BOO Hoo Hoo

I love holidays, the preparations, late nights scrambling to finish projects, making lists, checking them twice and the joy they bring. Halloween seems to be the start, marking the beginning of a highly anticipated holiday season. Halloween has never been a big one for me but I do love costumes and candy so each year I give it a good effort. I also love how much it means to so many others, how excited they get about decorations, awesome party treats and coordinating costumes.


















This year though I can't say I gave it my all, more like a 75% effort. My early pregnancy sickness squelched my motivation for wonderful costumes and Trexen declaring he doesn't like to dress up didn't help restore it. The boys still don't really understand trick-or-treating and I'm swaying more towards the mom who just buys them a bag of candy at the store than traipsing around in the cold getting plowed over by big kids for some sweets . In good holiday spirit though I got a bit creative, turned Trex into a fisherman and Pacey into his fish.


















Well despite my three quarters effort it was a Halloween filled with lots of boo hoo hoo. Trexen was awake most of last night, his first soccer class didn't go well this morning, one of them was crying the entire day, very short naps and we only made it to two houses trick-or-treating. The boys cried going to my cousins, cried because I wouldn't let them eat all the candy, cried on the way to auntie Jenna's and kicked it up a notch to screaming on the way home. At 4:45 I put them in the bath, scrubbed and declared Halloween to be over. Jeff brought home pizza and they went to bed early. As I was grabbing my camera card I stubbed my pinkie toe, spilled my water and still hear the boys crying in bed. Oh me oh my, boo hoo hoo.

























We will move on, get ready for the next holiday and step it up. You do get what you put into it so I guess I shouldn't be surprised BUT look out Thanksgiving I've got a ton to be thankful for and Christmas get ready... you know I LOVE you.

Halloween Party

There were pirates, a parrot, Mario, Cat in the Hat, a fisherman and fish, Rainbow Brite, an owl, a candy corn and more. One of my favorite parts of Halloween, other than the candy, is seeing all the little ones in super cute costumes. My three year old informed me this morning that he and his brother don't like to dress up and don't like costumes, a few other kiddos agreed with them while other never took theirs off.

























Our fabulous host had everything decorated with ghosts, bats and webs with a delicious spread of food. The mamas enjoyed hot cider and chatted about weekend plans. Some of the older ones made foam pumpkins concentrating so hard.






































We of course had to attempt a group picture which was hilarious. It was seriously like a "ready, set, go" snap the picture kind of deal. At one point though all the kids were silent just starring at us mamas with our cameras like we were crazy.


















A few of my favs were the Rainbow Brite because it looked so soft and comfy, I wanted to wear it and the lumberjack because it was creative and homemade. All of the kids were pretty stinkin' cute though.


































Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween Festivities

Here is a list of some Halloween events around the area for this weekend, have a wonderfully Happy Halloween!

Kids/Family Events-

~Downtown Madison Family Trick-or-Treat: Friday Oct. 28th 2-5pm
~West Towne/East Towne Malls Trick-or-Treat: Monday Oct 31st 4-5pm
~Halloween at the Farm: Saturday Oct. 29th 6-8:30pm
~Apple-Palooza: Sunday Oct. 30th 10-5:00pm
~Beakers & Broomsticks: Friday Oct. 28th 6-8:30pm
~Spooktacular Cupcake Decorating: Saturday Oct. 29th 11-4:00pm
~Middleton Business Trick-or-Treating: Friday Oct. 28th Noon-5pm

Have a fun weekend, hope to see you at our Halloween Party Friday!!!

Due Date

Finally today has arrived, we would figure out what is going on in this belly and when our baby will arrive. You would think it would have been easy this time around to determine due date since we were actually "trying", I was calculating and re-calculating fertile days multiple times each week and we did everything my $50 e-book told us for a girl. However when that positive pregnancy test appeared and I talked with the nurse her predictions, based on my period, just didn't mesh with how I was feeling. I mean how could I be throwing up just days after conception and then a positive test not even a week later and how in the world could my belly be pooching out already and really why would I need to unbutton my jeans at dinner last night if I was only 8 weeks.

So Jeff and I drove all the way to the west side for a surprisingly short appointment. With my first two babies the ultrasound technicians were very annoyed and frustrated both times because I was actually only 6-7 weeks when they had thought I'd be further. They struggled forever to get the right pictures and measurements and were rolling their eyes at my flat tummy. This morning however quite the opposite. Now if you can't picture this scene it is very awkward, at least for me, my husband sitting in an odd location seeing things he probably doesn't want to with the tech using embarrassing terms and sticking a large instrument up me. So as I lay there freezing cold and uncomfortable the first words out of my husbands mouth, "um wow that baby looks really big already", oh thank you hunny, kind of like the other night when he grabbed my butt and said "oooh", yes I know that is code for "your butt is expanding".


















Anyways the very friendly tech agreed with him, transferred measurements to the computer to discover I am actually 12 weeks due May 12th. Apparently you can be pregnant and still get a period, who knew it wasn't just a story you see on TLC. I am extremely excited to have a May baby but am struggling big time. As you know I've been praying for years for a baby girl and when I went off the pill in May started a prayer journal. I also started "Big Prayers", focusing on 3-5 things each month that are huge, things I feel so strongly about either for me, my family, friends, work, etc. As you can see below one of my big prayers has been to get pregnant with a healthy baby girl in August. That exact prayer has been in my big prayers every month so when I got my period end of August I was crushed. I cried, prayed and pulled it together, God is God, He is good and knows what's going on. Now I find out I did get pregnant in August!


















