Oh, yeah...

Sorry, everyone, in my mad dash towards Thanksgiving and Christmas, I sorta forgot about Halloween. Well, here's the proof that we celebrated. Heck, we even took our kids trick or treating for the first time. Sadly, now, all of the good candy is gone, and all that is left are the memories...and dum dums.

At Craig's work party with the GCU "Cantaloupe."

Not a great pic, but apparently one of the only ones documenting the trick or treating act.

One cheerleader, minus the pom poms

that I carried in my purse all night.

Mom-o-lantern

Getting geared up for the ward party.

Cotton candy for the serious connoisseur.

Savanna plus one bar of chocolate equals pure delight.

From the Monson Family Test Kitchen

Savanna’s Recipe for Disaster*

2 tsp. vanilla
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. ground mustard
1-.8 oz. container of ground ginger
1-4 oz. container of cinnamon
1 oz. bubble solution
6 T. Knorr chicken bouillon granules
4 T paprika
8 T parsley flakes
87 toothpicks
sprinkles

Directions: Go downstairs for an orange. Get distracted, skip the orange idea and decide to climb onto the countertop; then start pulling everything out of the closest cupboard. Spill bubble solution onto the countertop and then climb across the stove to the spice cupboard. On the way, knock down the frying pan from the stove onto the floor and dent it. Empty the spice cupboard. Pour all ingredients into a teapot; top with sprinkles. Wait for mommy to find you. For best results, spill paprika all over your pants, take them off, and then poop in your diaper while sitting on the counter. Serves 12.

*measurements are approximate.

the ingredients you will need

the process

this is what the finished product should look like

Laughing Out Loud

Okay, so most of you guys know that I at least try to use this blog for a little bit more than just stories about and/or pictures of my kids...you know, like letters to the neighbor's dog and stuff. Anyway, that being said, today is going to have to be a kid day. Because not only are my children adorable and practically perfect, (*wink wink*) they are also hilarious. Allow me to demonstrate.

On Monday, we made an impromptu visit to Daddy's work after J's flu mist only doctor's visit turned into a well-visit with 3 unplanned and very tortuous shots. (Yes, all of our talk about a simple spray up the nose and No Shots went straight out the window.) Since my sweet honey is just about as perfect and adorable as the girls, he left work for a few minutes so we could take the girls to a park and allow J to be comforted appropriately. Sadly, after good times at the park, we had to take him back to work. (My persuasions for him to leave work early went unheeded; Craig kindly reminded me that it was only 11 a.m. Whatever.) So as I was pulling away from the curb and we were waving goodbye, Savanna was a little appalled.

S: "Where's Daddy going?"

Me: "He's going back to work, sweetheart."

S: "Why?"

Me: "He has a job, honey."

S: "Why?"

Me: "He has to work."

S: "Oh! To buy me presents?!"

Only two years old, and she already knows the real reason that the men in our lives have jobs.

Fast forward about 20 minutes and we are almost home. As we pull up to the stoplight at Southern, a big truck hauling cows stops right next to us. I told the girls to look out the window at the cows and they are, of course, delighted. (The windows were up, so thankfully, no unexpected smells were wafting in.) Julia starts counting...

"One, two, three cows...and a Honkey!"

Hmmm. Well, the driver of the truck was a white guy. I know what you're thinking...closet racist, right? That might be true, but she actually just had a brain lapse and forgot the word donkey.

I laughed all the way home.

Another Note

Dear Summer,

Remember that time you started to go away and let your friend Fall take over? Yeah, it was really nice for a couple of days...I got out the pants and long sleeves, unshelved the tea pot and even ran the heater (once.) Then you thought it would be funny to butt back in line and make a little comeback, and here I am using the air again. Only, I'm not laughing. Just sweating and sad.

So...could you go away again? Don't worry, I'll be waiting here for you in 6 months with my bathing suit and sunscreen handy. Thanks a bunch.

Kind Regards,

Hot Pregnant Lady

Just a Note

Dear Neighbor's Dog,

Hi, it's me, the lady next door...you know, the one who you like to bark at while she empties the trash, or closes a window, or opens the back door, or breathes?

You may not know this, but your incessant barking is driving me crazy. There is often enough going on in my head in a given moment that any constant, outward noise is just about enough to put me over the edge. Especially when it echoes against the brick wall five feet from my home.

So...could you put a lid on it for a while? Thanks.

Kind Regards,

Neighbor Lady