A Tiny Look Back

Holidays are a gazillion times more fun with excited little ones all around.

Halloween 2005 in Utah

We love sharing holidays with family and friends.

Ella is wearing a dress that Aunt Stephie wore when she was little, very cool!

Grace was a cheetah this year. All my kids wear this cheetah costume the Halloween they are one. Funny note, Maddie wore this cheetah first when she was 7 months old.

Halloween 2006 in St. Louis

No, I was not dressed up for Halloween as a "tired mom". I was, in fact, exhausted. Joseph was one month old and being a mother of three was kicking my trash.
Grace loved the hood of this costume and kept it on ALL THE TIME.
Ella loved her green face and was convinced that no one knew who she was. Our sweet friends played along.

Halloween 2007 - St. Louis
This is us at Boo at the Zoo (just another fun and free thing to do in St. Louis).
Joseph was a new walker at this point and wanted to walk EVERYWHERE.
The girls were very opinionated about their costumes this year. I chose not to fight that battle, gave them free reign and tah-dah!

Sharing

Our girls are quite the little sharers.

Adam wasn't able to go to the Halloween party with us last night. Ella and Grace felt bad that he was missing out on all the fun (aka candy) so they shared.

Grace wrote dad a whole "letter" and drew him "shapes" (that's the rolled up one). For some reason they felt the need to unwrap the candy then add the ice thingies, "So it doesn't melt, mom!" said Ella with a very "duh" tone in her voice. (Yah, in case it melts inside our house. Where the heat isn't on. At night. Right. Duh me!)

Ella, Grace and Joe are all great sharers. They are more than happy to share their candy with each other and with mom and dad. I'm hoping they hold on to this trait for the next 100 years or so.

A Week long Halloween Party

Don't you just love, love, love it when Halloween is on Friday? Halloween celebrations last all week long. Who doesn't love a weeks worth of Halloween? Tonight was grandma and grandpa's ward's Halloween party. We go every year we live here and its always a fun time.

Above: All seven of the grandkids were in attendence: one cheerleader (you can't see it but she's a Memphis Tigers cheerleader), one lady bug, three witches and a pumpkin. All high on sugar!
Ella was bashful about trying the "Dangling Donut" game. I was able to convince her it would be fun. And it was!
Grace also did well at the "Dangling Donut" game and shared her donut prize with Joe. However, this picture is all about the bright pink frosting all over her mouth. Aunt Steph was helping with the "Creepy Cake Crawl" so, of course, we had to play.
I found this shirt at Savers lots of months ago and loved it. No clue when I'd ever wear it but loved it just the same. Finally, a fitting excuse to wear my awesome shirt. I'm gathering the gumption to wear this shirt on a regular basis. I'm not sure I've got the style to pull it off but I can dream. I just might try wearing it to the bus stop (minus the pig tails and not tied in the front, promise)

p.s. I had a little boy in Ella's class ask me today, "Why do you talk like a country person?" I replied, "Because I'm from the country." The burbs, where I'm actually from, don't really qualify as "country" but it seemed a fitting answer for a punk red head six year old (with black painted fingernails, btw).

One more thing, these are my new favorite jeans. Not new jeans but my new favorites. I feel very this in these jeans. And that's a good thing!

Jack

Meet the newest addition to our family, Jack. We are happy to have Jack in our home and think he is remarkably cute. He is the product of a mostly excellent FHE.

The girls discovered, despite being warned, that pumpkin guts are slimy. My girls don't do slimy. The faces were classic. Its at times like these that its a true tragedy that I'm not a better photographer.

Somewhere along the way, Joe had had enough. I think taking his shirt off pushed him over the edge. I was just trying to avoid a laundry disaster. Selfish me!

Jack in all his glory! He even has cute little ears.
Adam is our carver extraordinaire! Another talent its taken almost ten years for me to discover.

p.s. Have no fear, we didn't let Jack's innards go to waste. That's another post for another day. Maybe tomorrow.

Hoedown

There was a "Hoedown" at Ella's school yesterday. Yes, a hoedown! Ella was DYING to go. So half an hour before Joe's bedtime, the kids and I backed up and were off to the hoedown. My six year old has now learned the hokey pokey, the chicken dance, the Virginia Reel and Cotton-Eyed Joe. Ella had a ball!

Above: the Virginia Reel
Above: Grace and Joe had a little less fun, at first. Joseph soaked himself in the water fountain. He got to wear Ella's jacket the rest of the evening.

