Car Troubles

The kids and I are taking an unplanned trip for a week. Being unplanned, and since Mr. Man took all the time off he could from school work last week, I'm having to be a "man" and get some little things taken care of on my car - well, take it to the shop to get taken care of anyways! I feel like such a dumb woman when it comes to vehicle talk and was even more humiliated today when the mechanic was a female and I couldn't answer all her questions! I had her laughing when I admitted to being a totally stereotypical female when it comes to cars though! When I picked up my car from another shop last night, Mr. Man told me that "if they tell you it needs more stuff fixed, just play dumb and tell them you have no idea, you're just here to pick up the car, and they should call and talk to your husband". While insulting, it also hit it right on the dot.

Mr. T had a hard time turning our keys over to a stranger today and was ready to cry thinking we wouldn't have our car anymore! It reminded me of when Big J was about his age the summer before we moved here and our engine blew. We kept having to have our car towed away, and that was incredibly traumatic for our little three year old who suddenly became very attached to our vehicle for no reason known to us. Maybe it's the age?

So wish us luck, pray that we don't have a flat tire - and have no need of Mommy turned mechanic or any towing that will result in desperate separation anxiety that even magic medicine can't heal!

Snapshots of a Week without Blogging - for your viewing pleasure!

Cousins

We will be having a lot of family in our home within the next week – several cousins for the kids to enjoy also! One cousin has already arrived... here’s a quick exchange between the cousins that made me laugh:

Little E: “ndanpunpumpninacashusisotten” (one of his favorite stories to tell – translation: “And Dad put the pumpkin in the trash cause it’s rotten.”
Cousin G: “What did you say? I couldn’t understand a word you said.”
Big J: “He’s telling his story about the rotten pumpkin.”
Little E: “Ya! Ndanpunpumpininacashusisotten.”
Cousin G: “What are you saying? I don’t understand anything you say!”
Mr. T: (concerned) “Are your ears working?”
Cousin G: “Maybe I need to clean out the ear wax.”
Big J: “What’s ear wax?”
Cousin G: “It’s the yellow stuff in your ears that tastes gross.”
Big J: “Oh. Right.”
Little E: “Oooooh, ucky!”

Magic Medicine

When Big J was a little girl, but just as over-dramatic as she is now, she needed more than what I felt was enough sympathy for her "owies". It was always this long drawn out process, until I watched another mother (sorry if you're reading this and it was you - but I really can't recall who I stole this idea from) quickly heal her child's owie with some magic medicine. She muttered some magic words and threw the invisible (but obviously sparkly) medicine on her child's present area of soreness and POOF the pain disappeared. I immediately started doing the same with Big J – and it worked! She loved it forever and then after a while it worked in a different way – she would laugh at my antics, knowing it wasn’t working, but thinking I was silly for trying. Regardless, I had her laughing versus WAILING!

My boys haven’t needed much more than hugs to soothe them, but today I put my magic medicine to work with a little boy in Primary. He had bumped his knee and I knew it wasn’t too bad, but you know how it can be for a three year old; clearly the world was coming to an end, and his pain was excruciating (or so my ears told me). I tried the regular tactics but then remembered the magic medicine. I asked him if he wanted some, his head bobbed up and down between sobs and he rolled his pant leg up. At this point, several other children gathered round to see what was to happen. I unbuttoned the pocket on my skirt and looked inside, “yup, still have some left” I announced. Then I beckoned him to reach into my pocket to get some. He did, and as he did I looked to see if he had grabbed some lint or something, because, he was SOOOOOO believable!!! He then tossed it on his knee, stopped crying and sat up nice and tall in his seat. I was shocked! But I kept my composure and told him to let me know if he needed anymore. The whole front row stared at me with dazzled gazes and I heard one child say, “Sister G. has magic in her pocket!”

So whoever you are, thank you for teaching me this special trick that saved my sanity with my daughter and saved a sobbing child today. Yeah for sharing (or stealing) great parenting tips! What are some of your secrets?

