Visitors

Catherine and her oldest son Noah are here visiting us from Texas. We haven't seen her since we moved from Utah to Los Angeles when we graduated more than 5 years ago.  When we moved away,  I was 2 months pregnant, and she was 3. Now we are both 4 months pregnant. Our kids are all the same age except she has a little girl who is 15 months old now.  I dropped the ball on that one. 

yesterday we tried to find a park in Santa Monica for the boys to explore in, but we got lost, and I ended up saying, "well let's just go to the beach". Noah was thrilled because he had never, EVER been to the ocean before.  Because we weren't really prepared, we said, "but only get wet up to your knees!" 

yeah, right. 

We're going again today, since the forecast is for a freakish 95 degrees.   More pictures to follow!

i apologize in advance for your tender eyes - i just have to post this, because all of my dreams came true in one instant and then were completely shattered in the next. 

See this skirt? :  (sorry! I'm sorry about the bra!)

I had a dream a year or so ago. the most vivid dream I've ever had. I was in a dress, that color, with this huge flowing skirt just. like. that one. , and this corset-y pretty top, anyway -  and I was running through this castle which was making my skirt all flowy and billowy and it was possibly the most beautiful thing ever but there was no way I was ever going to find a dress like that, right? 

well there it is. The bottom part anyway. And even though I know I would never have any opportunity to wear it, I was all set to buy it the moment the catalog went from my mailbox to my eager little fingers (yes, I get VS, I am not ashamed).

But they don't even sell it. They don't even specify in the catalog how they got their hands on it! 

I had to throw it away. I spent too much time sitting on the couch and gazing at it...

Ultimate Advent Calendar

this piece of wonderfulness is available at Pottery Barn Kids for $69.  Or you could just make one. It's all polyester felt, with embroidered numbers. It's simply delicious!

confession: I typed nary a word yesterday. GASP! Only November 5 and already behind! Plus my friend Catherine is visiting for 5 days this month and I very-much-doubt I'm going to get much/any writing done while she is here! But I will persevere! No giving up! This can be done!

Statistics:

words written: 4,220

words to write by end of day to be caught up: 2, 267

I'm doing it! almost 20 pages done! I LOVE MOTIVATION!

also, please vote today

it's very important. 

I've been making loads of lists lately. Thanksgiving ideas (we need kid crafts to keep the little snookers busy), Christmas ideas, sewing ideas (so much sewing! ooh lala!), things-to-do-while-Catherine-is-here ideas, I feel very very busy but I'm also managing to keep myself scheduled so I'm not overwhelmed.  Of course today I've gone to Target, and voted, and done nothing else even though I've been home for 2 hours and could have washed dishes and covered one of my couch cushions... mmm.  OH WELL!  I feel great! Yay!   Sadly, this euphoria tends to hit around mid-morning and then come crashing down around 1 pm (shoot, only 1/2 hour to go!) when my energy flies away with the morning clouds.  Ah, pregnancy.   

I should go write. Or sew. Or - haha, make lunch for my poor son..   Happy Week!!!

Thanksgiving plans:

menu

decorations

kids table and crafts

place settings

entertainment

hmm? what's that? 

you say i'm hosting Christmas this year?

not Thanksgiving?

Oh...

oh my. 

this is going to be 

so. much. fun!

Beautiful and Spooky photos found HERE! 

Happy Halloween!

tomorrow is the big day.  I'm cleaning and organizing today like crazy to try to prepare for it.  I did it in '06 (it helped that I had a class centered entirely around the idea) and then tossed the idea around in '07 but I don't think I ever got farther than 3 pages.  *sheepish grin*

this year I have a pretty solid idea though, and I'm excited. 6 and 1/2 pages a day! wooooo!

Cake Balls.

because I have been motivated enough this week to do exactly two loads of laundry and nothing else, I once again give you a post that is in fact nothing more than a link to someone else's creativity.  If you haven't already heard of Pioneer Woman (well, then shame on you, the woman is a hysterical genius. I love her deeply) then now you get a LINK to her blog! (okay so the link is just to a single post on the cooking section of her blog, but whatever).  

since I've been so Christmas-post-y this week and since it isn't actually Halloween yet, I thought I'd give you a fun, yummy, and quick (sorta) Halloween food/craft.  Enjoy.  

If I can bring myself to get up off the bean bag,  I might even make some myself. 

this advent calendar caught my eye - It's easy to make and would be major fun for the kids (each tin has a surprise of your choice inside). I found it HERE.  It's not nativity-esque, but it could be put together in one or two afternoons! 

eventually of course, I'll have to actually make some of these things myself... not sure when that's going to happen since I've just decided to do NaNoWriMo again this year!

Here's another one, for the sewing-crafty types. There are no instructions (it was made to sell) but I found it HERE, and it's a lovely idea. 

another holiday craft (directions HERE) that is super-cheap-and-easy to do. Also, Christmas tree ornaments make great gifts for far-away family members, friends, and co-workers (of the Christian variety, anyway).  I've been thinking of doing Christmas packages this year for all of our extended family - ornaments and treats that they can open when the box arrives. 

then the guilt for not giving presents is gone, and we don't have to worry about our bank account in these times of amazing economical bounty.  

