99 bottles of beer on the wall.

I have been singing that song in my head for the last 3 days as I get my holiday cards ready to mail. But my version goes like this.....
110 Christmas cards in the box...
110 Christmas cards...
Take one out.
Hand write message, tape on family picture, tape on family update inside, print address label, put on stamp, find cute return address label, stamp, lick the envelope that won't stick...
109 Christmas cards to go.

54 down...and 56 to go...maybe you will get them by Valentines day.

2 Days and Counting

Since Christmas time is not busy enough...I decide to add a new tradition.

A countdown calendar. I saw a cute version made with baby Christmas socks in Martha Stewart one year and just filed that away in the brain somewhere. I thought this would be a good year to pull that idea out...so I hunted everywhere for 24 Baby size Christmas socks only to find that there were very few...after giving up on that I decide to just find 24 Christmas socks of any size. Thank you Target for your $1 socks...I scored most of them there. The Dollar store also pulled through for me.

Next I was off to the scrapbook place where I could die cut 24 stars and the numbers 1-24. Not much fun while trying to keep baby from pulling everything off the shelf or falling out of the cart. I eventually made it with no sanity left and headed home to put my creation together. It was already Dec 2nd and I was 2 days behind. What's new.

I stayed up until 2am one night so that the next morning the kids would be surprised to a new tradition. They were excited as they came screaming into my room (waking me up)...realizing that there were 24 socks full of goodies waiting for them.

They have loved opening their sock each day and have been so good not to peek ahead and to take turns on who gets the sock down and passes out the goodies.

Here is to a new family tradition and more work for mom...now I have to find 96 goodies (24 gifts x4 kids) to stuff them for next year. But hopefully it will create some lasting memories for them each year. I think next year I will let them help make little gifts to help fill the socks...

Goodbye my 3 year old...Hello 4

Last Day of Being 3 ............................First Day of Being 4

It is a day of goodbye and hellos.

• Goodbye my manic outburst 3 year old...hello my calm, controlled child.


• Goodbye my bottle drinking 3 year old...hello my big cup milk drinking child. (how embarassing to admit...but the stubborn child will not drink milk any other way)


• Goodbye hopefully to pull ups...hello more cash in my pocket.


• Goodbye big bulky car seat for a 2-3 year old..hello less bulky booster for a big girl.


• Goodbye to daily ponytails pulled friggin so tight it would make you brain hurt...hello girl willing to try all the cute hairstyles out there.


• Goodbye my fiesty but fun 3 year old...Hello to my fiesty but fun 4 year old.

But these things I don't want to ever say goodbye to...

I pray you keep your bright sunny dispostion each morning as you bounce in my room. (before any other youngster is awake) ..smiling ear to ear...chatting unstopably about something...and begging me to get up and enjoy the day with you (or really just Dora).

I hope you keep your obession for all things in order...I walk by the same set of Christmas trees on the window sill and find you have straightened them in perfect descending order. Or organize my stack of decorative boxes so that they all face front...none of the randomness to anyting. Can a 3 year old already have OCD.

I hope are always as tender and caring to your baby sister as you are right now. Never a cry or whimper that you aren't springing to your feet to see what it wrong. Now I could live without your need to always help her...even when it is to reach the sugar shaker while peering ontop of a stool..only to topple over spilling the sugar and baby all over the floor.

I pray you will always be my Smiley Riley. Happy Birthday my sweetie!

Santa I can Explain

That quote sums it all up for the 5 naughty girls in my house...

me included. I feel like

I need to explain

not to Santa but to my family

• why I have been a "girl in a whirl" over the past 3 weeks.
• why I way overspent on Christmas. (did you see all the deals out there) sorry hubby...my debt diet starts Jan 1
• why my Christmas card picture still has not been taken or my letter written. (expect it before year end, hopefully) AGHHH
• why I stay up until 1am and still can't get it all done.
• why I have eaten way to many sweets. (gingerbread is too fabulous to pass up)
• why I didn't get all the handmade presents done that I wanted.
• why I didn't get my Dickens 56 village posted on EBAY to sell this year...therefore it stays packed up for the 5th year in a row.
• why I haven't gone on a date with hubby for a month.

BUT there is HOPE...

