Have you had your Halloween candy today?

Halloween. What a joy. No. Really. We love it! The kids love it for the costumes, jack-o-lanterns and candy. I love it for the candy. Once the kids are in bed, I raid those candy bags like a true chocolate fiend. Come on people! You know you have sacrificed your self-control to take part in this candy raid. Taking candy from a kid, we should be ashamed!



You know you have taken what you liked when the kids weren't looking. You tell yourself that you must check the candy in case it's been tampered with. Yeah, if that's what you must tell yourselves. They'll never know, at least not until they grow up and do the same thing to their kids. It's so easy!



Seriously, I didn't have to raid this year, as today we received a Halloween box of treats from Peg. The chocolate was a nice touch! Elijah loved the talking witch bowl. He carried it around the house with him listening to it's sounds, until I finally stopped him before he headed into the bathroom with it. Gabriel had a blast sitting on that hand painted pumpkin, squeezing it, and throwing it around. I did finally take it away. I mean, it is hand painted so I thought he should probably just look at it. Yeah. Like that's going to happen.







Tonight the boys had a great time running around begging for candy. Spencer and Elijah were their usual superhero selfs. Gabriel got the hang of this new thing very quickly. He put on the charm and went right for that candy bowl. I am sure that if he knew singing would get him more bang for the buck he would have belted out a few tunes. He would be dubbed the singing pumpkin of Burbage.


Of course the boys are going to be thrilled come Friday when they are treated to a few hours of Kangaroo Jacs and a pizza dinner complements of Grandma Chris and Bill. Thank you! They don't know yet about their Friday Halloween surprise. They loved the skeleton card. Spencer wanted to hang it on the front door.

Happy Halloween!

Sending out Orange love for the aunties

What can I say? He's going to make us millions one day with his charm, good looks and wonderful singing voice.

Halloween Stuff

This past weekend was somewhat productive. Michael has made progress on the downstairs half bath. At least I won't have to climb the stairs every time I have to 'go' which is a lot these days. Go figure.

Halloween is approaching. Saturday we took the boys to the Halloween party at one of the hangers on base. The boys enjoyed themselves. Elijah was a little nervous going through the fist hallway of doom, which was a spooky hallway of cobwebs, monsters and loud scary music.

Of course the kids ate tons of cotton candy and popcorn and other sweet treats and more cotton candy.

They consumed so much sugar they were bouncing off the walls even later that day. Mental image: Have you ever seen a cat in a very energetic mood? Yeah, only there are three of them and they are bigger and more destructive. Fortunately we did not have another episode of this:

We don't have a costume for Gabriel just yet. I wanted to make him into a pirate as we have all that is needed, or so I thought. Seems some of the pieces to his costume have gone missing. Maybe he can be Spiderman. We have plenty of those!

Case in point our two superheroes:

ANXIOUSLY waiting for cotton candy. They should serve it with an antidote.

More EATING!!

The Boys

And in case you are wondering, I am not dressing up as Hotgirl. As a certain person mentioned, I might be too old for that! :)

Oh and you know, you can comment here. We like that. Go ahead! Just left click below where it's printed '0 comments' and go from there.

It's Cheaper than a Spa Treatment!

Tonight, I carved a pumpkin and got a little goofy. Got a little goofy? Okay, so I don't have a miniature Disney goofy running around my house. No, just goofy kids. Let's just say my brain was pretending to be on drugs.

I carved a pumpkin. One. That was enough for now. Try carefully placing a stencil onto a pumpkin then carving it while children are grabbing at the knives, tools and wiggling the table. It takes special skills. Skills one can acquire with patience and time.

I thought a wicked tree might be appropriate. Get it? Tree. Ha ha ha!

The Jack O' Lantern

Of course I hate to waste anything so I decided to put the pumpkin pulp to good use. After separating the seeds from the pulp I retrieved my Magic Bullet and spun up some good ole homemade pumpkin facial mask.

But first! I tried to layer my face with the raw, stringy pulp. It kept sliding off. Hmmm imagine that.

While walking around the kitchen with my head tilted back and pumpkin pulp on my face husband noticed and had to comment that SOMETHING was wrong with me.

Then, I had a thought! The Magic Bullet! And so I began.
A little bit of honey and some oatmeal and walla!

It was a bit drippy, but I now have pumpkin mask in the frig for a once or twice a week treatment.

I could make millions!

If you are interested it's $100.00 per 4oz. bottle of pure organic pumpkin facial mask. Bib not included.

Of course husband refused to participate. Maybe I will put it on his face when he is sleeping. Then take a picture. Maybe I will use that picture for Christmas cards this year.

