Hallowiener, Twenty-Ten

Did you know that one could create entire works of festive October art using mostly hot glue and copious amounts of duct tape? I started out with so many cute "Anthro" and "Krumpets"
(local deco shop) knock off ideas. I was ready and armed with my can o' Ralph Lauren glaze when I happened upon a cute set of colorful plastic trick or treat plastic pumpkins and went with less "Martha" and more "Walt". My homemade totem pole turned out kind of cute,I think.

I don't do well with scary. So I chose cute and kitschy. I used cheapie plastic cups for the door and threaded Christmas lights through them.

(My sugar boys after they carved some sugar pumpkins)

Little Matt jr. is quite the little artsy fartsy "Tim Burton" fan and wanted to go as the Mad Hatter this year after he found a sweet hat at Disney when we went in September. I took on the challenge of re-creating the desired effect from the forehead down. I found a khaki jacket in the women's section of the local D.I. , used an outgrown pair of khaki church pants, used fabric remnants for the rest of the costume.
(The socks and shoes were purchased at Target)
I then carefully and (not really) patiently dyed the jacket and pants through several processes. The little details like his gloves, lace on the jacket, ribbons, etc...etc....et(freaking)cetera, were put on with mostly hot glue and just a teenie tiny bit of thread.

***A special note on the costume: It turns out that I do have some reserve OCD's, as my favorite part was creating the arsenal of thread that covers the front of the Jacket. You can't see it in detail, but please be comforted in knowing that every spool of thread is in order within it's color family (on a standard color wheel chart)****

Michael's two favorite things in the world are Aliens and Robots. Thus the copious amounts of silver Duct tape which created his Alien Robot Costume:

Mason and McKay were technically my "low maintenance" children. Mason ended his three year tour of Spidey duty and opted to go as a Vampire. He and I butted heads a bit when he realized I was not going to go for the gory sort of blood sucker. McKay wanted recycle Michael's TMNT costume from the year before. However, twenty seconds before we were supposed to get in the car for the night's festivities, he changed his mind and wanted to put on a child sized 10 Superman costume. I had to pull out all of the stops and promise Santa would get him everything he wanted. I took a big gamble and relied on the short term memory of a three year old (which thankfully paid off)
Matt had the evening off which felt like a vacation for me as I usually hit the town as a single mom with my motley crew. We made most of our regular spots and treated the areas where both sets of grandparents live. The kids were able to hang with both sets of cousins and made out with a respective stash of candy.

We, of course turned in very tired. Yet, very very happy.

Long nap+Too much movie candy = Late night "quality time" with Mason

Toy Story 3 ended at 9 pm. By the time we got home, McKay had fallen deep asleep. Matthew and Michael were begging for bedtime. So while the older boys barely made it through prayer and dragged themselves on top of their bunks; Mason was jumping on the couch higher than a hoppy toad with wings.

Solving this issue wasn't a issue. The wind outside was blowing with Gail like force. Thus instigating CARPE DI-evening; Latin for: strong string, our cheapest kite, shoes on my little Red Bull with wings, and letting 'em go. Our cul de sac provided perfect track space for the itty bitty Gump as he was super excited to be allowed out in the middle of the road-a- "ruuuuuuning" . If it hadn't of been so windy, I would've put a parachute on him to see if it could've slowed him down.

Back inside the house, we made toast and sugar free hot chocolate. Mason and I sat and chatted for several minutes on the subject of "creation". Namely; the creation of trees (take some paper, draw a tree, plant it), the creation of the "good-est" candy EV'R!... A red cotton candy juicy drop pop!, the creation of toast.....which was when I decided to carefully pull out the video camera and press record. The following is about eight minutes of cuteness. If you choose to forgo viewing my precious moment, I understand. Yet, I would be remiss if I didn't grace my blog with Mason brilliantly counting to fifteen by way of 99 and taking a couple of detours in 40. So, for your viewing pleasure, Mason ("Hank the Tank Aaron William") at midnight:





After our chat, he asked me to read him a story. I told him to pick something out and lay down on the couch while I hurried and washed my face. I knew that the hot chocolate spiked with warm milk, buttery wheat toast, and one child dose of melatonin was bound to kick in. However, I assumed it would've taken more than the five minutes I was away for him to take to the tryptophan highway. This is what I found when I returned:

While my evening was more lively than I may have had energy for; I will be forever grateful for this breath of fresh air with my sweet middle child. Mason and I don't get those moments very often. But he and I really lived it up. This is what my life is about.

Thank you, thank you, my sweet sugar boy!

Jack Handey has some competition

I found a writing assignment in Matthew's backpack. It.is.awesome.

It reads (word for word) like this:

"Why I wouldn't Fly a Plane"

by Matthew Scott

I wouldn't fly a plane because I'd rather relax. Here are some other reasons why: It would be hard to understand it, like when it says, " Niner niner zero. Come in niner niner zero." I would probally lean over to my partner and say, "is your name niner niner zero?" Then I'd hit a flock of geese.

