roller skating gives me a better buzz than percocet, and without the constipation

I even look a little high in this picture.
From age 3 to 9 I had a best friend named Adrienne. She got roller skates for her birthday one year. I didn't have any. Because she was and still is one of the sweetest friends I've ever had, she would let me wear the left one and she would wear the right one. We would skate all over our neighborhood. Grownups would always ask us where our other skate was. Stupid question. I finally got my own skates and we spent almost every summer day skating. Ahhhhh those were some of the happiest days of my childhood.

No it is not girly to roller skate! No child should miss the chance to learn to skate.

Gwenyth was a complete natural. She refused to hold my hand and she got right up after she fell.

How do you like that action shot?! Sarah was like Bambi on ice the first time we went skating but the second time she was just as good as her twin sis.

Jax, AnnaKate and Emmaline getting more confident and feeling pretty cool.

Did I ever mention.....

Did I ever mention that my life is a beautiful happy place to be because of my decision to marry Nathan Morris? I am really quite certain that I'm not near the person Nathan is. I'm lazy and selfish and overly emotional for starters. I try to keep up on all my apologies and promises to be better. He forgives me and reassures me that I not THAT bad. See those 5 kids? Those are 5 of the luckiest kids in the world. And one damn lucky woman. (did I mention he never cusses?)

Did I ever mention that Nate comes home from a long days work and will make me dinner without complaining?

Or that he makes the best apple pies I've ever eaten?

Or that he is still so young and athletic even though we are 36?!

Or that he is such a great brother to his 3 younger brothers and sister? Well, if I haven't mentioned it then I should have a long time ago.

I have some serious catching up to do!

So Halloween 2009 was one of those days I really loved being a mom of 5. Excuse me but Gwenyth, Sarah and Suzie make the cutest puppy dogs ever!!! It was also not even cold outside for trick or treating. Awesome.

So How do you like Emmaline's little get up? A month before Halloween she told me she wanted to be a French play director. What?! My shriveled little brain had not the creative capacity to picture what she was talking about. She told me all the different things she needed for her costume. We gathered them from neighbors and relatives and walla! I think she looks pretty cute. Wish her coat wasn't on in this picture.

AnnaKate drew the cutest witches. This was my favorite. I kinda don't know what the witch is saying though.

My hunky Nate totally taking over the pumpkin carving. Good thing, I have no patience for this activity.

Some people don't like dogs. I even have some family members who don't like dogs. (I won't name any names) Just look at my Tabitha...... That is pure love in her eyes. She still loves me even though I put her in a witch costume that she hated and tried to bite off. She was just so happy I put her leash on so she could come trick or treating too. She was of course completely darling and loved trick or treating as much as the kids.