Halloween reflections...

• The kids had a blast.


• The candy will be going to work on Monday. All the best stuff will be weeded out by then anyway.


• Lauren walked behind me and said "BOO! Did I scare you" no less than 10 times today. It is a good thing it was so darn cute otherwise it would have been darn irritating.


• Pictures were taken.


• Begging and whining reigned.


• Arguing over Halloween candy ensued.


• Another Halloween present and accounted for - bring on the turkey baby!

ARE YOU KIDDING ME????

I mean really, this has to be a joke right?

• Jane Seymour still in competition on DWTS.
• Marie Osmond still in competition on DWTS.
• The Cheetah Girl - OUT?

Let me just say again - ARE YOU KIDDING ME! Even the judges could not contain their disgust over this result. I am beyond shocked. I am so apalled I can't even think of anything else to write. I don't know how long it is going to take me to get over this travesty. OMG - what were people thinking. Yes, I know my life will go on but the injustice of it all just ticks me off. And we all know how darn crabby I can be. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR.

That's it. I'm out of here. Shaking my head. Man, there are a lot of people who should be ashamed of themselves! And I thought Walmart shoppers were annoying :-)

It's the same thing every year...

My kids love Halloween. It rates right up there with Christmas and their birthdays. I love to see their excitement even it if it noisy!

The festivities begin with the two days before Halloween pumpkin carving - which we did tonight. Usually the HotY goes all over the top on this and picks out these complicated carvings, hands me one and a pumpkin and tells me to get busy. Ummmm have I failed to mention to him less than 100 times that I don't really like to carve pumpkins. I will do the "gutting" and scraping - but I really don't like the carving - it's only a matter of time before I slice off a finger - really, just ask around, my grace and coordination are no secret :-) Anyway, this year I put my foot down and said no fancy designs we are letting the kids tell us what they want and that's it! And he listened - probably because he got to go over the top with this:



ANYWAY, I digress :-) - sorry, some days I can't help myself. So even more important than the carving is our own special family tradition. EVERY SINGLE YEAR Alex wants us to take a picture of him "eating" the pumpkin guts. He thinks it is the photo opportunity of the century - so we took the obligatory pumpkin gut eating picture tonight - and then of course the girls wanted theirs too - so here are our fabulous pumpkin gut photos.





Some people have nice traditions, like making popcorn balls, or building a bomb fire (huh, McHubby while doing his proof-reading duties just informed me that it is not BOMB fire it is Bonfire - who knew - and to think some days I think I'm so darn smart :-)), or making sweet little Halloween treat bags - but my kids - they want to pretend they are eating pumpkin guts. I have no idea why they are so quirky - it must be the HotY!

Here are our pumpkin creations - mine is the kitty - I think it is the best :-)



TTFN.

I have a warning...

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT purchase apples from a certain new Super Target in a certain upper Midwest city which sometimes receives snow in October. And it is all because of THIS GIRL:



This girl who looks all sweet and innocent in this photo - which by the way, is false advertising.

Yesterday, after the candy incident at Michael's, where she opened a piece of chocolate candy at the checkout and I had to hand it sheepishly to the clerk and say "I'm sorry" because I didn't have 39 cents in cash, we went to Target where she practically drowned in a sea of sadness when the bakery girl handed her sister a pink frosted cookie and she got a plain one (the poor bakery girl took one look at her pitiful face and RAN to get another pink frosted cookie - seriously the sad look SHE pulled out of her hat would have melted the most hardened heart) We were almost ready to check out and IT happened. SHE picked up an apple from the produce bin which she proceeded to smell as if it were ambrosia, and then SHE LICKED THE APPLE. And I, in my haste to control the situation actually PUT THE APPLE BACK in the bin. Yes, I put the apple back in the bin. I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry. I think by Monday that apple will have made it's way to some unsuspecting shoppers home so the apples should be safe by then but in the meantime I feel terrible. I'm sorry and remember always wash your fresh fruits and veggies.

TTFN

Sometimes I actually surprise myself...

like last night while catching the last minute action on DWTS. I saw them announce that the Millionaire and the I Dream of Jeannie chick were done and I found myself actually crying out "NOOOOOOOOO" and then I stopped and thought WTH - you have been wanting this guy out for six weeks and now you are moaning because he is going? What is the matter with you? And then it happened, I realized that I dislike watching Jane Seymour even more than Mark Millionaire. WOW, I didn't even know until that moment. It was an epipheny. Maybe I should write Mr. Millions an apology letter.

