Halloween!

This Halloween was a BLAST. Last year I was what, 2 or 3 days postpartum? Not in the most Halloweenie of moods at the time, and Thea was (clearly) too small to do anything but nurse and poop.  This year, though, she was big enough to get a huge kick out of it, and we had time to plan and put together all the kids’ costumes, and get everything decked out for trick-or-treating.

My dad came over to pass out candy while we took the girls to get our their candy.  I may have held a gun to his head to show up early and carve a pumpkin… it’s been *years* since I can remember carving pumpkins with him.  He did us proud with his crazy vampire number.

We had lots of trick-or-treaters this year (the first year we were here I think we had less than a dozen, no lie).  So glad that our street is getting more kid traffic, and more houses are passing out candy.

Belle was Dr. Blake Downs (from Children’s Hospital). I had gotten a bald cap, but it was a pain in my ass to get it attached and I didn’t have the right supplies to blend it in, so we left it off.  Bryan did her makeup.

Phoebe was Velma, and Charlie was a vampire. Phoebe’s was super easy, the glasses are really what made it. Charlie’s cape (although a nightmare to sew) was perfect. The collar made it perfectly vampirey.

Thea’s was the super easiest — no sewing!  I think store-bought costumes are cheating, so I’m a complete hypocrite for having her wear it, but I could not pass it up.  We bought this from Amazon in June when they were having a sale ($6, bitches!). The only way I could’ve made it cheaper is if I wrapped her in tinfoil and sent her as a baked potato (lame) so I’m ok with it.  And she didn’t scream or try to pull the hat off, so we win.

It was a busy busy week (2 birthdays and Halloween) but it was a great time, and a huge success.  I already can’t wait for next Halloween, and I have their costumes all picked out. :)

Home again, home again

We’ve been home since late Saturday, and I’m still trying to get back into the swing of thangs.  I’m actually happy to be back, but I’ve been tired. There’s been so much to do, and all the paper training with Ezzy seems to have flown out the window while she was staying with my dad.

I’m so excited how well the trip turned out, I know the kids had a blast.  This is the stuff childhoods are made of — as soon as we got to the beach Bryan said it reminded him of summers when he was a kid.  That’s what I’m hoping the girls will get out of it (not to mention having oodles of time to spend with us with no interruptions).

I’m really hoping we can make it a yearly tradition.  Or, every two months.  Or every week even!

Vacation Days

When I first had the idea to take a week to hit the beach this summer I knew it would be fun, but I had no idea it would be this AWESOME.

Marissa loves body surfing, the middles love finding seashells and building sandcastles, and Thea can NOT get enough of the water. The girls' faces when they saw the ocean for the first time actually made me tear up. Precious.

I miss our dogs (mostly Ezzy!) and am slightly worried about the garden, but if we could? I'd stay here all month.

All the bullshit

Life has been crazy and tumultuous lately.  We’re all adjusting to the daily torture that comes with a teething 7-month-old.  School is winding down, which is quite hectic. Sometimes I want to pull my hair out.  Mostly, though, I can’t stop munching said 7-month-old’s cheeks.

Bigger stuff has been a-brewin’, and while I can’t get into specifics I will say that it involves the law. And a trial. With a jury and everything.  This centers around the biggest child, and I know we’ll get through it, but I worry for her.  We’ll make it to the other side of the heinous mess, but in the meantime, please please please keep us in your thoughts.  Say a prayer, light a candle, and shoot us some magical unicorn vibes.  We could really use it — she needs support, and the husband and I need help staying strong. 

Happy last day of 2009!

Man, what a freakin’ year!  I can’t believe how quickly time flies, and I haven’t even updated my poor blog in over a month.  My days are mostly spent at work, trying to stay warm from this intense winter, and snuggling the kidlets.

For Christmas Phoebe got a camera, and with it a Flickr account.  I spent a good portion of my evening uploading (and editing) over 100 photos of hers.  I’M SO NICE.  Also, I deleted the picture she took where she lifted the cat’s tail.  Yes, she laughed for days, but I didn’t think kitteh porn appropriate Flickr content.  So.  If you’re interested in the content I did allow her to post, you can check it out here.  I let her title all of them, so they mostly say “This is Daddy making a funny face” or “This is Belle smiling with her eyes open.”  Hilarious.

Baby Thea is huge, I don’t know how long she is or how much she weighs, but that kid is solid.  I think we’ll be taking her in for her last follow-up with our midwife in January, and after that she’ll be seen at the clinic where the littles go.  I seriously cannot believe how fast she’s growing, it amazes me.  Also, she takes the most intense dumps of any of our kids — she’s the champion pooper by far.  She’s happy and sweet, and smiles. A lot. Probably because of the pooping.

Charlie is, well, Charlie.  We’re working on some of her behaviors, mostly the screaming and stomping her feet when she receives an answer she’s not happy with.  Oh, that child better get out of that habit quick.  I don’t see it going over so well when she’s in high school and DOESN’T WANT to do her math homework.  Not being the baby anymore wasn’t a very hard transition for her, and I thought it would be.  She’s so close with Phoebe that they act like a unit, and I don’t think Charlie even realized she was the youngest.  *shrug*

Marissa is doing phenomenally better in school.  She participated in the (optional) Literature Fair, and won first place.  Next, she participated in the (optional) Science Fair, and won first place.  She’s bringing home all As so far, and I’m very impressed.  I think the biggest influence this year is having teachers she actually likes.  Plus, she really wants a cell phone, so she’s certainly busting her butt to earn one.  She’s huge now, and wears a size 10 in women’s shoes.  TEN.  If she doesn’t stop growing we’re going to have an interesting time fitting her for shoes in high school.  I’ll look into DIY duct tape shoes, those sound right up her alley.

I’m looking forward to seeing what 2010 brings, and am ready to close out a brilliantly fulfilling year.