halloween pics with rahul

This morning-right before lunch (I know, really bad timing!)-Rowena and I brought the kids out to take pictures of the kids together. We wanted to get them all dressed up for Halloween.

Henry and Rahul are Spiderman.

Marcail is a fairy.

Naomi is a Super Hero Girl.

The Four Together....

There are more Halloween pictures to come as we will be venturing out tonight....

Happy Halloween!

mr. jack

We cut open and gutted our pumpkin yesterday after naps. I thought that the kids would like taking out the innards of the pumpkin but they were pretty grossed out so they mainly watched me tackle it. I was fine with that really-me being the neat freak perfectionist that I am! Once Mr. Jack was finished they thought he was pretty cool. We even lit him up too!

Mr. Jack, our jack-o-lantern.

halloween pumpkin cookies

The Halloween mood is upon me and I felt the need for pumpkin cookies to help with the festivities,miniscule though they may be, for our young family.

This is the First time I've ever, ever allowed my kids to decorate cookies with me! I am a bit of a neat freak perfectionist so this was a stretch. And, besides, the kids are 3 and 2!!!! That's just crazy in my book to allow kids that age into my kitchen. My sanity and patience is tested enough without my kids "helping" me with baked goods. However, I decided this would be simple enough: After I frost the cooled pumpkin cookies with pre-made Betty Crocker Whipped Cream Cheese frosting they would place Fall colored M&M's atop the scrumptious goodness of said cookies. And you know what?? They did fabulously! I had to keep a close eye on their work so I didn't get photos of the during process but I got a few of the finished product.

Yum, right?!

halloween readiness

Today seemed like a good day for wearing Halloween shirts. Found these cute shirts at Target. I splurged cause I like Holiday shirts! I was glad when the kids were cooperative enough to pose in their shirts for me.

This morning, I felt brave enough to let my little monsters paint. I squirted some paint onto two plates and gave them each a little paintbrush. We also used some Halloween cookie cutters as stamps. They worked well! But, after stamping, the kids painted over them-so that extra effort probably wasn't worth it. They had a great time painting, though! I believe Henry is going to be artistic. He took a lot of time and thought as he painted. The girls practically had their paper covered in paint within a few minutes while Henry still had lots of empty space on his. He did so well.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to make pumpkin cookies and let the kids help decorate them after they've been iced. Also, we will probably carve our pumpkin!

canon powershot a610

So, I took my camera to the "camera doctor" on Monday. Got a call back from the repairman on Tuesday with the news that my non-flashing flash and lack of 4x optical zoom is a much more complicated fix than I had hoped for. He told me that the problem lies in the board (a short) This is the circuit board-its what makes the camera click.
and that it would take $225 to fix by ordering a brand new one. He also said I'd be better off buying a new camera and just using mine for the time being since it works, just doesn't flash. Talk about disappointment! This is my camera.

I love my camera and looking online at the different digital cameras out there is overwhelming! So, I'm shopping and coveting all the digitals I can't have while looking at the ones we can afford. *Sigh*

P.S. By the way, the board for the camera is what the boards look like that James orders pieces for in his job. Only they're much larger since they're for computers or radios and other larger electronics.

the barette master at work

I heard Marcail calling, "I'm do-one!" yesterday afternoon. She needed wiped after she'd used the toilet. So, I walk into the bathroom to find this:

She just wanted to be wiped! I just wanted a non-blurry photo.

Yes, the masterpiece of 2 barettes in fresh-from-nap-hair. Priceless!

check out henry's mad dancin skillz

He seriously cracks me up!

early birthday/christmas presents!

When we got home from the beach yesterday, running in the rain!, we had a package waiting for us in the office. It was from my Grandma and Grandad in Kansas! We call Grandma Beckman Great Grandma Bubbles-Sean started it! ;-) In the box was pjs for the kids and a Toy Story toy each for them. Also, they got a Toy Story book with sound to share and we each got a mini box of Junior Mints! They are one of my favorite candies. I got a KU t-shirt complete with bling on the letters (love it!) and James got a pair of KU slipper socks. He's not here now, he's in Ocala, but we couldn't help ourselves! We opened up his gift anyway! The kids were just absolutely thrilled with everything! Thank you so much, Grandma, for thinking of us! They are holding their new toys and wearing their new 'jamas (as the kids call them).

Marcail in her new 'jamas. What a cheese face.

Henry in his new "Buh Light-ear" (Buzz Lightyear) 'jamas.

Naomi really likes her 'jamas!

