Posts
The costumes ...
The cuteness ...
the spooky ...
the crabby ...
the tricks ...
the neighbors ...
the treats ...
Happy Halloween!
October 31, 2010
October 29, 2010
Louisville
Mark and I were lucky enough to get away for a couple of days to celebrate our 10th anniversary. Alone. Without kids (thanks mom and dad!). And we had an amazing time.
We wanted to go somewhere away, but not too far. Somewhere we could drive instead of flying, and someplace that wouldn't be more than 5 hours away. We decided on Louisville, KY; a place neither of us had ever been before.
We spent some time visiting friends, stayed at a beautiful, historic hotel, had some really nice dinners out, and enjoyed all of the touristy things to do in the city. More importantly, we had time to be alone together ... time to talk without being interrupted ... time to eat a meal without cutting anyone else's food or reminding anyone to eat over their plates ... time to laugh, and sleep in, and explore a city without a particular agenda. And believe it or not, Mark only had to stop the car one time for a potty break : )
Some general photos of Louisville and The Brown Hotel where we stayed.
Churchill Downs. A beautiful place, and not at all like what I had imagined it would be.
Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. A really cool tour that just deepened my love of baseball.
October 28, 2010
Top TEN
Top Ten things I did on my 10th wedding anniversary ...
10. Got 3 kids off to school, one ready to go on a field trip and one to a Halloween party.
9. Ran 52 errands in my 1 hr of "free time" with all of the kids at school today.
8. Attended said Halloween party with preschool class.
7. Shopped at Kmart (looking for black socks to complete Halloween costumes) and Jewel (to fully stock my fridge before my parents came to visit).
6. 4 loads of laundry.
5. Cleaned the bathroom.
4. Unloaded and loaded the dishwasher no less than 3 times.
3. Painted and carved pumpkins with the kids.
2. Made and ate dinner with my husband, kids and parents.
1. Watched "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".
Top 10 Things I would have guessed I'd be doing on my 10th Anniversary on the day we got married:
10. Breakfast in bed.
9. Walking barefoot on a beach.
8. Sipping champagne and dancing the night away.
7. Cruising in the Pacific Ocean.
6. Listening to the water wash in on the beach.
5. Romantic dinner for two.
4. Whatever it is they do on those commercials for diamond anniversary bands.
3. Floating on a raft in a pool.
2. Watching a beautiful sunset over the horizon.
1. Being showered with love and attention from my husband of 10 years.
Right about now, I'm not sure which list makes me laugh more.
But one thing I do know for sure?
Is that I wouldn't trade one thing on list number one for anything on list number two.
The way I figure it, we have a lifetime ahead of us to do the things on that second list, but these first 10 years have been all about the first list. Creating our lives, making a family, living out our dreams. Just thinking of all that has happened that has led us to our lives today fills me with nostalgia, amazement and gratitude.
10. Got 3 kids off to school, one ready to go on a field trip and one to a Halloween party.
9. Ran 52 errands in my 1 hr of "free time" with all of the kids at school today.
8. Attended said Halloween party with preschool class.
7. Shopped at Kmart (looking for black socks to complete Halloween costumes) and Jewel (to fully stock my fridge before my parents came to visit).
6. 4 loads of laundry.
5. Cleaned the bathroom.
4. Unloaded and loaded the dishwasher no less than 3 times.
3. Painted and carved pumpkins with the kids.
2. Made and ate dinner with my husband, kids and parents.
1. Watched "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown".
Top 10 Things I would have guessed I'd be doing on my 10th Anniversary on the day we got married:
10. Breakfast in bed.
9. Walking barefoot on a beach.
8. Sipping champagne and dancing the night away.
7. Cruising in the Pacific Ocean.
6. Listening to the water wash in on the beach.
5. Romantic dinner for two.
4. Whatever it is they do on those commercials for diamond anniversary bands.
3. Floating on a raft in a pool.
2. Watching a beautiful sunset over the horizon.
1. Being showered with love and attention from my husband of 10 years.
Right about now, I'm not sure which list makes me laugh more.
But one thing I do know for sure?
Is that I wouldn't trade one thing on list number one for anything on list number two.
The way I figure it, we have a lifetime ahead of us to do the things on that second list, but these first 10 years have been all about the first list. Creating our lives, making a family, living out our dreams. Just thinking of all that has happened that has led us to our lives today fills me with nostalgia, amazement and gratitude.
Sensory Overload
Today was Jack's preschool Halloween party. I would show you pictures of how cute he looked in his costume,
Or how adorable his little class is,
Or how much fun he had playing games at the party.
But really? It's going to take me just a little while to get over the whole event.
Sensory overload, in it's truest definition.
The sugar, the noise, and the visual clutter were just way too much for me. Did me in.
