Halloween Costume Parade

Jackson's school had a little costume parade yesterday where the PreK and K students dressed up in their costumes and walked around the school. VERY CUTE! The older kids all stood around giving the little kids high five as they walked by. Jackson was BY FAR the most enthusiastic little high fiver you have ever seen. One girl called him a "real ninja" I am sure that made his day! You couldn't wear masks during the parade, so he has his on his head.

Who Wants to See. . .

MY PUMPKINS!!




I say mine because I did them while the kids ran around the yard and repeated time and time again, "Mommy, that looks beautiful, you are doing a really great job!" Sweet things!!!

I don't think they compare to last year's, but I have to say, I didn't have a template for the Cardinals Pumpkin, so I had to make my own, and I am pretty dang proud of that!

YUM!

Best dessert of my life, last night, Barrio Cafe, CARAMEL FILLED CHURROS with a Kahlua sauce, chocolate sauce and a scoop of ice cream! I wish I would have had my camera, DELICIOUS!

P.S. Their $12 margarita probably has $12 worth of tequlia in it-HOLY STRONG!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I am now going to see a neurologist in a few weeks, maybe they will figure out the problem, but I am not holding my breath, TRUST ME!

2. We went to the State Fair this weekend to see Dora, we never saw Dora, but we did end up with about a million and one stuffed animals because if you head all the way to the back of the fair, EVERYONE WINS or WIN EVERY TIME, so even Tyler made out with quite the loot. Thanks Meg and Jim for a great morning.

3. Jackson had an enlarged lymph node, went to Urgent Care a few weeks ago, and they said it would go away, it didn't, it got bigger, so I took him to the pediatrician, she said that the lymph node was fine, but that he had a sinus infection, he started his antibiotics, and 3 doses later, the lymph node was no longer enlarged, in fact Pat and I couldn't even find it! Obviously it was infected, but two doctors told me no! Why do I even waste my MONEY!???

4. I bought two HUGE pumpkins at Fry's! I have put off buying them because I HATE CARVING THEM, and I carve them EVERY YEAR because Pat is never here! BLAH!

5. Pat's car battery died on Sunday. This was the end of the world to me. He took it into the dealership and they recharged it. Apparently the end of the world will be when it dies again because they didn't just put a new one in! STUPID CAR DEALERS!

6. I LOVE holiday/special cartoons during the holidays. The Great Pumpkin is tonight and a new Monsters vs Aliens special airs on Wednesday!! HOORAY!

7. What do I want for Christmas this year-that is the question my kids ask me all of the time! In this economy, we are so blessed, honestly, but I would like a house to call my own, mainly so that I can buy one of the super cute address stamps that I always see at Write Ons, and I would like a suburban. I would also like for my back to stop hurting all of the time, and I would like for my medical bills to decrease by 90% next year!!!! I am not sure that I can unwrap any of these things, but these are my desires!

8. I would also like for Tyler to stop sucking her DAMN SWINE FLU FINGERS! Blah, it never used to bother me, it grosses me out now!

9. I have a really stressful week this week, what do you all do to cope with having a stressful week?

10. I don't know if you have heard of the Halloween Witch, but if you leave your candy out for her Halloween night, the candy disappears, and it is replaced by a toy. Great way to get the candy out of the hands of little kiddos!

Sequin Spotlight

Walking around the mall today, I saw this purse (BUT BLACK SEQUINS INSTEAD OF SILVER, just couldn't find big enough picture of it), and I immediately fell in love! Jackson told me to buy it, I told him I would have to ask Santa, he told me that he would tell Santa for me! Sweet thing, if only Santa believe in spending over $400 on a sequin purse. The salesgirl told me they only had TWO, Santa almost bought it on the spot! I LOVE IT! Even the name Sequin Spotlight is fun!

Santa knows that Mommy doesn't need another black purse! I wonder if it comes in brown because I really need a brown one!

Quite the Evening

I could NEVER be an attorney, I could never sit there with a straight face while people LIE, at the public hearing last night, I was huffing, puffing, rolling my eyes, putting my face in my hands, muttering comments under my breath, etc. I couldn't even fall asleep last night because questions and comments kept running through my head, questions I wanted answered, questions of people's sanity, questions of validity, etc. How do you ever turn that off and actually focus on your family? While I don't COMPLETELY forgive Pat for not paying attention to me when I speak, I certainly understand it a little better now. OMG, and the idea of an appeal and having to do it all over again, HOLY CRAP!