Gooberville

Meet the Goobers!

Especially notice the nice looking one on the far right.

Before leaving Cuba the boys decided to try on their winter coats. Yeah, I think I better tell husband that his coat is a bit too small.

Hotgirl does not approve!

And here we have another goober.

Let's all be thankful that he does not have natural red hair. It does not suit him, although he is still a cute kid.

And then we have the singer goober. Sorry about the quality of this. It was bedtime and dark and we ran out of memory to finish the song.

The Bump

Remember that dance called 'The Bump'? I remember my sisters doing the bump. Back then, in the days of heavy blue eye shadow, elephant pants and hip huggers, which are today called low-rise jeans. Those were the days when people only bumped against hips and bootie NOT the newest rated R version.


If you don't remember, I must be old. SOMEONE must remember that dance!


Okay, so this blog is not really about dance moves from the 70's.






Nor is it about that kind of bump.


It's about a bump called Samantha.

She is a beautiful little bump. Sometimes when I am lying down to sleep she goes bump, bump with her foot or hand against my belly. Then there are the times when she pushes her little foot or hand down into my belly as if reaching to get out. Maybe she is trying to see how many times she can make mommy go to the bathroom.

She seems to be in constant motion. When the midwife attempted to find Samantha's heart beat Samantha switched positions. She moved around a lot when the ultrasound tech took the above picture. She may come out running. She should conserve her energy; she has three older and very active brothers to keep up with.

She is 22 weeks now.


The bump:

Happy Birthday Elijah

Superman woke late Saturday morning along with Hotgirl who also slept in from a late night at the ER.

Hotgirl? You ask. Yes, around here my superhero name is Hotgirl. Whenever my little superheros are in Superhero mode I am usually referred to as Hotgirl instead of the usual 'mommy'! It is a title I take with pride. I mean come on! It is a great superhero name AND apparently I can shoot fire from my hands.

Now, if only I can change poopy pants with a blink of an eye or twist my wrist and have the house spic and span.

By 3:00 Elijah was anxious to start his superhero birthday party. "Can I open my presents? I want some cake!" Followed by a poke into the frosting with his finger.

Once the guests arrive the kids took over the house, while we mere parents sat watching the chaos, attempting snippets of conversation whenever possible.

After the kids play the stick the spidee mask onto the spiderman poster we sit down for a Happy Birthday song. Now he can eat his cake and ice cream. Elijah was in cake heaven.

Elijah was happy with his party and his gifts. It was a great day. Today we are planning a trip to Kangaroo Jacs to go jolly jumper crazy. This place has ten or more jolly jumpers all in one place. You pay a fee and the kids go from jolly jumper to jolly jumper.

Now this Hotgirl is off to do what all SAHMs do, lay on the couch!

One night in ER

Last night was rough! Not the kind of rough that is self-inflicted like doing something stupid after too many drinks but rather the kind of rough that breaks your heart into a million pieces while sitting with your child in an emergency room.

Before I go any further let me assure you he is okay.

Elijah and I headed to the ER at 8pm on Friday as he was talking like he had golf balls in his throat and his tonsils were so swollen we couldn't see the back of his throat.

He didn't complain of any soreness and didn't have a fever so we didn't notice this problem until it had gotten so bad.


The triage nurse did a strep swab of Elijah's throat, which later came back negative. The admitting nurse almost choked when she saw Elijah's tonsils and said she had never seen tonsils THAT swollen.

Way to make me feel better lady.


The wait in the ER was tremendous, but Elijah was a trooper only fussing a bit after being there for an hour and a half and finally falling asleep in mommy's lap.

We were brought to an examining room around 10pm where Elijah could watch a show on the tv and curl up with a blanket on the bed. He seemed content.

The doc came in an hour or so later and did the usual million questions and then looked at Elijah's tonsils which he agreed they were quite swollen. Elijah would have had to be admitted if there was an abscess or if the tonsils got anymore swollen blocking his air way.

The doc had the supervising physician come in to examine Elijah. She decided that a cat scan should be done on him to make sure there was nothing lurking behind Elijah's tonsils as they could not see past the swollen glands.

This meant he would have to have an IV in order for them to administer the dye for the x-ray.

This is where the really heart wrenching moments begin. It took the nurse three separate pokes to put an IV in Elijah. He screamed each time they stuck him and at one point angrily told the nurse to "Get it out!"

I felt terrible and wanted to cry, but didn’t' want to upset him anymore than he already was. The kid was terrified. I was ready to tell the nurses that they had to find another way if this third needle stick did not in fact 'stick', but luckily they got it. I had had enough let alone Elijah.

