Tax Payment

I am definitely a procrastinator. Every year I get the check from my mortgage company early in December for my property taxes, and every year I am running out on New Years Eve day to pay my tax bill. You think I would just do it earlier in the week if not earlier in the month. It's not like I'm not out and about everyday. Maybe I should call it a tradition to make it sound more meaningful and less like a shortcoming.

Well off to the bank and City Hall I go on my traditional New Years Eve tax payment celebration....how does that sound?

Ducky Days

Who knew that there was such a enormous variety of rubber duckies. I have to say the ones that look like cat/duck mutations kind of creep me out. That aside...Kelly and her swim group had so much fun today at "Ducky Days" practice. It only happens once a year comes with much anticipation. Without going into the details I'll explain the event as this...one comprised of a group of hard working swimmers, a lot hands flailing during challenges of rock-paper-scissors, an occasional scream of excitement, and loads of goodies at the finale to be shared by the lucky winners. Still confused, that's OK, so am I. All I know is that Coach Mark sure knows how to make the last practice of the year a memorable one.

Tangible Blogging

I'm excited about a class I am starting in the new year at the Scrapbook Store! I'm calling it 365 Abbreviated. Abbreviated because I am not capable of taking a picture a day for a year, but I still find so much pleasure in capturing the bits of my life. For my sample for the store I compiled my blog posts, plus some extra bits and pieces from 2009, and slid them into an album; I used Bella Blvd (of coarse) to embellish the pages... and I have to say...wha-la! I have a great keepsake that I can hold in my hands and pass along! Even my biggest critics, my kids, have been spending hours paging through.

So why am I posting this on the blog? Because I started an additional blog related to the class in order to share and inspire people to record their life in 2010. I don't only want to teach, but to learn from others, and find new ways to look at life. I'm happy to say there are already some gals signed up for the class so we will soon be on our way!

If you would like to participate and follow along there is a link on the top left of this blog. So I invite any scrapbookers and nonscrapbookers (even those who accomplished the whole 365 in its entirety last year...you know who you are) to join me in 2010. You don't have to participate every day, or even every month. Make it what you want, but take the journey.

Christmas Eve in the Dog House

Ok, it bothers me that all these holiday posts are out of order. Anyway bare with me, here is one more post about our Christmas....

It's just too funny to resist blogging about our Christmas Eve celebration at my mom's house. The party included the six of us, my mom's friend Margaret, our cousins family, and my aunt and uncle.

Then there two wiener dogs, Kitsle and Tootsie, a lab named Bella, a pug named Tippy, a beagle named Mable, and if you recall the most mutt like dog of them all...Emma the basset wiener mix. So the humans totaled 15 and the dogs totaled 6. That makes for a very merry, hairy Christmas. Woof!

The Best Christmas Gift

We drove to Michigan on Christmas Day to visit Grandma in the hospital. Of the kids, Kevin was the most anxious to see her, and once he got a hug, his mind was put at ease. We all could see she was doing well. She smiled a lot, spoke of all her accomplishments, and sounded like her old self. We all told her how great she looked, and Kevin agreed with some very kind words....He said to her in a somewhat shy voice, "Grandma I like your face". That was a simple and wonderful way of putting the emotions of the day into words. We were all so glad to see her, and touch her, and have her here with us on this holiday. And although this Christmas was definitely not the norm, form the food we ate out of a cooler, to the matching garbs that we were wearing, we received the best gift of all...a smile on Grandma's face. I have to agree with Kevin, I like her face too.

Shhhh....It's Christmas

shhhh.....It's midnight on Christmas, the exhausted children are all tucked in their beds. Even though the nine year old is still not asleep, I have an opportunity for some quiet time to think about the day and the season. It goes without saying, that Christmas day is a time for prayer. And that leads me to counting my blessings. With four children and a healthy family, the month of December, with all of its festivities, gives opportunity for some great memories. I was going to post some highlights of the season, but the pictures are uploading slowly, and the later it gets, the more I feel the exhausting effects of the season. Therefore, this tired Mom is saying Merry Christmas and to all a good night.

All I Want for Christmas...

Like the song says...