In other news, FUN new restaurant, Hula's Modern Tiki, across the street from St Francis on Central. It is a Tiki bar, the food is fab, the drinks are fun and fruity, and the patio was WONDERFUL last night. I highly recommend it. They even brought us a free round of drinks when the food was taking too long to come out, now that is service!!!!!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I still have excruciating stomach and back pain! Still going to doctors to figure it out, but I feel I have aged about a million years. I can feel the lines on my face forming each and every time I spend another minute in bed!

2. Ashley Simpson is a terrible actress. Watching her on Melrose Place makes me think I am watching some bad horror flick! AH! She just grosses me out!

3. Balloon boy, or attic boy, or playground boy. . .who knows where he really was, but when I thought he was up in that balloon. . .it intensified the stomach pain, and I thought I was going to have to call off Tyler's birthday party to sit and see what happened!

4. The pain from my stomach and back runs down the front of my right leg, sometimes it radiates into my shoulder!

5. I buy a $1 Diet Coke from McDonald's nearly every day-today, I FINALLY had an instant winner from their Monopoly Game, I was way too excited about my "Any Large Beef Sandwich"!

6. How excited am I that Bethenny, from the Real Housewives of New York, is PREGGO! (1) She can take her Skinnygirl Margaritas and SHOVE THEM and (2) I hope she gets REALLY FAT!

7. We went to Schnepf Farm this weekend, and this was the BEST picture we could get of the three kiddos together!



8. Jackson goes to the GI doctor this Friday, and I am nervous that they will want to try taking him off of Zantac completely. I always freak out about this a little before I go there.

9. Tyler's music teacher came up to me this week and told me that the act she puts on when I drop her off in the morning is just that, an act! She has a blast at school and is quite bright apparently (tell me something I didn't know)! When I picked her up yesterday, she was disappointed because she hadn't done her Color Bears! Um, all you have to do is ask honey, I am more than happy to let you finish your lessons!

10. The pain doesn't go away no matter what kind of drugs I take!

Tyler's Birthday Party

What a great time we had at the fastest birthday party EVER!

My AWESOME ice cream cone favors that were awesome, until people touched them, and the chocolate melted in the 100 degree temps, LOL!



Tyler chose this Barbie cake after The Little Mermaid Cake was no longer available at Target!



She had a primo seat directly in between James (her boyfriend) and Lizzy (the cool older girl that is Jackson's friend)! Doesn't she just look thrilled to pieces!



The kids all had a cake appetizer. . .




THEN THEY BROUGHT OUT THE MOUNTAIN. . .




complete with toppings!



Tyler had a great time, and she scored a lot of great loot! Thanks to all who shared with us on her special day!

NEW BLOG!

As if Karissa and I don't have enough going on in our lives, we decided to start posting all our Smokin' Hot Deals over here. . .she is on a roll, and has some great deals up, but I posted a pretty delicious one last night for all you Arizonans to enjoy!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I LOVE being able to open the windows. Sitting in the family room with the screen door open, listening to the trees rustle, and feeling the breeze, LOVE IT!

2. Recently we had a family photo shoot with Claire Beeler Photography! She managed to capture all of the shots I wanted. I am still debating what I am going to do with them, so no shots posted today, BUT I just love her, and she has my perpetual business.

3. Anyone been to Legoland or know anything about it?? Jackson desperately wants to go, and it seems to be as expensive as Disneyland, if not more, so I didn't know if it is worth it?

4. Whenever Jackson's school closes, it takes Monday and Friday off. That makes for a VERY long week for mommy. Tyler home Thurs, Jackson home Friday, all weekend, Jackson home Monday, Tyler home Tues, FINALLY back in school a week later. I am not a fan of this schedule. Today is the last day of this break, and I couldn't be happier!

5. I don't even know if I should share with you what a smoking deal I got on some gift certificates for Mary Coyle, MAINLY because many of my readers are invited to Tyler's birthday party, and I don't want you to think I am cheap, BUT I can't resist. I was able to buy $100 worth of gift certificates for $50. I can use them for the party, and I have my friend Tricia to thank-I think she needs a blog. She texted me Sunday night, and I thought it would just be too good to be true, BUT nope, I went yesterday, and the only restriction is that you can't use them the same day! Hooray!

6. Pat and I went to a commitment ceremony on Friday night. It was seriously one of the top ten evenings in my life. I haven't laughed so hard in such a long time. Good times, good memories, good friends!

