Happy halloween!

Finally.

Not only am I glad that it is Halloween just for the fun day itself, but also this marks the end of the crazy/busy month of October at our house. Fall festivals, pumpkin walks, three birthdays, another month of single parenthood and normal life. October has been a blur.

I feel so unorganized lately. I have a calendar to help me remember who has what on what days and all that, but the bad thing about the calendar is that it doesn't do some of the work for me.

Three halloween class parties today, and stuff that needed to be brought in for those, making regular lunches in hopes that some good food will be eaten by these children today, one more pumpkin to carve, plus a shortened day as far as sunlight goes. I'm sure as soon as the kids get home we'll be getting started on dinner and costumes. I am going nuts with the rushed feeling I've had lately. I'm pretty high anxiety in the first place.

I am officially worn out. Done. Cooked. Frazzled. - and 3 more days left in the countdown!

Happy halloween!

Are you smarter than a 2nd grader?

I'm sure I am like every other mom who thinks their child is a genius. Not too long ago we were in the car listening to the radio and Trevor told me that the part of the song that was on was called the 'bridge.' He told me when the reprise was, and all that. Words that are vaguely familiar to me, but if you asked me I might not remember the answer.

Tonight at dinner I asked T if he finished his homework, and if he had his spelling pre-test tomorrow. He said he had it today and that he didn't have to do the spelling part of his homework because he does "super spelling" or something like that. I didn't believe him, because he does try to get away with sneaky things like not brushing his teeth, or to get out of homework.

He says, "I am! My words are different than the ones on that list. One that I had to do today was courteous. Do you want me to spell it so you'll belive me? C O U R T E O U S. Gah, you neeeever believe me!"

OK, so he was right. Plus I caught him helping his sister on her 4th grade math today. Not that his sister is behind in math, but Trevor LOVES math. (OK and I have asked him random math questions thinking he won't know the answer and he does. It's almost freaky.)

It got me to thinking about the same thought that I had back during the conversation about music. I am so glad that the time he was a week old and I dropped him, that I didn't cause permanant damage to his little brain. Apparently that car seat really did protect him. (I was walking down stairs at a restaurant and tripped. Resulting in falling about 6 steps towards the bottom of the stairs, carseat with baby strapped in, mid air and falling fast. I felt so bad. I cried for a long time, but Trevor just sat in the seat like a happy little guy.

Then not too long after that (since he was still in the car seat and tiny) we went out for dinner one night. Trevor was a lousy sleeper, so I was in a zombie state for about a year. We went to Macayo's. I set him on the table and we ate. It took me awhile to realized that I had set the poor kid on top of one of those candles that they use to keep the cheese crisps warm. His seat was pretty toasty. Here I am, really trying to ruin this kid. I'm positive I had divine help that first year.

All in all, I'm just glad to know that I didn't ruin him. What a relief. ;)

Hallow-WHAT?!?!

I'm a little ticked.

Today I went to Target. I went towards the back in the hope that I might find some little halloween thing I couldn't live without. (A habit I keep up until after Halloween and there is no more sign of any black or orange.) On my way back I noticed that the little endcaps throughout the store that would have the Halloween type linens like place mats and table runners were gone.

Then I see that the cups and things in the kitchen areas were gone.

Replaced with - get this - CHRISTMAS stuff!

Where did the Halloween linen stuff and kitchen stuff go to??????

They just threw it all willy nilly in the Halloween section in the back! (Which already shares with the stupid pre lit moving reindeer, seal and moose.) The poor stacks of stuff didn't even have a dignified shelf tag.

They are moving out my Halloween stuff and getting it ready for clearance BEFORE it is even Halloween!! Can't I have my moment here people? I mean I've been waiting for this all year long and now it's bad enough I have to share it with Christmas, but to take it away from the other areas of the store???? To cast aside the cute little 99 cent Halloween scrubby sponges like they don't have any worth?!?!?