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

Good thing we didn't rush to put lights on the bush in the front yard, because yesterday God did it for us. If you were up at 4am like Ricky and I (wrapping presents and watching Charlie Brown Christmas) you would have seen how beautiful the ice was on top of the snow that had fallen. It was a perfect ending to the day. Some last minute shopping with my hubby, and a wonderful snow storm. It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Busy Little Elves

Two Days until Christmas and the house is a mess...too many projects and holiday bliss!

The past week I have been busy going to activities at school and getting ready for class kickoff at the store. The result is that most of my household duties have suffered and I have some serious catching up to do.

But alas, I have help...Today the little McElves start their Christmas break from school. So I have a list for them to check over twice. If they get it all done Mommy Elf will be very happy and nice!

Also, throughout the day I will sneak moments at the computer to catch up on our life last week that I wanted to blog about. So check back and scroll down if you wish:)

Ouch! Says the Christmas Critters

You would think I would have learned by now to not leave things, especially fragile things, sitting out in the house. But I haven't learned, and after I took their picture I left the Christmas critters sitting on the counter.

I kind of enjoyed their company in the kitchen. One day I came into the room and found them all facing backwards, with their little butts mooning me. Another afternoon I walked in to find them showing off, all stacked on top of each other, the cow on the bottom the duck on the top. But today I walked in and saw carnage. Apparently when they were sanding in a stack, a Christmas card plummeted from the sky and knocked them off their feet. A sad day for the critters, except the cow, his udders are fully intacked.

Christmas Critters

For the past couple years in December Connor has grabbed a chunk of wood and his pocket knife to whittle me a one of a kind critter ornament. It's amazing what the kid can do with a stick, some paint, and a little crazy glue. In 2007 he created the deer, 2008 was the year of the cow, and this year he made a strung out duck. Mind you the duck comes adorned with feathers pulled directly from seams of my throw pillow.

But this years duck will not make roost on our Christmas tree. He will soon fly to Michigan to make Grandma's Christmas in the hospital a little merrier. Maybe if I hint enough my wonderful son will get the pocket knife out again and whip up another creation for his Mommy.

My Name in Lights

Some people may dream of their name in lights.

I realize my dream is to see my name on plastic. Let me explain...

Last night the Bella Artistas met to celebrate some Christmas Cheer and the success of Bella Blvd. At the party Stephanie surprised each of us with a goodie bag. As we dug though the pink tissue the squeaks and giggles erupted as we found our own personal set of stamps that she had designed for us. What a fantastic treat!

But actually this whole year and my journey with Bella Blvd has been a surprise and a treat in itself. I have met some wonderful new friends, and grew to know some old friends a little better. I've been challenged to grow in my hobby, and had the opportunity to work with some great products, and get a peak into what happens behind the scenes of the business.

This year I not only feel like I have been invited to be on a design team, but have become part of a family filled with inspirational, talented individuals, who when you get down to it, are just good people.

So seeing my name on those stamps means a lot to me. And even more meaningful is the little tag stapled to the gift bag that reads "Bella Artista...Katherine". To me, that is my name in lights!

Maybe the Grinch Was Just Really Busy

I've been thinking that since the Grinch was not in the Christmas spirit, maybe it wasn't because he was a "mean one", maybe the Grinch was just a "busy one". (Ok he did seem pretty mean) But I have not been in the Christmas spirit myself as of yet because the sports, the projects, the homework, basically, the things of life have been getting in the way.

I started out strong...the first week of December I was doing my daily devotions, focusing on the season, but now I have even become delinquent in my decoration a day schedule. Our house is only adorned with six Christmas objects and it is the 14th. If you do the math it is easy to see I am very much behind. And our tree has been standing at an angle in our living room for a week without a twinkling light on it until 8pm last night. Most people have wrapped gifts under their tree...if you look, my surprise seems to be unfolded laundry. Now that is a gift that keeps giving all year long.

Snowstorm Check List

Fire wood stacked and covered...check

Patio furniture put away...check

Downspouts on the gutters...check

Last of the bushes cut down...check

Weeds and leaves around the garbage can scooped out of the way...check

Snow blower ready to run...check

As I was dozing off on the couch last night I was awoken a multitude of time by the front door opening and slamming shut. My hard working husband was going in and out of the house until about 12:30 applying the final touches before the big storm we are expecting. Very ambitious so late at night! But now we are officially ready for winter, more ready than normal, and mostly because he did the most important tasks...

