Happy Halloween!

Gorgeous night for trick-or-treating in SA! Probably in the 70s when the kids started off, then moved into the 60s. Here's the crew. One of these things is not like the others: Darth Vader, Sharpay, Boba Fett and Yoda!



After disappointing a few too many neighbors last year, I was guilted into creating another Tiny Tot Spooky Spot (haunted hallway) on our covered porch. Of course, I started putting it together yesterday afternoon, so today was a mad dash around town buying full-priced decor and what-nots to fill out my not-so-scary hallway.

Frankie's back!


Each of the two windows had little vignettes with sound/motion activated decor. One had a spinning skull strobe light that changed colors and one had a mirror that changed the image from real to skeletal.



This was one of the areas on the right - between the brick pillars.


Ethan sorting his "goody bag." I thought it was funny he kept calling it that...like it was from the biggest birthday party ever!



Don't forget to change your clocks back. I will be grateful for the extra hour of sleep tonight!

TGIF!

It was a crazy week. The early part was dedicated to Holiday Marketplace preparation. The event was a big success and I'm happy to say, it's now over! We raised more than $2000 for the preschool playground fund! I may have spent a little too much time on the computer lately because stuff like this happens...



That was Lucas into Sarah's glitter makeup. It all went in the trash after that. But don't tell Sarah! I bought a couple things at the marketplace. Two prints from a local artist who does lots of watercolors of Riverwalk scenes. Since San Antonio is probably not our "forever home" I've always wanted to get some kind of artwork from here and these two prints were vibrant and fun. Couldn't choose so I got them both. They are by a lady named Marilyn Moore who has a gallery in La Villita. She also has a blog at marilynsbrushwithpaint.blogspot.com (Sorry my pics show the flash on the plastic cover.)





I also bought this cuff from a lady who uses estate jewelry to make belt buckles, cuff bracelets and compacts. Super neat stuff. It's not for everyone, but I really like this piece. (www.buckleit.com)



Mark and I also got to exchange anniversary gifts. Ten years = diamonds. And he did not disappoint! ; ) Helps to have friends that own a jewelry store!



I arranged for a night away for just he and I in November. It was supposed to be a surprise but then the hotel concierge called and left a message asking if there was anything they could do...blah, blah, blah... and he heard it before I did! So there went the surprise. But it should still be fun nonetheless.

And lastly - the baby boom continues!

Congrats to Dawn, Chad, Aiden and Matthew on the arrival of Grant Thomas!
Congrats to Maria, David, Lizzie, and Sophie on the arrival of Josephine!
Congrats to Serena and Ramon on the arrival of Natalie Rose!

lifehouse Kids Day Out Holiday Marketplace

Please join us for the Second Annual lifehouse Kids Day Out Holiday Marketplace!

Wednesday, October 28th
9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

lifehouse church
20825 Wilderness Oak
(next to Wilderness Oak Elementary)

Free admission and parking!

We invite you to jump-start your holiday shopping in a warm, festive atmosphere with music, food and silent auction items all day long!

Many unique and handmade items available for kids and adults!

Vendors include:
Jennifer Massey Designs - jewelry
My Sassy Pants - embellished clothing and jewelry
Twinkles - block frames
Buckle It - decorative belt buckles, cuff bracelets and compacts
Beijo Bags - handbags
Discovery Toys
2HipMama - baby items, blankets
Morgan's Love Hairbows
Tomboy Tools
Tastefully Simple
Tupperware
Mary Kay
Silpada - jewelry
Lia Sophia - jewelry
Stella & Dot - jewelry
Bellissima - handbags and accessories
TX Foundation of Hope - beaded crosses
Simply Fun - games, puzzles
Pampered Chef
Sana Fashions
Scentsy - electric candle warmers
My Pillow Pets
and many more!!!

Brought to you by lifehouse Kids Day Out
(a ministry of lifehouse church)

Fall Festival

Friday was the Fall Festival at Hardy Oak. It was a gorgeous day - low 80s and sunny. The kids had a blast. Lines were long. Jacob rode in a hamster ball, but since I was working, I didn't see it.

I did get to share a nutritious dinner of chicken nuggets, hot dogs and funnel cake!


Easy on the powdered sugar there, buddy!


Monkey see, monkey do, monket get in trouble too!


Ethan's face cracks me up in this one.


Face painting at the end of the night.

Layla Mae Hizem

Layla was born on October 18th at 2:45 am. in Paris, France. Mama Connie is doing well. Back at home and awaiting the arrival of the grandmas!

Med, Alex and Layla


Sweet girl!


I'm hungry ... again!

Technical Difficulties

Argh! Do you ever go so frustrated with technology you just want to toss your comupter out the window? I'm SO there tonight. I have pics from the fall festival, my new bracelet, cuz Kim's visit... and I can't get the error off the memory card, get the scanner fired up or even find the pics on my hard drive I downloaded from my phone. I'll try again tomorrow. If I can find all the pieces of my computer in the yard.

Yesterday was Mark's and my ten-year anniversary. He worked in the morning and came home early so I could spend the next 10 hours at the Fall Festival at Hardy Oak. And then he got this major cold. And we both needed naps. I'm sure we'll celebrate one of these days. Coincidentally, someone I knew from high school also posted on facebook yesterday that it was his ten-year anniversary too! Brent Chapman and his wife were married in Phoenix (us in Minneapolis), but we thought that was still kind of neat that we were married on the exact same day.