This rates right up there with the whole CK/KC HOF scandal. I would almost say boycott Target, but they know they have me wrapped right around Bullseye the dog's little paw finger.

.... and speaking of Target ....

"Matthew, where would you like to go for your birthday dinner?"

"Target. They have good popcorn."

I love that kid.

the tooth fairy uses new technology

Not long ago Megan lost a front tooth. I was a horrible mom and remember that was a night Mike was out of town and I was exhausted before I went to bed, so I forgot to put some money under her pillow. Thank goodness that night she had also come into my room because she had a nightmare and slept with me.

So when she woke up to look under her pillow in her room and noticed the tooth was still there, I thought quick and said that I would check my email. Sure enough, the tooth fairy emailed me to say since Megan wasn't in her own bed, she would try again the next night. Whew.

Sure enough the next night she had a visit from the tooth fairy.

Last night Megan looses another tooth. Same deal, she puts the tooth under her bed but this time I don't have ANY cash and it is way too late to go get some. I ended up downstairs and rummaged through my scrap stuff. I found a Target giftcard that was left over from when my friends decorated my front yard with a ton of them on my birthday years ago. I was saving them to make a page someday.

Instead, I wrapped it up with a 'letter from the tooth fairy' that she had $5 credit on this card. (There's nothing left on it, but I always pay the cashier so she would never notice that it was blank anyway.) I had no idea she even had a loose tooth (she told me she didn't know either, so I can't feel that bad.) But I do have to applaude myself for some quick thinking creativity! haha!

Now I have learned my lesson. Trevor has a tooth that has been loose for a couple of weeks. You can bet that I am prepared for that one to come out. I have money ready.

A revolution has started! haha! Free Simon and all that!

Long story behind how I came to have this on my scraproom wall. Add to that, a smaller button that is now pinned on my visor in my car, so everytime I drive anywhere I am reminded that "It is OK."

- and Laura. Now I think of Laura wherever I go.

Last year when Laura (don't know how to link, but she's the chick with the blog linked on here somewhere.) came out for the 2Peas crop, we ended up at Target before she had to go to the airport. She loved this little swag thingie made of felt pumpkins. So when I went back to Target after Halloween I found it and had it sitting on my desk all year. I finally got it to her in time so she could use it this year!

These are what she sent me in return! I really have to laugh when I see them. I have friends with the most odd sense of humor. Which is exactly why we all get along.

Speaking of friends, I was tagged by Michelle (another chick with the link somewhere over there) --> -->

It kind of goes with my obsession of liking to fill out questionaires. Or maybe I just like to talk about myself. Who knows, but I am thrilled to be tagged. Here it goes:

1. What is your spouses name? Mike. Or MIA as he's been known for a little while. ;)

2. How long have you been together? We met in 87. Plus married 17 years. = 20 years. Whoa.

3. How long did you date? 3 years

4. Who eats more? Me.

5. Who said I love you first? him

6. Who is taller? I think we're both the same

7.Who sings better? oooo, definitely him.

8. Who is smarter? definitely him. I suffer from mommy brain.

9. Whose temper is worse? Yeah, that would be mine.

10. Who does the laundry? me mostly, but he helps.

11. Who does the dishes? Me. He cooks. It's a fair trade.

12. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? the dog.

13. Who pays the bills? He brings home the bacon, da da da, fries it up in a paaaan... da da da

14. Who mows the lawn? like Michelle said, a team of dudes.

15. Who cooks dinner? him. He's a food artist.

16. Who drives when you are together? It kind of depends. Usually him so I can beat the kids over the head if needed. ;)

17. Who is more stubborn? Geeze, this list makes me look terrible. Definitely me.

18. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? I am never wrong.

19. Who kissed who first? Hee hee. Him. In a green Samarai listening to Alphaville.

20. Who asked who out? he asked me.

21. Who proposed? Him.

22. Who is more sensitive? yep, me again.

23. Who has more friends? split.

24. Who wears the pants in the family? both. I prefer jeans.

Now I'm going to tag Lisa. I'd tag more, but really that seems unfair to not leave more for her to tag now does it? Then again, it may take a month for her to update her blog.

guilty.