Pick up all the dog poop...check

And clean out the garage so the car can park indoors....check

(Yes that is our garage, not a storage shed)

All in the nick of time...

Thanks Ricky, you take good care of us!

Happy St Nick Eve

Tonight is the Eve of the feast of St Nick. The tradition in our family is for each child to ask the good saint for his charity by putting out a pair of shoes before going to bed. This in the hopes that he will leave a treat or two inside.

After dinner on this eve, Ricky and I had some errands to run, consequently leaving the four kids home alone. Creating this situation, especially close to bed time, there are some concerns for what might happen without adult supervision, especially since Connor is the one in charge. In fact, as we were shopping tonight I thought it was strange that we did not receive a single phone call asking permission for some food, or complaining of a problem. All seemed well, and it was. When we returned home and walked in the door we heard little giggles and a scurry of eight feet running to hide out of sight. Then we came upon a strange sight, a large assortment of shoes placed neatly at the entry way, waiting for St Nick. All the shoes those little stinkers could round up, a total of 37.5 pairs in all...

...oh, and one pair of fishing waders.

I think a lot of the fun being had in our absence was at Delaney's expense. Besides dressing her in the waders and having her reluctantly pose for a picture, the kids convinced her that her odds for more gifts is higher due to the increase of shoes. We'll see about that.

Catching Snowflakes

The first snow...brings a different reaction from everyone in the family.

Delaney stood outside, mouth open pointing at the sky, catching the falling flakes.

Kelly moaned that she didn't want snow.

Kevin immediately scooped snow off our backyard table into a glass to make a snow cone.

Connor was indifferent.

Ricky seemed more excited than normal, maybe because he doesn't have to shovel.

My favorite is how the sedum catches the snow. It was a beautiful thing to wake up to.

Christmas Countdown

I am a true believer that the holiday tunes should not be played before we celebrate the pilgrims' day. Today is Dec 1st, the turkey leftovers have been eaten, and I give myself the ok to start preparing for Christmas.

In the Catholic tradition the time right now is Advent, the time to anticipate, wait, and prepare for the arrival of Jesus. Our churches are not decorated in the red and green of Christmas, but instead the purple and pink of the advent wreath. The trees do not go up until after the last advent candle is lit and it is Christmas Eve. That is the day our Christmas starts, and is a tradition that I really enjoy.

I like to bring that same feeling of anticipation to my own home and family. So in order to not rush the season, on December 1st every year I haul out the green rubbermaid bins from the attic, and choose one decoration to put out that day. On December 2nd I choose another, and continue putting out one decoration each day until Christmas. By the 25th my home is filled with Christmas cheer.

The kids have enjoyed the tradition. Not necessarily in the spirit of Christmas, it has become a competition for them to search out the adornment that had gone up that day. So today I have to be honest, on the way to pick up from school I realized I forgot to put something out (typical), so I grabbed a decoration on the shelf in the basement that I forgot to put away last year. I started the season with this little snowman that Delaney created back in preschool and we are officially on our way to Christmas.

Maybe I'll share our Christmas progression on the blog, or maybe that would be boring. For now Happy Advent, and what every your tradition, don't rush, but instead slow down, grab a bit of celebration daily, and enjoy the season.

Transition time

Life's moments...there is school time, work time, friend time, volunteer time, time in the car, time in the house...there are few vacations, seldom a date night, and not much that is grand. It sometimes seems like the same ho hum stuff from day to day (with a few scheduling changes). Last night we watched the movie "Up" and it made me think about the events in my life and how they are the adventures of my life. It made me think and realize that no matter how much things seem to stay the same and appear boring, our family is in a constant state of transition and adventure.

There are predictable transitions:

from the feasting of Thanksgiving into the merriment of Christmas,

from the 60 degree temperatures this past weekend, to freezing cold windchill today,

and from games played on the volleyball court to games on the basketball court.

There are some uncontrolable transitions:

from dimples to laugh lines,

from health to healing,

from my baby in my arms to my big girl in school.

And there are challenging transitions:

like finding time to spend with my husband,

cleaning out the basement,

And saying goodbye to the backpack, owned since kindergarten.

