Photo Friday: Fall is in the Air (Sort of)

Happy Halloween, everyone! I can't believe another month is almost over. We've had a few cooler days and it was starting to feel like fall, but now it's in the 80s again--but still beautiful as it's sunny with a breeze. Here are a few pics. I hope to get a good one of J and N in their costumes tonight. Wish me luck!


This is our one lone tree in the backyard. The leaves started turning this week. They are now red and brown (and green) although it is hard to see the true colors in this photo.

J with his preschool class on Thursday. He's Cookie Monster if you can't tell. They had a parade in the morning and then a party at the end of the day.

N came in his chocolate chip cookie costume I made. Simple and easy, but I think it turned out pretty cute.


And I made a few more loveys.

Happy Halloween! May you get more treats than tricks!
Edited 12/17/08

If I can't have B, I guess Jim will do

B's been traveling a LOT recently. And, of course, we had the refrigerator die while he was gone last week. Anyway, I think he's feeling a little guilty about it. Last week he stopped on his way home from the airport and bought me this:

Isn't he a wonderful husband?
Edited 12/17/08

The One?

Remember how I was going to buy myself a bag from 1154Lill with my birthday money I've been saving since March?

Well, I had pretty much given up on the idea. There are over 150 to choose from (I think, there are a LOT), but I just couldn't decide. Part of the problem is that they have limited quantities of each fabric--so each time I thought I had decided then one of the fabrics would no longer be available. But a bunch of new ones just came out and I think I have found the right ones in the right combination.


What do you think? It's the Andi bag in Coming Up Daisies, with Red Basket Weave at the base of the straps and on the interior, Bowtie Weave on the strap and Moroccan Tiles in the inside pocket. I think I love it!

Happy Belated Birthday to me!

Last Minute Halloween Costume Idea

Halloween is only two days away and some of you may still be looking for the perfect costume for a little one in your life. Well, I've got the perfect costume for you. It's simple, easy and made from items you can find at most playgrounds.

First, dress your little one in something made of really soft fleece--you know the stuff I'm talking about, you find it everywhere these days in clothes, blankets, stuffed animals. Here is one possibility:If you live in Texas like myself, this may be a bit warm for an October evening...but if you're an overprotective mom of a 5 month old and you have a toddler who needs to get out of the house than you just might use one of these.

Next, go to your local playground like the one I have here in my neighborhood.

Lay your little on the ground while you tie your toddler's shoe.

Pick up your little one and your costume is complete.

What costume, you ask? Why, a pile of mulch! The mulch will stick like glue to the fleece outfit and cling to it like its life depended on it. Such a simple and easy Halloween costume idea.

If you change your mind, simply spend the next three days picking the mulch back off of the adorable snuggly fleece outfit. I'm sure your little one won't mind a bit.

Happy Halloween! Can't wait to see pictures of everyone in their costumes.

More Halloween Silliness and Fall Festivities

J as a "cowboy" in his mask from Trunk or Treat and his cowboy hat from Nicole.
(or as B labeled this one "The Lone Ranger and Tonto.")

J as a "cowboy" in his Dalmatian hat from school and his beads from Trunk or Treat.

N in his reindeer suit (from Mooma) on our way to the playground the other evening when it was chilly--not really chilly enough for the suit, but doesn't he look adorable?

The pumpkin selection at my grocery store. I love the ones on the right that look like crullers.

We went to a "pumpkin patch" where J and I rode this little train.

We're the ones in the very back car. It was hot (around 86) and dusty, but we had fun.


There were lots of these wooden cutouts. J was excited about Bob the Builder...


and Nemo...


and everyone from Sesame Street.


Our attempt to get a family picture--at least B and I are looking at the camera.

Have a great week!
Edited 12/17/08

Oh, What a Week

Hey, everyone! Hope you all had a great week! It's been a crazy one for us. N had his first physical therapy session on Tuesday (for his Torticollis). It went well. The therapist was impressed that N was so young, yet only cried a few times. She gave me lots of things to do with N at home--most of which I've already forgotten. Luckily, we go back this Tuesday.

Around 11AM on Tuesday, B found out he had to head to NY later that afternoon to go help with an applesauce emergency--don't laugh, it's true. It's not beer, but it pays the bills. So B left town until Friday night. Tuesday evening I opened our freezer and water poured out--the freezer was no longer working and all the ice was melting. After saying some choice words in my head, I called my friend Kim who said she'd squeeze as much as possible into her freezer. So I was able to save all the meat. The refrigerator half was still working at that point so I crossed my fingers and decided to wait until Wednesday morning to go refrigerator shopping. Let me just say that refrigerator shopping with a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 month old who should be napping is a good time. But we got our fridge and managed to save most of our refrigerated food. (That half died sometime Wednesday night--the new one arrived Thursday morning.)

