it is coming...

as a kid Halloween was my least favorite holiday. I never like dressing up and I was always embarrassed for those who did, especially in college and when I was married.
But as a mom, I LOVE Halloween. We have so many Halloween traditions and this year will be starting a few more. (more to come) I am sure it is because I love to sew their costumes. I love candy and I love orange and white polka dots.
so when I walk into stores and they are pulling out their Halloween items I go crazy! Especially Target. I love when they get their Halloween items in. So far ours just has the candy.
I love seeing what Pottery Barn Kids does (photo above) love getting the catalogs with costumes.
Oh, it means fall is coming! I love it!
Any Halloween traditions you want to share before I start my list in a few weeks.

side note, does anyone else think it is funny that the blog spell check does not recognize the word blog?

out of the best books

Great mail day yesterday, thanks to Jill. A new fun box of books. My husband has almost read all the ones she has given us. (which is about 25-30 books) One day I wrote on my blog that I had to go to the books store and buy a book because we didn't have any on our shelves. That was when I bought the civil war books and To Kill a Mockingbird. (I am sure that would be like me hearing someone say, "I need to go to the fabric store and buy some fabric because I need a project")
The quote on the very cute, well designed card said

"A home without books is a body without a soul"

Jill thanks for giving our home a soul! We love it and appreciate you thinking of everyone in our family.

Love that library

I have fallen in love with the library. Not the building itself, (the one by our house is kind of old and small) but the whole concept. I often fill my 50 book limit. I love going in the library and finding a subject I like and then pulling about 10 books in that area. Last night I was in a civil war/ craft mood. Funny combo huh.
Here is what I picked up last night after leaving the BORING PTA meeting early.
I wish I had been taking photos of my stash more often because I think is so represents what I am interested in at the time. So of course I started a smugmug gallery to journal what I check out.

I keep the large stack by my bed and flip through them while the girls are in the bath, while eating breakfast or when I just have a minute. I never read them all cover to cover but love to flip through them. Last night I read the incredible story of Abraham Lincoln (my favorite president in case you are curious) and the dream he had that he would be murdered. His whole presidency he always felt he would be killed.

So, two questions?
Do you love and take full advantage of your library?
and if you don't use Smugmug tell me why not.?
(Jill and I were just saying the other day how can bloggers not use smugmug)

9 lives

this soupie* has 9 lives. this is the third time i have had to back track on a walk or redrive it to find Sally Jane's purple soupie. At 4:30 pm I found it today after redriving my route. It was in the middle of the road and been runned over all day. We will see how it does after the wash.

*soupie= the name for our families blankies. yes, I did say family. Everyone in our family has their own blanket, even Jeff (and his is by far the best, we all fight over using his)

Pin Cushion

today I have been doing a lot of sewing and monogramming. Sally Jane (17 months) spent some time by me and the sewing machine. What was so funny was her watching me take the straight pins out of the fabric and putting them in my mouth while I was sewing.
I can only imagine what she must have been thinking.

"Of all the times my mom has told me not to put things in my mouth,
and she is sticking pins in hers"

Edit*** found this on allsorts

Love that commissary

Jeff found the deals of deals at the commissary last week. 24 bottles of water, 25 oz each, for $1.99. Hello food storage. He went back the next day and about 15 flats. I finally feel like I am on my way to start my emergency supply.

First day of second grade

Today was Annie Kate's first day of second grade. What a great day full of traditions and memories.

She of course woke up early, made her own lunch and breakfast. (not a often occurrence) We crimped her hair and ironed her clothes. I raced to get the kids in the stroller to walk to school (so nice to live so close) and a knock on the door with 6 kids wanting her to walk to school with them. Prayers have been answered. We had a large group of kids out front and the excitement was contagious. Caroline walked the whole way there holding Willy's hand. It was so cute!

Annie Kate seemed ok, not too nervous. We took the photos out back on the deck so she wouldn't be so embarrassed in front of the kids. I was the only mom who made her stand in front of the sign out front of the school.

