getting to know me .. holiday style

Pam had this on her blog and mentioned that if you read it, consider yourself tagged, so because I thought it looked fun I'm participating, so here goes.

Getting to know you... holiday style!
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? wraps them except for a few of the stocking ones
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? white
4. Do you hang mistletoe? sometimes
5. When do you put up your decorations? two weekends before C-Mas .. we go cut down our own real tree from a tree farm
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Watergate Salad
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? our large family gathering together for dinner
8. When and how did you learn that Santa isn't real? I was raised not believing in Santa
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? The kids each open one they are always christmas pjs!10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? white lights, ribbon, strings of beads, various ornaments (some especially given to ME, and others we've given to the girls)
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Dread it!
12. Can you ice skate? I went last year and nearly broke myself, but used to go on the pond when I was a teenager
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Yes, my engagement ring :)
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? butter tarts and nanaimo bars
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? decorating a gingerbread house with the girls, driving around on C-Mas Eve to see all the lights and displays
17. What tops your tree? a star
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving gifts? Giving, because it's fun to pick THE perfect gift.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Celine Dion .. So This is Christmas
20. Candy Canes on the tree? no .. they'd be to tempting for the girls

growing old fast

I took this picture last night about 9pm, when the snow hadn't turned to freezing rain yet. It was coming down in shovel fulls, I tell ya! The rain came sometime during the night and made ever surface a treacherous adventure, thus the school closures all over the Island. I'm SOOOOO glad I don't have to go out in this, as yesterday was enough of a nightmare. I can't count how many times I had wished for my good old reliable 4x4 Jeep, but alas .. my front wheel drive car had to do, and it did .. but not with a little sliding around.

On a good note. I see the sun peeking, so maybe (one can hope, right?) it'll warm up enough to do a little melting.

In other news. The C-Mas cards are finished and so are the newsletters to go with them. I just need to get a couple addresses (people have moved) and I can hit the PO for a hord of stamps and get them sent off. I had intentions of making cards again this year, but after making 20 something and realizing my ideas were not flowing enough to make 30 something more (I know .. I could have made more duplicates), I decided to put my new found creativeness to use and did digital cards instead. I had them printed, taking only an hour, and picked them up earlier this week. Now THAT is easy!
Here's what they look like. Oh and you can see, I went with picture #1 from the choices I had presented to you, my faithful blog readers, a little bit ago. Which I'd like to thank you again for being such great critics with an unbiased eye. :D

PS .. I blurred out our name, just so you know that part isn't a mistake. ;)

just a b-list kinda gal

Krista over at Big and Little posted this oh so fun little icon and link on her blog and I thought I'd do it for myself. I made the B-list! Woohoo!



Go see what you make, and if it's an A, I'm super jealous. ;)

I'm a wimp

I'm a wimp .. I know it! I hate the snow and that's why I moved to this 'tropical' island .. but despite my pleas .. we still get the odd dump of snow during the winter months. Yesterday was THE day for outdoor play. I discovered that I must invest some money into gloves or my girls are going to have cold little icicles for fingers. The snow is always so wet that just one plunge into the snow and their hands are sopping wet. Good thing they have about three pairs each hey?

My Mother always said that one does not get sick from the cold .. in fact, she used to send us outdoors to get rid of our colds. However, why is it that after a couple hours of outdoor play, Alissa is now stuffy and coughing? Me thinks that old wives tale is just that .. a tale.

And what drowns my snowtime blues you ask? I warm the house with the heat of the oven and the smell of the delishious baking that I so love to do at this time of year. Yesterday I made three more batches of cookies (gingerbread men, snickerdoodles, and chocolate chip MnM cookies) and plan on making more somethings today. I think I'll generate the help of the girls for some more rolling and decorating.

it's snowing!

Yeah I know .. three posts in one day? But I HAD to share! We just don't get much snow here in these parts, so when it does snow .. it's a sharing moment.