He rested a bit more until they took us to the CT-Scan area. He was a bit scared at first of the big 'donut' they were going to put him in, but the Doc assured him it was not going to hurt. He seemed to calm down. I could not stay in the room while they ran the xray machine due to baby girl Samantha but the doc said he did great.

We went back to our room to wait for the results, which luckily came back negative. Elijah finally fell asleep. At one point his breathing was very labored and I alerted the nurse who checked his oxygen levels, which were normal. He was having to work harder to breath.

The doc ordered a shot of steroids to reduce the swelling and prescribed antibiotics if it was bacterial. We don't know for certain WHAT he has other than that the swelling is due to his body fighting off some kind of infection.

We got home at 3AM tired and ready for sleep. Elijah gladly went to sleep waking just once crying from discomfort but quickly went back to sleep.

Elijah and I slept in until 9:30. He seems much better. Daddy and Gabriel have gone to get Elijah's medicine and birthday cake.

We are going ahead with Elijah's 4th birthday party today. He seems well enough to celebrate.

We are so grateful that he is okay and that his party was not ruined by his almost having to stay at the hospital.

If you get a chance, give Elijah a call to tell him how brave he is.

CHECK IN LATER FOR THE BIRTHDAY BLOG!

UPS Special Delivery!

Today was like any other day. It was pleasantly warm, the kids were running wild and my head was spinning. Don't worry, my head was not spinning like Linda Blairs in the Exorcist.

Just before noon there came a knock upon the door. Okay, the doorbell rang. It sounded better saying 'there came a knock upon the door', more Halloween like. I open the door to find a small cardboard box on the doorstep and the brown UPS truck pulling away. I wave to UPS guy.

I bring the package into the house and per the instructions I open it and place the item inside of the refrigerator.

Are you curious as to what the package was?

Now, Meghan and Liz if you are reading this, Michael has two words for you.............

Well do ya?

It's a Bugs Life and Mortimer Must Die

Ahhh. Naptime has arrived. It's that special, quiet time of the day when I can relax and kick up my feet.


Some of you might be aware that we have had a few uninvited guests visit our home. Don’t worry. It's not anything really scary like cockroaches. Knock on wood.

It's a running joke around here about whose coming for dinner next.

First it was the huge spider living outside the back door, then the slug I stepped on INSIDE the house one night. I was barefoot. I know. Ewww! Who the hell has slugs in their house!

Charlotte, the spider has since moved on, leaving behind three large egg sacs. At one point she blocked entrance to the back door by hanging one of her egg sacs right on the door frame. Michael knocked that one down, but the others remain. I wonder when those babies are to arrive. I really should get rid of them.

Our (hopefully) final uninvited guest arrived last week. Mortimer, the mouse was running wild in the kitchen. Yeah. We have it all. Mortimer is gaining in audacity; he ran right by Michael's feet!

At first I thought maybe I had imagined Mortimer as he didn't rear his ugly head again for a few days. No such luck and obviously my imagination isn't going to rid us of our little friend so off to the store for traps before Mortimer who may not be a Mortimer but rather a Marcy starts reproducing or before he finds my stash of chocolate. Either way Mortimer must go.

Let's just say that this is a warning to those of you planning to visit. Be aware you may come into contact with our little animal kingdom. It's okay. Just pretend like you are camping, I do. Oh and make sure to bring hard soled slippers in case you step on a slug. It's a nasty thing to step on barefoot.


I am happy to say that the weather is slowly but surely becoming more like fall. September in Virginia was unbearably hot, but now the mornings are cool and dewy while the afternoon is pleasantly warm. Fallen leaves are everywhere. It is nice to once again crunch leaves underfoot.

After dropping Spencer at the bus stop Elijah, Gabriel and I usually venture outside for a walk through the neighborhood. We count the display of pumpkins along the way. Down the street the Army center is constructing a new building. The boys like watching the diggers rip out trees and flatten dirt. I just enjoy getting out of the house.

Michael will be leaving for the sea within a few weeks. The days seem to be creeping by too fast. Beside email, I will be using this website to keep in contact with him. I will post pics of the boys and update him on all the happenings around here. If anyone wants to comment please sign up and do so. He would probably like that.

Until next time….I am off to lay on the couch and do what all SAHMs (stay-at-home-moms) do; eat bon bons!

Caution: Motherhood can be hazardous to your health

Motherhood is definitely not for the weak. Neither is fatherhood for that matter, but this is my perspective. I am a mother.

Weak you say? Yes.

A mother must not be weak of heart, stomach, patience or other gross-outs like being able to deal with poop, boogers and sippy cups found behind the couch months after the contents expiration date. Can we say chunky monkey stinky milk? Gross!

