Halloween Night

We started out evening out at Dakota's mom and step-dad's house were the kids played with the talking caldron, drew pictures and just hung out. After a bit, we headed out into the bitter cold wind to go trick or treating.

As you will notice, Kelton decided that he wanted to be a pirate instead of a skeleton for the night. The kids and Dakota had a great time and even though I am frozen to the core, so did I. :) And hey - Dakota even managed to get a good photo of the kids and me together! :)

Photos of my little spooks at their halloween party

Happy Halloween!

I'm not sure who is more excited about Halloween and dressing up; Kelton or Dakota. :) This is a picture that Dakota took early this morning before she left for work. As you can see, our pj clad boy just couldn't resist joining her in dressing up.



More later...lots of Halloween events planned for the day. :)

The Weekend in Review

It was a wild and busy weekend at our house. Saturday was a beautiful autumn day so the kids and I headed outside to play in the leaves. It was so much fun to roll around and kick the leaves. I just love this time of year.
Here are a few photos from that adventure.



Later, after Dakota returned home from studying, her mom and step-dad brought over pizza and we had a good time just hanging out together. Once they left, we got started on making our Haunted Gingerbread House. Kelton found the kit while we were picking up some groceries earlier in the day and he couldn't wait to create the thing. He's been chomping at the bit to make a gingerbread house for Christmas so imagine his delight when he found one for Halloween! Oh the joy!



Thanks to daylight savings time, Sunday morning found us up and at 'em earlier than our usual early time. The rain was falling down and the kids were getting antsy so we pulled on boots and coats and headed out for an early morning walk in the rain. The kids had so much fun that we actually had the bribe them to come back in the house. Their backpacks and pockets were overflowing from all the "treasures" they found on their walk.



And then, later on that day, it was time to carve the Halloween pumpkin. Kelton got to be the one who decided what the orange guys face would look like and he wanted a happy pumpkin...so...that's exactly what he got. I find it so funny how icked-out the kids are when it comes to touching the pumpkin guts. Kelton has never liked the stuff (though he was brave this year and did hold a bit in his hands) and Kaylen followed suit - though she upped the funniness of it by calling it "pumpkin poop" or..in her words "pumppump poo". :)



So - in a crazy and wild nutshell, that was our weekend. It was fun but as is usually the case, it flew by. It's hard to only have Dakota with us one day a week but as you can see - we try to make the most of it. :)

Popcorn Balls!

This is the BEST recipe for popcorn balls. So darn easy. Kelton, Dakota and I had a great time making them and they are so yummy that I am finding I have to hold myself back from returning to the kitchen for another one.

Thanks Dani for posting the link on your blog!

credits: Jump into Fall by Daniela Peuss; leaf elements by Dani Mogstadt

Career Quiz

A quick and fun career quiz can be found here.

My results:

Blue Interests
People with blue Interests like job responsibilities and occupations that involve creative, humanistic, thoughtful, and quiet types of activities. Blue Interests include abstracting, theorizing, designing, writing, reflecting, and originating, which often lead to work in editing, teaching, composing, inventing, mediating, clergy, and writing.

Blue Style
People with blue styles prefer to perform their job responsibilities in a manner that is supportive and helpful to others with a minimum of confrontation. They prefer to work where they have time to think things through before acting. People with blue style tend to be insightful, reflective, selectively sociable, creative, thoughtful, emotional, imaginative, and sensitive. Usually they thrive in a cutting edge, informally paced, future-oriented environment. You will want to choose a work environment or career path in which your style is welcomed and produces results.

Let's examine that style thing, shall we?
People with blue styles prefer to perform their job responsibilities in a manner that is supportive and helpful to others with a minimum of confrontation.
True. That's what being a SAHM is all about....hopefully with very minimal confrontation from the children.

Usually they thrive in a cutting edge, informally paced, future-oriented environment.
Cutting edge: I'd say that raising kids.
Informally paced: I'd say that's a definite with kids. Goodness knows you can't be a formal pace.
Future-oriented: Again, sounds like raising children, to me. :)

Guess I'm in the field that suits me best. Go figure.

And...

.....in case you are wondering....you should also add:
"Do not cut your sisters hair with your scissors during craft time."

Man - you have to cover a lot of bases. *sigh*

It's been a long, challenging day. I wish someone could convinve my son that there is no need to get up at 5:30 in the morning! By 1pm, "listening ears" seem to no longer work.

Add It To The List

"Do not throw rocks at the sliding glass door."

Apparently, I should have explained this rule to him before today.

You really do have to teach them *everything* don't you? *sigh*

I'm a Chevrolet Corvette!

