halloween and haircuts

*Halloween.  Good times had by all.  This year all the kids in our neighborhood trick/treated together.  This was a bit overwhelming for our neighbors that answered their doors, but then we allowed them to only have to get off their couches one time. So win-win for everyone.  Our costumes were actually purchased this year, instead of put together in under 3 minutes from the dress up closet.  

A slightly annoyed Bat Girl.  She did NOT want to stop and have a picture taken, while there were treats to be had.  Appreciate the half effort Ellakate!

Max as the black ninja.  Yes, we disregarded all rules about not dressing your kid in all dark colors.

Betsy the Unicorn.  This was a fantastic costume for a couple reasons.  The most important was protection. Due to  depth perception issues in the dark with curbs...unicorn's head provided a soft landing for Betsy face numerous times.  Prepare to see the unicorn for years to come.

*Betsy had her first ever haircut today.  Yes, she will turn 4 in a couple weeks.  Don't judge me people.  Obviously somethings slip through the cracks.  She had 2+ inches cut off, so now I can put that off for another 4 years.

After the cut complete with fancy braid. 

red ribbon week

*The school is promoting Red Ribbon week.  Today was wear all red.  This is what my kid choose...

Glad to see she hasn't lost her fashion sense.

Max wore several different shades of red, but did not have time to have his picture taken.  Yesterday before school, Ella Kate did ask me " So what is all the drug stuff they are telling me not to take" Ha.  I love these kids.

*Also we got Betsy's school picture proof back...Yup she rocked it, bunny ears and all.

picture day.

*Today was preschool picture day.  Miss Betsy was crazy excited about it.  This morning still had the same old "pick your battles" moment.  Ours however is a bit different.  There was great discussion about putting in her eye vs. not putting in her eye.  I finally threw in that she could wear whatever she wanted if she put her eye in.  Challenge accepted.  The eye went in and the outfit emerged.  She chose a lovely number complete with a nice rip in the tutu.  I figured the photographer could hide that spot. The bunny ear barrettes pulled the outfit together.  I chose my battle and she chose hers.  That kid was the happiest thing on the way to school.  I snapped this quick pick before we left, (please notice how I strategically placed Count Chocula above her head.  The bottom line is who cares what she wears, this is the stage she is in now and I must admit I love it.  

Fight club.

* Zack and I are striving to raise great children.  We are attempting to instill strong character, love, faith, the list goes on.  After the last couple days, these goals have flown out the window.  Currently,  I feel that our kids are training to be cage fighters.  The fighting has been intense. One on hand, I am not a fan of playing referee, but on the other hand, if I am stuck in a dark alley with my kids....my plan is to insinuate that the stranger in the dark alley might have touched their favorite stuff animals.  Then I would just sit back and watch the mayhem.  Between ninja kicks and windmill hits, I would be well protected.  I realize that this is a phase (please God let this be phase) but if it's not, I guess I can start exploring dark alleys.  

**disclaimer to the grandparents.  Your grand babies are still the sweet little buggers that you spoil, just don't touch their stuff.**

All day!

*Max started all day kindergarten today.  He was up and fully dressed by 6 a.m., then promptly put back to bed until 7.  I am glad he is so excited and hope that it will continue.  I attempted to get a picture of him.....attempted.

This is his..."I got this mom" look. 

* Betsy goes to preschool today for a couple hours, so after 7 years I will have some time to myself.  I might just drive around in the car blaring inappropriate music. The house can wait!

Ode to Fuzzy Bob.

* Ella Kate had a bug museum at school last week.   The task at finding the perfect bug was not an easy one, Betsy actually found the fattest and fuzziest caterpillar after preschool.  So Fuzzy Bob came to live with us.  We enjoyed keeping him alive and outta Betsy's hands for a couple days, before he went to school.  He performed well at Bug Museum and headed back home with us.  A couple hours after school, I sent my mom the following pics.

The story of Fuzzy Bob.

Fuzzy Bob and the girls.  ( i kinda forgot to get Max outta class to come..)

*My mom then asked.. "how is Fuzzy Bob?"  It was then, I realized that Fuzzy Bob had been left in the car.  Apparently the holes were a bit bigger than anticipated, or Fuzzy Bob had some contortionist training, because he escaped. Dang.  Now, we have been known to lose countless shoes, barrettes and library books in our Suburban, so we didn't hold out much hope to find F.B.  Betsy and I looked for 10 minutes with flashlights, while she yelled "OH FUZZY BOB" at the top of her lungs.  The best comment she made was "That fuzzy bob, he is one smart pillar." Yes, sister he is.  I had then planned on saying a few kind words about F.B., thrown up a prayer that he was not on the bottom of anyone shoes and called it a day.  However, if you have met my children, you know one of their favorite things to do is make up any sort of flier and pass it out.  (this summer they started a money club, which consisted of collecting money from members and buying ice cream with it.  Shockingly enough the club just didn't take off.) So the following flier was cranked out in multiples and passed around the neighborhood.

to clarify...it says Sat. the 9th.  

*Currenlty, my master plan is to catch a butterfly, trap it briefly in the car, then fling open the door and declare it Fuzzy Bob.  In case you were wondering this idea falls under "Ways to get your kids to not trust you." Then due to my luck, we would promptly find the real Fuzzy Bob.  I'll keep ya posted.

ahem. hello again.

Ahem. This is a tad bit embarrassing that I have been MIA since June.  I have actually (shockingly enough) had people ask where i disappeared too.  Life got a bit busy and overwhelming.  Between entertaining my perfect children with Pinterest projects, healthy meals, daily adventures and keeping a clean house, summer just flew by.  Now we are into school again, which means room parties, after school art projects and teaching everyone a second language, the blog has fallen to the wayside.  

*If you believe or actually performed any of the above tasks in the last 6 months... we can not be friends anymore and you are required to find another blog to read.

* My real summer included keeping all 3 kids alive (not an easy task, when they were all hell bent on beating each other up) while slinging PB&J's, attempting to apply sunscreen on them, keeping the inflatable pool from becoming the dirty hippo pool at the zoo and throwing in enough fun things to keep them outta therapy for a couple more years. If you are still reading and feeling like you had kinda of the same summer, then our friendship is still intact.


*The blog just didn't happen.  I did take lots of pictures, but am too lazy to upload all of them, so let's just fast forward a couple of months. Here are the kiddos...

Ella Kate. Fun, sassy and full of opinions.  (Like she would make her own chalkboard sign, thankyouverymuch)

Max.  Average of 1 black eye a week, endless ninja moves and all around fun kid. 

Betsy.  Spunky, still fake eye throwing, boss of preschool, mini me.  Also has started dressing herself (if you missed that from the pic)

I lied.  One picture from the summer.  The lemonade stand.  Yes, our sign is taped to a 2 x 4.  Yes, Betsy may have accidentally whacked her friend Jenna with it on the head (she was ok and got a free cookie outta the deal).  Yes, my kids may have gone door to door and forced all the neighbors to come buy lemonade.  Yes, I love Max's expression.

*So there.   I have made the hurdle to start blogging again.  But no promises on frequencies of posts.  This mama is going to start having a couple mornings a week by herself (don't get too excited Zack, meals and cleaning house will still not be a priority) Naps are top of the list.