Goodbye October

We have been so incredibly busy. Seriously. I'm beat. Plus, Noah is sleeping like crap again.
Over the weekend we re-did our little master bathroom. For such a small room, it took FOR-FREAKIN'-EVER! But, it's over and I think it's fabulous! I have been working on the Friends of Allie November newsletter which has taken up my time, as well. It's due to be released tomorrow. And, Halloween has us running all over the place! I've kept my kids away from candy for pretty much their whole lives. not anymore. Noah thinks Chocolate is the bomb and Anna loves suckers. so.much.candy.

Tomorrow, I am returning to the gym. It has been a long time. The last time I was there was June. Can you believe that crap? Anyway, I'm excited, with it being colder outside, physical activity is down to cleaning, which is alot, but not enough, soooo off the to the gym I (we) go. All I can think about is how the kids are going to get sick now. Mark my words. Brian and I are going on Weight Watchers again. I'm up about five pounds, I better do something now before it's too late!!!!!! (like stop eating Halloween candy)
P.S. Do you see how close I am to 10,000 hits! WOW!
Anyway, lots of pictures for you.

This picture was taken on Sunday at a Halloween party at my Mom's.

pretty Belle. (and yes, you had to call her Belle.)

Handsome Bob the Builder. (and yes, you had to call him Bob the Builder.)

Anna before school this morning. She had a very exciting, fun filled day at preschool today. Noah was a little jealous that she was dressed up and he wasn't. I let him get dressed early and wear his costume to the Post Office and to pick Anna up from school.



Helping decorate cupcakes. We were heading to Brian's Grandma's retirement community to share cupcakes and show Great-grandma their costumes.



Great Grandma wound up taking the kids trick or treating. Even the people in their apartments were surprised. It was sooo funny.

But some people were ready!



And some people were not. Someone gave Anna a box of Fiddle Faddle.

Noah was very shy today.

Eating suckers after their nap. I bet they LOVED Halloween.

Brian and I carved pumpkins during their naps today. Brian did the spider.
Isn't that crazy?!?! (for those that don't know Brian...he's not very...arty.)

The kids and their neighbor friends. (Noah was disturbed by the Yoda creature.

Trying to get a good family picture is just too difficult anymore!
(actually...it's never been easy)

Not this one either.

Definitely not this one.

Just forget it.

FINALLY!!! Time to TRICK OR TREAT!!

First house! HOORAY!

still going!

And the inevitable costume switch!

Yep, even shoes. Noah in heels. Happy Halloween!

Dove Evolution

Cook off

I have been cooking all day today. I baked six dozen chocolate chip cookies. 12 creamy chicken enchiladas (for my neighbor), chicken quesadillas for dinner and I have prepared pot roast, ready to be put in the crock pot in the morning. This weather, I swear I could bake for hours. Unfortunately, I keep eating. oopsie. My legs hurt, I'm glad to be sitting.

So, Brian and I started watching Heroes last night. We watched the first episode last night and the second tonight. I have mixed feelings. I mean, it's a great show, I just don't like so much intensity in a show. Guess I'm boring!

Here are some pictures from this weekend:

My sister and I with Mary Addison, about 3 minutes after we arrived in Brown County. (it doesn't take us too long to take pictures.) Yes, we have on the same sweater, (bought my first.) (and the same jeans) yes, we are gay.


Rewind to Friday at a playdate. Anna and her friend. They are both VERY girlie. They get along great.


Noah and his friend. They were cracking eachother up. It was hilarious.


Mary Addison. OMG. She's so cute.


so cute.


One of the reasons why I love Brown County.
I now own one of the orange mums on the right.


I love this girl.


Sister.


It was so cold on Monday. We went to Target to buy scarves and gloves. And hats and gloves for our freezing, golfing, drunk husbands.


This sign is great. I spotted it from so far away. It's significant because one brother's name is Dan, the other is Dave. (by the way, I took this picture from across the street. My camera kicks ass.)


The other side of Brown County. LEATHER.


One of our favorite stores.

Damn right I got the blues.

Thanks, Buddy Guy, for the perfect words for the title of this entry. I owe you, man.

So, yeah, I'm a little blue. Brian and I just returned home from our sixth annual outing to Nashville, In. We ate, drank, SHOPPED and slept. And by God, it was awesome. awesome. I have the blues because it's over. I always get sad the day after, every year I am sad. This year is different because I didn't purchase anything amazing. I buy ALOT of home decor from this town and most things are things that people comment on when they come to my house, in fact, it's odd when people don't make a compliment. (they're jealous, I know.) just kidding. no i'm not.

