You've got to love kids!

Typically, I'm not a cereal for dinner type Mom, but tonight...I was. This morning, I made a big waffle breakfast, followed by a big lunch out. After an afternoon filled with Christmas decorating and Thanksgiving prep...cereal it was. Now...I am a rock star. What makes matters even better, I bought some "good" cereal. Total rock star here. I didn't even make anybody (well Hope, but she asked for a carrot) eat a vegetable. I had a PBJ sandwich, yogurt, and sorry to disappoint, some spinach salad and carrots.

What I find entertaining lately...

This is what I took to the bus stop this morning. This is one heck of a fun girl these days. With that being said...she can be a huge pain in the buns too. Like when we go to the grocery store. ha But I have certainly been enjoying this girl lately.

In fact, all of my kids have been super entertaining lately. Hunter is fun to watch wrestling. I enjoy that WAY more than expected. Who knew?? He got a technical pin (he won on points by more than 15 points) and then in his second match he pinned the kid. But what made me smile was when he said, he just knew the second kid he wrestled was Mormon. I asked how he knew...he said he could see a sparkle in his eyes. He asked the kid and he indeed was. Interesting. Hannah did the family home evening lesson last night. She did such a great job. Better than our (Scott and myself) lessons have been lately. Everyone was engaged, Hunter even complimented her!! Good job Hannah. Speaking of Family Home Evening, Hayden was especially entertaining last night. He indeed was engaged in Hannah's lesson, but he can be so silly too. He indeed was on one last night and had us all smiling...until he went too far ;) I'll spare you the details. But hey, isn't that just the way it goes. That kid oozes personality, for good and bad.

Free beauty advice:by Heather

So, I was watching a DVR'd Oprah the other day (the newest one with Doctor Oz...you might have seen it) and they had a very interesting piece of advice. I don't know about you, but I hate scraggly heels. Hate it. I put lotion on every single night in fact, it's part of my ritual. But even with all my lotion applying, I still get rough heels. Well, the lady on there said...to buy yourself some Stridex pads (the kind most normal people would put on their face), rub the pad on your foot, apply lotion and socks and poof no more scraggly heels! I have been doing it since Friday, and have the smoothest heels. Now, I did do the heel scraper thing before (like a pumice stone), but I'm telling you normally, they would at least be rough again. No roughness. The Stridex pad has salicylic acid in it, that's what does all the work. Just thought I'd share.

Who wants cauliflower ear?

I really should be making dinner right now, I need to get on that, but first...

Its has been rainy here all day. I think "winter" is here. I have enjoyed my new slippers today. The Fall was so beautiful this year. I was lame and didn't take nearly enough pictures. I took some, but none that are blog worthy, you'll just have to take my work for it-BEAUTIFUL.

I have made two really good things this week: Chicken Enchiladas with Creamy Green Sauce, Lighter General Tso's Chicken. There is no link on Everyday Food for that bad boy, sorry. It's in the September issue, I do believe. Maybe if I'm feeling really nice I'll type that one in. (later) It was a goody.

I didn't blog about this yet, but on Friday I went to Hunter's first wrestling match. Oh my. I don't have brothers, and I had never been to one. I don't know anything about wrestling. Really. But I'm learning. Scott came for Hunter's match and then left. I called him when Hunter was next up, he could bugger out of work for a minute and then went right back. But it was fun, and way more intense that I suspected. I did have to laugh out loud a couple of times about some of the wrestling "moves". Very interesting is all I have to say ;) I did mention I think, that I told Hunter in the beginning I wanted him wearing that head gear-all of the time. I showed him pictures of cauliflower ear just to be sure he'd listen. It's working so far, in fact he said now most everybody wears the head gear. Who wants cauliflower ear?? But anyway, it was intense and I yelled and screamed way more than I though I would. The Momma Bear came out.

It's fun to be a girl.

Hannah and I set off to the mall this weekend. After I returned Roomba, I had some birthday money burning a hole in my pocket. I tried last weekend to find some treasures, but none were found. (although I did have LOTS of fun looking) Fast forward a week and it was a total different story. I love Nordstrom. I love their clothes, their shoes, their make up...love love love. I love the Rack, too. Anyway, we parked at the Nordstrom when we got to the mall, because I like to wander through there, and I haven't for a while. So, we get there, and there is like NO parking. Not a good sign I'm thinking. But we finally got rock star parking and I very quickly realized why there were so many people. It was the half yearly sale. Glory days!! I didn't even know it. Hannah is becoming quite the fun shopping partner. My mission was jeans and black boots. I ended up finding a little pile, put it on hold while I checked out the Gap, found jeans that I LOVED at the Gap, but still came back to Nordstrom and did a little damage with my "pile". I found shoes that I loved. One pair I ended up putting back, because I was trying to be all responsible, and I just had to have this green jacket. But I ended up with some very cute black boots. They are a little edgy. By edgy I mean pointy toe, and shiny leather...a little edgy but why NOT??!! Hannah told me I "had to get them". I put them on for Scott (when I got home) and he said "they are hot!" In fact he went on to tell me all boots are very sexy. Did you know?? I was telling my Mom about them, and she asked, "Are they kind of hookerish?" I had to laugh out loud. Maybe a little Mom. But don't worry, I won't wear them with any skimpy skirts and halter tops, okay? I did have a little fun at the makeup counter with my BFF Bobbie Brown. It's fun to be a girl.