We got to the front of the school and just kind of stood there. I got a little teary, she tried to be strong and I have her a big hug and a kiss on the lips. She wiped it off and said, "Mom!" She ran off into the school and then seconds later she was back again for another hug. Just like in the movies. Such a great memory!

I then went for a little walk and met up with some friends at Starbucks for a little "Boo Hoo Breakfast" (they both had boys in Kindergarten) Walked over to the craft store and then headed home. ( I was pleasantly surprised at my mileage. The Garmin has been out of juice so I didn't know how far the route, Jeff tracted out for me, was until today)

Annie came running out of her school right on time with a wonderful 7 year old grin. She said the day was good, a little lonely. She ate lunch by herself as well as being alone at recess. She said she didn't meet any new friends, but tomorrow she plans on telling everyone she is from Tennessee hoping that will increase her chances. (so funny)

We decorated the door and made cookies for her return home!

What a blessing it is to be a mom. I hope she has many wonderful fun memories as I did growing up about the beginning of school.

Here is a list of my elementary school teachers. How many of yours can you name?

• Kindergarten Mrs. Paradise
• First - Mrs. Tillman
• Second - Mrs. Sumner
• Third - Mrs. Watkins
• Fourth - Mrs. Chalekian (best ever, I even sent her a wedding invite)
• Fifth - Mrs. Rankin
• Sixth - Mrs. Murray

Blessings and Buses

tonight was a wonderful night before the first day of school. We did our annual "Daddy Daughter" blessings. I must say that it is amazing how silent Caroline became. I did not think she would sit still, but she did not move a muscle. Afterward she turned around and gave Jeff the biggest hug! Annie Kate was excited to get a blessing from her Dad, because I think she started feeling the nerves of the first day along with being new.

After the blessings we heard a strange noise at the door and believe it or not the "Magic School Bus" found our new home and dropped off a special surprise.

Annie Kate got a special box to hold all of her hair stuff {she is finally caring about what her hair looks like} along with her own shampoo, rubberbands, brushes etc. She also got the curling iron with three rods that makes your hair wavy (or look great like my friend Michelle's). She has been wanting one for a long time, amazing how the Magic School Bus knew that.

The girls each got new PJ tops (the bottoms are cut out but not finished yet, dang I can't do everything!) These were the ones I had ironed on their names on the back.

Annie Kate seems so brave tonight. Her prayers were sweet and praying for lots of new friends and praying for the ones she left behind (Glastonbury Gang she misses you!)

A new year begins! 2nd Grade here she comes!!

Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday Elisa. We celebrated at our home just for you with an "E" birthday party. Wish you could have been there!

Renaissance Festival

I really have no idea where to begin on posting about our big activity of the day. I have many photos that I could put on her but must refer you to our gallery with them all.
I had seen online (thanks Stacy for the Gocitykids.com hint) that today was children's day at the Renaissance festival. I thought it would be fun for the kids to go.
Our family went to one every year in NM growing up and my mom always found the greatest finds there (ie the coveted dough Christmas ornaments)
So, I did a little convincing to get Jeff to go. I am seriously laughing right now while I am typing because I don't know what to say. It is times like this I wish Jeff had a blog, because his take on the event was so funny.
I will make a list of what we saw and did.

• adults riding on elephants
• people gnawing on turkey legs
• jousting
• Annie Kate got chosen from the audience to be in Robin Hood's play. Photo was taken for the local paper and she received a ccertificate for her performance.
  
• many people with a wooden or pewter cup hanging from their belt ready to be filled with beverage throughout the day
• a very cool may pole
• candle making and hand waxing. (it is where you dip your hand in wax and make a statue of your hand
• lots of men in velvet tights
• a place where you could buy a hard boiled egg wrapped in thin sausage dipped in nuts, and the line was long!
• men in full body armor walking around. It was so hot!
• and walking out we saw the festival's king and queen and people running up to take photos. ok so I took their photo but I was not running to do so.
  

Jeff said if he was to make a recipe for today he would say take a little J.R.R. Tolkien, mix a bit of Goth, a sprinkle of Marilyn Manson, a pinch of peter pan and a speck of dungeons and dragons. It was an interesting crowd for sure, but we soaked it all in and the girls had a GREAT time!
mom it was a little more intense than the one I remember going to.