Dear Mark,

I would like to apologize for my disparaging remarks regarding your
performance on DWTS. Don't get me wrong, I don't think you stood a chance,
but I didn't realize that I despised Jane Seymour's dancing even more than your
own. So for that I am sorry. When I was criticizing you it should have
been all about Jane. I hope you can forgive me. Take care.

Sincerely,

Cupcake Girl

What do you think? As apologies go it may be a little weak :-)

Anyway, after last night's big news I'll be hoping Janie girl is the next to go, then Marie and after that I don't know who it'll be - I'll have to wait and be surprised, by myself, again, even though I hate surprises, although when you surprise your self it isn't so bad - no anticipation :-)

While figuring out how I really felt about Jane was big the surprises just kept coming. This morning, although I haven't said anything, or really even given it much thought, I realized that I am darn sick of the construction that has been happening on my on the way to work 40 mph frontage road. They were supposed to be putting in a bike path not building a super highway. Holy bananas. You would think that it was an 8 lane interstate overpass considering the length of time and all the crap they have laying around. Not to mention that with the mess and the clogged storm sewers and all the rain the road is flooding out. Nice. Grrrr. So listen guys, finish it up already - okay, I'm sick of you. I'm sick of the mess. I'm sick of the 10 mph posted speed. You KNOW some old lady is going to remember that 10 mph forever after and I'll be stuck behind her chanting "it's 40 it's 40 it's 40" over and over and over again. I mean really, just get yourself to Walmart and quit wasting my time! :-)

So it has been 24 hours of mind shattering revelations, life as I know it has changed. From acknowledging my dislike of Jane Seymour to recognizing I am darn crabby about this ongoing, never ending, traffic disrupting road construction. Believe me - it's been a tough morning.

TTFN - and be open to new revelations - surprise yourself :-)

Gloating - the other unattractive behavior...

I know I have a lot of annoying habits (but really don't we all - it is what makes us humans - right?) but I think one of my least attractive personality traits is the pleasure I take in gloating when I realize that one of my rambling thoughts has been validated by another source. For instance take this post - where I noted that the blond DWTS chick reminded me of I Dream of Jeannie. It was just a casual observation but did you see DWTS last night? DID YOU? Did you see that costume she was wearing? Did you hear the song? YES - she WAS I Dream of Jeannie and even danced to the theme song. So I feel so so so - gloaty :-) The HotY was sick of me by the time we went to bed because, well, I felt the need to continue to glorify in my validated observation ALL NIGHT LONG. Oh, don't shake your head and feel sorry for him, he has his quirks too :-)

And if that were not enough gloating for one day I just have to share this... Remember, remember when I talked about physical attractiveness and how personality has a lot to do with who I feel is attractive and who I feel is not - well here it is - in black and white, scientific proof that once we know a person physical attractiveness cannot be limited to body characteristics and facial features it has much more to do with what kind of person we THINK they are.

I feel so smart! I feel so validated! I'm queen of the world! :-) Really, it's true - just ask those people that think I am high maintenance :-O

Oh and I still think Jenny Garth has got to be one of the sweetest people I have ever had the pleasure of not knowing. I still want to be her friend. If you see her could you please tell her to call me - we can do lunch!

Okay, sorry for the gloating. I told you it wasn't attractive but some days I just can't help myself - is it any wonder the HotY is crazy about me :-)

Planes, Trains and automobiles...

Okay, really just automobiles :-)

Somehow the HotY’s car has become my primary mode of transportation. I don’t know how this happened. Fine, I do know how it happened, and it has to do with daycare drop-off and car seats, but regardless, I’m not happy about the change. And his car - it confuses me. It’s a Hyundai and everything is backwards. All the knobs and switches work the opposite direction than what you would think. Want to turn on the windshield wipers? You don’t push the thingy down you push it up. WHAT? I mean really, I’m still working on that right hand/left hand thing and you want me to try to manipulate these controls backwards? Right. But the good thing about this car – it’s paid for and I don’t worry about someone dinging my door! So I guess I’ll live with it, but just so you know, I’m not happy about it. And now I feel so much better :-)

Have a great Monday.

TTFN!

Hey, guess what???

It’s raining! Who would have guessed!

I wasn’t going to post today because I wanted to post pictures but right now – no pictures to post. But here I am posting anyway.

Hey how many times do you think a person can say post in one post? Hmmmm how many? I think you can say post in a post 8 times. :-)

I am looking forward to the weekend. The house is clean (a BIG Hooray). There is laundry to do, but that’s okay (shhhhhh don’t tell anyone but I don’t mind doing laundry, I KNOW it’s my dirty little secret). I’m going to be doing that scrap thing with friends tonight and probably tomorrow. And I made yummy caramel brownies and taco dip. Oh and I get to sleep in the bed ALL BY MYSELF. I wouldn’t want to make a habit of that but every once in a while – it’s a good thing.

