The Witch

Can you guess who this frighteningly adorable, spooky witch is?

Yep it's Abby. The Granville Second graders had their big Halloween performance called "Witch's Brew" on Friday night. Abby was one of the 5 witches. She had several lines she had to memorize and did a fabulous job in her performance. She was loud, clear, confident, green, cute and by far the best witch in the program (with no bias by me, of course). Way to go Peanut! I'm so proud of you and your hard work.

Golden Corral

Yesterday was "kids eat free" day at Golden Corral. Apparently someone sponsored by GC won a Talledega race or something like that so all kids ate free there.

A bunch of people from our ward gathered there for dinner. Our kids thought they'd died and gone to HEAVEN!

Jake and Abby got steak. Hannah and Annie got pizza. Jeremy and I got a bunch of food and way over ate (their rolls are to die for).

Then the fun began...

There is a rockin' dessert bar, complete with cotton candy and a chocolate fountain. The kids were running back and forth to the dessert bar. They got multiple cotton candies. I lost count. Their faces were covered in chocolate. The more trips they took, the faster they moved. The sugar was really doing it's job. I even got a talking to about some kids that were running in the store. Of course of all the kids there, it was my kids going bananas.

We finally pulled them away from the restaurant and got in the car. Annie, in charge of FHE treats, asked if we were still going to make root beer floats. I laughed hard. She was dead serious.

California

We just got back from a week in Southern California. After being wishy-washy for the few weeks leading up to the trip, we finally decided to go. I was SO nervous about driving 7 hours into California freeways without Jeremy with me. I was nervous the kids would argue, or whine, but they were so good!

A huge thank you to the Ricedorff's for planning the trip and for going to the time-share meeting so we could stay in the awesome condo for so cheap! I couldn't believe all the shops and awesome hole-in-the-wall food joints that they knew about. I mean, really, "Picante Martin's"? Who would have ever thought to eat at a place like that and it was so good.

Thanks to Joe and Cassie for helping me navigate my way around the freeway mess in CA. After seeing me so stressed, Joe volunteered to drive my car for me so, probably more for his sanity than for my sake. They were so good to take the little ones on walks and adventures. Also, thanks for providing Hadlie for Hannah and Abby's entertainment.

We spent most of our time at the beach where the kids got to boogie board (thanks again for that Ricedorff's), run away from white waves (named "The Lava Game" by Joe), build sand castles, bury each other, play Soul Surfer (Hannah and Kate), sand volleyball...

Here are the pics in no particular order (mainly because it would take me forever to put them in order)...

Jake, Abby, Hannah and Annie at Laguna Beach

Annie and Keelie - they had been in a "fight". They fought over a shovel (there were like 6 to choose from) and wouldn't talk to each other for a good hour. They kept scowling at one another. Thankfully, they "made up" and are friends again so I could get this adorable picture.

The 3 little girls - Kate, Annie and Keelie

Kate and Hannah, or should I say, Alana and Bethany. These two played "Soul Surfer" the whole time, trading off who had their arm bit off by the shark.

Jack and Jake jumping off the boardwalk. They have amazing hops!

Hadlie - the celebrity to my girls. Poor girl didn't get much time alone.

Abby and Jay - they hit it off and were inseparable. I call them the Skin and Bones Duo. They did EVERYTHING together.

Hannah trying to surf. Really, just standing on the boogie board waiting for the waves to float her out to the ocean a few feet.

Hannah boogie boarding

Jack and Jake digging holes. No surprise that these two were always together.

Abby - I caught her smiling. She was insistent that I not get any pictures of her. But isn't this one so cute?!

The 3 little girls again - Keelie, Kate and Annie digging in their hole.

Annie in the sand. That's where she spent most of her time, not in the water much.

The cousins - Jake, Jack, Hannah, Jay, Abby, Annie, Kate, Keelie, Hadlie

The girls - Keelie, Abby, Kate, Annie, Hadlie, Hannah

Happy Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, sassy, smart, shy, beloved, four-year-old, Annie. I love you so much and have had such a great time with you one-on one-this year. I hope this year you continue to grow, learn, have fun, and smile.

Here are some pictures from her birthday.