The girls are literally in heaven and tomorrow they'll be able to make snowmen, that I'm sure of.

busy baker

I had plans of making more C-mas cards today .. hoping that I could have them ready for when the photos come back .. and only in need of a stamp then popped in the mail. However .. plans took a turn and I found myself mixing up and baking three fabulous recipes for the holiday season. We're having some family visiting over the Christmas holiday and I thought I best get started on baking up cookies and bars to tuck away in the freezer until needed and that's exactly what I did. Last year I discovered topping a regular sugar cookie with some ground up candycane adds not only a festive flavour, but looks so pretty too, so I made 4 doz of them (am sure I'll need to make more), a 9x13 pan of butter squares (basicly butter tarts but in a square or bar form), and a new little recipe called Oops. It is mini marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanut butter and rice krispies melted and mixed and pressed into a 8x8 pan, then chocolate chips, icing sugar and raspberry jam melted and spread over top, refrigerate for an hour and cut up. Very yummy too I might add. I have SOOOO many more recipes picked out to either try for the first time or know it's a good old recipe that's a favourite, plus I'm in a bake exchange .. so I foresee alot of baking AND resisting temptation in my near future.

Brrr!

In the ten years we've lived here on the Island .. I've become quite spoiled with less then harsh winter conditions during the winter months. I'd far rather walk through the rain, where I don't have to shovel or wear boots, instead of scrambling through feet upon feet of deep snow. I was raised in the cold northern winters and was quite happy to move to the warmer coastal climate I've become accustomed to in the past decade. But this morning, the temperature dipped below 0C, (currently -1) and the precipitation turned to the white stuff. Of course it only stuck to the roofs and tops of cars, and the site of that was enough to make the girls giggle and squeal. They LOVE the few snowy days we're cursed .. err blessed with and even tho this isn't one of them .. that just gave them the hopes of a good dose of snow in the near future.

There is one major bonus to the colder weather. That usually means the sky is clear and that allows for the sun to shine. I like seeing the sun!

a little pissy

I'm just a tad annoyed that I was bullied into changing to the new beta version of blogger. I had no choice! After a couple weeks of it being an option everytime I went to my dashboard .. today was different. It said it was upgrading it for me. *sigh* I'm sure I'll get used to it and probably love it, but I don't like when I'm forced to do something.

thank you!

Thanks to all of you that responded with wonderful CC and feedback on the photos of my girls. I'm still undecided and you all couldn't make it easy or anything by ALL picking the same one! lol
I had an idea for a photo tho, and want to try it, and if it works or if I even go through with it, I'll definetly share the results. Until then, I'm still in limbo on which photo to use. Eeep!

fancy cardholders

In years past, I've always strung some ribbon across the entryways into the livingroom and placed all holidays cards we recieved along the ribbon. It annoys D to no end tho, because he stands 6'3" and either has to slightly duck while going under them, or constantly knocks one or more off if he forgets. Recently I was browsing some childrens craft sites and came across this brilliant idea. They gave options for other times of the year that we recieve cards for as well (birthdays, valentines, etc) and you can just make your shape accordingly. We chose big green trees, and I found some mini clothes pins at the dollar store in which we glued randomly to the tree (hoping they're spread out enough so underlying cards won't be completely covered once the tree fills up), and then I let the girls go nuts decorating with pens/crayons/markers.

We also made our 'countdown to Christmas' paper chain just like Hailey's had for the past two years. They made these in school the last two years and so I decided we'd make them at home too. So they're hanging in their bedrooms, and the girls are anxiously awaiting December 1st for the chain AND the chocolate 'countdown to Christmas' calendar.

I'm off to see what other little seasonal crafts we can fill our spare hours with.
Happy Hump Day! 

feedback please

In years past I've often relied on good old Walmart Portrait Studios to capture my girls current stage for our Christmas photos, but this year just got away on me and I decided I should just go ahead and take the pictures myself. With such a large family on my side, the big packages are very useful, but I don't really need those 11x14's they provide every single time, nor do my family care if they all receive a 4x6 rather then some getting 5x7s and other getting 3.5x5s. So now that I've divulged to much useless info, I have a favour to ask.