So all those transition that the day brings, some big some small, some happy some sad, they all make up the time we take everyday to change together as a family. It may be exhausting, and seemingly ordinary, but an adventure that is ours that we are fortunate to share.

Scream!

That scream you heard across the miles was from some other lady in Illinois. I went uggg! I guess I will have to start saving my pennies for the Nikon D90 (Yes I was going to spend the whole $1000 on myself, that's the Black Friday spirit hey?).

Oh well, not this year. Apparently many other people are talented enough to write poems and lyrics in order to win the contest. There are some pretty creative entries. Check them out at the Best Buy winners page.

Hopefully Connor will get good news about the volleyball team.

Waiting

We are waiting...waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for an email....waiting for two reasons.

Connor had club volleyball tryouts ending last night. He is waiting to get an offer to join the team.

I entered the Best Buy Black Friday VIP contest. The winners were scheduled to be announced yesterday so at about dinner time on the 24th I had given up hope that I had won. But this morning I checked the forum and it seems that the winners have not been announced yet. So I will anxiously wait another day.

For the contest I had to write 250 words or less about what I look forward to on Black Friday. Here is my entry...

Twas the day after Thanksgiving, quite a bit before dawn,

I hit the alarm, and give a big yawn.

Out to the car in the freezing cold air,

To early to care about makeup and hair.

I drive down the road, when up in the sky,

Is that large yellow tag adorning “Best Buy”!

I wait in a line, coffee in hand,

Reviewing the sale, the bargains are grand.

The registers await to take in my cash,

Then the doors open and I make a mad dash,

For TVs, cameras, music, and more,

Oh what wonderful things I can find in this store!

From product to product I run in a flurry,

To check off my list I must shop in a hurry.

But that’s not to say that I miss the best part,

It’s not all about the stuff in my cart.

Part of the fun of this trip to the store,

Is to meet all the others who wait at the door.

My family and friends join in on the fun,

Best Buy is always the first stop on the run.

So now I have gifts for those home still asleep,

And some things for myself, I’m excited to keep.

As I exit the store, dawn is starting to shine,

I think to myself, it was worth waiting in line.

Off to the trunk, I pack gifts away,

And look to next year...and another Black Friday!

Of coarse check back...I'll let you know the result. And if you hear a scream of excitement across the miles you know that I have won!

A Little Taste

This week I helped Delaney's class prepare for Thanksgiving. We visited with pilgrims and indians (better to be a pilgrim, so you do not have to wear the paper bag vest of the indian).

We enjoyed turkey and pumpkin pie. And listened to songs about gobbling and eating.

It was fun seeing Thanksgiving thru the eyes of 5 and 6 year olds. We all enjoyed a taste of what we will celebrate in a couple of days, and now have a moment to spend some time thinking about what we should give thanks for.

Green Days

This time of year... in Wisconsin, it is the final countdown to finish cleaning up the yard, cutting down the brush, raking leaves to the curb. I have to say I like my yard clean going into the winter (easier to find the dog poop in the snow when the leaves are picked up) This weekend God gave us gorgeous weather to work in the yard. Looking out at it today, it brings me joy to see a leaf free lawn. And it amazes me how green the grass is this time of year. The depth of the color against the bare landscape is so bright and fresh even on a gloomy day like today.

There is another kind of green that is a part of life at this time of the year. It is the green of envy, the green of the dollar. I get the shopping bug this time of year. Soon approaching is the only morning when I look forward to rising before dawn. The reason is the Black Friday bargains. All those store adds with their door buster deals just makes me look to things that I normally wouldn't desire. Not that I give into the temptation...it passes as quickly as the adds go to the trash, but in the present day it makes me a little anxious.

So here is my thought heading towards this year's Black Friday. To let go of my own wants for frivolous things, and instead to think about all those who are anxious on a daily basis, due to job loss and cut backs. And on the day after Thanksgiving to do some extra shopping for those in need, because our family is fortunate to have a paycheck going into the bank. So this year I want to do more to help, and hopefully make someones life a little greener.

Ah, I feel better already!

