Happy Halloween!!

We had a fun time tonight trick or treating, though we missed Rob. This is the third year in a row without him home. There were three moms with our kids walking together (the bus stop crew). Anyway... here are some pictures from the night!

The crew

The Princess

Cheerleader

The "Debil"

Sweet Pea Sam and a comparison pic to when Bubba wore it three years ago! They do favor, but Bubba's face was WAY chubbier.

Bubba - 3 years ago

The haul -- yes, it is sorted by type. The OCD monster came out in me.

Great kid jokes

Thought I'd share some great Laffy Taffy jokes :-)

*What gives a ghost the right to scare you?
-A haunting license

*How come the Buffalo Bills went to the bank?
-To get their quarterback

*Why did Dracula's mom give him cough syrup?
-Because he was coffin

*What is another name for a sleeping skeleton?
-Lazy bones

*What pounds in your ear?
-The drum

*What bee does well in school?
-A spelling bee

*What is the definition of a farmer?
-Someone who is outstanding in his field

*What kind of teeth can you buy with a dollar?
-Buck teeth

*What did the judge say to the racket?
-I'm sending you to court.

More Halloween treats

So, I had to fill my little Frankenstein bags with something... so here goes

First, these are just orange tic-tacs that are wrapped in orange cardstock, stamped with a ribbon to close.


These are the peppermint patty covers for the bags... a mini Frankenstein a pumpkin and a ghost.


These are the treats for the kids' classes.



Cute, huh?

Kids' news

Don't want to jinx myself, but we have officially gone five days without any potty accidents. Well, one accident but he was napping at the time so it doesn't REALLY count, right? And he has gotten into puzzles lately. He is really good at them, especially these use-the-pieces-to-fill-the-shape puzzles.

Tonight was Faith's last soccer game of the season. She did great these last few games and makes me wonder if we should go just one more season to see if she catches on better. She has become quite a little defender, even if not very aggressive offensively. Tonight she positioned herself in front of the goal (there are not 'goalies' at this age) and blocked two goals! I am so proud! It was SO flippin' cold out there! Rob called from 80 degree California and I could barely talk because of a numb face!! With the wind chill, it was only 35 degrees out there! The wind was FIERCE! Came home and warmed up with chicken noodle soup and hot chocolate.

Grace was inducted in the *25 points club* at school last week. I have yet to figure out what that exactly means, but she got a certificate and the group's picture was on the school TV morning show. When I asked her, she said something about weekly puzzlers, but didn't have any details to share. Only three in her class of 23 qualified for the club, so I am thinking that it is good :-) She helped me make biscuits yesterday. She did well, but made them thinner than I usually do. I think she liked pushing on the dough!

Hmmm... news from Sam... he thinks his hand tastes good. Oh... and I brought up the old swing and he loves it. He is the 4th to use it! So, the story about the swing. When i had Grace, my platoon sent me a congratulations card and gift card for Walmart (remember, there are very limited options in St Robert, MO), which was nice and unexpected. With the gift card, I bought the swing! So with all of my kids, I think of SFC Cooper and SSG Harris - both retired now - and how thoughtful they were. Okay -- enough rambling ;-)

Tonight's stuff

First... I was just reading Analee's blog and Bubba came out and looked at the computer. He leaned right over and kissed the screen - specifically the picture of Rocket. Then he looked at me, laughed and said "I kissed Rocket on the pooter." Very cute :-)

So, here are the projects I worked on today -- first are the girls' Halloween treat bags for their teachers (sorry for the bad side view). I have to hold it shut since they aren't stuffed yet :-)

Second is a 'corner bookmark' which I have never used. It actually works nicely and was simple and cute! What do you think? I think y'all will be seeing them again...

Ramblings

So I just got the call - Rob made it to California. Today is day 0 -- only 38 to go. We all got up this morning at 5am to take him in to work. We got back and I put the kids back in their beds, but they did not immediately go to sleep. They went back to sleep around 6:30... then I had to wake them BACK up for Faith's 9 o'clock soccer game! We will probably have an early night :-) Though, I just looked over and Bubba is past OUT on the couch.

On a completely random note, some people call me mean for not letting my kids have but specific crayons. I am a crayon snob. I can admit it. If they get crayons for a gift... I will throw them away if they are not -- WASHABLE. And today proved that my crayon snobbiness is very valid. Bubba went into his room to change from pull-up to undies. Well, it was taking him WAY too long. What was he doing, you ask? Drawing BIG circles on the wall. In orange and purple crayons. The fear of God bubbled into my insides that they may be the two crayons in the house that slipped through the mama-crayon-crack-down. But nope... it wiped right off. Bubba even did most of it. Sometimes brand snobs DO get a payoff :-)

Good news of the day and Rob-ism

First... my exemption was APPROVED from Human Resources Command!! I will NOT be deployed next year. Yippee!!!

Second... Faith scored her first goal in tonight's soccer game! Of course, this was the one game that I did not take the camera. The first game... in three seasons. She is SO proud!