These are three of the better photos that I landed up with during our little photo shoot last week. The one (#2) I had asked for some sharpening help from some photoshop gurus I know (thanks bunches Chris and Cindy), but then I wondered if a couple of the other photos that turned out a little clearer might work just as well. If not, then I'll have to wait until a certain little missy is over this cold she just woke up with this morning, but that would delay cards being sent across country, etc etc.
Okay .. so which one do YOU like the best. Please respond in the comments and leave constructive criticism to if you like.

#1

#2

#3

forward THIS! :P

I found this on a blog I frequent and just had to share it myself. It pretty much sums up everything I feel about forwarding emails. Just watch it, chuckle, and NEVER forward another one of those dang emails again. :D

happy anniversary!

Dearest Mom and Dad (even though you won't read this, I want to put it here for my own reasons);

Fifty two years have passed since the day you gave your love to eachother. You've accomplished so much in those years, you've nurtured and loved, been exceptional role models and still continue to be amazing as a couple and as individuals. I'm so thankful to look up to the two most important people in my life, and to have been taught virtues and morals that I can carry on into my own marriage and life. I love you!
Happy Anniversary! 

I've lost my mind!

seriously .. I think I have.

I keep forgetting things like say a backpack or library book on library day. Yikes .. what a week!
I'm misplaced things, knowing I put them down and making a mental note to remember where it is because I know I've been having a recent problem with this, then later totally forgetting where it is. I can picture the item laying somewhere, just can't figure out where that 'somewhere' is. oy, the nuisance
Thankfully it hasn't gotten to the point where I've walked off without a child in tow (good thing they're of an age where they know to follow).

So in other news. The. rain. will. not. stop! Gah!
We're being soaked literally to the bone, and it's turning into disaster mode. The entire Island is on 'boil water' mode. There's been so much rain and runoff, that the resevoirs are murky and brown, and there's warnings of e coli. So I'm boiling water ahead to let cool then run through the Brita and refridgerate (we like our drinks of water cold), and supposedly we're not even supposed to wash our dishes with unboiled water. Sorry, but I think I'll pass on that one. Perhaps if I wash them regularly (I'm one of those still stuck in the cave years, forced to wash dishes by hand *sigh*), then just rinse with boiled water.
Oh yes, and suggesting small children do not consume water while taking a bath. Man!

Luckily, I'm being blessed with another kid-free weekend. My wonderful, loving angel of a sister in law offered to take the girls for the weekend. Her parents live two hours south of here (still on the Island) and she wanted to explore the city with my girls. They'll even have a sleepover with a daughter of a friend of SIL's. So I have this evening to myself, although I may consider being a sweet and devoted wife and force myself to stay up past 10pm to go and watch D play hockey (11:30-1am, Fridays) since I have the opportunity to do so without disrupting any childrens sleeping schedules. Then tomorrow we're going to explore some local wineries and do a little wine sampling. Ever since we started making our own home brew wine, we've had an interest to join the elite in the taste of the good stuff. Sunday is unplanned at the moment.

Have a fab weekend, everyone! I know I will, IF we're not swept away in the winds and rain in the meantime.

thankful thursday

I nearly forgot about my new thursday rule until I read Redneckgirl's thursday post. Thanks for the reminder, since I'm copying you and all. ;)

Today, being the day I happen to volunteer in Alissa's classroom, gives me a chance to include many little innocent joys to be thankful for.
Today's had me nearly burst into a fitful laugh because I'm sure the action was so innocent, but if only this little persons parents knew what they were in for in 10 years time.
What am I talking about?