This photo cracks me up. If that isn't a look of guilt....

How do you install a doggie door on your arcadia door?

This is how we do it at our house.

First, open glass door and shut screen door to allow beautiful fall air into the house. You should already have your dogs in the backyard at this point.

Second, have somebody ring doorbell on the front of the house.

Third, have 50 pound lab puppy not realize the screen door is shut while thinking she is doing her duty of protecting the family from whoever is at the front door. Run full bore through screen until there is a hole big enough for puppy to go in and out of for the rest of the season.

for daddy

From the picture below, to this.

The last of the single digits. Nine years old.

Happy birthday Megan!

Happy birthday to my little girl!! It has been the most amazing NINE years ever!!!

We love you!

I'm the multi-tasking queen. What do you do when you are waiting for the pork chops to broil? Make a page. ;)

I think I'll just keep on making 8x12 enlargements. It almost feels like cheating.

My scanner is protesting from all of the times I have accused it of being dirty or cutting off half of a page. Or it may have been bumped by the kids one too many times. I have to resort to a photo. Which Lisa is wanting to see.

She is my inspiration for this page. Being that she gave me that cool scrollish rub on, and I pulled out the sewing machine to do wavy stitching on the top and bottom like she does.

You might be able to see it if you click on the picture. It was very stressful to NOT stitch in a straight line. I am the one who makes sure all of my brad thingies line up the same way on the back of my pages. It stresses me out to know if they are all wonky back there.

Check out the screws on all of my outlet and switch covers at my house... they are all lined up horizontally. Yep, who's OCD?

So this was a big test for me. Whew, I did it. And - I LIKE IT. *singing* think George Michael's Freedom....

Oh, and if you are interested in the journaling, here it is:

What is the best thing about losing a front tooth? Of course, it's having a place to put your straw! I love watching Trevor when he is drinking a soda. It must be a little quirk that I didn't realize I liked so much until I started to notice that I have a lot of pictures of him like this throughout the years. - We were taking a break from swimming and I was taking pictures while watching him enjoy a coke.

******

It is fall break, and we have been super busy. Which is much better than being bored! Ha!

My little girly is going to Kentucky tomorrow morning for a few days. She is so excited. She's all packed up, and we made a trip to Target to find some things to put in her carry on. Books, coloring books, a charged MP3 player, Nintendo DS..... she should be set.

Now I have to remember to breathe until she comes home.

little tiny airplanes

It is a valuable lesson to be learned. Be careful what you say because you never know when it could become birthday fodder when you have the weirdest of friends!

A million little airplanes! (At least it looked that way!) That is what I got in my front yard for my birthday this year. From what I understand, all hand cut by Beth (the original martha stewart) And since they came the night before, I had NO CLUE about it.

It was hysterical! And I really appreciate the effort considering my front yard is still gravel. Those sticks are hard to get into the ground!! See, had I known, I would have watered the yard for them. But no... they had to be sneaky.

I left them up until the morning so the kids could see them. I noticed neighbors driving slowly trying to figure out what they were. One stopped and said, "It looks like Mike got the job!" I just nodded. How do you explain this funky birthday tradition you know? Haha!

Some of my favorites that I can put on my blog (some I did have to pull out the night before. I still have to live here you know!)

Are you still lactating?

28 days until Halloween

Hello my name is Kerry and I'm a cleanaholic

U2 sucks. <-- That is SO untrue!

genre: non fiction - we love you!

I need adult time!

It's 8:08

Oops I mean 9:11

You KNOW how I feel about tank tops!

Come fly with me

Mmm smell the undo

Kim Possibly the biggest fan ever!

Have you seen my Shego costume?

Can I borrow one more sweater?