Pool Time

Four colorful wrist bands. That's my collection for four sessions of sitting in the bleachers of Schroeder Aquatic Center this weekend. That adds up to about 12 hours of hot humid pool air while Kelly swam 6 prelim events and 4 finals, dropping a total of 37 seconds. A great weekend!

But the time spent at the pool is not all about the seconds and ribbons. When her and I go off to a meet, it is our alone time. A date you might say. We talk, observe, laugh, hang out with swim friends, and more often than not, stop for ice cream on the way home.

I learn about her on these weekends at the pool. This weekend I learned she is becoming more and more confident. And a hard lesson....that with that confidence and her new found independence my roll as mom is changing too.

When a disqualification occurred in her 100 fly she surprisingly came up to her coach and then to the bleachers with a smile. Until....she got to me. Then the expected reaction, and the tears came. I gave hugs and words of consultation, but she was still sad and embarrassed. Finally, off to the locker she went. Ten minutes later she came back acting as though nothing had happened. On the ride home I asked her how she was feeling. "Just great" was the reply. I was curious how she turned it around. She explained that her fellow swimmers were in the locker and were concerned about her, and then able to laugh with her about the whole experience, and that made her happy again.

During that conversation I realized her friends were able to give her something I wasn't able to. They were able to console her and make her feel better. A peek into the future when she will go to the girls instead of her mom.

I asked her what her teammates said that I didn't. She couldn't really explain it, but said that they just made her laugh and forget. Then she assured me that even though her friends made her happy, I was the one person at the pool that she could be sad to, and at the time she needed to cry more than laugh.

So I am still needed after all.

Healing Words

Last weekend Connor and Ricky went to visit Grandma Mac. It's unbelievable that ten weeks ago, as Ricky and I drove to Michigan we were thinking of words like scary, sad, and death when on the road. On our family's journey since then, the words we think of have definitely changed.

We can officially cross off words from the list like ICU, tracheostomy, and feeding tube.

Some hard words still included life include skin graphs, pain medicine, and physical therapy.

Words we are looking forward to having back are speech, strength, and home.

And new positive words would be chi tea, smiles, and sitting up.

Words I would use to describe my mother-in-law are anxious and impatient, but what I've always known as strong and resilient.

Continue to pray for words like healing, encouragement, and faith.

Veteran's Day

On this Veteran's day I am remembering two WWII vets that I was close to growing up...

Emery Turner...a coworker of my dad, and like a grandpa to me, he could write a poem for every event. The only one who thought I could win the P&H drawing contest back when I was nine. A great inspiration for my creative side. (He would love my scrapbooking) I never had a conversation with him about his service in the war. In fact, the only memory I have him as a veteran was at a dinner table conversation. I don't remember the details or the words, but I remember the emotions that arose from him during the interaction. As a young child I became scared and sad seeing a usually happy man so upset. That was a teaching moment for me, learning that the devastation of war may not consume a person, it may not come up often, but it lasts a life time.

My other WWII veteran was my Uncle Clem...The gentlest man you could ever know. My childhood memories of him include piling into his car with my mom and dad, not to go on a trip, but just to visit with him while he sat in the drivers seat parked on our driveway. I remember rides around the block on his lap and my dad taking the doors off the hinges in our house when he was coming to stay. Strange things to remember unless you know that he was a paraplegic. His wartime story was never a secret; he was shot during the war, and his life changed in an instant. Because of his injury, as a young man he would no longer walk, but would find the woman he would fall in love with, marry, and adopt a wonderful daughter. The way he lived his life, without complaint or condemnation showed me what a hero he truly is.

Knowing those two men has instilled in my heart a soft spot for that disappearing generation. So here is a video that stuck me as a great way to remember those veterans of WWII.

This morning God has created a beautiful day!

As I walked with the kids to the car we took notice of the morning sun lighting up the frost on the rich colors of the lawn and the leaves. (Delaney was in awe thinking it had snowed during the night) By the time I had returned from drop off the frost had melted and the lawn had retuned to it's ordinary everyday look.

A reminder for me to take time to see the beauty in life, and to say a prayer of thanks at that moment, so as to not forget before the thought melts away, and is replaced with some other part of a busy day.

A Girl Can Dream

Check out the Bella Blvd blog today. There is a great give away to win a Scrapbook Sussies kit featuring some Bella products. And while you are dreaming of winning that kit, check out who's mini album is also featured today...

