Michael- She says it.
Annalyse- The way she treats me.
Austen- Everything she does.
Mariyah-She makes me laugh.

17. Where is your moms favorite place to go?
Aarika-Her kids ball games.
Mckenzie- Flagstaff
Mikeala-Flagstaff
Michael-Arizona
Annalyse-Flagstaff Arizona
Austen-On vacation with her family.
Mariyah-To the park.

Ok I know that was long but I just had to share.

Homecoming

So this morning at 3:30 a.m. I hear this loud alarm going off and Michael and I were like what the heck is that. So of course I got out of bed and walk out into the kitchen and on the floor by the back door there is an alarm clock going off and a paper was underneath it. We have a doggy door and they put it through the doggy door. The paper said "Sorry to alarm you Aarika but Homecoming?" So I go wake up Aarika and give it to her. Well she goes to school this morning and all over the school there are signs that say "Aarika will you go to homecoming with me." In her second period class the teacher passes out papers and says do not turn them until I tell you to. So she tells them to turn them over and it says "Aarika will you go to homecoming with me." Then in third period on her desk is a tin of York peppermints with the Y gone and a D over it. The note says again "Aarika will you go to homecoming with me." Then in fourth period there is a box on her desk and a not on top that says "Pour the contents of this box over your head..... just do it." She dumps it out in her backpack, it is full of hershey kisses. The note in the bottom of the box says "Now that I've kissed you from head to toe will you go to Homecoming with me, Daniel." So cute right!!! I guess there are still guys out there that are creative. So now we are trying to think of a cute way to say yes. I will keep you posted.