Which is exactly why it's a good thing that Jack is my youngest child. The older I get, the less capable I am of hanging with the 4 and under crowd.
Or how adorable his little class is,
Or how much fun he had playing games at the party.
But really? It's going to take me just a little while to get over the whole event.
Sensory overload, in it's truest definition.
Which is exactly why it's a good thing that Jack is my youngest child. The older I get, the less capable I am of hanging with the 4 and under crowd.
October 27, 2010
For Everything, There Is a Season
For the last 2 days, gale force winds have been sweeping across the Midwest. Despite all of the raking that I did over the weekend, there are leaves EVERYWHERE! I'm afraid that all of this wind is going to mean the end of the pretty fall leaves here in Central Illinois. Lots of trees are looking prematurely bare as the wind has helped strip them of their newly changed leaves.
Despite the gusts, the kids really wanted to go outside and play in the leaves after school.
They raked what they could into a big pile, a task made difficult by the 40mph gusts that blew through during their chore.
They all had fun burying Jenna in the leaves, and throwing piles into the air to watch them swirl as the winds swept them away.
But, just as fall must eventually come to an end, so must our camaraderie and good spirits.
Just as the wind is threatening to cause an early departure of our fall leaves, the fact that we only have 1 big rake has threatened to tear our family apart. Or at least these two sisters.
For everything, there is a season. And the season of playing in the leaves is now officially over at our house. It was fun while it lasted.
Despite the gusts, the kids really wanted to go outside and play in the leaves after school.
They raked what they could into a big pile, a task made difficult by the 40mph gusts that blew through during their chore.
They all had fun burying Jenna in the leaves, and throwing piles into the air to watch them swirl as the winds swept them away.
But, just as fall must eventually come to an end, so must our camaraderie and good spirits.
Just as the wind is threatening to cause an early departure of our fall leaves, the fact that we only have 1 big rake has threatened to tear our family apart. Or at least these two sisters.
For everything, there is a season. And the season of playing in the leaves is now officially over at our house. It was fun while it lasted.
October 26, 2010
Riding In Cars With Kids, part 2
I've decided to start a new series of posts called, "Riding In Cars With Kids" because I don't know about you, but some of the funniest conversations that our family have take place in the car.
Past episodes: Part 1
Kara: Mommy, I love you to the moon and back!
Me: Awww, thank you. I love you too baby girl!
Jenna: Mommy, I love you to Pluto and back!
Me: Awww, thank you. I love you too sweetie!
((silence))
Jack: Mommy, I love you to Goofy and back!
Past episodes: Part 1
Kara: Mommy, I love you to the moon and back!
Me: Awww, thank you. I love you too baby girl!
Jenna: Mommy, I love you to Pluto and back!
Me: Awww, thank you. I love you too sweetie!
((silence))
Jack: Mommy, I love you to Goofy and back!
October 22, 2010
Sight Words
All summer long Kara was nervous about starting kindergarten. Mainly because of the fact that she didn't know how to read yet. I explained over and over how kindergarten was ABOUT learning to read. That they would teach her, and that lots of other kids wouldn't know how to read either.
Since then, Kara has really come a long way. She knows all of her letters and sounds, and has begun sounding out and writing words. At her parent teacher conference today, her teacher gave me a little baggie full of flash cards with the kindergarten sight words on them (the words that a kindergartner is expected to be able to read by the end of the school year).
As soon as I got home and told Kara about the flashcards, she wanted to get started. So we plopped down right there on the driveway and went through them all. Then she wanted to go through them again. She was able to read about 1/2 of them on her own, and 1/2 with my help.
Once inside, she wanted to try again, but mommy had to get dinner ready and get ready for work. So her big sister Jenna stepped in to help.
Kara is finally ready to learn how to read. And I think she's pretty excited about the whole thing!
Since then, Kara has really come a long way. She knows all of her letters and sounds, and has begun sounding out and writing words. At her parent teacher conference today, her teacher gave me a little baggie full of flash cards with the kindergarten sight words on them (the words that a kindergartner is expected to be able to read by the end of the school year).
As soon as I got home and told Kara about the flashcards, she wanted to get started. So we plopped down right there on the driveway and went through them all. Then she wanted to go through them again. She was able to read about 1/2 of them on her own, and 1/2 with my help.
Once inside, she wanted to try again, but mommy had to get dinner ready and get ready for work. So her big sister Jenna stepped in to help.
Kara is finally ready to learn how to read. And I think she's pretty excited about the whole thing!
October 21, 2010
October 20, 2010
Ode to June Cleaver
I was sad to hear last week that Barbara Billingsley, better known as June Cleaver, had died.