My "A Girl Can Dream" mini...You may see the rest of the album and all the journaling at Bella Blvd. The album is about how my little girls dreams have come to be today's reality. A great reminder of how blessed I am!

Thanks to all who have looked and shared such nice comments!

Teenage Years...Fishy Friday

Ricky and Connor went fly fishing on the Milwaukee River today. A much needed retreat after a hectic week.

This photo of Connor standing in the middle of the river with his catch, wearing my dad's goofy waders and his favorite Ambacrombie sweatshirt, shining that big smile full of braces and pride, is a moment in time I need to focus on...

Right now it is the image of my first baby who is growing up and learning about the world, the little boy who is always the most enthusiastic about any project or idea, the young man who has a big heart, if he just would let it show a little more often, the teen who says his grandpa is one of his best friends, and the boy who I know is turning out to be a good man.

I guess I can make it though those teenage years. I just have to see and hold onto the little moments like today!

Teenage Years...New Way Wednesday

Instead of fighting a battle today, I told my teen that I was going to instill a new way of parenting. I'll call it "I'm Not Telling...You're Just Doing Parenting". I'll explain...

Here is a little background that brought this about....when I ask my kids to do a task I am not looking for them to do it with enthusiasm, or perfection, I'm just expecting a fairly well done job, in a reasonable amount of time. Connor has always struggled with this concept, and now in his teen years he seems less motivated to help, and less complete in what he finishes. So today I explained that instead of wasting my breath retelling how to do a task, if he does not do it to my liking, I will just add on another item to his list of things to do.

Tonight the first and only task was emptying the dishwasher. But after quite a long delay of emptying, and some unnecessary roughness with the silverware his list went from just emptying the dishwasher to also loading the dishwasher, then washing the dishes, and one more...drying the dishes and putting them away. As I added on each task Connor would shrug and ask what he did wrong. I reminded him that he is a smart boy and that I was not explaining.

After four tries he figured it out.

Too bad, I was hoping to get a lot more cleaning done on his behalf. Well, there is always tomorrow.

Teenage Years...Testosterone Tuesday

Here are some things I have come to realize that testosterone does to the teenage body...

It makes it harder to be a good loser (or a good winner)

Notes from girls appear more frequently

It makes the teenager answer "I don't know" to almost every question asked

More zits (that's a given)

It makes the teenager think he is always correct even if the thought is totally irrational

More looking in the mirror (for hair adjustments mostly)

It makes the teenager compare his growth to his parents' height on a daily basis to celebrate the day he is finally taller

More sleeping in (if possible)

It makes the teenager want to wrestle his father anytime they get in the same general vicinity

More grunting (by the way, I have figured out one grunt means "Yes")

Teenage Years...Mad Monday

Ricky and I agree that no one has ever pushed us to the edge, and made us so angry as some of our children have. Add to that an advanced teenage child, who is well witted at sarcasm, and quick with flagrant digs; the result can produce a very negative affect on a parent.

So what happens when the tension builds? In our house, there are usually some firm words from the parent followed by either a blank unknowing look, or some arguments from the teen. Voices are not raised on a regular basis, but sometimes it comes to that.

After one heated argument between he and his father, Connor did some healthy "art therapy" and sketched this image. During the dispute Ricky and his first born were feeling and sounding like this little guy looks. Therefore I'll pretend not to know if it is suppose to resemble the dad or the kid.

...Ok, I'll confess that Connor admitted he drew the irate creature to mimic his Dad...If it wasn't such a great display of reality he certainly should be grounded!

Sentenced to the Teenage Years

Lately I feel as though I am on the verge of a mental breakdown. Well, maybe not a real mental breakdown, but irritability and stress are definitely bogged down in my brain. I can pin-point the reasons for my instability, one being the St Matthias Volleyball season, and the other is my day to day existence with a teenager in the house. (Oh, and the fact that I still haven't got my hair cut...looking more like Snape everyday) Fortunately I can see the light at the end of the dark volleyball tunnel, but the teenager thing...just with this first child of mine, I'm looking at doing another 4 years; then add my other 3 children to the mix, and I am looking at 4 to 12 years. That's seems a pretty stiff punishment for me, the person who gave birth to them.

