Call me a pagan - but Halloween has always been my favorite holiday of the year. Well, at least it used to be my favorite holiday -- until the pressure of the sewing of Halloween costumes overtook my sanity.
I will admit the hatred of costume making is largely due to my procrastination. My kids generally have their costumes picked out in the spring - I'm not kidding. I guess I've instilled in them such a great love for Halloween that the planning generally begins around Christmas time - with the final decision being made around Easter (if only I could instill such a strong love for housework or pulling weeds). So, if I were a smart one, I'd commence with the sewing around Memorial Day weekend. Surely, by doing this I'd have the time and energy to sew 3 costumes (minus the burning of the midnight oil).
When my kids were younger, my mother warned me against sewing costumes. She told me that as they got older - the costumes would get more difficult. I ignored her and had my fill of cute little panda bears, a mermaid, an elephant, rapunzel a flower, and a bee among others. Those were the days. And now my mother's prophecy is coming true. But truly, it's not the costume patterns that have gotten more difficult - it's just my kids are so much bigger - and it takes so much longer to make these larger costumes.
Last year, the twins were Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. J was a spa girl - which involved only buying her a robe and green face cream - easy peasy! Of course, the week before Halloween, I spent many a late night getting those costumes finished. I even informed the kids that they would be being Luke and Leia this year (of course, in the Spring their request of being a ninja and a witch didn't seem like such a big deal).
This year, I actually bought the fabric and patterns in September. I was so proud of myself. Then my 12 yr old informed me she wanted to be a go-go girl. I tried to beg off on even making her a costume - I mean she's 12 for heaven's sake - but through the power of tears and "but you haven't made me a Halloween costume in 3 years - she won. Things would've still been okay if I would've started the sewing in September - but in mid-October, I had a craft night in my ward that involved me cutting out a bunch of wood - and stressing out over. So the fabric patiently waited in my craft room (the kids waited not so patiently).
With the craft night behind me, I finally felt like I could begin the sewing. I stayed up till midnite Monday night, 2 am Tuesday night. Went to Idaho for a funeral on Wednesday and returned home Thursday at 10 pm. Stayed up til 3 am Thursday night - so the ninja could be ready for fighting at the school Halloween party on Friday (might I also add that sewing costumes in the wee hours of the morning is not recommended - when Mr. Ninja tried on his costume on Friday morning - one sleeve was 4 inches longer than the other, the ties on the front of the costume didn't match up - and his pants ripped out about 2-3 inches in the side seam during recess). Luckily, the 2 witch capes I made (one for my niece and one for my daughter) - were much easier to handle - and so far nothing needs fixing for the witchy poos.
That leaves me with today. Tonight is the trunk-or-treat - and I still have 2 yards of hot pink vinyl calling my name. And yet - here I sit, blogging, procrastinating the day of my repentance - and still planning on cleaning my house before I begin the making of the costume. When will I learn my lesson? Maybe next year. As for now, maybe I'll change my favorite holiday to a low-key one like Veteran's Day or Labor Day (at least until my kids are out of the making of the Halloween costume phase).
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Inspired by a Baby
Picking a shenanigan to blog about is usually not a struggle - considering the many I'm faced with on a day to day basis (and sometimes minute to minute). But, today it is difficult for me to focus on the fluff in my life - when my heart is breaking for my dear cousin's recent loss of her baby.
In June, I blogged about what a great example my cousin and her husband had been to our family. Over the past four months - with their newborn baby in the PICU- they have continued to inspire us on a daily basis. They have been truly amazing in their faith and devotion their darling baby, Luke.
Being a part of Luke's life has strengthened my testimony so much - it's amazing what power a sweet little baby can inspire. Before Luke was even born - his life looked bleak. The dr's knew from ultrasounds that he was suffering from a chromosome deletion - and that there most definitely would be heart problems - but that there also could be a myriad of issues. Many prayers were offered in his behalf. He was born in June - a robust little cutie - the biggest and healthiest looking baby in the NICU. And he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
Although he was born with some major heart issues - he survived his heart surgery like a champ. Then came the ups and downs throughout his recovery. He'd have a good week only to have a bad week. On life support one week, and then on mild oxygen the next. Again, many prayers of faith were offered for Luke. And again he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
In September, we almost lost him. The dr's thought he wouldn't make it through the night. Many, many prayers of faith were offered - he was spared. And again he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
Luke was progressing with such leaps and bounds that there was serious talk of moving him out of the ICU this past week -- truly a miracle. They put that on hold due to a fever. Prayers of faith again were offered for him. On Friday, his mama got to feed him a bottle for the first time. And again he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
Saturday, Luke went into cardiac arrest. Prayers of faith were offered on his behalf from many. But this time we had follow the will of the Lord - and know that Luke's completed his job here on earth. He's perfect. He's living with Heavenly Father. And he's happy! I have faith that our prayers will bring comfort to Luke's family at this time - and once again Luke is proving to us what a little faith and prayer can do. He has blessed our lives and we will never forget him.