If I haven't already emailed you the link:

I am totally addicted to THIS BLOG. Karalenn has been calling me every time "Cordy" updates and we've been squee-ing like teenagers. 

Start at the beginning, folks. And don't bother starting it until you have an hour or so to spend reading, because you won't want to stop. 

I'm really feeling the urge this year to jump into decorating and planning for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This craft (found HERE) is autumn-y and could work for Halloween or Thanksgiving and is super super simple.  

Maybe it's the fall weather we're finally having, or maybe it's the Christmas carols I listened to all day yesterday; but I am FEELING THE SPIRIT!  yay!

i have a lot of fur left over from Craig's Raccoon Mario tail. Naturally I've been daydreaming of sewing stuff like this:

even though I don't have a girl and am pretty sure I would HATE sewing such a project.  This lovely photo comes from HERE - where they sell these beauties in all kinds of styles and colors. 

it's a good thing I don't have a girl, I believe...

Our church held the annual Trunk-or-Treat early this year; so Halloween for us was last night. This year's theme, as you know, was Super Mario Bros. 

the boys had a lot of fun, and naturally came home with too much loot:

princesses! 

the Burrows looked AWESOME this year! way to go Vera and Brett!

Craig's tail was a huge hit. People kept hugging  it:

our little family. 
apparently I overdid it last night and woke up this morning coughing and hacking. Craig declared me unable to go to church, so I've been sitting at home planning the rest of the years' holidays. It's almost Christmas!!!

Halloween, Part I:

I finished Jen's Snow White costume (except the collar - that kicked my butt and I whimpered and whined and eventually gave up), and I'm almost done with my Princess Peach getup. 

It is very frustrating that all of our parties are a week before Halloween this year! Stress!  I have about an hour's work on mine and the boys' stuff. Tomorrow morning I'll be making a raccoon tail and ears to stick on Craig's costume. (heh) 

my new best friend:

oh, Santa Ana winds, how we despise you. 

you make us all sick. 

and hot.

and sick.

you light fires all over the southland. 

knock it off, ya big bully.

BEFORE:

ugly, dirty ottoman. suffered from too much sun and slobbery children.

AFTER:

ahhh! I like it! I'm pleased that the piping (which is not filled, just folded fabric sticking out like a tag) turned out nicely and looks like it matches even though it is a completely different color from the brick red stripes.  

Next, the couch cushions! (well okay, no. Next: Halloween costumes!)

Happy Halloween to me! 

i was surprised by a box from Utah today, 

with a return address I didn't recognize. 

After I saw what was in it, I didn't care if it was 

mistakenly sent to me, I was gonna keep it!

but after reading the card I realized who it was from. 

Thanks, Lunch Lady!! 

(I will not confess to how much I have already eaten..)

The secret's OUT! 

Betsey and I flew to Utah on Friday to surprise Karalenn as a late 30th birthday present. You can see by her expression here how overjoyed and happy she was to see us...

we caught her in the middle of practice for the Stake talent show the next day. Her initial distress was over the amount of money we paid to come "just because I whined to you!" but we assured her our trip was nearly free. 

then she became re-distressed when she found out we were staying 3 nights at her house. ;)

After practice, we kidnapped her, picked up Angela (whose husband works with Kare's husband and who lives just a few miles away. they hadn't met yet), and went out for dinner and a movie. 

we made sure to have a camera, and then forgot to take ANY pictures. there is no proof that karalenn and angela have actually met...

Dinner was great. The movie was depressing. (costumes, though, yum!)

Betsey and I watched Kare's girls for a few hours on Saturday so she and Seth could have a date before the big show.  They did great! Everyone looked appropriately dead.

Betsey made us all t-shirts with a quote from Young Frankenstein. My bump is intimidated by their more believable bumps. (soon, baby, soon)

When Betsey and I flew home yesterday, the A380 was at LAX, having landed that morning. We drove by the runway to get a good look at it. We were silly enough to not get any pictures.

It was fun to see you Karalenn! Hope you had fun! The next time you turn 30, we'll plan something even better! :)

Thursday's List: 

wake up to helicopter hovering a half-mile away. check clock. curse helicopter. 

scoot over when oldest son comes to bedroom, wakened by cursed helicopter.

roll over and ask husband a question, which turns into long conversation, bringing him fully to cranky consciousness and prompting him to get up and be out the door for work 3 hours earlier than usual. 

inform boys that they are not going to school that day. mom doesn't feel like walking up the hill 3 times in this disgusting weather. celebrations ensue. (no, I don't have the least amount of guilt. sorry)

make strawberries and hot chocolate for breakfast. more celebrating.

technically, that's as far as I have gotten today.  but I have big plans for the rest of my thursday! I have to finish organizing the master bedroom, do a couple of loads of laundry, hem a pair of pants, cut out two costumes and a giant plant pattern, and pack for my secret weekend. (nope, sorry, it's a SECRET!) there are other bits tucked in there too - enough to keep me going for the whole day. I expect to feel very productive come dinner time. 

then there's book club tonight. Fun! yay! 

Happy Thursday, and happy Weekend! I'll be back Monday to post secret photos and secret fun stuff.