Monster Mash!

The second annual Arnett Halloween Party was a HUGE success! It wouldn't have been possible if not for all of my friends and their families. Everyone we invited showed up, some even brought their grandparents. I, of course, took a ton of pictures. Several other mommies did too! I can't wait to see what they captured. Last year I made a photo book from the event. I plan to do the same thing this year. I love watching these cute kids grow up year to year. Makes me sad that we won't be having the big party next year. But never fear, we WILL have it the following year!

Fall Party 2009

Today was Owen's Fall Party at school. He decided he wanted to wear his old Spiderman costume to school. Mommy got to go and help. I was in charge of the G-H-O-S-T (BINGO) Game. The kids were so cute! It definitely got me in the spooky spirit. Several moms and Mrs. McEwen were taking pictures. These are a few that I was able to snap.

Making the Grade

I picked Owen up from school today and we went to lunch just the two of us, like most Fridays. As I was going through his book bag at Braum's, I noticed an envelope. I took it out and opened it. In my hands, was his very first report card! I am so proud of him. He has a few areas to work on, but he is exceeding my expectations. I went over it with him and explained that the plus signs were good. I think he was as proud of himself as me. I'm not sure if we'll "reward" him for his good grades. I like the idea of him taking ownership and finding pride in his accomplishments in education. However, we did get some ice cream as a little treat after eating our lunch. :)

WICKED!

Jen, when I picked her up.

Last night I took my sister to dinner, at Sabor, and to the musical "Wicked". Just the two of us! It was sort-of a "Thank You" for just about everything she's done for me and my family. We are so lucky to not only have her in our life, but to live so close. I've always been proud to have her as my sister, but not always told or showed her. The fact that it was "Wicked", made it even better and mean something more. Jen is the one who bought me the book. She even bought me the Wicked Witch of the West Barbie for Christmas last year. (I think this year she is getting me the Witch of the East Barbie!) I've seen the musical on Broadway last year. But there was something special about sharing it with her. Jen teased me about being "Popular", but she should know that she's "defying gravity"!

Yin Yang

According to the philosophy, yin and yang are complementary opposites within a greater whole. Everything has both yin and yang aspects, which constantly interact, never existing in absolute stasis. This is so true when it comes to my two beautiful children. Boy/girl, brown eyes/blue, sensitive/aggressive, lean/husky. Today was a prime example of the differences. I made an appointment for Owen to get a flu shot. I have had to talk about him getting this for a few days now. Every time he breaks down crying. So when we were walking into the Dr. office, I explained to him that if he was a "Big Boy" we would go straight to Target and he could pick out a toy. The nurse asked us if he would rather get the flu mist in the nose. After a little thought, Owen decided that would be better. I had to pick him up and sit him on the table. He started crying before she even picked up the sprayer. Then he hid his nose behind his knees and hands. We managed to spray it up one side of his nose, but he pulled away just as she was spraying the other side causing the medicine to end up on his cheek. Oh well! Then I inquired as to when Allie could get hers. The nurse said now if we had the time. Allie had been sitting quietly watching the scene described above. I asked Allie and she said, "YEAH!" and jumped off the chair and up on the table. NO TEARS! NO SCREAMS! NO WIGGLES! The nurse came back, sprayed up both sides of her nose. Allie smiled and said, "That kind-of tickled. Can I get a toy?" So we went to Target, Allie picked out a Dora dress-up outfit and Owen had to learn a lesson. Maybe next time, Owen will get to pick out a toy.

You've been "BOO'ed"!

Last night we were "BOO'ed"! If you know what this means, disregard this next little part explaining it. This is a neighborhood tradition to spread Halloween Spirit. You make a ghost and some kind-of treat. Then you anonymously leave it on a neighbors front porch. Here is the note that comes with the treat.

The air is cool, the season fall. Soon Halloween will come to all;

The spooks are after things to do. In fact, a spook brought this to you;

"BOO" is a shield, from witching hour. Just hang it up and watch it's power;

Hanging from a tree is where it works. It wards off spooks and scary jerks;

The treats that came with the crypted note are yours to keep, enjoy them both;

The power comes when friends like you will copy this, and make it TWO;

Then others her among our friends will give warm fuzzies that will not end;

We'll all have smiles upon our face. No one will know who 'BOO'ed' who's place;

Just one short day to work your spell or a big Zap will strike your tail;

And don't forget a nifty treat, like something cute or something sweet;

Please join the fun, let's really hear it

And spread some BOO's and Halloween Spirit!