VENTULANING

At the dinner table tonight, Mr. Man was asking Big J about her piano lesson. She’s very excited because she now gets to play “Old MacDonald” with both hands together!!! Previously she has expressed concern and frustration over playing with her left hand – as it just doesn’t play as well as her right! When he asked her about how her left hand was holding up playing together, her response was quite interesting:

“My left hand just can’t play very well by itself. I can play fine with both hands together; but when it’s just my left hand alone it’s just much too ventulaning.”

Mr. Man’s eyes flew out of his sockets and he said, “Can you repeat that word? Mommy do you know what that word is?” (Apparently going through his mind was: “Wow there are so many strange music words – I have no idea what they mean!”)

Big J explained while giggling, “Sometimes I just make up my own words to explain what I’m meaning... it’s V-V-V-V-Ventulaning, starts with a V and ends with an N.”

So there you have it. I’m quite proud actually. I went through several semesters as an English major trying, with my fellow students, to invent new words our professors wouldn’t pick out as made-up! Ventulaning may have just been successful. It sure was tonight!

this email made me blush like a 7th grader

Subject: Will you go out with me? From greg

Renee,
I wanted to ask if you wanted to go out on a date with me sometime this weekend? Maybe we can find a babysitter and can spend some time together. I really miss you with all of my work.
love greg

Over the Hump

I'm halfway done blogging every day for the month of November. After that, I think I may be done for another month! So to celebrate I was thinking about what LDS missionaries tend to do on their hump day - or half way point. Some burn a tie, pants... anything, somehow burning is a treat I could never quite understand. Now I do. I want to burn my computer.

Instead I am stealing this idea and calling it my post:

You can only answer with one word. No explanations.

Yourself: Mommy
Your partner: dreamy
Your hair: blonde
Your Mother: giggly
Your Father: religious
Your Favorite Item: bed
Your dream last night: strange
Your Favorite Drink: daiquiri
Your Dream Car: clean
Your Dream Home: precisely
The Room You Are In: master
Your Ex: married
Your fear: bridges
Where you Want to be in Ten Years? Canada
Who you hung out with last night: myself
What You're Not: male
Muffins: homemade
One of Your Wish List Items: laminator
Time: essence
The Last Thing You Did: primary
What You Are Wearing: red
Your favorite weather: lacking
Your Favorite Book: myriad
Last thing you ate: salad
Your Life: gift
Your mood: anecdotal
Your Best Friends: special
What are you thinking about right now: Thanksgiving
Your car: camry
What are you doing at the moment: sitting
Your summer: over
Relationship status: everlasting
What is on your tv: Disney
What is the weather like: gloomy
When is the last time you laughed: today

Let Me Take A Moment

Moments come in all types. It is quite impossible to qualify what exactly a moment is.

“Just a moment” when you are sitting on the toilet, not only doing the obvious, but practicing your breathing techniques so that when you exit to the wriggling fingers under the door, the yelping of siblings not quite getting along and dinner that needs to be made 10 minutes ago… you will be calm, cool and collected.

“At the exact same moment” the phone rang, the baby had a blow-out, your toddler somersaulted off the top of the bunk bed, your preschooler is experimenting with how long the fish can stay out of water and your husband wants some action.

“It was one of those moments” where I knew beyond a doubt that I was meant to be home with my kids. They were singing “I am a Child of God” and cleaning up their bedroom together.

Enjoy the moments.

Regrets

I regret committing to writing every day this month. This is hard work you guys – I need a little encouragement here; perhaps a comment or two?!

Anyways, Mr. Man and I have been talking about making getting a video camera a priority. We really wish we’d kept the used 1980’s one we had out in Hawaii when Big J was a baby. It’s so fun to have that footage and we wish we had more of it and of more of our kids. Some friends of ours told of a tradition on of their parents have: they give their children and spouses video cameras as a wedding gift. Talk about the gift that keeps on giving – you know those parents (now grandparents) are bound to see their grandbabies growing up on video!