Hope that I can

• slow down and enjoy the holidays
• go hiking in the snow covered mountain outside our home everyday with hubby over the next 2 weeks he is home.
• avoid the after Christmas sales.
• get this old body in shape again...one cookie less eaten at a time.
• go on more dates with the man. I did score a Cheesecake Factory Date last night with him. Lucky me.
• laugh at those silly little moments that fill each and every day. like the silly pic below.
  

I am sure the list should go on and on but it is time to sit down quietly with hubby and snuggle up by the fire to watch House (his favorite TV show...which thanks to the new DVR we have 20 hours to see) and if anyone of you know the man you know that it is a dangerous show to let him watch...he acts a lot like Dr.House and I am afraid it might encourage his "know it all" like attitude.

White stuff

It's beginning to look ALOT like Christmas.

Deep snow everywhere I look.
Santa...please bring me some snow shoes so I can hoof it out of here.
Look how scary Thursday is...13 degrees...who knew people could live like this.

It's Beginning to Look Alot Like Christmas

I was suppose to post this before I left for THANKSGIVING...but it was one of thing that didn't get done...and now 2 weeks later I am just coming up for air...so here is my post belately.

It is Nov 20th and I already have both my Christmas trees up. Aren't I ahead of the game. Well thanks to busy Thanksgiving plans(driving to TEXAS)...I had to get my trees up this week. I had just packed away all the Halloween stuff and poor Thanksgiving decor got missed.

This is the main family room tree. It is much too large for this new house...it use to look great on against a wall 26 feet high...now it seems like the wicked step sister who stuffed her tree into the house just to make it fit. My neighbor back in Texas labeled this the BURNING BUSH TREE since it has over 12,000 lights.. I added peacock blue to the tree this year to give it something new and coordinate with my funkier looking family room.

And here is the ever so fun DIVA TREE . Complete with lime green and pink lights...8 pink feather boas...and all the fun and funky girl ornaments you can find. Don't forget the pink and black cheetah skirt to complete the look. I just did the basic lights and boa and let the girls go wild...(hey that sounds like a show I would never want my daughters to be on). Again notice how I squeezed it into the spot...put it in the hallway this year leading to the girls rooms...looked a little funny in the game room since it is decorated with all my old world traditional stuff from Houston. No diva game room here to put that lime green thing on. Grab your glasses..

Anybody have any ideas on how to incorporate 15 large beautiful pumpkins into my Christmas decor. They are still perfect and I can't stand to throw them out. Stay tuned for pumpkins turned holidayish.

Have yourself a Merry little Thanksgiving....see I have too much Christmas on the brain.

Because I am 1.

I have been dragging around all day feeling a little under the weather. Thank goodness it was a Thursdat when only baby and I are around for most of the day. We could just sit around being sick together...

• we pulled out all of the wooden puzzles and dumped all the pieces on the floor just b/c that is what a 1 year old likes to do.


• we found our favorite cereal (Marshmallow Mateys -thanks neighbor Mike who works for Malt-O-Meal for all the free cereal) and dumped it on the floor to pick out only the cereal and leave the marshmallows behind just b/c were 1.


• we could discover the box of Christmas ribbons, netting, and such that Mom has out to decorate the tree and scatter it all over the house b/c we're 1. (More on the decorating later)


• we could go to mom's bathroom and pull out all of her feminine hygiene products and drag them around her room b/c we are one.


• we could toss our beautiful pink silk shoe from Janie and Jack into the toilet that needs to be scrubbed b/c we are 1.


• we could fight over mom's diet coke and scream in protest b/c she can't have any b/c we are 1.


• we can throw moms new catalogs into the bath as mom is relaxing there trying to ease her achy body. (i love this time of year with all the fun catalogs) b/c we are 1.


• we can find markers that one of our big sisters left out and pull the tip out of it with our teeth and proceed to suck it dry until all of the color is off the tip and onto our clothes b/c we are 1 (thank goodness it was only yellow)...but there went outfit #1
  


• we can scream in protest all the way through a store as mom just needs to pick a few things up and then convince mom that a sucker is the only thing going to calm me down just b/c we are 1. (that would be outfit #2 for the day)


• we can smash strawberries all over our clothes just b/c we are 1...(onto outfit #3)

And that is how my perfectly under the weather day went today. Thank goodness for naps b/c I am not 1 and my 37 year old tired body needed it after all that activity.