In June, I blogged about what a great example my cousin and her husband had been to our family. Over the past four months - with their newborn baby in the PICU- they have continued to inspire us on a daily basis. They have been truly amazing in their faith and devotion their darling baby, Luke.
Being a part of Luke's life has strengthened my testimony so much - it's amazing what power a sweet little baby can inspire. Before Luke was even born - his life looked bleak. The dr's knew from ultrasounds that he was suffering from a chromosome deletion - and that there most definitely would be heart problems - but that there also could be a myriad of issues. Many prayers were offered in his behalf. He was born in June - a robust little cutie - the biggest and healthiest looking baby in the NICU. And he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
Although he was born with some major heart issues - he survived his heart surgery like a champ. Then came the ups and downs throughout his recovery. He'd have a good week only to have a bad week. On life support one week, and then on mild oxygen the next. Again, many prayers of faith were offered for Luke. And again he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
In September, we almost lost him. The dr's thought he wouldn't make it through the night. Many, many prayers of faith were offered - he was spared. And again he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
Luke was progressing with such leaps and bounds that there was serious talk of moving him out of the ICU this past week -- truly a miracle. They put that on hold due to a fever. Prayers of faith again were offered for him. On Friday, his mama got to feed him a bottle for the first time. And again he proved to me what a little faith and prayer can do.
Saturday, Luke went into cardiac arrest. Prayers of faith were offered on his behalf from many. But this time we had follow the will of the Lord - and know that Luke's completed his job here on earth. He's perfect. He's living with Heavenly Father. And he's happy! I have faith that our prayers will bring comfort to Luke's family at this time - and once again Luke is proving to us what a little faith and prayer can do. He has blessed our lives and we will never forget him.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Top 10 Ways You know you're Addicted to Diet Coke...
10. You don't like to water your Diet Coke down with ice - you need it full strength baby.
9. You're out of Diet Coke in both fridges and you frantically begin searching the house for unopened, warm DC cans (finding one in the basement in the craft room -- in this case of desperation, you are willing to water it down with some ice cubes).
8. If you committed a crime that required capital punishment - you're last request would be a Diet Coke.
7. The last Diet Coke standing in your fridge is in a dented, beat up can (it was dropped accidentally a couple of weeks ago). You were hoping DH would drink it - and he hoped you would. Out of desperation you open the can - only you have to use a sharp object to pierce the bulging top. Now you keep spilling DC on your shirt - because of the bulge & dents in the top of the can.
6. Diet Coke encompasses the bulk of your food storage.
5. When your visiting teachers drop by a treat for the month, it's a 20 oz bottle of Diet Coke.
4. On those quick trips to the grocery store when you just need the necessities - you grab: milk, bread, eggs and Diet Coke.
3. Most people use an outside fridge to store a surplus of groceries - every shelf on yours has a case of Diet Coke on it.
2. The due date on your Diet Coke supply never stands a chance in expiring.
1. On those Diet Coke sales when they have it five 12 packs for 10 dollars - with a limit of 5. You've been known to go in and take advantage of the deal 3 or 4 times in the same day.
0. You actually could've filled a "Top fifty list of ways you know you're addicted to Diet Coke."
9. You're out of Diet Coke in both fridges and you frantically begin searching the house for unopened, warm DC cans (finding one in the basement in the craft room -- in this case of desperation, you are willing to water it down with some ice cubes).
8. If you committed a crime that required capital punishment - you're last request would be a Diet Coke.
7. The last Diet Coke standing in your fridge is in a dented, beat up can (it was dropped accidentally a couple of weeks ago). You were hoping DH would drink it - and he hoped you would. Out of desperation you open the can - only you have to use a sharp object to pierce the bulging top. Now you keep spilling DC on your shirt - because of the bulge & dents in the top of the can.
6. Diet Coke encompasses the bulk of your food storage.
5. When your visiting teachers drop by a treat for the month, it's a 20 oz bottle of Diet Coke.
4. On those quick trips to the grocery store when you just need the necessities - you grab: milk, bread, eggs and Diet Coke.