Little Mr K .. such a little charmer he is. Today I got to help four selected children make oatmeal for tasting. This was to go with their monthly theme of bears, and obviously three famous bears, only famous because of sweet little Goldilocks and her undying urge for a bowl of porridge. I had Alissa, another little girl ( V ), and two boys (K and G) helping measure and stir. After all was said, tasted and done, and I was slipping out the back door to join the other waiting parents, Mrs H had the class give me a big THANK YOU and clap. Mr charmer K winked at me. Yep .. now you have to agree with me when I said his parents will have their hands full in a few years. lol







I got a wink. I got a wink. lol :P

child labour ..

I'll start this off by saying, I'm super anal about every thing I do. It has to be done my way (the right way) or I'll FREAK! I'd rather slave all day doing everything, then have someone help, and not do it the right way, making me redo it anyway. This has caused many minor problems at the homefront, many arguments (because I bitch about not having any help, but then when I DO get the help, I shoot it down), and I was suddenly finding out that if I don't allow some help from two certain little girls .. I may just help them grow up to be helpless individuals.

So this morning, while trying to get through a few household chores, I discovered a little helper on my hands. Ordinarily I can get her distracted with colouring, playdough, watching TV or the like, and I disappear upstairs to do what needs cleaning. Today, however .. she followed me once she saw I had taken out the Windex and papertowel. She LOVES spraying while I wipe and scrub, so I decided to just swallow my analism (is that a word even?) and let her help. Afterall, how will she learn all these little things that keep a house running, if she isn't aloud to help for fear her anal mother will *gasp* redo, or *gasp* even worse, not allow her to practice and learn at her 5 yr old level. If I don't catch her now while she's eager to learn, and copy .. I'll have a real teenage mess on my hands before I know it. So as she sprayed and wiped, I wiped along with her, and when it got to places I knew *I* better tackle (ie: toilet), I distracted her by having her spray and wipe down the walls. Brilliant don't you think?

I may have to swallow my critical voice, but if I manage to do that .. I could verywell have a little child labour happening around here. Dishes, sweeping/mopping, dusting, bathrooms, and the list goes on. Ahhh, but I'm truly my mother's daughter. Darn this dutch blood! We're such perfectionists when it comes to our homes. Thankfully I wasn't born in the days my Grandma ruled the roost. She starched, white washed and bleached just about everything! Ack!

since you have to be a member

I didn't realize (blonde moment ;)) you'd have to be an active member to see the layouts in my 123-scrap gallery, I'll put them up here for those of you interested in seeing them. Usually I'm anxious to get photos printed, and then they sit there because I'm uninspired, but this time I had fun scrapping very recent photos of the girls big events.

to switch or not to switch

that IS the question. I know blogger beta's been out for awhile and so many of my blogging friends switched over, making it a royal pain for me to comment on their blogs. (no offence to you's that switched ;)). Now I'm getting a message that says the new blogger is ready (out of beta testing I'm taking?), but do I really want to switch over? Will I lose my template, header, personalization? Someone that has switched over, can you let me know before I do something I may or may not regret? Many thanks in advance!

so much .. so little

It feels like I've been MIA for weeks, but in reality it's only been a few days. So much has happened that I'd like to post about, so bare with me if it sounds all jimble jambled.

On Friday, our elementary school had their Remembrance Day assembly. Hailey, being in choir, got to sing In Flanders Field after having practiced for a couple months. They sounded beautiful! There's something so serene and perfect about a child's voice, add to that about 20 and it was breathtaking. I took a video clip of it, but it's to large to upload onto youtube.com, so you'll just have to take my word. :)

We spent a lovely day as a family, yesterday. The girls are little fishies and ask to go swimming any chance they can, and I love watching them practice everything they've learned thus far in their lessons (we're in between lessons at the moment, but it's good to practice so they'll be ready for the next level in January) and the slides and river are such fun.

