Happy Halloween

We had a nice Halloween. Mo was really jazzed for it....in fact, I was OVER Halloween before we even got close to sunset tonight!



Mo was a black kitty (although, halfway through trick-or-treating, she decided she was a panther). This is a costume that I actually made. I am showing several pictures so you can see the whole thing. I couldn't get one picture that showed the whole outfit!


We went out knocking on doors for about an hour. I was pleased that I was able to go with her for about half of that. One goal I had was to be able to walk with her this Halloween, and at least I was able to do some. Scout took her back out after I just couldn't walk anymore.

Of course, we had one melt down tonight, when I zipped up her fleece jacket and caught the zipper on her neck.......not a happy kitty!


We didn't get as many trick-or-treaters at our house.....seems like more came last year. Not sure why, it was a perfect night......warm-ish, no rain.....very nice. I think our house even looked 'spooky.'



Now, let the Holiday season begin.....I already saw XMAS stuff out in the stores......fasten your seat belts......

Blog Reader

One of my newest obsessions to do....is to surf blogs. If you look at the top of the blog, there is a button that says "Next Blog." If you press it, blogspot will take you to some random blog. I love to keep hitting that button and see where I end up. I have come across some really cool blogs with poetry, photography, and other art. Some are written in languages, I can't even begin to decipher.

I have realized that all blogs come in 3 categories.

1. Family blogs....this is by far the most of all the blogs I hit on....tons of families, smiling kids, it is funny to look at 30 different family blogs, and see that each one has posted pictures from a pumpkin patch trip!

2. Religious....I don't know why this surprised me, but there are a ton of religious blogs out there....

3. Everything else.....craft, sewing, knitting, writing, art, schools, neighborhood associations, if you can think of it, there is a blog for it....

That about sums it up. Try it some time.....but be prepared....it will suck an hour out of your evening, just like that!

Keeping busy....

So, while Mo is in preschool, I have been keeping busy. Today, I felt very productive.....I got this idea from a pretty cool blog (www.prettyhandygirl.com)....I saw it, and I stole it!!! I hope it lasts through Thanksgiving.....I may try to add a scary mask on Halloween night.....Scout says that looks Martha Stewart (not Ladies Home Journal).....

So, what do you do when you buy an entire flat of strawberries from some guy on a street corner...you make freezer jam!!! I have never made it before, but Scout and I did it together, and it was super easy!

time-outs....

I knew I was in trouble today. Mo was really, really sassy today, so I put her in time-out. She went somewhat willingly, and was very quiet in time-out.

I start thinking....she is being really quiet, she is really thinking about what she did. After a few minutes, I tell her it is ok for her to come out.

"Not right now Mom, I need to finish my book."

Lookie, Lookie, Lookie

...here comes Cookie......

This is Cookie, the guinea pig. He is the class pet at Mo's pre-school. He is able to go home on the weekends with a student. This was our weekend. It has been lots of fun having him. Mo has been making sure he has water, food and yummy veggie treats. He prefers pear and carrots. Our biggest fear was the dogs, but they could care less about him.....here is Cookie getting the love....


Scout thinks either he was really good in a past life to get to go to people's houses, and eat all the yummy treats he can.....or he was really bad in a past life and has to be in a 4 year old preschool class!!!!.

Here kitty kitty....

Here is Mo

Here is Mo modeling her Halloween costume. We didn't do the whiskers yet....but as you can see she is a little black kitty. Yes, this is the dress that I made.....it looks good, if you don't get too close. On actual Halloween night, she will wear black pants and a black turtleneck under it....so the fleece dress should help to keep her warm. She loved posing for this picture....


Couldn't resist putting this picture in.....this is the face I see A LOT during the day!

Mo's Blackberry

Mo has been really interested in the days of the week and on what day things happen. She is constantly asking....what are we doing tomorrow? Is today a school day? So I made this for her....


It is just a small whiteboard. I used Sharpie to mark the lines and write the days of the week (so that will stay). I use dry erase pens to record the events. We do it together and talk about what is happening. Every night before bed, she gets to move the little kitty magnet to the next day.

She loves 'checking her schedule' to see what is happening. Long time readers will love that Target is scheduled into her week!

Crafty.....

So, one of the side effects of this whole foot injury is that I have LOADS of time on my hands. I have cleaned out some closets....(Scout hates this, because this means she has lots of bags to carry up and down stairs).....I have organized the pantry and fridge.....and I have been able to do some crafting...

