Thanks Giving and B day

Just a quick update, thanksgiving was super. We had great company and food. The girls were a huge help cooking and cleaning up. I had a sandwich that night, my first one since March!
My birthday was horrible. One thing after another went wrong and I made some very poor choices. I am working now to get my life back in order, I think I just lost my way a little. For those who know what I am talking about, thank you for your support ! So I will probably update this blog later today or tomorrow. I am doing ok, so please don't worry. Hope everyone had a much better weekend than I did! After church we are getting out Christmas deocrations, a late start for me.
It is foggy out so I can pretend it is snow. :)

I did it!

So I was all set to try a new pumpkin pie dessert. I had debated between two of them and decided on a chocolate chip cheesecake pumpkin pie. Went to make it and not enough cream cheese. I SWORE I had bought two pkgs, but nope. Was feeling bad, Then I decided to make the other one. Pumpkin Ginger Meringue pie. What a lot of work. Turned out beautiful. Was digging in the fridge for something and .... yup. The stupid OTHER pkg of cream cheese. Oh well. Looks like the other one (pie) is in our future! My two apple are done and all is left is the bird and the trimmings. Can't wait!! My amazing husband took the kids out to dinner and to run errands, happy birthday to me!!! What a treat to cook and clean ( really, I said clean) without fighting, arguing, etc going on. But they have been gone a while, I am all done, and miss the little buggars!!
Well the girls and I have planned lots of treats and appetizers and so on to try so I am waiting in susupense to see what they bring home to cook. Have to give BIG shout out to Katey who , get this, DID THE DISHES ( and more big letters here) WITHOUT BEING ASKED yesterday. And no, she was not after something big. Just saw mommy freaking out and wanted to help. Emily took the kids to the park all afternoon when I was really sick ( long story, am fine now but my umm gyno health needs looking into) , and I can tell the big girls are really trying to be more helpful. Katey peeled dozens of apples, oh the joy to have help with that chore!! Emily keeping my other little "helpers" out of my hair during the day is a huge help too. So YAY girls.
Oh my little ones have tried to help. my pie crust is gonna taste great but look, well like I had help. Honestly if they just go to bed on time and sleep real good that is all the "help" i need.
Well, Happy Turkey Day to Everyone! I want to hear all your stories, baking failures, disasters, sucesses and hey, how did I do that? I hope everyone has a blessed day and I am so thankful to have you all to read and leave comments. (hint hint, JK!!) So eat lots, tell me your stories and good luck with holiday shopping!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE FRANCHUKS!!!!

A new look

I just figured out how to change the backgrounds. I am not going to do much with this turkey one because Friday I am going to CHRISTMAS decoration everywhere. So thanks Amy for having the link on your blog and hope we don't eventually pick the same ones, lol.
Well this will be a busy week of cleaning and baking with the kids running round. What WAS the school thinking giving them the WHOLE week off?? Not like we could travel because Nick doesnt' get off till wed. Oh well.
Gobble Gobble

Birthdays

I don't know why Sophie is first, Kateys b day was but oh well. Each had a good time on her special day. My poor asthmatic Sophie trying to blow on her one candle! She was princess for a day and had one friend from school over .

There were supposed to be more pics of Katey, not sure what happened. Here is my Fourteen year old!! She had a good time too with the fondue party. Now we get ready for Thanksgiving.

My first Tag

Ok I have never done one before, but I will try!
You post the rules and answer 8 "8" items. You let the person you are tagging know they have been tagged by leaving "tag" in their comment box. That means they now do it. :)
here goes...

8 favorite tv shows
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Heros
3. My Name is Earl
4. Kath and Kim
5. the OLD er
6. the entire noggin channel cuz it keeps Zoe entertained
7. most stuff on Discovery or Discovery health
8. How its made
8 Things I did Yesterday
1. got my new bed
2. made decorations for Kateys birthday today
3. blew my nose all day long
4. made chicken alfredo for dinner from scratch
5. listened to all four kids FIGHT AND ARGUE GRRRRRRR
6. made up my new bed and counted the hours till I can sleep in it
7. watched Heros with Nick
8. Kept sleep mask on all night, yay!
8 Things I am Looking Forward To
1. getting Christmas shopping all done
2. Thanksgiving ( and Christmas)
3. Putting up all the Christmas decorations
4. Zoe going to school ( she wants to learn so bad)
5. All my children being sucessful
6. someday going on a cruise
7. someday getting us all to Disney
8. ANYONE coming to visit us!
8 Favorite Resturants (some are pre-vegetarian)
1. Chevys ( in MD)
2. Smithfields ( in NC)
3. The pubs ( In the UK)
4. Ruths Chris (MD)
5. Kings Fish House (CA)
6. Dinosaur BBQ ( Rochester NY)
7. Red Lobster (lame, I know! I like the biscuits!!)
8. PF Changs ( they have GREAT vegetarian dishes)
8 Things on my wish list
1. white teeth
2. a new van
3. a flat stomach
4. winning a prize that will pay off all my bills
5. a coach purse ( it IS a wish list!)
6. a diamond journey necklace
7. kids that get along and respect eachother and me
8. for family to visit!
8 Pet Peeves
1. people who merge in traffic without signaling
2. people who cut you off in traffic to STOP thirty seconds later
3. WHINING
4. kids who talk back/argue with me
5. husbands who talk back/contradict/ me
6. liars
7. People who are fake
8. When you wait in line forever to find out the lane closed/your prescription isn't in/they are all out, etc.
8 Things you would like to be remembered for
1. being generous
2. raising great kids into amazing women
3. making every house we ever have into a family home
4. Raising my kids to believe in God
5. being creative
6. my FABULOUS Halloweens!!
7. this is so hard right now!
8. Can't think of another thing
8 Things to Ask and Tag People About
1. Why do celebs have the right to complain about the war but don't have a CLUE what it is like for millitary and spouses
2. WHY is GOD NOT allowed in our schools and then people wonder at all the violence??
3. what have you found in your car
4. you know you are addicted to......
5. Why am I invisible when it comes to being in a crowd? ( eg I get run into, run over, bumpted, etc)
6. How come ordering groceries online and getting it delivered is so expensive? ( I am SO tempted to do this!!)
7. reasons why your child should have a job from age 16 on
8. How we can get "Homemaker" into a highly respected and recognized career ( instead of being in quotes, pay would be nice too!)
8 people i tag
1. Nicole
2. Amy
3. ummmm thats about it!! good luck!!