123-scrap.com is holding an online crop this weekend, and so between family things, I've been trying to participate as best I can. Today, however, I've been left alone to scrap till my heart's content. Dave took the girls out with him hunting (they saw a doe and fawn), and this has left me so far, the entire day! I've gotten quite a few things done. You'll have to go here to see all my latest layouts.

There's so much more to talk about, but I'm not about to write a book. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend. Tomorrow's a holiday here, and the kids have Tuesday off school too. I may be forced to take a two day hiatus. Eeek!

thankful thursday

I'm stealing this idea from Redneck Girl, who posted this idea just today on her own blog.
I think she has uncovered a wonderful self spirit lifter here, and so that's why I'm going with it and copying her. :)

There are many people we come in contact with on a daily basis. Some are friends and family, some are the grocery clerk, or a fellow pedestrian on the street. No matter how you come in contact with them, they can make an impact on your life by either making you smile without so much as any interaction, or much much more.

Today the girls and I were greeted by one of Alissa's fellow classmates when dropping Hailey off at school this morning. Every interaction I've had with her has been so pleasant. She's a real sweetheart, very cheery and respectful. She chased Alissa across the front yard of the school, until we had to part ways, and then she said to me. "I just love chasing Alissa, she laughs and that makes me happy." I responded, telling her that was a really sweet thing to say, and that she's a real good friend, and that I'd get to see her later (I volunteer in their classroom this afternoon).
So to little R .. thanks for being such a ball of fun energy first thing in the morning. For putting a smile on my face and a giggle upon the lips of my little girl (your friend).

simply devine!

I'm quick to forgive when a meal is prepared for me, and this one was so terribly good that I think I need to have me a second bowl of it later on.

I bought the ingredients for the chili, but Dave was the one that slaved over the stove during his two hours between jobs. It simmered for awhile, and the girls and I indulged in this for dinner. It's made following a recipe in a wild game recipe book, but can easily be replaced with beef hamburger instead. I'll post the recipe later for those that like to eat those warm comforting foods on a cold fall/winter day.

(as an aside .. I'm currently tossing a small ball across the livingroom for my youngest daughter to 'fetch'. While typing this up, she barking at me to toss the ball. lol In case she's not aware of it, I may have to remind her she's a little girl, NOT a puppy.)

ETA: recipe

Hunter's Favourite Chili
serves 8-10

3lbs big game burger
3 medium onions, chopped
3 medium green peppers, chopped (we used yellow)
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 TBSP bacon fat or vegetable oil
1 can (28 oz) whole tomatoes, undrained
2 TBSP dried parsley flakes
2 TBSP chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp garlic powder ( we used chopped fresh garlic)
2 cans (15.5 oz) kidney beans, undrained
1 can(16 oz) pinto beans, undrained

In Dutch Oven, brown meat over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and set aside. In large skillet, cook and stir onions, green peppers, and celery in bacon fat over medium heat until tender. Add vegetable mixture and all remaining ingredients except beans to meat in dutch oven. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat; cover. Simmer 1 hour to blend flavors. Stir in beans. Cook, uncovered, 30 minutes longer.

change is pertinent

As per usual, I've been examining my life and how unhappy certain aspects of it make me. I go through this at least twice a year, but this time it's pertinent I do something or I believe things could really fall apart. I know I'm being vague .. and that's because there's several areas I need to work on. For my own sanity as well as the wellbeing of my family. You know the saying "If Mama ain't happy .. ain't nobody happy", and I believe this to be true.
So take this post as a 'spill' of sorts, and I hope that the journey I begin will not only make me more optomistic, but have a more positive outlook on things .. including a happier more cheerful and upbeat blog.

am I THAT different?

