Trunk or Treat

Usually, I must admit, Justin and I eat the "good" candy when our kids go trick-or-treating. Because of this, I am not sure they know what lurks beneath those yummy candy bar wrappers. Sadly, this backfired on us this year. Justin said they skipped the candy bars in most bowls... going for skittles, suckers, smarties and other gross stuff. They really don't know what they're missing.


See that little certificate on the bottom? That's right, I actually won a prize: for my cooking. Don't anyone choke on your Halloween Candy. The prize was "Most Original Chili." I'm thinking that could go both ways.

M ended up being a witch. I had some witch hats from ballet class and she wore a black dress inherited from Annie.

E was a Princess Kitty. (The dress was from Grandma Duck for her birthday. We drove all the way to Toys R Us - 30 minutes from us - so she could pick it. It was the first thing she saw. I said "let's look at everything first." That was a waste of time. Love at first sight always lasts!) She was very fond of her tail, and wondered why GQ didn't have one. I said we cut it off when he was a baby, but I think that disturbed her.

At the Trunk or Treat:

GQ and the Dogcatcher... I was proud of that costume too. GQ's holding my prize.

He's a cutie. I was too lazy to make a collar, but then I thought that made more sense as to why we had a dog-catcher.... right?

GQ Stole A Pumpkin

At Trunk or Treat GQ stole a neighbor's pumpkin... it looked like a ball, so he had a great time. We were glad since he had been screaming up until then.

I had meant to get video of him kicking the soccer ball at our last soccer on Wednesday, but it was SOOOOOO cold, and I am a wimp, so I didn't.

I don't think I could be a real soccer mom. You see, it is always warm at ballet.

So, it is lucky he kicked the pumpkin at Trunk or Treat.

Macy?

M has taken to calling herself "Macy."

I don't know of any Macys she actually knows, or where she came up with this name.

But Macy it is.

*****

On Monday "Macy" threw up in the car.

(This is the first time GQ had been in a forward facing carseat when this happened. You should have seen the faces he made as she threw up. Classic.)

She hasn't done this since we moved to Iowa, and we weren't going too far, but since "Macy" seems to do this semi-regularly, I cleaned her up and moved on.

She had mentioned in the store earlier that she wanted to throw up, and had even pretended to throw up in her hands several times, but you know, this is "Macy" we're talking about, so I ignored her and told her to stop being gross.

(Just so you know, "Macy" is the child that will teach your child all sorts of potty words when she goes to kindergarten. She loves bringing them up at the dinner table regularly.)

Speaking of dinner, that night "Macy" told me that: "She was going to throw up on my head." Giggle, Giggle. SHE DID LAUGH. Then, she threw up on her chair.

So, I said:

"Macy" we do not pretend to throw up.

And sent her off in disgrace.

Later that night, "Macy" again threw up in bed.


Oh, so I guess she was really sick????

I am such a good mom.

Although, in my defense, she did make it hard to figure out, you know.

We are all doing better now, and so far no one else is sick either.

*****

Tomorrow, Justin goes into get his eyes lasered.

We decided that since certain children of ours enjoy breaking certain titanium (and supposedly un-breakable) frames, it will actually be cheaper in the long run.

So, here's to sight.

So Much Better

Mom: M, stop pushing your brother! (It was just a guess.)

M: I'm not pushing him.

Mom: Okay, good.

M: I'm sitting on him.

Great.

Get Your Too Much Information Right Here...

So, on Thursdays I take a ballet class now.

It's been great fun, and it's surprising how much I can still do. And not look too much like an idiot. (Too much.)

But there is still one fact that cannot be erased:

I have had three children.
Oh, yes I have.

And this means when I jump:

up, down, up, down, up, down

I have to concentrate really hard.

On things I did not used to have to concentrate on at all.

I can just hear M now, hands on her hips:

"Mommy, we go on the potty. Not on the floor."

up, down, up, down, up

down

Hopefully the day never actually comes. Hopefully.

Because I am the Queen of Halloween

Both Justin and I hate gutting pumpkins. Just ask anyone. I think I complained about touching the inside of a pumpkin my entire childhood.

Since we were married, I can only think of one pumpkin our family has carved - the ill-fated Kitty I mentioned in an earlier post.

Usually we just convince E that it doesn't really need to happen. Convoluted logic is not always her friend, but she does make use of it herself, you know.

Anyway, this year my mother sent us some Mr. Potato Head - Pumpkin Decorator kits - I think she knew the kids would never hear about Halloween unless she staged an intervention.

Both girls loved planning their pumpkins. E's was very organized.

M's???? Not so much.

The proud artists.

Posing in front of the house.

GQ was stuck in his high-chair the whole time, poor fella. So, he mixed his crackers with his water and made some really tasty soup. Boy, I bet you wish you could have some.

Thanks Grandma!

Wilson's Orchard... Revisited

On Saturday we went to the Apple Orchard to pick up an apple peeler - courtesy of Grandma Paula and Grandpa Mark - and to pick our pumpkins.

Look closely, you can see most of the family here. I love it when you can actually see GQ smile through his binky.


Last year, I got this very cute Halloween picture at the Pumpkin Patch:

So, I mistakenly thought it would be great to to get another one this year:

While GQ is very cute in this one, I was telling E and M that if they didn't smile I wouldn't buy them a treat. Of course, I had no intention of not buying them a treat, after all - I wanted a treat. Still, I was definitely trying to buy some smiles here. Not very productive, I think. Something about having the sun in your eyes, I think.

Round 2 went even better.

So, I changed direction and got slightly better results.

But overall I think we did better with the whole group photo thing last year. Especially since this year GQ almost fell off the bale of hay.

Reversal

The thing with GQ's costume:

First - I didn't feel like trying hard.
Second - I wanted it to be cute and homemade like the girls had for their first costumes.
Third - I didn't feel like trying hard.

This morning, I had a grand realization:

I am going to dye the lamb costume brown.
And then, I am going to make a red collar.
And then, I am going to make a leash.

And he even says: "Woof. Woof."

I am finally excited.
And I don't have to try hard.

Victory!

M is still up for debate.

(Thank you for all your costume suggestions and offerings, you're great!)

*****

I have spent the last week fake-shopping online, trying to get E a Fall/Winter Wardrobe.

M wears the leftovers of E and Annie.
GQ gets Cody and Andy's cute outfits.

And E?

E wears some of the oddest things imaginable. Not only because the pickings are slim, but also because she makes her own outfits, and boy are they winners. Regardless of matching, she prefers to choose things based on: color (pink), sparkles (yes), dress/skirt (completely necessary).

I had a certain budget, and I could not manage to get 6 outfits to fit inside of it no matter how many sales and coupons I crammed in the computer.

Finally, I went to the Mall.

Horror of Horrors!

I got 5 dresses, 4 shirts, and 2 pair(s) - I can't ever remember that rule - of pants for $1 less than my budget.

And E even told the cashier that she "loved 1 of the dresses." As for the others, I guess they'll just have to do.