You know you have pre/teens if

Ok ( yes thanks Mo!!) I have read the hillarious cute mom list of You Know you are a mom if..
And here is my version of
You Know you Have a teen ( or pre teen) if:
1. You know who Hanna Montanna is, you have seen the show. You know who Miley is.
2. You remember watching Mileys DAD on video
3. you have seen all three HSM movies . ( and know what HSM stands for)
4. You text
5. U hv txtd ur kid 2 dnr
6. Whatever, and a eye roll is what shrugging your shoulders used to be. ( and your kids don't get smacked for it!)
7. They can type before then can write cursive.
8. They know what u tube is , know you have blocked it, but STILL gain acess to it!
9. They have a cell phone
10. YOU need them to have a cell phone
11. You have a texting plan cuz w out it , you pay like $40 a month! ( and would never hear from your child)
12. You think kids who have camera phones are "asking for it"
13. you secretly wish they could drive. ( so they could pick up a sibling from school/practice, get milk , butter etc.)
14. You do not know why your daughter spends HOURS in front of the mirror, even though you did the same thing at her age.
15. You say, I have a high schooler and a middle schooler and people look really scared
16. Music you used to dance to ( and some of us , ahem still do ocasionally) prompts "the talk"
17. You give "the talk" and get "I know" in response. (when your heart starts again you realize they meant they learned that in health in fifth grade)
18. You know about Twilight.
19. You READ twilight.
20. You are more flipping excited about the(twilight) movie than your teen!
21. You know what "sexting" is ( thanks Dr Phil) and are soooo glad you are cheap and your kid had a crappy phone w out a camera!
22. You LOCK your computer or laptop or racy tv channels when you are not home.
23. You cuss a blue streak and your kids don't even blink. In fact, they say well I have heard worse on the bus! ( BTW what does..........mean??)
24. You ask them to write a thank you note and they look confused and say, don't you ... ummm mean send an e card ? or e mail??
25. your child has a phone because YOU need her to.
26. Your clothes, make up, jewlery, and shoes go missing and end up ON YOUR CHILD>
27. You are secretly glad you are cool/thin/hip enough for your kid to want your stuff
28.You have a date with your hubby because she ( or they) can legally babysit
29. You check on them after they go to sleep to 1. make sure they are still there and 2. cuz you love them so much
30 . add your own!!

Ashes Ashes we all had fun!

Here are some pics of us at Knotts Berry farm, where we took the kids Sat in celebration of Katey and Sophies birthdays. We did have a good time but what you don't see in these pics are all the ASHES raining down from the sky. There was a massive fire quite close and there were huge ashes falling all over. I guess Californians are used to it cuz folks just pulled out hats and bandanas and kept waiting in line for the rides. So we did too! We don't have many pics because Nick had the camera most of the time ( i was on coasters with the older girls) and so I missed a lot of photo ops. Half the time I just plain forgot. Katey and I went on the GIANT swing thing that swings you like a mile high ( not sure the height but it was HIGH) and screamed our heads off. We had so much fun! (Ashes and all) . None of us feel like it is truly november. Before all the ashes blocked out the sun it was over 90 out. I ignored park rules and brought snacks and water in, good thing since Zoe was cranky the WHOLE time. We spent more on lunch then we did getting in. Oh well it counts as a "birthday dinner" for two kids, right?? There are no pics of me becuase I look fat. I know its vain but my week binge caught up with me. Also this is the first time NIck and I forgot to get one of the kids take a pic of us. It was hard because like I said Zoe was super crabby and whiny. We wanted to get home for dinner cuz lunch pretty much bankrupted us! (lol) Our new bed comes today, can't wait to try it. Yes the mask spent another lovely night under my pillow. Its getting clever and hiding better. :)
It is so weird to have to find shorts and tank tops, sunblock and the only white stuff from the sky was from a fire! Happy Fall?? **** Just an update, we now have a new bed and if you don't know me then I mean I want to SLEEP on it!! ( in case some of you had your mind in the gutter, shame shame!!) Seriously, If I get a GOOD night sleep I am gonna praise Sears to everyone. :)
Also, the picture of Nick and the girls on a ride, that thing went up soooooo high and then dropped to nearly the ground and then up and so on. I am truly suprised that the girls went through with it. I love my coasters, ( HATE spinning) but that drop... no way!! What a fun day though. Have to laugh at all the bruises we all have and I think my poor brain might have been banged/spun/ dropped a bit too much but oh well!! You can't beat the bonding with pre/teen time!! The above pic is funny cuz it is the first ride and they DID have fun. What crazy faces.
(oh , that is the LAST time you will ever see Katey in pigtails.) If I didn't send you a Kodak link and you want more pix just e mail me.