Grace's evening improved when I let her put on some lipstick, all by herself.

Overall, the evening was a success. The kids got to run amok with friends while listening to "hoedown" music and wearing a lovely shade a lipstick.

I love the back of cereal boxes!

From the back of a cereal box. How many can you correctly guess the movie for?

MOVIE QUOTES

1. "No points for second place."

2. "Noboby puts Baby in the corner."

3. "You'll shoot your eye out!"

4. "You, sir, are no gentleman!"

5. "Yo! Adrianne!"

6. "97X Bam! The future of rock 'n roll."

7. "I'll be back."

8. "Phone home."

9. "Hello, McFly!?"

10. "I've been slimed!"

I put the answers on my other blog so you won't accidentally peak. Accidentally? Right!

Click on "happyme" in my bloglist for the answers.

Question? Did I only know these because I am a child of the 80's?

A Quick Long Weekend

Ella and Grace were out of school for a long weekend last week. We kept busy and Ella said it was the best weekend of her life. So, mom running herself ragged equals kid heaven. Good to know!

Thursday started with the kids and I at the pediatrician's office for Joe's well child appointment and shots. The girls got to wear their witch gear to the doctor's office. The were a hit with the staff. Joseph was terribly pleased with the truck sticker he got on the way out.

We thought a "Wee Witch's Parade" sounded fun for the girls. It turned out lame but at least they look cute.

Friday began with a "Savannah Smiles" movie party with grandma, aunts and cousins and ended with a "Kangaroo Zoo" birthday party.

Then Saturday, Ella had a friend over to play for the day. We went to the library, swimming, lunch then looking for "collections" outside. Those girls collected every piece of garbage, I mean, treasure at the playground. Yuck!Above: Then saturday night we went to an orchard/farm in town for a hayride and an "Its the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" outdoor viewing. Notice the little pieces of hay (straw actually) floating in the air and the Barbie that "had" to accompany us on our outing. It was great "free" fun.

Finally, check out my little man acting just like my big man. Adam has to keep up with "the market" for work so the news is a constant at our house, especially lately. "The market" better even out or I'm going to loss my mind. I am learning to despise financial news. Nope, I already do! I came into the living room this morning to find Joseph, alone, watching CNBC. Hopefully it didn't scramble his little brain.

Salsa song

My girls are very into Chris Daughtry lately. His is the only CD we have in the car right now and I just can not seem to remember to grab the ipod on the way out the door. So we have been listening to Chris Daughtry for WEEKS now. Over and over and over!

Grace - "Mom, I want the salsa song."

Me - "Um? Which song is that?"

Grace - "The salsa song mom. You know, salsa!"

Me - "Oh right. Silly me! Stop me when we got to it."

Here is "Salsa". Can you figure out where she got the name? Enjoy!

Disclaimer - my girls have never seen this video. I am using it so y'all can experience the "salsa".

Snuggled Up

Joseph is old enough that if we are really busy one day and he doesn't get a nap, he's fine. But most days, he naps.
On this day we had been out all morning and clear though his nap time. About mid afternoon he went and got his pacifier and brought it to Adam. Adam asked him if he was tired and Joe gave a pitiful nod.
Joseph loves to snuggle up on Adam's stomach and tuck his arms and legs under. Joe was asleep almost immediately. Consequently, so was Adam.
I was gone for two minutes and returned to find my two handsome men napping together. I know Joseph will outgrow this. When he's 12 it might be weird but for now Adam and I are loving it.

New FAV

My new favorite - Confessions of a Pioneer Woman- blog.

Many of you may have been reading this blog for years and I'm a little slow but LOVE IT! I wish I could spend a day reading all the old stuff and looking at her amazing pics!
I've added it to my Blog list so click away but be prepared to get sucked in!

Busy but not blogging

It was brought to my attention that I need to "Update your blog already." I'll admit, posting have been a little sparse lately, but I've been busy. Not blogging, but busy, nonetheless.

It all began with getting out and putting up our fall/Halloween decorations. Doing this reminded me that I'd thrown away the kids trick-or-treat bags last year since they were beat to pieces. I've been wanting to make them new ones, so I did. The kids love them and so do I. And they're reversible to all black (toot, toot goes my horn).

