following the glow of the jack-o-lanterns

So after all my hard work and searching - it POURED rain on Saturday and we were not able to go to the pumpkin patch because really who has time to go pumpkin pickin?  So we stopped by the local farm and quickly picked up a few pumpkins before it started to pour rain again.  Then we went and got costumes and went home to carve our pumpkins.

A few weeks ago I talked about carving pumpkins and how my kids come up with not so halloween designs.  We've done original abstract designs, batman and superman symbols and my all time least favorite - spiderman's face - twice  (don't even attempt it at home, not worth the trouble).  I was almost dreading what they would come up with this year. 

I shouldn't have dreaded anything.  Tyler chose a sword, and then changed it to the two small knife swords (no I don't know what they are really called) - to go with his ninja costume.  Nathaniel is also a ninja, but for the first time ever picked an actual Halloween theme and wanted a witch flying with a moon.  Bradley didn't care and doesn't really get a say yet, so dear hubby asked for a traditional scary face to go with the long stalk on top of the pumpkin.

What did you carve?

They're creepy and they're kooky,

Mysterious and spooky,

They're all together ooky...

~ The Addams Family Theme

The 80's are back to haunt us!

Have you noticed that when you go into the store today the clothes look a little...well... like they are straight out of the 80's?  Jean skirts with leggings underneath, leg warmers, polka dots.  I am just waiting until they bring back hammer pants, I can so see the twins in some. 

It took us until the middle of the 90's to figure out that the 80's were a bad idea, and yet here we are again not quite 20 years later going back to the same ole thing.

Could it get any worse? 

Well yes, they could bring back 80's hair. 

• Hair that requires a whole can of hair spray each and every morning. 
• Antenna bangs, mullets, straight on top and curly on the sides.
• Crimped hair.
• Great big, gigantic hairbows.
• And my personal favorite, wearing it pulled back on one side with one of those fancy bows and done on the other, all while your bangs are sprayed high enough to reach the moon.

Manic Mother decided to do a little photo contest and see who had the worst hair contest.  I think it is really a warning to the younger generation not to bring back 80's hair.

I was going to do it - I really thought about it.  I chickened out.

But go see what she's got linked up

Baby Einstein doesn't make my child smart???

I've been away for a few days - had to take a break from blogosphere.  I have some other posts I've been working on and lots of blogs to read, but I'm still on break.

Except I read this article today and about fell out of my chair.   Apparently Disney is offering a refund on Baby Einstein DVD's after they recieve a letter threatening lawsuit from some public health lawyers.  (want the details- read the article)

The point is - the lawyers believe there was false advertisement and that parents believe these DVD's were making their children smart, when in fact we were just plopping them down in front of another TV show.  Before you all start shouting, I understand they were learning stuff, specifically the stuff you wanted them to learn.  Of course other shows teach them too, my 2 yr old has learned to ask "Where'd he go?"  everytime Nemo disappears.

We all know hours of television/movies/video games is bad.  We all know it makes for shorter attention spans, couch potatoes, etc.   So we  limit the amount of television they watch and force encourage them to go outside.

At least I thought we all knew this, and did this.  But apparently not.

Stop! Don't! Don't Stop!

We'll little man has hit the 2 year old stage full force.  I keep telling hubby that 1 at age 2  is better than 2 at age 2, but I'm beginning to wonder myself.

All children hit age 2 and want to be independent and do everything themselves, but they are fighting all the boundaries that we put in place to keep them safe - hence the temper tantrums.  Twins are no different, except...

Well,  twins learn early on they have to share (or fight it out), they learn they are not individually the center of attention from birth and so acknowledge that the world around them only sometimes revolves around them.  I was lucky enough to stay at home with the twins for 3 1/2 years (before I craved adult conversation so bad I went back to work).  They were my world, but they knew they weren't the world.

Five years after they were born, Bradley entered our world.  He was (is) the center of the universe.  Just ask him.

The twins have doted on him, due to the economy he stays at home with Daddy all day, and is the center of Daddy's world.  I come in juggling and try to spend individual time with all of them, but little man expects time of his own.  All of these things together have made him very outspoken about "his world."  If he is busy and anyone tries to talk around him, he gets angry at the distraction from his world and says yells "STOP!"  (on a good day he says hush).  Try to talk around him, and he yells louder. 

This happens in the car, while he's watching his movie, and even at the dinner table when we are trying to learn about the twins day at school.

We are working to teach him that the world doesn't actually revolve around him, but have you tried to explain that to a 2 yr old?  So here is my theory - just teach him a new word.  I am working on "don't"  then he can yell DON'T! STOP!  DON'T STOP! and we'll all be able to carry on with our conversation.

If you want to learn to argue with a brick wall, practice on a 2 year first. ~ me

the grey matters

If you haven't noticed by now, then you aren't paying attention to the sidebar.  I've posted a new button for The Grey Matters.  A great friend and her brother started this group after their father was diagnosed with brain cancer.  They are doing fundraisers to support various groups and research.

"We are here with the mission to give a CAUSE to Think, and to think BIG, to help bring awareness to those that are unaware of the effects of brain cancer and to provide support for those who are directly and indirectly affected by brain cancer."

