Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween everyone! Here are some of my favorite 2008 Halloween pictures thus far.

Giant candy corn in California Adventure

This is made out of legos! At Legoland, of course!

Ellie with vampire teeth

Scary me and my little butterflies

Ready for the party!

Train ride with the butterflies (they really were happy!)

Pirate Parson

Cowboy Josh

All the cousins at Grandmas big annual Halloween party, complete with carnival games, a train ride, awesome food, and of course, a Frankenstein pinata!!

We have been to some great places and parties this year and had some great fun!

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Wordful Wednesday

I think I have mentioned before how I love to watch my husband play and interact with our kids. He is an excellent Father and our kids adore him. Here are a few pictures from our recent trip. We were at California Adventure and it was closing time on our last day there. They allowed just a few people on for one last ride.

I love the expressions on their faces! I love to capture moments like this!

Go check out more Wordfuls at

Tagged!

I was tagged for this fun little meme by Jaysi, who is such an awesome gal! I have only known her a couple months (through blogging), but it seems like a lot longer. You've got to check out her blog if only to see her adorable boys!

Anyway, random/weird facts about me, eh? Just what you've always wanted to know!:) Hmmm...I know I can come up with a couple...might have to enlist Hubby's help!

1. I am very picky about the length of my pants. I don't like my socks to show. Ever. (and I buy cute socks, too! Is that weird?)
2. I hate meat with bones in it. I would rather do without than have to pick at a bone.
   
3. I hate raw meat and eggs. More so with the meat. I avoid touching raw meat at all cost! I am paranoid about getting salmonella or food poisoning and am always freaked out about having to cook meat. I tend to overcook it just to make sure it's done. And I use lots of sanitizers and cleaners in the kitchen just to be sure.
4. I don't eat anything sea-related. I have no desire. Just the thought of eating seafood makes my stomach turn. It drives my husband crazy because I haven't tried much of it. He tells me I can't not like something I haven't tried. I don't care.
5. I chew gum a lot. A whole lot. Some people might call me a gum addict. The weird part? I typically like minty gum. Or even cinnamon. But when I am at all nauseous, I have to have the fruity kind. Seriously, I am telling you, it makes a big difference!
6. I like everything to have a home. I like things to be put where they're supposed to go, in the same place. Things may not be spotless or dust-free, but for crying out loud, put it where it goes! My husband and kids are not on board with this idea. It drives me crazy!
7. I don't like feet. I could never do a pedicure on someone. EWE! I think they're dirty and I hate it when people touch me with their feet. There is an exception to this rule. Baby feet. I love baby feet.
   

Now, to tag. I think this one has been going around for a while, so I apologize if you've already had it! I tag Katie, GirlyTwins, Stephanie, Amber, Jocasta, Heather, Jyl.

Meet Navi

Friends, I would like to introduce you to Navi. She was adopted on my birthday, back in August. She started out being very helpful around town. She has just recently been to Texas and California and truly earned her place in our family. She is a very hardworking gal and we took advantage of her a lot in California! She definitely likes to be in the know as to what's going on and where we're going. She gets very annoyed when we have unexpected/unplanned potty breaks or have to get gas.

Thanks to her, I didn't have to navigate with a map at all. In fact, we didn't even take our Atlas on this trip. And we didn't miss it, either. And there was no arguing or getting frustrated as to which way to go. No, "Jaime, which way am I supposed to go?" "I don't know, give me a second..." "I don't have a second!" And no "Wake up, Jaime. I need you to look at the map and see..." Nope. None of that.

I love you navi! Welcome to the family. I hope we all live a long happy life together!

I'm home!

That's right, home! And glad to be back. We had an awesome vacation.
I am WAY behind on everything, but hope to be completely back, soon. I just have to sift through and respond to emails, catch up on "Chuck" and "Heroes," and catch up on all of your blogs! Not to mention dealing with sick kids and hubby and unpacking!

Photo Story Friday

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Last year we went to a Halloween party and Joshua decided he wanted to enter the pie eating contest. They say a picture can tell a story...I'm going to let the pictures tell this one.

(I think he might have got one of the nasty sugar free pies!)

Wordful Wednesday

Crikey! No worries mate, I've got it all under control! (insert Australian accent)
Play along at

Brothers? Really?!

Isn't it amazing how people raised in the same family, in the same environment, with the same parents, rules, discipline, praise, etc. can be so completely different?!

Parson and Joshua are SO different!
Parson is my more reserved child. Very tenderhearted, very connected with Mom. He cried almost every day of kindergarten and 1st grade. His first grade teacher would literally peel him off of me every morning while he bawled his eyes out. She would call me daily and update me on how he was doing. His reasoning for all the tears was always "because I miss my mom." It took him a while to make friends. Not because he isn't a great kid, with a great personality, but because he was too busy missing me to let himself have any fun. Things have improved greatly now that he's in 2nd grade. He has lots of friends and he actually likes school. I still worry about him. Because he is so sweet, I think sometimes his friends take advantage of that and I have to remind him to stick up for himself and that he doesn't always have to do what they want to do. He is a money saver. In real life, on Webkinz...a saver. It doesn't take much to punish him--all I have to do is give him a certain look and he will burst into tears. He doesn't get away with much because he wears his guilt on his face.

Joshua, on the other hand, RAN to school from the very first day! He speaks very loudly and constantly and to everyone! He is in no way reserved and definitely likes to be in charge. He is a spender! He wants to buy everything! I have to give him the opposite speech that I give Parson and tell him that he doesn't always get to choose everything. And that if he wants to have friends, he needs to let them choose sometimes and not always get his way. He is always making jokes and tends to tell a lot of fibs. He also tends to sit in time out a lot and it doesn't really faze him all that much. He is equally loving. He has a stronger confidence about him. He is also very much a salesman. And a good one, at that.

