Trick-or-Treat

I just sent Dave and the kids out the door to go trick-or-treating! They were very excited. Livvy doesn't know what the heck is going on but she loves candy so once she catches on- watch out!

Off they go...


Here they are all suited up for the event:


Taylor marching in his school parade:


Sara is sitting with Taylor at his school program. They make witches brew (aka: rootbeer) and each class performs a song. It was cute! Sara started off the day as a witch but after she pitched her apples and caramel all over her dress when we got home, we opted to turn her into Sleeping Beauty.


Livvy went and hung out with Aunt Amy while Sara and I went to Taylor's school. She had a fabulous time helping them eat their pumpkin goo. She is just so cute. I can't even stand it!

ATTENTION

Those of you looking for a make up artist for your Heavy Metal Band, look no further. Sara is in the house! And you should hear her rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star." A.ma.zing.

Pumpkin Decorating

Saturday night we took the kids to a Pumpkin Patch to pick out their very own pumpkins. They had a great time riding in the big wagon and wandering through the patch. We brought our treasures home and helped the kids decorate them.

I know Olivia kind of looks like an orphan. I'm not quite sure what is up with her face. I think she was ticked that I made her hold still for one tiny second to take a picture.

Taylor is always the poser. I took some other pictures where he was posing on top of the pumpkin (more on top of the pumpkin than he already is). Don't ask...

Our little diva holding her very own diva pumpkin.

Out to the front porch we go. Livvy was standing at the storm door screaming her lungs out (not crying, just screaming) because we wouldn't let her outside. Rough life that baby leads.

Flashback...Saturday

Between winterizing my yard, projects around the house, and watching after my kiddos, the blog has fallen by the wayside. Sara is in the bath right now singing her little lungs out and I feel inspired to post this picture as my flashback. And yes, Dave is monitoring her. Geesh, I'm not that delinquent of a mother.

This picture is of David, Micah, Natalie, Ryan, and Mark. Mark is the one nearly showing his business. Tsk. Tsk.


I'm not sure if this kind of thing would fly these days. There is probably something illegal here. However, back in 1981- nothing was illegal. I mean really, my family, all 10 of us (that includes 2 parents), drove around in a white station wagon, purchased brand spanking new the year I was born- 1977. I remember Mark sitting in the baby seat (any one else remember the duct tape on that thing?) and the baby on my mom's lap- four of us in the back just rolling around. If we used the two optional seats in the very back that flipped up and faced backwards, we maybe had 8 seatbelts. Ha! Those were the days...

Daddy to the rescue

The other night we were over at Mike and Amy's house having ourselves a good ole time. The kids were running about and as usual, Sara had to go pee. She goes into the bathroom and leaves the door wide open. No big deal- until we see Livvy booking it as fast as she can for the bathroom. Lately Olivia has had a slight obsession with the bathroom. More than just the bathroom though, the toilet. I do a good job keeping the toilet lid and the bathroom door closed. Other members of our household (aka: Sara) do not. Back to the story- Livvy runs in there. Neither Dave nor I want to go assess the situation. We sit and stare at each other, having our usual non verbal stand-off:

Dave: You go.
Nat: I went last time.
Dave: No, I did.
Nat: You're right but you still go anyway.
Dave: ehhhhhhhhhhh.........

Nat: Remember how I am home with them all day and never get a break?

Dave: FINE.

This mental dialogue could go on all day because really, who wants to get up from the table, the games, the snacks, and a good time to fetch a strong willed baby intent on dipping her fingers in and supping from the toilet bowl? Not I. Not Dave. Not anyone else at the table. Anywho, Dave gets up. Not much time has passed. Mere seconds. He runs into the bathroom and already... a casualty. The binky is swimming in the toilet. Dang it! Dave reaches in and rescues the binky.

For any of you that have yourselves a binky baby, you will probably appreciate and/or understand the rest of the story. The rest of you just might barf.