Meanwhile all stops are pulled out for the Holiday Marketplace on Wednesday at the kids' preschool. If you're in SA, you've probably already been bombarded by several emails from me. But hey, that's my job. And you're gonna love the vendors. So get there!

Happy birthday shout outs to my sister-in-law Tanya and friend Roxanne today!

Nine Years Later

The last time Mark and I dressed up for a Halloween Party was in 2000. Mark was Spiderman and I was a three-months-pregnant Cruella De Vil. Here we are as Dr. Feelgood and Nurse Betty.

Cupcakes!

I made these for a Halloween party Mark and I went to on Saturday night. The best comment was that they looked "too good to eat"! Which, of course, is total nonsense! NOT eat cake?!? Blasphemous!

Fun Friday

Well, not really. I have laryngitis. The kids are thrilled since I haven't yelled at them in two days. Headed to NAPA after school to get my flu shot. With all the children. Hooray. At least they can be assured they won't be getting a shot with me.

I wonder if they will have any extra "sharps" I can use for my Nurse costume tomorrow night? Mwah-ah-ah-ah!

Happily, I am subbing in a bunco group tonight and we are waiting rather impatiently for news of Ethan's best friend Matthew's little brother's arrival! Did you follow that? (Matthew is Ethan's birthday buddy from school - see Ethan's birthday photos).

Oktoberfest

You always get to see pics of the kids and stuff we go to...but here's a special treat! Photos of Oktoberfest stolen from Andy's facebook page!

No girlfriends or wives allowed. Harder to pick up fraulein beer wenches when you look attached.



Andy and Jon.



Golfing...not sure why Mark is on his back on the bench. Forgot to ask about that before I posted this...stay tuned for update later.
**UPDATE** They were playing behond a slow foursome and Mark was goofing around, laying on the bench with a tee in his mouth. And there was a ball on the tee.



The motley crew: Joe, Mark, Andy and Jon.



Art? Recycling project? Could go either way.

Hannah Montana Birthday

Sarah's friend from school, Kendall, had a Hannah Montana birthday party Saturday complete with Hannah impersonator! But first, all the little rock stars got to have their hair and make-up done.



Hannah came out and did a few songs. This was "The Climb". The girls were still in shock. Standing, watching, not dancing or singing at all. It was pretty funny.



She got Kendall to sing the show's theme song "Best of Both Worlds" with her. Then she taught them all the moves to the Ice Cream Freeze dance. Her "security" guards in the back came out to be back up dancers!



Singing Happy Birthday... Note to self: dark purple frosting tastes as bad as red. A perfectly good cake, ruined.



Star struck...


On the way home, Sarah asked me if that was the real Hannah Montana.
I said, "What do you think?"
She said, "Nah, this Hannah sounded like she could speak Spanish."

Hahahahahaha!!

Love at First Sight!

Here's it is. The Round Top Dresser! I saw this beauty under a clear plastic tarp in the pouring rain on Saturday. The gentleman running the booth said he'd make me a deal, but I assumed it would still be more than $100, so I walked away. After another 30 minutes tromping through the other muddy booths, we passed by it again and I still loved it. This time, he came out to say "I don't want to put that back in my truck. You can have it for $65." and I practically threw my wallet at him I was so excited!




Sarah has been asking me to redo her room. Her bedding is from the (defunct) Bombay Kids Company and has bugs on it. The color of the bugs will go great with the colors on this dresser. Then I don't have to completely start from scratch. I can just paint her walls, throw this in, change out the duvet for the bugs quilt and we'll be good to go!

All she wants for Christmas...

Just in time for picture day, today!

Crabby Pants

Yes, I have my crabby pants on today. Sick children worries, PTA worries, roof repair worries, preschool fundraising worries. Rotten night's sleep not helping my headache.

Jacob and Sarah both missed school yesterday with fevers. Sarah threw up a couple times and is still home today. Hoping Jacob's fever was a result of his flu mist vaccine last Thursday. He seems fine now. Three neighbors have kids with swine flu. I'm taking Sarah in tomorrow if she's not better.

On a positive note, last night's tennis was awesome! So hot and humid. Great workout. Wish I could play every night.

Can't believe what I'm watching...

Brett Favre in Viking purple beating the Packers. Unreal.

Round Top Girls Weekend

Mark was in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, for four days last week for Oktoberfest with the boys from Des Moines. This past weekend, it was my turn! Seven of us took off for Round Top, Texas, for an antique/boutique/craft fair/shopping extravaganza!

Here we are on the porch of our B&B...Ida, Sarah, Laurie, Roxanne, Candace, me and Charisse.


This farmer was obviously in a hurry to make a buck on "paking". He forgot the R! Can you imagine...spray painting your tractor with a typo?!?!



So what did we buy?



Actually, I got a great pair of Cowgirl Jewels flip flops for half-price, a cute t-shirt, some gifts, and possibly the steal of the century...a hand-painted chest for Sissy's room. I will devote a whole post to it later this week!

We shopped till we dropped...in this handy photo-opportunity of an outhouse.



Day two was nearly rained out. But luckily, Roxanne and I found a vendor with leopard-print wellies and with our Walgreens ponchos, we were good to go!



It was a really fun weekend. We laughed hard, gave each other nicknames, celebrated Charisse's birthday, ate home-cooked meals in our cottage kitchen and made plans to do it again soon!

Thanks ladies!