Happy Halloween!

Though, it really, truly isn't Halloween (that is tomorrow) Trick-or-Treat in Grandma and Grandpa's village was tonight. So, we joined Josh and Alyssa in some good ole Halloween candy collecting. And, boy oh boy, did we have a blast.Brendan has been planning his costume since November 1, 2007. I was actually surprised at just how many hippies were out in our neighborhood this year. Jillian wanted to be a Star Wars family, but couldn't convince Brendan to give up his year-in-the-making hippie attire, so she settled for Cinderella. Not that Cinderella is that bad of a consolation costume. Karigan fell in love with Daisy. She laughed, she cackled, she loved, and she hugged that costume so we knew that was the one for her. That is, until we discovered the bill actually quacked. That kind of freaked her out. Okay, it really freaked her out. So no quacking! After we collected our loot, we headed back to Grandma and Grandpa's for our Halloween tradition: pizza, subs, and veggies from JR's. yumyumyum!

Gobble Dee Gook

Tonight our pumpkin's fate would be sealed. They would become the most dramatic piece of artwork our hands could muster, our knives could carve. Even Karigan would not suffice with simply being a spectator. Brendan dove in, sleeves up, but did not spare us the comedy of his expressions. Jillian watched and managed and instructed, but refused to do much herself. Goodness knows, pumpkin carving is dirty work.

The finished products.

From left: Karigan, Brendan, Mark, Jillian, and Jennifer

To Swim or Not To Swim?

Okay, so this was no easy task for me because winter is approaching and the selection of swimsuits to purchase locally is null. So, I have no other choice but to buy online - which absolutely terrifies me. Agh! Every girl out there knows that a swimsuit is not an easy purchase, in fact, it borderlines torture. Finding the perfect fit, the right amount of coverage, and the proper support is the triathlon of swimsuit shopping. Once achieved, it is the trifecta! Add the additional battle of need vs. function and finding the suit to compliment both, now that is a real dilemma. I don't really feel all that self conscious in a swim suit. Maybe I should feel more self conscious because this bod ain't what it used to be (not that it was all that to begin with.) But for some reason, the way I look or don't look, for that matter, has never really bothered me all that much. I know I could drop a few (okay maybe more) pounds. I know I could tone up, but I am not going to sit on the ship (or at home during the summer) just because I don't look like a supermodel in my bathing suit. So, these are my choices. We did not actually "swim" on the ship during our first cruise, but we did do a lot of lounging (aka sleeping for Mark) in our suits on the deck. We did go snorkeling in St. Thomas, though I don't think snorkeling will be on the agenda this time around, we do plan to spend a lot of time on the beach when we are at the "private island." I definitely want a suit that I will feel comfortable walking around on the beach, probably more of a swim dress, and another suit for soaking up the rays on ship. Suit 1 and 4 are also available in scarlet red and steel blue. Which ones do you like, what are your picks?

Like Pulling Teeth

The tooth that came out of Jillian's mouth today was "like pulling teeth!" I TELL YA! Literally and figuratively. I now know and truly understand the origin of this cliche because my, oh my...She wouldn't let anyone touch the tooth as it dangled from a single strand of gum. Once, she was convinced to part with her little ivory, I pulled quickly so she couldn't change her mind. Sadly, this one was a bleeder. More blood than I am comfortable seeing come from my own child. Jillian cried - a lot. For some reason this time she felt like she was losing a part of herself that she would never get back. So she mourned and grieved and fell out all over herself about a tooth. She asked if the Tooth Fairy could leave her tooth behind (I guess she thought she was going to construct a shrine for this little ole tooth of hers.) So she and Daddy wrote a note requesting that Jillian's tooth remain with her "for always." Then her tooth and note were placed her little bag. And, just like Jillian, she was fine. She got it all out and was ready for the tooth fairy to come because this time she was convinced that the tooth fairy was going to bring her a new Barbie.

~

"Bye little tooth. I will miss you."

Toothless?

~ Well, I am not sure if one missing tooth qualifies for the description of being toothless, but for all dramatic purposes (we are talking about Jillian, after all) that wiggly tooth of hers finally got the yank. And, better yet, she has declared herself as becoming toothless (the one next to it is loose, too.) A big shout out goes to Poppy. He bought Jillian this Tooth Fairy bag when they were here a few months ago. How did he know, our Tooth Fairy days were coming so soon?