Dave grabs the binky and informs the rest of us what has happened. Rather than toss it (heaven forbid), Dave rushes it over to the kitchen sink. He douses it in anti-bacterial soap and gives it a good scrubbing. While standing in the kitchen he notices a pan of boiling macaroni on the stove. He tosses the binky in for a good sterilization. So I guess today we need to send out kudos to Sydney, who unknowingly ate fecally contaminated mac n' cheese. The water was boiling... We also need to give a shout out to Livvy who was happy as a clam to have her binky back in her mouth just moments after it was nearly flushed down into a watery grave.

Clearly a case of parenting at its finest. Way to go Dave!

Witches Night Out

Last night Sara and I went to Witches Night Out at Gardner Village with some friends and family. It was fun to have a girl's night out! We started the night off eating dinner at Red Robin in our witch garb. We then headed over to Gardner Village where we had to park a mile away and walk there in our heels. I might have to rethink that for next year because my feet are still killing me. Either way, we had a great time.

For those of you who don't know about Witches Night Out, I will explain. Gardner Village is a shopping area that is basically set up like a little village. The shop exteriors are old houses, barns, etc. It's really cute. The shops are more or less little boutiques. For Witches Night Out, everyone dresses up in Witch costumes and comes to shop, play, and eat. They have music, a stage for witches to dance across, food, drawings, and good shopping deals- you can cackle for coupons or one store had a "pick your potion" thing where you chose a potion and each potion had a different coupon. Sara was such a trooper and got so many compliments on what a cute little witch she was. As always, I must post pictures. Sara is just too cute not to!





Sara and mommy all witched out!


Here we are with Dave's sister Amy and her daughter Jessi. So fun!

Flashback Friday

My siblings and I occasionally banter back and forth about our childhood. Who was my mom's favorite. Who was she the most sympathetic to. Who was she the meanest to. You name it, we contemplate it. Mostly we do this to tease my mom and she stands there wide-eyed, pretending to be Switzerland. I figure my kids will do the same. And just to help them out, I will let them know right off the bat- No worries kids, you were all equally loved, honored, and...neglected. I have pictures to prove it. Everyone has had their moment. And I'm sure there will be plenty more moments to come...

Me: Just a minute honey. Mommy has to finish doing the dishes.

Baby: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Taylor



Sara

Olivia

Remember the green hi-liter incident?

The problem with moments like these is that although I am quite upset (mostly because they disrupted us watching The Office), I feel I must capture the moment on film. The kids see this as acceptance of their behavior and begin to perform for the camera and think they are off the hook. It's like "Don't you ever do this again (angry face). Smile for the camera!" I think I am describing mugshots. Hmmm.

Never mind the fact that Taylor and Sara are scantily clad. It seems to be standard around here these days. Maybe we will have to start stapling their clothes to their bodies. I wonder how super glue would work? I'm sure they would have the clothes off before it could dry and then they would be stuck to the refrigerator or something. Isn't Duct tape supposed to be all purpose?

Notice- this isn't exactly a guilt-ridden face:


They never get along better than when they are doing something mischievous.


Is it Halloween already?

Crazy kids

And while I'm sitting here posting, they dumped their crayons all over the kitchen. That's only after they colored on the counter top and the hardwood floor. Naughty. I won't even get into the strawberry Jell-o powder they got into yesterday. I was trying to get some scrapbooking done. Remind me never to do that again.

Shock-tober!

We love Halloween around these parts! I realize it's a pagen holiday that doesn't appeal to everyone but we think it's fun! It's an official way to celebrate fall and all the things that come with it. The crisp cool air. No more flies buzzing about! Decorating! Candy, Candy, Candy! (words from Sara, of course) The mountains ablaze with the changing fall leaves. We lalalalove it!

I'm such a snoop and love to see what others are doing! I'm a sucker for decorations and I love to create traditions & memories for my family. That said, I thought it would be fun to share some of the decorations we have lurking about our house.

This is the oldest member of our decor. His name is Frank, short for Frankenstein of course. However, if you ask my kids, his name is "bankenstein". He is ceramic and I painted him as a young women's project way back in the day. That makes him a good 15 years old or so. I'm amazed he hasn't been smashed to bits with all of our moving across the country. Love him!