Has anyone ever been to a Renaissance Festival?

Annapolis

Today after our Renaissance Festival, we went over to Annapolis and had a great time. We had yummy italian gelato, recomened by a neighbor, walked the streets, saw the building that was once the nation's capital. (did anyone else know that Annapolis was our Nations Capital for about 9 months? I sure didn't) We loved seeing all the cadets in their white walking the streets. We found the Jeffrey Building. We took the Harbor Queen for a water tour of the Naval Academy and to see some of the homes on the water. It was a wonderful way to end our busy day.
More Annapolis history to come on our D.C. blog

Sneek Peek

Today we went to the open house for AK's new school. It was great because the new kids were the only ones allowed in the building for the first 30 minutes, which gave you time to meet with the principal and be the first one in the classroom to meet the teacher. brilliant idea!
Annie Kate was excited to find our her school has lots of after school clubs like basketball, knitting, craft club and many others.
She was excited about having lockers in her classroom. They are these old yellow metal lockers. They took the doors off, but it is still kind of fun.
When we got in the teacher had a to do list for them, write their name on the chalkboard, type some information in the computer, check the surprise in their desk. They each had a handwritten note in there from their teacher.
Annie Kate had a made a special note for her teacher, that she hung up on her door as soon as AK handed it to her. We also made caramel apples today with the girls and made one for the teacher, a little play on giving your teacher an apple.
I think it is going to be a great year!

had to get my fix

last week I found the Goodwill. I was seriously going through withdrawals going two months without going to a thrift store.
I found some great things. Great clothes for the girls. But the above photo is my total find for $1.99. It is painted and signed on the back by the artist. It is of George Washington and his dog.
I repainted the frame and think it looks so much better. (the photo makes it look kind of pinky red , but it is really a dark red)

I love good thrift finds.
Here some of my other finds of the day.

Does anyone know the awesome story of Pres. Washington and his dog?
Here is great book to teach your kids.

We had to go back for more.

We went back today to get more peaches, we had ran out. And after spending an AWESOME night at the Davis' house with the yummiest, peach pie, we had to go back for more.
So the girls and I ran out this morning.

• we got huge box of peaches, white and yellow
• more fresh tomatoes
• weather was not too hot
• girls got ice cream sandwiches
• the farm dog at Sally Jane's, wrapper and all
• we pooped out on going for the blackberries
• Caroline probably bit into at least half a dozen peaches she found on the ground while picking. Sure hope they don't have video cameras on the far
• Annie Kate washed her hands after using the bathroom
• and my large calves didn't give me too much trouble with all the walking, hee hee!
  

my dad

what more can I say, I love this most recent photo of my father. If you have ever met my dad, what do you love most about him?

Spencer I love this photo, it is so amazing, one for the books for sure! Thanks for taking it.

Family Tradition

The other day when I was opening a new jar of peanut butter I remembered something my mom and dad used to do when I was a kid. I don't know if it was something they did growing up (did they even have peanut butter growing up?) or if they started it when they got married. But they used to write notes in the peanut butter and then close it up for everyone in the family to find.
It was so fun to remember and start again with my family. I wonder how long it will take for someone to find this one.
Mom, if you read this tell me how you started this, I would love to know. And I hope you don't feel old by the peanut butter comment, but I would love to know that too.

The Family Stone.

My friend Amie came up with the brilliant way for disciple and reward system in her home. We have adapted it to fit our family.
Each girl has their own jar, that they earn glass stones during the week. Each stone is worth a different among.

• blue is worth one stone
• purple is worth two and is only earned when doing something that causes what we call in this house as "sister power" getting along with or helping out your sister
• white is worth five stones and very hard to get
• orange stone is a negative 5 stones. Having those in your jar can put you way back

We have a black bucket that has all different kind of treasures (junk) in it. Mostly from the dollar store, although is there is something in there right now the girls are trying to earn enough for. (I wonder when they will figure out if they both go in on it they could get it.)
On Monday nights after FHE we pull the bucket down and they get to buy something with their stones. Each treasure has a price tag.
We have done this for about a month and it has been life changing for helping AK with the move and helping the girls get a long.
This week AK bought the plastic bubbles. We had a blast! We used every tube to the very end. We had contests of who could blow the biggest bubble. I have to say I have never seen a better spent $.99!
Do you do any kind of marble/stone jar concept with your kids?