~

"Can I call Poppy?"

To the Nines

So we haven't even decided where exactly we will be cruising, and I am already picking out dresses for our formal dinners. Go figure. I mean really, would you expect anything less from me? All I really need, clothing wise, is a couple of dresses and the inevitable swimsuit (I will post more about that when I get the courage to actually look for one.) So, these are my choices. I really can't decide on the two that I would like. The first one is my absolute favorite. Very classy and elegant! The remaining three are shown in different colors than I would pick, but these were the only photos available. The second dress would be smoke in color; more like a titanium. I like this one because it is cute and sassy. The third dress would be a wine color. It is very plain in the front and detailed with bustling in the back - a perfect bridesmaid dress. The fourth dress Mark chose and the color would be "sterling orchid" which is lavender with a metallic sheen. The criss-cross is joined with a faux crystal broach - very exquisite. Now the tough part...A Decision. SO - let me know which one you like. The best part is...each dress is on sale at David's Bridal for a mere $39. How great is that! A beautiful dress and a bargain. Heck, I might buy all four. Woohoo!

We're Cruisin'

Today was my day to volunteer in Jillian's class. Oh, how I have missed working in the classroom. Mark and Karigan were going to run a few errands, so they dropped us off and then picked us up. As I climbed into the truck, Mark had this sheepish grin on his face and our favorite song just so happened to be playing on the radio. Yet, I suspected nothing, nothing at all. So, about the errands he had to run. "Just what were those errands, Mark?" Well lets just say, they involved planning a cruise and securing childcare during said cruise for our up-and-coming anniversary. And boy, oh boy was I ever so surprised. I love, love, love surprises. Unfortunately, I am not so easy to surprise, but oh my gravy was I ever so super dee duperly surprised. I can't stop saying how surprised I was, still am, and probably will be for a while. This man is the absolute love of my life and the idea of spending five days with him on a beach, on a boat, under the sun, and under the sea is just H-E-A-V-E-N, Heaven. Now, if only I can make it the five days without my other loves, our kaddos.

Conked Out

“Think what a better world it would be if we all, the whole world, had cookies and milk about three o'clock every afternoon and then lay down on our blankets for a nap." ~ Robert Fulgham

Sunday afternoons couldn't be any better

High-Ho, High-Ho

This week has been all about opposites. Megan and Bailey went home yesterday. So hopefully a little calmness will find its way back into our lives. One day the weather was sunny and gorgeous and warm. The next it was raining and absolutely freezing. FREEZING, I tell ya! Which left Megan in an angst. She wanted more than anything for the weather to be cold and just plain dreary while she was here. For me it just emphasizes that I am not ready for winter, but that's Ohio for you! One week we were all healthy and happy-go-lucky. Fast forward to later in the week and we're all sick and miserable. Mark was gone most of last week. Working craaazzzy hours, and I thought summer, aka golfing weather, was over. But now, (thank goodness!!!) he's back and full of quality family time. And I'm thinking at some point, once upon a time, my house was clean. I may be imagining that. Something about that third child just makes all things only possible for about 5 minutes. And in the back of my head I am remembering how my mom told me having a third child is just another baked potato in the microwave. I would share my potato if only I could have a clean house. However, it's a disaster today. Perhaps I can muster some motivation and scrub a toilet or two. Too bad those scrubbing bubbles really don't do the scrubbing for you. Wish list: a maid. If only 4 times a year. Ya know to get those nooks and crannies I have been neglecting. Oh and to dust, I despise dusting! Something about all those knick knacks my mom had when I was a child. And what was my chore. The dusting. My mom says it was because I did it so well. Well, now - I can't stand it. Anyway, I am wasting precious time I could be cleaning. High-Ho! High-Ho!

Sleepy Heads

Today is Megan and Bailey's last day in Ohio and I couldn't, just couldn't, resist this photo op. Waking up this morning and seeing the boys like this conjured so many, many memories. Meggie and I have several pictures of the boys like this from over the years. Maybe in a few days I will dig some out of my photo boxes and post a few comparisons.