So for the record, what do you all know about the new and improved video cameras – what should we be looking for? What kind do you own? I have done zero research and am totally throwing this out there – so help me with my regrets. I need advice and comments!!!

One in a Million

We made the trek up to Riley to see another pediatric orthopaedic surgeon this morning. Two children somehow managed to get in the car without their shoes and so we had to walk the "10 miles uphill both ways in the snow" from the parking garage to the hospital with our almost 6 year old in the flimsy stroller and the boys balancing precariously on our arms and shoulders – also holding the packed to the hilt backpack with toys, snacks and emergency clothing for at least a week. (Mr. Man thinks I’m insane, but if I hadn’t brought it all, we would have needed it!) Our visit didn’t take too long and we made it home in time for lunch, Big J to have a run in with the wall (almost resulting in a trip to the ER), kindergarten drop off and then speech and physical therapy appointments. I’m exhausted. So are my kids. We’re a rather grouchy group right now.

Mr. T got a new brace for his right foot. One specialist recommends it, another says no brace will help and we shouldn’t limit his motion in any way. One specialist says to wait for surgery until he is in excruciating pain daily, another recommends January (since it’s no fun to be in a cast for the holidays). Basically Mr. T’s extra bone and floating cartilage are in a nasty spot – right in the middle of his ankle nice and close to his growth plate. Removing it is nearly impossible. Plus it most likely will grow back continually. De-bulking it is another option, since the extra bone is growing so large his foot is collapsing and he can hardly walk on it. But the surgery also poses risks. Immediate arthritis, possible need for an ankle fusion and every specialists’ announcement that this is “unchartered water” - his condition affects one in a million. They don’t know. They want us to decide. The surgery could either make his pain better, remain the same, or much worse.

I want my little boy to be able to walk to and from the mailbox. I want him to be able to have a chance when he races with his little brother. I would love for him to be able to play any sport he wishes to try out for... and I wish both his legs were the same length so he wouldn’t trip and fall so much. I don’t want him to have to limit himself because it hurts or he’s scared of potential pain. I hate that he feels different and tells stories where he uses his magic to “make my ankle disappear”. Yes I know things could be much worse. Sometimes I forget he has a problem at all, but on days like today, my heart aches as we try to make the best decision for our little boy who still has so much ahead of him. Long-suffering is a good word to describe my sweet boy, and I hope and pray we are guided in making the right choices for him.

Being Primary President

Our first Sunday at Church here just over two years ago, I walked into the Primary trying to find someone in charge to introduce Big J and see where she should go. When I couldn’t find an adult for the first 10 minutes of scanning over what felt like a billion children in kahoots, I knew that I would be called into work in the primary. The following Sunday the Primary Presidency was changed and I was called as a counselor. I knew nothing about primary except for what I remembered from ages 3-12 – and that wasn’t too much. Lots had changed, and I felt overwhelmed... but I also enjoyed being challenged and letting my creative juices flow as I found my groove in that position. There were times I struggled with only offering ideas and not being the one in charge who was able to make the decisions. Often I struggled when I felt that no decisions were being made. Yes, at times I even uttered the words, “If I were Primary President...”

One year later, on my 25th birthday, I received a phone call from our Bishop. It wasn’t to wish me a happy birthday. My 25th birthday was a difficult one for me, but I had no idea how that day would make my life even more difficult: I became Primary President.

I feel like I can never feel like I’m fulfilling this calling. I really struggle with it and feel inadequate a lot of the time. Since returning home after our summer “break” it’s been even more difficult. Every Sunday since I’ve cried. I’ve felt like a failure, like I can’t do it, like I don’t want to do it... the list of emotions goes on. I don’t want your sympathy, and I don’t need anyone to tell me how wonderful they think I am... I’m just expressing how this calling has affected me lately.

