Can I really cover a whole year in one post?

The answer is no....and I won' t even try.  But I will give you a brief summary of my life this last year.  House, house and house.  My entire brain has been filled with grout colors, tile patterns and the different finishes of paint that are available.  I want my brain back.  I want to be able to say, "hmmmm, what should I do today?"  In the mean time here are few pictures of when I have tried to be Mom and not a home builder.  This only includes the month of October.  I had great aspirations to do the entire year and then I thought, yeah right...

Crazy Hair Day....when it took me longer than 30 seconds to do their hair.

Making Chocolate Popcorn (since it takes half the time of cookies)

 Best part of this picture is the marker on Tayrn's face.  The marked incident happened in the morning and I don't even think she got changed out of her PJs that day. 

The only costume I had to think about this year was Macie's.  The rest we either had or were borrowed.  It made for an easy holiday that is for sure.  I didn't even decorate my house.  Marley is still mad about that one. 

 A Greek Goddess

 A Powerful Sorcerer

 A Mighty Morphin Power Ranger

 A Black Kitty Cat

Some serious white trash.  

We went to a White Trash Bash and had a great time.  When I bought this one-piece camo suit at Goodwill a few years ago I knew it would come in handy.  Such items are one of a kind and are not meant to be passed up. 

Halloween Hoopla

We Thelin's love Halloween. I think I have almost as many Halloween decorations as I do Christmas. Between carving pumpkins and dressing up, it may just be the "most wonderful time of year."

This summer we read the 1st five books of the Harry Potter Series. When choosing their costumes the girls went with Harry Potter, of course. Marley made one of the best Hermoine I have seen with that hair of hers. She also had the teeth to match. Macie originally wanted to be Harry, but then decides she would be Ginny Weasley (we forgot to spray her hair red that day.) So we had two from the house of Griffindor. Macie asked me once if there really was a Hogwarts school, would I let her go? I said yes, but then I don't think I would want to put her in that kind of danger so I am now rescinding. :)


Trenton first told us he wanted to be a princess. Yes, that is right. So after many prayers and the influence of his cousins, we talked him into Indiana Jones. The whip was the clincher. I am soon going to hide it since I don't like him trying to whip and grab, household objects anymore. He may look like Indy, but he doesn't have his skills...yet.


This year, Taryn was a Skeleton and Dorothy. The skeleton costume is one I bought when Macie was first born. All my kids have worn it, so I had to keep the tradition. Taryn also work sparkly kicks rather than slippers. I took a modern twist to the costume.


Justin went as Wolverine. In case you can't tell that is Justin and not Hugh Jackman (I know the similarity is uncanny)


For those of you who don't know I am actually a super hero nut. My younger brother Nathan and I would watch the cartoons after school together. Most of my knowledge is in The X-Men and Batman series. So for my costume I choose one of my favorite female superheros...Storm. My kids said I looked like an old lady. They apparently don't have the same appreciation for Storm that I do.

It isn't just my family, but the extended family is just as into it as I am. Here is the rest of my "super " family. From left to right...Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Wolverine and Storm, The Joker and Poison Ivy, Moonbeam and Nacho Libre. We are so cool!

Hope everyone had a Happy Halloween, cause we sure did.

Trenton is 3

Here are just a few pictures from Trenton's Birthday. I was so happy he wanted an "Anikin Party" and not a Hannah Montana party. Yes people, that is Yoda...Jedi Master...with donuts for eyes :)

It was virtually impossible to get everyone's mask on and have them all stay put.



Grandma Thelin brilliantly hid money in a tennis ball. Trenton thought he was Jack Sparrow with his new found treasure. Dollar store, here we come!



Yes, that is Justin. I know, some of you were fooled and thought it was Darth Vader.

Life with 4 Muggles

It is hard to have Muggles as children, when you, yourself are a witch. I guess they are actually "Squibs" (none magic people from magical parents) since Justin seems to be a wizard when it comes selling crane mats. Despite this genetic defect they seem to be very happy. No one seems to be able to get enough with our recent Muggle, Taryn. I can't put Taryn down without fearing for her life. She could potentially get mauled, dropped, dragged or fed goldfish from her loving siblings. So I continue to carry an extra 12 pounds around everywhere I go, even though I gave birth to Taryn months ago. But now the 12 pounds can cry.

The 3 Amigas

He may look innocent but he is not...

We blessed Taryn on Father's Day. I considered the blessing a success since she came out with the name Taryn. Glad Justin didn't feel inspired to change that. My parents came to town for the occasion and made a mini vacation out of it. We did the Rose Garden, farmers market, and Washington Park. It was nice to have someone to entertain the kids besides Justin and I.





Family Pictures...even harder to get a good one with 4 kids




Taryn birth mark. I like to call it the "Mark of the My Little Pony." Yes, it is a heart.



Favorite Quotes of the Week:

Macie - "Marley! Come kill this spider for me!"

Marley - "Mom, can I have a mirror?" Why I asked. "Because I want to start a fire." I looked out the window and she had gathered some sticks and yard depris. I thought it was funny she didn't ask for a match. So I gave her a mirror. I wasn't too worried about her burning down the neighborhood.

Trenton - "Daddy is my friend, and you are my friend and Macie and Marley." What about Taryn I asked him. "No Mom. Her is just a baby."

Baby Taryn has arrived!

Well, after many tears and doubt that the baby would actually be born, Taryn arrived 9 days late. (I was in such a big fight with her, that I even stopped talking to her.) My doctor was out of town and his partners were not very helpful. So when he came back into town I was at the hospital for my induction the next day.

I had Patosin(sp?)for a few hours and was feeling good. I was waiting for my epidural when my water broke. I was in a panic because I knew my real labor was about to begin and I didn't have any drugs to help cope with the pain. Let's just say it was possibly the longest 1/2 hour of my life waiting for the drugs.

An hour and a half later, with 1/2 an epidural (yes, it only worked on one side and they didn't have time to fix it. But let's face it...1/2 is much better than none.) Taryn was born. She was my biggest baby weighing 8 lbs. 12 oz. She was 21 inches long with a head circumference of 14 inches.

Taryn was my easiest delivery (due to the time of labor and other factors) and easiest recovery. I feel good despite the fact that I am leaking from my chest and bleeding from my bum. But hey, anything is better than being pregnant.