Obsession

I try to restrain myself as much as possible and not buy everything I see and want but I was at my fav Anthropologie and I couldn't resist this. It wasn't even for me...actually I rarely buy clothes for myself. The whole body image thing...I hate how my body doesn't fit into a regular size...I buy pants to fit the birthing hips and then I end up tripping on the bottoms b/c they are so long. I even had 3 inches heels on yesterday and still got caught up on the hem of my pants. Oh well ...I wonder in the afterlife if my spirit will be equally proportional. Hopefully by then it just won't matter. But this cute little dress I couldn't pass up and I really did try to talk myself out of it...since it expensive and only Avery will be able to wear it. No one younger sister to pass it down to. Usually I can rationalize spending more $$ on a dress at least 2 girls will wear but this time it will be just Avery that gets to sport this cuddly cute dress. She had pictures today and looked so adorable in this orange and turquoise dress. We accessorized with cream cable legwarmers..cream hat with huge orange gerber pinned to it. I propped her up in this leather chair and she immediately lounged back. She looked like Dad lounging on the leather couch with the remote in his hand. All she needed was the hand tucked into her pants and then the resemblance would be complete.
Check out this designer Lia Molly. Fabulous knits.

Today I saw my little town in a whole new eye. My photographer marched us up and down main street to all of these cute quaint historic homes from the mid 1800's and the most fabulous places to snap pics of baby at. Never would I have thought to look at how unique a yellow porch post could be. Or see the fabulous patina of an old brick wall whitewashed. Or appreciate how splendid a pile of colorful leaves can be against the green grass. Thanks for opening my eyes and finally making me see how grateful I should be to be raising 4 daughters in a quaint little town ..where everything moves slower and you can really stop and smell the roses that every one has been telling me about. My life this year has really come to a screaching halt and allowed more times for those things.
Can't wait to see the cute pics.

7 Things Tag

Tagged by Whitney

7 Things I can Do:
1. Touch my nose with my tounge.
2. Talk about Texas all the time.
3. Eat the heck out of Donna's famous Chocolate Cake...the only chocolate I like.
4. Sew fancy witch costumes.
5. Shop all day.
6. Obsess over decorating my house.
7. Take daily naps.

7 Things I can't DO:
1. Exercise regularly.
2. Try new food.
3. Anything athletic
4. Handle the cold Utah winters.
5. Get up my mountain in my gutless SUV.
6. Stop kissing my baby hundreds of time each day.
7. Cook more than 5 basic meals.

7 THINGS I ALWAYS SAY:
1. Just a minute...
2. Not right now...Not tonight
3. Get up NOW
4. CLEAN UP YOUR ROOM!
5. Stop hitting your sister...
6. YALL
7. Honey, I need more money in my account.

7 THINGS I ALWAYS EAT
1. Scrambled Eggs and Bacon (thanks to Atkins)
2. Strawberries and whip cream
3. Peanut Butter sandwich
4. or drink..DIET COKE
5. Raw carrots
6. Ketchup (its a food group in my house)
7. French fries

7 TAGS
1. Jenny
2. Kelsey
3. Cindy
4. Ally
5. Teigan
6. Stacy S.
7. ???Ran out of friends

Let me know when you do.

"OBAMA is a TIGER"

How are my children so political savvy???
Do they dream of Bill O'Riley and Sean Hannity?
Well here was their conversation today.

MOM: Today is a big day. It is election day.
6 YR old: Well Obama is a liar and wants to take my money so I can't buy Webkinz.
MOM: True he will take more of our money.
6 YR old: That's not fair. I like the white hair man better.

Later that day....
MOM: Come on I have to go vote for President.
3 YR old: Mom...I don't think Obama is a lion (liar), I think he is a tiger and I like tigers.
MOM: Couldn't stop laughing

So we get to the voting location....
3 YR old: Where is OBAMA???
MOM: Sweetie, he is not here...I am just voting for who I want to be the president on paper.
3 YR old: Hummmmmmmmmm

Later at Costco...
3 YR old:Where is OBAMA????
MOM: Again laughing....sweetie he is not here in Utah. He is watching the TV to see who wins.
3 YR old: OH...Is Texas going to win???? (remembering back to seeing her Mom screaming for UT to win last weekend).
MOM: runs to bathroom so she doesn't wet herself laughing so hard.

