BOO!!

We went Trick or Treating tonight. Jack had such a good time.

This is the pumpkin we carved...isn't it scary?
Stella was a happy little duck.
This was the split second that Jack would where his cow hat. Don't they look happy?
Jack getting candy from our neghborhood witch.
The feast

Happy Halloween

We went to Bishops Pumpkin Farm in Wheatland this weekend. We usually go up to Apple Hill but thought we'd try something new this year. It was so much fun, really fun for the kids.
We decided to just get one really big pumpkin for our family this year. We all got on the hayride which drove us out to the pumpkin field.
There were pumpkins everywhere. It was fun hunting for just the right pumpkin. Jack kept tripping over the pumpkins though and so he was crying a majority of the time.
The petting zoo was fun and smelly. As much as I like all the cute little animals in the petting zoo I always feel like I need to take a shower and scrub myself down afterwards. The goats like jumping up on people like they were little dogs. They were really cute though.
The highlight of Jack's day was the ride on the train. We went through a big tunnel, he loved that, I think he would have stayed on that train all day if he could have. All and all the day was a blast. We ate apple pie and nachos for lunch, strolled around, and went on a giant tree house slide. There was a huge corn field maze, we didn't go in though, I kept having thoughts of us walking around in there, the sun beating down on us, stuck for hours with Jack and Stella both crying...That thought was enough to keep us away. Tonight we are going Trick or Treating!!! yippeee candy here we come.

Dirt

Yesterday, after getting the kids dressed for the day, I started doing the dishes as the kids made their way into the backyard. I checked on them a couple of times and they were nicely playing with a pile of rocks no where near the dirt. I went back to doing the dishes, finished up and went to check on them again. Well they HAD made their way to the dirt and Stella somehow managed to get dirt all over herself (I'm sure Jack helped, he had a suspicious smile on his face). For a split second when I saw them I felt my composure slip, tears instantly sprang to my eyes and I felt extremely tired, not another mess. Then I stopped and just looked at them. They were both smiling and it WAS pretty funny, and instantly I snapped out of it. I went and got my camera and let them play for a little while more, then I stripped them down and put them in a bath. I've been feeling a little overwhelmed lately by just the normal day to day stuff of changing diapers and keeping the house clean. I feel like I'm constantly chasing 2 little tornados around the house. Some weeks are better then others. I'm glad the weekend is here and I can recuperate a little.

Dinner with Grandma

Last night we went to Grandma's house for dinner. Mom made lot's of tasty side dishes and we brought the KFC.
She spread out a blanket on the floor and we all dug in. We had lots of fun.
The kids loved eating on the floor. Mom told us about force feeding her friend a banana and about a budding romance between 85 yr old Myrle and 86 year old Barney.
She showed us her new digital camera and told us how one of her friends got mad at her for J walking across a major street on her way to target. I love my mother-in-law. Who couldn't love a 71 year old woman who isn't afraid to wear a mini skirt.

Bring Your Pet to Blog Day

The other day I was making cookies. I went to check in on the kids and found that they had taken all our clothes out of our drawers and piled them in Stella's crib. They were happily sitting in the drawers. It was pretty funny. I went back to making my cookies and let them play.
Things I love right now:
1. The book "Confessions of a Supermom"
2. Story time at the library
3. The new Ashlee Simpson album
4. Yum Yum cookies (aka Fibar Balls)
5. Yopait custard style yogurt in Vanilla
6. The overcast weather
7. Dancing to the Black Eyed Peas with my kids
8. Pancakes with butter and syrup
9. Green tea and a yum yum cookies during the kids naptime
10. Martha Stewart apprentice

Fire

Fire is the topic this week over at Mama Says Om

After I stepped out of a steamy bathroom one night, I came out to find the entire house pitch black except for candlelight from about 30 candles flickering. They were on the kitchen table, on the floor, on every space that could hold a candle. There was a blanket set up on the living room floor surrounded by candles, It was the most romantic thing I've ever seen.