By the way, as long as I have your attention :-) I’m thinking of opening a Etsy shop. What do you think? I have a few creative items under my hat and I thought it might be fun to see if anyone else likes them. So all in favor say yeah.

That’s it. Gotta go. Things to do. People to see. Places to go!! Have a quirkily good Friday!!!!

TTFN

If this is Thursday it must be raining...

because lately every day is a rainy day! I have always wanted to visit Seattle, and possibly even live there, but now, now after days and days and days of mostly overcast skies I'm not so sure. I'm starting to feel water logged. And really do you know what all that humidity does to scrapbooking supplies. YUCK! I don't like limp paper.

Big plans for the weekend? I am planning on scrapping with Amy and Heather at my house on Friday night and hopefully Saturday (Amy, Heather - did you hear that - the Saturday thing?). And if your name is Wendy (and you will know if you are THE Wendy) and you want to join us you know you are welcome! Just let me know - oh and bring treats :-)

Here are some highlights from our trip last Saturday. And as you look at these pictures I want you to notice one thing - see those trees, the ones in the background. Do you see them? And what do you notice about them? THEY'RE GREEN! I told you!

This was NOT the peak weekend...

The HotY has been watching the leaf report for 3 weeks now waiting for that “peak” time to view the fall colors along the banks and bluffs of the Mississippi. Last Thursday he proclaimed that the time had come – Saturday would be the prime leaf viewing day. Leaves were to be 75%-85% changed and that’s good enough because if you know the finer points of leaf viewing you know that if you wait too too too long that you run the risk of all the leaves being blown from the trees. So 75% is good. And Saturday was a beautiful day. The sun was shining the temperature was perfect, the kids were excited about finding pumpkins. As we started out and traveled closer to the river we noticed something – there were still A LOT of green trees – like mostly, surely the colors would become more vibrant as we got nearer The River. Ummmm no! But there was an entire myriad of GREEN to view! Whoever writes the leaf report is obviously not looking at the leaves or color blind! Grrrrrrr.

So along with tracking the perfect leaf viewing weekend the HotY also did a search for pumpkin patches and apple orchards along our route (can you tell he’s a planner – me not so much – well at least not for this kind of stuff – I mean why do I need to be a planner when I have the Lewis and Clark of modern civilization to lead the way). ANYWAY, the first town promised what SOUNDED like a great pumpkin patch, with hayrides, and mazes and pumpkins and apples. So we set out, totally ignoring the local art fair which took over the entire downtown area, traveling along washboard gravel roads nearly being run off the road by the rural post man and backtracking when we came to a dead end in our quest to find the ultimate pumpkin patch. Then we saw it – the sign – the dilapidated apple covered with NO HUNTING signs. I guess we should have taken that as a clue but we didn’t. We drove up the bluff and came to – NOTHING! I mean there was a house and barns and a dog barking at the driveway but it was not the Autumnal playground that was advertised. Let’s just say there was much whining and crying in the van as we turned around and said “no pumpkins here”. We did find a pumpkin patch within a reasonable amount of time and paid $5.00 a pumpkin. What the heck. Pumpkins should be free. Anyway, by that time no price was too great to stop the incessant asking of “when will we find the pumpkins?” So all in all our trip wasn’t quite as expected but it was still good – sometimes it is just about the ride. And hey we got cheese curds and good ice cream - what else does a person need?

I think that the millionaire/billionaire is being booted out of DWTS tonight. That’s my prediction. We’ll see…

TTFN.

I'm consistently inconsistent :-)...

I meant to post the very next day after the big ole blogiversary - but - well I didn't. But I'm here now and we will be reviewing your answers.

You did pretty good - all except for one little area (well two but we'll get to the other not so obvious answer in a minute).

I know I have gone on and on and on about My Magnificent Mario - BUT if you have been reading closely you know that the CORRECT answer to Rob Lowe or Mario Lopez is in fact Mr. Lowe. Could I please direct you to this post as the supporting fact. So maybe it was a trick question but really I thought you knew!

And NOW let's talk about that high maintenance thing shall we :-) There seems to be overwhelming consensus that I am in fact a high maintenance girl. And fine, there may be times when I might be a little - well - over the top - but really, I don't try to be high maintenance - it just happens somewhere along the way - I'm not kidding it just happens because I really am a roll with the punches type - well except for restaurants and seating arrangements -ask Amy she can explain...

