Halloween Fun

The kids... Monkey & Pirate

Ryan and the only other boy - playing with crepe paper

Inside Debbie's office. Me & Deb

Marissa, Sydney & Julianna
Checking out the "spooky stuff"

The kids & I went to the Myer Family Halloween Party Saturday. As you can see, we were dressed like Medusa, Monkey & Pink Punk Pirate. The kids enjoyed the night - had lots of kids to play with and he got loads of attention. They did a remarkable job on the decorations and had some really tasty treats. We made it home around 11:30 that night...

Shenanigans - Part II

Last night we discovered that Ryan likes to climb. He's been pushing things around the house - chairs, walker, playdoh center, boxes, etc. Anything that can move, he tries to push it around. We've had Sydney's playdoh center in the kitchen for years now and have never had it be an issue. It's usually under the window or under her desk, but since he's the new kid on the block, things are changing. He loves that thing. It goes all over the place with him. He uses it as a seat, stool, cart and now, a step. He's been pushing it to the coffee table for a few weeks now. The most he would do would stand on it so that he could better reach whatever was on the table. HA... not anymore. He pushed it to the table, opened the top drawer, then proceeded to step on top, then into the drawer, then up on top of the table. He just sat there... like a bird on a perch. Checking everything out - smiling and laughing! What's next??? He already gets himself off the sofa, cocks his leg up on the side of the tub, and now this!

We have Taylor Swift fans!

Falling Asleep

I thought this was funny...

HB Radish!

Happy Birthday to our favorite Radish!!! We love you Amy & hope you have a great day today.

Apple Annie's

Finally walking around & kettle corn


her pumpkin - see how little it is, but she loves it!


Today we went to the pumpkin patch. Got there around 10:30 and headed straight to the produce area. I needed more things for my fall display in the front yard and they usually have some nice gourds and things like that. Much to my excitement, they had gorgeous corns too. Stupid me, I forgot to take pictures of them today, but will and will get them posted tomorrow. They look fake they are so colorful and shiny. On top of my six ears of corn, we got a half dozen gourds, 4 sunflowers and a few mini pumpkins. Rick also got himself of apple butter. He told me about all the times he could remember Amy eating cottage cheese and this stuff. Personally, it look disgusting, but he said it is delicious, so I will give it a shot at some point. The kids had a great time. Ryan loved being in all the dirt and dead leaves. We had a short-of freeze last week, so all the stems and leaves on the pumpkins were all dead and ugly. They did, however, make for a great crunchy sound as we walked around. Sydney made sure we had good picks. She searched, and searched, and searched even more for the right one for herself. She ended up with a grapefruit sized, solid green keeper. It was cute... After doing all the pumpkin stuff, Rick and Sydney got their bags of caramel kettle corn and I got a few more pictures. As we headed back to the car, we stopped and cut down our sunflowers. It was a great adventure and I look forward to next year!!!

The Moon

After hours of running around town yesterday, on our way home, Rick pointed out how ginormous the moon was. It was dusk and it was already big and bright. It sat very low in the sky - Sydney thought it we kept driving toward it she would be able to touch it. She's always loved looking at the moon and it's possible she may still think it's made of cheese, thanks to her father. Anyway... as we were getting closer to the neighborhood she asked that I go and take some pictures of the moon for her. Of course I said yes. I've been wanting to try shooting the moon for some time now. I told her I would after she & Ryan went to bed. She said "That is a big moon - you gotta take a picture of it!". As we turned into the neighborhood she asked this question - "Is ass a bad word?" We were a little confused, but answered "It depends, but in most cases, yes and you shouldn't be saying it. Why do you ask?". She then laid this one on us - "Well, I was gonna say "That's a big ass moon" but I didn't think I should say ass." Silence fell upon us both... then hysterical laughter. The way she said that one little sentence was sooooooo awesome. It was priceless. I laughed so hard and cried. It was great!!! She's a funny kid, that little Sydney Paige.

His Latest Shenanigans

On top of the walking, climbing, pulling down things, eating everything, etc... he now enjoys this! And, he says "up".

Freakin' OUT...

It's official... I'm having some SERIOUS anxiety about this Daisy Scouts thing. In case you don't know this - for some reason (guilt, I think) I decided last month to be Sydney's, and 5 other girls, troop leader. Ummm.... hello.... what was I thinking! I have no idea about this stuff. Granted 20+ years ago I was a Brownie/Junior Girl Scout but that doesn't prepare me for this. I have no idea what I'm doing and I have all this shit to get done before I can even have a meeting. I had to set up a business checking account for our "troop funds". I'm wondering where they want me to get these funds from.... Mom said "Don't worry about it, you'll have lots of fun!". Things have changed since she was my troop leader all those years ago. There's forms, files, documentation, background checks, checking accounts, requirement of "two adults" at all times (gotta find another adult in my spare time), a crap ton of training classes, CPR requirements (thank god for the RN part)... the list goes on! I feel very unprepared and overwhelmed right now. I got the list of my girls last night at this meeting I had to go to. ACK - contact time, let's all give email a hand. I hate the uncertainty of it all. I'm sure it will all work out in the end, but HOLY SHIT!!! I just want some guidance - thankfully, the web is loaded with great tips. I love the fact that Daisies don't really DO anything. They don't work for badges, they do a lot of crafts and field trips. It's basically a scheduled play date for them all. I like that about it. Everyone at the meeting last night kept saying "it's just Daisies, you can't screw them up". Here comes the internal puking... this seriously made me want to drink last night.

More to come later... heading into town to get Girl Scout stuff & Sydney's uniform stuff.

Thirty-two

That many years ago, a big beautiful baby girl was born in a New Orleans hospital! Her parents were Robert & Linda and her big sister was Heather. They are, of course, my parents & my only sister.... the best ones in the world, in my opinion.



Will I ever realize that MY birthday, today, is "just another day" to everyone BUT me? Maybe when that happens, I'll stop being so disappointed in the day.

Oh well... I'm hoping to make this one a good one. A day of shopping with my kids...

Pics from the trip