Our new Cat

Many years ago my dad told a story to the kids about a phantom snowman. At the time I was thinking why is he telling this random story. When we got home there was a 7 foot... white trash... blown up... snowman. Thus began the tradition. Each holiday they know to count on Grandpa for some lovely yard decor. Soon he bought this Jock-o-lantern that lasted a long time. Look how young the girls are. Well, Jack has died and we got a new surprise this year.

A 9 foot cat that we now call Midnight. I have never seen a cat halloween decor, but leave it to my dad to find it. Excitement.

I did not understand why Brody was not as excited as the girls. It turns out he is concerned with the cat pooping in the yard. Try explaining to a 2 year old why this cat does not poop. I finally told him I would clean it up.

Jack

This was what Scott wore to his work Halloween party today. His good friend made it and I put some vinyl stickers on it. He wanted to wear the MC Hammer costume with it and be Jack Hammer. I thought it was a little too much, but I think I was wrong. He did not win the $100.00...maybe he should have been Jack Hammer and showed his dance moves for the money. The moves are worth far more than $100! There's always next year!!

Here's the winner...who would you vote for?

Hand me down Halloween

This year was a hand me down Halloween...I did not want to spend money on costumes when I have so many in the costume box. I should say I have girl costumes...so Brody got a new one.

My dashing Knight.

Carly gave this to Sydney....Little Red

Taylor gave this to Carly...pink pirate. Luckily, Taylor is Too Cool this year for Halloween so money saved for me.

Mc Hammer gave his costume to Scott.

We had no bare chest action but he did grace us with his Mc Hammer moves.

Happy Halloween!!!!

I am most excited about a costume Scott is wearing to work on Friday:)

Boys will be boys

Sometimes I feel like a first time mom as I parent my only boy. Boys and girls are not the same and I have had a few moments that have made that perfectly clear.

Brody and I had to go and do our after school carpool. Everyone who does this knows there is a long line that you wait in and you can't leave your car unattended in this line. I don't know what would happen but it is an unspoken rule of carpool. Minimally a lot of angry parents. Anyway, we were waiting in this line and all of the sudden he got the look. "I have to pee"...me being a seasoned mom said calmly "You are going to have to hold it". To give him credit he tried and did the little pee dance in his seat. I could tell the dance was getting more frantic. I knew he could not hold it and I could not leave the car in the middle of the road and was blocked in by parents. With my girls there probably would of been no choice but to have an accident in the car seat and then have to wash the whole seat. But NO, now I have a boy. I quickly looked around the car and found an empty water bottle. No girls could ever pee in a water bottle. I thought this was amazing and a whole new perspective to boys. He of coarse was proud and as soon as all the carpool kids got in he said "I peed in a water bottle.." Then he had a show and tell and showed all the kids the pee in the bottle. I was just so happy to have a boy and not have to wash the car seat. Is that weird that was the best moment of the day?

My next favorite moment happened a couple of months ago, but I have to blog it as to never forget. Boys tend to grab themselves more when they are potty trained now the diapers are gone. It is great for telling me when he needs to go potty but bad in public. Scott has been telling Brody to stop grabbing himself and it is not a toy. A couple days later I was following my husbands lead and telling him to stop grabbing himself... it is not a toy. He turned and looked at me and said "But mom there are balls down there." I couldn't argue with that. I love you Brody and am so glad you changed our family.

FYI...on my new parenting technique of the African village...so far just the threats of taking pictures of them for the blog and making the neighbors see them has temporarily ceased complaints.

House Swap

I am looking to house swap with a family who lives in a remote village in Africa. Preferably one room shack, dirt floors, no running water, same outfit everyday, pet cow and no electricity. The further the water well from the house the better. I am so tired of listening to complaining children...life is not fair...whining, you never make her do it, ungrateful humans. If I ask them to do dishes or put their stuff away, you would of thought I asked them to walk 3 miles to the water well carrying it back on their head. They need a little reality check. I think I need to do some creative parenting. If you see my children walking around the neighborhood with buckets of water on their head or doing laundry in the yard...don't be alarmed. It is a lesson that is much cheaper than a trip to Africa. I promise I will take a picture.

New York or Bust

Scott had a business trip to New York coming up and someone had a 12th birthday coming up. So, she got a surprise.

These are photos of New York through the eyes of a 12-year old.

The Hershey's store really impressed her. She got the World's biggest peanut butter cup. It took Scott and her 4 days to eat it.

I don't know why this impressed her. We have McDonald's in California.

So many cabs in New York always make an impression.

Totally photo worthy

These are the models of what ground zero will look like once complete. Those are reflecting pools containing the names of 9/11 victims. She remembered that 9/11 was her first day of pre-school because Dad got to take her to school since no one was allowed into San Francisco.

How high can you go?

I insisted after going to see a Broadway show that they go up on the Empire State building. This is midnight in New York.

The two travel buddies.

Taylor, I hope you always remember this trip and how Awesome your parents are. As you grow older into your teens, you will start thinking that Dad and I are changing and we are not so awesome. Just remember, you are the one changing and we will stay the same....AWESOME!!!

Now on to the next business trip with my Man...London or Bust

My Arch Nemesis

Superman had Lex Luthor, Frodo had Sauron, vampires have werewolves and I have her, the "recycle lady"...MY ARCH NEMESIS. I have accepted the assignment to help Carly's soccer team raise some money by recycling all the bottles and cans thrown in the trash at soccer games.


I made these cute recycle bins so I would not have to dig through trash cans. Little did I know I was just making it easy for my arch enemy to steal from me. I put these bins out and was so excited to reap in the recycle rewards after the opening night of soccer. I kept monitoring the bins to discover people were using them perfectly. Then SHE appeared from out of nowhere and thrust her hand into my bins to take the cans out. I quickly went over to her and told her that she could not remove the cans from the bin. I explained that she could dig in the normal trash cans or pick up the litter but these bins are off limits. She smiled and walked away. I knew she got the message. She hung around and would literally take peoples drinks before they were done to add to her recycle bags. I guess I got distracted through the night and knew she would not dare touch them again. I was wrong. I looked up and she was stealing from me again. This time I was not nice and told her to leave and I was getting annoyed. Granted, she only came up to my waist so I knew I could take her. I had no bottles in my recycle bins and she had 3 garbage bags full. I became obsessed with her. Scott told me he would give me twenty dollars for recycling if I would stop talking about her and staring her down. Anyone who lives by me and sees her stealing from me at soccer...stop her. I am going to make her wish she had never seen my cute vinyl recycle bins. It's no longer about soccer fundraising...its personal:)

I now keep my recycling cans close to me at the kids soccer games so I can watch them. Only rarely, will I take my eyes off the recycle bins to watch my kids.

It is going to be a really exciting soccer season watching my recycle bins. I assure you I will be victorious. I hope the girls win some games too.