I again can not thank Amie enough for her brilliance in this! Jill was also a huge help in helping adapt it to my family.

Everything really is pink!

On our way home from the Ribbon outlet I saw this sign on the road for this restaurant. I learned from a friend Tara B. In Nashville don't judge a restaurant by the cover. She had taken me to the greatest "Meat and Three" that looked like a dive, but was oh sooo yummy.
Anyway we stopped just to get a scoop of ice cream, none of us were even hungry. You can imagine my joy inside when all the seating was 1. original from the 50's (love vintage) and 2. they were PINK vinyl booths and swivel chairs. This restaurant was awesome, still had the soda fountain, they have their own live turkeys in the back to make their turkey sandwiches, they make all their pies everyday. The center of the restaurant was a big bar with all pink swivel stools all around. The light fixtures were awesome. I don't know if you can see them very well in the photo, this might be better.
The kids were a little crazy so I didn't get to take many photos, but it sure was fun. It just never hurts to stop and have an adventure.

Ribbons, Ribbons and even more Ribbons.

So today the girls and I went about 45 minutes north to the most awesome ribbon outlet. (thanks to a blog reader whom I have never met that emailed me to give me the scoop, talk about "good email"
I had a friend who had been visiting from Utah go out there last week and she showed me her stash and I could resist no longer and so made the trip up.
It was INCREDIBLE. I was amazed. It seemed like the day we went all the specials were half off.
AK and I found one box that just had loose ribbons, everything else is on the spool, that was as much as you could shove in a bag for $.50, yes.. Cents! We were laughing so hard shoving the ribbon in. When I got home I counted 30 yards in just one bag.
I found some great deals for 50 yards for $3.00. The girls spent most of their time shoving packing bows in a grocery bag for fifty cents.
I got a bolt of 60" wide mustard yellow upholstery fabric with embossed bees for $4.00 for the whole bolt! It probably has 12 yards.
It was so much fun, the girls had a blast picking out ribbon packages for ten cents. I really could go on and on like my 100 yards of red velvet for $1.00.
It was a great find and a great day!

Back to school clothes

I know this is a little late coming considering most of your kids have started school, but I am finally adding a kids clothes line on my sidebar. There are a lot of darling kids clothing companies that i have only been able to find in the south. A lot are catalog only or by buying through a rep. Which I think is great because they are so unique.
So enjoy the new links, more coming. I will finish the rest of my revamp this week. Yes, the craft links are coming back. I didn't realize anyone looked at those.

Pink Email.

If you signed up for the Pink Christmas, Girlfriend Give & Get, you should find an email in your inbox today. If you do not have one, then please email me.

It must have appeared to someone at church that I was wearing this shirt today because someone said something so funny to me today.

As I was walking out the door of church this girl came up to me and said,
" I love to see that you wear skirts all the time"

Which if you see me any day of the week I am always wearing a skirt, but then I realized I was at church and everyone was wearing a skirt, so why was she saying this.
she continues.

"I just love seeing someone else with big calves wear skirts!"

So I walk away and say "oh thank you" and start laughing.
When we get in the car I tell Jeff about the story and see the girl walking away from the church and her calves seriously look like Yosemite Sam, WHAT I look like that!

are you kidding me! Where do these people come from.

When we were at the Smithsonian the other day, a lady grabbed our elevator before the door shut and said,
"I was in the bathroom with your daughter and she didn't wash her hands"
and then walked out of the elevator. I ask Annie Kate if she washed her hands and she said no. I told her please next time wash your hands so the hygiene police don't come after me again.

Are you someone who says things to strangers? or do you keep your comments to yourself?