It begins, I suppose once the sperm and egg have their big meet and greet party. Being pregnant is a preparation of sorts, to toughen up those weaker traits in a woman; bodily fluids, ugly veins, not to mention the Niagara Falls at every moment. Not that peeing constantly is gross, it's more like an endurance test.

The problem: Even after 3 children I am guilty of all of the weaknesses. The preparation training has not been affective. The statement regarding motherhood not being for the weak? It does not pertain to me. Nope! I still cringe when dealing with any of the above listed gross-outs.

Last night two o'clock in the morning I hear someone in the boys' bathroom. I can see the light on under the door. I wait. Give it a few minutes. After a few minutes I cannot wait any longer and venture down the hall for a look-see.

The moment I open the bathroom door I see the problem. One of the boys has had an accident and not the kind that leaves yellow stains around the toilets. No this one is more like finger paint on the floor. Yuck!

For a split second I wonder to God why He didn't equip children with good self-cleaning skills. Oh. That's right. He did. That's what I am for. I scream inside my head: "But I didn't pass the prep test! I am not ready yet!"

It's two o'clock in the morning.

I get the boy into the shower as the 'finger paint' has spread to his foot, hand and leg. I thank God for Clorox disinfectant wipes. I want to kiss the feet of the people over at Clorox. I am not about to retrieve the bucket and Pinesol. It's two o'clock in the morning. I am half awake.

I succeed in cleaning up the mess without puking, get the boy in clean pjs and back to bed, for both of us.

Okay so back to sleep right?

Wrong. Now I cannot sleep. Dum-dee-dum-dee-dooo-dooo. My mind won't shut off and now I am forced to think of all the wonders of the world. Maybe if I think long enough I will come up with a handy invention which will make us rich. Then I can hire someone to clean the 'finger paint' messes.

3:00 A.M. Yep! Still awake and still tossing and turning.

3:45 A.M. Almost asleep, but no! I open my eyes and my other son is standing before me. Wholly Shit! Scared me half out of my wits, which are pretty much worn thin at this point anyway.

"Mommy my bed is scaring me"

"Okay. Let's go see" and to the boys' bedroom we go. I put that boy back to bed and of course just like his father he is soon fast asleep. He even snores like daddy.

And still, I am awake.

It does end. I eventually fall asleep.

Today will be interesting. I have a meeting at ten o'clock. I may fall asleep there. How many cups of coffee can a pregnant woman safely drink in one morning? I don't know, but one cup better do it! My eyes are going to pop out!

Patience is a virtue

Yesterday was uneventful. Oh wait. Did I say uneventful? That was a lie.

I did get my haircut and I don't really like it. That's okay. I am picky that way. It will grow on me. I hope. There is always Goodie products to carry it away. Away up in a pony tail! The bangs keep hanging in my eyes. *sigh*

Kids. They bring you joy. They also bring their parents grief. The joy does out weigh the grief. At least I hope it does.

Yesterday as I went up into the bedroom to retrieve a bobby pin to keep the annoying bangs out of my eyes, I came upon a disasterous scene.




Let me digress for a moment.

The movers damaged husbands dresser. His bottom drawer wouldn't close all the way. We left it that way until we could get a replacement, one that would go with the set, which wasn't going to be easy because our bedroom set is old, a hand me down from the parents.

Now of course leaving the bottom drawer open just a bit was not a problem for us. It was not aesthetically pleasing, but no one was going to see the unpleasantness except my family.

The lesson for today is: Don't leave bottom drawers open for little ones to stand in. It's a safety hazard and it will make a mess and break your dresser. No one was hurt. Not by the dresser or angry parents.

And husband was pissed. I laughed. Ran to get the camera. Wrong. Husband was not too happy about my amusement to the situation.

I received 'the look' and a comment: "You would not be laughing if it was your dresser". That is a correct assessment. I would also not be laughing.

Dear husband fixed the dresser. The bottom drawer even closes now. I guess it was a good thing. We moved the bedroom furniture around and it looks better. Things worked out.

We tried to sell our washer and dryer during the big neighborhood garage sale, but no one seemed to need a used washer and dryer. :(

I ventured out to some of my neighbors sales and did find a few girlie things and one lady gave me her phone number regarding a Pappa Primo high chair. She said it was worth way more than she was asking. I said I would think about it. She could be lying.

Today Michael is on duty so it's just me and the boys. We had pancakes with candy corn faces. According to the three Commandos it was 'the best pancakes ever mommy! '

Maybe they will remember that next time they consider destroying another piece of property.