Scary Halloween Story

This morning I read a post by my brother, Kirk, about a scary Halloween story. I thought, "Sucks to be you." I wasn't anticipating any holiday sickness until at least tomorrow or Sunday from my kids. Little did I know, I am raising a second child who likes to eat themselves sick every holiday.

My scary Halloween story begins on Halloween Eve. We were invited to my parent's ward Halloween party, as they were helping with it. We walked into the church and Mike turned to me and said I don't even like going to my own ward parties why are we going to someone else's? I asked him if he would like to head out, and he said no - the food smells really good. I mean he has a point. Nothing says yummy like 25 crockpots percolating with mystery chili. It is especially fun when it is not your own ward. You can't discretely look for the old skanked out masking tape with a last name that doesn't seem as risky. I mean you have no idea if you are eating the cat lady's chili, or mystery meat hunter's chili, or people who thaw their meat out on the counter for three days. The possibilities are really quite endless. It is very exciting.

Then our kids got to participate in a trunk or treat. This results in them getting a large bag full of candy in 60-90 seconds. It would have taken us two hours to haul that loot in going door to door as kids. They have no idea how good they've got it. Max came home with a very healthy-sized bag of candy. The good stuff. Lots of chocolate.

It is not like we like to procrastinate the pumpkin carving by starting it at 9:00 the night before Halloween, it just seems more festive. Kim was telling me this morning how much she and Aaron enjoyed carving pumpkins at midnight. Good times. Plus, it helps the kids get overtired and cranky. Combined with the overeating, it is a winning combination.

Now that the scene is properly set, Max comes into the kitchen this morning to say he just threw up and then hurls again in the kitchen. I got him in the tub and let Maddie watch him while I was lucky enough to go see what the damage was. The original vomit was in the mudroom right on top of his Hulk Halloween sack filled with a few pieces of discarded candy that didn't make the original cut during his binge fest. Poetic justice at its best. Only the most serious holiday eaters actually throw up right on top of their bag of candy. It takes a special amount of dedication for sure. Only wood, tile, and a rug were involved in this, which is the silver lining. Lest you think eating yourself sick deterred my little Max, after his tub he was trying to locate his stray candy that had not been consumed. Happy Halloween to all of you. Here's hoping there is no round two this weekend and thanks to Kirk for the reminder that vomiting should always be blogged about. Who doesn't like a good vomit story?

Brief Glimpse of Winter

I have to post the obligate first snow pictures. I can't believe there was enough snow to play in. The kids headed out to school in winterish gear for one solitary day and after the weekend were back to their shorts. Maddie was excited for the snow so she could finally sport her new winter attire. Sam is thrilled as usual to have his picture taken. Sunday morning led to the snow that was enough to play in. The scarf from the snowman may still be laying out in a heap on my grass, because that would be a lot of work to pick it up after all.

HSM 3

My friend and I volunteered to take Maddie and a bunch of her friends to see High School Musical 3 on Friday. My friend and I picked them up from school and headed out. I was excited to see it and I enjoyed it probably a lot more than I should have. The girls enjoyed the movie a lot as well, which let to a very, shall we say energized ride home involving shouting things out the window and collapsing into heaps of giggles. Oh to be so young.

Zombie Girls

We went to see Thriller, as Maddie's friend's sister was in it. The girls decided to do a little zombie scaring of their own. I think they look great. The best part of Maddie's costume is that it is a Disney princess dress from when she was probably 4 years old. Yes it was way too tight.

Grocery Shopping with Max

So for obvious reasons, Max rarely goes grocery shopping with me. I usually avoid taking him at all costs. So, last week I just needed a few items and decided to brave it. Like most kids do, he was throwing things in the cart he would like to purchase. When he would put the item in the cart, he would make eye contact with me and say, "It's okay mom, it's only 5 dollars." Cracks me up. He did select strange items to put in the cart, produce, meat, etc., in typical Max-like fashion. At one point I heard a shriek of joy like he just found the greatest thing ever. I turn around and he has a large roll of bubble wrap that he found on the bottom shelf of the office supplies aisle which he throws into the cart, explaining once again, "It's okay mom, it's only 5 dollars."

Poor Max

His sister has a hairpiece and is not afraid to use it.

