Blog Slacker...

Ok, so I've been a blog slacker...sue me...or better yet, read my catch up posts below...

A Monster Bash!

Ethan had a blast at his 4th Birthday Monster Bash!

We celebrated Ethan's upcoming birthday scary style...ok, so the monsters weren't scary at all, they were so very cute, but they were monsters none the less. When asked what kind of birthday party Ethan wanted, he quickly rose is hands to face level, curled his little fingers, and with a scary 4 year old little boys voice said "A Monster Party"...I said "Ok, we can do that" and so we did.



The decorations were as simple as decorations can get...streamers and balloons...both in black and blue colors. The cupcakes were topped with little monster suckers and blue frosting which made for some great monster pictures.



We had a bunch of little monsters running around. They yelled, screamed, cried and even hid while sneaking someone else's candy.



We decorated monster cutouts with stickers




and for the older kids like this one:



we had sharpie pens.

Ethan wanted to play hopscotch at his party...and so we did...



or at least we tried.

We sang and played guitar:



and we turned blue like monsters do:



Ethan received many fun toys...Spiderman bubbles, Spiderman wrist web spin, a remote controlled car, batman figurines, hulk monster gloves, batman jammies and band aids, clothes including batman underwear, cars, Spiderman 3 the movie, paint, puzzles, and this:



It's called a Skuut and it helps prepare your child for bikes without training wheels.

I made Ethan's awesome shirt which says "Ethan is having a blast at his 4th birthday monster bash"



Each child got a shirt very similar in an awesome goody bag to take home.



We had a great turn out being so close to the holidays. Ethan had so much fun with his friends and probably even more fun with all his new toys. Thanks to all of you who came to help celebrate my little monster's birthday!

Poindexter Palooza

Every year around the holidays, my family gets together to share what we've been up to for the past year. We play, eat, sing, and listen. It's a time to strengthen our bonds with eachother. This year would mark our 13th year. The past few years we've been doing it on Black Friday...We jokingly say that we are celebrating Black Friday but we are actually having our Native American Ceremony. We have Osage Indian in our blood. My dad and brothers have made medicine bags for each of us and we have special blankets. We have a Sacred Circle and get smudged as we enter into it. Everyone looks forward to it every year. This is how we celebrate the holidays.

This year we did the sacred circle a little bit different than normal. We had Tiki Torches lighting it up. It was nice to have the extra light and it totally reminded me of Survivor (yes...my favorite show)...




I was able to take a few pictures until my battery died. I was a little erked by that, but it's the memories of the togetherness that will always be cherished. I love my family. Each and every one of them. We all have very different views about life, politics, and religion, but when we get together, we are accepted as ourselves and loved unconditionally. This tradition isn't going to end anytime soon, it's only going to get longer and longer in length because every year there someone new in that circle...this year, among some honored guests, it was Carly, the newest member of our family, who had a medicine bag made just for her.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was great. We were originally going up to Oroville to be with Patrick's parents and brother, but because of many circumstances, Patrick and I decided to host Thanksgiving dinner at our house.



I enjoyed getting ready for the festivities. I actually decorated with the 80% off fall items from Michaels that I purchased. The table decorations were AWESOME! And the kiddos made sweet place mats, each telling an item that they are thankful for. Patrick got all into the decorations too. We bought new plates and glasses. I actually found plates and bowls that I liked at the Dollar Tree and Patrick found the glasses he liked at Ikea. We probably spent a little more money than what we really would have liked, but we now have these items for future shindigs.

We had my parents and their significant others, Patrick's parents, his brother and his brother's wife as well as his brother's wife's dad (did you get that?) and all their children and of course, my brother too. So we had a full house and we were able to seat every one of them.






I made a killer turkey...It was soooo good and I don't normally like turkey...I made some other yummy food and everyone brought something to share including the best homemade cheesecake EVER! We enjoyed each others company and of course the debates with Patrick's brother on numerous political issues...








