Last minute photo op

While I was out of town picking out tile for our house, Lee took the kids to a fall festival. They had a blast!

There was a big jumpy thing (that I would have loved)


And a water pump that they had fun with








They rode in some cows...


and took a hayride.


They also saw animals, pig races, and many more things.

When I returned from out of town, I realized there was not much time to squeeze Miller into her Halloween attire. Between being out of town, Miller being sick, and Lee dressing them, her Halloween clothes have not been worn.

Before Lee took Miller to the playground, I insisted she wear this outfit, even if only for an hour.


My sweet little pumpkin girl


(by the way, that is the first pumpkin I have ever carved. I did not find out until after the fact that there are pumpkin carving kits; I did this with a butcher knife and was thrilled I did not cut off a finger. It's still pretty pathetic...but luckily, the neighbors will assume the kids did it)

Today, the morning of Halloween, I forced her into this little number, complete with a sparkly skirt and rhinestone pumpkin faced shirt.


She was not a fan.

Fall fun

So one of the (many) reasons I feel so guilty (see post below) is that I have not taken the kids to the huge Halloween Festival/carnival this year. (we've been all previous years) We learned the hard way to go on a weekday because weekends are too crowded, but we just haven't had the time to go. Colby is dying to go, so we're going to try to go after Halloween since they stay open for a while.

Meanwhile, we did hit up our local pumpkin farm.

The obligatory "stick your head in a cow" picture


The obligatory "stick your head in a pumpkin" picture


They had a blast playing on this pirate ship***


Miller took a break from the pirate ship to pick out her pumpkin. (Colby opted to play instead)



*** Normally, I would have dressed the kids in their cutest Halloween attire, but it was a weekend and daddy dressed them. Daddy is all about function over form....so that explains it.

I suck....and a little Buzz on ice

I feel like a horrible mother. I feel like an even worse wife. I feel guilty about not taking enough pictures and keeping up with the blog. I am so spread thin with all this house stuff that I'm really falling behind in every day life. I can't remember the last time I made a really good homemade dinner. In fact, Lee has done more cooking than I have lately, and that includes nights that he works. I have so much guilt. I am not doing anything well. I haven't worked out in weeks- this is the first time in my life I have not made time for working out. I will be the first to admit that I do not handle stress well, and I really don't like it when I don't have any down time in my day. I've even let Colby miss a few of his swim lessons because it takes all afternoon to get there and back- that is so unlike me. I feel especially guilty that Lee has been taking the kids on weekend mornings to do all kinds of fun stuff while I stay home and do house related things or get paperwork in order.

It didn't help that our house went on the market this week. I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to make everything PERFECT. There was not one thing on a countertop anywhere....there were fresh flowers....mulling spices on the stove top... music playing through all the speakers. We have someone interested in our house, but if they don't buy it, I'm not going to those lengths anymore.

On top of everyday stresses, I made the VERY dumb decision to switch from a PC to a Mac this week....both computers at the same time. Wow, so don't do that.

Aside from all of that, I tried to forget about it all and we went to see Buzz Lightyear on Ice yesterday. The kids both loved it! Colby did not move a muscle except to buy a Buzz Lightyear laser at intermission. Miller sat very still for the first half, but was a bit fidgety through the second half. Here are a few picks of the highlights:

Off we go! Poor Miller has been battling an awful cold and was not feeling her best.


Colby loves all things military. He has been asking for a parachute for Christmas...I think he's really planning to jump off of something.




Colby's most favorite evil villain


The grand entrance






Colby sat just like this and did not say one word.


Miller sniffled her way through most of it, but had a great time despite the cold.


I am going to try to do better with my updates. Halloween is this weekend...hopefully lots a great pictures to come!

The things they say..

I just returned from a 2 day trip to check on our house. It's exhausting going back and forth, but thankfully, I am married to the most capable husband in the world. He holds down the fort and I return to a clean house and happy family. I am so thankful and lucky. We also have our wonderful babysitter Adela during the day, and thankfully, she knows them both very well and knows how to keep everyone happy. I picked out every light fixture for our house yesterday during a 10 hour period....whew!

When I got home, Colby was so excited to see me and told me how much he missed me. (so nice when then can express that)

As I was putting him to bed tonight, he said "Momma, I weawwy wanted to be at the "shotel" with you. I wanted to go to the shotel and sleep at the shotel. How did you see in the dark there?" Apparently, he had been asking Lee the same thing last night about how I was seeing in the dark- I think he thought I was wandering around outside. I explained to him (as Lee did) that the hotel had a bed and lights and that I was not sleeping outside.

After a back rub and some talking, I tucked him in and told him I needed to go downstairs and do mom things. He said "But I want you to stay up here and do Colby things". And of course, I had to stay a little bit longer.

Clothing pic of the week

I just love Fall, and I love Fall and Winter clothes. Maybe I'll do a "pic of the week" post with my favorite outfits of the week. Or maybe it will only be for today, but regardless, I'm having fun with the change of season.

There's only so much you can do with boy clothes, but jeans and flannel shirt is my favorite look.


Are these not the cutest boots you have ever seen? She has worn them twice and I have never received so many comments on anything I've ever worn! This look was completed with a knee length camel trench coat, which I didn't get a picture of.


The real hilarity in this post is that Colby and Miller will look back when they are older and just die laughing at how ridiculous and out of style they look. Don't we all do that when we look at old pictures? But for now, I could just eat them up.

Ready for Fall

Just a quick update while I pause my online browsing of bathroom tiles....

Things are moving right along and we are all happy that Fall is finally here.

That means, for one thing, matching Halloween PJ's.


Colby and Miller are having more nice moments and fewer struggles, although I still wouldn't say we are in the clear.


One of Colby's projects for school called for a family photo. Much to my shock and horror, we had not taken one of the four of us since last November!!!! It's always of one of us with the kids, but never all of us. I will do better!!!

One afternoon during one of our Friday playdates, I asked one of my friends to snap a quick picture. It actually turned out pretty cute, although it's not great of me because I'm laughing. (probably at myself for telling Colby to say "poo-poo pee-pee" instead of "cheese"...I know my son and what will make him smile) I think it's especially good of Colby and Lee.


And of course, with Fall comes Halloween costumes. Colby has been practicing for the real thing by dressing up as Batman almost daily.


Miller will be a garden gnome, but I have yet to get her to wear the hat. (she doesn't even like it why I try to get her to wear a new outfit or new pair of shoes) I bet once she understands that dressing up gets her candy, she will be all for it.

I'm heading out of town for 2 days for house meetings, but hopefully more Fall pictures we be coming soon.