Besides our refrigerator drama, it's been a fun week. We had a picnic with our meetup group on Monday. We had dinner at Kim's house on Tuesday night. We had a playdate with one of our friends from the neighborhood on Wednesday. On Friday morning, we met some friends at a really cool park. On Friday night, we had Trunk or Treat with our meetup group. We all met at our neighborhood school, lined the cars up with trunks facing out and the kids got to go trick or treating from trunk to trunk. J refused to put on his costume, but loved all the fun treats. Everyone went all out and he got lots of goodies including fruit snacks, animal crackers, playdough, pencils, stickers, tattoos, bubbles, and his personal favorite, a kazoo. Afterwards, we went to the park next door and had a potluck dinner. B arrived home about halfway through the trick or treating. He and I enjoyed getting some time to socialize with our neighbors.

Anyway, here are a bunch of pictures from the last week including the Fall Festival we went to last Saturday. It was sponsored by our development and was great fun (and FREE) with a petting zoo (J's favorite part), pony rides, bounce houses, and booths with games and trick or treating. I ran into a lot of the moms I know from our neighborhood--so that made it extra fun for me.

The Petting Zoo at the Fall Festival

N and J hanging out after N's bath

A Cool Park

J with the giant pumpkins outside our grocery store

Trunk or Treat

Have a great weekend, everyone! I'll try not to be such a blog slacker next week. I don't know if you noticed a difference or not, but I finally got a new camera--so I have a flash again. Very exciting!
Edited 12/17/08

Movie Monday: All Dressed Up Edition

Looks like another double feature is in order. I just couldn't choose between these two. The first one is J in his Cookie Monster costume. We went to a fall festival on Saturday where he could have worn it, but didn't want to. When we got home, we convinced him to try it on and this is what he did:


Yes, he's saying "I'm Cookie Monster! I'm Cookie Monster!"

This next video is of both boys. J decided that he and N both needed to wear hats and dance. J is pretty funny in this one, but N was really cracking me up.



Hope these movies start your week off with some smiles! Happy Monday!
Edited 12/17/08

Dallas Komen Race for the Cure

On Saturday, I walked in the Dallas Komen Race for the Cure. I started walking in the Northeast Ohio Susan G. Komen Race back in 2002 when my boss Ellin was diagnosed with breast cancer. I walked with my friends from Sylvan for 6 years and loved every minute of it. Each year I was so inspired by all the survivors, Ellin included--she is still doing great 7 years later. Although it broke my heart to see so many people who had lost loved ones, mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, grandmothers, best friends, dads, brothers, it was so wonderful to see those people CELEBRATING their lost loved ones. I loved seeing the teams that were there to surround and support the people who were currently in the throws of fighting breast cancer. I loved seeing the amazing power that was inherent in the battle cries yelled out on t-shirts, signs and banners. I loved just seeing the general craziness of people bedecked from head to toe in pink complete with wigs and tutus and scarves. Every year I was touched all over again by the power of both the disease and the people whose lives were forever changed by it.

I walk in memory of those I know who have lost their fight with cancer including Corrine, Laura Justis, Sarah Moore's mom and Brian Frickert's mom. I also walk in celebration of those who are winning their battle: Ellin, Coe, Rondys and Amy.

So when we moved to Texas, I decided that I wanted to walk in the Dallas Komen Race for the Cure. I didn't know at the time that Dallas is actually where it all began. Where Susan Komen's sister first organized the Race for the Cure after she lost her sister to breast cancer. This year is actually the 25th anniversary of the Race for the Cure. I put a message out to the other members of my neighborhood moms group to see if anyone wanted to walk with me and I was overwhelmed by the response. I ended up organizing a team and 7 of us walked on Saturday. We had an eighth team member, Cyndi, but she had to miss the race because her husband was battling a case of extreme food poisoning.

The seven of us, Erin, Christy, Lori, Kim, Stacey, Rosalie and I, had a great time. The race was actually the first time I had met Lori and the second time I had met Rosalie so it was really great to get to know them better. I hadn't gotten to talk with Stacey since earlier this summer because she's back at work full-time-- so it was great to get reacquainted with her. I know Christy and Erin pretty well since I see them regularly at playdates during the week. Kim is probably my closest friend here in Texas.

