A Lot to Learn

Two of my former runners, Kegan and Andrew, went to the charity dinner with me tonight. I forgot to pack a dress purse when I left the house this morning so I had nothing with me to carry my keys, cell phone, and chapstick in this evening. Both of them were looking quite handsome in their suits so I asked if either one of them would be my "date" for the evening and carry my stuff in their pockets. They both looked at me like I asked them to grow an extra arm or something. They've both got a lot to learn before they get a wife someday.

Happy Halloween!

Mommy: Come on Jake. We've got to get you in your [Darth Vader] costume for school.

Jake (crying and whining): Nooo! I don't want to wear it. I'm scared!!!

Mommy: You're scared of your costume?

Jake (more crying and whining): Yes! It's scary! I don't want to wear it.

Mommy: But Jake...YOU are the one in the costume. How can you scare yourself?

Needless to say he loved it once I wrestled him into it. He kept running through the house making the cape flap in the wind behind him.

A day of extremes

Happy Halloween!

Today is going to be a crazy day. First of all, it's in the low 30's this morning but it's supposed to hit 60 today and be in the upper 50's for Trick-or-Treating tonight. That's fantastic considering how cold it has been here this week. The timing couldn't be better but it makes it a little hard to get the kids dressed in the morning. Talk about having to dress in layers.

As for me, I've got a lot of stuff going on today that require wardrobe changes of my own - and none of them are costumes! As office manager it is my job to have office activities on the holidays. This year we're having a pumpkin carving contest. We have a bunch of huge pumpkins in the conference room and we'll be carving them throughout the day so I needed to dress for being messy today. I'm starting out my day in yoga pants and a t-shirt so I can get "down and dirty" with pumpkin guts.

When all that is over I have to head straight to a charity dinner this evening which means full hair and make-up and nice clothes. Talk about having trouble getting ready this morning. I had to find an outfit for today as well as tonight and make sure that all necessary undergarments match both. What a pain in the ass. I have a small bag that I had to pack with make-up, curling iron, etc. as well as shoes, pants, tops (yes, tops....I need options for tonight). And of course a bottle of perfume to help cover the pumpkin smell.

What a crazy day it's going to be!

It's Time for Some Campaigning!

Entertainment for both sides of the political aisle. Enjoy!

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The Funky Monkey Dance as performed by Jake with Lincoln playing the role of Sock Monkey

I'm enjoying going through all my old photos and videos of the kids. I am so glad that we live in an era where having a video camera is as easy as carrying my camera in my purse. The night this was filmed was absolutely hilarious but I honestly wouldn't have remembered it if I hadn't come across this video on my laptop.

This activity went on in the kitchen for a really long time and what you're seeing is only a small part of it. Hannah and I were laying on the floor laughing our butts off. Jake was so entertained by the "Funky Monkey" dance that Lincoln was doing with one of those old sock monkeys. Remember those?

Judging from what he is wearing I'm pretty sure this was Easter night 2006 which would make Jake about 16 months old. Here he is that same day at Grandma and Grandpa Snow's house:

Mommy's little helper

Sometimes getting Hannah to get herself ready for school in a timely fashion is harder than making a working space ship out of paper clips. And then sometimes she really surprises the hell out of me.

I was cleaning up the kitchen this morning when she woke up and came downstairs. I asked her if she wanted to empty the dishwasher. (She's at that stage where the idea of having chores is actually exciting to her.) She emptied the dishwasher and then sat down to eat her breakfast. Jake had already eaten and was playing Star Wars. Once she finished eating I told her that I had to run up and take a shower and that she was in charge of Jake until I got back.

I came downstairs about 30 minutes later and not only had she gotten herself dressed she had changed Jake's Pull-Up, had him try to go pee in the potty, and brushed his teeth and hair. She also had brushed her own teeth and hair. The only thing she didn't do was get him dressed. I quickly got him dressed and started gathering our bags together. While I did that she put on Jake's shoes and coat and then put on her own.

She was SUCH a great helper today. I don't know what got into her today but I like it.

Vintage Video

In February 2006 Hannah and I went to Seattle together. Debbie, Mom, and I took Hannah to Sunday Brunch in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Space Needle. This is the dessert that she got. I don't remember what it was called but it was really cool. The funny thing is she couldn't take her eyes off it - mostly because I think she was a little afraid of it.