The Great Pumpkin

Adam and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch to search for the "perfect pumpkin." We got a couple of smallish ones and then one that was a little bigger for carving. Owen and Caroline had a blast running around the patch trying to find their pumpkin.

A couple of days later, Adam and the kids carved up the pumpkins just in time for Halloween. Owen had so much fun scooping out the "guts" of the pumpkins and then helping Adam take out each little piece that had been carved away. The highlight to Owen's night was when he helped Adam actually carve the pumpkins. What is it with boys and knives, sharp instruments, and/or tools, that causes their testosterone to surge?! I can't figure that one out.

I guess the important thing is that each of the kids had a great time at the patch and carving the pumpkins. Oh how my life is truly blessed.......

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Parade + Halloween Party = FUN!!

Owen got to wear his fireman costume to school today. He was happy to wear it. He had the "complete" costume on, but then made himself sick from breakfast and we had to change into shorts. (Another story for another time.) There were pirates, princesses, witches, another fireman, and a wide variety of costumes at school that day. They did a great job in running around the suspended track and then going back to class to gorge themselves on all of the junk brought in by the kids. I seriously have never seen that much junk food for 2-3 year old in my life. I could hear the cavities forming as each bit was taken.



One of the best parts of the morning was when Caroline felt she was entitled to have everything that the "big" kids were having at their class party. She literally climbed up to the table, sat down and waited for her portion of everything passed out to come her way. And some of you may still wonder why her nickname is "Biggi." It is all about the big attitude that she carries with her, NOT because she is a "big girl." She thinks that she is "big enough" to do whatever the other kids are doing. Fortunately, Ms. Debra, Owen's teacher, thought she was cute and indulged her behavior so the rest of the class time we didn't have to hear her screaming and carrying on because she didn't get any treats. I swear!

Caroline waiting for her share!

Owen loves Ms. Debra and I'm kind of sad that he doesn't have her again for this next session of preschool classes. He does, however, have Ms. Stephanie, who is also fabulous with the kids and loves Owen (and Caroline) too. Ms. Stephanie is excited to have Owen in her class and Ms. Debra is both sad and jealous that Owen will not be in her class this next session. I feel so lucky to have such great teachers who not only love little kids, but who love my kids and can't wait to have them in their classes. What a blessing!

Owen and Ms. Debra on the last day of class.

Nobody's Fool

Adam may call our feline pets by the ever endearing nickname of "CAT!", but don't let him fool you. He loves the kitties, too. Just 2 days of being at home, I had to snap these pictures. It seems Chevy was able to wiggle his way right into the coziest spot he could find in the house.....Adam's lap. Adam was happy and content watching TV and Chevy made himself right at home. Chevy's purr is quite loud and does wake us up in the middle of the night; he does jump at every little thing; he does think that the cursor/pointer on the computer screen is a special toy just for him; but he is soooo cute that you just forget about all of the "annoying" things that come along with a kitten and figure he'll learn sooner or later.

Halloween Dress Rehersal

Tonight was our Ward's "trunk or treat". We had such a great time, despite my last minute preparations that had to be done.

This year, Owen went as a fireman and Caroline went as a ballerina. (Caroline's tutu was the last minute preparation that need to be done. In other words, I had to make the thing before we could go. Luckily, it didn't take too long to make and I whipped it out in about 1 1/2 - 2 hours.) Caroline screamed when I first put the tutu on her; I guess it didn't help that she had just woken up early from her nap and here I was bugging her with her tutu. I am pleased to say that she wore it the entire night and looked absolutely adorable, if I do say so myself.

We invited our neighbors (who aren't members but are great, great people) to go with us and they had a great time as well. They couldn't believe how many kids there were at this function. Their son, Alexander, turns 2 in about a month or so and the mom is due any day with their second child. Just in case she goes into labor and has this little baby early, I wanted her to have the chance to take their son trick or treating. Everyone had a great time.

When our neighbors drove over to the house, the husband, Edward, was driving the truck. Edward has a full beard. As we started to pull away from the house in our car, Owen says from the back of the car, "Mom, that's Jesus in the truck!" Adam and I died with laughter. Adam took Owen around to the different trunks and Edward took his son. Owen said he had "fun with Jesus".

There were lots of memories made tonight and the kids had a great time. Halloween night awaits us and it will be another year gone with the busy Holidays to await us.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Light My Fire - Part 2

My sis-in-law called me this morning to tell me that she had to call the police again regarding her "Yes on 8" sign. As it turns out, some thief came along last night and stole all of the "Yes on 8" signs throughout the neighborhood. She said the police officer who came out to take the report was more than annoyed about her wanting to make a report. C'mon, this is his job already. That is what her tax dollars are paying for. Not to mention that, at the very least, what the thief has done is violate the Federal Election Laws. Hello!