Now here is where we get some humor in this story. Last night my sister was staying with us and the two of us were hanging out in the office. Nick started barking crazy, so Jen got up and went to check. She didn't see anything and tried to convince Nick he was nuts. About 5 minutes later, Nick starts barking again. This time Jen quickly jumps up and proceeds to approach the front door telling Nick to knock it off. However this time she gets the pee scared out of her. On our front porch is a woman crouching and frozen in that position at being discovered. Jen opened the door and the woman began quickly telling her that she is a neighbor and was just dropping this off for the kids. Today I found out it was a mom of one of Owen's classmates. And that Jen scared her. Apparently she had dropped the "Boo" off the first time Nick was barking, but when she got home she realized she forgot to include the note. So she came back, and then got busted!

After school today, we passed the Halloween Spirit on to two other houses in our neighborhood. Owen got to put one on one porch and Allie did the other. They loved it!

The Pumpkin Massacre

For the very first time ever, we carved some of the pumpkins. Daddy explained to Owen the process of how to properly carve a pumpkin (without losing ANY blood). I bought some candles so on Halloween, we will have our Jack-O-Lanterns even lighting the way for trick-or-treaters.

Applejack Pumpkin Patch

The weather was AMAZING today and Jake had the day off, so we decided that we would all go to the pumpkin patch and get our pumpkins. Several mommies from Owen's class went as well, along with his classmates and their younger siblings. It was a lot of fun! This was a perfect way to spend the afternoon. Enjoy the pictures I took. I look forward to seeing some the other mommies took.

SPIDERS!

Saturday was Critter Storytime at Watermark Bookstore & Cafe. So after swimming lessons we drove to the book store to hear an Eric Carle, The Very Busy Spider, and got to see a tarantula. I am always surprised at how fearless Allie is. They didn't get to touch the real spider, it was a wild one that someone found. But they got to touch a molt of one. Owen chose not to, but Allie was right there front and center. Afterwards, we stopped at the Cafe to see Nennie and sample the spider theme treats she made. I would have to say the whole thing was a big success. I wonder what will be visiting us next month?

She'll potty, if SHE wants to!

Taken 2/19/09

Allie has always shown some sort-of interest in the potty-training process for over a year now. She wanted to get a Dora potty seat to go on the BIG potty. She wanted to buy big girl panties, but just to look at them or wear them over her pull-ups. We even got her dolls a little potty to have her learn the process.

My daughter has an aggressive personality. If she wants something, she goes for it. All on HER terms! Well, this morning was not any different. Recently she acquired a trunk of 4 princess costumes from the "Binkie Fairy" (still NO binkies!!!). I happened to mention then that if she went pee on the potty, I would buy her the box that had the 4 pairs of princess shoes to match.

Flash forward to 9:40 this morning. We had just done swimming lessons (which she LOVES). I know for a fact that she won't pee in her swimmers, but will wait until I put on her pull-up. So when I took her swimmer off in the locker room, I asked her, "Do you need to go pee on the potty?" She sat there for a few minutes and then she looked at me and said, "So if I go pee on the potty, you'll buy me the shoes to match my princess dresses?" I paused and replied yes. Then I asked her again, "Do you WANT to go pee on the potty?" She said, "Um, yeah." So I walked her into the bathroom stall and picked her up and sat her on it. She held herself on it and pointed to the side of the stall and said, "Shut the door and stand out there." I was shocked, but went with it. I held the door closed and stood around the corner of the stall. Within seconds, I heard her peeing! I can't believe it. Actually, I CAN! If she decides, it happens. Granted it was just one time and I plan on holding out until we can get panties on, but it looks like I will be buying some princess shoes in my immediate future!

Martha... Eat Your Heart Out!

Since we returned from NYC/Boston, my son has been hounding me about getting ready for his Halloween Party. So last week I sent out evites to all our friends and this week I went to Hobby Lobby to get supplies to make decorations. The weather outside has been rather dull and gray, so after Owen got home from school yesterday we sat at the table making the house look "spooky" as they like to call it. Tomorrow Owen doesn't have school, so he and I are going shopping just the two of us to buy his costume and maybe some more decorations. Then we'll have lunch. I love this time of year!