After our afternoon of shopping, we went to see High School Musical 3. Oh yeah, I know you are jealous. I must admit, I was tapping my toe, that tub of popcorn and half lemonade half Sprite was tasting mighty good... and it was better than I expected. Plus, knowing how happy it made my little girl-totally worth it.

The bye-bye's

1) Hope
2) Hayden
3) Me
4) Hannah
5) ?
6) ?

When Hope was sick and throwing up, she called throwing up the "bye-bye's". She'd point into her mouth, and say "bye-bye". I knew when it was coming (she'd tell me), and now when we say, so and so has the bye-bye's she totally knows what it means and points down into her mouth. Hannah is the next soldier to fall. Scott is leaving again, so he might luck out and not get it, or he will just spread the wealth tonight on the plane, not sure. I told Hunter to get ready. I told him, he had better not throw up from his tall bed. He has a history...he threw up once from the top bunk...just hung his head over the side and blew chunks. Imagine if you will, waking up to THAT sound. Gross.

So, McCain lost, as I'm sure you know. This was an election full of drama. Truth be told...I didn't LOVE either guy. Hannah told me she didn't want to go to school this morning. They have talked a lot about politics here in Hannah and Hunter's classes. That's good. Apparently, Hannah had been talking smack with some girl and didn't want to face her today. :) I have enjoyed all the calls for coming together as a nation. Can't I have just one day of "oh pooh?" Guess not. I watched/fast forwarded Oprah today. I like Oprah and she was on my nerves. In the spirit of looking forward, being positive and "coming together as a nation" (where has all this "togetherness" been for the last few years?) here's what I think: President Obama is a smart man, I think he is very genuine about his desire to "clean up" America, I do think it's cool we have elected a black president, and he is one charismatic guy. Let's Go America!

Girl...

I was in Wal-fart today grocery shopping, and Hope was on her best behavior. No, I lie. She was being terrible. I think she is allergic to Wal-mart, seriously. I think I am too. I had to change my meal plan for the week because they didn't have stuff. Like sweet potatoes and mangoes. Aren't those pretty typical things to carry? Whatever. I'm flexible that way, and I had some other ideas. But anyway, I was buying some new socks for Hayden because the child told me he was out of socks...and I just washed his laundry late last week. Not good. He is a sock loser that one. And so, Hope was being terrible, and she was crying around...and this African American woman comes up to me and says "Girl, you better get a hold of that one!" I wasn't offended, I was actually rather amused. I "play" slapped her in the arm, and said "Girl, I know it!!" We had a jolly good chat right there in the Wal-mart.

Can I just say, I hate that it's dark by 5 pm!! It's nice that's it's not dark still when Hunter goes to school, but goodness. 5 pm!!

Happy Halloween

Cool yard in the neighborhood.

"OH my goodness!"

Trick or Treat

Daddy and his girls. Scott was channelling the Jolly Green Giant last night.

Hunter didn't want to go out trick or treating, so he stayed home and passed out the candy.

Darth Vader was going to be a ninja, but he couldn't find his costume (well, he couldn't find the shirt part, everything else he had) from the trunk or treat last Friday. We went to the "Boo Bash" on Wednesday, and he just told me he didn't want to be a ninja anymore. He came down crying about 1/2 hour before candy time and spilled his guts. We think he left the shirt at the church at the trunk or treat. That kid :)

She saw that candy bucket at the store, and it was a must have. She carried that thing around all night! Anything "princess" is Ah Ha Ha. We think it's like... ta Da? I'm not sure, but that's the best we can come up with.

My little witch. She was pretty darn cute last night. She even lost a tooth later that night. The tooth fairy "forgot" to come, but thankfully remembered after she woke and question about the lame tooth fairy.

The "master carver". We waited to carve pumpkins until Thursday, because we thought Scott would be home. As it turned out, he was late. BUT, all the kids help scoop out the guts, but Hunter and I were the "master carvers". (his term)