She was so excited to get this hat. She found it in a shop in downtown Prescott yesterday and it was love at first sight. I just had to sneak and get it for her.

Wearing ALL her birthday clothes.

My first, and quite possibly, only attempt at a fun birthday cake. I had no idea how much time they took, but it turned out kinda cute.

Blowing out her candle.

My four marvelous kids. Oh, how I love each of you!

Emotional

Today started out the usual way - wake up, pray for patience, get the kids up, the morning battle over dressing, anticipation of the ultrasound... You get the picture. Then for whatever reason I had time and randomly decided to check my email, that never happens. There was an email from PANRE - Physician Assistant National Recertification Exam. Jeremy had taken his test the day we moved, Aug 6. He felt really good about it only to find out 5 days later he bombed it. We were devastated, knowing he would have to try again and had only one more try to pass or his certification would lapse. Well back to the email - I opened it and started reading. It turns out, they graded the exam wrong and had a massive amount of failures. They looked closer to find out it was graded wrong and Jeremy actually passed with flying colors! I screamed for Jeremy who was getting out of the shower. He thought someone broke a leg or something. "You passed your PANRE!" " No I didn't, I failed:(" "Yes you did, they screwed up, you passed!!!!!!!" Talk about relief. Our home was absolutely jubilant. Jumping, cheering, Karrie nearly crying, hugging. Joy, Joy, Joy!

We rode those emotions all day until the big ultrasound. I've gotta say, I was a little nervous to find out. All the kids had been praying for a boy, and I've spent the past few weeks preparing them for the idea of another little sister. I was a little shocked to hear it was a girl. Jeremy and I were happy, the girls were happy, but one little boy in the Platt home was not. Jake was crushed, heartbroken, completely saddened. He cried, he got mad, he withdrew. He sat in the car not talking to anyone for about an hour. But I hopefully he'll be as resilient as he's been each of the other times he heard he was getting another sister. Thankfully, Jeremy came to the rescue and took him to get new shin guards (badly needed), then whisked him off to soccer practice and to watch Yavapai play soccer. I guess that's the answer, distract him until little Claire (we think will be her name) is all grown up.

Yay Jeremy, Yay for Claire, Yay Karrie who gets to clean out half the baby clothes in our garage.

Before and After

Before...

After...

Annie got a hold of some scissors, obviously. She initially did the job on one side back in August at Dyan's house. We were able to get away with it because it looked like she was just pulling her bangs over to one side. Then, according to Annie, on Monday Hannah asked her why she just didn't cut both sides so they'd be the same. It's all about the symmetry. So Annie got the scissors and cut the other side. It wasn't horrible, but enough that it looked funny and definitely needed fixed. We went to someone in our ward, Heather, and she did a great job fixing Annie's 'do.

I guess it's time for the "Koe is the only one allowed to cut our hair" talk. Again.

But on a side note, Isn't she cute? I love her poses for the before pics.

R2R - tons of pictures

Here are a lot of Pictures from Jeremy's Grand Canyon hike. Thanks Kelli for sending them my way.

Hannah hiking out with Matt at the South Rim.

The Goodman Relatives: Aunt Diane, Dyan, Matt, Luke, Craig, Dad, Jodi, Kelli, Ryan, Nick, Uncle Jim and Jeremy

A view coming down from the North Rim

Our Family at the South Rim

Most of the crew after the hike -Back to Front - Dad, Katy Vermillion, Matt, Jeremy, Luke G., Nick W., Craig W., Ryan Alder, Jodi, Pam Sarbo, Richard Garner, Kelli, Cami Hunt, Chuck Melser, Steve Patience, Dyan, Ryan Brown, Kourntey Garner, Uncle Jim

The Whole Group at the North Rim 5:15 am at the start of the hike

Resting at Indian Gardens

Jeremy, Matt, Dad and Dyan at the North Rim

The senior citizen coming out of the South Rim -Victory! You're a stud, Dad!

Most of the group at the North Rim .

Jeremy feels good, was never too sore, therefore never did the true Grand Canyon Shuffle. He has exclaimed over and over again about how awesome the group was, just the neatest people ever. He only wishes there was more time to get to know them all more.

One of these times we're going to go up on Thursday to enjoy the North Rim a little bit and not hike until Saturday, someday...