Halloween - OHHHH Halloween

Well today was probably one of the worst attempts at a Halloween holiday that I've every participated in. I'm sure John and I will remember it as being rather bothersome, but the boys will think nothing of it and look back at pictures (few to choose from) and think on it with fond memories! Oh the joy of being a child.

See it all started a few months back when we started getting magazines with Halloween costumes in them. Weston expressed, very emotionally, how he wanted to be a super hero for Halloween. Somewhere between Spiderman and Superman, I think we had a few others in the mix too. But John and I are both opposed to 'hero' costumes because they just end up fighting everyone. So sadly, Weston wasn't even close to winning that debate. But that was all wilst John was reading them bed time stories which happened to be 'The Cat in the Hat', and John suggested that he dress up like the Cat in the Hat, and the boys dress up like thing 1 and thing 2 (very appropriate for our boys). Weston loved the idea and wanted Layna to be the fish and me to be the box that thing 1 and thing 2 came out of (interesting idea there!?).

We were set, I started looking for blue hair and Cat in the Hat costume parts, and red suits. The red suits got left until Oct 22, but everything else was here and ready. Well as of this morning we still had no red suits for the boys. And Weston had been crying all last week because he couldn't be a super hero and decided he wanted to be a ghost. We kept thinking we would get the red suits so we didn't do anything but alas, this morning before preschool I made a very quick (20 min top) ghost costume for Weston out of an old table cloth for his school party and parade.

Needless to say it was beyond ugly and homely and the poor kid is just too young to understand how bad it looked. Actually on a girl it would have been kind of cute. Like an angel costume, or Mary from the Nativity. But for a boy - it was just wrong. He did dress up his new pet friend, like a ghost as well. And we now have to call it 'ghost dog', not to confuse him with 'dog'.

- Blast Old Navy and UPS - grumble .. grumble.. grumble

Well the school party was a success, Even Tyler loved it and didn't even bother to think it wasn't for him. Weston didn't even seem to notice the comments of 'why are you wearing a dress', and 'you look like a girl' he would just comment back though somewhat pointedly that he was a ghost. One boy did convince him he needed a ghost hat, so he started wearing part of it over his head.

Well, we spent the rest of the afternoon at home.....waiting for UPS to arrive. And when they didn't by 5:00 and then 5:30 I took the boys trick-or-treating to our neighborhood in the ghost costume, though this time with a ghost hat with eyes cut out of it and Tyler in last years Shark costume (I will try and get a picture of those to post it was really cute and the ghost costume looked a thousand times better). We came home to eat since the buckets of treats we got from 5 houses had no nourishing base, and then head over to a friends house to say hi. Which lo and behold UPS finally came and new hope had risen and the crying over no treats stopped for a short time.



















Weston was ecstatic about his new clothes/costume. John remarked how girl like the boys were with 'new clothes excitement'. And I got a few pictures of Weston but the sugar low was setting in and I was not going to get a picture of the 3 of them together - no way. In fact even getting a picture with the boys wearing their blue hair was a chore. We had to take away their candy buckets and bribe them - with their own candy- to wear the complete costume so I could take a picture..... Now how is that for parent of the year award material!




















Tyler didn't mind as much until someone would comment on the hair and then Weston wouldn't have anything to do with any part of the hair or thing 1 tag because 'people are laughing at me'.

Tyler and Weston totally scored on candy though, Tyler more so because he just kept taking candy until the giver would take the bowl away. But I guess it was okay because when people came to our door (or the Squires door) Tyler would give them candy from his own bucket!


Anyway we did get a few pictures of the day's events. So I guess with 3 sets of costumes and 3 Halloween parties/events it was successful for the kids but as parents.... man and I'm glad it's over!

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Life lately.....

Well it feels like we haven't done much of anything lately but stay home and drive Weston to school. But Looking back, I guess we've done a few things. And if nothing else the kids are growing and getting more independent and I am slowly loosing what is left of my parental powers... As John says - Why did I ever think I was in charge in the first place????