So what's better therapy than doing some lighthearted, hopefully humorous posting on my blog. I am going to do some backtracking and unfold a week of living with a testosterone....I mean a teenager. So check back later, for now I'm going to call to schedule that haircut.

How I Spent Trick or Treat

I spent my trick or treat with an overly happy nun who wanted to go to swim practice instead of candy hounding, a handsome and groovy hippy with quite the mustache, and a made up maiden who insisted she was a princess. Oh, minus my fourth treater who was at a party doing tricks with his pals.

The five of us were off to Muskego to treat with friends.

The sister seemed like she was feeling as hip as her bro.

After some delicious pre treating treats, we hit the pavement with bags in hand.

The fun began at dusk with my family, friends, and my favorite treater of all.

Isn't he a cutie!?

Boo!

Cupcake Wars

Meet the cupcakes...the one on the right, the one that looks like a spider with a hat, is suppose to be a witch. The one on the left, the one that looks like a hedgehog with google eyes, is suppose to be (hummmmm?) I guess it is suppose to be some kind of creature with google eyes.

Tonight on our table there became an army of witch cupcakes looking much like spiders....
Challenged by an army of google eyed creature cupcakes....
Tomorrow at the 4th grade Halloween bake sale who will win the war and be gobbled up first?

Keeping the Sunny Side Up

It has been so dreary here in Wisconsin. And on top of that, this week has been one of those "it's exhausting to be a mom" weeks. Last night all the misery came to a head. It seemed like almost everyone in the family had some kind of issue. So I am in need of a post reminding myself to get away from the gloomy, keep looking at the positive, and to keep my sunny side up! So here I go.....

Gloomy: Connor got a demerit at school today.

Sunny: A whole quarter of the school year down before getting his first official scolding.

Gloomy: I feel like I am never home lately...my house is out of control.

Sunny: I went away on a field trip to Illinois with my friend Elizabeth for the day and skipped out of school lunch duty. If I'm going to spend the day away it should be with a friend shopping instead of standing on the playground.

Gloomy: Ricky has a huge kink in his neck.

Sunny: At least he can turn his head in one direction (Sorry pal that is as sunny as it gets).

Gloomy: I so need a hair cut and color.

Sunny: Velcro rollers work wonders on creating some body.

Gloomy: They do nothing for the grey.

Gloomy: Delaney lost her library book.

Sunny: Found it.

Gloomy: Kevin forgot to make up a computer lab (caused some serious stress this morning).

Sunny: That grade doesn't go in until midterm. He has weeks to get it done.

Gloomy: I'm a bad pet owner and completely forgot to pick up Mable from the vet after she had her teeth cleaned.

Sunny: My mom called to check in to see how she was doing...I realized my dog was not home and was able to race over to the vet to get her right before they closed.

Gloomy: Kelly's Halloween costume is 5 inches too long.

Sunny: Her personal seamstress (Grandma) came over to do some adjustments.

Sunny: The 8th grade boys beat the girls A team at the pep rally. Makes for a happy teenager in my house.

Sunny: We have 2 out of 7 pumpkins carved...that is 2 more than last year.

Sunny: The office is on tonight.

Ahhh...I feel better already.

Anything sunny in your world? Feel free to share....

Old McElvain Had A Farm

Ee i ee i oh my gosh...look at that carmel apple!

And on that farm she grew a tomato....

Ee i ee i oh

add a google eye here

and a google eye there

here's a nose

there's a mouth

display the tomato in the house

Ee i ee i oh!

Deep Thoughts...By Connor

This was Connor's thought as we drove down our block on the way home from school on this perfect fall day....

"So if during the rest of the year everything (the grass, the leaves, and the trees) were yellow, and they did the opposite and turned green in the fall, would we think that green is such a beautiful color?"

Happy to be Ending?

This past Sunday marked the end of Kevin's soccer season...

The end of cold mornings out on the field...

The end of muddy cleats...

The end of sharing my chair...

That's what I thought until today when I opened my email....

There was a mistake....It's not the end, Ugh! We have games next weekend. So get out the blankets and hose off the cleats. We'll be back at the field on Saturday.