Autumn Love

1. We had such a great Halloween. The weather was beautiful all day. Ash and I carved one last pumpkin. After school the kids were in the best happiest mood. We had a fun early dinner together. Lucas and I made a last minute paper craft. Then we dressed up and headed out. Mina didn't cry once and actually fell asleep in Bill's arms as we walked around. We just moved to this neighborhood so it was nice seeing all of our neighbors out. I love all the little kiddos in their costumes and seeing parents dressed up too. There was one house decorated scary and the kids loved it. One house gave out big Snickers. The weather was cool but not too cold. It was just perfect.
2. Cancer has been on my mind this last week more so than usual. I kind of always think of it after losing my Mom. And now I have a close friend whose dad just went into hospice yesterday after only very recently being diagnosed. Winston is doing Movember. And Aunt Catherine is doing a 3 day walk in Arizona for Susan G. Komen. I have honestly been thinking hard about going back to college after all of the kids are in school and getting into oncology to become a cancer researcher. I have some investigating to do to find out if it's something I realistically want to do and would be good at.
3. I have been making tons and tons of hats for friends. I want to get them done soon because there are a few I have in mind for kiddos of my own too. I really want to make Mina and I matching fox hats. I've been attracted to little foxes lately. Just so cute. And the color suits her little ginger noggin. I also have some blankets to make and Christmas presents for family. Lots to do!
4. I need to get my wisdom teeth taken out. Ugh.
5. I started watching Community over again. I stopped after the first season but now I'm starting at the beginning. Love this show.

Growing boys

1. I hate the word 'shrooms.
2. I tried on a pair of size 10 jeans on Holden this morning and they wouldn't even button. This kid is by no means fat but apparently getting huge right before my very eyes. He'll be 10 in about a month.
3. We watched Sponge Bob this morning and I remembered when Holden was 2 and the only baby in the house - we used to do a funny dance to the intro song. We danced in a circle, I tickled him and then I fell on the ground and he jumped on my back and hugged me. Got a little blubbery just thinking about it. My first baby.
4. The big boys have been really enjoying reading lately and it makes me so happy. Bill and I were big readers as kids and we were a little worried that our kids wouldn't like it since they're into video games which we didn't have at this age. But they've both been reading up a storm. Lucas is so excited that he can read chapter books and tells me every time he finishes one. I just dug up a dozen chapter books I had bought last year for them that they weren't interested in. And they're blazing through them. It's a wonderful thing when your kids can watch TV or play games but instead want to curl up with a book.
5. Decorating pumpkins tonight!! I gutted them yesterday since no one likes that part. So just carving and painting tonight. Fun!

Almost Halloween!

1. I love Halloween! I loved seeing all of the costumes people were posting online this weekend from parties. I do miss those parties we had before kids. We don't have enough friends here to have parties of our own now. Oh well. But I'm looking forward to Wednesday and taking my cute babies around the neighborhood. Bill and I are dressing up too of course. It'll be a surprise to the boys. Lucas has been begging us to tell him.
2. Watched Once Upon a Time all day. Still trying to catch up from last season. The Red Riding Hood episode was awesome! Also I love Ginnifer Goodwin in EVERYTHING.
3. I've paused Mina's (my) shopping spree... temporarily... I bought her a ton of great stuff. Now I'll let her wear some if it before I let myself shop anymore. She is going to be small for awhile and be able to wear things longer at least for the time being. Although she did grow quite a bit this week I can tell!
4. We didn't carve pumpkins or decorate them today. I have paint and puff paint so hopefully we'll have time for that tomorrow night.
5. Fell asleep at like 8:45 tonight. I'm awake now but just barely. Posting this then back to sleep.

Friends and Hipsters

1. Our TV died (again) on Monday. We've had so many issues with it. Luckily we had a warranty up until a few months ago. But until I can work some mojo on the manufacturer I figured we could get a new one. The picture has been going bad for a while. Bill found one online at Costco and Target that he wanted. So we went to a random Target yesterday just to see how it looked in person and it was on clearance for $200 off. No idea why but what a score. It's 55" - 5" more than our last one - and looks HUGE! I didn't know I was such a sucker for a big TV.
2. We had visits from friends all week. I love when our friends visit since they're so spread out around here. It's always a bit of a drive for any of us to get together. And Ash is so cute. He just wants everyone to stay for a sleep over. He is such a people person.
3. Mina slept for 6 hours straight last night!! This baby is incredible! I slept so good. I haven't felt this rested in months.
4. Bill has been off work this week and it's been so nice having him home. I just like to hang out with him all the time.
5. This week at school is Spirit Week with a different theme every day. Today is western wear and of course in our house we don't have a single piece of western gear. We had to improvise and Luc picked out jeans, an Indiana Jones tshirt from woot, orange plaid, red scarf and black fedora. This kid is so hipster and doesn't even know it. I love him.

