Wedding Announcement

Introducing Edward as the "Classic Vampire" and Bella, his "Vampire Bride."

The bite that changed her life.

(Coral kept showing me and saying, "He bit me.")

Thank you to my mom for all of her time she spent sewing the wedding attire. "Bella's" dress is a replica of my mother's wedding dress from 36 years ago.

I know, my mom is awesome.

The Dance Lessons

(Yes, that is Glee for all of you fans. I had to keep playing this scene over and over so Daniel could learn the moves and get it right. I think we may have a future dancer on our hands. He's a pretty good dancer for a 5 year old and never having any lessons.)

Spooktacular Carving and Partying

Carving pumpkins with an electric pumpkin carver. I was in Heaven. Thanks Mom!

Hmm. . . I think it is a bat on the bottom and a vampire on the top. Daniel wanted a vampire and this is the closest sketch I could find online in the five minutes I had to look.

My birthday picture after midnight (in case any of you wanted to see if from the mention in the previous post).

The Mummy birthday cupcakes I made (thanks for the idea BF).

And the rest I made into pumpkin faces because the mummies were taking 4Ever!

School Activities

National Bosses Day- the kids were told to ask their daddy's for a tie to borrow.

Coral and I spent the whole 2 1/2 hours with Daniel for his Halloween Party. So much fun! And she loved being there.

Daniel's kindergarten teacher. We love her (especially Coral).

A Happy Birthday Holiday

A person's birthday is their own special holiday. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my birthday because I feel like Halloween is a special celebration of my birthday. And my birthday is the perfect day because it is one day before Halloween. So, I get two days of fun celebrations!

I stayed up until after midnight to do a little birthday dance and to say "Happy Birthday" to myself (I know I wasn't quite born yet Mom, but it was still the 30th). And then I tried to sleep in and get rested up, but I was too excited for my birthday day. It's like Christmas (minus all the presents).

And this is the day I get to do whatever I want- clean or not clean, cook or not cook, take a bath and a read a good book, watch endless hours of TV. I make it all about me!!!

And I have decreed that my children must begin each sentence towards me with "Happy Birthday, Mom." I know, hilarious. But I LOVE IT!

Tonight will be our annual family Halloween Birthday Party to celebrate the three birthdays in October (my brother, niece and myself). It is an event I always look forward to. And this year I am making mummy cupcakes! (Thanks again to Cory for the guidance and suggestion.) Ooh, it is going to be fun dressing up and celebrating two nights in a row!

Happy Birthday to Me!

And

Happy Halloween!

I am not an Alcoholic

There really are all kinds of parents in this world.

I saw a father drinking a bottle of beer as he was walking his son to school one morning. On my way home, I discovered he had left his half full beer right outside of the school gate.

I picked up the beer and walked home to throw it in the trash. So, for any of my friends who might have seen me with a bottle of beer at 9:00 am in the morning- No, I am not an alcoholic.

Coral is our little princess. Well, she thinks she is, but she can be terror on two legs. My mom discovered this yesterday as she followed the path of destruction around her house. I am sure she understands now why I call her at my wits end some days.

Have you ever tried finding a toddler flat sheet? Toys R Us carries a toddler sheet set (flat sheet, fitted sheet and pillow case) for the small price of $35. Are you kidding me?! So, my mom and I bought a full sheet set (which happened to match Coral's room perfectly) and made two toddler size flat sheets.

With new sheets, I decided it was time to take off the toddler rail. It has almost been a week and she still hasn't fallen out of bed. Daniel and Coral liked the "new" bed.

Oh, so cozy.

I found Coral watching TV like this. She doesn't really watch TV- ever. I was sick on Sunday and turned on "The Tenth Kingdom." It is a seven hour movie and both my kids were glued to it all day- with breaks for naps and to eat. I already loved this movie, but I love it even more since it entertained my kids while I rested.

Crisp, Cool and My Birthday

This is my favorite time of year for two reasons:

1. The weather cools down, the leaves change colors and I can enjoy warm cups of hot cocoa in the mornings.

2. My birthday . . . it is the day before Halloween and I love it entirely too much. If I had the money, I'd throw a big costume party every year. I love all things Halloween. And I have noticed this year my enthusiasm has rubbed off on Daniel. Yes, I am a proud mom.