I wonder if the officer knew that he was actually taking a report on a federal crime, not just a sign being stolen. My bet is that the officer didn't even have a clue. The report took him no more than 3 minutes. Not that big of a deal in the scheme of things. However, if the situation escalates into a more serious form of vandalism, then everything will be well documented.

She did get more signs and will put another one either in her front room window, or will put it back again in her yard. You go girl!!!!

Sparring Partners

As per usual for a Saturday, Caroline and Owen were running amok in the house. They ran from Owen's room to the family room and back again. This went on for quite a while. Then, the noise was contained to Owen's room. Adam and I heard laughing and giggling. Everything was going well, or so we thought. It was at that precise moment that we heard the blood curdling scream of Caroline. When I went in to see what the problem was, I quickly deduced (that word is for you Mommy-ahh) that Caroline was trying to step from Owen's bed to his nightstand - which looks like a little step ladder - and fell in between the two of them. On her way down, he cracked the right side of her face, right below her right eye on the step ladder nightstand. Fortunately, she didn't injure the eye itself. She did, however, manage to get a nasty bruise and swollen cheek bone where she hit her eye.

On Sunday, Owen was playing with Adam and was going for "horsey rides" on Adam's legs. As if Caroline's injury to her eye wasn't bad enough, Owen tripped and his left eye met Adam's leg. Instantly, he had a "mouse" under his eye.

It looks like these two had gone a few rounds inside the UFC octagon, or took a sudden liking to MMA sports. I am pleased to say that their eyese are healing nicely and there should be no residual side effects from the incidents.

Overseeding

This year, Adam decided to over seed our grass in the backyard. I am so happy he decided to do this. The kids will be outside more and more this fall/winter and now they will have something to play on that won't hurt their little feeties like the dormant, dry Bermuda grass of last winter. Owen was a great helper for Adam in raking up "or dethatching" the scalped grass. Ever the helper in the family. Hopefully Caroline will follow suit quickly in wanting to help her mommy and daddy too.

Light My Fire

My brother and sister-in-law live in California, (and are both attorneys), where on the ballot for the public's vote (again) is a measure to amend the California Constitution (Proposition 8) to define marriage as between one man and one woman. (This issue was already decided approximately 8 years ago with Prop 22 by an overwhelming majority of the population, but somehow the lefties, liberals, and commies of the ACLU fought it and it was declared "unconstitutional". Will someone please explain how a majority of people who want an amendment passed can't have their way, but instead their desire becomes unconstitutional. Isn't the minority ruling unconstitutional?)

My sis-in-law put a yard sign in their front yard which reads "Yes on 8". When my brother left for work, sometime around 7:30, the sign was fine. When my sis-in-law left the house at approximately 10 am - a mere 2 1/2 hours later - this is what the sign looked like:



Seriously?! Are you freakin' kidding me? What gives the person who did this the right to go on to the property and destroy the sign. Okay, so you may disagree with the Proposition, fine - make your voice heard at the ballot box. It doesn't give you the right to damage something that is in their yard. Furthermore, do you really think that this is going to sway their vote? NO WAY! If anything, it is going to make sure they get out to the polls on the 4th (not like they weren't going to anyway) and vote "yes" on this Proposition. My sis-in-law told me that this just lights the fire under her even more. She's pumped to start phoning the people on her call list to see how they are going to vote and encourage them to vote yes. Fortunately, she had a spare sign and put out sign number 2 into her yard. The funny thing is, her neighbor across the street has a sign too and theirs wasn't even touched.

There is a similar issue on the ballot where I live. I have a yard sign and I don't care who does what to my sign. Like my sis-in-law, it will not prevent me from supporting this Proposition. I will continue to have this sign in my yard until Election Day is over. I don't think people who are apathetic to this measure really understand the impact on society lack of supporting this Proposition will have if it does not get passed.

Take into account the following examples:

• Did you know that your children will be taught in school that it is okay for a man to marry another man?

• Did you know Bishops, Stake Presidents and others who have the authority to marry, could be sued for discrimination if they refuse to marry 2 women or 2 men?

• Did you know that the Catholic Church pulled their adoption services out of the state of Massachusetts because they were being forced to allow homosexual couples to adopt children and were threatened with lawsuits if they would not allow this type of adoption?