So, I had a few goals. I wanted to learn how to sew. I have a machine, but I have never used it. Our school librarian came over and showed me how to use it.....my first project.

A throw pillow. I was so impressed with myself. The fabric pattern is actually straight....I only had to rip out the seams and do it over a few times. All in all it went well.....

My next project.....Mo's Halloween costume....didn't go as smoothly. I was making a little simple A-line dress......at one point, I sewed the back to the front, but the front was inside out.....and to top it all off, I sewed the arm holes closed....so I had to make that one 2 times!!!!

My other crafty project was this.....


I thought it would be a cute Halloween decoration....and it is, but it is more "Ladies Home Journal" than it is "Martha Stewart". I used Halloween candy to do the ball. We shall see how long it lasts...

Next project....curtains....

The Foot....

The foot is doing much better. I am actually wearing shoes....granted they are extra wide shoes to accommodate my extra wide foot. But, at least they match! I can walk around, sometimes with a cane, sometimes without. The mornings are better for me. At night, I hobble around the house like an old woman.

I am starting to see a light at the end of this tunnel. I can't believe how much better it is since just a month ago. Makes me wonder what I can do in one more month.

Major milestones the past month.....

walking to the end of the block and back (next, trying to walk around the block)
walking in the grocery store....not riding on the scooter
walking up the stairs with no help from a cane or banister....

As much as I dissed physical therapy in the beginning....they have really helped me. I don't think I would be anywhere close to where I am today without them.

Code Words

As a teacher, I have developed code words over the years when discussing children with parents...

If I say...your child is working their heart out....I might mean, but not progressing as much as I would like....

or....

Right now, you child is more interested in the social aspects of school.......I really mean, your child will not stop talking...

So, how do I take it when Mo's teacher tells me....your daughter is very 'enthusiastic'. enthusiastic? ENTHUSIASTIC? I have this image of Mo running, screaming, looking like a whirling dervish in the classroom.

I guess I am not that surprised.

light bulb moment...

So, I have been a teacher for 15 years. I never understood why parents freaked out when their kids got dirty at school. I always figured maybe they couldn't afford many clothes, and wanted to keep the ones they had in good shape. I also thought for a while it was a 'status' thing.....keeping your things nice.....now I know why...it is laundry.....doing all that freakin' laundry is such a pain.

Everyday this week, I have sent Mo to school in one outfit, and she comes home in a totally different one. Usually it is her extra set of emergency clothes. But today, she came home wearing clothes she had to borrow from school. Her extra set of clothes in a plastic bag along with the clothes from this morning....so 2 dirty outfits.

Why, you ask....

At Mo's preschool, they have this huge courtyard which is basically a huge sandbox. Mo has discovered the joy of getting dirty....not just dirty, but really, really, really filthy dirty. I am convinced she gets her pants soaking wet, and then rolls in the sand....putting handfuls in her pockets. It is really too much.

Scout and I have to hand wash all these sandy clothes before they can even go in the washer. We could have our own sandbox with all the stuff coming out of these clothes. It is past ridiculous.

Mo turns 4.

Here are the long over-due photos from Mo's 4th birthday. I usually take many more pictures. But I was on crutches and in cast. So I could only take pictures from a chair. But still, looking at the pictures reminded me just how big our baby is getting. Feeling very grateful that we are here to witness her life surrounded by such good friends.....

Pre-School

Last night, we went to Parent Night at Mo's preschool. I have done tons of parent nights as a teacher....but I have never sat in the little chairs and listened to a parent night presentation for my own child!!! I was so excited to go, and nervous....

It went great. They explained what I thought they would talk about.....art, literacy, play, music.....talked about the vision of the school, and how Mo's daily schedule flows. It was very nice. I refrained from asking all the teacher-y questions I was DYING to ask. Scout said I only asked one silly question, which I felt was pretty good.

The reality check of the evening came when the teachers were talking about the kid's writing. They encourage the kids to "write" stories about their life. The teachers will also write down the stories that the children tell. They were recounting a story about a little boy and his mom on the way to yoga class and the funny thing that they saw.....

Mo's stories always (ALWAYS) revolve around going to Target and buying stuff.

Should I be worried that Target is worth recording in a story? I will think about it later, when we are on our way to Target.