Big sisters come home and MOM repeats the conversations.
6 YR old: RILEY!!!!! Obama is a liar.
3 YR old: I DON'T CARE!!!!!
MOM: shrugs shoulders because she realizes most of the nation doesn't care either.
3 YR old: Okay...I will vote for that grandpa man.

ALL FROM THE MOUTH OF BABES.
Happy election day.

Is it over yet?

I am Halloweened OUT! I am all witched out!

Over the course of the last week...I have helped dress my girls as 4 witches, a cheerleader, a Greek Goddess, and a Punk Pirate.

Thrown a blow out bash for our littlest witch, take kids to Halloween dance party, been homeroom Mom for 2 parties, had to attend 2 Halloween costume parades, and attend 2 nieces dress up Halloween birthday parties.

This is the 4th and FINAL time I will dress them up this year. Oppps! I forgot they actually will have to get dressed one more time in their witchy costumes so I can get the coven taken together...How could I have missed that shot.

So by the time Halloween rolled around I let them dress themselves in whatever they wanted. Didn't even do hair and makeup for the actual event. Oh the shame!

WITCH COSTUME DID SHE WEAR BEST???

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"WITCHY WOMAN"

A gothic witch

OR

A proud Texas Cheerleader

We're #1.

"WITCH WAY DO I GO??"

A sassy pink diva witch

(complements of the sewing mama)

She wears it too well.

OR

A Greek Goddess (just call her Helen of Troy)

She couldn't figure out why her uncles were all yelling TOGA! TOGA! at her.

"0 to WITCH in 5.2 seconds"

a fufu tutu witch princess

(another costume put together by Mom)

OR

Punk Pirate Princess

(all names must have princess in the title)

"WITCHY POO"
The cutest dang witch who stole the show each time she would ham it up for anyone giving her attention. Quite the flirty witch.

"HELTER SKELTER"

Even hubby got in on the Halloween action.

HOOK EM' HORNS!

KILL TEXAS TECH!

Enough Said

Even the trick or treaters are at risk. Looks like this is how it will be for the next 4 years. Heaven help us.

Witchy POO

Little Witchy-Poo turned 1 this weekend. With 4 other witches living in the house...we thought a witch party would be the most fitting.
She dolled it up for the guests...28 kids and 17 adults. Grinning from ear to ear at all the attention.

Our Haunted House
My little witches lost their hats by this point.

We had a haunted gingerbread house decorating party. Each family really got into it. We had a judge come give prizes...and ours won the best yard. No one else thought to put the house on a larger board and decorate with a fence and yard...but I knew I couldn't concentrate on the details of the house...so I had to go for what would be quick and give big impact. Lime green coconut grass.

I pulled off decorating the cake myself. Boy thank goodness for a cute doll to start with and edible glitter to hide a multitude of mishaps. That was my biggest stresser of the party was trying to pull that off...I had to laugh as I stuck the doll into the cake and realized the cake was 3 inches too short. The skirt was hitting her at her thighs...so I had to think quick...cut a hole in the bottom of the cake board ...stick the Barbie into the cake with her feet dangling 3 inches below...and then prop the cake on a glass dish that would allow for the feet to dangle.
YUM!!! YUM!!!

Her first taste of cake.

HAPPY 1ST Birthday our

LITTLE WITCHY POO

Call me crazy

So we are having a big blow our birthday party for my littlest witch. I have already started setting up. It may be 4 days away but its never to early. Hubby just shakes his head.

My fav part was the hairy looking chandelier. I hate this orbital thing that hangs ever so big in my breakfast nook...looks a lot better with plastic black hair stuff and big orange bows. I just saw almost the exact same chandelier in Matt's aunts blog. It was painted black with some nice black shades. I think I can bring a new prettier life to this space ship thing. Living by the pioneer moto...eat it up, wear it out, fix it up or do without....quit laughing Matt. I see a project in your near future.