You're a classic - powerful, athletic, and competitive. You're all about winning the race and getting the job done. While you have a practical everyday side, you get wild when anyone pushes your pedal. You hate to lose, but you hardly ever do.

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Paint Mess



Painting. Well - any art project really. I just don't know why art must be so messy. The art time itself seems small compared to the clean up time but boy does Kelton have fun.

Art...and the mess. It's a huge part of my every day life.

Table Dancers



My kids are obsessed. This weekend we found this video from You Tube on Sonya's blog and my kids have listened to it endlessly since then. Last night I started it for them and went to start a load of laundry. When I returned they were both up on the kitchen table dancing and singing their hearts out to it.

You just have to love these two little guys of mine! :)

Here's the song....and yes, the word "homo" once of the few english words, did indeed spark a conversation with Kelton. :)

The Swivel Sweeper

Yesterday Kelton saw an infomercial for The Swivel Sweeper and he wanted it so bad. He kept saying "Mom! You can try it risk free for SIXTY days!!" It was so cute.

I have to admit - I'm intrigued. We have a Shark carpet sweeper thingy and I LOVE it! I use it every single day - at least once, sometimes two or three times. The big vacuum now resides in the garage and I pull it out only when necessary. This little thing is SO easy to use. The Swivel Sweeper looks even better because well...as Kelton will tell you, it SWIVELS! It can clean under anything and it has rotating brushes on ALL four sides. How smart is that?!?!

Instead of offering two for the price of one, wouldn't it be a smarter deal to offer one at half price?? I would totally spring for it for $20 for one but $40 for two? It's not like I *need* two. *sigh*

But a girl can dream. Maybe I should put it on my Christmas list. :)

credit: Sassy Pants by Dani Mogstadt




Journaling reads:
You will never know the love you bring to my life, the light you bring to my heart. Your smile can, and does, fill every dark place in a room.. Your laugh is one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard. From the day you were born, your cry has been able to bring me to my knees. I want nothing more than to heal whatever hurt you have; to make you smile and laugh again. You are a beautiful child with a loving heart and a giving spirit. You are my dream come true amd you forever will hold a piece of my heart. The world is truly blessed because you are in it./

I love you.
More than you will ever know or understand.
I love you.
Beyond all reason.

(PS..Keep reading. It was a very productive blogging day)

The Puppy Shirt



See that cute little puppy shirt that Kaylen is wearing? It comes with a great story...at least, Dakota and I think it's a great story. :)

That shirt used to belong to Kelton. When I was pregnant with Kaylen, and Kelton was but a young 2 year old, we were explaining to him how the new baby would wear some of his outgrown clothes. After some more conversation and thought, he very seriously got up, went to his dresser and pulled out his all time favorite shirt, this blue puppy shirt. He handed it to me and said "I want baby sister to have this shirt." We thanked him and explained that he should continue wearing it for now but when he outgrew it we would put it away for when sister was big enough.

Well....she is big enough now.

Kelton, of course, says he doesn't remember but I know that Dakota and I will never forget. I dressed Kaylen in it this afternoon and I think she looks adorable!

All Things That Glitter

Ugh. Glitter art projects. That stuff is the bane of my existence. This time I thought I was a bit more intelligent about that evil sparkling stuff and held the art project outside and yet.....how did it still manage to end up all over the house??

Glitter is truly evil stuff....and completely capitivating to kids.

And those silly grins and deep belly laughs are why I put up with it. And it's probably why I still smile every time I see the glitter-that-shall-never-be-removed on the kitchen cabinets from the last time.

*sigh*




PS...Keep reading. Two more post just for today! :)

Photos to Share

Here are a few of the non-deleted photos from this weekend:




and....a nice autumn day




and a few various photos taken recently:

ARGH!!!!!!

I could kill myself. I'm such a loser sometimes. And I mean that literally.

My digital camera had 163 pictures from this weekend. Some of the cutest photos ever. Heck - even a great one of Kaylen and I together. And it's rare that I like a photo of myself - so you *know* it was pretty good.

Anyway - I hooked up the camera to transfer the pictures to my computer and then I set about taking care of something Kelton needed. When I returned I unhooked the camera and turned it on to delete the photos. It was acting weird so I removed the battery, reinserted it and tried again. This time it worked great so I hit delete and poof! Photos were deleted.

Except..............................(and you all see it coming)..............................

The stupid program only downloaded 50 of the photos!!! FIFTY!!!!!!!!!!!! That means 113 were deleted. Never to be seen again. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And there were some really great photos from yesterday when Dakota and the kids were in the yard planting tulip bulbs for me.

