What makes Mommy cringe, makes Anna want more!

Halloween has NEVER been one of my favorite holidays...the dressing up and trick-or-treating is fun, but that's it. I love the fall scene, the pumpkin and mulled cider smells from the candles burning in my home. I love the pumpkin patch, sweet black kitties with smiles, or a leaf poster with a cute grin. I don't like the creepy stuff. ANNA, on the other hand, is very much into it ALL. As we walked down the halls at Abigail's school this morning, children's Halloween art was scattered down every wall. There were poems, short stories, paintings, and other crafts...the teachers and kids are pretty creative! Awe Anna, look at the cute friendly scarecrows..."Whoa, scary WITCHES!", her voice cracked as she playfully ran her fingers over them. Sweet, the kids did apple printing Anna- look! "oooh, look at those skeletons, Mother!" (she has begun calling me this). We turned the corner, there were friendly little pumpkins...very SWEET! "Mama, BOO! Here's some "ghost-es"! It's like there are blinking lights flashing on every spooky thing, saying "C'Mon over here Anna". And at Wal-Mart, the weird blow up things...she's there! And that gross mechanical hand in the Halloween bowl that moves towards unexpecting little hands as they reach in for their treat...yep, she reaches in over and over! The rubber monster faces- "Try it on me, Mommy- HURRY, it's funny!" She loves it all, she will be a "Spider Queen" we are calling her for Halloween, which suits her Halloween-mania infatuation!

Puttin' on the Ritz

For her-

Dress from the past: 5 minutes with a warm iron

shimmery jacket: 1 hug of appreciation to mom

jewelry: 1 text of thanks to baby sis

special treatment with hairdo: $35

For him-

black suit: 30 seconds of time in the closet

Tie and shirt: a search in 3 stores and $28

haircut: 10 minutes with his wife and the clippers

Catered dinner w/lights, music & decorations: a donation to the Theater

babysitter: a smile and banana bread for the coveted favor

The chance to be child-free with your favorite man:

PRICELESS!

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Singin In the Rain

Or maybe just stompin in puddles but the title was catching and now you know what song I have been singing!!! I am SO excited we found these raincoats for the girls...I have only been looking for like 3 years but didn't want to pay the $30 for 1! I spent just $4.00 total on them at the "50% off everything sale" at the Goodwill Store. One is a London Fog and the other is from The Disney Store! The girls love them!!!

Monkey See, Monkey Do...Whoa Monkey!

Today for Playgroup, we played at the Sunset Marina playground and had a picnic. While others played on the equipment, swings, or on the beach, some of the bigger boys took turns on a riding toy. They'd push it all the way to the top of the sidewalk hill and would ride down with feet extended plopping themselves into the sand at the end...they were so amused! I NEVER expected Anna to follow suit! I saw her pushing the riding toy around, but was busy with Aliza when all of a sudden I heard the worst sounding scream of fear (and "Mommy, HELP ME!!!!), I turned just in time to see the riding toy rocking side to side out of control down the steep sidewalk with Anna screaming and legs flailing, before suddenly halting at the bottom. I stood jaw-dropped and lifted up a silent prayer of God's intervention!!! She walked away with a her baby toe all skinned up and of course was frightened...but all the moms commented on how brave she was. I was glad it was over!

Abigail got to go to her 1st jammie party Saturday night...it included all the perks of a sleepover- playing with friends, eating popcorn, watching movies, and staying up late (like 10:30 P.M.)...only she came home to sleep in her own bed! She was so excited to tell me all about it!

On Labor Day weekend, the girls and I drove to PA for my Granny's 70th birthday and we were able to once again get a 5 generation picture, this time with Aliza! It was so neat to spend some time with our extended family and get to introduce Aliza to them. Being up there brought back a lot of fond childhood memories and it was neat to get to share stories with Abigail and Anna and be understood!

Sweet Potato Head

"And Jesus said unto them, follow Me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19...my heart just beamed today as I watched Abigail and Anna recite their Bible verse today during church with the other kids. We've been working on it a few weeks now at home and Ms. Doris told them, as well as the others in their Bible Class, that once everyone had it down, they'd get to pick something from the Treasure Chest. Anna picked out a Mrs. Potato Head, whom she calls Sweet Potato Head, lol. Abigail picked out a bubble wand. The next memory verse, John 3:16 is a little longer, so we might be working on it a little more often!