We did find some fall leaves to play in and a little corn maze/pumpkin patch for the kids. Sadly Tyler was the only one who was able to enjoy it - but enjoy it he did. He kept running around looking at the pigs and chickens and running through the little maze. And the whole next day talked about the black bunny he was able to pet. It was really cute.















































We did, well I guess more accurately we are in process of potty training Tyler - phase 2 I like to say 'maintenance mode'. Which seems to be going well. I am geared up for a few accidents along the way. But that is easier said than when it actually happens! He now loves to run around naked, but he also loves his underpants - and has found many uses for them... first being a holster for his 'Robin Hood' sword (which happens to be a hot wheels race track! Life is rarely slow or boring at our house.



















Elayna is getting bigger and sadly loosing some pudge to her cute rolls. But they're still there and that is fun! She is 3 1/2 months now and it has been a lot of fun to watch her be more interactive and to start being a lot more free with her smiles and cooing! She seems to always have something to say :).

Weston is becoming more serious with his inquisitive talking. He is loving school and soccer and seems to be growing up a lot in the last few months. It has been fun to watch, though very frustrating at times to be involved with! Yet again - why did I ever think I would be the one in charge?!

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Elayna 3 Months old

Elayna is 3 Months old today and as I commented to John this morning, 'It's been a long 3 months'. But it has been wonderful as well. We have had my parents and some siblings; Andrea, Alexander and Minhee and their families to visit. Sandy was able to come for a visit with Ed joining at the end for Elayna's blessing. We've gone up to visit family in Blain a few times and put a lot of miles on our new car.

We've planted trees in our yard, kept the house mostly clean (a big accomplishment). Hung up pictures and planned for more. Harvested pounds of fresh strawberries and blue berries from our front yard. I've resigned from Homeowners association (huge relief) and started cooking again. John has finished his paper for his conference. Weston started his second year of pre-school,and started soccer this year. Tyler is amazing in his own right keeping up with Weston and forging ahead in his own territory, always keeping us awake and alert. He is the most independent cuddle-bug and how I love his ever tightening hugs! We've started on the 'little' house projects that need to be done and life keeps getting better, and more and more normal. We truly have been blessed!















Elayna is as cute as can be. She makes us work for the smiles (not too hard), but they are well worth it and followed by shrill giggles and laughs that just make you laugh. Her hair makes me smile! It's growing somewhat (accentuating her balding spot on the back) and she has one hair just at the top center of her head, where the hair meets and swirls - that is about 1 1/2" long that stands straight up. The rest of her hair about 1/4" long, except for the mullet in the back which is about 1" long - it's all rather cute! Her eyes sparkle and always have a smile behind them even when she isn't. She is constantly looking around and just watching. I can count on my 1 hand the times she has all-out cried, mostly she is calm and easy even when she is hungry and tired.
She has been sleeping 10 hour stretches at night for over a month now, other than a few nights that are less. But even with her eating every 2 hours, she is spitting up less and life is finding it's routine. With all the hand-me-downs we've been given and now that she is in a bigger size, we are starting to have more fun with the dress ups and bows which is good for a giggle! Her big brothers are loving having a little sister as well, and watching them love her is the most wonderful thing to see.

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The all of being a Mom!

So my sister Hilary sent out an email that was rather funny. It follows:












Ain't it the Truth!!!!

A woman goes to the doctor for her yearly physical.
The nurse starts with certain basic items.
"How much do you weigh?" she asks.
"115," she says.
The nurse puts her on the scale.
It turns out her weight is 140. (Wishful thoughts!)

The nurse asks, "Your height?"
"5 foot 8," she says.
The nurse checks and sees that
She only measures 5' 5".

She then takes her blood pressure
And tells the woman it is very high.

"Of course it's high!" she screams,
"When I came in here I was tall and slender!
Now I'm short and fat!"