As for the other questions - here are the correct answers:

1. Cupcake
2. HotY
3. Rob Lowe
4. Pink
5. Todd Rundgren
6. Dancing with the Stars
7. Exclamation points
8. Target
9. Scrapbooking
10. I'm not answering this one on the grounds that it may incriminate me :-)

And the winner of the Target gift card is Ms. Jenn Jones. WooHoo girl. I know where to find you :-)

That's it for today.

Thanks for playing. Thanks for posting your comments and making my day. Thanks for passing the word about my blog. Thanks for being good friends!

TTFN.

It's a big day....

today is my blogiversary. Yes, it's true. I've been here for a year. In the past 12 months I have done a lot of crabbing and revealing and rambling BUT how much have you really been paying attention??? So here is a little quiz - provide your answers in the comments (no cheating by looking at other's comments first) - refer my blog to a friend - have them document their visit by leaving a comment and your name as the referral and SOMEONE (a random drawing from the comments) will receive a $10 Target Gift Card. I know it's not much but hey, $10 in the $2.50 spot can get you four things :-) So get your #2 pencils sharpened and take the quiz.

Please select MY preference for each question

1. Crabby or Cupcake?

2. HotY or McHubby?

3. Rob Lowe or Mario Lopez?

4. Pink or lavender?

5. Todd Rundgren or Sheryl Crowe?

6. Dancing with the Stars or America's Top Model?

7. Emoticons or exclamation points?

8. Target or Walmart?

9. Scrapbooking or knitting?

10. High Maintenance or no special handling required?

Good Luck!!!!

TTFN.

And the wound is ripped open...

Sorry about the graphic title but watching Dancing with the Stars (DWTS) last night was like tearing the scab off a wound. I mean really, did you see Wayne Newton? Did you see the geek millionaire guy? And these two men are there over Model Man because????? That is what I am asking you. WHY. WHY would those two "dancers" remain when Albert, Albert who knows how to move, Albert who is young and energetic, Albert who does not have hip injuries or stiff bones, Albert who is the superior dancer, Albert who was an Ambercrombie & Fitch model for gosh sakes, is gone? I am less upset over Walmart Drivers than I am about Model Man moving on. It's a travesty :-) The women were okay, well my friend Jenny Garth was her adorable self (okay fine, she might not acknowledge the friendship YET, but I know if she met me, we'd be friends :-)) - but the rest of the chicks, eh, even the Cheetah girl didn't knock my socks off. We'll see what happens - but one of those two men better be gone this week or I'm not watching anymore!!! I'm just saying...

That's it for today. Short and sweet. I'm too distressed about the whole dancing fiasco - it's given me writer's block :-) Oh and one comment about The Bachelor last night - BORING.

Have a fabulous day!

TTFN

It's all for the kids...

You know there are MANY days when I question my ability to be a good mother. I don't think I am unique in this, but in this case there is no comfort in numbers. Although today, today, while it was POURING rain, pouring rain so hard that the windshield wipers could not even keep up, I opened my window ALL THE WAY, allowing rain to come in and soak my sleeve so that I could wave and blow kisses to those two little faces peeking out the window and enthusiastically waving their arms and blowing kisses back. And I didn't even consider not doing it because that is the kind of thing a mom (and dad) will do for their kids. Put their own comfort aside just to bring a smile to a little face. So today, at least for now anyway, I feel competent to be a mom. By tonight that could all change, but for right now I'm just going to go with it and feel all warm and motherly inside.

Don't forget it's all about the dancing tonight!

TTFN.

Peace be with you...

that isn't such a bad way to start a Sunday - right? And NO we did not make it to church today but we thought about it and I did pass on that Peace Be With You thing so I'm going to say I'm good :-)

So although I didn't save my soul I did clean out my refrigerator and freezer. I removed all the food, took out the shelves and washed and wiped and reassembled. It looks fabulous, although it is glaringly clear that I need to make a trip to the grocery store -except for condiments - we're good on the condiments!








I don't know what is happening to me. I seem to be returning to my domestic roots. I mean really, it wasn't all that long ago that I actually ironed AND cleaned my appliances. Oh and just for the record, I don't have the stainless steel refrigerator yet. The one I want is still wayyyyyyyy to expensive for me to convince the HotY that I need it so I'll just have to wait - one of them has to give sooner or later and I'm hoping it will be the price, even I recognize when an item is overpriced.

