Socks!

The other day, my co-worker noticed how tiny my feet are. And then pointed out my cute black matching socks. She was surprised, in a house full of kiddos I took the time to match my socks. I bit back tears of both laughter and sadness, but mostly sadness. If she only knew the story of what socks in my life mean. 

We used to love to miss-match socks. Now, they are required to enter rooms (an OCD thing). However, socks can be fun and free us from time to time. I'll sometimes throw one over Kiddo's or Dane's shoulder for fun. 

We've received & purchased a lot of socks this year! Time to purge some more, as we are again overrun with SOCKS!

Needs & Wants

I usually write under wants on the fridge whiteboard- "World peace!" Sam and Christian will then draw pictures of war, like mushroom clouds and nukes. This time, as you can see, Sam under my want for "X-mas Joy"- Kahuna on a sleigh. Later, Christian drew tiny Kahunas leading the Kahuna sled. 

Nugget

With Christmas on my mind, I found the hamster Hilton at a thrift store after work. Knowing M* needed a furry roommate, I simply could not resist! Armed with the cute cage, I strutted into the pet store. The experts recommended the tiniest furballs as the cage was not the Hilton I believed it to be. I inquired about their personalities and got a firm "Pick this one, hands down."

Dane, initially grumpy, had a change of heart when he saw her joy and later apologized for stealing my thunder. Naming critters has always been a struggle for our family, not this time! "Nugget" as he was the perfect sized treat for always hungry Miss Kitty. 

Now, here's where it gets comically absurd. Sam insists on calling him "Bingus," perhaps because when he's in his purple hamster ball, it's driving resembles mine. Nugget's hilarity keeps us all entertained! We just need to keep the killer, Miss Kitty, from making him her little nugget! 

PDX Coins

 

Dane and I dropped Christian, Sam, and his friend at the PDX coin show. It was not our cup of tea, so we ditched them. Considering we had a long day grocery shopping afterward, we decided to catch some lunch. We walked to Red Robin and shared a yummy salad. They lasted at the show for exactly how long it took to eat. Sam called just as we got the check, bored and wanting to leave: "Hey Bozos, where are you?" While walking back we spotted him standing on the back of the car! Driving home they "hungered," so we treated the boys to a fancy lunch at Wendy's.

Dane, teasing me 4 Teslas! 

"TESLA!"

"I fear those words escaping Dane's lips; it's my fault—I created a monster! Bored with my book during one of Dane's drives, I spawned a fun new game. A game I thought would be fun for the kids, diverting their glued eyes from their phones, and bringing them back to the world of reality. 

I recalled my childhood fun of punching someone when a 'slug-bug' rolled by. After a few days of punches, Dane, displaying restraint, decided to play a UNO reverse. Each time a Tesla sparked his eye, tickling ensued, with my shrieks and wiggles my only defense. With Dad's new spin, the game miraculously became fun for the kiddos; they all gang up on me, giving Dad credit for every Tesla they spot!" Thanks, Elon!

Born to ride!

Pic was taken back when M" tried out horseback. Yes, that's little Emma eating horse snacks!

Half a twin

Had a fun day with a surprise visit from my nephew. Can't wait to see him again come Thanksgiving!

Half a twin with the twins! 

Double trouble!

Bop-Bop talked Grandma into these adorable twins! They are full of energy!!!

Sophie & Daisy Marie

 

Harvest Party!

Waiting until the last minute to volunteer, I had only one choice: manning a carnival game. Unsure of myself and walking in costume, I chose putt-putt golf. I was instructed to give one treat only after they had sunk the ball in the hole, but they could try as many times as they wanted. I sneaked in extra treats, as every kid (minus one, a teen) kept trying until the ball was sunk. YIKES, that was a lot of lunging after balls to tee up. I got a great workout! The next day, my quads and glutes burned! It was worth every smile, shy "thank you," and of course seeing Emma having a fun day at school. Trick-or-treating tonight—yikes, that's a lot of sugar for this little one!

 

Trick-or-Treat

Nezuko & Sally

Jeff the Killer

Fantasy Trail Halloween Party!!!

When the Wenzel Fantasy Trail closed due to ice storm damage, we had to get creative for Halloween this year. We decided to host a thrilling Halloween party for Sam and Emma's friends, and it turned out to be a fantastic evening.

We transformed the trail into a spooky Halloween adventure, lighting it with candles and leaving clues and riddles for the kids to follow. The trail was an exciting journey filled with flashlights and a sense of adventure, and we managed to avoid the tricky divots underfoot. At the end of the trail, the kids discovered a treasure chest brimming with Hershey chocolates - more sugar for the already hyped-up kids!

The party was a blast, featuring activities like mummy wrapping and fun games that had the kids laughing and having a great time.

Though we missed our traditional public Wenzel Fantasy Trail, this unique Halloween party became a memory the kids will cherish forever. 

Our rainbow, under God's rainbow!

Sunshine!

 Oh, these final sunny days have been a riot with Emma at the playground! It's like watching a tiny tornado with boundless energy. Fueled by a blend of sugar and sunshine, she transforms into a playground ninja, swinging from the monkey bars, adding layers to her calloused hands. Then, there's always my attempt to race her to the swings, which is my favorite part of the playground. One night, I struck a deal with a young boy. You see, Emma wanted me to catch her, but knowing that would never happen, I resorted to a dollar-fueled solution. She had so much fun running from the boy and was happy to make a friend! When he caught her, she said, "Pay up!" but there was no way I would be seen giving a little boy a dollar, so I had her fork over the cash. I later struck up a conversation with the boy's mom who had a beautiful Aussie! 