Oh I am nervous for 8 weeks from now, who am I to doubt God, He can do anything even give me a girl BUT I also know we don't always get what we want. Praying for peace as I can't control this and will enjoy every moment.

"Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

A for Effort

I have a good friend who really is more than just that, she is a friend that really gets me. I crave plans, family fun and making memories for my little ones. I tend to look past sensible, throw out realistic and force the fun when necessary. So when I text my friend asking if she too wanted to dress her kids up in costumes, venture to the zoo with hundreds maybe thousands of other crazy people and drag our husbands along all for some Halloween candy I already knew the response... of course! If there is a family fun event in a hundred mile radius she knows about it and either welcomes my proposed plans or has had it on the calendar way before me.










































So after a rushed morning gathering my boys from their grandparents after a late night at the fall fest, we made it to church with costumes stashed in the trunk. Service ended, we made our plan and headed for the zoo. The boys didn't know what we were doing, my husband was holding back his grumbles and I was pushing all my sicky tummy feelings away because we were going to have fun. As I knelt in the grass in front of a small white house blocks and blocks away from the zoo entrance making last minute adjustments to Pacey's fish costume I ignored my husbands muffled complaints and got excited for the memories.























Well there are no positive, picture worthy moments to report. We quickly discovered the line for trick-or-treating was outrageously long, there was no way our kiddos would last and maybe just maybe our husbands were right. No it couldn't be true, ok ditch the idea of candy I mean Target is down the road filled with candy for a few dollars, let's just enjoy the animals. She led the way blazing a trail weaving through parents holding crying kids and leaving the husbands in the dust. After looking at the lion, witnessing an orangutan pounding on the glass clearly upset at all the monkey costumes and more and more raindrops hitting our face we gave it up. I threw the kids in the stroller, yelled "we are leaving talk to you later" and booked it to the car. As I agreed with my husband that was a once in a lifetime attempt and wondering why anyone in their right mind would even think that was a good idea we left in the pouring rain.

Now most would probably throw in the towel and conclude fun wasn't happening that day, oh no not this mama. We brought pumpkins to my mom's for Sunday dinner and made everyone join in the carving experience. Uncle Andy was the funniest, stating "I'm not a dad yet I don't need to do this", well sorry sir today we ARE having some fall fun. Pacey was not interested at all, Trexen loved it for about fifteen minutes and we ended with the adults carving pumpkins while the boys played. I saw smiles though, we did have fun and Trexen hasn't stopped talking about his scary pumpkin all day.






































































Sometimes ideas are actually better in our heads than in reality but I say we got an A for effort.

Fall Fest

Yesterday was the 3rd annual fall festival at Oma and Papa's. All last week I felt pretty good, no throwing up not even feeling nauseous just a constant headache so I was excited to enjoy a nice fall weekend. Well Saturday morning came and I woke up feeling just terrible. Dizzy, weak and extremely nauseous, bummer. We took the day slow, enjoyed quiet naps and didn't get dressed til the last minute but then we put sickness beyond and headed to the fest.






















Family and friends sipped cider, warmed up with chili and ventured back to the pumpkin patch for that perfect pumpkin. The boys were shy at first, of course, but quickly warmed up and had fun with their cousins. Trexen was quick to pick out his pumpkin while Pacey was more concerned with the hay wagon and ATV. I did my best to capture the moment and enjoy despite my very sick tummy.

























































A few minutes after eleven Trexen was still awake the life of the party but I could tell meltdown was not far away. He chose to stay with Oma and Papa while Pacey had left much earlier with my parents. I jumped at the opportunity for a peaceful nights sleep, double and triple checked he was sure and away we went. As soon as I hit the pillow I regretted not meeting my bed earlier but the fall fest was filled with fun and worth the long day.

Our Special Day

Probably the only good thing about doctor's office visits is I usually only have one child with me. Thankfully my mom can take the boys any day of the week and my mother-in-law on Tuesdays so I rarely have to venture into the dreaded doctor's office with both kiddos. Last week Pacey was sick which meant a "special day" with him consisting of the doctor, Target, a new hot wheels car and Starbucks for mama. Trexen of course had fun at his nama's but was also anxious to have his own "special day".

Yesterday was Trexen's turn, we left Pacey at Oma's and off we went. Our adventure started at Target because don't all special days need a Target trip, the the fabric store- that one for me, next our friend's house for a little play and the the doctor's office for a three year check-up. My three year old is a nervous nelly worked up about everything so it's always an exhausting adventure going to appointments. Convincing him to get on the scale, stand tall like a giraffe for his height, opening his mouth so the feared wooden stick isn't needed and a new one yesterday...a paper thin child's blue gown to put on (still not sure why). Trexen was a shy little clam curled up on my lap the entire time but no tears, no shots, a success.

After we visited the most adorable shop across town in search of a birthday gift for my sis. Trexen loved all the vintage goodies and was pretty convinced he needed a stuffed rooster- thankfully we left without it. Then our bellies were rumbling, starving and in need of food. Hmm where to go?













The same place my mama used to take me after appointments...Pizza Hut buffet! Trex skipped to the door excited to eat with just me and I felt better just smelling food. We sat in a booth across from each other surrounded by cubicle clans away from work for lunch with big smiles on our faces. I remember sitting just like this with my mom, feeling so special to be out to eat during the day with just her.

























We enjoyed salad with ranch dressing (my latest obsession- especially with french fries), cheese pizza, chocolate milk and cinnamon bread sticks. At one point in between eating, chatting and answering a million questions, Trex paused looked up and said, "mommy this is our special day right". I love special days with my boys individually and look forward to more pizza buffets after appointments.