So that's it. That's what I've got for a Sunday. No church and a clean refrigerator. And don't worry, it hasn't been an all work and no play weekend - yesterday I had a Design Team obligation in the morning, lunch and shopping with Amy and Heather, followed by Halloween crafts for the kids. It's been a good weekend :-)

TTFN!

NO NONONONONONONONO NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

That was me - hearing Albert had been voted off DWTS. WHAT? Wayne Newton stayed and Albert WENT? Okay who of you voted for Mr. Las Vegas? And WHY - WHY would you do such a thing? Please make some sense of this crazy, mixed-up decision. Even the judges were shocked and amazed. I don't get it. Okay first of all, I normally don't even watch the elimination show because frankly I think it is a little bit too cheesy. I had just told Amy I NEVER watch the elimination show - I just wait for the news to filter to me - but last night I turned on the tv three minutes early to get ready for Boston Legal and it happened, I saw it, the demise of Model Man! I just sat there in shock. This was almost as bad as Emmett Smith winning over My Mario. I just can't even process this information. And if you were one of those "people" that voted for Wayne Newton you can just leave right now. Really. Shesh.

So while DWTS was moving along and Albert and I were oblivious to his upcoming shake down I was TRYING to play Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) on the wii. They just came out with the wii version. Well mii didn't do so good at the wii DDR. It was a sad little show. I was booed and hissed and and and I got a failure. I mean really, I can totally understand how Albert felt when he got "the last dance". And the thing is, I have rhythm, I have dancing skills, I can read a chart, but, well I guess it is fair to say I don't have a lot of coordination and I do have to look at my rings to determine my right from my left (you think I am teasing about this? - just ask the HotY that's all I'm going to say...) STILL, you think I could have pulled this together but NOPE. It wasn't happening. So while the DWTS are perfecting their foxtrots and tangos and mambos I'm going to be working on learning my right from my left and trying to beat those dang arrows. Seriously!

TTFN

Clarifications and affirmations...

Before I even begin to go on about the glorious sunrise this morning I have one or two things to clear up!

1. The Model Man - his name is Albert. I know that isn't even close to Ryan but what can I say. I told you I hadn't reached the name point yet :-)

2. Still like "Albert". I love that naughty boy thing he has going on (and I don't mean that in a nasty way - but in a - he is mischeveous way).

So now that we have that straight - other DWTS observations:

I kind of like the Brazilian race car driver (except for that missing tooth thing - or maybe it is just a crooked tooth but I can't help but notice it every time they show a profile view of him).

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get rid of the millionaire, billionaire - whatever he is. I'd rather watch Wayne Newton.

I still like Jenny Garth. I want to be her friend - do you think I should email her
:-) And the Cheetah girl - she's still the best dancer. Just think what she and My Mario would be able to do together (and did you hear it - the main host guy mentioned Mario last night - did you hear it? Did you? Did you?).

And about that Bachelor thing - well I still think he is okay. He didn't give a pity rose to the chick that took the tumble. That almost made up for the fact that he gave a rose to the body shot chick - guess he thinks someone might be a "sure thing"!

Oh and about that sunrise this morning. It was fabulous. All oranges and pinks and purples. The sky was glowing. It made being an early morning girl worth the trouble. Seriously it was absolutely fabulous!!!

Another tick of the clock...

and the month has passed. I am continually amazed by the speedy passage of time. A wink or two and I'm going to be 60! Okay well maybe not quite that quick - but sometimes it certainly feels that way. I'm blaming it on my kids :-)

So yesterday while we were in church, (we made it on time too - barely, but anything before the first song begins counts as making it on time) Syd was playing with her Ariel, Eric and two Polly Pockets (I know - toys at church but some days you pick your battles and yesterday's battles did not include fighting over 5 inch dolls) As I glanced behind me I noticed something - I noticed that Eric and Ariel were doing a lot of KISSING! Syd is 4 what does she know about kissing? NOTHING - that is what she should know about kissing! Anyway, after mass I asked her what Ariel and Eric were doing - she answered "Kissing". So I asked why they were kissing - well of course the answer was because "they're in looooooove" I mean why else would they have been kissing - it was all so clear to her. And then she piped up to add "they are married, mom". At least she recognizes that marriage is a good preliminary to the kissing stuff! But it made me think - when and how do we talk about this stuff - this grown-up kissing and etc. stuff? I am hoping to postpone the conversation until they are at least 12 years old but I'm thinking that may be too late. Shoot. I'm not ready for this - at least not this year!!! That darn Little Mermaid, I knew she was trouble!

Dancing show tonight!!!

TTFN