Halloween 2008

Yesterday I took the kids to Michael's office for some pre-Halloween trick-or-treating.  The kids came home with little bags full of chocolate, suckers, and licorice.  Some of them even got cookies.  

Kai however was the only one to come home with a can of soup.  When asked, "do you want candy, or soup?"  He chose soup.

Twilight Trailer Spoof

I love this so so much.

It's funniest if you seen the real trailer, so here is a link to that {link}

Going Domestic

 I thought it would be great to have some dried fruit in our food storage so I borrowed my mom's dehydrator and went  nuts.   I have been drying for two days now and this is my bounty.

Each one of those containers holds a pint and a half.  I dried a pint of apples, and a pint of pears.  I dried half a pint of bananas, and half a pint of strawberries mixed with blueberries.  

So in the event of a disaster the four kids will have one or two great snacks immediately followed by multiple diaper changes and trips to the bathroom. 

I'm so excited about my new found sense of preparedness.  

What Does My Music Say About Me

My taste in music often gets me in trouble.  

In high school I met a boy in computer class who told me his favorite music was that of Janice Kapp Perry.  I laughed at him,  but then felt bad so the next day I brought him a copy of Neil Young's album Harvest Moon.  Later he said that his mom told him I was the devil.  

When Madison was in preschool she took "Its Raining Men" on a CD for show and tell one day.  I'd been listening to it in the car and she thought it was the best song ever.  You have to admit its got a pretty catchy tune-- perfect for driving.  Her teacher never said anything about it, but I suspect she thought I was the devil too.

Lately I've been listening to Mika.  Juvenile?  Perhaps, but fun to listen to while you're driving.  Kai absolutely loves it.  His favorite song is Big Girls.  

I didn't really think it was a problem until I heard him in the yard singing "'cause a whole lot of woman need a whole lot moooooore!"  At the top of his lungs.  

I think I may need to go back to listening to the Flaming Lips.  The boy was quite fond of Yoshimi, and the Jelly song always made him laugh.  Or better yet, maybe I should pull my old Telemann CD out of retirement.  I bet the devil doesn't listen to Telemann.

Westridge: Day Two

This is what they wore on day two . . .

Don't worry, it was crazy hair day.

First Day of School . . . Again

I know you're all dying to know what the girl and boy wore to their first day of public school.  First day outfits can make or break you.  So with out further ado . . .

Kai is sporting a Yoda shirt complete with glow-in-the-dark light saber and camo sleeves.  He chose black pants with cargo pockets and sneakers.  That's right, sneakers.  Oh and don't tell anyone but now that he doesn't have to wear socks that match his pants, he totally isn't.  They aren't black, navy blue, or even white.  They're tan.  Yep, tan socks with black pants.  It's anarchy I tell you--pure anarchy, and the boy's loving every minute of it.

Just as I predicted Madison went all out.  She wore pants under a skirt.  This is something her grandma was reported to the honor code office for in college.  So this ones for you mom.  She is also wearing a light blue polo and a pink vest with green trim.  I know what your thinking khakis . . . a polo . . .  a vest . . . kind of school uniformish.  Perhaps, but what you can't see in the picture is that the logo on the vest is a small green skull and cross bones.   And lets not forget that she's wearing her flowered Doc Martins.  She's gone completely public school and don't try to convince me otherwise.  

Advantages and Disadvantages

Wednesday was the kids last day at Freedom. When I picked the boy up from school he was crying, his teacher was crying, the teacher's aid was crying. I was bombarded by people who were sad we were leaving. It really didn't make for the start of a great afternoon. Thursday and Friday is fall break for both schools so they start the new school on Monday. They've met their teachers and they know where their classrooms are.  It should go off with out a hitch!