Target lover

Clinton/Obama 2008 (WTH!?!?) ;)

Love me, love my dogs

Birthdays are no calorie days

My ipod kicks your ipod's ass

There were more. A lot more. Haha! Thank you to everybody involved whether you were here or in spirit. :) Mwah!

alas, no update.

No penny yet. (I'm sure everybody has been DYING to know!) But I do have to say that I like the doctor's answer today better than the info online about what to do. If he hasn't had a bad tummy ache over the weekend then I shouldn't worry about it. It will take care of itself. If he gets a tummy ache, that is what to watch out for.

Whew. Because THAT was not fun.

I love October. Probably because

a) U2 has an album called October
b) it's cooler
c) lots of birthdays in our family
d) halloween (duh!)

and finally.... the halfway point. I have been assured that this will go by fast now. Please please please.

One exciting thing happened today. Old Navy has the cutest Halloween tshirts. Now everybody in the family has a Halloween tshirt, including the dog who has a orange and black collar that says "tricks for treats" on it. Who knew? I also saw Christmas collars. Do I really need to change collars depending on the season? Sure, those brown eyes deserve the best in doggie accessories.

I'm reeeeally reaching for blogging material right about now.

The proof is in the poo. Motherhood rocks.

How did I make it through two other children without swallowing a single foreign object or stuffing something up their nose?

Leave it to matthew.

He swallowed a penny tonight. So after a few calls, at least I'm not in panic mode anymore.

Everybody pretty much told me the same thing. Keep an eye on him to make sure that he doesn't choke. (It should be past his esophagus now.) and - get this - collect poo for the weekend.

No. Way.

Yep, all of those extra produce bags from the store and I are going to become friends this weekend, since I have to 'collect bowel movements' and try to feel for a penny. Gag. I hope I get that Volkswagen bug that I've been wanting for Mother's Day next year. ;)

He was crying so hard until I told him that he had to poop the penny out, then he just started laughing. You have to love boys. Trevor even asked me if he did get it out if I was going to put it in the scrapbook. I don't think so. Some things don't need to be put in there buddy.

Even though this sounds totally awful, I am at least hoping to find 'the object' because the next step is going to the doctor for an xray.



Motherhood. What can you say?

My house is suffering, but the kids are clean and fed.

I told Lisa the other day that I've been doing it wrong all along. I usually would do stuff that needed to be done during the day, like cleaning and laundry and then 'reward' myself with scrap time at night after the kids go to bed. This of course is after picking them up from school and helping with homework and spending some play time with them too.

The thing is, I usually end up cleaning until the middle of the night because I never know when to stop. Several weeks of this have made for a sparkly clean house, but one very exhausted me. One thing leads to another. So this week I've done it backwards. I'm scrapping first to save my sanity.

It isn't like the house can't wait, right? No matter how hard you work it is undone so fast you think a tornado went through anyway.

I have two more I'm going to work on too. Along with some Halloween cards. Then I'm sure I'll get tired of scrapping for a couple of days. Then pick up on cleaning again. I really do fun and exciting stuff occasionally! I really do! It just doesn't sound like it lately.

Here is my T. The journaling says:

I usually write about how fast time goes by, and how shocking and sad it seems to me - especially after looking at these photos. You have changed so much and gotten so big! But I also have to say after going through boxes of photos to find some of these that my biggest feeling is gratitide. I am so grateful for the 7 years that you have been here. I love having a boy, more than I ever could have known. I love your energy, your funky little observations, and the things that you do and say that make me laugh every single day. I do miss the little boy from years ago, but watching you grow has been one of the greatest things ever. My T man is SEVEN!

I just noticed that you can't see #1 on the scan on the top left photo, but it is there on the layout. I did forget #3 on it's photo though. Off to find more rub ons! Ack!

she scraps!

<-- this is one of my favorite pictures of Matthew! He was so excited that day. I stole the journaling from the blog entry I did that day, so you've probably read it before. I'll spare you reading it again. Sappy mom journaling about sending my baby off to kindergarten and hoping that he always needs me.