Candied Apples

Buckeye Candies

1 c. (2 sticks) butter

5 1/4 c. confectioners' or powdered sugar

2 c. creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 tbsp. vanilla

12 oz. chocolate bits (or chocolate almond bark)

1/2 bar paraffin

Knead all together and shape into balls the size of walnuts. Melt the chocolate bits with the paraffin in the top of double boiler. Stick toothpicks into the balls and dip into chocolate so all of the ball is covered except top where toothpick is. This is what makes them look like buckeyes. Set on cookie sheet or wax paper in refrigerator until cold. Take off with a knife. Keep cool.

The Pumpkin Patch

Growing up in Oklahoma, I never experienced a true "pick-your-own-pumpkin" pumpkin patch. What I did have as a child was a plethora of church parking lots, enclosed by square hay bails, full o' pumpkins. Little did I know, that authentic pumpkin patches require you picking your pumpkin from the vine in the field the seed was sown, the seed that rain watered and the sunlight nourished. AND, apparently I was not alone.

On our way to dinner the night before we went to "our" pumpkin patch, we drove by another pumpkin patch. Megan says boldly, "oh, look they hid the pumpkins for the kids to find in the field." The entire truck roared with laughter. Then I gently explained to Megan, "No, that is where they grow." Keep in mind, she is an Okie too! But that there little statement is one for the record books, aka one I won't allow her to forget. hehehe!

The quest for the perfect pumpkin. Anyone who knows Karigan knows that she is fas-cin-nated by balls or anything and everything resembling a ball. She kept repeating Bah! Bah! Bah! and pointing everywhere around her. Our L-O-O-T,Loot!

The sign says it all. The trick: the person carrying the pumpkins has to make it from the sign to the crates, about 50 feet, without dropping any of the pumpkins for the carry to count.

Mark carried 8 pumpkins to the finish line last year. His goal this year was 10. Did he make it?

GOAL!

(you can't see the two little ones Karigan is sitting on)

Strappin' em down for the ride home.

Poor, poor pumpkins. If only they knew what was coming.

Apple Picking

After Mark got home, we went to Lynd Fruit Farm to pick apples. Megan and Bailey have never been apple picking before and apple picking just so happens to be a Waishnora Family tradition. Mark pines (no exaggeration) for this time of year starting in January, throughout summer, and even more come fall. This was Karigan's first trip to the orchard because last year Ohio had frost after the apple trees had already started to blossom. Sadly, the apple crop was bleak and we were unable to pick.

I got one.

Oops, I dropped it!

Oh, well. It's a keeper, anyway.

Ike made apple picking very easy for Jillian this year. Several trees were down, but still green and full o' apples.

Brendan really gets into his work. Actually, he normally spends about 5 minutes searching for the perfect apple, then spends the rest of the time eating that 1 apple.

Bailey had a blast picking apples, but I think he was more amazed by finding this abandoned bird nest.

These two have very similar, very strong (aka stubborn) personalities and were constantly taunting, picking, etc. etc. etc. one another - YET - this is how they would behave when they thought no one was looking.

Megan and her loot.

Soccer Playoffs

Today was Jillian's last soccer game. Following the game, the girls received metals for participation and then each team had a pizza party. Jillian was awarded "most improved player." She started the season rather disinterested with the whole soccer thing. In fact, her favorite part was the water breaks and end of game snacks. She giggled her way through every practice and come game time, she was getting in there and getting after it! She acquired basic soccer skills and one mean bear claw (the goalie stance.) I was so proud of her! She had a good time and kept the sighing and eye-rolling to a minimum. Which is a miracle, in and of itself. She made a lot of friends through soccer and is excited to play this Spring. Go Starlights!

Memory Lane aka Pacemont Road

Megan and I met in Tulsa, but coincidentally, she was born in Columbus about 25 miles from where I currently live. So, today we took a trip down memory lane. Not that she has many memories of living here. She was born in Columbus at The Ohio State University Hospital and moved to Oklahoma when she was 18 months old. This is a picture of the house she lived in before she moved. We thought the trashcan with the address and the storm drain with the city, state, and 1976 (coincidentally, the year her mom and dad moved here) would make for great scrapbooking or a shadowbox or, ya know, a photo collage for the good ole blog.

Kid at Heart

The rest of the day was spent hanging out in the backyard, playing around, and soaking up the sunshine. The main attraction was the buoy ball on the play set. I don't blame her for trying it out. It is my favorite, too! Thankfully, no one has taken pictures of me.

Bailey the Pilot!