I’ve tried numerous Sundays to approach my calling with a different attitude. There was the Sunday I decided that no matter what anyone (child or adult) said to me I wouldn’t let it affect me! It still did. I would wake up rededicated only to feel that once again, even with extra effort, I was failing at this super-humongous job that someone closer to my mother’s age (and ability) should be doing. And, again, I would cry.

Today, somehow, was different.

We had our Primary Sacrament Meeting Presentation, and it was perfect. Granted we went over our time limit by a good half hour or so, one child was bleeding at the end of it and several people have commented to me about ways to improve it for next year (all of which have grown children of course!) But I feel great. I feel so much love for the 56 children who had parts to share. I enjoyed hearing them belt out the parts of the songs they know so well and mumble through the lines that nobody really remembers anyways. My heart soared when my daughter did her part and radiated so much calm and confidence. I was overjoyed when our Bishop closed our presentation with an ode to primary and the amazing people who keep it running. The rest of Sunday flowed just as smoothly and it was a really great Primary day! I have been on a high the rest of the day and feel okay even though I just lost two more teachers and still have another to replace. Somehow the weight that has been burdening me has lessened and I’m glad. At least for one day I don’t hate my calling and that’s technically a good thing.

Remembrance Day

They call it Veterans Day here. I grew up with Remembrance Day. At the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month we would have a moment of silence. I can still hear the trumpet playing the “Last Post”. My heart is full when I think of the sacrifice of so many; sacrifice for the freedom that so few today take a moment to remember. I remember making and wearing poppies, placing wreaths at the graves and statues of soldiers who are both strangers and heroes to me. I remember the stories shared by those who truly remember, because they had been there. I remember the lives and remarkable experiences of my grandparents and ancestors who did what they could to make a difference for their descendants. And as I remember those who have gone before me, I also reflect on those who are still yet to come. The many future generations who deserve the same freedoms we possess and the same reminiscences we cherish. I hope and pray we remember to protect what we have, to respectfully pass it on and to pay tribute to those who made our liberty possible. Remember.

Killer Imaginations

Our boys have been waking up way too early lately. In an attempt to silence them I have allowed them to crawl into bed with us. Two wiggly boys is a little difficult, however, and Mr. Man has declared it unacceptable. The new solution has been to tell them to go either go play in their bedroom or read books. Somehow, they have interpreted that as "go yell and fight with each other so that Mommy and Daddy have to get up!" In my moment of sleep-deprivation this morning, I found myself yelling back "I'm going to cut your heads off it you don't be quiet - that will teach you!"

How do I teach these boys to get along without us there? What are they fighting about?

Mr. Man and I had a moment of insight into the latter question this morning when we heard a shrill scream followed by Mr. T hysterically yelling the following at Little E:

"THEM NOT COOKIES, THEM BROWNIES! THEM HAVE CHOCOLATE ICING ON THEM - SO THEM BROWNIES!!!"

When I finally succumbed, arose and entered their room, there were blocks of all shapes and sizes scattered everywhere. Little E, with hand extended, smiled and offered me a "tootie (cookie) Mama". Mr. T just glared at him with a look that could kill.

How do I enforce love without stifling imagination? Basically, how can I sleep in till 7am without having my boys kill each other or threatening to do it myself?

Shark

The future-lawyer-that-wasn't in me still gets tingly when watching ferocious lawyers! Mr. Man and I live for Thursday nights when we can watch "Shark". It reminds me of when I took my self-defense class last year - I'd work all day not to yell at my kids so that I could let it rip at my class! Shark lets it rip and its almost cleansing for me! If you haven't seen this show yet, I recommend viewing it at least once and seeing if its for you. You'll either love it or hate it.

Suckers for Graduation

J: "Mom, when are we going to go visit our cousins again?"

Mom: "Probably next summer when Daddy has another break from school."

J: "What about Christmas break?"

M: "Daddy has a really big test to write during Christmas break, so we won't be going anywhere."

T: "Why does Daddy have to do testes?"

M: "Because he goes to school."

T: "When will Daddy be done school?"

J: "He won't be done until he graduates."