Tales from the Backseat of the Ballet Carpool

Trip #1:

*Did you see that old lady in her leotard and tights with no bra? It was sick.
*Yeah, gross.
*Well, you know in ballet they only allow you to wear leotards and tights. You can't wear bras or anything else.
*Really? I didn't know that.
*Did you see the guy in the really tight shorts. It totally showed his nut sack.
*You mean the old guy whose tights were stuck in his butt crack?
*No the old guy, like maybe 25, in the booty shorts.
*Oh him, yeah gross.

Trip #2
*Aren't you so excited, we get to meet our family and parents today.
*Yeah that is going to be cool.
*Unless your dad is in booty shorts. That would suck.
*Yeah, that would suck.

Happy Birthday Madeline

On October 1, my baby girl turned 11. I cannot believe she is that old. I remember very clearly the day we brought her home from the hospital, the gorgeous day, blue sky against the mountains, her blue carseat with gold stars, and our gray Mistubishi Galant. She was such a beautiful baby girl with lots of red curly hair and bow-shaped lips.

On her birthday, she got a motor scooter and a Skookie maker. She said to me, "Mom, I bet I'm the only 11-year-old girl who wants a Skookie maker for her birthday!" She may be right. The girl likes her desserts. She actually had to pay for part of her motor scooter. A few years back we started giving the kids money for their birthdays instead of gifts and then take them shopping. It is interesting to watch how carefully they spend their own money. We then went to Texas Roadhouse with Grandma and Grandpa G. where she got to sit on the saddle and be sung to. On Sunday, we went to Grandma and Grandpa S. and had cake and presents there as well.

Some random facts about my Maddie:
1. When she was a baby, she had so much determination. I remember watching her try to roll from her back to front at about 3 months of age. She was so focused on the task and so determined to get it down. She would not stop trying until she got it down. She still has this determination today. When she sets her mind to something, she accomplishes it.

2. She loves animals. When she was in first grade a little boy who had a crush told her, "Maddie when we grow up we will get married and we can have 34 pets." She was so overcome by this sentiment she could hardly stand it. He knew how to win her over for sure. She also used to say when she grew up she wanted to marry a man with "property" for all the animals she wants to have. My feminist brainwashing must be working because now she says she needs to study hard so she can get a good job to buy herself some property for her animals.

3. She is a hard worker. Last year she made a goal to make it through the whole year without a single late or missing assignment. I fear this level of perfectionism will require medication at some point (not that there is anything wrong with this), but I am proud of how hard she works when she sets her mind to something.

4. Besides having a great capacity to love animals, she has this same love for people. Her feelings and relationships can be very intense. She loves all her grandparents, family, aunts and uncles and cousins in a way that I think is unusual for a girl her age.

5. Going through her pictures, I was reminded of how much she loved her binky. She used to carry around a big bunch of them in her purse so she always had access to them. When Sam came along, she used to hide his in strategic locations throughout the house where she could sneak and take a hit on one when she needed one.

6. She is strong and active. She loves to dance and tumble and loves to show off her muscles or "guns."''

We love our Madeline and are so glad she is a part of our family. Now for way too many pictures. How do you choose?

Sam's Baptism

On September 27, 2008, Sam was baptized by his father. It was a beautiful day. One of my favorite moments was when they entered the font. Mike took a minute and told Sam to look out and see who was there and to take some time to take everything in before he began. These moments go so quickly, and are so important.

After the baptism, we went to the park for pizza. It was a beautiful fall day which included a game of football and a mean game of kickball. If I would have known there was going to be some physical activity, we would have had a carb loading party the night before, but it was unexpected and out of the blue. Here are some pictures of the day. Isn't Sam a handsome boy? I may even see a hint of a smile.

Max the Carnivore, Bowler, Rock Star and Builder

So, I thought I would keep a little running commentary on what Max is up to, and post this after I have a few anecdotes.

Max is a meat lover. When we go down to our neighborhood store to get a treat, he bypasses the ice cream and candy and heads straight for the beef jerky jars to select his jerky, which he pronounces "churky." He can be a bit of a white trash eater. When he was just 1, he loved Banquet Salisbury steak meals. He has been known to lick the picture on the package while holding it. This weekend we were over at my mom's letting the cleaning lady in. There was a deer right across the street from their house and we sat watching it. My sweet little 2-year-old turned to me and said, "Mom - do you have a gun so we can kill it and eat it?" Some people see beautiful nature; Max sees his dinner. I've stopped making him sandwiches. I just hand him a pile of lunch meat and call it good.