My garage door never looked so festive. I totally copied my talented sister "out-law" (so affectionately named by the baby sis of the family when she was only 10...she called the in-laws...out-laws). Is it okay to steal family members ideas??? Well I did ask her first to make one...but she didn't have time so I infringed on her creative properity. But I will say mine is not a fabulous as she makes. Mine is merely scrapbook paper, chipboard letters, and a hand cut picture....Nothing fancy..just spooky.

Ever have one of those projects you think will look great...only to figure out it was better left in your mind...well here is my most recent flub. My wild child picked out this lovely pink skelton fabric a year ago and begged for a skirt...so after trying to put her off for a year I found a cute tee at my fav Target and thought okay...this won't be so frightful. Bought a cute skirt pattern on youcanmakethis.com and off to my serger and sewing machine. I worked until 2 in the morning...only to dislike strongly(we can't say hate in this house) the results.. What was I thinking???? But she loves it and wants to wear it for picture day....I have got to go hide that thing quick before she finds it and I can't tear it off her body. I think I wil let her wash the dog in it...maybe she can do some yard work in it...oh no definitely not she can't wear it out of the house...she may tell someone proudly that her mama made it. Imagine the horror.

Sometimes you win...sometimes you lose.

Fall Weekend

Since the kids have been working sooooo...hard at school...Utah gives them 2 days off for "fall recess". We had a pumpkiny weekend full of all kind of good memories.

I found this baby at Thanksgiving Point. Who could pass this hunk of squash up for $5. Had to leave the baby behind to haul it to the car...but all in the name of home decor.

We met my brothers fam the next day at this cute little pumpkin patch here in our little town. It was quite fun...Even grouchy hubby had fun..he usually grumbles through most of my outings but he was getting into it. By the end he was the one who was grabbing each perfect pumpkin he could find.

Avery even had a pumpkin ride.

Yep...she's a year this week and look at all that hair. I am serious..if you saw my 4 other baldies she looks like I invested in baby extensions compared to them.

Special Weekend

I know this is my 3rd post about the happenings of the weekend...but this one was the most special. At the beginning of the year, hubby and I were asked to teach the CTR 7 kids in our childrens primary at church. Those are the kids that are 7 who will turn 8 within the year. In my church, this is a VERY important year. At age 8 the children can be baptized. We believe that at this age they are able to make that important decision and that they are capable of knowing right from wrong. Sometimes I can talk in my church lingo...if you ever have a question what I am talking about...ask me or go to this website that tells you our basic beliefs.

When we were 1st called to teach, I had to swallow hard and fight back my emotions as the it immediately registered that this is the same age as Mason would be. This would be the year that he too would have been baptized. I said yes with my mouth but fought hard internally on if I could really do this. It was to tender....to close to the surface. I went home and prayed that we could be able to do this and that it would be a blessing to us.

And now 10 months later as we watched 2 out of the 5 kids we teach get baptized this weekend...I realized that being their teacher has been a tender mercy sent from the Lord. Yes, I cried as I saw those 2 adorable kids up there ready to make sacred promises and recieve tremendous blessings. I thought of how handsome my own little Mason would be up there. But I am grateful and feel blessed to be able to be part of these children's lives in such a pivotal year. This will be something that they remember for the rest of their lives and I hope hubby and I have helped prepare them. I know that they have forever touched our lives and hearts.

First was Katrina. She is a child full of bounldless energy. She has a true zest for life. She is always smiling and upbeat. She can be a little hard to wrangle in sometimes...but that is also what makes her so endearing. She truly makes me smile. Maybe Mason would have been like her???

Next was David. He is a very thoughtful child. He puts much thought and pondering into what he says. He truly wears his heart on his sleeve. He is never afraid to answer a question or try to jump off the high dive (even after spending 5 minutes up there with every eye on him and he decides he doesn't want to dive and backs down. But still goes up there to try again...only to realize he was right the first time and back on the ground is where he belongs). He has a HUGE spirit in that tiny body. Maybe Mason would have been like him???

Just as I was writing this...I glanced up to see my own angelic child smiling at me with his big toothless grin. I am so blessed to have been given that precious time with him so I can have his picture still take my breath away. I am also blessed to know that he had no need for baptism since he died before he was 8. He was not capable of sin in the least degree and thus died perfectly in Christ. Satan had no power over my son. What a great thought.