T: "What happens when he graduates?"

M: "He gets a job."

J: "And then we get to move to a new house - a BIG house!"

T: "Does he get a sucker?"

M: "Pardon?"

T: "Does Daddy get a sucker when he graduates? Can we give him a treat when he gets done?"

M: laughing "Sure, we can give Daddy a sucker when he graduates!"

J: "We should give him a party too - he's been going to school even longer than I have!"

T: "I bet Daddy can't wait to graduate - you know why - cause then he gets a sucker!"

New Chore Charts

Again, my picture taking skills don't do justice to my charts - yes I know what my strengths are!

I stole my friend's octopus idea (which she stole from a preschool book from the 70's that her Mom used!) The hands are removable and they consist of the things that have to be done in the morning - our morning routine. This way though, the kids get to choose which order they do them and can attach the hands as they do. (Hello teaching responsibility through personal choice with a little instant gratification.) When they have completed the chart, I raise my hands up and they get to jump to get some high fives. They are not allowed to cry if they can't do something... but can ask a parent or sibling for a helping hand. It worked well today anyways!



Next I created some weekly job charts for each of the kids. We haven't had any for a while (since the Incredibles ones - and Little E has never had his own!) My begging for help hasn't been going over well lately for anyone - so these were badly needed and the excitement has been astounding!

Little E gets a train of course! Each day he gets to attach another car to his train that tells the job he does! He is thrilled and wanted to do much more than one job - which is typically a gigantic battle! (Hopefully this chart will also help with his colour recognition and naming.)






I had wanted to do a Cinderalla theme for Big J - but she asked for Sleeping Beauty (which is fine as long as she doesn't slack at being my servant)!
I found these cool magnet sets but in the mean time I totally copied them (don't sue me!) and printed and laminated them. Big J gets to change her outfit with each daily job. Plus, each day that she practices piano she can put on Sleeping Beauty's crown! Very clever, n'est-ce pas?

















Mr. T's is probably my most favourite! Each part of the knight's armour has a daily job written on it - when he fights those daily battles he gets to cover them up with the real pieces of colourful armour! I really could put any chore down I want with new charts - they are willing to do anything for these babies! I should have put "Clean Toilets" - oh well! It was an exciting mothering moment to see my kids joyfully doing laundry, cleaning sinks and scrubbing the stool! Again, I bear solemn testimony of charts! I LOVE 'em!

Cat Fight

It seems that every year as the chill in the air becomes more constant, our family adopts a pet, or two – or more! Last year we had a group of grown cats all carefully named: Sparkle, Julie, Cruella, and Calicorn. When Papa visited at Christmas, he left us with a couple months supply of cat food for the little critters, and the tradition got a little more serious.

This year, as you may remember, Sparkle (who last year was a male and this year had a litter of kittens) is back with her five kittens (the Papa cat being last-year’s Cruella!). One of the kittens adores us and visits us constantly... she even tried to sneak in the house when Little E conspires with her and opens the door! Mr. Man named her Christmas (because he thinks she won’t last till Christmas out in the cold – she is the runt of the bunch after all!) Big J likes to call her Christmas because it looks like her ears have been dipped in frosting for Christmas cookies! There’s another little kittie who looks just like her but is black, and so her name is Copycat. Then there is the one who runs away feverishly every time we open the door – so he’s Scaredycat. The fourth one is AltTab – because he’s half tabby and pretty alternative looking. The fifth little kitten, poor soul, is more than a little scruffy looking and Mr. Man calls him Roadkill.