When Hailey was just a wee little infant, I stumbled upon an organized playgroup for new moms and babes. Because it was still in a guinea pig stage, there was just a handful of us that attended every week, slowly growing by a couple here and there, but mostly the same ten or so of us showed up every week. The director was such a sweet woman, and someone I would later 'work' for as childminder just this past year. She brought in any professional we requested, from nurses (easy since it was held in the Health Unit) to dental hygenists and professional photographers. Our group of Moms got along so well, and we later even started meeting one evening a week sans the little ones. Most of us went on to have second children, a couple ended up separating from their spouses, but yet we continued a nice friendship.
Soon we were "kicked out" of the playgroup as our children aged out, and we continued trying to meet up at each ones home, the park or even the mall play area.

In the past couple years, I've separated myself from them slowly. First it was because the little ones needed me in the evenings, making it hard to go out for the Moms night. Then Dave started at the SD and in the winter months his hours are changed to afternoon shift, and this left me without someone to stay with the girls while I met with the Moms. I kept coming up with excuses to not meet, yet I did want to go .. but found the longer I kept away, the more I felt like an outsider to this particular group of ladies.

Today while grocery shopping, I ran into one of the Moms with her two kids in tow. She's a teacher in our district, as is her husband. In fact, she went back to work after her year maternity leave, then again after her second child's birth and that year of maternity leave. I believe there's only one other Mom that continues to be a SAHM, the rest have gone back to work either right after their leave or since their kids started school.

So this Mom that I ran into (lets call her V) was sweet and we exchanged updates. She asked if I was working yet, or still making and selling cards (I made and sold C-Mas cards a couple years ago and thought I'd make a business of it, which I failed at). I told her no, but that I still scrapbook and make cards for my own personal use. And that I'm still so much enjoying my time being a SAHM. I dont' think she realized it, but she gave me this look, but just as quickly as the look was there, it was gone again. Within that group of gals, I'm in the minority. I'm also in the minority with the group of Moms I know from H&A's school, but yet I've never felt so put down before. Just from that one look, I felt like I was doing something wrong. Am I really that different? Is it frowned upon to be a SAHM still once your children start school? I would hardly call Kindergarten much school. It's 2.5 hrs a day .. that's it! Imagine all the daycare hours I'd have to pay for.

In my own personal circle of friends and family (all my sisters and SILs included), being a SAHM is the norm. I never thought I'd be critically judged, when in fact I pay the price in other avenues. (no fancy clothes, cars, house, etc)

This post is just a vent .. an eye opener of sorts.

another chapter

I believe everything happens for a reason .. whether it occurs without any consent from us, or if you choose it.

I've mentioned this before, but in September I hastily said yes to a friend's request to watch her two boys before and after school. I soon realized it wasn't something I could enjoy doing, so I gave her the headsup that this wasn't going to work out. It took pretty drastic measures (drastic in my books anyway) and FINALLY after five weeks, I put in my last day. We're still friends, even though I think she's pretty clueless .. but that's beside the point. So last week was my first week since school started, to just enjoy my mornings with Alissa. We did some drawing and number/alphabet recognition activities .. but mostly I wanted to breath in the quietness.

However .. on Thursday I had the opportunity to do my first in class volunteering. Alissa's teacher, Mrs H, was Hailey's K/gr 1 teacher, and I've come to not only know her well but respect her greatly in all that she does. Her patience is really out of this world. She has a split class of 18 K/gr 1 kids and this year there's one little autistic boy (with his own aide, mind you) that are keeping her busy busy. I let her know at the beginning of the year that I was interested in volunteering finally. She had great hopes of doing more crafts and actual cooking easy recipes and welcomed me with open arms and much gratitude. So Thursday was my first chance to get in there and did we have fun or what! The kids had gathered fallen leaves and I helped them make banners out of them, by pressing the between wax paper then bordering them with construction paper and a poem. I had alot of fun, and if it's possible, I've gained a new and even deeper understanding as to what a kindergarten and grade one teacher deals with. Mrs H truly is an angel, and I'm looking forward to even more time in her classroom.

intimate glimpse

Yes that's right folks. I'm giving you a personal glimpse into my kitchen cupboards. Thanks to Ms L at Those Weird HomeSchoolers I'm 'baring' it all again.