That brings me back to fall break. They are home today. They were home yesterday. I don't know if I like fall break just like I don't know if I like summer. I like not having to drive them to school, or worry about getting Chase on the bus. But I also like not having to drag four kids to the store and break up arguments.  

boy:  Maddie won't let me hold pretend school at 9!  **Whaaaaaaaaa**

girl:  Well my pretend club is at 9:30 and I need time to prepare! **glares with hands on hips**

davis:  Hello! **drops Nintendo DS into toilet** 

chase:  The potty a boat! **drops a toy boat into the toilet**

It didn't really all happen at once (an advantage) but it did all happen (a disadvantage).

Halloween Preview

The boy and girl decided to try their costumes on before church today. 

The girl as Dorthy

The boy as a vampire

Fresh Start

I registered the boy and the girl at the public elementary school this afternoon,  and now I'm getting nervous.  I hate having to make big important decisions--especially ones that have an impact on the lives of my children.  

We have been going to Freedom, a charter school, since the girl started kindergarten.  Wasn't she cute?  I loved that jumper.  Wednesday will be their last day of school at Freedom and their first time at public school.  

I went to a small private school for kindergarten and first grade and was moved to a public school in second.  Why?  I don't know--I was 6.  But, maybe it was because we were taken to the front lawn, told to spread out our arms, face the sky and feel the spirit.  Or maybe it was just the black widows in the blocks.  I do remember being thrilled because the public school had a cafeteria.  No more eating home lunches at my desk!  Score!

Madison is excited about the lack of uniform at the new school.  She plans on doing something completely crazy the first day, like wearing pants under a skirt.  That is sooo against the rules at Freedom.

Kai is looking forward to going by his middle name, MacKay (pronounced the Scottish way Ma-Kai) or just Kai for short.    Most of the world (including everyone at Freedom) calls him Brigham or Brig (his first name).  I call him Kai and have for a long time.  But he wants a new name at his new school.  It's his fresh start.  Though I understand, it does make me sad.  I was really the only person who ever called him Kai, so when I hear other people calling him that it seems wrong.  

We have good memories of Freedom, but we know its time to move on even if that means leaving teachers and friends that we love.  

Breaking the Rules

I love decorating for Halloween.  It is the only time of the year when I feel justified in violating the "one skull at a time" rule of fashion.  

This is my mantle this year.   

I got the eyeballs at target last year and glued them into the skull.  I also put some eyeballs in various jars.  The white candles were on clearance at Target and I poured fake blood on them.  We got a bag full of tiny little black spiders from Oriental Trading that I put all over the black netting.  My favorite item is the black bird my mom found and gave me.  In fact he'll stay up through thanksgiving.  I'm still trying to figure out an appropriate way to work him into Christmas.

I found a 2 dollar shelf at the local thrift store and decided to use it for this in the entryway.

 I'm not sure where I got the idea, but I know I saw something like it on the Internet or in a magazine at some point, but I'm too lazy to track it down right now.

Laziness Abounds

I was sick this weekend, and spent most of it in bed.  One of the weekend's highlights was when the boy told me I wouldn't be sick if I hadn't stopped exercising.  He still has a lot to learn before he gets married.

Another highlight came yesterday (not technically on the weekend I know).  I was told to get yet another stool sample from Davis.  This time I was told to get the collection supplies from my favorite Lady with a Russian accent.  It turns out she's from Romania so I'll call her the Romanian Lab Worker from now on.  She asked if the supplies were for me.   I told her they were not, and I'd like to hope that day  never comes.  She handed me supplies and went into great detail about the best way to do everything.  She was very nice.  I was very confused until I realized she was pregnant.  

Back in July she wasn't showing, she must have been in the beginning of her pregnancy.  Imagine having morning sickness and then having to come to work to analyse stool.  No way would I be nice.  Now she is in the middle part of pregnancy-- which is really the best part. By this time the morning sickness is dying down and you look pregnant but not so pregnant that you feel like a beached whale.  I figure I'm in the clear for another month or two before the last part of pregnancy kicks in.  At this point you are in fact a beached whale and you begin to wonder what the hell you were thinking.  

Davis

He's even cute when he displays independence by sitting in the driveway eating cheerios instead of getting in the car.