Pumpkin Carving, of course

Let me start with a confession: I don't like pumpking carving. It's not that I don't like to carve pumpkins myself, in fact I LOVE to do them myself ~ that's the artsy side of me ~ it's the mess. Watching my 3 children cut, scrape, play with the innards, and wipe the pumpkin goo all over whatever spot in the kitchen or themselves is not already slimy, makes my left eye twitch. {And just so we're clear, I'm admitting this only so all the other anti-playdough anti-paint moms can feel better about themselves.} However, I will participate in this activity every year because it's tradition, because it makes my children very happy, and because I actually will enjoy it once I get into the goo. The result of the activity is always delight for everyone. Me included.

Last night, after the children had asked at least 35 times if we were EVER going to carve our pumpkins ~ which we grew ourselves by the way--oh yeah I can do dirt with the children :) ~ Hubby talked me into it. I gotta say, there was no eye-twitching mess. Pumpkin carved 3 crosses for Jesus into his pumpkin, and Princess's "mommy's gotta carve me a horse idea" turned into a "let's make yours polka-dotted" idea from daddy carved with a drill. She's super happy ~ it's a cheetah pumpkin! And Peanut was perfectly happy doing her "homework" with the pumpkin "paint" and lining up the drilled out pumpkin parts, which she said were the little ones ready to go to MOPS. Awwww what a sweetie! But then she all-too-happily chucked each little MOPS person into the garbage.

So tonight we're going to our church Carnival Extravaganza, so I'll post our little trick-or-treaters later! Happy Halloween!

P.S. I'm posting a photo of the spider who greeted me at the front door last night. EEECK!

So, I've made "A Mother's Confession" to you, tell me something your children or family love to do that makes your eye twitch.....

Evidence of a Good Day

I'm sure I'm not the only parent that wants to know what goes on at school each day. When I pick up Pumpkin from school, I want to drill him with questions ~ What did you do today? Who did you play with? What did you learn? However, I learned during the first year of pre-school that Spanish Inquisition style questionning does not work. So I try different tactics in order to get a glimpse into his little world away from mommy.

Today's format began with:

Name 5 things that happened today that
were fun, and verbatum he answered:

#1 Football

#2 Art

#3 Another game of football

#4 Playing Star Wars characters

#5 Not having the bully pick on me at recess

I laughed out loud at the innocence of the answers regarding recess, was happy about comment #5 as the situation seems to be improving, and continue to wonder ~ with a giggle ~ when his answers will contain anything to do with actual schooling.

Actually what struck me more than his cute answers for love of football, were his jeans. Seriously? I'm quite sure he brought home more dirt today than he left on the playing field. But aside from being a laundry nightmare, his jeans were evidence of a good day. A fun day. The best kind of day I can hope for my little boy.

And as any good scrapbooker would do, upon entering our house, I sat him down to photograph the evidence.

I love you Pumpkin! You can come home with seriously dirty jeans any day.

Friday's are my day off.....

I think I need to make Friday's my official day off during the week. No doing MOPS, no doing work-work, no making tons of phone calls. A day for being lazy in jammies. Of course, that's never gonna actually happen, but if I think of Fridays that way, maybe it'll be a bright spot in my busy week! hee hee

Don't get me wrong. My busy week is of my own doing and I truly love it. I cannot just sit down or sit still. I'm a freak multi-tasker. So really my Fridays are going to be Floor Fridays---meaning scrub the floors on Fridays---so they might actually get done once a week. I say might because I know myself better than that. Just because it's on the list does not mean I'm gonna do it. I'll find something else to do instead.

I recently joined Facebook, so there's something else to do instead. It's really cool to be connected with old friends and faces. I was talked into it by my friend Andi, and I think she's secretly in a contest to see how many friends we have. Don't tell her I'm winning! LOL Ah the life of a busy yet bored mother, right!

I'm happy to be home from Texas and can't get enough of my kids' hugs and kisses. They're my pride and joy I tell ya! Maybe I need to follow that up with some cute new pics, huh? I'll get right on that, right after I finish my hair, finish scrubbing the floors, fix the toilet paper holder, fold the girls' clothes, wash the rugs, get going on my bookkeeping work, pick up kids from school in 29 minutes. . . . .

While I'm here in Texas......

It's been a few weeks-ish since my last update on the family. I'm currently in Dallas, Texas at the MOPS Convention, so it'll be just a quick one today.

The kids are doing well, or so I've heard through Hubby and the babysitter since Tuesday. It's so wierd how badly I need to and want to get away, but then when I have the chance, I spend the entire time not only missing them all but wishing I was with them. Aaaahhh. I'll be home on Sunday for kisses and stories and maybe we can all sleep together Sunday night. Hey now, I know I'm not the only one.....

Last night and this morning I and my friends from my group, Andi and Heather, along with the 4,000+ other MOPS women here at convention, worshipped with Kim Hill, Jaci Valesquez, and Nic Gonzales. Unbelievable! We also got to get funky with a FABULOUS kid's music group, Go Fish (http://www.gofishkids.net/cms/). If you haven't heard of them, you need to get their CD's. Their motto is to make kids' music with Bible teachings that won't make parents go insane. It's great music! Their new album is called "Party Like a Preschooler." You gotta get it.....


Updates on our family & friends:
Hubby's grandma is doing well. Liz is taking full-time care of her and they are taking it day by day right now with therapy and recovery.

Nico went home after about a week post surgery. The scans show all the brain tumor was removed successfully, Praise the Lord! The tumor is malignant so he's preparing for chemo and radiation.

Hubby's cousin had her surgery yesterday and she's doing well. Her tumor was successfully removed doesn't require further treatment. Huge answer to prayer!

My cousins's baby also had her surgery on the 29th. The tumor and her tailbone were removed, and they're waiting for results and for her recovery.

Our first MOPS meeting is on Tuesday. We hope we're ready! hee hee We know we're ready but you know....all those details.....Our tables are full and we do have 10 MOPPETTS workers for Tuesday most of whom--maybe all--where's that list?--have volunteered to help full time.

My schedule doesn't seem so hectic (or at least it didn't last week when I was "using" it.) That's a great answer to my prayers.


At a class this morning, I was again reminded of
1 Thess. 5:17 to "Pray without ceasing." Amazing.

I miss my husband and kids......