OCTOBURRRRR!!

Can you believe this is what we woke up to...5" of snow. The kids were sooo excited. We heard all this commotion and excitement this morning while we were still snoozing. I had to get up to see what was going on. 2 of the girls were trying to find snow boots and coats so they could go outside. Madison must have eaten 5 cup fulls of snow by 10am.

I can't believe it is mid October and we already have snow. Reminds me that I need a 4 wheel drive soon. Hubby is dragging his feet swearing that the new tires he put on my front wheel drive SUV will work this year. I just have anxitiety attacks thinking of the times I was stuck and couldn't get up our hill to get home...I couldn't get out of a parking lot...I slid down the hill numerous times...and being stuck in an embankment. I will not live like that again this year...if only the market would pick back up so Matt wouldn't be so paranoid about spending $$$.

Last 48 hours

Before hubby goes to work on Thursday morning he decides he would like to accept an invitation from Bruce Hough (Dad to Julianne and Derek Hough the Dancing with the Stars dancers) to go to the Governor's Gala on Friday night. Supportive but overwhelmed...I went into crazy lady looking for a cocktail dress mode. I haven't wore one of those since I earned my motherhood degree 10 years ago.

• Where do I go besides the normal department stores??? Come to find out there isn't much else.
• Short or Long???
• Black or color??? It was a black tie affair.
• Shoes: How high is too high. Need to make up for my height deficit/
• Jewelry: Simple or ornate. Hoops or dangles
• Make-up: Don't even know where to begin there since I usually only master lipgloss and mascara each day.
• Handbag: clutch or over the shoulder
• Hair: AGGGHH!!! I was way overdue for a cut but no time for that. So up or down??? Curled or Straight??? Fussy or simple????
• Wrap or coat??? It was going to be in the 30's.
• Nails: I was in desperate need of a pedi and mani. But I forgot I have no fingernails. Would tips look like I was trying to hard???

So with baby in tow I hit Fashion Place mall like a mad woman...I only had 2.5 hours to pull the entire wardrobe together before I had to pick kids up from school. Thank goodness for Nordstroms. I found the dress immediately. I found the shoes and bag on the 2nd stop. The big problem was the dress was a little low cut and needed a cami under it. That is hard to pull off and not look dumpy...so I spent the next hour hunting for that and never came up with a great solution....but something that would do.

Race home pick up the girls...and go try to get a mani and pedi...after 1.5 hours only left with a pedicure. Rush home throw some food on the stove...Hubby arrives home...say Hi and BYE and head out to yet another mall for jewelry, wrap and a new tie and cuff links for hubby. Finally get all of that as the mall is closing it doors. Go home try it all on together and then collapse for the night.

Friday AM: Go back to the nail place with 2 kids in tow and get the fingernails done. Leave hating how they look. Rush home to meet the other 2 girls being dropped off from school on their early out Fridays. Get everyone a snack...get the baby to bed and rush out the door with 2 girls to the hair place to get hair and makeup done. Not a great idea since I had never been there...but decided it would be better than what I could do. The gal convinced me that curls were the way to go. So I did and left looking like a flapper girl. Called Matt to prepare him for the unique look. Threw dinner in the oven...hopped in the bath...and started the huge process of getting all dressed.

After it was all said in done...it was a huge amount of effort for a fun night. It was great people watching to see how the other side lives. We felt like fish out of water but enjoyed hob nobbing with the elites. It made me realize how mommyfied I have become...I didn't even have the "little black dress" hanging in my closet for that spur of the moment moment. I had to start from scratch...and it wasn't a lovely place to start from. Maybe I should take a little better care of myself so next time I have less than 48 hour notice...I won't need the complete overhaul. But thanks hubby for a fun and exciting night out...it all made it worth it to be on the arm of a fine dressed man.

I am becoming Digital

Finally 5 months later after getting an awesome new computer and photo printer that can print 12x12 pages for Mother's Day (thanks hubby...you're the best)....I made my first digital layout. Since I can talk and chew gum at the same time...my multi talents let me chat on the phone with my sis in Dallas and create this.

So mentioned hubby was even impressed and that is hard to do being the computer nerd he is. Actually he says he hates computers...it just pays well.