He did help me a little on this one. That is his writing on there. Nothing is cooler than seeing your child spell their name for the first time!












<-- This one is super sparkly in real life. The paper in the background has glitter on it. I'm still thinking about adding some of those white doodlebug paper ribbon strips on there if I get a wild hair and make it to the store tomorrow.

The black rub ons were actually in a package sitting on my desk. I thought about just putting the woman sign on there, but then noticed the cute baby one too. It was PERFECT! I love when accidents like that happen, and best of all I used something that has been sitting around.

And see? All of my journaling isn't sappy. This just reminds me that seeing these pictures and how big she looks is FREAKING ME OUT.


I'm not leaving out Trevor or playing favorites. I'm working on a page about him right now. This feels like old times being able to accomplish 3 layouts within one month! Haha!

Rock on mom!

I know, I probably sound like a broken record, but I have to be honest in saying since Mike has been gone how easily frustrated I can get in some situations. I've been good, honestly, but sometimes you just have to scream into a pillow.

Megan had a friend spend the night last night. Against my better judgement I said it was ok. So last night after a brief meltdown in my scraproom (huddled in the corner in a fetal postition!) haha! Of course out of sight so the kids didn't know. I find this note that Trevor had written and left on my desk from before school yesterday morning:


genre: non fiction <--- he's still doing that. It makes me laugh.

MOM ROCKS

AND MOM ROLLS.

MOMS ARE COOL.


then there is a little stick figure wearing a dress. I guess that is me. I mean, I don't wear dresses that often. But this note makes it all worth it. Meltdowns and all.

It's a sign of the times

Remember back in the 80's when people had cassettes? You don't see it as often anymore since CD's and MP3 players in people's cars, but while I was at a light today I saw it. Flapping in the breeze like a big chunk of brown tinsel was unrolled cassette tape. It just made me realize that with the invent of CD's, the planet is actually cleaner! ;)

Also, with some weird things that have come out of my children's mouths lately remind me of how many things have changed. It's all for the good, because really don't we want things to be easier for the next generations? Unfortunately it just reminds me of what a dinosaur I probably seem to my kids.

After some backseat driving from Megan one day, I asked her out of frustration, "Would YOU like to drive????"

"No mom. I can't drive because I don't even know how to turn on the map. How will I be able to drive anywhere without our british girl telling me when it is time to turn?" Gosh. (She's talking about the navigation system in my car. Which will probably be standard when she gets her first car. No getting lost to find your way home, which is nice to know.) Especially if you are the type to leave a crop in the middle of the night from Mesa and you turn left on Gilbert road thinking you are heading south and don't realize you are going the wrong way until you are on the indian reservation thinking, "Where the hell am I???"

Trevor: "I can't watch TV because the remote needs new batteries." So while I'm putting new batteries in, I tell him about how I used to have to *gasp* turn on the tv, wait for it to warm up, adjust the rabbit ears or slide that clicky thing on the box on top of the tv if you were lucky enough to have cable. Then, if you wanted to turn the channel you had to get up to change it. The horror. I kid you not, I had him stumped. He stared at me with his mouth wide open.

Last after finding some of my old U2 albums, Trevor asked me what in the heck those big black round things were. Albums. Then he asked, "WOW! What size was your CD player?!?!?"

So I guess the torch is passed. I am officially sounding like the parent who had to walk to school uphill both ways. In the snow. (Even though I've always lived in Phoenix.)

I pity the fool who doesn't think that this isn't the cutest Halloween tree ever!!!

It was one of those moments where I forgot that I wasn't shopping with a friend but still squealed when I saw this at Target today!

Also, I'm happy to say that I have two halloween costumes down. Matthew is going to be Captain Jack, and on a whim I bought the girl pirate costume hoping Megan would like it. She hadn't decided what she wanted to be yet. For awhile it was between Hanna Montana and a wildcat cheerleader. Now after she tried on the one I bought today it is settled. I have two pirates. I'm hoping I can talk Trevor into being one too!