Keep in mind that this weekend is my scheduled biweekly grocery shop, so the cupboards are looking rather bare (actually just the cereal cupboard looks bare) and in desperate need of restocking.

Here's my spice/medicine cupboard. The top two shelves contain spices and food colouring dyes, the bottom shelf is reserved for meds, vitamins, puffers, and bandaids.


Here's the very bare cereal/cracker/popcorn/oil cupboard, located above the stove. Much to the girls dismay, they only had two cereals to choose from this morning, and neither sounded appealing. So toast it was.

And last but not least, the 'other' cupboard. This one holds anything from pasta noodles and rice, to cake mixes, boxes of KD, brown sugar, marinade packages, tea bags, some wine making ingredients, baking things such as salt, bp, bs, etc. This cupboard goes pretty far into the left side, so there's alot of room for my junk mess.

So there ya have it. Now who's going to be brave enough to show YOUR kitchen cupboards?

PS .. if you're a 'chick' and want to read other blogs written by very talented and witty 'chicks', you must visit the Blogging Chicks website for a list of nearly 400 variable blogs. And you can find this week's Carnival at Iris' on Sunday.

pumpkin graveyard

There's this little spot along a road that leads past small acreages and farm land, but isn't real that far out of town persay. As long as I've lived here, this has been THE place to bring old pumpkins after Halloween is said and done. It's a place to safely dispose of our loved jack-o-lanterns, and also a very interesting place to visit and see the creativity of our fellow towns people.

Today we brought our two pumpkins out there to join their little friends in a restful demise. Usually it's pouring down rain, but this year we happened to catch a small recess in the all day rain, to get out of the car and find the perfect resting place for ours, as well as walk around and admire some real talent. Here's a few more random pictures, but they do not even begin to show how many pumpkins are out there, lining that road.

whirlwind days

I can't believe what a whirlwind my life turned into for the past couple days. Not even much time to blog or check in on my most loved message boards.

Halloween was awsome as usual. I simply adored every minute of it .. from getting the girls dressed up in the morning, to freezing my tushey off last night while walking them from door to door. I always enjoy the atmosphere, the friendliness of the other parents, the cuteness of the little wee children, the wonderful feeling chocolate gives me as I dive head first into the girls goodie bags, and the feel of satisfaction as I lay back in bed after a full day of fun activities.

I live in a very smart town .. one that for at least the last 8 years (could be more but I've only been doing this halloween thing with kids for that long) has the mall merchants join in on the festivities by shutting down shop early and handing out candy by their store entrances. We go from store to store, in the warmth of the mall and the safety of knowing the candy has not been tampered with either, and it's always a proven fun hour .. not to mention profitable in every sense of the word. Some merchants hand out stickers (the Childrens Place and the Gap) and others like the Halloween specialty shop handed out fake teeth, and Claire's gave out little rings. Then there's the places like Purdy's .. and the girls already (and do it willingly too I might add) know to pass on those chocolates to me. Yum!
From there we went to my SIL and BIL's place. My SIL was so sweet and wanted to come TorT'ing with us again, but this time offered up their neighbourhood as the place. They recently moved there, and there are alot of children in that area .. not to mention (as hindsight) some very halloweeny type people living there too. The little firepits, great decor, fireworks and friendly parents made it a really memorable night for us. I was just sad that D missed out on it this year, due to his afternoon working schedule.

Today? I'm just allowing the girls a free for all at their candy. I figure the novelty will soon wear off, or they'll have soon eaten all the "good" candy and the rest will be left to grow stale and finally get tossed. No point trying to ration the goods, cause I just know (from past experience) they'll drive me bonkers with the asking and begging.

Finally before I close .. here's my little pretties as they were seen yesterday.
The witch/Nanny McPhee wannabe is my dear miss Hailey, and the darling and exotic Hawaiian hoola-girl is miss Alissa in all her glory. :)