I remind him my job doesn't pay that well unless you count the endless compliments I get all day...thanks for waking me up on time Mom so I won't miss school...thanks for this delicious dinner of liver and broccoli, thanks for making sure I have clean clothes to wear everyday, thanks for putting my favorite chips in my lunch, thanks for always being home for me, thanks for giving up things you really want to do(like blog and create) to spend time with me.

Hope the party goes as well as my first digital layout. Thanks Shabby Princess for the cute digital kit.

PS...what is a group of witches called???? A coven. Just thought I would share that with you since I have been looking for all things witches for this party.

No Cook Friday Nights

It's a little hard to post on your blog when complete chaos is going on around you.

• Baby is crawling out of her high chair with food all over her face and hair.
  
• Other 3 girls are busy scarfing down their delicious meal of Dino nuggets and minute rice.
• Preschooler is screaming how much she hates broccoli and doesn't want to eat.
  
• Eldest offspring is begging for everyone else's food they don't want to eat.
• Middle child is precociously nibbling around her broccoli as to make us think she ate it.
  

And this is pure bliss. I can say that because I am counting the minutes until the babysitter arrives and hubby and I can escape for a few hours. I think we have only done that a handful of times since moving here a year ago. We have very few connections here and haven't gotten out much. Maybe tonight will be different as we are going out with a few couples from our ward.

My hopes are to make some deeper friends rather than "Hi see you in the hallway on Sundays"....to eat as many carbs as I possibly can...to come home to a quiet and clean house...to find something else to laugh at besides the usual shenanigans of kiddos.

Speaking of laughs...here is a conversation with the little cowgirl in the last post.
Cowgirl: Mom why do you always have to put that thing on (pointing to my bra)
Mom: To pick up what you helped fall and droop.
Cowgirl: Oh.
Later the next evening while I was lounging in my favorite PJ's....
Cowgirl: (completely exasperated) OH NO MOM...THEY FELL DOWN AGAIN...you better put on that thing that picks them up.

Does anyone know a good plastic surgeon??? The middle child once asked if she was going to have long boobs like Mom someday. I don't know if I can take such honesty anymore.
Gotta run go pick up my "ladies" and head out for dinner. Lets hope they don't fall during our night out.

YEE-HAW

Riley was so excited to go off to pre-school today.  She got to get out her bright pink cowboy boots with a little bling on them and dust off her pink cowgirl hat and prance on over to WESTERN day at school.  

They sent a note home the week before and said that it was optional...and only if the kids had something at home to wear.  I just laughed...you know we have cowgirl stuff to wear...I just had to decide how much to let her wear.  Boots...hat...bandana...praire skirt...etc.

But I didn't want her to look to backwards country...so I whipped up this skirt to go with the outfit...That is some wild and funky cowgirl skirt.  But I loved making it...it only took 4+ hours to make...and I thought I was a good seamstress...but I wanted it to turn out perfect...of course there are flaws...but who cares

Now I am whipping one up for Reagan since she begged for one just as bright.  You have got to

 check out this fabric line from Heather Bailey...to0 cute.

How much is too much

So I went to a scrapbook convention. Okay stop laughing all you non-scrappers. I really wanted to go. Of course I went by myself. No BBF Jenny to drag around. But I did plenty of damage by myself. I had to buy 2 totes to help carry the bounty...but only half way through the show...my shoulders couldn't take it anymore. So did I go home....NO WAY!

I found a vendor selling a suitcase. Yes, I said a suitcase. Full size even. It is darling. Black with pink crowns all over. I convinced myself it was for Reagan since she doesn't have a cute suitcase like her big sister. But truthfully it really was to haul the excess. With those deals who could resist.

Here are some of my favorite finds. Look at this darling album. I figure I will use it as a family album. It even has 12x6 pages you can insert.

I also love this paper from Rusty Pickle. My not so shy kid is going to be a pink pirate for Halloween...look forward to those pics.

Tons of Halloween papers, ribbons and embellishments. I have Halloween on the brain. It is more than a month away but I am planning a big WITCHES bash for my littlest witch's birthday. Anybody got any good witch games to play and no we are not going to cast a spell on anyone. But I have to stick to the theme...little witches.

SO that is what I did this weekend. How fun.