Halloween in the Hood!

My neighbor Dave loves Halloween.  

Although we had moved in to our current house by October of last year, we were so busy that we missed the full effect of Dave's preparations.

This year, we are taking it all in.

The Dude is BESIDE himself.  He couldn't get the words out fast enough when he saw him start putting up the decorations.  

"Mom!  Look...look...over there...at Dave's...HALLOWEEN!...we need to buy my Werewolf costume...NOW!"

HP was a bit more reserved.  She took one look at the decorations before declaring (with her little snobby nose in the air)

"I don't love it"

I am sure she will change her tune come Halloween.

Aren't we lucky to have such fun neighbors?

Edited to add:  In the 7th picture down, there is a rocking chair.  On Halloween night, Dave dresses up in a Reaper-like costume and sits perfectly still.  Right as the kids ring the bell and yell "trick or treat!" Dave springs to life and scares the pants off them (he only does this to older kids).  Living across the street gives me the best vantage point to watch Dave terrify the neighborhood kids.  It is AWESOME!

Remember when...

You know when we all rallied around Ivy, the little girl who was denied medicine to make her quality of life better?  

Well...it worked!

There were enough signatures to have the "board" take a second look and they have agreed to treat her!  

Isn't the blog world wonderful!

Way to go guys!

Crew Cuts Vol. 2

I know this is a ridiculous amount of pictures, but I cannot help it.  I am surrounded by cute kids all day.  They are constantly doing amusing things (see yesterday's post for proof) and I just find myself being drawn to the camera.  

Once again, I am going to let the pictures do the talking (with my commentary thrown in for good measure).

Here is The Crew in the backyard.  They sit in the tree house and play house constantly.  It is so funny to listen to them call talk to each other in "character".  HP is especially dramatic, not a day goes by that she doesn't refer to one of her friends as "sweetie" or "honey".

HP, could her skin be any more milky white? 

I love this picture for the pure fact that Peanut (the anti-picture child of our group) is doing a crazy face in the background as if she WANTED to be in the picture.  Silly girl!

Miss. Thang reading Shmook a book.  I love how nurturing she is with the younger ones.  She really has blossomed into a little helper at daycare.  I also dig Shmook's little tuft of hair on the top.  I think I kiss it at least 20 times a day!

Miss Thang, using a drawer as a seat.  The time 20 minutes post-nap, brings out the weird in everybody!

Boo, with a serious face.

Sissy.  Her eyes sometimes take my breath away.  They are SO pretty!

Peanut and I.  Two crazy crackers (not meant in a derogatory way at all, its what the kids think is funny, like saltines) in the backyard!

Bing-Bing trying his best to bite into an apple.  Poor guy couldn't wait for the caramel to cover the apple, he had to dig right in!

Boo, showing off her skills from jump-jump (gymnastics)!  Don't you just love the boots/capri's combo?  So fashion forward!

Bing-Bing helping me with the vacuuming!  Now if only I can teach him how to sprinkle carpet potpourri!

Sissy and Piggy.  She as just transitioned to a cot from a crib and is doing wonderfully.  I love that she made sure Piggy was good and covered up before passing out!

The girls.  Doing what they do best...playing princess!

The Dude in Hemmy's Olympic swim cap.  This cap has been around the block and back again.  I hope you are proud Hemmy (and Chipmunk!).

Shmook LOVES the swing!  This is his "ha, ha, look how cool I am" pose!

Swanny Jr.  Oh.  My.  Lord.  This kid is a-friggin-doreable!  No joke.  If I could be guaranteed to have another kid, and him have the sweet demeanor of Swanny Jr., I may just consider it (quick, somebody slap me!).

I love Sissy's bed head.  Very chic.

Poor HP.  She has to wear the dang eye patch (again), but wouldn't you know she is being a total trooper.  The Crew has been clapping for her at afternoon circle time (when I have to put it on) and praising her "braveness".  I am SO proud of HP for being such a good girl and wearing her eye patch! (and is this not THEE most pathetic picture ever taken?)

Is it just me or is he looking more like a little boy?  AAAGGHHH!  Someone STOP TIME!

Miss. Thang, showing me her "eye bleed".  Poor girl was all up in knots about it.

Daycare 101

Rule #1- Never leave 3 year-old girls with markers and princess stickers, while you take a bathroom break.

I've been tagged!

Apparently in the blogger world you can play virtual "tag".  How it works (I think) is that someone makes a post (usually a list of sorts) about themselves and then "tags" other blogs to do the same.

I have been tagged by Jen (Peanut's Mom) who has just listed six Quirky things about herself here.

So, without further adieu...

Six Quirky Things About Me...

1.  I LOVE vacuum lines.  Seeing the clean appear right before my eyes...its bliss.  Growing up we had Berber carpet in our basement.  Although I got slight satisfaction knowing the floors were clean, it was not NEAR the elation I felt once I realized the carpet I have now left lines.  It takes me to my happy place.  Throw in a little carpet potpourri and I am downright in heaven.

2.  I can't stand liquid cough syrup.  I especially have a strong aversion to the cherry kind.  Why you ask?  When I was about 13, and REALLY sick, my mom thought it would be a good idea to mix cherry cough syrup and milk.  *shudder*  What I ended up trying to drink, was the most God awful concoction known to man.  Even the smell of Red Bull gives me the dry heaves.

3.  I am a really good lip reader.  This stems from me having hearing loss in my left ear.  Sometimes, for fun, I watch the news with no sound just to challenge myself to pick up what they are saying.  Good times eh? *eyeroll*

4.  When it comes to the Chicago Bears, I am very superstitious.  I am convinced that they lost last Sunday, because I was wearing a new Bears shirt (that is now tainted).  If I'd have just wore the shirt I wore in their win against Indy, we would be sitting pretty...

5.  I am a meticulous bed-maker.  Bedspread must be just so...pillows at right angles...sheets smooth...if I see an unmade bed, I immediately get the urge to make it.  My mom (the cough syrup queen) would be proud.

6.  I Ziploc poopy diapers.  I know it is not economical or enviro-friendly.  I like knowing that the poo is contained and the smell cannot escape.  Its another one of those "happy place" things...

Last Sprinkle of the Summer

The Dude and his neighborhood friends got a wild hair up their little arses and decided to get the sprinkler out last night.  It was warm, but by no means hot.  The kids didn't seem to mind one bit.  

You could hear their squeals and shrieks all the way down the block (is there anything better than hearing laughter from kids?).

After all was said and done, The Dude was pretty proud of himself.  Apparently it was the two younger boys versus the older girls (using the term "older" VERY loosely here) and according to The Dude, the boys won.  

But in my humble opinion all came out equally soaked and with matching perma grin's!

Crew Cuts Vol. 1

I always end up with a bunch of pictures from my days with the crew that are too small for a post all by themselves, but great for a post all lumped together!  So I will be posting Crew Cuts every once in a while, when I have random pictures that you all NEED to see.  :)

Here is Shmook showing off his walking skills.  He is 9 months old TODAY!  Quick, someone call MENSA, we have a baby genius on our hands! ;)

Boo's interpretation of a "silly face".

Here are Boo, HP and Peanut playing "kitty cat" in the backyard.  They were meowing the entire time.  These three LOVE pretend play.

Peanut, in a moment of reflection.

Bing-Bing's first go at the jumping machine.  Do you think he is having fun?

Shmook on the swing!  He just got two new teeth so the tongue-out expression is one of his faves!

Only little girls would attempt to run together holding hands!

HP's interpretation of a "funny face".

The Dude making Bing-Bing laugh at snack time.

Pretty, Pretty Princess

Who needs pants when you have so much BLING?!