This is the spider web I mentioned a few posts back- staple gunned to the wall. If only all spiders and cobwebs were so cute.

I am plagued by a wretched awful disease. Plagued. I walk into a store, see something fabulous , and my first reaction is this- "oh, I can make that." And so, here is my pumpkin floral thing. I saw something similar to this over at Tai Pan Trading that was $170.00. Hello! So, in true form, I went about collecting floral stems at Michael's and Joann's and created this beauty. I know nothing about making flower arrangements. For all of you flower arranging connoisseurs out there who are cringing and writhing about, just remember, it sits on my table for me, and me only, to look at everyday. And I love it! I will be lucky if it doesn't fall apart at the first breeze that passes through an open window. Until then, doesn't it look fab?

I painted these little trick-or-treaters with some friends when we lived in Cleveland.

This is our lenox Halloween Tree. It is much cuter than this picture shows. My mom is a big Lenox fan and gave this to me for Christmas one year. Taylor and Sara help me put the decorations on it. It's so fun. We love it!

We keep these trees out all year round and decorate them for each holiday. I would have taken pictures of all the ornaments but I recognize there is a limit to what is considered entertainment and what might be considered torture.

Random Sampler:

This is our mantle. Gotta love the Halloween drawings Taylor has plastered up there with scotch tape (and this picture was taken after I removed 3 others drawings). There is probably more tape than paper.

He's turning into quite the little artist. Here's a close up of his artwork. Anything that takes on circular form is most likely a bomb. He will be more than happy to tell you all about it.

If you've stayed with me this long, I applaud you. I'll spare you pictures of the front porch. Enough is enough. Right?

Happy news!

My brother Mark is officially engaged! Her name is Annie. We love her and are excited to welcome her into our family.

This picture is only slightly scary. I stood over them and demanded a picture. hehe...

Taylor-isms

My kids are so funny. I know, I know, yours are too. It sounds so cliche, but kids really do say some of the darndest things! Here are a couple of Taylor's from today:

Today Taylor had a little cough.

He says to me, "Mom, I got snick like Sara. I have Sara's snickness. I mean, I'm .... sick... I got her... sickness.... Yeah."
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We were looking at three little baby pigs eating at their trough.

Taylor: "Dad, are we going to eat those pigs"?

Dave: "No"

Taylor: "Are those the lucky ones"?

Flashback Friday!

Why, you may ask, is this a flashback? Well, it's like this- back in the day when we lived in the land of Cleve, we had some fun next door neighbors, the Kellers (Hi Betsy!). One day they called us over to watch this on their computer. We have never laughed harder in our lives. We laughed and laughed and watched it over and over. So there ya go- watch and laugh. Over and Over. Laugh yer guts out because I know we did.

Rock on!

Last night we rocked out at a Collective Soul concert. It was a really good concert! I was only slightly perplexed by the 10 and under crowd. Can't find a babysitter? Bring em' along! Weird.

Things I love about concerts- feeling the bass pounding in my chest.

Things I hate- stinky people (beer breath and B.O... gag).

Here's a pic Dave took with his phone. Nothing too exciting but you get the point. It was fun!

Is it too soon for another vacation?

My kids. I love them. A lot. But do I like them? That's questionable. I just got done emtying pee out of the garbage can and wiping up the floor. He didn't even try to go in the toilet. He told Dave that the garbage can was his toilet. Right kid. This is only an hour after I got done sitting my rear on a wet toilet seat. Apparently aiming is optional in the world Taylor lives in. Pee. All. Over. The wall behind the toilet, the side of the garbage can, the floor. And of course I didn't notice until my butt was already wet. Too much information? Maybe.

Yesterday I finally got around to assisting Taylor in cleaning up the mess they made while Dave and I were glued to the T.V. during The Office last Thursday. At one point during the show we could hear them laughing like crazy. I turned to Dave and said, "That can't be good." However, during The Office, we can't be bothered. After both kids came running downstairs with a green hi-lighter, colored from head to toe (circles drawn around their eyes even), we decided pausing the show might be in our best interest. We put the little monsters to bed. After The Office ended, we headed upstairs to yet another of the many nightmares my children randomly throw at us. After being tucked in, they found a jar of vaseline and proceded to give Taylor's room a good lube. Everywhere. All over the books. Sheets. Toys. Walls. Each other. Grrrr...