3. Most people use an outside fridge to store a surplus of groceries - every shelf on yours has a case of Diet Coke on it.
2. The due date on your Diet Coke supply never stands a chance in expiring.
1. On those Diet Coke sales when they have it five 12 packs for 10 dollars - with a limit of 5. You've been known to go in and take advantage of the deal 3 or 4 times in the same day.
0. You actually could've filled a "Top fifty list of ways you know you're addicted to Diet Coke."
Birthday Party Memo to Self...
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
Remember to do it on two separate days (a year from now I'm sure I will have forgotten this tidbit). But try to remember that 9 year old girls and boys may be different sexes but the one thing they have in common is they are NOISY! WILD! and RAMBUNCTIOUS! each in their own special way.
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
Don't assume that everyone will want to just skate at the roller rink - budget in the bounce zone.
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
When one of the boys goes missing (for 10 or 15 minutes) don't freak out and think he's been kidnapped by one of those hoodlum jr high kids. Realize that after pizza, cupcakes and a capri sun - he's probably in the bathroom taking care of some unfinished business.
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:Remember that treat bags are a necessity. Put it at the top of your list - or be prepared for mutiny - forgetting is not an acceptable excuse.
Finally, when planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
Make sure you have plenty of diet coke & a secret migraine combination of drugs.
Remember to do it on two separate days (a year from now I'm sure I will have forgotten this tidbit). But try to remember that 9 year old girls and boys may be different sexes but the one thing they have in common is they are NOISY! WILD! and RAMBUNCTIOUS! each in their own special way.
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
Don't assume that everyone will want to just skate at the roller rink - budget in the bounce zone.
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
When one of the boys goes missing (for 10 or 15 minutes) don't freak out and think he's been kidnapped by one of those hoodlum jr high kids. Realize that after pizza, cupcakes and a capri sun - he's probably in the bathroom taking care of some unfinished business.
Nicole, after racing around the skate rink - freaking out about losing her neighbor boy says: "Isaac - have you seen Adam anywhere?"
Isaac: "He's been pooping for like 20 minutes!"
When planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
Finally, when planning a birthday party for twin 9 year olds:
Make sure you have plenty of diet coke & a secret migraine combination of drugs.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
You Have Now Entered The Sonic Zone...
Since the invention of Happy Hour & 99 cent coupons, I have been a loyal customer at Sonic. When I lived in AZ the workers at Sonic knew my van, my order and whether or not I was still in my pajamas. Since Sonic was near my kids' school and I had to drive them every day, it was sometimes a twice a day visit.
When I moved to Utah, our new Sonic had Happy Hour in the morning from 6-11 am (they've sinced done away with that) and in the afternoon from 2-5. I'd have one on the way home from the gym everyday - and sometimes in the afternoon whilst I ran my errands. The turnover of employees at this Sonic is high - so I didn't get to know any of the workers as personally as I had in AZ - but I still had my favorites. The boy with the pierced chin really knew how to make a good Diet Coke with lime. The girl from Brazil had such a cute accent, was always quick, and sometimes gave me an extra lemon wedge.
My experiences and memories of Sonic have been good ones. I mean, what's not to like about a place that will give you your lifeline at half price? Now let's fast forward all those hopes and dreams to my last visit at Sonic. My sister and I had just had a long, tiresome day of shopping. We were thirsty, hungry and we had coupons. It was 1:50 - 10 minutes before Happy Hour - but we were so ready for a big drink, a shake, and a 99 cent onion ring - that we were willing to sacrifice our coupons.
We got in line at the drive thru where a man in a red truck was waiting to place his order. He gave the girl his order and the preceded to sit there and wait. We didn't know what to think - was this man not aware of the drive-thru pick-up window concept? We sat their until 1:59 - at which point my sister drove into one of the ordering stalls. We placed our order (and yay we got the happy hour deal).
We waited and waited and waited -- a couple of times employees with orders on their trays would come up and ask us if it was our order. We saw one girl going from car to car trying to figure out where her tray went. Pretty soon we saw the manager of Sonic - helping with the delivery of food - he didn't have skates on but boy could he run fast. Sonic was packed - there computers were apparently down - and angry caffeine deprived women were getting ready to charge the building. Oh - and the guy in the red truck was still sitting in the same spot. It was like we had entered the Twilight Zone.
