One Of Those Days

Yesterday was one of those days. Did you ever have one of those days? I did. And yesterday was it.

It was one of those days that started with one of those weeks. You know the kind of week where you are going along just fine until one day, even though you weren't planning on getting pregnant again so soon, you find you are spotting and cramping a little. All the familiar signs start popping up all over. Still, the stick doesn't say you are pregnant, but your late. And that just doesn't happen. And you're fine with it. Even though it wasn't planned. Again.

And then the more you think about it, the more you like it. And you start planning and dreaming about it. And you start getting really excited. You start to think that sometimes the best things in life start unplanned.

And then you begin to feel like crap. Like, serious crap on a stick. Blaaahhhh. Kind of crap.

And what do ya know you get your period. And you aren't really depressed, cuz the stick already told you that you weren't supposed to believe you were pregnant, but somehow you did anyway. Even though you didn't originally want another baby right now. And you weren't trying anyway. Being really careful even! So, you're not depressed. Nope.

But in the back of your mind there were those plans. So maybe just a little disappointment? But not depressed.

And anyway. There is always next month. Right?

So, yeah. It was just one of those days.

WW-Need A Good Laugh?

Ticklefest 2008

Can Not Waste Today

By now you've probably all seen my NaBloPoMo badge on my sidebar and have realized that I've officially lost my mind. Yes, I will be posting every day in November, and yes, I am very sorry for clogging up your readers. I will try to keep my posts shorter. Starting today.

The weather here is 72 degrees and sunny. Far warmer and lovelier than our usual 50 degree Wisconsin Novembers. It is just too gorgeous to sit inside on the computer so if I am MIA from your blogs today you know why. Hopefully, I can take the boys to The Bowl after their naps and then roll them down the hill until they cry into their milk again. Good times.

Hope you all remembered to vote! Unless you are voting for the other guy. HAHAHA!! Totally kidding.

(Thank you to all those who emailed me and let me know my comments weren't working. I think they are now. Thanks again!)

The Summary

It was a very busy Halloween. It seems that every year I pile as much into that one day as I possibly can but somehow we still always manage to have a fabulous time.

The day started out with dancing and singing, "It's Halloween! It's Halloween" by the boys, and turning on all our pumpkin decorations and even a Halloween movie. Then the boys eagerly ate breakfast and we put our costumes on. Well, not me. I just dressed festively. I wasn't about to wear tons of makeup and my high heeled boots all day.

After we got our costumes on the boys and I headed out to show the grandparents. This has become an annual tradition that started when Joey was just eight months old. First we go to my MIL's work and parade the boys around in their costumes while all the employees ohh and ahh and give the boys candy. We take pictures with grandma, visit for a while, and then head on over to my FIL's house. Again, the boys are given much candy, we visit and take a few pictures, and then head out again. Normally we don't stop at my folks house because they are on our trick or treating route, but this year we stopped to see my dad at the nursing home.

It was a great visit. Dad got to see the boys in their costumes, though I'm not sure he really knew who they were this time. Still, he seemed happy to see us, and we even got a couple of pictures. We also found out that the nursing home staff had sponsered trick or treating (which meant more candy for the boys!) for area kids so that all the residents could hand out candy and see children in costumes. There were decorations every where and tons of kids showed up. It makes me so happy that the nursing home staff always take such measures to try and make the residents feel like they are at home. It was wonderful to see.

After that visit we went back home and ate lunch. I had kind of forgotten about carving pumpkins so immediately after eating lunch we went outside for some carving fun. It was unseasonally warm. The warmest Halloween I can remember, actually, and we had a great time. The boys showed us what they wanted their pumpkins to look like and we got to work.

(First we drew the faces on the pumpkins)

(Then we began digging all the guts out. That's the fun part!)

(And here is the final product. They boys were very pleased.)

When the pumpkins were all done it was time for a nap. The boys climbed the stairs to their rooms with instructions to go right to sleep so that they had enough energy for trick or treating. I'm not sure they followed the instructions, but it was quiet, and that was all I could ask for.

I woke the boys up in full costume, which was enough to get them excited and bounding down the stairs. They got into thier costumes, waited for our friends to show, and then went out trick or treating.