Self portrait Tuesday: Self Documentary #4

Date Night

Here we go, we made it out the door, with a quick stop at the store, and then off to drop the kids off at our babysitting co-op.
The most romantic man ever!!! He didn't just get cash at the store but beautiful roses too.
We ordered the 12 oz but the bartender made us the 16oz Yipeeee!
Ok, John took us Ice Skating, The whole date was a surprise, he wanted it to be a special date not just our usual movie. Anyway I was really excited when he told me we were going ice skating, but then I got there, and got my skates, and sat down, and watched hundreds of teenagers zooming around the rink at break neck speeds, and I my excitement turned to fear. I laced up my skates mumbled "God help me" under my breath and hobbled my way to the rink with John.
We had a blast. At first we used the sliding walkers, I was embarrassed at first but it was soooo much easier using them that I didn't care that we were the only adults using them. After our confidence grew we ditched the walkers and skated on our own. We did great, didn't even fall.
We were the oldest people in the rink, besides parents who were sitting on the bleachers watching their kids. We didn't care though, it was fun remembering all the time I spent in rollerskating rinks as a kid. John you did a super job planning this date. It was a blast!! I love you.

Bubble Pop Electric

I had an AWESOME weekend. It started with John taking me out on the funnest date ever and ended with the Gwen Stefani/Black Eyed Peas concert. I'll share more about our date tomorrow.
This was the BEST concert ever. I really don't think I've been to any others that were as fun. The Black Eyed Peas were so great!! they seriously could have done a whole show on their own. I knew they would be fun to see,but they blew me away. If the concert had ended with them I would have left completely satisfied.
But then Gwen came out and it seemed like I stopped breathing. She was dressed in all white with 6in black heels. She started with Harajuku Girls and then went on to play all her hits, she skipped and pranced around the stage like she was in sneakers. She sounded so great!! John and I had sooooo much fun. I wish we could do last night all over again.

I was tagged by MOMster for 20 mem's,( little facts about myself), I'm tagging Heidi, Lorissa, Molly, Kimberly,

1. The words lotion, motherload, and nausea make me cringe.
2. My mother-in-law thinks I still run. When she brings it up to her friends in my presence I can't tell her I stopped because she seems so impressed.
3. I feel dumb because I didn't go to college
4. Sometimes I read the last page of a book first. I feel guilty when I do it and I tell myself it's ok because I'll forget it by the time I get to the end, and I always do.
5. I love the color of my hair.
6. Sometimes I pretend to like my friends dogs but I really dislike all dogs.
7. When I was 15 I pierced my own belly button.
8. Everytime I smell a skunk I think these words "this skunk smells like a monkey would taste" I say it EVERY time. I don't know when I started this or why, but I think it might be true, but I'll never eat a monkey so I'll never know.
9. I love watching the food network.
10. I went skydiving when I was 20.
11. I'm afraid of water slides and I swear I will never go on one.
12. I used to steal alcohol from my dads bottles and replace what I took with water, I would put it in a tupperware container and go to my room and drink it.
13. I bite my nails.
14. Last year I memorized all of psalm 139
15. I can burp the alphabet, actually I can say anything in burp talk.
16. I was asked to my senior prom my a cute boy I didn't know. I was flattered and excited. 2 days later he uninvited me saying someone else who turned him down originally ,changed her mind. I smiled and said I understood but I was really really hurt. I never went to any school dances. :(
17. The thinner I get the better I feel about myself.
18. I believe my husband is the nicest man I've ever met.
19. When I was 17 I went to Mexico and helped build a playground for poor children. I was there a week and cried everyday.
20. Once when I worked at wendy's as a teenager I found a dead fly in a salad dressing container in the salad bar. Instead of picking it out I look the ladle and plunged it to the bottom..... I am evil. :)

Bring Your Pet To Blog Day

FEET

This blog post is dedicated to Brutus. He is my friend Gretchen's dog. They just moved to a new house on Saturday. Brutus ran away on Tuesday. He is out there roaming around the streets hopefully having a doggy blast. Brutus go home your parents miss you.