I put up a Halloween background from The Cutest Blog on the Block and even modified their header using Paint.net. I think this is my new favorite, free down loadable program.

And why have I had all this time to recreate my blog and post?

Daniel came down with a fever Sunday evening along with a cough. Last night, his temperature was up to 103.7! I called my friend, who is a pediatric ER nurse, almost in tears and dreading a trip to the ER. I have such good friends. Really, I have been blessed in the friend department.

She went to the store, brought me some medication, then told me how much, when and what to give him. Thankfully his temp came down. He did wake up around 4:00 am and starting throwing up. I don't think he can ever be sick without puking at least once. This morning, I woke up to a hysterical Daniel leaning over the toilet coughing and begging for a breathing treatment.

One breathing treatment and dose of motrin later, he was feeling much better. Carlo and I have a hard time convincing him to sit still and rest because he thinks he is ALL better once the medications kick in.

Oh yea, that is why I have so much time today. I spent all day cleaning yesterday, went grocery shopping once the kids were in bed (can't really take a sick kid out) and since Daniel didn't go to school . . . I suppose his being sick gave us all the four day weekend we needed since yesterday was a staff development day, which ='s no school.

I've been baking up a storm lately. Perhaps it is the cooler weather. And my kids have been my sous chefs. I was going to make them aprons, but found I had two that would work. Coral's is a half apron I found at a garage sale in Arkansas- I just pull it up to her armpits, loop it around and tie a bow in the front. So fashionable.

Carlo was checking on our kids the other night before he came to bed and found this:

Yes, she was asleep.

And this is how I knew Daniel was really not feeling well.

He does not take naps anymore, let alone lie down on the couch and fall asleep.

And this mischievous face . . .

Is always trying to help me out and wants to do everything I do, i.e. wants to wear my make-up, high heels and even asked if she could have a wedding dress this morning after looking at our wedding pics.

This is what I found after cleaning off the counters.

She had gotten one of her wet wipes, cleaned some counters and then hung it up next to my dish towel! Funny girl.

I love being a mom! (Most of the time ;)

It Has Been Awhile

since I have posted. But, I have been SUPER busy. I LOVE that with Daniel in school I have settled into more of a schedule and can no longer lounge around in my pj's all day long. I know those days will be missed, but I tend to get stuck in those kind of days.

For now, my days consist of getting up and doing any dishes from the night before (yea, I'm usually too tired after making dinner) and then throwing in a load of laundry if I don't have to shower and get ready. Then it is off to school for Daniel.

My friend and I decided we are going to work out and do P90X EVERY day except for Sunday. So, on days she is not working, I drop Daniel off and go work out. If she is working, I run my errands, grocery shop, volunteer in Daniel's class or watch another mother's kids so she can volunteer. Those are just some ideas of what I do on days I don't work-out.

Two and a half hours later (it seems much shorter), I pick him up, we eat lunch and then it is quiet time. I always have good intentions to accomplish so many things during quiet time, but I've just come to the conclusion that this is "Me Time." I nap, watch TV, read, take a bath or anything I want to do for an hour and a half. Ahh . . . I even set a timer so I don't overindulge.

Then it is time for helping Daniel with his homework and pretend to help Coral with whatever she is imagining is her homework. After this, we straighten up the house- every thing in its place for when Daddy comes home! Then I start dinner.

From dinner on, it is the countdown til bedtime- eat, clean up, read stories, brush teeth, read scriptures, prayer, tuck kids in and then veg out until I go to bed or I go work out if I didn't do it during the day.

I HATE WORKING OUT, but it is good for me. Hopefully I will get used to it and not feel so tired all of the time. I am grateful I have a place to work out and a friend to work out with.

Now, if I could just find enough energy and time in the day to get all the millions of other things done. . . I know we all wish for that.

And Saturdays . . . I now spend cleaning my house because I usually don't get anything done during the week. "Saturday is a special day, A day to get ready for Sunday!" Yes, this rings true.

Now what do I do if we are out of town on Saturday?

For my few friends and family who have been wondering where I have gone, now you know. I still love you and hope you understand!