Flour and Water

How come when you mix water and Flour together you get glue?














And then you add eggs










And sugar....

And you get cake?















Where did the glue go?


NEED AN ANSWER?

You know darned well where it went!
That's what makes the cake Stick to your BUTT!

(I'll spare you the picture of the shaking patootie!)


I laughed and had a very odd reaction. First - for many years I thought I was a full 1 1/2" taller than I am. It took my dad measuring me against 3 different walls, each over a hard floor and using a level and measuring tape to get the same measurement to realize I had somehow shrunk in the last 5-10 years. I still don't know how that happened, but it did and I'm slowing coming to grips with my rare degenerative disease!
and having just gone through the rigors of maternity weight checks, I too am feeling a little short and fat! Though I must admit, not as cute as the little piggy in the corset. Maybe I need a corset..... hmm.....

So after reading and laughing at that, I read on and found that the little graphic of the cake looked really good, completely glossing over the last part of the glue sticking to the butt and watching the little back end shake all it's glory my way - I still kept thinking of the cake and how good it must really taste. So I decided to open my desert file of untried recipes and found one for Mrs. Milton's lovely fudge pie. And I must admit, it was very lovely tasting and has made it into my permanent recipe file (all who want the recipe let me know and Ill email it over), but the presentation didn't really do so well!

I was nursing Elayna, talking on the phone and had left the kitchen unguarded for a good 15 min probably, when I finally went in to write down a phone number and saw Tyler. All I could do was say 'nooooooo' in a very defeated way. There was nothing left to do but get a picture! here it was, my lovely fudge pie, all over Tyler's face! And here he is sporting his 'what, did I do something wrong look'.


We did eat it that night - what was left of it- with some friends who graciously came over so we didn't have to eat it all by ourselves, since Weston was the only one (of 4 kids) who ate his dinner completely and by himself he was the only one who got some. Tyler who didn't get any seemed not to care too much most likely because he was still liking crumbs off his face!

I just thought it was rather appropriate for the essence of a mom, get funny emails about weight (which is always an underlying worry or at least a minor thought), then retaliating to my guilt by making a cake only to find that my 2 year old has beaten me to the punch - doing what I wish I could do but restrain myself because I know I should be more mature than that - at least when people are looking! I love being a mom and I love that I can laugh at myself and my life!

Since then, we have made cookies (I've eaten more dough than cookies and even then I've had the bulk share, and cupcakes or muffins I'm not sure which - but either way mighty tasty critters (Blueberry hill cupcakes - also a keeper if anyone wants the recipe!)) Life sure tastes good - now I have to get back to my good eating, at least as soon as I finish off the cookie dough in the freezer!

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Elayna's Blessing Dress

We were able to get some pictures taken of Elayna in her blessing dress and are thrilled with how they turned out. Here are a few of the many that were great! Probably my favorites!!! If the lighting looks funny it is my lack of knowledge in photoshop - I'm playing around with some effects! But the photographer and dress, and possibly the baby were just perfect. There is no editing other than lighting effects done.



















































(Amish Baby!)





































(The Sneeze or The Prayer - they both work!)

























































Thanks you again to Stan and Julie Howell for their generosity, this truly is a beautiful dress.

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Soccer game Saturday

We had another soccer game this saturday, which of course was great and ended in a 5/5 tie! Weston did great and is getting better at being focused on the game while it's being played, as are the rest of his team-mates. Weston now just needs to keep from flirting with the girls on his team and the other team, during the game! Tyler still desperately wants to play, but positions himself very close to the action when he's not running on the field with his own ball to join in the fun! John was able to couch this last game, and he and I both spend the majority of the game keeping Tyler of the field! It was great fun, even Elayna enjoys it until she's ready for a nap!

When Weston isn't on the field he is playing photographer - he took all the action shot pictures!
































(Ready, Set, go!!!)

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