La La Land

1. Would someone please tell me why it's suddenly the new thing to put animal heads and antlers in baby rooms and nurseries?????
2. We went to LA today to see Winston. There are a few things we can always count on happening when we go. We'll eat good food, see weird people, shop at cool stores and see a celebrity or reality star. If you saw my Facebook status you'll know this was fulfilled on this trip...
3. Good BBQ is hard to come by in Southern California. We went to Baby Blues which has a scantily clad pinup girl holding a bottle of sauce as its mascot. The interior has wooden chairs hanging from the rafters as Holden pointed out. The tables near us were filled with men with handlebar mustaches, the Shahs of Sunset and a contestant on the X Factor. Oh yeah, the food. Excellent pulled pork and ribs. Tasty potato salad. The corn was grilled and rolled in Parmesan and squeezed lime - um... AMAZING! Terrible Mac-n-cheese and so-so cornbread. But overall for LA BBQ I was impressed. Lots of choices of sauces.
4. Driving down the street...
Bill: I just saw a guy with clown makeup.
Winston: Was he dressed as a clown?
Bill: Noooope.
5. I had heard there were special edition Hello Kitty shirts at Johnny Cupcakes and was going to ask Winston to get me one. Then we decided to pay him a visit and it's the first thing he brought up - he knows me so well. Their store is so cute!! It looks like a retro bakery and they display their shirts inside cake freezers and glass pastry display cases. There is a wall with faux oven fronts that randomly open and little bursts of steamy mist come out. And one wall is a giant oven that are actually doors into their storeroom. I bought a shirt and I was so excited that it actually fit. I've ordered tees online in the past from places like teefury and woot but the largest women's size never fits me! I have big boobs I realize but I know there are boobs bigger than mine and it annoys me they don't accommodate larger chested women. But this shirt fits perfectly and it's super soft. And it's Hello Kitty!

Pumpkin Time

1. Watching Happy Endings right now. Max may be my favorite TV character ever.
2. I found my black jeggings today. They've been missing since the move and they're my favorite pants. So this is a big deal.
3. Bought Pocket Clothier for my iPhone last night. Can't stop playing. Can't. Stop. Playing.
4. I got my 1st Brit Kit for crafting and I'm not that impressed. It's a party pack with DIY confetti and LED balloons. They're cool but there's not much crafting involved. I'll probably try one or two more to see if they get better since this was the 1st one. But I was hoping for something better.
5. Went to the pumpkin patch and had a blast. The kids jumped on hay bales, we pushed them on a tire swing, ate cotton candy, hay ride and pumpkins!

Making stuff

1. I never knew what nicknames I'd actually call my kids until they came along. I thought I'd call Mina Mimi but now that she's here I haven't done it. You just don't know what will naturally come out when you meet them and see their little faces and connect with them. I call Holden, Holdeeno. Lucas is Lukey. Ash is Ashie Poo. And now Mina Muffin.
2. Mina slept for 7 1/2 hours straight yesterday! She had been up all morning and afternoon which isn't like her. When she woke up she was in an amazing mood - so alert and engaged with us. I think her tiny brain grew and she turned into a different baby after that sleep. Jennie told me to wake her up because she was afraid she was sleeping too long. But she woke up on her own, hung out with us, pigged out and slept a good night's sleep. So sweet and cheery this morning. And now back to sleep.
3. While she was asleep I was able to finish a bunch of hats I had started. I can whip them up easy throughout the day even with interruptions. But I need some quiet time to do the details like flowers and faces and stuff.
4. Animal Practice got cancelled. I guess no one was watching it because if you had you would've found it hilarious. The last episode with the scene with the monkey and the puppet? I watched it twice.
5. I went to the Salvation Army on 50% off day yesterday and got a big bag of clothes for $27. Jennie is going to use it to make stuff for Mina. And I am going to try to get inspired to do stuff too. My sewing machine is old and beautiful but not easy to use. I like to sew by hand. So we'll see what I come up with. I really like the dresses of Misha Lulu and Matilda Jane and they seem relatively easy to replicate for a fraction of the cost. Plus I've seen some crochet pieces on the Misha Lulu stuff so that's something to explore too.