Sunday.
In our ward they do the announcements after Sacrament meeting. It is a brilliant concept. One everyone is there and it doesn't really distract from the purpose of the meeting.
So, today we met in the gym because our chapel was getting painted this week. They had also repainted the basement, which is where we have primary. During the announcements they said, "there still seems to be having paint fumes, so for the sake of the children the rest of the meetings are cancelled, Have a great rest of the day with your families"
After the meeting the man who announced this came up to me almost laughing because he said the look on my face was memorable. He said you looked like you won the lottery.
It was a fun surprise, although we were excited for the rest of our meeting Jeff was teaching the WW lesson and I was teaching primary. But we sure did enjoy coming home

of note. got sustained to teach R.S. and be on the enrichment committee. really excited.

Annie squared!

This is my daughter and my roommate from college, Emily G's daughter Annie!
We met up tonight and I swear these two were separated at birth. My daughter loves her daughter and they just met a month ago.
Jill wrote today about old friends. There is such a truth to it. Friends that you can not see for 10 years and you still feel like you live next door to each other on the 6th floor of S hall.
I feel so blessed to have them.
Em. Thanks!

Best day so far!

this is what Annie Kate said about our day today. We went to the quarterly White House Garden tour. It was unbelievable. We were yards from the oval office. Now that it is so hard to get access to the White House this is such a treat. It was surprisingly easy to get tickets.
We loved seeing the secret service, the Chidren's garden with the handprints of the different president's handprints, the tree swing of the Kennedy's, Pres. Bush's car (BMW) with the Texas plates, longhorn and W bumper sticker. It was such an amazing day.
You can see the 180 photos I took here.
I will put more details soon on our D.C. blog

we followed the tour with a yummy lunch at Cosi and hitting just one Smithsonian Museum. Ohhh we love this place!

on the gymboree hunt.

***EDIT*** it took 2 hours and 11 minutes and the shirt is found. Huge thanks to Heather R. I am so excited the outfits will be complete. Boy gymboree should hire our blog system out to do some shopping for them.

if anyone finds this shirt in a gymboree store in a size 8 or 9, EMAIL ME! I am on the hunt and can't find it anywhere. It by far is one of my favorite outfits. I have the matching outfit for Caroline and the bottoms for AK but just need the top!
The store does not have a search system so I thought "hey I am going for the blog connections.!"
summer safari line item #240145278

pink tape.

I picked this up at the store tonight and was having panic attack and a million things running through my head. Those are moments when I want to call Stacy S. when I find a product made for something total not for crafting but it works perfectly.
I don't even know what hair tape is used for. But I rushed home and started taping envelopes shut with it, making cards with it. It has a fabric feel and a rick rack, pinking edge.
Oh the possibilities. Pick some up in the hair isle and then let me know what you come up with and I will do the same.
If the company was smart they would make it in every color and sell it at the craft store!

and if anyone knows what hair tape is for I would love to know.

{Ellle Brooke & Luke}

I love this sweet photo of my nephew and niece.

love those catalogs.

today I got one of my favorite kids clothing catalogs. Although I have never ordered from them. (I found many of their clothes at goodwill and garage sales in Nashville) I just love getting their catalog in the mail. It is free and so darling. If you are looking for a special occasion dress they have great ones too..
You can order the catalog here.

Darling thanksgiving smocked bishop

Love this Pumpkin Mary D.and this pink and black witch is so cute! she has green and black stripped tights.

Is this really my life?

this week I have said to myself often, "is this my life?" We live in such an amazing neighborhood and I want to never have any regrets that I didn't soak it all in. This past week AK has been doing a craft camp at Michaels craft store. So in the mornings we walk down to the craft store. Today worked best having AK use her scooter.

We drop AK off and one morning I went walking around the lakes then sat at starbucks and had a yummy tangerine slushy, another day I met up with another mom and walked to the park with my girls and her twins, today i walked to the post office and sent off some good mail, oh this one was good!

then realized we had lost SJ's soupie and backtracked to find it.

then found CB's new shoe lying in the road. Oh Jeff would have freaked if we would have lost that.

We then picked up AK and walked across the street to see the movie Cars.

Then after the movie went outside and had lunch on the corner diner outside.

It is so dreamy being able to walk everywhere. We love it.