Halloween Festivites

Trying out Mara's hat.  He makes a pretty cute witch don't ya think?

Halloween was a lot more fun this year because Mara was really into it.  She was super creeped out by all the decorations at first, but Sean got her to tickle them and then she wasn't afraid anymore.

We let her paint two pumpkins this year.  She thought she was so cool!  It was hard convincing her to be patient while I rinsed out the brush before she could move on to another color though.

She is so proud!

Logan just crawled around exploring while we were busy.  After an hour and a half I realized I hadn't heard him in a while!  He was so happy we were leaving him alone to play.

What a stud.

This was the night of our Trunk-Or-Treat.  Sean sadly had to go to work but I got him to dress up for a picture before he left.

Raarrr!  The cuttest little lion you've ever seen.  Oh, Binki...how I miss you somedays!

Mara kept biting her bucket.  Weird little girl ;)

We tried to get a photo before we left of all the kids together, but it was a total disaster!  Logan decided attacking Dylan sounded like more fun.

Omi swept in to help calm the chaos.  I think she only added to it.

Oops...this picture wasn't crooked before.  Oh well, I'm not changing it.

I actually got them to both look at the camera before we took off to the Trunk-Or-Treat.  Mara won a prize for the cuttest costume.  Am I a bad mom for reusing her costume from last year?  Nope.  I think I'm a smart mommy!

Every year my Aunt & Uncle's neighbors put on an awesome train ride.  We were waiting in line and out the corner of my eye I'm wondering who this creeper is.  I definitely did not want to make eye contact.  He kept getting closer so finally I took a good look and it was my uncle!  It was quite the stretch from seeing him in his Bishop Suit all the time.  You can't really see it, but his shirt is  U of U shirt. :)  He kept asking where the beer was too.  So funny!

This is my pumkin masterpiece.  We didn't carve them until Halloween day though, so it kind of felt like a waste.

Sean's cannibal pumpkin!

We also painted some pumpkins the day Mara did, and these two are Sean's.  He did a pretty good job even if I don't appreciate the humor.  I love him.

Mara's pumpkins.

Our family right before we braved the monsoon to go Trick or Treating.  Sean convinced the little boys that if they touched him he'd fart.  It was pretty funny. 

I have a love/hate relationship with Halloween being on Sunday.  It feels like a week of Halloween instead of a day!  It was crazy.  I'm glad it's over ;)  Mara is now a candy addict.  I just found her surrounded by a million Dove chocolate wrappers.  I'm going to have on buzzed little girl for the next little while.  Say a prayer for me :)

Cascade Springs

Every year we tell ourselves we are going to take advantage of our beautiful landscape and visit Cascade Springs in the Fall.  Sadly this hasn't occurred since right after Sean got home from his mission.  We were determined to make it happen and finally did!  They kids loved it.  I'm so glad we actually remembered to go before the leaves were all gone!  Logan loved exploring somewhere new, and Mara thought all the leaves were so pretty. 

It is seriously so hard to get a picture of these two kids together.  They aren't ever looking at the camera at the same time!  To get a picture of Mara is nearly impossible because she can't stop moving for 2 seconds!!!  Logan however gets very excited when the camera comes out and starts posing.  One day I'll get a picture with both of them smiling!

A Month of Thanks

My goal is to post something I'm thankful for every day leading up to Thanksgiving.  I'll put it on the left hand column for anyone who is interested

Apartment Blues

I absolutely LOVE not owning a home right now.  Sounds weird, doesn't it?  But it is true.  The thought of owning a home literally gives me a stomach ache.  There is so much more to owning a home than just being able to make a mortgage payment.  Things we want accomplished before purchasing a home are: at least 6 months of living expenses saved up, a sizable amount saved for any home repairs that will need to be made just to have something to fall back on instead of credit cards, and not to mention a nice down payment.  We don't believe we should own until these three things are accomplished.  Which means we won't be owning anytime soon :)...Therefore I love renting.

You can yap at me all you want about "throwing away money" while renting.  Well yap away--we still aren't buying a home.

The one thing I most look forward to in homeownership is creating amazing spaces.  I have our dream home planned out all in my mind.  Starting with the floor plan, then where I want light switches and electrical outlets, all the way to which throw pillows to use on our sofa.  Not just your typical decorating ideas.  I mean EVERYTHING planned.

The only time I get the apartment blues are when I get my creative juices flowing--which happens all too often.  I get crazy!  I go on spurts of "creative energy" (that's the way I lovingly refer to my neurotic NEED to create things) where I lie in bed at night for hours thinking things up.  I have to get up and grab my sketch book and draw it all out.  One of my favorite things to do is sit in someone else's home and imagine all the different things I could do.  Not that what they have is bad--just what I would do if it was mine.  I could just sit for hours thinking. 