Lastly... I have a Rob-ism. We were talking to Faith today during lunch. She said that she knew what made clouds. Dust and water drops. So, I tried to talk about that clouds are really made of just water vapor and that water comes in different forms. Rob busts out with "Isn't ice considered the solid?" What?!? Yes... ice is the solid form of water.

Voting

So, I've filled out my absentee ballot and it should be on the way tomorrow. How come I don't feel like it is going to do much?

This election, more than any other that I have ever voted in, I am blah about. I am tired of badmouthing and making it about something other than politics. This is politics. The down and dirty of it. And it sucks. This isn't the way it should be. Oh well... maybe someday it really will be about what we believe and not about parties or race or gender. The right person, with the policy that reflects the people. Wouldn't that be nice?

I am reminded of two quotes

The first is by Robert Byrne:
Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.

The second is by Richard Armour:
Politics, it seems to me, for years, or all too long, has been concerned with right or left instead of right or wrong.

How unfortunate.

-isms

Picture it...
Faith is SO excited about being in the school Christmas play. She was singing the *big* finale song to us tonight. Goes something like this:


We will walk a mile
To see one of your smiles
We'll walk in rain or snow or sleep.



Next...

Grace was telling her daddy about her lunch today (which tends to be a topic they talk about a lot).


Grace: I had chicken tenders, with mashed potatoes and in the other square I had blueberry cobbler with raspberries.
Rob: Did it have blueberries in it?
Grace: No. It was blueberry cobbler with raspberries.
Rob: wouldn't that be raspberry cobbler?'
G: I don't think so.

Recommendation

Three posts in one day! A personal record, I think :-)

I read a terrific book this past week. It took me about three days... I could NOT put it down!! I usually only get to read while I am feeding Sam, but I didn't want to stop reading!!






Anyway, the book is Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. It is set in 19th century China and is the story of a woman's life (it is told autobiographically). Lily is 80 years old and is reflecting on her life. She talks about footbinding, finding friends, marriage and the losses she has through her life. There are moments that are quite depressing, but she figures out how to overcome her lot as a worthless girl in a country which thought of girls as lower than dogs.




It reminded me a bit of The Red Tent (which is one of my favorite books of all time). I highly recommend both books!!!

I'm a grandma -- a beetle grandma

The experiment has officially ended :-) Grace successfully "grew" two beetles and I successfully let them stay inside until they hatched (I know hatched isn't the right word... but what is the right word? Morphed?). They went outside today. We tried to find a place that they wouldn't immediately be eaten by a bird. Grace wouldn't even hold them... she just emptied the whole cup into the monkey grass beside the house. Hopefully the oatmeal won't attract too many birds :-p




(click on the picture and you can really see them)

*I posted pictures earlier... don't miss them :-)

Pictures

Thought I'd share some pics today...

When did G-mama get SO flippin' big?!?

This girl loves when the camera comes out! It doesn't matter if she is *supposed* to be watching the ball!!! I put the camera away after this picture to try to help her focus :-)

HELLO?!? Talk about growing up overnight!

Hello tongue :-)

I love fall.

Adjustable Waistbands

You know, my girls have small waists and long legs. I have always loved the adjustable waistbands that come in most pants these days. It avoids the girls having to wear belts (which we avoid in order to keep their teacher's sanity during bathroom time) and avoids "high water" pants.

My question is: Why don't they put them in little clothes? And by little, I mean Sam's size! That boy has the smallest waist, but is super long! Faith was the same way. He fits easily into the 3-6 month size at 2 months old. The legs fit him perfectly, but before you know it, he is mooning you (okay, not really since he is wearing a diaper, but you get what I am saying). His waist is nowhere near big enough. But 0-3 month pants come just below his knee! Unless I put knee socks on him, his legs are exposed to the fall air (which is nice here today -- high of only 62). Why don't they put the adjustable bands in his size pants? It isn't like it would irritate him. Maybe I'll start my own infant's clothing line with adjustable waistbands for super long babies -- I'll call it my String Bean line :-)

Notice I didn't talk about Bubba... he doesn't really have this problem :-) Not that he has a big waist, but his legs aren't quite as long as the girls (proportionately, of course) so he can wear pants that fit both waist and legs. He is tall, but more of a long waisted tall -- just like Rob!

Faithism

Yesterday, Faith was telling us about her day at school and she said that Griffin (her little pre-k boyfriend) brought their teacher some melted bread.

We think we figured that out to be a bread dough. We only figured it out though because Griffin's big sister is in Grace's class and Grace said it "was going to be bread when it cooked"

On a similar note, I was making bread yesterday and let Grace punch it down after it rose -- she thought it was the coolest thing ever! But, I can't blame her, that is my favorite part too :-)

We made an italian garlic bread that everybody loved! I didn't think the kids would like it since you could see the herbs, but they couldn't get enough!

Back again...