Erin, Christy, Lori, Rosalie, Stacey, Me, Kim

We carpooled down to the race (left home around 5:45AM in order to have time to stop at Starbucks and get down to the race around 6:30AM). We then had plenty of time to walk around and check everything out before the race started at 8:00AM. We were just walking but Erin, Christy and Lori were determined that we get some exercise, so we booked it. Although Stacey, Kim, Rosalie and I did not quite keep up with our speedy teammates, we still managed to finish the 5K (3.1 mile) race in around 51 minutes. Definitely, my best time yet. I have to admit that I was a tiny bit sore today. Note to self: Get in better shape before walking with these ladies again next year. Yes, I definitely think we will do this again next year.


The race in Dallas was definitely different from the one in Cleveland. I had wonderful company and I'm really glad I got to walk and talk with my friends in the neighborhood. They are truly a wonderful group of women. However, I was a little disappointed in the other racers. They just didn't seem as spirited as I was used to from past races. Maybe it was because we were booking it, but I didn't see as many teams or people really decked out for the occasion. I also missed the high school marching band and the steel drum group that used to cheer us on as we wove our way through downtown Cleveland. Here we walked through residential neighborhoods. We were cheered on by "Democrats for the Cure" complete with an array of campaign signs--I was kind of hoping to escape that for a few hours. Oh well. There were some nice families who cheered us on from their front yards and the enthusiasm of the middle school volunteers at the water station was amazing. It was still a great experience--just not quite so in your face as I was used to with the enthusiasm.

On an exciting note, our team raised over $1500 in donations that go directly to helping people fight breast cancer and breast cancer research here in the Dallas area. I've been asking for pledges for the last 3 years and every year I am amazed by the generosity of my friends and family. Thank you all for helping me support this cause. And thank you, my friends, for walking with me and helping me start a new tradition of walking here in Texas.
Edited 12/17/08

Photo Friday: Five Months! Edition

N is five months old today. I can't believe it--5 months already! He continues to be my little sunshine. I love the way his whole face lights up when he smiles, especially his eyes.


N has quickly adjusted to using his exersaucer and seems to really enjoy it. It keeps him entertained for at least half of breakfast, lunch and dinner time. That's a good start to me being able to enjoy my meals. N is also enjoying his meals more these days as he's now eating cereal and vegetables. He's had sweet potatoes, squash, green beans and peas so far and seems to like them all.

N is also rolling over like a champ these days. First stomach to back and now back to stomach. On Wednesday night, N woke us up several times during the night because he had rolled onto his stomach and didn't have room to roll back to his back. I was afraid that was the start of something bad, but last night was fine--so we'll keep our fingers crossed. Now that he knows how to turn over both ways, N is rolling!

In this picture, he had traveled from the middle of the blanket to the sofa and only stopped because the sofa was in his way! He's just a mover and a shaker these days.

And to answer the many questions of "Does he look like J?," here's a picture of J at 5 months (August 2006):

What do you think?

Happy Friday, everyone! Have a great weekend and think of me bright and early tomorrow morning as I walk in the Dallas Komen Race for the Cure.
Edited 12/17/08

Bonus Post

Just a little bonus post to share a few pictures.

First, I made another lovey. This one is for Kensington, the daughter of my wonderful insurance agent. I was all out of silky material so I used a cute little cotton instead. I think the lovey turned out right cute. If you have a little extra time, check out Kensington's mom's blog. She's a new stay-at-home mom and would probably appreciate a nice comment. If you live in the McKinney area and need an insurance agent, I highly recommend her dad--Andrew Shull.




Also, John got in one of his toy boxes yesterday. It was adorable. I took pictures.

Bootie-licious

Please excuse the cheesy title. I just couldn't resist!

I finished Norm's Moc-a-Socs and I love them. Although the pattern is simple (yet very clever), these booties take a while to knit since they are done on size 2 needles and sport and fingering weight yarn. These are the 6-12 month size and they are a little big on Norm, but the 0-6 month size booties were just a tiny bit too small.

Pattern: Moc-a-Soc (baby) by Bekah Knits
Needles: Size 2 (round or straight and double point)
Yarn: Blue--Bernat Softee Baby (sport weight); White: Patons Baby Beehive (fingering weight)

















Sorry for any blurry photos--Norm's very active these days and I don't have a flash on my camera. Make sure you check out Norm's wonderfully delicious chunky thighs--don't you just want to squeeze them?