2 Days till HALLOWEEN

When I dropped Finn off at school this morning there was a noticeable elevated level of excitement amongst the children.....a vibration of anticipation. Halloween was near!!!! I was surrounded by 3 and 4 year olds all wanting to tell me what there were going to be for Halloween.........kitty, princess, pirate, transformer....the list goes on and on.

As I climbed back into my car to head to work I noticed a higher level of excitement in me as well. Thank you children.....Halloween is only two days away, pumpkins to carve, costumes to finish and candy to buy. All must be done within the next 48 hours. Are you ready?

Last night as I was looking through old photos, I

found these of Halloween from years gone by, enjoy!

Finn's First Halloween - 2006 Lion

Snow White (Kayla) & Mulan (Kirra)

Halloween 2003

Halloween Table at Grandma Edna's 2005

Lion eating Baby - St Anne's Halloween Carnival 2006

Farmer Todd and Wife- San Marcos Pumpkin Patch 2006

Last Years Halloween 2008

Teddy - Pennsylvania Pumpkin Patch 2006

Trick O Treating 2007

Rancho Del Oro Halloween 2007 Drew,Julianna, Lucas and Kayla

THE TREE THAT NO LONGER WAS

I always find it extremely hard to remove/kill any living, growing thing. Why is that? Is it based on my roots in Christianity....the 10 Commandments "thou shall not kill", or from Buddhism...........I may come back in my next life as the tree I just cut down?

My Landscaping Crew

Juan and Miguel

Tools of Choice

Juan will be using a chainsaw

and Miguel will be using a "Foam" Pirate Sword

End Result

Sad....Bare....Empty

In fair representation of the homeowner (me), the Pepper Tree had to come down. Usually for growth to occur you need to provide water, proper maintenance and care......we did none of this and the tree began to overtake the backyard. The canopy of the tree was killing our grass and had extended so far it was dropping leaves into the pool. In one word.....MESSY!! We didn't even plant this tree, a bird dropped it along the fence line, in the beginning we thought it provided nice security and privacy. We also learned Pepper Tree's have a horrible root system and it could cause problems with our pool plumbing if it became much bigger, so out it came.

Todd will be removing the stumps this week,

we will then "plan" with a Landscape Architect the correct plants that should be used along the fence line for privacy and easy care!

$2.00 Halloween Craft

This is the perfect project for working mothers.

You will need:

1 yard Halloween Fabric

Sewing Machine

Old Twin Pillow Case (for use as pattern)

Scissors

30 Minutes

I let Finn pick out the fabric, I kept his choices to two bolts or we would still be at the fabric store waiting on his decision. The fabric he chose was $2.00 a yard.

Use an old twin pillowcase to lay on top of fabric, trace around the old pillowcase leaving a 3/4" margin. Cut and sew. It only took me 10 minutes to run it through the sewing machine. For a little bit more pizazz, I used a zig-zag stitch around the top.

For $2.00 and 30 minutes of my time Finn has a custom made Halloween pillow case.

Finn's pleasure: PRICELESS

Eeeeeeeek!!!

It can't be?

Is it really?

Are my eyes failing me?

A Long Gray Hair

This morning as I was styling my hair, I noticed one strand of hair wouldn't stay in place and stood out in contrast to the strands around it. Upon closer inspection, I gasped and screamed.......Oh No!!! A gray hair. It was at least four inches long and had a mind of its own. I immediately ran to get my fiskars and cut it off at the base. Wondering why I didn't pull it out?

Old Wives Tale #3,013

If you pull out a gray hair,

it will be replaced by ten more in the same location.

If you are wondering what to get me for my next birthday.........

hair dye!!!

Tiago Turns Three

Has it really been three years since we headed off to see Tiago for the first time at Scripps Encinitas Hospital?

Birthday Boy with balloons, presents and a birthday foam sword!!!

What more could you ask for?

Grandpa helping Tiago open his gifts.

Tiago was a good sport, his cousin Finn could barely stand it, he wanted to open and play with it all. He had a hard time accepting it was Tiago's birthday not his......a lesson we all must learn, eventually.

Tiago blew out the candle on the first try.

I adore the look on his face!

As I close this post, I reflect back to the beginning of Finn's third year and find myself excited for Tiago's parents. This next phase in Tiago's young life will be such a delight with new discoveries, increased vocabulary, slight independence......I am loving three!!!

Mirarmar Air Show

Last Sunday, my son and husband left the house early, very early to make sure they arrived at the Miramar Air Show before crowds and parking became unbearable. A good parent knows the success to any excursion with children is about planning around long lines and crowds, get there early is our motto!!!!!!

Finn's First Air Show - C5 Galaxy Background

Is he really only 3 1/2?

Perspective
Engine C5 Galaxy

Finn at flight controls of KC135 Refueling aircraft


Male Instinct
50 Caliber Sniper Rifle

Please pray for his mother.....

Machine Gun at the hands of a 3 year old!

Transformer Helicopter

CH53

Finn touching Transformer helicopter....big thrill for him!!
CH53

Strapping in UH1 Huey

Navy Fire Helmet

Can you guess what Finn wants to be for Halloween?

I love the military presence in San Diego.

Sempre Fi, GO Navy!!!

Oktoberfest

Boys dancing by the light of the moon........

Oktoberfest is a must, it gives me the opportunity to do the Chicken Dance at least once a year. Thanks to my father we always have tickets and attend to support the High Noon Rotary. My father worked the hot dog/sausage booth from 12pm to 4pm. On our way to soccer, Finn and I stopped by for lunch so we could get a close up look at Grandpa serving hot dogs with sauerkraut.

Evening festivities began at 7pm, we met at Violets home since she is conveniently located steps from the Oktoberfest. Not sure if this a positive or negative for her and her neighbors when 10pm rolls around and you can still hear German Polkas from the living room.

Tiago & Dev

It's getting harder and harder keeping him on my hip.

Why do they grow up so fast?

Love this photo of Dev & Todd

Everything turns into an adventure

when you have Finn and Tiago along.

Walking to Oktoberfest

Tiago & Finn kept our path well lighted.

We felt very protected!

Sisters enjoying German sausages.

*You can thank Todd for this photo.

Diving into sauerkraut, German potato salad and Chicken Apple Bratwurst. Check out Tiago, wondering why his ears are covered? The Band was getting a little loud.....

Homemade Hot Cotton Candy, this has become a rarity in San Diego. Our County Fair no longer offers freshly made Cotton Candy, it is all pre-made, pre bagged....horrific tasting.

With Devon's braids, the blond and blue eyes....

you could believe they were both German!

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

Beer for the adults....Jumpees for the children.

She was the clown of the day,

she made swords and helmets for both boys.

Ready for battle, let's hope they don't

encounter a porcupine.

We couldn't get over the freshly made Cotton Candy.

Fat Free

Still didn't get on the scale Sunday morning.

Thumbs Up to the Local Police Dept,

they kept everyone safe & well-behaved.

Tired Little Boy

Don't let October pass without doing the Chicken Dance.....

Happy Monday

Tiffiney & Kayla
This picture should help with Monday blues.....
having fun with Kayla's new phone/camera!!