Treasure

This is Jack's treasure box. Whenever he finds something special he puts it in his treasure box. Just a few minutes ago he found the staple on our kitchen counter. He played with it awhile and then asked to put it in his treasure box. We put it up on a shelf so that he really doesn't have access to it. It's a special time when he gets to look inside. He always goes for the feather first and brushes it against his cheek. I hope he keeps this box forever. My sister and I collected stickers when we were kids. We put them all in a photo album. We still have the sticker books to this day.

Self Portrait Tuesday: Self documentary #3

Rise and Shine

This morning was particularly calm, Stella slept in so I was able to give Jack all my attention. Usually my mornings are loud and I'm running around in my robe getting Jack's breakfast while Stella is hanging off my hip. That was to hard for me to capture on film...So instead here's my quiet morning....They are few and far between.

Water

Here's my tribute to water for Mama Says Om. Jack LOVES playing in the water. That is one reason I'm looking forward to winter again this year. It's so much fun to go splashing through rain puddles getting nice and wet and cold and then coming back into a toasty warm house and jumping in the bath.

Panic

Last night I felt true panic for the first time as a mother. We are part of a babysitting co-op with some friends from my church. So last night was our turn to watch the 10 kids for 4 hours. It sounds daunting but when we have every other Saturday in the month to go out on a date it's worth it. Anyway, we put Stella to sleep in her crib around 8pm. After awhile I heard her crying so I went in to check on her. It wasn't her usual cry, it was short screeches and then a gasp. Usually when she is crying in her crib she stands up and waits for me to come. This time she stayed laying on her side. I picked her up and she was limp, not clinging to me or anything. She kept screaming and the weird thing is she would not open her eyes. I freaked out. I started shaking and practically running around our place franticly yelling "what's wrong with her" John and I felt helpless and I was about to jump in the car to go to the ER. That was just the time when all the co-op parents came home to pick up their kids. Two of them happen to work in hospitals. So they snatched Stella up and looked her over. They looked her over, said her breathing sounded ok and stayed with us while I held her. Stella calmed down, opened her eyes and gradually went back to her normal self. It took me all night to get back to MY normal self. She slept with us last night, we were constantly checking on her. This morning, it's like nothing happened, she is happy and healthy. They think maybe she had a seizure, I think maybe a freaky nightmare. I don't know but something was wrong. We check in with the Doc on Tuesday, so we'll see what he says. Anyway, I realized that I'm not one of the clear headed thinking calm mom's in an emergency, I'm the freak out and panic type.

John

I write so much about myself and our kids but very little about my wonderful husband. John and I have been married for almost 6 years. I have never met a man as kind hearted as him. He is supportive in everything I do. We waited almost 3 years before we had kids, in that time we traveled all over the U.S. together, to the Philippines, and to Mexico. He is my best friend. When I gave birth to our 2 kids he was the best support person anyone could ask for. I didn't need to shell out money for a doula, what was I thinking? He gave me absolutely every bit of support I needed. I love him more than words can say. I look forward to seeing him at the end of everyday. Even during our worst fights, I always keep a deep respect for him in my heart. I would do anything for him. John thank you for taking care of our family, for loving us, for providing for us, for all your sweet smiles and goofiness. I love you with everything I have.

Who created my beautiful new blog look you ask? That would be none other than the magnificent JOLEEN. Joleen I absolutely LOVE it. Thanks for sending your creativity this way, it was greatly needed, thanks for the time it took to do it, and thanks for wanting to do it. I want to learn how to do this too so I can spread the blogger love around like you do.

{invasion}

Hi Heather!

I had so much fun "invading" yours and Heidi's blogs tonight! The banner is pretty basic but I really love this font, don't you? :) I hope you like it! If you want something more vavoom..lemme know! :) Enjoy!

Hugs,
Joleen

Happy Thursday!!

Bring Your Pet to Blog Day

SUNSHINE IN THE SUNSHINE

things I love right now:

1. Rainbow sherbert with chocolate syrup
2. Watching Starting Over
3. Talking to my friend Lorissa on the phone
4. Chai tea from Trader Joes
5. 80 degree weather everyday
6. The new Kelly Clarkson song
7. Nightly foot rubs from John
8. Watching the previews when I go to the movies
9. Eating peaches, I love them right now
10. Reading "Life of Pi" very slowly