The real kick in the teeth is this: I never, ever, ever delete the photos on the camera until I have double checked to be sure they all downloaded. SO WHY DIDN'T I DO THAT TODAY????????????

I'm so sad I could just cry.

Sometimes I miss my old standard film camera. *sigh*

Believe in the Power of You

I'm not 100% sure I'm loving this one but here it is. I just may have to take another shot at a different layout for the same photo. The photo is great - it's just my LO I'm doubting. *sigh* This is what comes of making a really amazing page that I love; I seem to develop a creative block and paralyze myself. Anyway....take a peek:

credits: Random Thoughts 2 by Michelle Underwood and So Swirly elements by Shawna Clingerman

Journaling reads:
Oh the simple joy of a swing! You’ve never been one to love swinging all that much so we were quite surprised when you announced that you would try “the big kid swing”. The look on your face as you went higher and higher was priceless. We had to keep reminding you to hold on as you kept wanting to let go to use your hands to gesture. As you become more comfortable you also became more goofy. What a sweet and silly little boy you are. We are loving watching you experience new things and we are so proud of you when you step outside your “comfort zone” to do so. You keep surprising us - and I have a funny feeling that you always will.

Our Weekend at the Beach

I'm trying to put together a montage of our beach trip but it's slow going. I thought I would post a few photos to show some of the fun we had. It was rainy and so very cold but we had a great time.

(PS...you can click on any image to bring it into the foreground or you can let it randomly select which ones it will bring forward. Have fun!)

Ideas?

It's no big secret: I come from a family of yellers. My parents yelled. My siblings yelled. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now.

Only problem is; I seem to have become a yelling parent. I don't like it. I do not like yelling at my kids. I remember how it felt when I was a child and I swore I wouldn't do it to my kids. And yet, somehow over the years, I have become that which I despise.

I try and I try and I try not to yell at them. I remind myself they are only children. I tell myself that no good comes from yelling. I hear myself and I hate how it sounds and yet...... *sigh*

I need to find other ways of dealing. Now.

So....let's look at this from this point of view:

It's the end of a long day and you're stressed out as far as you feel you can be stressed. It's the "witching hour" which means the kids are starting to spin out of control and things are on a fast decline, going no where good. There is no break in sight for you - no one coming through the door to help diffuse the situation. The kids are at each other, at you.....the tension is mounting. You see it coming. You know how this is going to end. You know you're going to end up yelling and someone, maybe all three of you are going to end up in tears. You want to put the brakes on before it gets to that point. What do you do? Please....seriously, tell me what you would do.

I take deep breaths. I count. I try to stay calm when I speak with them. I ask politely. I demand in a calm manner. I take more deep breaths. My voice gets a bit louder. Then louder and then.....well, you get the idea.

I've done things like push up dinner time to 4pm because this is the time I have learned they *need* to eat. Even waiting until 4:15 is a bad idea. So food goes on the table no later than 4. And yet, they screw around and play with their food (sometimes eating, sometimes not). They mess around in their chairs. They won't eat hardly enough even though you *know* they need to. (and yes, they have had a snack about 2 hours before).

I've pushed up bath and bedtime because I know they need to go to bed by 7pm. I mean - IN bed and half-asleep if not all the way asleep by 7pm.

So....I'm asking you for ideas on how to cope, how to diffuse the situation before it gets to raised voices and tears.

This is no way to live and this is nothing that I want my kids to carry with them through their lives. This is not th elegacy I want to pass on. And yet - they can't run the show. They can't have the control and just do as they please because honestly, I think I saw red tonight when they each took handfuls of their soup and tossed it across the room. I actually was proud of the way I handled that. At first I yelled and sent them to their rooms. But in a minute I realized that wasn't productive so I went in and talked with them and we agreed that they should help clean it up. And they did. But in the end, this isn't about their behavior - it's about mine. I own my reactions. And I do not like the knee jerk reactions I have.

So I'm asking all of you parents out there what tactics you employ to keep your cool? I'm all ears.

Grrrrrrrrrrrr
(7:05pm) check update at the end of this post if you are interested)

A dead car battery. What a stellar way to start the day.

How did it happen, you ask? Hmmm...something about two kids who love to pretend to drive and two tired moms who, after a day in the pumpkin patch, neglected to check that all doors where properly closed. Add to that one stay at home day and presto....a dead battery 36 hours later.

*sigh*

When oh when will AAA get here? I had somewhere to be 50 minutes ago.

Doesn't it just figure.

Edited to Add:
Ok - the day is over so thought I'd add an update. Not only was the battery dead...it was *really* dead (can you be deader than dead? I guess you can when you are a battery.). The tow truck guy finally arrived and he tested the battery and said without emotion, "You need a new one. Today." He jumped the car and said "Don't stop it until you get somewhere that will have a battery for you."

