Happy Halloween!

drawing by Chuckles - age 6

Have a safe and Happy Halloween

Pumpkin Carving

We carved our pumpkins last night.

Chuckle's Pumpkin

#1 Son's Pumpkin - He carved this by himself.

Kev's Pumpkin - He is calling the politically correct ADD pumpkin

pumpkin patch

We went to the pumpkin patch. This is the first time we went to this one. Even the Giant Man Child picked out one. He hasn't decided exactly what this year's creation will look like.

Beautiful Sunrise

Just had to share this beautiful red sunrise this morning. Mt Baker is in the background.

Everett

Last weekend, we met Nonna,Pappy, and Cliff halfway in Everett. We ate down on the waterfront. It was a beautiful fall day.
Kids on a fire hydrant

Our reflection in the water

I've fallen and I can't

I have fallen and I can't blog. Just kidding! The last week has been project central. I have been working on my third rag quilt. These quilts are addicting. The one pictured above is for a friend. Fabric was contributed by myself, Mrs Epi, and Sandy. It was collaboration. I so want to show you the others but they are Christmas gifts. Hopefully next week,I will be taking all three to the laundromat to actually do the ragging process. I also made a few more Flappy's too. It is an addiction.

With help from the Wrecking Crew and the Diva,I was able to complete this wreath. Wreath idea is from here. Doesn't it look nice on my door. The Wrecking Crew painted the paper and the Diva and I ripped the paper and glued. The Diva added the special green bow.

Lastly I have been working on my week in my life album inspired by Ali Edwards. I finally got all the pictures developed and I am putting it together. I promise share this as separate post when I finally finish. I am going to finish. Ali Edwards has a bunch of examples on her blog.

A Monday Laugh

It is MONDAY once again and these songs for commercials will make you laugh.

Hey Pretty Ponies make me smile. This one is colored by the Diva . She has been out with a cold and I am so glad to have my girly influence back.

Make a Flappy!

Make a Flappy. It will make you happy. The Polyester Princess(sister) thinks I have lost my mind now, that I am making finger puppets. Check out these Flappy's.

Brighten Your Little Corner of the World

I saw that quote on King Arthur's Flour Blog this morning. The coffee cake featured (nut free) also looks really good. I thought the quote was appropriate as the rain has stopped here and I see a little bit of sun. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies yesterday at my kids request. These are yummy and make a huge batch.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 ½ cup butter or margarine softened
2 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
16oz canned pumpkin
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cup flour
2 cup rolled oats (quick cooking)
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugars until fluffy. Add egg, vanilla and pumpkin until blended. Add the dry ingredients and blend well. Add chocolate chips. Scoop into balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until peaks are brown.

****NOTE**** you can cut this recipe in half and still use just 1 egg.

Go ahead, brighten your little corner of the world.

Buggy Cupcakes

These adorable red velvet cupcakes were decorated by the adorable Ms Smarty Pants, 6th grader. #1 Son's school has a cake auction and she made these for the auction. It is a big deal as it raises funds for 5th and 6th grade field trips. There were some pretty incredible cakes there.

Recess or Ritalin

Interesting article about playtime and ADHD. I have to agree with many of the sentiments of this article. I often have my son run the steps in our house if we reach a stalemate on homework. It could also explain why my son wants to compulsively scooter ride before school. Is he gearing up his brain so he can remain calm during the first part of the day on a subconscious level?

Frost and the Smell of Fresh Asphalt

Yes, there is frost on the roof of the new school. Fall has arrived. There are still many things still not done at the school behind my house. The playground was recently installed but children can't play on it until the grass grows around that. Don't know when that is going to happen as the frost has arrived. It is funny and sad to watch the kids to stand at the orange construction fence and watch the playground. The driveway and part of the bus lane aren't paved so this morning it looks like they may be ready to finish that. There is also some sidewalk that also needs to be completed. We have been taking our life walking the bus lane with the various buses and construction vehicles.

Yes that is the Giant Man Child on the infinity climbing thing. I don't know how they will keep kids off of this as the adults can't stay off the equipment either.

Bookcase Update

I almost have all the painting done on this beast. Just some touch ups and it will be ready to move into Chuckles room. The black is mouse ears. LOL

Light in the Darkness

To blog about this or not that is the question. I try not do serious on this blog but I am becoming less and less of a fan of public schools. I had a "deja vu" conversation with my youngest son's kindy teacher about behavior and focus. It was eerily the same as one I had with #1 son's teacher about 7 years ago. Boy, I didn't handle that 1st conversation very well nor this time either. I was caught off guard. I have learned a lot since that first conversation involving #1 son and the topic of "focus". I am not wandering in the dark looking for the light switch. Hey, I have some perspective. Is that what experience brings? Right now I'm not in a rush to do anything. Four weeks of Kindy don't make my kid ADD. It means simply that he is adjusting and I am going to monitor the situation and see where the information takes me. That doesn't mean do nothing. It means supporting my child and trying to see what is adjustment, environment, or just temperament. In the past others have determined my course of action. They made me feel like I knew less about my child. I am unwilling to go where other's lead me. This is my kid and I know him inside and out. I am not in denial about his behavior but I need to put into context. If it is ADD, part of me asks "Why me?" Then the obvious answer is "Why not?" I have been down this path. I am seasoned. I know what to do. I know the strategies. For once, my oldest is the candle in the darkness lighting the path.

Pumpkin's Past

Starting to think Halloween as it has turned rainy, here. The Giant Man Child's favorite thing about Halloween is carving pumpkins. Over the years we have some memorable ones.

The Car Crash of 2004

Sailboat of 2005

Wounded Pumpkin of 2006

Who knows what the great pumpkin carver will come up with this year?

Puppets

Don't know if you can actually tell from this picture but this puppet is wearing a bra. Chuckles made this one for me. I ask him what that was on the puppet and he said you know that thing you wear. LOL Just for the record I don't walk around with just a bra on . Nor do I own a colorful bra such as the one on this puppet. They made mouse puppets at school so Chuckles came home and made a whole family of puppets. This was a dog. You can see he put the letter "D" on there along with a lightening bolt. All the puppets had lightening bolts.