Lil Matt at Disneyland in September. His shirt says, "I Rock".

Indeed you do, Baby Matt, indeed you do.

Holy Crap-fty

My apologies to those out there if the following is soooo three blogs ago: I already posted this, but it was really vague and I thought I'd get over myself and come out with it since I will be having some surgery the next few months. I have ankylosing sponylitis; a chronic arthritic and autoimmune disease that means my immune system is attacking my spine, tarsal tunnel syndrome; which is like carpal tunnel only in the foot. My foot always hurts, is numb, is tingling, etc. Then there's dequervains tenosynovitis; which is the one I'm the most proud of, my badge of courage if you will. It's nickname is "mother's wrist", and is a form of tendinitis that makes my thumb sort of stick and my wrist balloons and my wrist has this rubber band sound. These conditions lead to recurring migraines, lupus, etc..etc...etc. It's been really really...really hard. Depression has definitely been a huge factor that I'm working through. I'm going to deal with this, tho. And one of the ways I'm going to survive and live in the moment is to make my home a haven a beautiful, comfortable haven for myself and my babies. I want Matt to come home from the stresses of his day and not continue to worry for me, bills, and our hyper kids. I usually don't craft. But now I do. Just like that. I've fallen off the organizational wagon. But now I'm back on. It's exciting. It's fun. And I'm pretty happy with what I've already completed. So after a visit to the local D.I., some paint, hot glue, and plenty of of calls to my brilliant decor bff, Erika Brendle ( really, visit her deco blog. it's amazing) , this is what I have so far:

It seems my cool picassa tagging isn't going to show, so the following are a media board, bread box, and wreath. The media board a magnet, white board, and cork board all in one. I did metal sheeting on top (covering it with strong plastic) and cork on the bottom covering it all with fabric I actually had in my posession).

The next is a Halloween wreath I re-did out of an ugly country style (homely) milk maid. I saved the poor gal from fashion faux pas and actually resurrected her by turning her into a ghost.

...These projects are super simple, but simple is what won't get me too excited so I won't do anything rash, like tiling a backsplash, or refinishing my kitchen table, or even worse....use my sewing machine *cue slasher movie "ree.ree.ree" sound....

Also, my dearies, my biggest fear is to be perceived as sickly. Sometimes, many times, I do feel crap happy. But I'm still very much alive and keep active and athletic. I only wanted to detail everything again so when I post about this stuff in the future, there will be little question as to what is going on.

Coming to terms with....

(Photo of me. Taken the day before I turn 34.

Headshot style photo credit goes to my four year old son, Mason)

Well hey, I may not make 34 look half good. However, I'm thinking that I may not make it look half bad, either. Have a happy 9th, everyone. I'll be spending it herding four children on and off a couple of airplanes sans husband who is traveling on business. He'll join us a few hours after we arrive at our hotel across the street from Disneyland. We're stoaked.

New Favorite Song of the moment

All About Your Heart, by Mindy Gledhill.

It's the one that Mindy Gledhill wrote for Stephanie Nielson, who used it in this Mormon message video.

It was written by the artist specifically for Nie Nie. But when I listen to it, especially now. I like to think it was written for me and the adjustments I continually get to make to my life because of this, this, this, and these...and being tested for other stuff too (also, we've decided against adopting). Sorry for being all linky and stuff. But why go through the work in explaining when Wikipedia has already done it for you?



I used to keep it secret because I was afraid of the compassionate service "nazi's" showing up at my doorstep. And I fear being anything less than a rockstar. But I'm getting over myself and working through it all emotionally. It's a slow process to get my head happy despite my body hurting.
But it is happening....so please don't cry for me, my Argentina's.


I may move on to another favorite song soon. But for now this is the one that is on repeat play on my computer, mp3 player, and in my head.

Mindy's concert is on October 8th in SLC. Tickets are only 8 big fat dollars. Me thinks I want to go. Who'd like to join me?

Organizers unite....

There are select few of you whom I know would appreciate this photo and the potential for greatness it bears for the future of my household. I hope you will share my excitement for what will be a great adventure for me in the next couple of days. I'll also need some words of encouragement and faith as the last few years living with five boys has turned me into an unorganized lush. These bins are my first step in getting clean and sober.

So please, would you all join hands with me now and recite this serenity prayer?:

Grant me the patience to organize the things I cannot change,
courage to donate the things I can,
and the wisdom to only "round - file" only when the children and spouse are away long enough to disguise what they are missing.

3 Month Haiku

Summer came and wet.
Too much to say, blog friends.
Schools' in~ two years nea'r (can I count that as one syllable?:).

....and I'm nearly diaper free.....

(Mckay potty training with a photo of a rainbow

taken about a week ago during the bless-ed summer storms)