*******************

I'm also back from a whirlwind trip to Kentucky to visit Mike for a couple of days. My dad and I went together. We had a great time, but it went by so quickly. I was also in a zombie like state and had a constant caffiene drip going because we left on Sunday at 7:00 a.m. So I was up at 3:30 that morning to get ready to go, drive to my parent's house and then get to the airport 2 hours early. Then of course getting used to the 3 hour time difference was hard too. Monday we had orientation at Comair all day. It was interesting, but I had such a hard time staying awake. Then Tuesday it was off to the airport again, early. I'm still trying to recuperate.

It was fun to see where Mike has been for the past month. Plus enjoy some incredible weather. It was in the 70s during the day, and I don't know what the temperature was at night because anything lower than 70 is cold to me. Let's just say it was sock weather - and I hardly ever wear socks!!!

random observations

Maybe it's because I've been a little lonely and not having had much adult interaction for a month. (so far.) But there are things that you can't help noticing. Then if you don't put them down somewhere they seem to stick in your brain. Heaven knows I need that valuable space that these thoughts are taking for even more important information! ;)

So I'm at McDonald's this morning getting my soda. (I actually went twice since my kids go to different schools and both start at different times. Shhh. It's non calorie day.) I really needed caffiene today. Seriously.

I've known this for awhile, but my particular McDonalds' has two twin men working the drive through. One takes the money, and the other one gives me my soda. I finally had to ask one day if he had to run back and forth, and he said, "No that's my brother." - You know it is really cruel and messed up to do that to people so early in the morning. WTH? At least I know the secret now. But I do feel sorry for those who aren't in the know.

Second, I am due to get my hair colored again. Besides the obvious gray streak down the middle of my head, the other way I can tell it is nearing time is my hair isn't as 'fluffy' or listens as well to what I want it to do. My hair girl was telling me that the color that is on your hair actually attaches itself to your individual hairs, so it is adding body. Ok, that makes sense.

But why is it that we want fat, fuller hair, fuller lips and fuller boobage? Why isn't it just as acceptable if not desirable to have 'fuller' waistlines and rear ends? Nature is cruel. Besides the obvious joy that our children bring us, I believe we should be rewarded with smokin' hot bodies the more children we have.

Lastly, at Costco I noticed a couple of them and I just have to say that besides adorable babies and puppies, there is nothing cuter than little old men who wear white undershirts AS the tshirt. Do they just 'give up' and not care about the fashion rules anymore? I actually like that they are at a place in their lives where they really don't give a crap about what people think and are out just doing their thing.

The tshirt is always neatly tucked into usually khaki shorts with a belt. So it is obvious that they took some time and care before they went out. Their hair is always done, and usually they have the cute socks pulled up to the knee with sandals. I just think they are adorable. Yay for them!

So that is it. Hopefully I can delete this information in the little garbage can in my mind and move on to other things. Like the fact that Survivor starts next Thursday.

I just adore Target. :)

THE.

HALLOWEEN.

STUFF.

IS.

OUT!!!!

I repeat -

The Halloween stuff is out!!!!!!!!!!

(and it is still 110 degrees today. What in the hell is wrong with that!?!?!?)

Yep. I came through the front door and noticed that they were stocking the $1 spot with the new Halloween stuff and high tailed it to the back corner of the store. I'm not kidding, did you know those carts can make skid marks? I elbowed my way and knocked over a few women and children on my way back there! Don't they know how important this is???

There working like a bunch of holiday elves were about 3 dozen Target team members putting the new stuff out! Cute new plates, acrylic cups, decorations, and that glorious smell of aisles upon aisles of candy.... Yay!!

Not only was the Halloween stuff out, but the back to school stuff is on super clearance. I went a little crazy there. I can't resist office supplies.

So now a day that started out average, has turned into an incredible day! It's like Christmas! Or should I say - It's like HALLOWEEN!