This was Bailey's first time to fly. The pilot let Bailey sit in his chair (I guess the airlines do not pass out plastic wings anymore.) As a SUprise, belated birthday present, we enlarged this bottom photograph in black and white. It arrived in the mail the day after they got home.

Megan Comes to Ohio, FINALLY!

Today my very best friend Megan and her son Bailey came to visit. She and I have been friends for, like...evuh! She moved to Houston shortly before I moved to Ohio. So we no longer spend our lives attached at the hip or all of our waking hours on the phone to each other, but when we do see one another or talk, we pick right back up where we left off. We haven't lived near each other in 8 years (has it really been that long?), but we get together as often as possible normally meeting in Oklahoma. Our lives have taken different roads, to be sure. I am married with 3 children. She's a sales executive and single mom. She's got man drama. I've got poopy diaper drama. But it doesn't matter. When we get together, it's like nothing has changed at all. I talk about my stuff, she talks about hers, we reminisce about how we used to be and how much we've changed...and stayed the same. I feel so lucky to have a friend like that! I know someday, we'll be cackling old ladies, still shopping, eating and gossiping with the best of 'em!

~

Tag: Eight

Tags seem to be coming by leaps and bounds this week. So here goes. 8 TV shows I love to watch.

1. Grey's Anatomy

2. Heroes

3. CSI: Miami

4. Boston Legal

5. Lipstick Jungle

6. Kitchen Nightmares

7. Larry King Live

8. Oprah - while I make dinner

8 Places I love to eat.

1. Home - I really, truly enjoy family dinner every night! Picnics in the backyard or living room, depending on the weather

2. Cheeseburger in Paradise

3. Shades

4. Panera

5. Abuelos

6. Red Robin

7. Outback

8. Sonic (though not as nostalgic now that we have five within 15 minutes)

8 things that happened yesterday

1. Slept in and so did the girls, or rather because so did the girls. Woohoo for 9:30 wake up calls.

2. Laundry, Laundry, Laundry, and more Laundry!

3. Sat still (not moving at all!) on the highway for 45 minutes on our way for #5.

4. Sang silly songs with the kids as loud as we could with the windows open in the car while other drivers laughed at us to occupy our time while stuck at #3.

5. Went to get new glasses for Brendan, only for him not to find a pair.

6. Had a pretzel from Auntie Anne's.

7. Came home to a wonderful dinner made by my even more wonderful husband!

8. After bath time and bedtime, Cuddled on the couch with my hubby to catch up on the shows we missed while we had company.

8 things I look forward to

1. Christmas in Oklahoma (the week after, anyway)

2. My parents coming for Thanksgiving.

3. A date with my hubby (really this is always number one on my list)

4. Seeing friends from Oklahoma

5. Karigan walking.

6. Time to blog.

7. Showers (without an open ear to what is going on in the rest of the house.)

8. Seeing my children smile.

8 things I love about Fall

1. Thanksgiving - it is my favorite holiday!

2. Apple picking.

3. The trip to the pumpkin patch.

4. The leaves changing colors

5. The smell of fireplaces burning.

6. Quiet nights after bedtime, sitting on the patio with Mark, wrapped in a blanket, chiminea burning.

7. Making everything apple with our loot from #2.

8. BLACK FRIDAY!!!!!

8 things on my wish list

1. New family pictures for the living room and others pictures for a secret project.

2. Happy, healthy children (now and throughout adulthood.)

3. Perspective - to always be able to see the silver lining.

4. True friends.

5. My sister to see, realize, and fulfill her true potential.

6. A BIG, trendy handbag with matching wallet.

7. A new charm bracelet

8. Unlimited airline miles to fly where ever, whenever we want.

8 people I'm tagging (If you don't have a blog, leave a comment with the answers.)

1. Robin S.

2. Martha

3. Jennifer

4. Kasia

5. Stephanie

6. Megan

7. Kelly

8. Hazel

Tag! I'm it?

Here in bloggerville a fun, community building tradition exists called "tagging." Someone creates a post sharing anything and everything imaginable and then asks certain readers to share the same, either as a comment to the original post or on his/her own blog. Well golly-gee, I was tagged twice this week. How special do I feel right now!!! The first tag came from Rachel to share my fourth photo in my fourth file, and this is it.