Today at my mom's house they emptied a bottle of shampoo all over her bathroom. Olivia has been into the toilet twice in the last 24 hours. Sara tantrumed and banged her head on the floor for a good hour today and has a lovely goose egg on the back of her head to prove it.

In moments like these I do what any good and rational mother would do. I take the kids to get their flu shots.

I know a trip to the Caribbean isn't happening any time soon but lucky for me, I have a date with Dave tonight. The rugrats are off to terrorize my mom. Love those grandparents!

Flashback Friday!

Flashback Friday! How fun is this? I got this idea from my friend Sue and her lovely blog. Since this is our first flashback, I thought I would post each member of the Jackson 5 at about the same age. You know, the old compare and contrast thing.

I actually have no idea how old Dave is here. The side of the pic says Jan 1975 so I'm going to go with that and say that he's about 13 months.

I don't have a picture of me at 13 months so this will have to do. Here I am with my dad at 2 1/2. When Sara saw this picture, she guessed that my dad was Alan (my brother). Hehehe!

Taylor into the pan cupboard. So cute- I could eat him up!

This is not the best picture of Sara. I was trying to scan in her 1-year birthday picture but it seems my computer has other ideas today. This will work though. Here she is at Disneyland (California Adventure, if you are a Disneyland snob) waiting for the Block Party Parade. So cute!

This isn't that much of a flashback for Livvy since this picture was taken 3 months ago but hey, she'll have her moment later.

Out with the wrinkles!

Why, you may ask, am I awake at 1:00 in the morning? I finally made the leap- right into my 'un-ironed goods' laundry basket. That's right folks, there is not one item of clothing in this house that needs to be ironed. After living here nearly 2 years, that's the first time I can say that. Seriously, I forgot about some of the clothes I own. Some cute stuff. It was kind of like shopping but I didn't have to spend money. I probably increased my wardrobe by 25%.

I threw one of Dave's shirts away and put about 3-4 in the D.I. bag. He doesn't know about those shirts yet. Shhh... Well, I guess he will when he reads this. By that time I will have that bag off to the D.I.- he won't even know what hit him. Actually, I think it's pretty much the same concept as having unpacked boxes in the basement. If you threw them out, would you miss them? He hasn't seen these shirts in so long he has probably forgotten about them. I am such a fabulous housekeeper!

Either way, he has a decent job. He can buy a new shirt every year or two. Granted, he still has this wretched awful flannel plaid green shirt that he bought way before we were married. I guess I should consider myself lucky since he only wears it in the garage for those manly saw-wielding projects. He isn't willing to part with it yet. I'm thinking of starting a petition. My next goal is to never again buy any item of clothing that needs to be ironed. I guess that's not an option- darn you church clothes! It's time to start up with a laundry service, and for real this time. I'm not just saying it! I can't turn back now that we are wrinkle free. It's going to be one of those ones that brings a bag to my door, wisks away the dirty wrinkly clothes, and brings them back to my door. That is my kind of ironing!

100 random thoughts...