(Yes. Both Joey and Tommy wanted to be Spiderman. Whatcha gonna do?)

The boys did great. They are such troopers and I'm always amazed at how far they can walk. Even Ben! He wouldn't even let me hold his hand or help him carry his bucket when it got full. Not even when it was so full he couldn't lift it up to put the candy in anymore. Such a little man. And I loved his adorable "Teet teet" version of "trick or treat". So much fun.

We walked for almost two hours and then headed home for some dinner. The boys ate really well and then were each allowed three picks of candy from their pumpkins. We watched more Halloween shows and as it neared bedtime my mom came over to watch the boys so Todd and I could enjoy a night out with friends.

(We are such a devilish couple.)

It was a great time hanging with our friends again. But I will say that there is nothing to make you feel old like hanging in a bar with girls in their early twenties who are all dressed in costume. I couldn't find ONE non-slutty Halloween costume. It was so funny. Slutty witch, slutty nurse, slutty referee, slutty Raggedy Ann, slutty Batgirl, slutty WonderWoman, slutty Queen of Hearts card. Who knew a card could be slutty? It seriously kept us in stitches all night.

Once again, Halloween did not disappoint. We had a blast!

(Sarah is the angel and I'm the devil. How cute are we? Best friends since first grade and still cracking each other up.)

(I suppose we'll let the boys get in on some pics too.)

Emotional

I've been kind of a cry baby lately. It seems I can cry at the drop of a hat. Okay, I'm always like that, but even more so today.

I spent the last five minutes at mass today crying like a baby. But I didn't feel so silly when I looked around and saw many other wet faces in the crowd as well.

A 9 year old boy got up at the end of mass to ask the congregation to donate blood. He explained that his 7 year old sister was recently diagnosed with Leukemia and that even though he was able to be a bone marrow donor for her that alone could not save her life. He told us of all the transfusions she has had and how she will most certainly need more. He spoke about the fundraisers that the church and school have been putting together to help his family out financially and that they have also organized a blood drive. He gave tips for those worried about needles (look away, count to three), and told us to make sure to eat well before giving blood. He thanked everyone for their support, asked for prayers for his sister, and then stepped down from the pulpit.

The whole congregation erupted into applause for this little hero and many of us were reaching for hankies as well.

I knew about this little girl because she is a first grader at school with Joey and Tommy. The school (which is connected with our church) has been working feverishly to help the family out any way possible. But I don't know that any of the school's efforts will quite match what that little boy has done. It was absolutely outstanding. Not only in his courage and strength when he donated his bone marrow for his sister, but then getting up in front of hundreds of people for each mass this weekend and getting others involved in helping his sister too. I have tears in my eyes right now just thinking about it.

It sure does put things into perspective. It is hard to be upset about a poor showing at our open house when I was just reminded what is really important.

Tonight, I'm gonna hug my boys a little tighter. I'm gonna be a little more patient. I'm gonna read an extra story for bedtime.

And, on Thursday I'm gonna give blood.

When was the last time you gave blood?

Lack Of Sleep & Saturday Suggestions

So. Tired.
Need. More. Sleep.

Halloween. Fun.
Night out. Great.

Need. More. Sleep


******************************************

Since I usually don't post on weekends I thought I would give you all some great reads written by other bloggers. Every Saturday I will pick three posts that stand out in my mind that I have read in the past week. They can be posts that make me laugh, cry, or just strike a chord with me. Please feel free to visit the links and leave comments.


Beck at Frog And Toad Are Still Friends with Little Things
- This post fits right in with the Halloween theme I had going this past week. You thought my ghost stories were freaky? You should read this one. It is a doosey! Yowsa. It is just one of many that Beck has after growing up in one of the most haunted houses in Canada.

Hilary at The Smitten Image with Bridging Generations
-An absolutely beautiful post. This post brought both a tear to my eye and a smile to my face. And then she topped it off with more of her stunning photos.

Laskigal at From The Cheap Seats with The Placenta Story
-Laskigal actually wrote this one last week but I missed it somehow. I'm so glad I found it this week because it is awesome. Hilarious and melancholy and wonderfully written.


Happy reading, everyone!