Nice.

I went to Les Schwab and ended up spending $100 to get a battery. Oh and get this - the date on my now-old battery was 3/05 which means that was when it was made. I had to have had it installed a few months after that. This was JUST LAST YEAR! Of course, I don't really remember any of this because that would have been in the midst of PPD and D getting ready to start school. I vaguely remembered something about a new battery so I made a call to the place I had been taking the car for maintenance. Yes, it's true. I had a new battery installed in June of last year. And oh hey - there was a phone number on the battery that I could have called and they would have brought out a FREE replacement for me. Now I ask you, don't you think that *someone* who looked at my battery today could have told me that? I would have thought it...I mean seriously...there I was with two small kids looking probably at least half as frazzled as I felt. Someone could have said SOMETHING!!

And now it just isn't worth my time to try to figure it all out (not to mention I don't exactly need a new battery sitting in my garage for no good reason) because, after all, I just spent money I didn't have to get a battery I needed TODAY. *sigh*

It's always something.

It's been a day, that's for sure.

Go Figure


Well now - THIS explains a lot!

**snip from the report**
"A study funded by the US government has concluded that conservatism can be explained psychologically as a set of neuroses rooted in "fear and aggression, dogmatism and the intolerance of ambiguity".

**end snip**

So....it's been documented that conservatism is a mental illness. Explains a lot, doesn't it?

ROFLMAO


(ps..keep reading...it's been an active day on the blog)

What is WRONG with people?????

Woman Accused of Swinging Baby As Weapon
In my entire lifetime I will never, ever understand things like this.

(keep reading to next post for a happy post involving *my* children....)

Pumpkin Patch Time!

Ah - autumn! We all love it. The cooler temperatures, the falling leaves...all the wonderful scents. I have to say, this is my favorite time of the year. Yesterday we headed out to the pumpkin patch and the kids had a blast (well - we all did!). Check out the montage below.

Edit video online at onetruemedia.com

credit: Fall Crush by Dani Mogstadt

Journaling reads:
"I love this photo of you - it captures you completely. From the silly grin to the love shining in your eyes. I can’t believe how grown up you are - hardly a trace of the little baby I once held in my arms. You are your own little person and I am having so much fun watching you grow and change. In your eyes, I am able to catch glimpses of the man you are going to be.
I am so lucky to be your mom! "

And...for your viewing pleasure..... another one I did tonight. I know....I even amazing myself. *laughing* What else do I have to do on D's late school night? :) :)

credit: Bewitched by Dani Mogstad

credit: Free Fall by Shawna Clingerman

Confessions From a Toddler on the Edge

My name is Kaylen. I am 19 months old and I am addicted to coffee.

I don't know exactly how this addiction took hold of me but I think it was one of those mornings when my mommy left her coffee cup sitting on the end table. Was was she thinking?!? Anyway - I picked up, took a sip and never looked back.

Coffee. I simply MUST have it.

I don't think it's the coffee as much as the raspberry creamer she puts in. It could also be the spoonful of Cool-Whip she uses though I've taken note that she only does that on the weekends and well....I steal coffee every day of the week so I'm really thinking it's that creamer. I think it's a form of "baby crack". I smell the coffee brewing and I start to get excited. Then she pours her cup and gets it all ready. Before she sits down I am begging to sit on her lap and even though she tells me it's hot I lunge for it. I MUST HAVE IT!

I try hard to wait until she says it's cool but honestly, I don't care. I must taste it. I must. There is no logic to my craving. All I know it there is no stopping me.

I think I need a 12-step program.
Sincerely yours,
Toddler on the Edge

The Wonder of It All

Ok - it's probably becoming evident to you all that I am going to be posting my (digital) scrapbook pages here instead of over on Addicted to Scrapping. It came to my attention that hardly anyone was stopping by over there to see all my hard work so.....it's coming to you! :)

Here is a page that I did tonight. I took the picture yesterday afternoon. We don't have many leaves on the ground yet but I was dying to do an autumn page (or two, six or ten). I'm just in the mood. I think it turned out pretty darn cute. I promise a real posting soon. :)

credit: Fall Crush by Dani Mogstadt

This Weekends Pages

I'm having so much fun getting back into scrapping......I really did miss it over the busy summer months.

credit: Free Fall by Shawna Clingerman

credits: Icing on the Cake kit by Shawna Clingerman, button flower from Carpe Diem kit by Shawna Clingerman and Dani Mogstadt and curve template by Melissa Renfro

credits: bubble frame by Shawna Clingerman, paper by Amanda Rockwell