Their first fundraiser is Nov 13-17, 2009.  It is a weekend trail hike that will travel 29 miles through the Appalachian Trail.  This fundraiser will benefit The Friends of Caroline Hospice group.  If you are interested the fundraiser go here - or just want to donate a couple of dollars - go here.

I am also looking for ways to help spread awareness on a disease that hasn't just affected them, but my family as well.  If you have any ideas of a contest to spread the word, I am all ears.

who has time for pumpkin pickin

So after reading Three Times the Giggles 2-3 weeks ago, I got really jealous of their pumpkin farm where they picked their own. 

So I went online, in search of my own farm, and found this great site that is a directory for the whole US plus the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Canada. Just pick your location.

Pumpkin Patches and More

I found this GREAT one in our area.  It has a 10'cow, a pumpkin slingshot, ice cream parlor, petting zoo and a tractor bus that takes you to pick your own pumpkin - which is the point! I was so excited to find a pumpkin patch - especially after buying them off the side of the road for a couple of years (which isn't a bad thing and totally supports the local farmer).  I thought it would be great to take all my boys to, and even little man would have a good time.

But then of course we got busy, you know how it is. Sports and the hubby working weekends and at some point I have to do laundry and clean the house.  So we didn't make it last weekend or the weekend before.  But we ARE GOING THIS WEEKEND!!!  Just me and the boys (hubby still working) It may be late - but better late than never!  And I'll post pics of the 10' cow that you are all dying to see.  Wanna guess which kid tries to climb it?

So is there anything that you really want to do, but are having to wait until the last minute?

If it weren't for the last minute, I wouldn't get anything done. ~Author Unknown

and now we all bow down and take note

to the illustrious, amazing, tantalizing lady MRS. FISH - who thinks we are Irish twins - oh I am so honored to even be considered family with the Fishes!  Mrs. Fish's blog is to die for, to laugh at, and to read each and every morning with your cup of coffee.  As I was reading a few days (week) ago - I found that she was given this snazzy award

And then she said she was passing it along to me.  I'm just tickled blue (because pink is not allowed in our house).  I can't believe that someone, anyone, espeically the industrious Mrs. Fish thinks I am one of the Best.  But anyway - I accept - of course. taking a bow

And now I get to pass it along - she said 15, but I'm exausted and the last time I chose 15, it took hours to post.  So can I please go with 5?  Please?  Pretty please with a Cherry on Top?  Ok, I'm doing it and I don't care what you say.

Speaking from the Crib: I bow down to this lady - she has got her stuff together - or falling apart - or she's screaming to get out of her crib which says it all.  If you are not one of her followers - go do it NOW!

Three Times the Giggles: this mom of triplet boys has all of my admiration.  She constantly keeps me in stitches unless she is making me beg her to do my grocery shopping.

I'm Living Proof: and you would be too if you had not one but 2 sets of twins.  This lady has it down and she is living what we once feared.  Want to know how to roll with the punches, or the goats - go see Helene

Angela's Soliloquy: my soul sister living thousands of miles away.  I give her this award and a few fall leaves since she doesn't have any where she is.  She does however have interesting facts and a whole lot of laughs.

Mama's In Time Out:  and this lady needs a time out!  She has great role models that keep her young while she writes about what lifes really about.

So GO check out these great ladies!  Do it NOW - don't wait (ok wait until you congradulate me)!  And dear ladies - take this award and pass it on to 15 or 5, but if you cheat like me you have to leave post links to make up for the cheating.

scared of little ol' me???

Scary Mommy is holding an awesome contest this week.  She wants to know what makes us scary, and the scariest Mom will win a prize!  She defines scary a little differently than most would think:

"I believe a Scary Mommy is a mother who doesn’t leave the house wearing lipstick at all times. A Scary Mommy loves her kids to death, but will admit to feeling totally overwhelmed and exhausted by the gig. A Scary Mommy doesn’t really care what other people think, and a Scary Mommy thinks that all mothers win when we admit our weaknesses. How would you describe it? It’s up to you!"

As Mom's we each have our own definition of scary.  Our kids probably have hundreds examples of how we are scary.  My hubby may say my hair in the morning is pretty scary.  But as I thought about how I was scary, I didn't think I could answer this question.  I didn't think the general idea applied to me - even though I never wear lipstick, love my kids more than life, are willing to go to jail for them, can be gross with the best of them, and admit exhaustion on more than one occasion.  But that's a Mom, that's what we do.  We do whatever it takes to get the job done.

Then I had a realization.  It's not what we think of ourselves, but how other's perceive us.

I am not afraid to scream politely tell children, even those who are not my own, to stop jumping off the top of the picnic table, stop taking the legs out from underneath the little kids on the slip and slide and to stop throwing rocks at cars.  This prompted a Dad nearby to ask "Have you ever been a drill instructor?"  He probably thought I was scary -

And then there was the occasion at my son's birthday/pool party when I had all the dripping wet children line up on the kitchen floor to sing happy birthday instead of on the carpet.  Perfectly sane line of reasoning I thought, until my own son decided he was above everyone else and could stand on the carpet.  I did not get overwhelmed and freak out, instead I politely told him to get off the carpet... as my father in law snapped a picture.
 

 

My husband, brother, and father-in-law all believe this is the proof that I am the Scariest Mommy.  Do you???