7. I love FALL!

8. I am sick of coming up with things to make for dinner.

9. Tyler is a diva. She changes shoes and outfits twenty times a day. Decides what she will and won't wear. How can she be my child? I wear the same black pants and t-shirt almost every day. Maybe she is already embarassed by me and trying to do the opposite! She is the FIRST to compliment me on any new item of clothing I may get.

10. Jackson was GREAT about Tyler's birthday this year. Constantly saying, "Whatever Tyler wants, it's her birthday!" That's because he knows his is coming and plans on us saying the same thing for him all day!

Karissa's friend, Sarah, is having a Halloween Costume Contest, and it breaks my heart that there will only be two winners BECAUSE I think kids in costume are SOOOO STINKING CUTE, but here's my entry. . .I plan on using this picture to torture my kids until the end of time! One day they will claim to hate one another, but at this moment in time. . .all was right! If it helps me to win a prize. . .then the world is DEFINITELY RIGHT! HA!

Happy Birthday Mai-Tai!

Sweet thing just couldn't WAIT to make her entrance into the world, virtually no labor, although VERY PAINFUL because my epidural wasn't so helpful this time around, but she made her presence known, and I am not kidding when I say that she has done the same ever since. Shy and stubborn, emotional and wild, this little girl does NOT go unnoticed, and her blue eyes, well, they will get you every time! Happy 3rd Birthday Miss Tyler Gracie! You may never know that's not your name, but I like the one Jackson gave you better than the one we gave you!









We love you baby girl! Hope you have an absolutely WONDERFUL day! Our lives just wouldn't be the same without you and all your pink!

Albertson's

I am not a fan, but I picked up their ad this week, and I was pleasantly surprised to see all of the items on SALE! DO not buy anything that is NOT on sale because it is RIDICULOUSLY overpriced, but if you shop the sale, you will save!

My total was $48, look at all the stuff I got:

SMOKING DEAL

At Target right now, you buy FIVE Mott's Apple products (juice or applesauce), and you get a $5 gift card. I am usually skeptical of these deals because Mott's is more expensive than the Target Brand, BUT, right now the Mott's products are ALSO ON SALE, so they are cheaper than the generic juice and applesauce! I don't know, but I know will eat and drink these items up before their expiration date, so I plan on stocking up! Tyler was very excited about her pink (strawberry) applesauce in her lunch today! HOORAY FOR SMOKING DEALS!!!

Private vs Public

School that is! Be warned, this is MY opinion, it is not factual, just my OPINION!

It is of MY opinion that there are two, maybe three (I am on the fence about one), grade schools in the city that provide a superb education. SUPERB, like the best, nothing compares, they are in a class of their own, but they come with a hefty price tag and behaviors, comments and attitudes about money that I am not necessarily fond of. I will NOT dispute the education, it is THE BEST, and I will fight you until the very end of time about the quality of the education-it is most definitely worth the money, BUT, Jackson's attitude toward cost, money and the bank is something that I have not been overly impressed with lately! He tells me to go to the bank and get more money when I tell him that I don't have money for it. Which makes me laugh because anyone who knows me KNOWS that I don't go to the bank for cash, EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He asks me if I have a million dollars in the bank! Just annoying little comments that I am not impressed by, and I DON'T LIKE! So, is the education worth the price of your 4 year old becoming a snob??? I don't know!

So, that brings us to the matter of the rest of the schools in the city ranked Excelling and the "Other" Private Schools (NOT INCLUDING THE TWO OR THREE SPOKEN OF ABOVE!). I think ALL of these schools are completely, one hundred percent even in standing. Meaning, I think they are all equally as good or not so good. I don't think Private School teachers are better, I don't think Public School teachers are better. I think you come out of any of these public or private schools with the EXACT same education. What I think differs is the parent's attitude toward education in a private vs public education debate! BUT, do I need to spend money so that my kids are surrounded by people who are raised with the same mentality as me, OR do I want them to succeed even if they hang around people who have opinions or standards that are not my own? This issue is a hot topic in our house right now, SERIOUSLY! Pat and I only want what is best for our children, but we don't really know what that is! Anyone have any input on this: personal experience, research, etc.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I am in LOVE with the OxiClean Max Force Laundry Stain Remover Spray! I don't know who decided that white shirts for a PreK class was a good idea, but I would give anything for him to wear one of the grey shirts that I see the older boys wearing! AnYwAy. . .this stuff works AMAZING, you can spray it on, don't have to spot treat, and it pulls stains out like MAGIC, and if it has been through the dryer, it still works!