• Did you know in Massachusetts there was a man who went to his son's school to ask when same-sex marriage was going to be taught to his son so he could keep his son home that day. The school told him it wasn't his right to know this information. He told the school principal that he demanded to know and wouldn't leave until he was given this information. The principal called the police and had him arrested. He was hauled off to jail.

• Did you know in California there was a homosexual couple who sought fertility services from a physician. When the physician refused to help them because of personal beliefs, the physician was fined $10,000?

• Did you know that a first grade class in San Francisco went on a field trip to City Hall and while there, they were "the witnesses" to their teacher's "marriage" to her domestic partner? While the permission slips were given to the parents, the underlying and real reason of the field trip, i.e., the "marriage" of the teacher, was not disclosed to the parents.

Does this sound great to you? It doesn't to me. Defining marriage as between one man and one woman doesn't mean that homosexuals don't have a right to "love one another" as those who are opposed to this proposition claim it takes this "right" away from them. A "traditional marriage" is what has kept the fabric of our society together since the beginning of time. To redefine marriage is to redefine society. That is not okay with me. If you live where I live, on November 4th vote YES ON 102!!!!!

Mini Me

Tonight while we were sitting down for dinner, the Presidential Debates were on. Much more shocking to me this political season, other than the lies spewed from Obama's mouth, was the fact that Adam - my once politically apathetic husband - has watched ALL of the debates. So, while eating dinner, we left the debates on the TV. (I'm surprised I didn't get sick in the middle of dinner and lose it after all of the lies, lies, and more lies).

During the middle of the debates, Owen got up off of his chair, walked over to the TV, stood in front of it with his hands on his hips and says, "Yep! Yep! Yep! Noooooo! Yep! Yep! Yep!" I just about died with laughter. I turned to Adam and said, "I guess we don't need to wonder where he got that from, now do we?" Adam merely rolled his eyes.

Before Adam and I had children, I told him that I would be responsible for teaching our children about language, spelling, government, politics, and all of the other "soft sciences". Adam, being much better at math and the "hard sciences," would have the responsibility of teaching our children those. Fair split, right? I knew that a mother's influence was crucial in a child's life. I knew that I would influence my children (hopefully for the better) throughout their lives. It became crystal clear to me in that moment just how much of an influence a mother has in their children's lives. WOW!

I guess one could argue that I am teaching my children, for better or worse, about politics from an early age. I am doing my duty!

It's A Boy!

We are having an addition join the family at the end of this month. We couldn't be happier - okay I couldn't be happier. I've always wanted another boy. Adam wasn't really happy about this, but said, if it's what you want, then we can do it. This little boy was born July 23rd. All of his little parts are there and they are adorable. He was born in Texas and will barely be 3 months old by the time we get him, but we will have years and years of enjoyment with him in our family. We haven't decided on a name as of yet, but have a little bit of time to come up with one.

I've decided to post a few pics, even though we don't officially have him yet. I can hardly stand it. Isn't he absolutely beautiful?!







GOTCHA!!!! How many of you thought we were having a baby!? C'mon fess up, you know you were one of them. This kitty is the same breed as Lincoln. He's coming from the same breeder and even has the same father as Lincoln. I've narrowed the names down to three: Chevy, Theo (after Theodore Roosevelt) or Edison. Adam wants to name him Booth.

Project Man

There have been a few projects that we've wanted to do since we bought this house, almost 2 years ago. There are still projects that remain on "the list". One of those projects, however, got crossed off this weekend. We finally were able to get some used cabinets and Adam was able to install them this past weekend. I have been anxious to get these cabinets into the laundry room so I could hide all of the usual laundry room crap. It just looks finished and complete now. Plus, it created a lot more storage room in our hall closet for even more junk!







Thanks, Love for working so hard to keep me happy with these projects getting done. You're the bestest!

Maroon Effect

Each year during the college football season, Virginia Tech (Adam's Alma Mater) has an "orange effect" and a "maroon effect" home football game. During these games, the fans are asked to participate by wearing either the orange shirt or the maroon shirt.

Me, not being a big fan of the color orange, told Adam that he needed to get Owen the maroon shirt. Adam either forgot or for some reason or another didn't get around to purchasing the maroon effect shirt. That's where I stepped in and ordered one for Owen and for Adam. Now, on the day of the maroon effect game, Owen will be sporting his new shirt! Hopefully, it will be cool enough for him to wear it by then.

I know the shirt is big. The only size that they had was "youth small". So, I figure it is 100% cotton and by the time it is was and dried a few times, it won't be quite so big on him. As a side note, Owen now calls each and every kind of bird a "Hokie Bird". The VA Tech brainwashing has begun already!