Student of the Month

So proud! Thankful for this school, and grateful for Bop-Bop who funds her education! We all find it hilarious that she complains she must stay in "jail" for 6 hours a day! 😜

Ball

My dog's smarter than yours!

Chloe is the extraordinary Aussie whose love for squeaky balls is only matched by her vigilance against rogue squirrels. She has the uncanny ability to interpret the squeaky ball sounds, treating them like a secret language only she can understand. These squeaky treasures are her ultimate joy in life. "JUST ONE MORE MOM!"

But on a serious note to her brilliance, she defends our backyard from pesky squirrels who like to bury nuts. Whenever a squirrel dares to encroach, Chlo Chlo springs into action and chases them away. YES, our yard is safe once again! I only wish Christian would stop teasing her with the word "BATH"! Poor girl hates getting wet. 

First week of 5th Grade

She's off to a great start!  Pictures in front of the school were a no-go this time around.  However, I took a few pics of her shopping with Dad for back-to-school lunches. First Starbucks was in order, along with showing me the next cup she planned to buy. 

The twins attack!

    Grandma was watching Sasha's twin doggies for a few days. Emma got a good licking. 

These big boys are contagiously lovable! Emma wanted to nab them to keep at our house while Sash was away. Our critters would have said..."Oh, hell no"!

I just wanna Beach!

"I just wanna Beach," Dane says every day after work. He, the girls, and I had a blast seeing this movie. We tried to get the boys to join, but their testosterone forbade it. Hands down, our favorite character was the forgotten Allen. 

Heaven help them

 Her dolphin bark will alarm heaven when I have arrived. 

Cheer up buttercup!

As Dane fueled his mind with coffee, I made sure his monkey found a nice sunny spot. With my silly and spontaneous nature, nothing brings me more happiness than seeing his blue eyes and smile light up my heart.

B-day gift from Sam cuz he knows Dad loves monkeys!

Riding with Emma!

 

Yard Sales!

With summer here the boys and I have been having fun going to garage, estate, and yard sales. We scored this guy for free! Meet Larry the Lobster, he now adorns the dashboard of our Kahuna mobile.    

For those that don't know who Larry is...

Cars!

Unfortunately, the Tahoe was involved in another collision (totaled this time in front of our house). Prompting the black car to step in. With the assistance of Bob-Bob and Gage Auto Sales, we now have a new car. Another task on my "To-Do-list" is advocating for change in our neighborhood by petitioning the City of Gladstone for speed humps.

*Update...The black car was totaled in the same fashion! Yep, I still need to get around to that petition.  

Gage Auto - The best place to buy a used car!

The big 20!

It's official she's no longer a teenager and has entered the next decade of life. The big 2-0!!! A milestone that deserves a big celebration. But you know her, that is not something she wanted. Low key is how she rolls. No birthday song with candles, but she enjoyed all her presents and gave a few shy smiles! For an epic dinner, she had a chicken sandwich from Wendy's. The other squids had Wendy's too. Dane and I decided steak was the better choice ;) 

Goodbye old man

It was really hard to say goodbye! I was there when he took his first breath. Dane and I stayed up as he slowly took his last. 

BOOMER GAZETTE

 Every week Dane and I do a PSA for the kiddos. Do they read it? Sam...

That said, we enjoy informing the kiddos of the week's plans so they can veto a dinner (usually Christian). We then work on the grocery list. Still, some kiddos complain there's NOTHING good to eat :( So sad, so very, very, sad. Our critters appreciate me the most! They don't talk back, give me tons of affection, and ask very little of me. Food, a clean litter box, and a short walk equal happiness!

BOOMER GAZETTE

Last Week's Highlights 

• It snowed!!!

 This Week's PSAs

• Think before you act & SNACK

• Be happy where you are. 

• Focus on the family.

• Take breaks from technology. LOL

• Go outside and take a breath. 

• Rub Kahuna for good luck.

• Be thankful for what you have.

This Week’s Menu

Day	Main Course	Sides	Link
Sunday	GaGa’s
Monday	Soy Ginger Chicken Thighs	Green Beans Roll	https://www.carbmanager.com/recipe-detail/ug:d53a7581-1dbf-232e-7c44-50a6240d4129/keto-one-pot-soy-ginger-chicken-thighs
Tuesday	French Dips	Fries
Wednesday	BBQ Hamburgers	Baked Potato Bar Cabbage Slaw Pasta Salad	https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/8735/italian-chicken-bow-tie-pasta/
Thursday	Red Robbin		Birthday March Birthday Bash!
Friday	Pork Chops	Green Bean Casserole Mac N Cheese
Saturday	Chicken Bacon Chowder	Biscuits	https://peaceloveandlowcarb.com/chicken-bacon-crock-pot-chowder/

Cape Disapointment

(https://www.parks.wa.gov/486/Cape-Disappointment)

This time I was NOT disappointed! Dane went last time with the boys. 

Start of my new bird necklace pendant

Fun day with the boys! Exhausting, but fun! We shared memories and made lots of new ones to laugh at later. The cape is a two-hour drive, but it was worth it. You see, the car is the one place they can't run away from me, so it's a great place to talk and find out what's happening in their world. 

Typical over-achiever Christian finished college classes early and was itching to get out. His plan...to fill 9 buckets of beach sand rich with gold flakes before my 3pm cut-off. Typical ME, after trying to sit and relax I failed and hauled buckets back to the car too. Those buckets weighed about 70 lbs! Sam seeing me hauling and also wanting to leave at a decent hour helped out too. Shacky and week, we earned that 4pm breakfast/lunch/dinner! But honestly, I wished we had chosen a better place to eat...HEARTBURN all-night-long!