~

This picture was sent to me via email a while ago. My original purpose in saving this picture to my computer was to later create a shadow box with this picture and a print of the Family Proclamation, which I still plan to do. However, since I have a mountain of unfinished crafty projects, this picture resides in a pretty frame on my dresser. The second tag came from Natalie, and I have to ask one of my children a series of questions and record his/her answers on my blog. Well, Karigan isn't quite talking well enough to answer, Jillian isn't interested right now, and Brendan is at school. So maybe, just maybe, I can answer this tag tomorrow.

I tag Megan, Robin, Jennifer, Kasia, Stephanie, Jenny, and Martha.

Take Five: General Conference

General Conference is this weekend and since Sunday, Sunday also falls on Take Five, I decided to combine the two. So here are my top 5 talks/lessons given during General Conference.

1. Elder Uchtdorf (from the RS meeting last week) - Creating and being compassionate are two objectives that contribute to our Heavenly Father’s perfect happiness. Creating and being compassionate are two activities that we as His spirit children can and should emulate. The desire to create is one of the deepest yearnings of the human soul. No matter our talents, education, backgrounds, or abilities, we each have an inherent wish to create something that did not exist before. Everyone can create. You don’t need money, position, or influence in order to create something of substance or beauty. Creation brings deep satisfaction and fulfillment. We develop ourselves and others when we take unorganized matter into our hands and mold it into something of beauty.

2. Elder Perry - In our quest to relieve stress, the solution is to simplify our lives. There are spiritual benefits to a simplified life.

3. Elder Uchtdorf - Hope's absence can make the heart sick. We cultivate hope the same way we walk - one step at a time. Faith, hope, and charity - as one increases, the others follow.

4. Elder Wirthlin - things to do to be happy: 1. Laugh (as a result, anger and resentment have no place). 2. Seek for the eternal. 3. Understand the principle of compensation - the Lord compensates for every loss, come what may. Accept it and love it.

5. Elder Hales - (speaking of responding to aggressive challenges to our faith) surely Heavenly Father is sad and the devil laughs when we contend with others. It is a given, therefor, our intent must be to lift others and help them find the truth, not vindicate ourselves or our ego. Sometimes true disciples show Christian courage by not saying anything at all. Don't come down off the mountain and argue in the mud.

A Little Piece of Heaven

A little while back, I was not sleeping. Tossing and turning, nearly kicking and screaming while Mark snored with contentment, I had had enough. Then suddenly, I was sleeping perfectly, peacefully. Mark, on the other hand, began losing more and more sleep each night. I remember distinctly a pillow being tossed across the room in frustration. We couldn't figure it out. I had blamed it on the mattresses for a while, but why was I all of a sudden sleeping and Mark was not??? And then I remembered, I flipped the mattress. HA! It was the mattress. Well, not anymore. Because this is what we loaded up in our truck tonight. Yeah, us!

And let me tell you. We are in love. Love, love, love! Though, I do feel like the princess and the pea sitting high atop our bed and Mark is extremely paranoid about the kids even being on the bed.

iPhone

I know, I know, I know I said that I wouldn't do it. Spend that kind of money on a phone that is, BUT I did. AND I am lovin' every minute. BECAUSE it is really more than just a phone. It's an iPod, a palm pilot, a GPS, etc. etc. etc. all in one. Over the years, I have easily spent many, many times more on all the other gadgets this "phone" houses. Can you tell I am still trying to convince myself? The downside (and at first I almost returned it just because of this) I can't picture message anymore. Aw, shucks! I am definitely over that. Mark is love, love, lovin' his, too.

Jillian's First Day at PreK

Jillian started preschool today. Lets just say that I was really conflicted about this - for very selfish reasons I might add. She is still my baby. Will always be my baby girl. Even though she isn't the baby, in the sense of being my youngest child, each of my children are my babies.

And despite yesterday's conversation, she was super excited! She had this sense of self confidence that was palpable. She was so grown, big, big, BIG! The picture below is the only picture I could get of her on her first day because parents are not allowed in the classroom at drop off and pick up times to minimize separation anxiety. And, yes, it minimized my anxiety just as much as hers, if not more.

This morning while I was getting ready, she wanted to draw a picture for a new friend she would make at school today. She drew two mermaids and wrote "Hi, my name is Jillian." She gave the picture to the girl sitting next to her, Olivia.