Anyway, this time around was different. I couldn't make a decision. There were three things I wanted...badly, but I didn't know if I loved them. Well, 2 things I didn't, one thing I did and I didn't figure it out until today. Now my blues are deeper than usual. P.S. I did ask Brian if I could call the store and have them ship the (large) item to me...he said we'd talk about it later. he's a good guy.

So, we are back in town. I am back to the same old grind with the chickens, they're a little unruly, which is to be expected, but now they are sleeping. I was going to clean and catch up on e-mails, but then I saw Madonna was on Oprah today, so I better check that out. What? I LOVE. love. love. love LOVE. Madonna. Sorry, I do. Ever workout to her last album? Don't knock it until you try it, girl. I'm going to watch Oprah, in the afternoon, that's it. I've already washed and folded four loads of laundry today (and put them away!) and cleaned my kitchen, including my sink with Comet. I deserve a little R&R with two wonderful woman, Oprah and Madonna. I'll let you know how it goes.

Yes, I have lots of pictures from this weekend. I shall share. After Oprah and Madonna.

I have no idea why the font is funk-d-fied, no idea.

no use crying over spilled pumpkins

Unless you are emotional to begin with. Tonight, about an hour and 10 minutes ago, someone broke our pumpkins on our front porch. I'm pretty pissed, but I'm also sad because they were the pumpkins the kids picked at our first outing to a pumpkin patch. whatever. (I can't believe I just described what happened without typing out the swear words that are flying around in my head right now...I'm impressed.)

We have so much going on lately, I only have a few minutes to blog, as I am very tired.

• Noah is still sleeping like crap. In the past 2 weeks he has slept well two nights and I am about to lose my mind. (too put it mildly) Last night was the hardest, I'm so tired. I took him back to the doctor today and his ears have cleared up completely. Thank Goodness. Now I know if he wakes up it's not because his ears hurt....good to know.
• We bought a new car yesterday. Brian's car had severe malfunctions on his way to work yesterday and after MANY YEARS AND DOLLARS spent on this car, it was time to say "goodbye car! Hello car payment." Yesterday was the longest, busiest, most chaotic day we've had in a long time, obviously because in ONE day we found and purchased a car...that we BOTH love alot. I may like it a little too much. It's a 2000 Bonneville, it's so so so pretty and in perfect condition. We are very excited, the kids love it, too!
• Brian and I are going out of town on Sunday for our annual trip to Brown County. We have gone every year since 2001 with my sister and her husband. We are going a little later this year since the week we usually go my sister had just returned back to work from maternity leave. I love this trip. My sister and I shop while Brian and her husband golf and drink. It couldn't be any more perfect. Our condo is even on the golf course. It's great! I am anxious about leaving, I should not be because Brian's mom is staying here with the kids and they just love her, but you know, I'm just anxious.
• I have a wedding to go to tomorrow. I have to go alone since Brian has to work tomorrow night(don't even get me started, okay?) My cousin is getting married. I found the greatest skirt tonight, I love it. However, I was shopping with the kids so I did not try it on and guess what??? It's too big! Brian's going to go back tomorrow and get me an 8! (that's how busy my day is tomorrow, I can't get my own damn skirt.)
• I am still successfully maintaining my weight. I weighed in on Wednesday at my Weight Watcher meeting and it went well. Makes me happy.
  

I'm sure there is so much more, but like I said, I'm tired and I have no business being up this late and I still have to wash my face (which is a 39 step process) brush my teeth, clear off my bed and put laundry away.

oh bother.

A very cute spider that Anna made. It was hanging on the refrigerator the other day, Noah approached it and sang a beautiful "Itsy Bitsy Spider" to the spider. He then took it off of the fridge to show it to me, while he was running over he noticed the eyes moving and it FREAKED him out. He dropped it on the ground and came running towards me.

This week (so far) in pictures

Pajama party! We celebrated Brian's Grandma's birthday party on Saturday! She turns NINETY THREE today! We had a great time and we were able to visit with Brian's sister and her family from Indianapolis. Here's a picture of the three grandkids in the pj's.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

She's a very clever woman. Very.

Anna and I. We had a girls afternoon out after church on Sunday. We had lunch and we went shopping.

My boy.

My girl. We celebrated my nephew's birhtday, who turned 11 on Sunday. Lots of birthdays!

Our old entertainment center. I can hardly bear to look at it. We bought it just over four years ago. We had purchased the TV, it was in the car when we realized we didn't have anything to put it on, so we ran to Target and bought this. I HATE IT. but now it's gone.

In the presence of perfection. I LOVE IT!! Brian worked hard all night. We rearranged the living room and it feels so good. Very feng shui. We finished just in time to watch the Bears come back. It was awesome!

Goofy, goofy children. How can you not love kids???

In their new slippers. They both sleep in them. It's very cute.

The house of Fletcher in the fall. We are looking at new front doors tonight!