trick or treat.

carving the pumpkin.



turning on the scary music.

visiting the scary guy display down the street.

donning the costume.

trick or treating with friends.



a clear. balmy. starry night.

kids running everywhere.

tricks and treats in the air.

(picture courtesy of meme)

candy. candy. candy.

this is what halloween is all about.

for oh beehive.

thanks. thank you. thanks.

for the guitar. she takes it to bed with her....

5.

today. someone turned 5.

she was so excited.

thinking of all the things you can do when you're five.

she started off early and didn't stop telling me all day what she could do now that she is five.

laundry.

cooker.

ride her bike faster.

jump higher.

trick or treat.

lift her brother.

go to kindergarten.

go to bed all by herself.

get married.

love a llama.

walk twinkle.

be scary.

be big.

grow.

take care of her brother.



play all by herself outside.

read.

write.

color.

drive.

climb higher.

a busy day.

a trip with the other yulie to see ina garten, the barefoot contessa. she's my favorite food network chef and she was fabulous, of course. lovely in person and her new cookbook is beautiful.

today. someone turned 5.
time to play outside.

a halloween trick-or-treat party at daddy's work.

playtime with friends.

present opening.

dinner at her favorite play place and

home for cake and icecream and new stories.

she was so happy to be five.

"we can be five together, mommy! together!"

alone again.

all our company is gone. left today. the house is quiet (well, as quiet as it gets with littles).

it was a fun, but stressful week.

the symphony.

a football game.

a birthday party.

a halloween party.

surgery.

dance class.

could we have packed more in? doubtful. we had a good visit. the littles loved that mimi and poppy were here. they snuggled in each morning. read books and played and showed off. were so sad when they weren't here after school.

"where are they?" they ask.

"areplane!" he keeps shouting and pointing at the sky.

well see them soon.

wordle.

i love wordle. so much fun.

on a crazy but enjoyable and good food delivered by friends, post-surgery, pull your life and senses back together kind of day.

red.

the day i have been dreading. dreading. for months. came and went today.
eye surgery. on a two year old.

it was worse on us. he was nervous. but really unaware. didn't like the gown. wanted to wear his sister's flowered rain boots. wanted to chew on the iv. took elmo and blanket with him to surgery.



but he did great. he charmed the nurses. they wanted to make a video of what a good patient he was. the hospital and doctors and nurses were fabulous.

we survived. had lots of friends and family at the hospital as well as our pastor. to support us. it meant more than i can write. the calls and prayers and hugs were of a great comfort. it's difficult to go through this on your own. we are lucky to have such wonderful friends and family. thank you. from us and him.

he looks worse for the wear. bright red eyes. a tad bit crabby. tired. but his usual happy-go-lucky self. we are blessed.

mosey on over.

it was a cowgirl kind of day.

a girl turning 5.

a cowgirl theme.

a birthday party.



friends.



grand parents.

god parents.

the best of the best.

littles. lots of littles.



cake.


treats. games.



laughter and giggles.

a pretty day.



bandanas and sheriff badges.

i love an old fashioned type party. goofy games. imagination. homemade. i hope the thought comes through.

presents. a guitar from her favorite oh beehive and a barbie computer from her auntie juju and uncle john. a princess dress. and more.

uncle john manned the pinata. and guarded the cake. (worried that it would disappear without him having a layer...!) i think he had more fun than the littles.

juju worked cake and crowd control. socialized and flitted. did what she does best!

oh beehive created and manned the games. she is certainly handy with scissors and construction paper...



they are all the best. the best. creative. fun. caring. part of the family. couldn't have pulled it off without them.

and she. she was so happy to turn five. splendid she said. "splendid mommy".

too comfortable.

this appears to be a little too comfortable (at least for me to see) for him.

he seems to be a natural. sitting in a bar. at a table. on a stool. watching college football. with a beverage in front of him. can't wait until he's 21.

and no. don't worry. the beverage was mine. he had a shirley temple.

my vote is cast.

it's a done deal. done. can't change my mind. can't take it back...not that i would. i've voted. i'd much rather vote on election day. but. i'm working the election. not at my precinct. so i can't vote on election day. oh well. i'll still wear my i voted sticker.

we waited in line. littles were very excited. i was excited. they were chanting. talking. saying go.........! people were excited. interested. lined up. only a 32 minute wait...

luckily the littles quieted down when the line meandered in. class c felony you know. to electioneer. so no pictures of the inside. that's illegal, too. only the shot from the outside. boring. but. tells the story.

then it was off. to get yard signs. our neighbors love it....but it's all in good fun.

for you, oh beehive.

spotted on the streets. a few good ones.

not sure why.

but i think this site is crazy goofy.

they collect and post found grocery/store shopping lists. similar to post secret but not as dark and thought provoking.

seriously. who thinks of these things? the internet is a wonderful, wacky place.

here's one i love.

the red. the white. the blue.

(note to diane: just skip this entry!)

her: "can i go meet barack obama mommy?"

me: "sure. of course. someday."

her: "does he live by mimi and poppy?"

me: "he probably will someday."

her: "oh. does he go to the beach, too?"

me: "maybe."

her: "i thought so. does he like funland?"

me: "doesn't everyone?"

her: "who is that guy with white hair?"

me: "what? who?"

her: "the old guy with white hair. he looks like a zombie."

me: "that's not nice."

her: "he does. i saw it on scooby do."

her: "i am a patriotic."

me: "that's good. it's important to be patriotic."

her: "i love the red white and blue."

then she broke into song. her patriotic song. all about loving the red.white.and blue. i love that she's in-tune. that she's paying attention. i'll take her to vote tomorrow. she can get an i voted sticker. she'll be gaga for it.

fessing up.

i detest. hate. can't stand candy corn.

i buy it for my kids. my husband eats it. my mom loves it. but me?

i don't like candy corn.

disco duck.

no politics today.  

but did you realize that in 1976.  yes 1976.  this song was number one on the charts?  i have to admit i remember the song.  i remember dancing like a duck with my brother.  acting crazy. having fun.  laughing hysterically.

i remember.

no no no.

me - "i'll sneak a picture of him."

him: "no way mommy."

me: "ok no pictures"

him: "no pitures mommy! no pitures!"

me: "please?"

him: "nononononononononononono!"

him: "mommy!"

him: "NOOOOOOOOOOO PITURES MOMMY!"



so there was no picture (good at least) taking today. and he's only two. and he won't let me snap his picture anymore. what am i to do. a trip to the park and a popsicle didn't even buy me a picture.

she of course was posing away.