Here I am, sportin' my new blinged out Jayhawk shirt! I love it! I also love the self-timer on my camera, it comes in really useful when James isn't home. Thanks you guys, so much.

makeshift toolbelt

Henry has been taking his tools to play with at the beach lately. In order to tote all the tools he wants to bring he sticks them inside the waistband of his shorts. He never gets them in without making his shorts crooked and hiked up. Yes! He's a dork--but he's our dork!

Henry: The Tool Boy

the baby

...who is not really the baby anymore but the youngest! Naomi was a willing participant in a mini photo shoot yesterday. She basically did her own poses too! What a sweetie she can be.

Naomi: The Cuteness

little girls and barettes

Marcail has mastered the art of applying barettes. She will come out of the bathroom where we keep the barettes, sporting 4-5 of them randomly clipped in her hair. Because she is so fantastic at putting barettes in her hair she is also a willing helper for Naomi whose barette(s) always seem to be slipping out of her fine hair. Naomi now sometimes prefers Marcail to put in her barette over me. It's these little things that make me snicker at Marcail's darling dork-ness. They also remind me that she's getting so grown up! She and her twin bro, Henry will be 4 in 2 1/2 months!<gasp! > I just can't believe it!

Marcail: The Barette Master!

embarrassing moment of the day

So, after lunch today, I decided we should take a walk around the block. It's only about a 5 minute walk. It was enough to get some fresh air before the kid's naptime. I am wearing this outfit today. It doesn't match. I know this, but I'm okay with that. I'm comfortable and that's what matters to me today. So, we're out walking and I'm wearing this: (but wait, it gets better!)

I'm reveling in the beautiful 85 degree weather with winds from the NE at 18 mph gusting to 23 mph. It's gorgeous and I'm lovin it! Even if it is windy! Then, half-way through our walk I realize, with a start and a look of horror for all to see if they are looking at me, that I still have dabs of face mask on my face!!! I had put it on after my shower this morning and forgotten to wash it off! I'm a busy mama of three kids.....that says a lot! But, seriously?? How do I forget something like this?? I was glad I had left my hair down and was wearing my sunglasses too. It was easy to hide the fact that I had huge dots of white stuff on my face! I just had to laugh at my embarrassment. I was glad I had decided on taking a short walk! We got home and I put the kids down for their naps. I was going to immediately wash my face of the mask--but not before I took some pictures.

At least I'm not too proud to share this with you. Now you can laugh with me.....or at me. I don't care which.

it's happened!

This morning, right after breakfast, I heard Henry dump out his legos. This is what he came out with--a gun! He is officially a boy who makes guns out of legos. And I think it's cute!

Marc was not to be left out of the photo taking this morning after I took a picture of Henry and his lego gun. She was in her pjs and had her dress up shoes and purse on to play mommy. She has a fever of 101 (since Tuesday) but no other symptoms. It hasn't stopped her from playing and singing like normal!

I think it's cause I'm giving her extra Berry Well. I'm also giving her the Umcka ColdCare. These are my all-time favorite natural remedies to fight the sickys away! I think they really work.

boston was great!

Here's just a sampling of the many pictures I took of the trip. I had to borrow Nicole's camera a lot since mine really needs to see a camera doctor!

Lexington Green

I've posted all the pics that were taken of my trip to Boston on facebook. Here are the links for you to enjoy!

Boston--Day 1

-Arrived Boston mid-morning

-Ate Indian food (took pictures)

-Walked around outside the Lexington Green (took some pictures)

-Shopped at the mall

-Ate at The Cheesecake Factory (took pictures)

Boston--Day 2

-Walked to the T (the subway) took lots of pictures

-Walked around Fanueil Hall (took pictures)

-Looked at the Harbor (took pictures)

-Took the T to Newbury Street (took pictures)

-Met up with Nic's friends (took pictures)

-Shopped and walked Newbury Street (took pictures)

Boston--Day 3

-Went to church (it was raining)

-Ate at Panera Bread for lunch (Yum!)

-Hung out at Nic's house(took pictures)

-Watched a movie (it was snowing)

-Took pictures of the snow

Boston--Day 4

-Went to work with Nicole (she's a nanny)

-Took pictures

-Went to the airport

-Got home at 11:45 pm

-Slept!

It was so beautiful there and Nic and I had a really fun time. It was really nice to get away from mama duty and be "single" for 4 days. Thanks to my husband for allowing me to be gone for so long and for willingly and happily caring for our kids. Thanks to my mother-in-law for the gifting of the plane tickets! And thanks to Nic for her hospitality!