Have Lots of Kids..Your Odds are Better

Yes, this is my new motto. The more kids you have, the greater chances you have of at least one of them turning out OK. This is the ending to my costume drama. I'm still sitting here with my Sponge Bob band aid from the giant slash to the finger last night at midnight putting the costume together for the kid I forgot (scroll down to read about my total lack of memory for anything that happened more than an hour ago). It's one of those moments where you have a bag of material, beads and glue and somewhere in your mind you put a check next to the "have costume" box. Last night I was up making an Aladdin costume for the one that just can't be easy and get a scary mask or one-piece zip up costume (he was a penguin last year). I got everything glued down, hand stitched (because I don't sew), tied on, and went to bed crossing my fingers. At 6 am, because they can never sleep in, he gets up and talks incessantly not about the costume itself, but how great it was because I stayed up and made it for him (he knows I'm creatively challenged). Just when you least expect it, they pull out all this gratefulness and love that makes the rest of it worthwhile. So he didn't wear the hat (how can you blame him, the sour cream tub probably still smelled and it was held together with kite string), the puffy paint was still wet, but he wore it proudly... even with his brother laughing (who of course, suffered the wrath of his father and told his Wii was going in the trash). Can you believe I pulled it off? Actually, it was more him than anything I did. So the costume parade at school is done, just the nighttime to go. Besides, who will notice anything falling off of it in the dark?

Here's a picture of how it turned out (my boy's the proud, smiling one in the puffy, purple pants!) Not really a great shot, but it's hard to get anything at those parades!

How Do You Forget About a Costume the Day Before Halloween?

I have admitted about a million times before that my mind is like a sieve these days..has been since my first one turned 2. That's a lot of years of forgetfulness. Ask me about anything that happened 2 days ago and forget it. What what I talking about? Oh, right costumes. Let's start at the beginning. My youngest son (Thing 2- 7 years old) wants to be Aladdin for Halloween. Disney doesn't make an Aladdin costume for boys. They make them for adults, but not kids..go figure. I'd love to see a man walking around with the puffy pants and velvet vest who's wife didn't force him to wear it because she wanted to be Jasmin...not that I understand that either. After going through three pregnancies, this is not a stomach I would want to bare to the world. I am, after all over 30 and past the point of sexy costumes. I'm more like the mean witch with a flowing robe that hides everything. Back to my boy. The only Aladdin costume I found was in several costume shops in England and I am certainly not paying a gazillion dollars to have a piece of gold lame that's going to rip in 10 minutes shipped here. So, being the dutiful mom I went to Walmart and bought a crapload of material, beads and felt. Keep in mind I can't sew, so of course in the basket went that "no sew" fabric glue, too. Can you only imagine the poor kid being made fun of? This is something that I do..several weeks before any sort of event, I get all creative with lofty ideas of a hidden Martha Stewart inside me. Not only is she not there, she's sitting on my shoulder laughing. Then, the stuff sits in a bag until the night before and I freak out. Here we are..up to speed. With a bag of beads from Walmart in the garage and a costume parade tomorrow at 8 o'clock.

Bloggy Carnival is Here

Fine, I'm late..but so excited the bloggy carnival is here!! Be sure to click the link on the right to check out all the great prizes being offered. So much great stuff and only one week to get them all in. Our contest is sooooo easy! All you have to do is be a crazy friend and you're in (see the crazy mom friends/followers to the left). Sign up to follow this blog and leave a comment in the comment section. A winner will be picked at random on November 1st from all the new followers. Here's what you win: with the holidays coming, there's always lots of parties to attend...yeah, cocktails! To look your best, we are giving away a dramatic eye kit from ELF (Eyes Lips Face). Everything you need is included, even an instruction sheet on how to make smokey eyes for those of us who are make-up application challenged. Smokey Eyes contains Drama Eye Shadow, Black Earth & Water Mascara, Eye Liner in Black, Smudge Brush and Eye Lash Curler. Good Luck!

They're Coming, They're Coming!

My family is coming to visit tomorrow and I'm so excited, yet completely exhausted! Why is it that the ones you love the most, who really could give a crap what your house looks like are the ones you want to make it the nicest for? I've been in crazed cleaning mode..finding old (revolting and stinky) sippy cups under the beds, finding the long, lost shoe (months after I threw out it's match), and screaming like a drill sargent at the kids to clean up the back yard. As much work as it is, it's always awesome for my house when people come to stay. Actually, it's sort of my built-in cleaning regimen. I've tried all the little short cut ways, but let's face it..I'm the worst house cleaner. None of my mom rubbed off on me in that department. I chalk it up to the fact that it's more important for me to spend time with my kids than have an immaculate house. I've had a clean house..and it sucks. Don't get me wrong, the clean part is wonderful..but I turn into mommy nuerotic (fine, I'm mommy nuerotic half the time anyway but this is different). I walk 2 feet behind them with the words "Are you done with that..put it away then" spewing out of my mouth all day. After they have a snack I'm a crazy person with the spray cleaner getting the crumbs off the counter. I don't want to live like that! It's time we went on strike and lived among crumbs..that's how I feel. Besides, I subscribe to the whole insane germophobic theory of today. The kids' immune systems today are all jacked up from sanitation. Mine are never sick and it's because they live among the germs. Don't get me wrong, it's not like we live in a pit crawling with feces and empty pizza boxes..I clean. I just don't have a fancy little organizer for 'my supplies' with a schedule of toilet boils on Tuesdays or something equally as annoying. Besides, you all know once you pass kid #2, the five second rule turns into the five minute rule so there you go.
Anyway, back to my family coming. I'm beside myself with excitement and scheduling visitors each month so I can get a good thorough cleaning in...who wants to visit me in November?

Having a Bad Day? Give Your Kids Dessert!

I know it sounds crazy, and this is not exactly a case of bribery..although admit it; as parents we've all used bribery now and again (or again and again.) During those days when the last thing you'd like to do is something nice for anybody..acutally you'd more like to hurl insults at any random passerby, give your kids dessert. Tonight, not that it was a bad day, they got Moosetracks chocolate ice cream with an Oreo shoved in the middle. Yes, dessert is huge in our house. Anyway, while they ate I went in the next room and a few minutes later I hear them rehearsing songs for me. It took a good 15 minutes to get it right who was going to go first, the lines, the tunes, all of it. I then walked in the room to chocolate faces and rounds of "I love Mom" in song. It was the best! I put it in my mental rolodex for that 'terrible day' and wanted to share it with you. Definitely the way to go after a crappy day. How can you still be mad with smiles, chocolate and little voices screaming your praises? If you still are, as a backup put them in bed at 7 o' clock and make your own bowl of Moosetracks ice cream with an Oreo shoved in the middle..if that doesn't work, nothing will.

Fall is Here!

My favorite season is fall...I love it! The promise of the holidays right around the corner (but not yet at the frantic panic of getting it all done), decorating the house, the leaves, the changing weather..it all gets me. I have to admit though, that while I love all the wonderful things Southern California has to offer, I'm still a Midwest girl at heart. There's not that many trees, so we don't really get the changing of the leaves. And although it's nice to be sitting here in shorts and a tank top, I miss needing a heavy coat and the cold, crispness in the air. But, cooler weather is coming..even for us. It'll only be a few more days until I get to cozy up in a sweater and light fires in the fireplace (it pays to get cold easily.) Either way you slice it, it's the best time of year...a new school year, pumpkins and the fun of choosing what to be for Halloween. Happy fall everyone!