Jack O' Lantern

I now have my very own Jack o' Lantern! Her name is Isabella! One of her top teeth fell out today during lunch and she came back in the classroom super excited! She got a cool tooth necklace to go around her neck and a sticker. Now we have one other VERY crooked tooth that should hopefully fall out any day.

She said, "Mom, if my other tooth falls out today, do you think the tooth fairy will leave me $100?" "UMMM...That would be NO!".

I also told her that her tooth was crooked and she panicked saying, "OH NO, I thought you meant my grown up teeth were going to be crooked like yours" ... Gee, thanks Isabella!
 

We had the classroom Halloween party today and the kids had a great time! They had snacks, did a craft, got goody bags and I read 2 Halloween stories! It is also Red Ribbon Week and today was crazy hair day as evident by the many bows we put in Bella's hair :)

I have a lot of work to do this weekend to prepare for my wedding next weekend. I hope to have everything done this weekend so I can relax and not stress too much this coming week. Wish me luck!

MVP, MVP!!!

Back up for a sweet little story. Isabella has been waiting a really long time to get MVP. She told me at the beginning of the season, "MOM...I REALLY want to get MVP because I really want to go on a vacation!" It took me a few minutes and I smiled and said, "Sweetheart, you get a trip to Islands...but that is a restaurant, not a vacation!"... "Oh, do I get to take a boat there?". Probably the only girl who is so use to going to Hawaii that you say Islands and she thinks vacation. It is still one of my favorite stories.

Well, yesterday Isabella finally won her trip to Islands. She played awesome!! Better than we have ever seen from her. She ran the whole game (Evidence by her beat red cheeks) not a lackadaisical run but her real trying hard run, she played great defense not letting those girls score, she covered girls, she stomped on the ball and spun it back several times, she dribbled down the field well and she didn't loose her head once from the game. She said, "But I didn't score a goal"...and we told her "See, you don't have to score a goal to be MVP...you were trying so hard"! GO BELLA!
 

Pumpkin Patch 2011!

We had a great time at the Pumpkin Patch last night. The kids really enjoyed it this year and Vin was super into it! They had the best time riding the cars, sliding down the big slide, and just running around. A wonderful Friday Night with family (We missed you, Calagnas'!)

Don't you LOVE the witch shirts that Grammy Nancy and Bella are wearing? Grammy Alice and I made them (we both have one too)....so look for matching pictures on Halloween!

Can't Help But Laugh!

We took Halloween pictures yesterday after school (these are from the website - low quality).

Well, the Popcorn costume was a TOTAL debacle. The first thing Vincent did since he was so excited to wear it was break a strap getting into it. So we were down to one strap and it ended up being too long. It was originally too short, then I fixed it and of course it ended up being too long (the Box should sit up higher). Then, he was very excited to take pictures and plopped himself down (he usually takes pictures sitting, but this costumes doesn't do sitting)...It makes the loudest cracking sound and I freaked because I thought it broke. I pick him up and he gets mad at me, so he starts ripping popcorn off his costume. His hat keeps falling off...Oh My Gosh!! Every time he smiled he would close his eyes. The lady was goofing around with him to get him to smile. Well, you can't really do that with Vincent because he won't sit still then. He wants to goof back. HA HA HA HA! The lady even had to call maintenance in after we were done to vacuum up all the popcorn. In my defense, I did ask if she had a broom because I was going to sweep it up myself.

But all in all, they turned out cute and once again I will have the memories, just like last year with the Beast costume. Isabella looks darling! And I just have some hot gluing to do before Halloween night. :)

Playdate with Friends!

Isabella had early day all this week for conferences. On Wednesday we set up a play day with Kendal. Then Isabella asked if sometime she, Leila and Kendal could all play together. I said, "sure"...and since I pick up on Wednesday asked if Leila could come over as well. Then Nicolette lives right down the street so we thought she could come over and she didn't want to come with out Natalia (her sister) which ended up to be 5 little girls + 1 little boy!

We missed Kendal's birthday and wanted to make it special for her. We baked cupcakes and sang happy birthday (well, I didn't have a birthday candle after all - so poor Kendal got a very huge red taper candle stuck in her cupcake - HaHa!).

They had lunch, baked/decorated cupcakes, did a Halloween craft, watched a movie and played upstairs. They had a great time and might I add, even cleaned up the toys before leaving! It was a very exciting day for Isabella and as the girls were leaving they were planning another date to play!

Hobby Lobby

My Mom asked, "Do you have any requests from Hobby Lobby?"... And upon their return from Texas, look what they brought me! So happy with the kids ornaments for Christmas this year (I usually try to theme with something that has gone on in the year or their characteristics) and my gorgeous C pumpkin! Thanks Mom and Dad!

The great news is, Hobby Lobby is opening in Rancho. The kinda sad news is, it isn't going to be my little secret place in Texas for ornaments, etc. But I am still excited!

Saturday!

Coach Mike taught the girls a cute little chant today before the game. I loved it. And despite being in la-la land quite a bit, Isabella played hard.


