A little A-R-T

I'm trying to trick him into praticing his writing every chance I get.

Thank goodness for self-directed children cause I wasn't really feelin' Art Day today. Shayla, I really am that kind of mom too! The kind of mom who prepped her son the first day the calendar was made that sometimes we might have to move things to another day if they don't happen . I thought ahead! Once he got out his supplies, I had to join in and we all had a great time. Here's a peek...
WARNING: LOTS OF PICTURES !


I love how he sticks out his tongue when he's really concentrating.

I didn't know/remember that we had a watercolor set until he pulled it out of the art drawer!

At one point he yelled,
"Look! It made blue. Red and purple made blue! Right, mama?"
"It sure looks blue," I replied.
"Told you I was smart!"

Look! No cast! And we're still using our left hand. And yes, that is Optimus Prime on her tee. Or rather on his tee on her.

She really got into her painting. Both hands...

and feet.

After painting and snacks, the old montessori preschool teacher in me reared it's head and we did a little noodle sorting.





Then it was off to bed for Sophie while Spencer and I cleaned up and watched some Halloween cartoons on YouTube. Pretty fun and successful day if you don't mind that I'm still in my pj's without my make-up or hair being done. And it's 3:45 p.m.

Lullaby League, Lollipop Guild

Song:
Ding, Dong the Witch is Dead
Spencer:
"That just cracks me up! Cause those are really elves, who are really dolphins, who can really talk that are singing!"

Uhhhh....sure Spence....Whatever you say.

You're in my Google Reader

My parents asked me a few weeks ago where all my blog links went. Apparently they enjoyed the convenience of it. Since adding everyone to Google Reader, I never used my blog roll anymore so I took it off. So for them, I'll put it back on. And while I'm at it, I'm going to catch up on all the commenting I don't do anymore thanks to my google reader. It's made me a lazy commenter so I'm gonna try to make up for it all at once!

Rachael, Jared, Josh, Suzanne: I would love to comment on how entertaining, or thought provoking, or motivating your blogs are to me but that would require you all to blog. So instead I'm just gonna simply say, "Get off your lazy butts and blog already! I miss your wit, humor, sarcasm, etc."

Lisa: You and your camera make me want to vomit. But I still love you like a whore anyways. (Sorry for that harsh language but I seriously always talk to her like that. I think it's a disease. It probably really is since I'm a known hypochondriac. )

Sarah: Thanks for posting since Josh doesn't. Lydia cracks me up! She is such an amazing kid. So much a combination of you and Josh. It's nice to see what you guys are up to.

Anna: I love seeing the pics of your guys' adventures. And it's nice to know that Jared is really alive out there somewhere. Or at least you haven't reported him missing yet. And I'm super excited that you guys are having a baby!

Kimmie: You don't write often enough either but I'll forgive you since you're a radical cousin. And because you sometimes babysit and take Spencer to run errands with you. You're the best!

P&S, Part 1 and 2: I love seeing the changes in your house and am always amazed to think that a few years ago I spent a week there with your kids and grandma and grandpa. How crazy was that?! It was way fun though and I'm grateful I had the chance to do that. I also am super excited for your family blog. We really do wish that we saw you all more!

Nerd Bird: Uh, does anyone even remember that this blog was created for all us cousins? Just wondering. I personally haven't posted since I'm still bitter about the last post about Sophie. (Just kidding, Jared. I laughed super hard even though it was cruel!)

Michelle S.: You and you're crazy Las Vegas living! Every time I read a post of yours I always sit and wonder when I'm going to convince myself to buy a ticket and visit you. How much fun would all that shopping be?!

Gerianne: It is still super crazy to me that we all know each other way better now than in the entire 20'some years we grew up. You're posts always have me laughing out loud and then I call everyone and insist that they check your blog. I'm so excited for you that you're new little girl arrived. You are gonna rock as a mom.

Tracie and Joy: It is so crazy to think back on all the memories I have of both of you. Joy at Shopko and Tracie at all the conventions. Seems like sooo long ago and it's hard to really remember that that use to be my life. It's fun to get to see both of your families and see what you're both up too. And Joy, I never answered about the age gap of my last two. It was definetly a surprise when I found myself expecting when Sophie was only 6 months old. It hasn't been as hard as I thought it would be but it's not been easy either. Going from Spencer and Sophie being 3 years apart to only 15 months apart for her and Carson has been crazy!