I've been this way as long as I can remember.  But lately it's getting ridiculous.  It is driving me absolutely crazy.  There are only so many little projects one can do in an apartment, ya know?  So I'm asking you--do you have any ideas of how I can get all of this off my mind?!??  Perferably before I lose it?!!?  I NEED HELP!

So stinking exhausted

Packing with a 2 & 1 year old with no tv is nearly impossible.  We canceled our directv on Monday leaving me  with nothing to keep our kids entertained.  Judge away, I don't care.  Sean did remedy the situation and go buy a new DVD player so they can watch movies now.  That helps a lot.

We were talking last night about all the packing going on.  Sean likes this 30 day notice to move thing.  He likes taking the time to slowly pack up.  Me?  Not so much!  I'd rather do it in a day.  Much easier that way.  I keep finding myself looking for something only to realize it is already packed. 

Mara is having major anxiety about everything getting put away just like she did last time.  Only this time it is spread out.  Poor little girl has recently developed a stutter.  I blame it on the move.  She does not do change well.  Has anyone else had this issue with your kids?  She has always spoken very clearly and quite ahead for her age.  At first we thought maybe she was doing it on purpose for attention, but the last couple of days she has started crying because she gets so frustrated that she can't spit out the words.  The theory of attention got washed down the drain.  Our Pediatrician told us it is common enough in her age group where their minds are racing a million miles a minute and their mouths can't catch up.  Still, it breaks my heart.  Any advice would be appreciated.

The picture is just gross isn't it?  But it definitely explains how I've felt for the past month.  Much better than words ever could.

Imprinting

I stumbled on that quote (to your left) today and it is so true!  It makes me want to try harder as a parent to do the right things.  Listen to the right things, watch the right things, do the right things.  Even when I think they aren't around or won't notice.

The other day while driving in the car Mara started singing with the song on the radio.  If she were to repeat those words in public I would be so embarrassed!  Those are words my two year old shouldn't know, but does because of something I exposed her to.  Don't worry--no swear words :)  It really got me thinking, so when I found this quote I decided it was something I needed to have around to always remind me.  So I got on photoshop and made up a little thing to hang in my home.  Hopefully this will help me be a better mom.

The one thing I don't EVER pray for

I don't consider myself a superstitious person.  However, there is one thing I absolutely will not pray for because I believe I will be forced to go through rough times to get the desired gift.  Silly I know. 

Recently I decided I was being absolutely ridiculous and started praying for it anyways.  I held my breath for about a week just waiting for something awful to happen.  When it didn't I finally allowed myself to breathe again.  Too soon.  Way too soon...

Can you guess what I'm talking about?  I bet you can.  It's patience. 

Here's the story.  I have been working like a crazy woman to pack, paint, and refinish furniture before the big move.  Those are all hard things to do with 2 kids under 2 1/2.  I make it work(ish) by going up to my mom's house to do the furniture refinishing.  During naptime the kidlets just go down there.  It works great for everyone. 

I don't have them nap in the same room because that would be useless.  So Logan sleeps in the portable crib in one room and Mara sleeps in another room.  My mom decided Mara could nap in her bedroom.  After about an hour I went to check on her and about lost my mind.  There was this

EVERYWHERE.  The walls, the carpet, the vanity, curtains, window, windowsill, dresser, doors, bed frame, even the stinking toothpaste tube was covered.  The worst part was my mom's bed quilt she made for my dad for Christmas.  This stuff is pretty much liquid lipstick.  Mara looked like she had a sunburn because there was a nice even coat all over her body and her brand new dress. 

I took one look at her, took a deep breath, and told her to get in the bathtub while I calmed down.  I just sat there for a couple of minutes starring at the disaster.  I turned to look at Mara in the tub and she looked so scared I couldn't help but laugh.  She was butt naked in the tub with no water freezing her little heiny off but didn't want to make a peep. 

I turned on the water for her and got cleaning (the bathroom is all connected to the bedroom so no--i didn't leaver her along in the tub).  It came off everything so far.  We are still google(ing) ways to get that out of fabric.

Moral of the story is that I prayed for patience and got what I deserved :)  Really though, it wasn't that bad and I am very proud of the way I handled the situation.  I normally would've gone berserk and she would have gotten a spanking or two.  Instead we talked about it together, and in the long run I'm pretty sure that taught her a better lesson than losing my temper.