Here we are waiting for Daddy to get some Carne Asada to BBQ. Those top two teeth have GOT to come out soon. They are hanging on only by threads, but she doesn't want anyone to go near them.

And I just LOVE LOVE these roses that are blooming right now on my bush. Right by the kitchen sink where I can see them the most! They certainly make me smile!

Oh, Vincent!

This little boy - oh excuse me, he is "not a boy!" - Vincent (only) has such a mind of his own. He absolutely hates (a bad word in our house) dinner time! He fights so hard not to have to sit down at the table and eat with us.

We hear: "No dinner", "No like dinner", "It's yucky", "No wanna eat dinner no more", "I not hungry", "Mom, Daddy told me sit down!" "Daddy turned the TV off!" ...

He cries when Daddy tells him he has to sit down at the table. And Daddy usually responds "I know, Daddy is so mean making you eat dinner!". He cries so hard you would think he got spanked. Of course, it is fake and finally he sits down. Sometimes he ends up taking a few bites, sometimes he doesn't...but he has to sit down and talk to us as a family and he isn't allowed to have any snacks after dinner just because he is hungry and didn't eat what Mommy made.

What a stinker! I try so hard not to laugh.

31 days to clean - Update

Well friends, with being sick and my Mom being in the hospital, I fell off the 31 days to clean wagon. Let's face it, by the time I moved on to the living room after spending all that time cleaning the kitchen, the kitchen was a disaster again. The vicious cycle! But, I took Monday and cleaned the downstairs really good. I took Tuesday and cleaned the upstairs really good. So I am feeling pretty 'clean' so to speak. I just have one load of laundry to put away and the floor downstairs that needs to be mopped or swept a zillion times a day. I will get back to the 31 days book. I really enjoyed doing it. I especially like cleaning out and organizing cabinets!

Halloween Time

My munchkins in their Halloween pajamas!

Wanted to share this adorable banner I made for the back room. I will probably add the 2011 pictures, but costumes are still in the works. Adds a fun touch and makes me smile!

Rocker Proud!

Guess what! Miss Isabella scored her first ever Soccer goal at yesterday's game. WOO HOO! It was our game for snacks. For halftime we did "Rockers" munch with chex, pretzels, marshmallows and  yogurt raisins. Yum! For post game snack we did bags with Capri Sun water drink, pudding, popcorn, grapes, a pencil and eraser, and tattoos! Let's go Rockers! After the game we went to dinner at Yard House - above is a picture of the kids racing their Grandpa Horses :)

Isabella's first soccer picture! My girl makes me proud!

A few randoms + Daisies

Just a few randoms that were on my camera...1. Vincent is definitely my child with the lining up of the cars. 2. He even decorates very well; helping with my Halloween Tree 3. My cute hat I made that I wear to all the soccer games.
Isabella is loving Daisies. She earned the center of her Daisy by saying the Girl Scout Pledge, the yellow petal by being helpful and considerate and 2 fun patches from a church service and library day. 2 girls go to her school and 1 is even in her class :) Plus the leader, Michelle, was a friend from college! Small world.

10 Things To Smile About...

A few days late, but worth the wait ;) Just wanted to rhyme.

1. First Soccer game
2. Bella earning her center, yellow petal and 2 patches in Daisies
3. Fall decorations
4. Cooler weather
5. Pumpkin Spice coffee for the Keurig
6. My Mom being able to walk and seeing God answer our many prayers
7. Seeing my family really come together when needed
8. Having the love and support of my Husband and my In Laws
9. Seeing the sensitivity of my Isabella
10. Witnessing the love my Dad has for my Mom. Very inspiring...

My Dear Mama

As you all know, last week was pretty much a 'hell-ish' one! Just knowing the pain and ordeal my Mom must have went through trying to get to a phone for 4 hours was hard enough. Helping my Dad lift her and seeing her not able to walk, period, was harder. I didn't have to see her being transported by ambulance, but I know that was hard on my sister Jenny. Sitting home and waiting was too hard for Amy and I, so we prayed, and finally gathered around my Mom in the emergency room. My Brother had his whole team and many others praying for my Mom. I was worried that I wouldn't see her walk again - that her MS had finally got to that point as I have seen her be able to walk less and less over this past year. But amazingly, going from being paralyzed one day to standing and walking the next was a true miracle for our family. We thank every one of you who took the time to send prayers out and keep us in your thoughts. God Bless You!

Doesn't she look awesome for being in the hospital?

She wrote a little something:

Family, Friends & Supporters,

Thank you so much for all your prayers and good wishes. My Mother always told me that one of the most powerful things in life is prayer (a direct communication with God). I prayed so hard Tuesday morning for his help as I laid on the floor unable to move. What I needed was your prayers and good wishes. The doctors were baffled that I could stand on my own the next day. But I know why - My beautiful children, family and friends had put me on many prayer lists throughout the country. "From your lips to God's ears." Thanks to all of you. You will forever be in my prayers every day.

Love, Nancy Hansen

Been a LONG week....we are all tired!!