Happy Halloween

 #1 with her costume.  I am SO happy she was happy with it.  Even though it wasn't perfect by any means.

 #2 In her fairy outfit.  She decided she wanted her hair done like Fawn.  Well... you know how it goes.  =)

#3 in his Chicken Little outfit.  No hat with the red rooster stuff.  If you look close at his bum, you can see his rooster feathers on his outfit.  TOO CUTE!  Love him up!

All Hallows Eve

Want to know one of the best things about being LDS?  

   Having trunk or treat on a non-Sunday no matter what day Halloween falls on! 

Alas.... tonight will be a Tri-Ward Trunk or Treat for our little munchkins.  Since we have an awesome Activities Chair - You Rock TARA! - we will be having a little carnival for the children as well. All homemade of course.... lots of really fun games for the children to enjoy before packing it up and taking it outside for the children to make their rounds "Trunk or Treating".  Clue:  Some people will decorate the trunks of their cars in the parking lot and then have the children come by for candy.   Bottom Line:  No need to worry about the candy in that bag, it's all safe AND no one will be darting out across streets or getting lost, they are all in the parking lot! 

Tonight's line up, you ask?  

#1 - Tinkerbell - her outfit isn't perfect, but the best I could find since I am a HUGE procrastinator.  It will be dark green velvet, with lime-green wings.   Go figure.  

#2 - Fairy - she wasn't too particular about which fairy, so she will just be your average one tonight.  

#3 - Since I got all of the stuff from the thrift store.... YESTERDAY.... I found this really cute "Chicken Little" costume in little man's size.  Not really thinking I will figure out the head part.  

All of my children will be missing accessories to their ensembles and will look incomplete.   My opinion ?   OH WELL!   I vow every year once trunk or treat is over to make the cutest costumes ever.... and each year, I let it slip away from me.  Maybe we will try again for next year.  Any ideas?

Hard

There is a saying that says, "there is a time and a season for all things".  (not a direct quote... cut me some slack, I talk to children 5 and under day in and day out!)  Unfortunately, this "season" of my life seems to be one void of joy and happiness.  Every day that passes,  I am more certain that I was not cut out to be a mother....or any form of nurturer.  Shocking?!  I know, right!?  Honestly, I don't really think it is all that shocking.  Why? 

 *Most of my career as a "mother" I have gone it alone.  Yeah, sure, there was a paycheck coming in from the other side of the world.... but in the grand scheme of things... what I really needed was help.  The Lord blessed me in many ways with some amazing friends to help me along the journey of the "single parent".  But, the first sea tour in the military for us has left me severely damaged.

* I have an obsession with wanting a nice, respectable looking home.  I envy those with the talent of interior decorating.  I pretty much don't have a gift in that area.

* It is that obsession that drives me over the edge when I get to add another task to my housework list instead of maybe for once having some time to make something for the house.  We don't have much, but I am trying with what we do have.

* Laundry piles, that get chucked around in other bins (or closets) to be folded another day.  Ever wonder why we never have pressed shirts/pants?  Yeah... if I don't have time to fold, you can bet I haven't dusted off the iron in YEARS.

*  We own a dog that is not potty trained, and maimes herself if we stick her in a kennel - as well as pottying in the kennel creating HOURS of work to scrub and clean.  I can't own a nice rug - because she'll ruin it!

* I believe that I should be given the kind of children that behave as I did as a child, which according to my parents was great!  My childrens CONSTANT misbehavior is very bothersome.  Lots of time in their room. 

Is there hope for me?  I feel that I lack friends because I am the mother to the children with the leash, whining and running away in the store,  teach bad things to sweet - angelic children,  and who can never sit still when we go out to eat.  Will there ever be a season of "happiness"?   I am honestly buried in housework, punishments, dog doo, laundry,  depression, and extra weight.   Could really really use a vacation - to a place where there are no children.

FOUR

My #2 turned 4 today.  I can not believe it!  Definitely seems less than 4 years that I was in the hospital waiting to meet her, with my sweet husband desperately trying to reach me.  It was truly a blessing that he was able to figure out where I was and talk to me not quite 2 hours after I gave birth to her.  She is my blossom amidst adversity.  Being born on Friday the 13th,  her superstitious mother would think she has a hard life ahead of her.  I am amazed to see her rise above any trials thrown her way.  Not only does she have one of the greatest smiles, she has one of the purest hearts I have ever had the blessing of being around.  There are many more life lessons that I am sure she will teach me.  We are very grateful to have her in our family.  Happy Birthday!! 

Beauty and the Beast

Tuesday was the most recent debut for one of my all-time favorite Disney Classics.  For those of you who do not know, Disney has this awesome thing they do each time they release a new movie.  You simply visit their website and click on special promotions.  I am also a Disney Movie Club member, so I think that may help a little.  Anyway... I paid $13.99 for the Blu-ray/DVD combo pack of Beauty and the Beast.  Wanna know how I did it?  First, I went to BJ's.  They had $4 knocked off the regular price ($27.99) which put me at $23.99.  Then I used my $10 off the combo pack in addition for a grand total of $13.99.  That is an even better price than buying just the DVD!   Dork that I am, I just LOVE getting a deal, don't you?

Nook App

I realize I am VERY behind the times.  However, my husband and I have been eying the nook as of late.  Who knows?  Maybe he will even get it for Christmas...... right Santa?!  Anyway.... they have an app available for your pc so that you can enjoy having a book ready to read without it taking up valuable space in your home (and without having a nook..... yet).  Those military families out there know what I am talking about.  Anytime you move (which in the military is supposed to be VERY OFTEN yet in my case is HARDLY EVER) there is a weight limit.  Anything that goes above that comes out of your paycheck.   That is right, we have to pay for it.  I don't know about you, but I would rather spend that valuable weight on household items (beds, tables, kitchen ware, etc) than on books, and plenty of them.  I have had to try to find places to stash books to keep down on the amount of bookshelf space we need.  If all goes well, we may just have an extensive ebook library instead of taking up space (and weight) to correspond with our love of books.   Come to think of it... books seem to be my only friends these days.   Maybe it is because you ignore them when you aren't reading them, instead of them ignoring you.  Interesting.....

Ward Campout

We headed to the ward campout friday night.  Got there about dark, set up our tents (we got a small 2 man tent for the girls to sleep in - worked out beautifully) and visited with the others that attended.  Overall it was fun interesting, but boy did we realize what a mistake it was for the dog to come along.  My hubby really wanted to bring her... help her have outside time...blah blah.  Except she barked and woke up the baby, (yup...he was asleep already) and then continued to growl for about half an hour or so.  Baby slept with us for half the night and because my hubby just wanted to pack a long sleeve t-shirt (and no layers/pjs to keep him warm in the 50 some degrees it was that night...) he FROZE and kept trying to snuggle up to me.  Since I am a really awesome wife though, i had a change of underwear and shorts and multiple shirts for the next morning. Yeah, I realize I am complaining a little bit.  The campout experience this year (first year with my hubby) was kinda hard for me.  In more ways than what I wrote.  I have a lot of changing/growing to do I guess.   Oh yeah, sorry, no pictures to share.

Living the Doldrums

So, yet ANOTHER day to notch on the calendar as a rainy one.  Pretty much ALL last week was full of rain, to only give us a break for about 48 hours.  Honestly, if #1's school is closed for the THIRD school day in a row.... I think I am going to scream.   Oh yeah, did I mention that rainy day = dog not wanting to go out = "accidents" on the fake wood floor = mopping, AGAIN.