I have to admit to being an avid non-pet-lover. I’m basically disgusted by most little creatures. Those little fur balls are anything but cute to me. They have done dirty business in my garden, peed in my boys’ trucks and turned our chairs and mats into hair-covered lounging areas. I despise being hissed at in my own backyard by a protective mother cat, and was ready to vomit when a dead mouse was being played with just on the other side of the door while I was trying to eat my breakfast. Mr. Man gets all cute and cuddly when he sees those cats. His voice rises at least 100 decibels and he’s just about ready to take out stocks in cat food. While I shiver in disgust and dislike, Mr. Man shivers in adoration and a desire to really adopt those little critters (he’s even thinking about building them a little cat house out in the woods behind our house!). Thankfully our lease is to my defense at this time, but Mr. Man has started an all out coup d'état to get the children riled up to demand a cat, or a dog or some other dirty, smelly, hairy, annoying creature into our house as soon as we leave this protected estate.

I told Mr. Man that when the day comes that he is sleeping with an animal, he won’t be sleeping with me! I’m curious what Dr. Laura would have to say about this cat fight that we have going on between us. How do two people with un-negotiable feelings negotiate? At least we have a few years to figure out if we’ll have to pay for two separate dwelling places or not! In the mean time I curse the cats as I fill up the bowl with milk three times a day. The children are thoroughly entertained while I have time to myself, and at 10pm every night I get to mock my adoring husband as he fiddles with the indoor and outdoor lights to get the best possible look at his favourite little furry flock.

Ring Around the Tub

A couple of months ago we were at an outdoor Church Dinner/Activity and all the kids were playing in the big field. Several of the younger ones enjoyed the red dirt that designanted the positions for the baseball diamond. Little E was filthy - and loved it! However, just this past week or so, he has suddenly become conscious of dirt and is changing his mind about how he feels about it. I'm shocked. It's so drastic! My little guy will refuse to go any further, yelling that "it's muddy, uck"! Other terminology recently uttered are "gross!" and "ucky, I don't like it!" Looking at these pictures it's hard to believe... I'm wondering which may be the "phase" and which the "reality".
The pictures don't even do justice to how dirty Little E really was - or how disgusting my bathtub became when we had to clean him. Thank goodness for oxi-clean - his clothes are good as new!

Stinkin' Good Day

Today is the first day I really wish I hadn't taken on the challenge to write everyday. Not that I don't have lots to write about... but mostly because we did so much I barely have the time to write.

Thoughts from today without the details:

*Waking up at 5:30am is much more enjoyable now than it was when I was a teenager and had to go to seminary or volleyball practice... could it be that I enjoy the solace more now since it is harder to come by?

*My children are absolutely adorable and the most interesting and creative human beings I could ever imagine knowing (note: we were in the car together for about 6 hours today!)

*I feel very blessed in my life.

*I think God enjoys spoiling us with small everyday miracles. I'm grateful He does.

*I am the luckiest girl in the world; I have married the man of my dreams. He makes me smile too :)

*Good friends come and go, and it's wonderful when oppourtunities arise to meet with them again.

*We swapped babysitting with a couple who only have one child about 1 yr old. When I asked what their impression of our children was after watching them, the husband replied, "I didn't realize kids grew up to be so stinky." What should I make of that? Granted it is bath day and Little E had just let a big one rip... but still... please, oh close friends of mine, inform me if we have a bad family smell.

*Never go jean shopping at the end of a good day. That, my friends, will be a blog all to itself.

Good night.

Rabbit

I had a Bishop once who testified of the reality of the Books of Winnie the Pooh. He promised that if we would read, we would learn many of life’s lessons from these simple stories. He also insisted that many of us could easily compare ourselves to the characters and in turn learn how to work together and get along with people of all different types of traits and demeanors. Ever since he said that, I’ve been convinced that I’m Rabbit. Anal, annoying, demanding, bossy, a neat-freak, organized, craving order and alone time. I’m not proud of it, and have even tried to watch Winnie the Pooh looking for myself in a more likable character, such as Pooh or Piglet, perhaps even Kanga. I have no hope of being a Tigger, and no desire to either – holy hyper! Eeyore is by far my favourite... but what else does that say about me... I’m depressed and gloomy? Who knows? All I know is, that the other day when the kids and I sat down to watch “Pooh’s Heffalump Halloween Movie” (which scared the daylights out of them) I kept hearing myself talking when it was really Rabbit. Seriously freaky. Which character are you and why?