PSF- Costumes Of Halloweens Past

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

All Halloween All Week

I have always loved Halloween. What could be more fun than dressing up in a costume, getting free candy, getting spooked with your friends, and going to festive parties all on one night? Not much.

Getting older has not dimmed my love of Halloween in the least. I may even like it more now. It is hard to tell.

Back when I was young I had to wear whatever costume my mom could throw together for me. For three or four years in a row I had to wear a hand-me-down clown costume of my brother's even though I have a huge fear of clowns. Thankfully, I don't think I have any pictures of me in that costume.

I did find a bunch of other pictures of me in costumes from Halloweens past however. Come with me on this trip down memory lane. And try not to laugh. Thanks.

That is me in the dress and blouse at my first Halloween party in first grade. I don't really know what I was supposed to be. A princess or something? It was my mom's old prom dress and I just loved being able to wear it regardless of the eighteen thousand pins that were holding it up.Here I am after the clown phase as a farmer, or something. In case you can't see I have a piece of hay sticking out of my mouth. Cuz all farmers do that, right?
Here I am at my best friends house ready to go trick or treating. She went as a bum and I went as an Indian. Ahh, the days before political correctness. Yowsa!
This is me in high school (nice hair) going as a hippie. Lime, I posted this pic for you. Tie-dye!
Here I am on the far left of the pic. I think I am supposed to be a 50's girl. Not very convincing. And yes, all of my friends and I decided that at 15 we would go trick or treating one last time. Most people didn't have a problem with it since we were all dressed up, but we took my friend's little brother along just in case.
We are now entering my Halloween costume 'ho-bag phase. Yes, I dressed like a 'ho. And I liked it. So there! Looking back I'm glad I went as a 'ho-bag genie that year because I certainly would not have the guts to do stuff like that anymore. You only live once, right? Here I am with my friend at the UW Oshkosh dorms ready to go out for the night.

Still in the 'ho-bag phase, the next year I was a french maid. My hubby is sad I didn't keep these outfits. I'm pretty happy about it, actually. In this pic I was in Madison (at my boyfriend's horribly dirty apartment) celebrating on the infamous State Street with the rest of the loony college kids. No riots that year, thankfully.

And so ends the 'ho-bag phase. From french maid to doctor, that is quite a career jump in one year. This pic was taken at my place of employment. Can you see the shelf full of cookies and candy behind me? That was just our everyday snacks. You should have seen the treat table we had set up for Halloween. No wonder I was overweight when I worked there.

Now we are entering the mommy phase. The phase when I was so consumed with making sure my boys had a blast for Halloween that I completely forgot about a costume for me until the last minute when all that was left at the store was a child-sized bumble bee costume. And yes, I wore that out to the bars that night. Pride? What's that?

These are my best friends who went out with us that night. And they weren't even embarrassed by me! Such good friends. In case you can't tell Carl is a lame excuse, Sarah (the bum in the picture above and my best friend since 1st grade!) is a bloodied prom queen, Todd is Zorro, and yes, I am a bumble bee.

But I think I made up for it because this is what Joey looked like that year, his first Halloween. That was our doggy Lucy in her witch costume. She was not quite as happy about her costume as Joey was about his.

This is Tommy's first Halloween. He still has a fondness for dalnations and went as one again last year.

And this is my Benny bear for his first Halloween last year. It was very important to me that each boy had his own new costume for their 1st Halloween. The costumes are all carefully packed away along with the outfits they wore home from the hospital, their first pair of shoes, and all their other keepsakes.

After the bumble bee incident I gave up on the costumes for a while, but I still dressed up a little. A goofy wig and some Halloween themed tee shirt were good enough for me.

But this year my best friends (the same ones as the above bumble bee picture) will be coming trick or treating with us and then we are going out for a night on the town. So it is an EXTRA special Halloween. I put together an actual Halloween outfit for myself this year. And I am pretty excited about it. I hope it turns out as good in real life as it looks in my head. It is nothing too complicated or amazing, but it is my return to putting an effort into myself for Halloween.
I'm sure I'll have a million photos to show you tomorrow of our trick or treating jaunt tonight and maybe even some pics of our night out on the town. Until then, I hope you all have a Happy and Fun Halloween!