I am grateful for so many things and it's unfortunate that I have to have a holiday to reflect on those things. I will not bore you with all the things that I am grateful for like family, friends and Christ. I will however, give you a little chuckle with what Ethan is grateful for...He is grateful for the Temple, for Fun, for Turkey and for Pancakes...and Malia is grateful for showers. I am grateful for all those things too.



Of course we had to get a family picture done outside by all the fallen leaves. The struggle to get everyone to sit and smile pretty is one of those challenges that I have given up on. Maybe one of these days we'll have that pretty posed cheesy picture, but until now, kids will be kids. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving.

Ouch!

I'm nursing a pulled muscle from bowling on the Wii...Who does that...seriously? I had a sore left leg muscle today after kicking all THREE of my brother's butts bowling (and golfing too I might add) at the Poindexter Palooza held on Black Friday and then when I went to kick Jake's butt again today, I found out why I was so sore. I'm thinking I need to cancel my gym membership and buy a Wii...It's obviously working some muscles out...LOL!

Saying Goodbye

I just returned from a lovely funeral service for Jen Gilbert. There was a whole lot of tears and laughter when loved ones spoke about her. My sister was asked to speak. She told Jen's girls that when they get older, she has a lot to tell them about their mom and then made a joke that their dad wouldn't let them talk to my sister until they are like 30 years old. There were many fun stories told about Jen by numerous people including her 3 brothers. Apparently her younger twin brothers used to chase her a lot and re-organize her room which annoyed Jen. Jen was a planner and very organized. She loved her husband and kids very much.

Jen passed away from a very rare condition called SCAD. I just tried to look it up online and there is very little information on it. It is so rare that most doctors don't check for it. 75% of the people who have this condition will pass away and it usually happens in either the last trimester of pregnancy or post-partum. It's basically a tear in an artery near the heart.

I know that Jen will always be Mekenzy, Kacy, and baby Jake's guardian angel watching out and guiding them throughout their time on this earth. I know it is and will always be hard for those girls to understand about death especially the death of their mom. It was heart wrenching hearing Kacy crying out for her mommy during the funeral services today. My heart and prayers go out to her and her sister, brother, daddy, and all the extended family. I can't get the song "God be with you till we meet again" out of my head. I know we will all be reunited with loved ones who have passed on, but in the meantime, it's ok to grieve and it's ok to be sad.

I'm So Sad

Among sorrow and grief, death brings realization and perspective. A dear friend of my sisters passed away yesterday. She was a young woman of only 34. Her name was Jennifer.

Jennifer married her high school sweetheart whom she started her family with. She had just given birth to her 3rd child last week. A son named Jake. Jake is the brother of two beautiful older sisters Makenzy and Kacy, who are 7 and 5 years old and look just like her. My heart is broken and yet I have realized, once again, that God will call us back on his terms and on his time and we may not know when that will be. With her death, I have pondered all night and day about my life and where I am with the people I love and most importantly, where I am spiritually. Heavenly Father has a plan for all of us and even with this knowledge, I can't help but think why would he call back a mother of not only small children, but a week old infant. I can't imagine leaving this mortal earth with my children so young, yet it happens all the time. It is so sad to think of how things are going to work out for her family, but it will, because it has to. My thoughts and prayers are with Jennifer's family at this time, especially with her husband and 3 small children. I pray that the spirit can comfort them and all who are affected by the death of Jennifer. May they draw closer to God and ask for his comfort and strength and not curse him. May they wrap each other in their arms and love each other and draw strength from each other and may they raise those kids to always remember their mother and remember the love she had for them and may Jake always know who his mother was and that she stayed alive long enough to bring him into this world so that he could get his body and fulfill his mission on earth. I pray that all of you who are reading this post will remember how precious life is and how short is can be. Give your children an extra hug and kiss and tell them you love them all the time for you don't know when it will be the last time. To Jennifer Brown Gilbert...May you Rest in Peace in the loving arms of the Savior.