Then the weather got cold so I pulled out the boxes of winter clothes and the girls pulled the clothes out of the boxes. And all over their room.
All those clothes then had to be washed since they've been in storage.
Once washed, dried and folded the clothes sat for three days in the girls room. Before the winter clothes will fit in the armoire, the summer clothes have to be put in storage. It was all quite the process.
Above: The kids were pretty good about letting me work. This is a special treat for them: getting to watch a movie on the portable DVD player in their room. I love easy to please kids!
Above: The little bit of frosting left kept Grace busy for a long time.
And then there was the Halloween advent calendar project. My mom and I each started one of these while I was home last month. Only ten days into October I'm, finally, finished. Hallelujah!
You can find the inspiration for this project on ebay (search for Halloween advent calendar) for $100 but mine is cuter and it would take a lot more than $100 for me to let go of this. It was a LOT of work and took FOREVER!

This picture is horrid but I don't even care right now. I'm so happy to have it complete and for my kids to stop asking me when I'm going to finish it. Now I just need to put a little treat for the kids in each pocket and the world will be a happy place again.

This may not seem like too much but while doing these projects regular life marched on. Ella went back on track, Grace started preschool, I started volunteering in Ella's classroom and trading babysitting so I can volunteer, Joe had diarrhea for a week, General Conference and Adam working 60 hour weeks.

For the next few weeks I plan to do fewer projects and do . . . less, more.

Strange Inspiration

Inspiration can come from the strangest places. Case in point-

My special friend came to visit early this month so I was unprepared for her arrival. After dropping Ella off at school I ran to the store to pick up some necessary supplies. I was stoked to find that necessary supplies were on a crazy good sale. These particular supplies have "Sport Level Protection and Comfort". Whatever works!
Upon arriving home I immediately put my necessary supplies to good use and discovered their little gift on each wrapper. Inspiration and motivation!
I actually laughed out loud in my bathroom when I found them.

"Victory"
"Challenge yourself."
"Keep going."
"Just go."
"Just Get in the game!"
"Game On!"
"Play by your own rules."
"Practice makes perfect."
"You're a take charge kind of a girl!"
"Control and Power to perform at your best."
"Keep a clear head."
"Find your groove and move to it."
"Go Get 'Em."
"PMS= Play More Sport"
and perhaps my favorite, "Neither one of us are giver uppers."

If you are not laughing, giggling or, at least, smiling right now then you are either a man or someone who is not longer allowed to read my blog. I had a horrid rotten day that day and still those wrappers cracked me up.
So, if you are needing a little inspiration then Playtex "Sport" is for you. I hope you find them on sale like I did.

Happy Birthday Joseph

Adam has, again, proven himself in the birthday cake arena. He came up with the idea, cut it out, iced it and decorated it with lots of "help" from the kids. Our big two year old boy loves all the normal boy stuff: cars, trucks, balls, "goss" bugs, animals and trains. He also like his sisters' stuff: lip gloss, lotion, dress-up shoes, baby dolls and strollers.
The family got together at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Sunday to celebrate. The weather was so beautiful we did cake and presents in the back yard.
Ella and Grace approved.
Joseph was in heaven. Shirtless and shoeless, outside, on a bike and with a belly full of cake and ice cream. We hadn't even opened presents yet!
Joseph loves his new toys.
Joseph Adam loves his daddy and Adam adores his little man. Our family just couldn't be complete without Joseph's fun personality. Joe is a blast to have around the house, plays well with both girls and is just happy to be here. We are so thankful Heavenly Father sent him to our family. We love you, Joseph!

Two Already?

Joseph turned two last week. How is it that its been two whole years since our baby boy was born? Joseph has been loved and loved from the beginning. He is a happy boy that enjoys the simple pleasures in life. Trucks (currently "sucks" to Joe) and balls!

It was not uncommon to find Joseph "accessorized" by his sisters.
The girls loved on him from day one. Thankfully, I never had to worry about them hurting him. Just stickering him to death.
Joe went through a very MESSY eating phase. Chocolate cake (of course) was on the menu and therefore, all over Joe. He really liked to eat at this stage. His belly would get HUGE when he ate.
As Joseph got older and more independent, his interests ventured outside of trucks and balls to include dirt, bugs and sticks.

Joseph has turned into such a little imitator. He'll repeat anything you say in his super low little voice. I love to hear him talk. It cracks me up. Joe is a great sharer, an awesome snuggle bunny, a good listener and a great giver of hugs, kisses, fives and rocks.

I am thankful to have Joseph Adam's happy spirit and personality in our home and that he was a calm and happy baby. That allowed me to keep my sanity. I am excited to see the little boy he will be but for now I'm savoring the last little bits of baby left in him.

I love you so my Joe boy!