Halloween 2012

This was a big year for Halloween.  The kids are old enough to do some pumpkin decorating on their own.  I still could not come to terms of Tuck and a knife so he still had to resort to painting his pumpkin. 

These two look a lot alike right?  It’s hard to tell the talking head from the pumpkin.  And they are both just so darn cute.

And this was one of my big holidays for successful Pinterest inspiration.  These mummy juice boxes were a big hit and the Frankenstein green pudding cups went over well too.  But somehow I failed to get a picture of those.  And don’t you love Kora’s dismembered leg.  I think it adds to the Halloween gore.

We went with a Star Wars theme for Missy’s annual backyard party.  Last year TJ told me he would grow out his beard and dress up as Chewbacca so I held him to it.  But somehow I missed getting a picture of him.  2 days before the party Tuck started dragging his heels about dressing up so we had to go rent the movie then he was totally on board with being part of the theme.

Kora made a convincing Yoda.  Her coat is an old bath towel and her hood started out as a polo shirt.  The ears turned out a bit droopy but I was still proud of my attempts.  And she won “Cutest Costume”.

Can you even tell my attempt at Princess Leia?  I think I totally nailed the braids.

And here is Luke Skywalker.  His favorite part was the pool noodle sword. 

And what would a good fight be without a sword wielding Yoda?

Missy had her party on Saturday since Halloween falls mid-week.  So we got to dress up again on Halloween day.  It was going to be a fight to get them back into their Star Wars costumes so they both decided they could be Cowboys.  Doesn’t he look like a real bad guy?

These are the kids new authentic Texas cowboy hats that Grandma Deb brought back from El Paso.  Aren’t they just the cutest?

Kora was mad that I made her put her boots on the right feet before we left.  It was pretty chilly that night so we made a pretty short night of it and walked two blocks of Main Street.  The kids still ended up with a pretty good stash of candy.  Kora was pretty scared of the Stay-Puff Marshmallow family and wouldn’t you know that we would run into them at least three times. 

I think this may have been my final year of getting to choose the kids costumes.  I am sure next year Tuck will have plenty of opinions of his own.  I guess I had a good run.

One Hot Momma, If I do say so myself

TJ, upon my strong suggestion, got me a makeover and photo shoot for Mother’s Day.  This, to make up for the IOU that I got last year for the mother’s ring which conveniently arrived under the Christmas tree.  But I digress.

This Mother’s Day package was with our Photographer: Photographed by Ed and the lovely ladies at the Main Street Hair Company. I gave Kyri carte blanche with my hair; my only criteria was that I had to be able to blow dry and go once I was released on my own.  They talked me into highlights and I am so glad that they did. They turned out so nice. I’d forgotten that blondes do have more fun.

There ended up one other lady that was doing the same gift package at the same time. We ended up tag teaming in front of the camera and we had great fun “helping” each other with poses. I was on the receiving end of more support, I must admit. Ed told me I was his only client who had ever asked for a cleavage shot (which I think is good since he does mainly families and seniors) but  I figure that one will be TJ’s next gift.  And I must admit it was more of a challenge to get said shot than I imagined.  Thus all the previous mentioned “help”.

This is a sneak peek that I was given. 

I asked Ed later how much Photoshopping he had to do and he claims it was all done with lighting and makeup.  But I know there should be chubbier cheeks and multiple chins.  I don’t know what kind of magic he pulled to make them disappear!! 

This was such a great experience and one of the best afternoons of “me time” that I’ve ever had.

Many thanks to Ed, Missy and Kyri for making me one Hot Momma.

Swim Lessons

The kids got some swim lessons late this summer.  Missy’s kids are both active in the local swim club and they are both little fishes.  Bethany had helped out with lessons with the little ones there so volunteered to help us out too.  AND it meant being able to come over and swim… a bonus for everyone.

I think the goggles make all of the difference.  They look like real swimmers.

4th of July Parade

Every year Missy does a 4th of July parade for the kids.  They get to bring in their bikes or trikes and decorate them and ride them around the block.

This year the weather did not cooperate very well and the parade was just squeezed in at 4 pm in a break in the rain.  The kids still loved it.

Here they are all ready to go.

Tuck and his buddy Cole.

Kora brought up the rear.

She can’t reach the peddles so she just scooted along.  She ended up getting lapped but was having fun nonetheless.

The whole gang posing under duress.

Whenever a car drove by they would wave their flags and most people would honk and wave back.  The kids loved it.

TJ was at the grocery store and planned to drive by but the whole thing only lasted about 15 minutes and he missed it.

What a way to celebrate our freedom.

Graduation Play

This year we had three friends graduating from Missy’s. AJ, Behn and Ollie will be missed.

Missy had just the right number of kids and decided to brave a Disney production.  The kids did Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. (Or Dorks, according to Behn: “which dork are you going to be?”)

Tucker was the best little Sneezy there ever was. I made all the dwarf hats and sewed the patches on all of their shirts.

And Kora, along with all of the others her age, were small woodland creatures.  This was Kora’s pose through the whole play; she didn’t move.

This is Prince Charming and the Dwarfs at the mine, waiting for their big entrance.

“Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It’s home from work we go”

Look out Kora Bunny.

And Snow White awakes and –Most- of the Dwarves are hiding.

And Snow White rides off into the sunset (or the scorching temperatures as the case may be).

Behn, Cole and Tuck with their mining tools. And the witches tower in the background.

Missy was so brave to even attempt this. The kids did great even in the 90 degree temperatures.  

Rousing Game of Musical Pants

I got home last night and Tuck was not wearing the pants I sent him to daycare in nor were they the backup pants that stay in his cubby in case of accidents.

Here is the story of the mystery pants as relayed this morning from Missy.

After nap, Tuck was the first one on bathroom run.  Missy sends them to the bathroom and they are to get their pants down while she goes back and rolls up their nap mat then comes back to help them get on the potty.  Tuck was being very slow so Henry made it into the bathroom to start the process as well.  Tuck finished up but was still running slow so while Missy was getting a diaper on him and directing hand washing at the sink, Cole came into the bathroom as well. By now she has a pile of pants on the floor from the 3 little boys.  So Tuck grabs a pair and says to Missy "Snaps?".  She snaps them up, sends him back to the play room and proceeds to finish up with the other boys as well.

Skip to pickup time: Henry's dad comes in and says: "Oh no, Henry, did you have an accident?"  Missy replies "No, why?" Henry's dad says "Those are not his pants." and points to the cords on Tucker. So Tucker and Henry swap pants and off Henry goes.  Later TJ picks up Tuck and Kora and just heads out the door (TJ is gone to work in the morning before we are even up so he has no idea what the kids start the day wearing). (Another side note: Missy later tells me that she should have known something was amiss since Tuck never wears cords and Henry almost always does).  Next Cole's Mom comes in and says "Oh no, Cole, did you have an accident?"  Deja Vu!!!  By now Missy is beside herself with confusion because NO ONE HAD ANY ACCIDENTS!

I just had to laugh.  These three boys are peas in a pod; all the same age, all the same size and all still potty training.  And all typical boys who could care less about what they are wearing.

Musical pants; it could really catch on as a party game.