Happy 30th Birthday Jess!
Just as beautiful as ever...

Top 30 Things we love about Jess:

30. Her love of the great indoors (especially the ski lodge)
29. Her ability to find love even in a foreign land
28. Her beautiful hair
27. The fact that she makes cookie dough and crisp (trust me you did) just to eat it.
26. Her dramatic teenage years
25. Her desire to stay “connected” with the family despite living far away in the wild, wild west.
24. Her fashion sense
23. Her ability to sniff out a bargain
22. Her love for Purdy’s chocolate
21. Her ability to live peacefully with the geckos
20. That she is a friend to everyone.
19. Her chocolate sauce
18. Her knowledge of the latest make-up trends
17. Her ability to know who is worthy to eat what
16. How she manages to have herself and four kids looking beautiful on Sunday morning
15. Her ability to distinguish quality oreos vs. crappy ones (the same with cereal)
14. Her resilience against skin diseases
13. The excellent advice she gives her younger unmarried siblings.
12. Her willingness to try new things and adventurous spirit
11. Her ability to take care of five children
10. That she is so quick to laugh
9. Her listening skills and willingness to sacrifice sleep to talk
8. Her piano playing abilities
7. “The Backseat Club”
6. That she is not afraid to climb mountains
5. That she still calls icing, icing.
4. For being the nicest “mean” babysitter
3. Her caboodle
2. Her wonderful example to her five younger siblings!
1. The fact that she is the best big sister anyone could have!

We love you Jess! Happy Birthday! I can't wait to list 40!

Last Couple of Days in Houston As you can tell by Nathan's attire, the weather was warm in Texas for us! Nathan learned this trick where whenever we way "ahhhhhh"and stick our tongue out, he sticks his enormously long tongue out! It's great. FYI Nathan gets his massive tongue from his father.
The last night we were there, the kids had a blast playing together and being goofy.
Jordan wore this ballet leatard every day while we were there! She bonded with it so much that Jess was kind enough to send it home with us!
Proof that Jess and I were togther! The last night there, the kids were all going absolutely crazy during dinner. At one time, every single one was either crying or demanding something. After making sure the kids were fully stocked, Jess and I took our plates and locked ourselves in the former dining room to try to have a peaceful dinner when we could both actually sit down. It as hilarious. Benny was pounding at the one door while Nathan was at the baby gate screaming. Soon Rani climbed the gate in saying she needed to do her homework in there. Next was LJ. Then Jordan moved a chair over to the french door leading to the kitchen and unlatched the lock releasing the rest of the hounds! We tried, but the kids just love us too much!

Thanks Floyds for a fantastic trip! 

Benny giving Nathan a hug at the zoo! Taking six kids to the zoo all under the age of 7 was an adventure. Jess and I were two single moms this week just trying to make it on our own! It was awesome, we drug the kids around everywhere and didn't let them hold us back!
Two mom and their babies. This baby elephant was sooooo cute. I wanted it as a pet, but the zoo said no. Plus I guess I already have a baby!
This giraffe was sooooo close to us, we felt like it could have bent over and scooped up one of the kids.
 

The Zoo! I feel like Nathan looks so old in this picture. Maybe it's because he's wearing "older" clothes.
Benny!
Three birds in a nest!
The favourite part of the zoo......the fake elephant. 

Trick or Treat! Halloween was a hot, humid night! IT WAS GREAT not to have to stuff winter jackets under costumes. People were handing out candy in shorts and tshirts. I even had to change Nathan's costume to a onsie because it was so nice out! The only problem: mosquitoes!
Trick or treating in Jess and Matt's neighbourhood was great! Houses were so decorated! One house even had a slideshow of "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown." Unfortunately, Jordan Nathan and I had to cut trick or treating a bit short because Jordan got scared of a witch. I think she just wanted to get home to dig into her candy! I can't tell you how many times this week I've heard from either Olivia or Jordan "Hey, gimme some candy!"
Nathan was a football player. Jess and I threw this costume together about three minutes before walking out the door. It was way to hot to have him wear his other costume. I think it turned out so cute; he looks like such a stud.
Nathan's first "poppie" 

Nathan and Olivia chillin' one morning. Lovin' the cousins. I packed Jordan's Snow White costume 35oo hundred miles for her to wear on Halloween only for it to be "too itchy" to wear on Halloween. Instead she was a ballerina and it was a dream come true for her!
The Floyds right before heading out to a 3-ward Halloween Party at the church. While we've been here, we've had two halloween parties and 1 halloween! That's right, we dressed everyone up three times!!
Nacy was a dragon for the Halloween party but it didn't last long. This is him getting into character.
 

Jorji and Olivia wasted no time playing together. Jordan loved their dress-up clothes and they both spent most of the week looking something like this. Fun in the backyard. Trampoline and swingset, and don't forget playing with the squirts! (What Jordan calls squirrels:)

The kids made a train! 

Houston BoundJordan loved the plane. She kept busy looking out the window, reading books and terrorizing her brother.
Nathan kept busy by browsing through the in flight magazines.
Layover at the Pheonix Airport. After driving to Castlegar and spending the night there, then driving to Spokane with Bernice, two flights and a layover, we safely arrived in Houston, Texas Oct. 25 to visit the Floyds for a couple of weeks! Yippee! Did I mention it was just me and the kids?