United We Stand; Divided I Fall Asleep?!

One of my first posts was about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Today, all I can think about is that when I grow up I want to be a Daddy.

Yesterday my boys, tired from the effort of trick or treating a minimal amount of houses, decided to fall asleep as we were walking to pick up Big J from school. That was at 3pm. No amount of freezing air, bumpy rides, undressing or transferring would wake them up. Mr. T awoke at 6:30pm starving, and at that point Little E was transferred to his bed since it seemed that he was done for the day. Not so. When he awoke at 8:30pm ready for breakfast and happier than ever to start his day... I was more than ready to end mine! I made them breakfast, read some stories and let them watch a “Little People” DVD. Of course, Big J was bawling that it wasn’t fair that they were up and she wasn’t. My argument was that if she had napped for even 5 minutes (versus Little E’s five hours) I would be letting her stay up, but since she hadn’t and she was obviously exhausted (see previous sentence which divulges fact that she is bawling) she had to go to bed. Mr. Man came home and let her stay up with the boys.

Everyone was in bed a little after 10pm (our usual bedtime is between 7 and 8). Mr. Man and I went to bed just after 11 and at least one of us had a good night’s sleep. While I was up and up and up with my wide awake annoying children who only seem to know how to holler “Mommy!” - somebody was enjoying a nice trip to dream land. Today while I deal with crabby, tired children who are crying over everything... Mr. Man gets to go to a nice quiet office all by himself and write a dissertation. Truly, I want to be a Daddy... at least today it looks like a good profession.

I’ve just declared nap time for an indefinite amount of time – nobody is allowed out of their rooms until they have fallen asleep. I know they need sleep, and I am positive I can’t go on without any either. I suppose if I were a Daddy I wouldn’t be able to do this; however, I wouldn’t need to – I’d be well rested from sleeping through the night!

Sweet Success

Halloween has been going on for a couple of weeks here it seems. Yesterday morning the kids woke up bright and early, as though it were Christmas! Thus began the costume wearing and costume changing. Since we had no school due to parent-teacher conferences, we had a day-long party. We sang Halloween songs and rhymes, read books, did crafts, baked goodies, went and rented a movie to watch together and just had a great day all together at home (with just Daddy missing!) After dinner the real decision of which costume to wear had to be made. It turned out that Big J was Odette (from the Swan Princess) and Mr. T became Prince Derek (also from Swan Princess, my little guy’s favourite movie right now!) Last week Big J was the Tooth Fairy, and Mr. T was Ammon from the Book of Mormon (note his sheep and sword to cut off the bad guys’ arms!) Little E remained true and faithful as Rocket from Little Einsteins.

Tooth Fairy (last week)

Odette (last night) - Grandma made the dress!

ROCKET!!!

Obsessed with candy, ROCKET!

Ammon (last week)

Prince Derek (last night)

Little E did about 5 houses, and under the impression that he could immediately eat each candy as he received it, and pretty upset about life in general (having just woken up from a VERY late unexpected nap) he returned home. Mr. T rode in the stroller after that (his ankle was sore) and Big J and I ran as fast as we could from house to house eager to gather all the candy we could! Much to my disappointment Mr. T declared that he didn’t want any more candy after about 9 or 10 houses, and that was that. He was pretty scared of all the costumes, but enjoyed being with his little neighbor friend, Spiderman, who held strong to the side of his stroller between houses. All in all I’d say Big J had enough stamina and determination for all of us. I called it quits when I could no longer feel my fingers and my toes were numb from the cold. (Of course it was 72 on the 30th and 42 on the 31st!) The chocolate was a little on the low end, but we’ve stored plenty candy away for decorating our gingerbread houses next month. I’m excited to get some more costumes on clearance – dressing up is such a fun and favourite activity at our house! And, as it seems, we need plenty for the constant change of costumes even on that day of days where dressing up is rewarded with candy! Trick or treat?!