Saturday Fun Part 2

We had such a good time trick-or-treating & seeing our friends!!

Saturday Fun Part 1

So this morning we used the coupons we had for four free games of bowling and hit the lanes (we tried hitting the pins, but that didn't always go so well).

Nicholas tried the ramp, the bumpers and doing it all by himself - which amazingly to us showed us how competitive he really is. He was getting so mad at himself each time he didn't knock any down...even if he only got a couple he was mad. So many conversations in the span of one hour in regards to not always winning, sometimes getting zero etc...non of which really sunk in I think.

This is after the very first melt down...

This is after the third...

Overall we had an ok time...but it wasn't quite what a thought it would be. Guess we can't win em' all.

Needless to say BOTH of these children are taking a nap now. Let's hope Trick-or-Treating goes over better than bowling did...

More Milestones for Nick

Thursday, October 29th - the Nickerman lost his first tooth!!

Typical of him getting his first baby teeth - I -the mom- am oblivious to this. He had told me a couple of weeks ago on our way to school that his teeth were loose. I felt, noticed nothing and in the back of my mind thought that he was too young to start loosing his teeth already.

Nope. Daddy notices that Nicks tooth is not quite as white as it used to be and realizes that this puppy is ready to come out at any moment!

His tooth was holding on just enough that I had to give it a good tug but it popped right out - and I think Nick was just so excited that he let the "pain" go right away.

After all of the fuss of mom and dad the big guy had to go check it out himself.

Our big guy is just growing up...

Mr. M

So tonight Nate & I watched Mr. Magoriums Wonder Emporium - such a good movie! It made me smile, it made me laugh and it made me remember about the hope and sparkle we have when we are kids! This is a wonderful movie that deals with loss and love and being true to and believing in yourself and what you have to offer.

One of my (many) favorite quotes from the movie (brought me to tears)...


Mr. Edward Magorium: [to Molly, about dying] When King Lear dies in Act V, do you know what Shakespeare has written? He's written "He dies." That's all, nothing more. No fanfare, no metaphor, no brilliant final words. The culmination of the most influential work of dramatic literature is "He dies." It takes Shakespeare, a genius, to come up with "He dies." And yet every time I read those two words, I find myself overwhelmed with dysphoria. And I know it's only natural to be sad, but not because of the words "He dies." but because of the life we saw prior to the words. [pause, walks over to Molly] I've lived all five of my acts, Mahoney, and I am not asking you to be happy that I must go. I'm only asking that you turn the page, continue reading... and let the next story begin. And if anyone asks what became of me, you relate my life in all its wonder, and end it with a simple and modest "He died."

Molly Mahoney: [starting to sob] I love you.

Mr. Edward Magorium: I love you, too. [picks Molly up, sighs heavily]
Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.

Pumpkin Carving (and guts!)

So tonight it was time to carve the pumpkins! Of course the boys...well really Nick...was interested for all of 5 minutes and then doing progress checks ever 10 minutes after that.

So it was up to the big guy and I. And in all actuality, we had a great time...remembering our first Halloween carving pumpkins in my tiny attic apartment, remembering every year thereafter and why we did or didn't do pumpkins and what we had done each of those years

(he is now looking over my shoulder correcting my punctuation so maybe I'm forgetting all of the good times - HA!)

So here is the main man really getting into it!

Here are my pumpkin guts. Laugh all you want, but I dig this stuff out with my rubber gloves on - so nasty - the smell alone makes me want to gag!

Above is the "scary" pumpkin face that Nick picked out.

2/3's of the boys.

Me and the Nicker.

Making more memories.

Cutie Patootie!

Halloween at the Y

Friday night we got the boys (aka Luigi and Mario) dressed up for Halloween at the Y. We had SO MUCH FUN! We did some games together, did some divide-and-conquer style, got lots of prizes and candy, saw a lot of friends...it was a very good night!

It all comes back around...

So this past Wednesday I joined Weight Watchers. I had been thinking about this for a long time - that being the decision of what "plan" to start. I've done the liquid diets - loose weight only to gain it back. I've tried the pill diets and got a little scared off of those. So after thinking long and hard about what was my main struggle (food) I decided that WW was the 'weigh' to go (hahaha).

Brian being the supportive guy he has always been was all on board for whatever he could do to make this easier on me and we both love finding the 0 calorie items I can eat as much as I want of (my fav. yogurt - key lime pie - AMEN!).

In initially talking to him about this though the topic of "go to meetings/join the group" vs "don't go to meetings/do it online & alone" came up. I of course went with the "do it alone" route (big shocker for those that know me) and he said that at some point or many points it might get more difficult to stick with it, and at that point I am going to need others that are along this same path as well to motivate and encourage me. Valid point I said, but my experience with more than one individual trying to loose weight has been that the larger of the two or of the group generally look down on the smaller of the group with disdain as to "why would YOU need to loose weight!?" My take on this has been while I may be smaller than you, there is someone else who is smaller than me (and so on and so forth). I also feel that we each do it for our own reasons...loose weight, eat better/healthier, form better eating habits, etc. Choose one, choose them all...

So anyway, we let that conversation drop...until after church last night...

Now I have never considered us poor. I have also never considered us rich. We are very blessed and while at times we have been stretched thin (2 mortgage pmts for 15mos after moving here - arghh!) we have never been down and out and for that I am extremely thankful.

So last night our pastor starts off his sermon directing it towards those who are rich and makes the comment that those who feel they are not rich are not invited to take a nap as this is towards all of us. He made the comment that approx. 8% of the worlds population owns a car...WOW! So as he pointed out, the fact that some of us are able to drive one or even two cars does in fact make us rich! Kind of makes you think... bigger, smaller, rich, poor ...kind, generous.

Makes you think...makes me want to do better, be better...

It all comes back around.

1Timothy 6:17-18 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

We're feeling Hot HOt HOT!

Scarecrows and Sillyness

So last night Nick came home with an extra pack because it was his turn to make the pumpkin scarecrow...such fun reading the story and watching him cut and color!

So tonight it was all about trying on our Halloween costume (well, we had to make sure it fit! ha!) This year I was not about buying costumes (spendy!) so when Nick said he wanted to be Luigi (Mariokart) I looked at the box and thought to myself - "Hey, that looks pretty easy - green shirt, bibs, black shoes, white gloves and a green hat with an L on it" - and doesn't he just looks so cute!!!

And of course the Tator wanted to join in on the cheese!

I think we're ready!