She made being a mom and housewife look so easy. Every day when Wally and Beaver came home from school, they were greeted by a mom wearing a dress and pearls, holding a plate full of homemade cookies she had just pulled from the oven.
When my kids get home from school, some days I haven't even showered yet. There are usually piles of laundry on the kitchen table, and the kids are forced to clear a space to find somewhere to do their homework. If there are any cookies at all, they're most likely made from the ready-made Pillsbury dough you buy at the store.
It's funny how times have changed, and how us stay-at-home moms and housewives have evolved.
I don't even own a strand of pearls to wear while I vacuum, even if I wanted to.
But June Cleaver? She rocked those pearls, and probably deserved them way more than I do.
October 19, 2010
Catch Me, If You Can!
Today we went after school to get Jack's hair cut. I just love it when he's sporting a new hair cut. He looks cuter than ever, and I always want to take some pictures of him those days.
But today? Jack wasn't having it.
He decided to be camera shy, and bolted from room to room hiding in the couch and covering his head with pillows, all the while giggling uncontrollably.
Finally, mommy declared that she had given up.
Instead, I was going to take some pictures of the pretty things on my mantle. Like my pottery vase from grandma,
or the new Halloween decorations that I just love,
or my fall pumpkins and candles.
Wait. What's that underneath the mantle? Oh, look who changed his mind!
Gotcha, buddy!
But today? Jack wasn't having it.
He decided to be camera shy, and bolted from room to room hiding in the couch and covering his head with pillows, all the while giggling uncontrollably.
Finally, mommy declared that she had given up.
Instead, I was going to take some pictures of the pretty things on my mantle. Like my pottery vase from grandma,
or my fall pumpkins and candles.
Wait. What's that underneath the mantle? Oh, look who changed his mind!
Gotcha, buddy!
October 17, 2010
Pause
I was working in the office on Sunday afternoon, opening a week's worth of mail, paying bills, filing papers ... the usual Sunday afternoon tasks. Suddenly, from the other room I heard Mark yell,
"Hey, you might want to come see this. I think it's the cutest thing ever!"
Ordinarily, I'd be likely to respond with a "not now" or a "wait a minute" or "I'm busy", but something caught my attention. I paused for a minute, grabbed my camera and ran into the kitchen to see.
Mark was standing at the patio doors, looking out into the backyard. I squeezed in next to him to see what he was looking at.
The kids had been outside raking leaves into a big pile in the yard. Satisfied with their work, they apparently thought it was time for a break.
From the doorway I saw this,
and upon closer inspection, I discovered this,
My three little darlings, sitting on a picnic table in the middle of their leaf pile, playing a game of "Go Fish".
Where is that pause button anyway?
"Hey, you might want to come see this. I think it's the cutest thing ever!"
Ordinarily, I'd be likely to respond with a "not now" or a "wait a minute" or "I'm busy", but something caught my attention. I paused for a minute, grabbed my camera and ran into the kitchen to see.
Mark was standing at the patio doors, looking out into the backyard. I squeezed in next to him to see what he was looking at.
The kids had been outside raking leaves into a big pile in the yard. Satisfied with their work, they apparently thought it was time for a break.
From the doorway I saw this,
and upon closer inspection, I discovered this,
My three little darlings, sitting on a picnic table in the middle of their leaf pile, playing a game of "Go Fish".
Where is that pause button anyway?
October 15, 2010
We've Got Spirit, Yes We Do!
We've got spirit, how 'bout you?!
 |
| The girls in their orange and black for school spirit day. |
October 14, 2010
You Know You're a Mom When ...
... you nearly cut off the tip of your thumb while chopping onions, and the only band aid in the house has Sponge Bob on it.
 |
| Not only do I have a poor selection of Band aids, but I also apparently have a poor selection of camera that can not or will not allow me to take photos up close. Hmmmmm.... |
October 13, 2010
Shawtys* 911
It was one of those moments that you overhear from the other room, and just have to go and grab the video camera.
Not sure where my kids have heard Sean Kingston, or how they've become such fans of "Fire Burnin' On the Dance Floor", but it cracks me the heck up!
And now, our ode to fire safety month ... perhaps the best way to teach children about 911
*I looked it up, and what I presumed was spelled "shorty" is actually "shawty" ... according to Sean Kingston, or other people much cooler than me
Not sure where my kids have heard Sean Kingston, or how they've become such fans of "Fire Burnin' On the Dance Floor", but it cracks me the heck up!
And now, our ode to fire safety month ... perhaps the best way to teach children about 911
*I looked it up, and what I presumed was spelled "shorty" is actually "shawty" ... according to Sean Kingston, or other people much cooler than me
October 9, 2010
Paparazzi
Nothing is funnier than going to sneak a photo of your child, and having him pull out his camera on YOU.
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