Michelle B.: So I knew you read blogs and that the last time I talked to you, you didn't have a blog. Then one day I randomly click on your name in a comment box and whatta ya know? You have a blog! You're kids are adorable! And I'm glad you've started blogging.

Alicia, Kim M., Shayla, and Jodi: Oh. My. Goodness. I have never had GNO's like the ones we have. They are outrageous, fun, and... informative. We'll just leave it at that. We really, really should have them more often but it's probably better that we pace ourselves. I also love your blogs and wish that a few of you would post more often! Alicia, your Week in Hollywood's are classic and so is your devotion to all things Twilight.

Donald and Lisa: I always am humbled by your posts about Elisabeth. The strength of your family is inspiring. I also love the quotes and pictures you always have on your sidebar. And then there's Donald's blog. Classic entertainment. Especially the hot debate between siblings.

Mitch and Nan: I had no idea that Mitch is so political. And mechanical. Most of his blog is over my head but oh well, it's still fun to read. And Nan, I still want to have you teach me someday the fine art of 'junking'...Yard sales, thrift stores in Spokane, etc. I would love another peak at your house. The last time I was there I couldn't get over all the adorable stuff!

Kristin H.: Ms. Kristin! I always have to take extra time when I check your page if Spencer is around. It's pretty pathetic that he already knows to ask me, "Who's blog is that? Do we know them?" Whenever he see's that its your family he has to look at all the pictures and then grill me on why he can't see the rest of your house, the dogs, etc when he's at school!

Kim H: I can't believe how long I've known you. Such a different life time ago! Your stories crack me up and I think you should post a picture of your finished "Please remove your shoes" project. I would love to see it.

Debie: Somehow the peacefulness of your personality is felt in your blog as well. I can only hope that my kids grow up to be like yours. How exciting for everyone that a new little girl is going to join your family!

Jenny: Can you believe we're as old as we are? It's sometimes surreal to me. It's fun to see glimpses of you and your family and your adventures. I made super oreos today but they just didn't taste as good as when you made them! It would be fun to get together sometime when you're in town!

Katie: I almost forgot to include you because I lost the address to your blog! So you're not technically in my google reader but I wish you were! Please have Susan email it to me again. I loved your guest post on her blog about fishnets. Cracked me up! I never knew you were "that kinda girl"!
So that accounts for 27 of my 37 blogs in my google reader. I'm kind of a snob and based my list off of people who I know actually read mine so there are a few more out there that I like to check but didn't include! So if there's any unknown readers out there, leave me a comment!

**The blogroll sidebar is gonna have to wait a day or two, it's a lot of work to add everyone on there. Sorry mom and dad.

***What's up with the random font change?!?

Social Director

Spence is the social director for our family. Every morning he wants to know what day it is, where we're going, who's coming over, etc. So now he has his very own calendar. This has eliminated some of the questioning but has also created new ones. Like "Hey mom, what does t-r-p say?" Which leads to an explanation of reading from left to right. "That's really a-r-t. It's art. "
"Mom! What does e-l-y-o-m say?" Uhhh....Crap, I have to get up now and check the calendar myself. "Oohhh, thats m-o-v-i-e. Remember to start on this side of the word. And that's an i not an l and a v not a y." And so went my day. We've now scheduled in computer days, movie days, art days, and x-box days (those are the days when I'm gone!). He checks to see which days are pre-school days and special holidays. We've also set up a night when he gets to stay up later than Sophie and have a snack and play a game with me and Jason. It's been great to have some of his 'addictions' regulated to only certain days and forces me to remember to do the extra things like art and games. Sounds pathetic to think that I do better at that when it's actually scheduled but it's the truth. So once a week we update his calendar for the following week and at least 6 times a morning he runs over to check out what the day has planned for him, and the next day, and the next. We're all loving it.