These are a few of their differences. I recently read a post by Octamom talking about birth order. I was a little surprised how well my boys fit the profile for oldest and 2nd child.

They amaze me every day. I love their differences, I embrace them. We all have things we need to work on, of course. As different as they are, I love them so much-- differently, yet equally.

MIA

I am going to be gone for the next week. I do have a few posts set to automatically post, but don't be surprised if I don't respond to you right away. Just know that I am living it up on vacation in sunny California!!:)

Photo Story Friday

I am on a fall kick this week, I guess. I have posted quite a few fall/Halloween pictures already, might as well post a few more, right? I do LOVE the fall, after all...

These pictures were taken in 2001, when Parson was only 7 months old. My friend invited me to go with her and her son to try and get some good fall photos. Here is a sample of some of the best ones:These have always been some of my very favorite pictures. Time goes so fast, I hardly remember my oldest baby looking like this! If only I'd had a better camera! Some of the colors don't look quite right to me and the picture quality isn't perfect...it was a really nice camera at the time.
It was an experience that inspired me to continually upgrade my camera and take more and more pictures of my kids.
Play along on
Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

Wordful Wednesday

Today, I thought I'd take a stroll down Halloween memory lane.

This was Parson's first Halloween (the bear). He is only 7 months old here. He was such a chunker!

Here is Parson, my little monster with his Aunt and Uncle. This is one of my favorite pictures. Ever. I have no idea how Katie convinced Trevor to wear that costume, but it cracks me up every time I look at it!

Loved these little Chinamen costumes! I don't know if you can see the long braids coming out of the hats. So cute. My husband taught them to call them their Ee Foos. I have no idea how to spell that, but if you know Chinese, you can probably figure it out!

I even managed to get in on some of the fun on this particular year!

Yeah, real creative, huh?! And yes, they totally enjoyed it. What, you can't tell?

That brings us to last year. My cute little chickens!

These were way fun! My clown and my knight.

Such great memories! And many more to come, I'm sure!

Play along over at

Awards!

Ok, so I've gotten a few awards and I have taken them and displayed them, but I never did pass them on. That's what you're supposed to do, right? Pass them on...I best get to it!
The concept of blogging awards does seem kind of strange to me. But, it does make you feel good, I have to admit. And of course I don't want to be ungrateful. Yes, must be gracious! Thank you, thank you, thank you!:)

This first one, I got from Tonya@A Day in my Life. My first ever blog award.
I am supposed to pass this one on to 5 people. I have decided to give this one to some of my family members, most of who are pretty new to the whole blogging scene. Maybe it will help motivate them to write more (hint, hint!):)

1. Chelsea is my sister. She is very new to blogging. She has an adorable little family.
   
2. Seasons of Stevensons. Amber is also my sister. Also new to blogging. She is very active and good at most things.
   
3. Michele is my sis-in-law. She has actually been blogging for quite a while and also just started a cooking blog.
4. Melissa is my sis-in-law. I posted a while back about her recent foster/adoption.
5. Basically Bailey. Katie is my sis-in-law. She also recently started blogging. She has 2 very active little ones that keep her on her toes.
   
6. Candise is my sis-in-law. She is just getting started. She loves soccer.
   

Sorry, I just had to do six! Wouldn't be fair to leave one out, right?

Next, I got this awesome award from Jyl@mommygossip. I am to pass this on to 5 bloggers that rock!

1. Baby Dolls and Soccer Balls. JP's mom is such a hip mama! She is getting ready to have twins very soon!
2. Seven Clown Circus. I think she already has every award, but I love her anyway. Angie, you rock! (She was one of my first bloggy friend and taught me about bloglines and things like that!)
   
3. i, wright. She doesn't know me or read my blog, but if you get a chance, go over and check her out. She will have you laughing, I promise!
4. The Princess and the Peas. Jocasta is a cool mama. She is so fun and we like to chat on twitter! It's fun to hear her different words for things and I am still waiting to hear her say them in her New Zealand accent!
5. The Calender Zoo Review. Stephanie is a bit new to the "stay at home" scene. I think she's doing an awesome job with her little cuties! (And you should see her boys' curls!)
   

Next, I got this award from Jocasta@The Princess and the Peas.

The rules for this one are: You may choose 5 awardees

Choose 4 faithful readers of your blog.

1 should be someone new or someone far away.

1. In Birds Nest. Jaysi is so fun and a genuinely nice person. She has two adorable little boys. (And I think I got them all hooked on Scentsy?:))
2. The Craftivist. Arizona is so creative! She is talented in so many areas! You'll definitely want to check out her blog.
3. Better Leite Than Never. Jenny seems like such a cool mom. She has the most adorable family and she even gets to go to the Emmys!
4. The View From Our House. Laura is a busy mama of 4. Her kids are always all dolled up so cute! We are also state-mates and need to meet up sometime!:) (She was one of my very first bloggy friends!)
   
5. And for my new reader, I'm going to go with Hope Floats... Melissa is quite adventuresome! She just got back from Cancun and she's got some great stories. And girls night with her and her friend? Crazy!

I also want to have an honorable mention here. My friend Carissa doesn't like awards. Or memes, for that matter. The thing is, she deserves all of the awards. She is funny and very snarky. She's quite smart and is always willing to help people and share in her knowledge. She's getting quite a collection of tutes on her blog that you should go check out!
Anyway, no award for you Carissa, just a little shout out because I think you're awesome!:)