2. I have been doing a little research on extracurricular classes my kids could attend, and I am SHOCKED with all of the places that require your card be debited on the 1st of the month, every month, until you fill out the proper drop out form. It is like joining a gym. Was it a Friends episode where Ross tried to quit the gym, or was it another show!??? It makes enrolling them so difficult and expensive!

3. I really wonder what goes through people's minds when creating a birthday party guest list. Sometimes I get invitations from people to a birthday party, and I am like, "Miss So and So isn't even FRIENDS with my children!"

4. I am obsessed with Book Orders. I seriously love them! Book Fairs, I can take or leave, Book Orders, LOVE!

5. I got $60 worth of bathroom rugs at Target yesterday for $11! ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? This is why I am addicted to the Clearance section, and now my feet aren't cold when they hit the bathroom floor, WIN WIN!

6. I made Tyler a Fresh Beat Band t-shirt for her birthday. I have never done anything like it, but I think I did a great job, and I am proud of myself for doing something she will LOVE! Speaking of which, someone really needs to put together the Dora Bike we got her. . .maybe tomorrow!


7. Does anyone else LOVE the Southwest Airline commercials that talk with the Baggage Handlers who "love our luggage", invite the luggage to bring a friend, Bags Fly Free, etc? (REALLY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO DESCRIBE A COMMERCIAL, HA!) Anyway, I love that Southwest is promoting the Bags Fly Free because it is seriously such an annoying expense to pay for your luggage when flying a different airline!

8. I am DYING to see the movie Couples Retreat!

9. I just promised Tyler a cookie at Target if she didn't ask me for a snack again, WHY DOESN'T Target provided sugar cookies, they would be so much cleaner-the chocolate from the chocolate chip cookies ends up EVERYWHERE!

10. If you haven't yet, go over to my friend Cythina's blog or visit her 3Day Page to make a donation towards her 3Day Walk for Breast Cancer! I am so proud of all of her training and dedidcation! I wish I could have joined her this year, but maybe next. I think it would be such an awesome experience!

Because

Tyler does NOT know how to use the word "because", but something about the word SHE LOVES!!!! She knows there should be a cause and an effect, but she just can't get it right. Her misuse of the word makes me smile all day long. It is not at ALL annoying, like Jackson mispronunciation of the word does, pronounced "dewes", TOTALLY eats away at me.

Tyler will say things like, "I want breakfast because I want breakfast!" To some, maybe that's an appropriate use, to me, it just a reason to smile. She will say, "I want my doll with me because I am watching tv!" HELLO, the two aren't even related. "I want to stay home with you because I just want to stay home with you, and I LOVE YOU!" REALLY CUTE, but total misuse, there is no way the chica is staying home from school, she is exhausting me these days!

Colonoscopy

I didn't know what to expect. There were a lot of screaming matches between Pat and I last night over him sneaking food, and there were LOTS of tears this morning before the procedure actually occurred, but really, it was all in vain!

There are many different prep treatments for a colonoscopy. I would advise you all heavily to ask your GI doctor about the ALL PILL TREATMENT that I didn't know what available until yesterday when I already had my 4L container of VILE, disgusting, gross, disgusting cherry flavored salt water. It literally goes right through you. I thought I would be a champ because I have been having so many issues lately, so what's one more day in the bathroom. NO CIGAR, I was terrible, my butt burned, and I couldn't sleep because the growling of my stomach was keeping me awake!

However, the procedure itself, you don't even remember. They ask you to roll on your left side, stick some medication in and next thing you know Pat is talking to you as if you have been talking for 20 minutes. You can race out of there and eat (OK, that's a little dramatic, but I was able to walk into AJ's and get my sandwich)! The drugs they give you are an amnesiac and sedative (Versed and Fentanyl), so I would be talking, and completely forget what I was talking about. OR, I would tell Pat something, and you could just tell by the look on his face that I had told him 20 times!!!

Overall, the nurse saw me and KNEW that it was my first time, and now I get it. Once you have done it, you know there is absolutely NOTHING to be scared of. . .EXCEPT THE PREPARATION THE DAY BEFORE!!!!!

Colonoscopy is a misspelled word according to spell check! I really wish someone would fix that!