Apparently I inherited my mom's ability to pick things that attract lightning. Growing up, every time we had a storm with lightning, we'd have to unplug the cordless phones or else they would end up fried. Well, it is my modem that does the same thing! Fortunately, we rent the modem from the cable company, so we don't have to buy another one. Unfortunately, it takes them 5-7 days to come out with the replacement to install it! SO... we had a storm here last Tuesday night and have been without until about an hour ago. 147 email messages to sift through... and that doesn't count what got sent to spam! ugh.

The time away from the computer showed me how much time I really waste sitting here! Since the kids were on Fall Break all week, I probably spent more 'quality' time with them, so I am seeing the modem's death as a sign that I need to get out of my computer/craft room!! I did get some great pictures and videos to show though :-)

well...blogger wouldn't let me upload another, but I'll try again later -- after homework, soccer practice, dinner, baths, ... I did say *try* :-)

Sam, the moose

Can you believe it has been 2 months?!? Today was Sam's 2 month well baby check up. He did great, though he was a bit on the grumpy side since he had been up for a while. The PA thought he was just the cutest -- I know, I know... she says that to all the moms, but she was definitely telling me the truth :-)

He measures at 24.5 inches long and a whopping 12lbs, 3 oz!! I've been calling him a moose all day! She was impressed with his head holding ability as well as his desire to stand on his feet (really he just pushes on your lap as you hold him, but it looks like he is trying to stand).

He had immunizations (three shots and an oral vaccine) and took them like a champ! He cried while the shots were going in, but as soon as I picked him up he calmed right down. And he LOVED the taste of the oral vaccine, though he didn't quite "get" how to eat it (since he hasn't ever really latched onto anything but me).

I can't believe that it has been 2 months since I had him! Here's how he measures up to a gorilla:-)

Grace was just in here with me and I scrolled down the screen. She saw a picture of the mealworm next to the beetle and said "ewww..."

She didn't know that she was growing "that kind of beetle".

"What did you think it was going to be?"

"I don't know. A pretty beetle."

Louisville Zoo

We had a great time at the zoo yesterday. It was Sam's first in what will probably be many trips to many zoos! Just thought I'd share some pics...

*the zoo is all set up for Halloween with characters throughout
-- now on a side note of my pet peeves... as a parent, I try my best not to tell my kids lies. If they ask a question and I don't know, I tell them I don't know and then we try, together, to find the right answer. Google is definitely a frequented site at our house :-). Anyway, we were standing looking at the Japanese Red Crested Crane which has Snow White posed right there. As we were there, another mom and kid walked up and the mom went "Look. It is Cinderella." No... that would be Snow White. It isn't like the kid asked... the mom volunteered incorrect information. Why?!? Ugh...

*Josh really needed a nap so Sleepy seemed appropriate


*that is a cutie right there


*I look over at Bubba and he was lined up right with Pinocchio. It reminded me of that new show "Hole in the Wall" -- Have you seen it? Hilarious!!


*our typical family picture on the same rock as always! They sure look like stairsteps, huh?

Grace's Science Project

So, I don't like worms. Well, that isn't exactly accurate. I don't mind earthworms. But I DO NOT like little, maggot-y worms. Don't like them. So when Grace got off of the bus three weeks ago with a cup SO excited about her science project, I was equally excited to see her interested in science.

Until... she showed me her two maggot-y worms that she got in school. She told me all about the life cycle of her soon-to-be beetles. I told her that that cup was NOT going in my house. I don't like worms. I told her that we could keep the cup outside. Her eyes welled up with tears as she told me that it would get too cold for them or either a bird would get them. Hmmm... she was right. So, I reluctantly allowed this styrofoam cup of maggot worms (okay... technically they are mealworms) into my house - as long as nobody messes with the plastic cover and rubber band keeping the cup sealed.



Have I mentioned that I was NOT thrilled about these things in the house?!? They have suppressed my appetite more than I'd like (try eating chicken noodle soup with a mealworm trying to figure out how to get under a rubber band and out of its cup).



Well, the worms had been growing fine. I would occasionally put a piece of carrot in there (the food of choice, Grace informed me). This morning, I checked on these things... still sitting in their cup on a window ledge. Nothing. No movement. Nothing.

If you know me AT ALL, you will know that this really devastated me. I don't like worms, but I really didn't want them to die. ESPECIALLY since Grace was SO excited! I dreaded telling Grace. So, after dinner (yep, I put it off almost a whole day) I finally told her that her worms had died. We went into the kitchen and she wanted to see the cup. I went about doing something else and heard "No, mom. This one is moving its legs." WHAT?!? Sure enough. It is alive. What is even more, when I lifted the plastic for Grace to put another piece of carrot in the cup, the other one is still alive TOO!

So, as much as I DO NOT want worms in my house, I am certainly glad that THESE worms are okay. Looks like I'll have grand-beetles in about two weeks! And then they really will be out of the house! Grace has already told me that she can't wait to set them free.