Finally at about 215, we see the guy with our order coming our way. This kid had on roller skates and he was hauling so fast - that my sister and I looked at each other and said "man- he's fast". Just as we were looking back at him in our amazement of his skating skills - he biffs it. I mean he went down hard - tray and all. It was like slow motion - he went down and slid right into my sisters van (we checked for dents later). He jumped up as quickly as he could - and we asked him if he was okay. He was mortified - we were mortified - (and trying really hard not to laugh).
Somehow during the melee -- he had managed to hold the tray above his head - and so only the drinks were ruined (the shakes were a little messy too). He handed us our sack of greasy mozzarella sticks and onion rings and headed back in to fix our drinks. As he skated away - my sister noticed his brake mark from his skates on the ground. There was a black streak on the ground about 2 feet long. We started laughing so hard we couldn't stop - and of course we didn't him to see us laughing at him so we really tried to get it under control.
When he came back with our food, we very politely took it and didn't giggle once. He skated away and Jill took a spoonful of her chocolate malt and started to laugh. Apparently they hadn't made up new shakes for us - they just wiped the spilled ice cream off the side - so Jill's chocolate malt had reeses peanut butter blast in it. It was so retro! It reminded me of the old reeses peanut butter cup commercial - hey you got peanut butter in my chocolate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qSd70jkrQg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGsWqGX6bvA
Oh - and to top it all off - the guy in the red truck had finally moved forward - and was STILL waiting for his order.
When I moved to Utah, our new Sonic had Happy Hour in the morning from 6-11 am (they've sinced done away with that) and in the afternoon from 2-5. I'd have one on the way home from the gym everyday - and sometimes in the afternoon whilst I ran my errands. The turnover of employees at this Sonic is high - so I didn't get to know any of the workers as personally as I had in AZ - but I still had my favorites. The boy with the pierced chin really knew how to make a good Diet Coke with lime. The girl from Brazil had such a cute accent, was always quick, and sometimes gave me an extra lemon wedge.
My experiences and memories of Sonic have been good ones. I mean, what's not to like about a place that will give you your lifeline at half price? Now let's fast forward all those hopes and dreams to my last visit at Sonic. My sister and I had just had a long, tiresome day of shopping. We were thirsty, hungry and we had coupons. It was 1:50 - 10 minutes before Happy Hour - but we were so ready for a big drink, a shake, and a 99 cent onion ring - that we were willing to sacrifice our coupons.
We got in line at the drive thru where a man in a red truck was waiting to place his order. He gave the girl his order and the preceded to sit there and wait. We didn't know what to think - was this man not aware of the drive-thru pick-up window concept? We sat their until 1:59 - at which point my sister drove into one of the ordering stalls. We placed our order (and yay we got the happy hour deal).
We waited and waited and waited -- a couple of times employees with orders on their trays would come up and ask us if it was our order. We saw one girl going from car to car trying to figure out where her tray went. Pretty soon we saw the manager of Sonic - helping with the delivery of food - he didn't have skates on but boy could he run fast. Sonic was packed - there computers were apparently down - and angry caffeine deprived women were getting ready to charge the building. Oh - and the guy in the red truck was still sitting in the same spot. It was like we had entered the Twilight Zone.
Finally at about 215, we see the guy with our order coming our way. This kid had on roller skates and he was hauling so fast - that my sister and I looked at each other and said "man- he's fast". Just as we were looking back at him in our amazement of his skating skills - he biffs it. I mean he went down hard - tray and all. It was like slow motion - he went down and slid right into my sisters van (we checked for dents later). He jumped up as quickly as he could - and we asked him if he was okay. He was mortified - we were mortified - (and trying really hard not to laugh).
Somehow during the melee -- he had managed to hold the tray above his head - and so only the drinks were ruined (the shakes were a little messy too). He handed us our sack of greasy mozzarella sticks and onion rings and headed back in to fix our drinks. As he skated away - my sister noticed his brake mark from his skates on the ground. There was a black streak on the ground about 2 feet long. We started laughing so hard we couldn't stop - and of course we didn't him to see us laughing at him so we really tried to get it under control.
When he came back with our food, we very politely took it and didn't giggle once. He skated away and Jill took a spoonful of her chocolate malt and started to laugh. Apparently they hadn't made up new shakes for us - they just wiped the spilled ice cream off the side - so Jill's chocolate malt had reeses peanut butter blast in it. It was so retro! It reminded me of the old reeses peanut butter cup commercial - hey you got peanut butter in my chocolate!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qSd70jkrQg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGsWqGX6bvA
Oh - and to top it all off - the guy in the red truck had finally moved forward - and was STILL waiting for his order.
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