Max always showers with me in the morning, not because I want him to, but because I fear for his personal safety if I leave him alone for a few minutes. I'm not talking about eggs being dropped on the floor, or a box of cereal being dumped on the carpet, I'm talking climbing out the window with a butcher knife naked and running down the street, the kind of things that would put me on the 10 o'clock news. Anyway, I have a large shower and he brings mass amounts of toys to keep himself entertained in the shower. He stays in while I get out and ready. The other day he was lining up all the shampoo bottles and had a ball he would throw at them. I asked him what he was doing and he said he was bowling. Quite a creative way to shower I say.

We were in Sam's Club the other day and the lady in front of us was loading up Rock Band at the checkout stand. Max looked at it and started singing "We will, we will rock you." The lady and cashier thought that was pretty funny. Don't you love how Guitar Hero and Rock Band expand your kids' music base.

He is also way into building the most elaborate structures with his blocks. He builds entire cities and roads that he drives his cars on. Makes me feel less guilty working on the computer when he is playing and not plugged into the TV.

Max can certainly be a handful, but he is so full of life and so funny. Now I just have to decide if it is time to trim up this afro, or do I let it go a little longer. I love his crazy hair. Just let me know if I cross the line into Celine Dion land. Check out the picture of her BOY. Freaky weird.

Sam the Bobcat

So when boys turn eight, apparently they start scouts. I grew up in a house where scouts were tolerated, but certainly not celebrated. I remember hearing things such as "I'm not an Eagle scout and I turned out just fine." In our house you had to defend why you got your Eagle scout (Hi Bryan - I know mom did your project and it is not your fault you are an Eagle) instead of why you didn't.

So, in order to stay true to my upbringing, I told Mike that he is on for scouts, so he helped Sam get his requirements completed for his Bobcat. We are sitting in pack meeting and they ask for a "parent" to come up to get the special pin. Mike and I have this little exchange on the back row about how he should go up since he was helping him and Mike says only the mothers go up and motions up to the front where the rest of the moms are standing. So, I make my way up and lean down to have my special pin ceremoniously placed, when Sam says he wants to pin it on his dad and runs past me to the back of the room where his dad is sitting. I had to slink back to my seat after getting thrown over at Pack Meeting. Nice. I don't think this helped my scout attitude one bit, but it could be the lame jokes and cheers; I will have to get back to you on that one. (Why are you holding that rock by your ear - becuase I'm listening to rock music - hardy har har.)

So, this is a picture of my new Bobcat. If you haven't noticed, Sam is quite somber in his pictures and will never smile for me. If you notice the smirk in this picture, I snapped it after I told him if he didn't smile I would kick him in the nuts. Classy, I know, but it did seem to work.

Also, if you notice his T-shirt, I haven't rushed up to the scout store to get his lovely uniform. Maybe his dad can take care of that as well.

I'm off to work on my attitude. Maybe my sister, Kim, the CUBMASTER, can give me some help with this.

Introducing #51

Madeline auditioned and made party girl for the local professional ballet. She is so excited. The only downer is that I have to master 18th century party hair. Wish me well on that one. Congratulations Maddie.

They're Here!!!!

My parents moved into their new home this weekend, just a mere 1 mile away. We are so excited to have them so close. Their home is beautiful.

Yellowstone Adventures

If you would like a full report of the trip to Yellowstone, please refer to my brother's blog. He did a nice travelogue of the whole trip, which is also helpful for me since Maddie and I missed the whole first day due to Nutcracker rehearsal, parent meeting, and hair seminar (seriously, a hair seminar, I'm in trouble). Anyway, I will be keeping it brief.

Here are the highlights of the trip when asked:

Maddie - Floating down the river and the mud pots.

Sam - Feeding the bears.

Max - His $6 tube of plastic animals.

Papa J - The monkeys Max saw fishing in the river with their tails through his binoculars.

So I am just publishing this here in May, eight months later, and Max still asks if we can go to Yellowstone at least every week, so I suppose the trip was a success.

Now - a few pictures for your viewing pleasure.