1. I have all kinds of random thoughts going through my head until I entitle a post "100 random thoughts".
2. I changed my user name to natj and gave dave his own user name- davej.
3. I cleaned my bathroom yesterday with lots of bleach.
4. I didn't put gloves on- the bleach was pretty potent- my hands are dry and hurt now.
5. I love the smell of bleach.
6. Speaking of bleach, I had my hair colored and cut on Tuesday.
7. Sara had her hair cut too.
8. She liked getting her hair cut, sitting on a booster with a cute animal cape covering her.
9. She didn't like waiting 2 hours for me to "have my hair painted".
10. Sara's favorite food is candy.
11. Occasionally she goes for ham.
12. My grandma died last month.
13. We went to her house tonight.
14. It was sad.
15. I'm glad I belong to a family.
16. My neighbors down the street are excited about Halloween.
17. They have a blow-up skeleton riding a motorcycle on their lawn.
18. During the day it is deflated.
19. At night it inflates and lights up.
20. Every time we drive by during the day, Sara lets out a loud gasp because it's broken.
21. It doesn't matter how many times I try to explain.
22. Happens every time.
23. I made dinner tonight
24. Dave made dinner on Sunday
25. We visited Dave's dad at the Alzheimer's Care Center on Sunday.
26. He was asleep.
27. It made me sad to see him there.
28. It's funny how something that can't be avoided still makes me feel guilty.
29. I ordered a buffet for my front entry way in August.
30. It still hasn't come.
31. Looks like I need to make a phone call.
32. My least favorite hour of the week is Sacrament Meeting (not the church part, the child maintenance part).
33. I guess I should say hour and ten minutes.
34. Generally speaking I feel like I have my kids under control (the word control is all relative, of course).
35. Not at church.
36. It's embarassing.
37. I went to Wal-mart today.
38. The only Wal-mart I like to go to is on 5600 West and 60something South.
39. I shouldn't give away my secrets.
40. It's just not as crowded as the rest.
41. I only went in there for shampoo and envelopes.
42. So how did I spend $70.00?
43. Dave's brother's family lost hamsters in their house once. In the walls. Forever. Gross.
44. I've read Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer.
45. Loved them all.
46. My dad has read them.
47. My brother Russell has read them.
48. Now Dave must read them.
49. Oh he will.
50. And he will like it.
51. The last time I laughed so hard I cried was on the airplane flight to Seattle last week.
52. I have never laughed so hard as to pee my pants.
53. Now sneezing is another story.
54. Too darn many babies!
55. I like to decorate for Halloween.
56. No, I don't have a blow-up skeleton (or anything that can be blown-up) on my lawn.
57. I have this crocheted spider web that I bought at Rod Works last year.
58. It's hard to keep up- tape doesn't work.
59. I've resorted to staple gunning this to my wall.
60. Desparate times call for desparate measures.
61. It looks really cool though.
62. I have big packages of meat (ground beef, boneless pork chops, and London Broil) from Sam's Club in my fridge.
63. I need to separate and package it.
64. I hate doing that.
65. I do love my Food Saver though.
66. I have to use it.
67. Dave gave it to me.
68. If I don't use it, I hear about it.
69. Don't even get me started on the jewelry thing.
70. Okay, I've got myself started.
71. Dave, always thinking ahead, made his future wife some jewelry in his highschool jewelry class.
72. Seriously people.
73. Dolphins.
74. Dolpins with fake gems.
75. Hanging from a leather cord.
76. Let's cut him a break though- this was the early 90s.
77. Maybe I can see where Dave might think I use this blog as a means of mocking him.
78. I think I'm digging my own grave with this jewelry thing.
79. I digress.
80. I don't exactly have the right outfit for this necklace, if you know what I mean...
81. I hear about it from time to time.
82. Dave doesn't buy me jewelry at all anymore.
83. He could buy me flowers though.
84. I like putting puzzles together.
85. With Conference weekend around the corner, I will be a puzzle-piecing fool.
86. We like to put together puzzles with Dave's sister Amy.
87. Dave hates that the slide show I put on our blog plays that song over and over.
88. It would be another story if it was Echo and the Bunneymen being played over and over and over and over.
89. I'm all caught up on laundry.
90. I need to fold towels though.
91. We still have boxes in the basement that we need to unpack.
92. It's almost been two years since we moved in to this house.
93. We should just send them all to D.I.
94. I worked at the D.I. once.
95. The one in Murray.
96. It was pretty fun.
97. I need a pedicure.
98. I think I am looking at the tail-end of nail polish my mom put on my toes for Mother's Day.
99. I probably shouldn't admit to these things.
100. I'm all about too much information!

Whew! That was awesome. Next time I will try to make each comment totally unrelated to the others. A challenge for another time! I'm not into "tagging" people to do the same thing as I have done BUT I highly recommend making your own list! It's fun to see where your thoughts go! I could go on for hours!