Jason made the calendar template at work and the frame out of old barn wood. I painted the chalkboard and am trying to decide about painting the frame. Any one interested in one? I have a green frame that measures 28" x 22" and the board would be about 24" x 18". I had once planned on making some to sell on Etsy but really? Like I'm good with follow through!

Since he's not filling his day with 14 movies in a row followed by 6.3 hours of pbskids.org (a slight exaggeration but really its amazing how many times I mindlessly answer "yes," to "can I play on the computer?" forgetting that he just watched 2 cartoons and a movie) he's now spending more time doing this...

Halloween Revisited

Even more exciting than fantastic halloween decorations on sale is halloween decorations on sale BEFORE halloween. My mom and I ended up at Beaver Bark last weekend and everything was 50% off! So my decor has changed and I am much more in love with it.

Insomnia

This is a first for me. I've heard many complain about their own issues with insomnia but I've never really understood. Sure, I've had my nights where it took me awhile to fall asleep, to stop thinking about all that I had to do, or didn't get done, but there's always a few tricks that can get me to fall asleep. Like t.v., or making a list. Reading a book, or consciously relaxing. But tonight was different. The first time I woke up I hadn't realized I had even fallen asleep. Jason and I were watching a movie and BAM! Suddenly he was waking me up because the movie had ended. I didn't even have that period of fighting to keep my eyes open. It was literally one minute I'm awake, then I'm waking up 30 minutes later. The second time I woke up when Carson needed fed. Gotta love those 4 a.m. feedings. I fell asleep for awhile but by 4:30 I knew this was different. My brain was functioning like a pinball machine with a low, thick fog over it. I was thirsty, restless, and unable to clear my thoughts. The store, insurance claims, bills, laundry, schedules, and new decorations were crowding my thoughts. At a time when I shouldn't even be awake I couldn't fall asleep. So I found myself up and cleaning by 5 a.m., rearranged and displayed some fantastic new halloween decorations I got on clearance today and am now settled at the computer trying to decide if it's a good idea to tackle those bills or not. I would do the laundry but I don't want to wake anyone else up. I've made a list of things that need done at work and home but I'm wondering if I'll really have the energy to do any of them once the pretty lil' sun rises. I'll probably look and feel like the zombies I work with by tonight. I think I feel my eyes getting heavy, and hear Carson getting restless...Insomnia sucks!

*I just found a chart that showed various reasons for insomnia. "Overworked, Overweight, Over Caffeinated." Yep, sounds like me!

When I was little

I loved coming home from school to find that our house had been decorated to reflect the seasons and holidays. There would be little displays set up on end tables, and fuzzy cardboard jack-o-lanterns and scarecrows on the walls. I think there was a witch one, too. Anyone else remember those? The ones with the little bit of black fuzz accenting them? Then there were the school Halloween parties. Packing up your costume to take to school. Worrying that you wouldn't know how to put it all together and hoping that you would win the costume contest. I'll have to dig up the pictures from the year I won as a skunk. And home-made costumes. I swore until a few years ago that my children would always have homemade costumes like I had. Working at the Halloween store the last few years ruined that idea! Back to the school parties. It was always so exciting to come in from recess and gather around the bathroom area helping each other with costumes. Or coming in from an activity and seeing the desks transformed into our own little treasure spots. Cupcakes, candy, red punch and sometimes, for those lucky enough to be in class with the Blair kids, special decorations like the ones below. Bonnie made ceramics and would make one for every kid in her son and daughters classes. Amazing! A few years ago my mom passed them on to us to use in our homes.

The black cat is one of my favorites!

This guy came with lollipops in the tops of his hands.

The house has a light that goes with it.

This year I split up the little trio of ghosty jack-o-lanterns. The crazy thing is that each of us kids have some that are different. Bonnie must have made hundreds of these over the years. I really should send her a thank you note letting her know that her crafts live on.
I was talking to my mom last night and realized that the month of October is crazy for our family. We see a lot of each other but it's almost always at the store. She had no idea that I had decorated my house and that I forced myself to do it this year (I had convinced myself I was too tired and hated halloween already) all because I remember how exciting it is when your a kid. I love hearing Spencer tell people how "spooky" he thinks our house is! So here's a few pics of our spooky place.