Trick-or-Treat

Happy Halloween!!! It was a perfect night! The weather was so warm we didn't even have to put hats or gloves on the kids. I remember last year being pretty chilly and the year before that freezing our butts off!! It was so awesome to be able to enjoy walking around with friends and not being cold. There were so many trick-or-treaters this year. It was like masses and masses of kids with parents just going door to door in droves. Insanity! I was worried we were going to lose one of our kids in the mayhem! But everyone did well sticking together. Our good friends Dan and Amanda came over to see the kids in costume and show off Landon in his AMAZING Umpa Loompa costume.



Ethan was an Egyptian Mummy this year. We've been studying Egypt and King Tut a lot this year, so it was pretty cool for him to be able to dress like someone we've been learning so much about. He even let me put eyeliner on him!!!



Abby was the cutest little witch I have ever seen! When I saw this costume, it totally screamed "ABBY!!!" to me. It was so fun and crazy just like she is! We put purple eyeshadow on and drew a spider on her cheek.



Olivia was a pumpkin fairy this year. Also a seriously cute costume! She loved to twirl around in it! And the striped tights just made the outfit for me!!



Here are a few other shots we got!!!


Ready to get some candy!!!




The whole gang...



We had our homeschool skating party yesterday and it was so much fun! It brought back so many memories of the skating rink I went to growing up. It even smelled the same! Ethan and Abby had a little trouble getting around at first, but they were getting pretty good by the time we left. Abby's hand got run over (by Ethan) and swelled up pretty good, but she's not complaining so I guess it's fine! Ethan even said he was a little sore today! But everyone had such a great time!!


At the skating rink putting on our skates!





It's hard to believe another Halloween has come and gone! Tomorrow is November 1st and we set the clocks back. Sometimes I wish I could set the clocks WAY back and maybe slow time down a little. I feel like things are moving so fast and I just want to enjoy every single minute!! I know that when I wake up tomorrow (or maybe even if I turn on my tv right now!) that the Christmas commercials will start playing already. The stores have had the decorations out for so long now! I hope that I can make this upcoming holiday season a meaningful one and really slow down to absorb what it's all about. Let's all make a pledge right now to do that!!! Will you hold me to it???

Pumpkin Patch

We headed over to the pumpkin patch near our house this afternoon with our neighbor friends Angie, Caleb and baby Elliott. Olivia loves Caleb to bits and pieces. It was so nice outside and lots of things we on sale! I got a huge bag of cortland apples and two acorn squash for $3.00!!! The kids had so much fun, despite the fact that they are dealing with some runny noses. We are looking forward to trick-or-treating tonight! Look for more pictures of that later on!!

Halloween Tradition

One of my favorite Halloween traditions is carving pumpkins!! Here is a slideshow of our night tonight. It was so fun!!

Thriller

I had to post this because it's Halloween!!! It's in two parts, but you have to watch it. I remember this like it was yesterday!!

Part 1


Part 2


Enjoy! I hope it gets you in the Halloween spirit!!

New Music Monday!

In an effort to boost morale, music posts will now be made on Mondays! I usually post about music on Fridays, but New Music Monday sounds better. Plus, I think people already look forward to Friday because it's the kick off to the weekend. We all need a reason to look forward to Monday!!

This artist isn't new at all. She's been around the block and I can't believe I haven't blogged about her. Imogen Heap aka Frou Frou. It's the same chic, but two different projects basically.... so to speak.... sort of. Most of you have heard of her music, but maybe you haven't heard "about" her so hopefully you'll still find this post to be of interest.




Imogen Heap is an English singer/songwriter who is probably one of my favorite artists EVER. Period. She is quite the odd bird, but most incredibly talented people are I suppose. She's made the 'worst dressed' list every time she goes out in public, but don't let her ugly clothes fool you! Underneath all the overdone make up and bad hair lies the voice of an angel with an insane talent for song writing!! She is classically trained in many instruments - piano, cello and clarinet to name a few. And she taught herself how to play the guitar and the drums. Sent away to boarding school after her parents separated, she was the outcast among her peers. Punishment from her teachers was to be sent alone to her room where she taught herself music engineering and the art of music "sampling" on Atari computers. So much for punishment!!! After attending the BRIT School of Performing Arts, Heap went on to release her debut album "I Megaphone" in 1998. After funding was cut for promotions and being dropped from the label, Heap was left without a record contract.

Guy Sigsworth, who had helped write track for 'I Megaphone' was having label troubles of his own. So the two teamed up to write a few songs and eventually ended up having huge success under the name 'Frou Frou.' That collaborative album was called 'Details' and it was released in 2002. It remains one of my favorite albums ever, though it didn't get the attention it deserved until much later on! Several of their songs have appeared on movies such as "Garden State' and shows like 'The O.C.' Here are a few delicious songs from Details....

'Breathe In' - such a cool song!!!


'It's Good To Be In Love' - about the bitterness you feel when someone you love is in love with someone else!!!


'Let Go'


'Must Be Dreaming'


'Hide and Seek' became famous on The O.C., but also because of the amazing Mia Michaels routine it was used for in Season 2 - the Top 10 Group Dance. Check it!!!



Imogen (or "Immi" as she is affectionately called by adoring fans) came out with the album "Speak For Yourself" all by her lonesome. She even did the artwork for the album herself!! The album is amazing and I am sure you will recognize quite a few of the songs from tv shows. Here are my own personal favorites....

'The Walk' - wouldn't I LOVE to choreograph something to this song!!!!


'Headlock'


'Have You Got It In You'


In 2006, Immi got two Grammy nominations!! One for best new artist and the other for best song for a motion picture. That song was 'Can't Take It In' and was on The Chronicles of Narnia. It is a beautiful song with a very Enya quality to it.

'Can't Take It In'


Imogen is currently working on her third album and is being very shady about when it will come out. Most likely it will be out before the end of the year around the holidays! One of the songs has already appeared on the amazing tv show "Heroes." Take a listen....

'Not Now But Soon'


I can only imagine how amazing this whole album will be when I finally get my hands on it. You can listen to more of her songs on her own video blog. I have only touched on a few of the awesome songs she has! There have been so many! I hope this edition of 'New Music Monday' has made your Monday a little better!!!

Mom Brain

Sounds like a fairly benign condition, right? Or does it? Chances are someone you know is suffering from this very affliction. Or maybe you are the one who is suffering!! Fellow mothers, I urge you to unite with me and suffer in silence no more!

I amaze myself on a daily basis. And sometimes not in a good way!! I know the phone numbers of our primary care doctor, the pediatrician, the neurologist, the dentist, family members and close friends. I can remember the weight, height and social security numbers of each of my children. So how come I haven't been able to find my cell phone in over two months?? Or remember what I just came downstairs for??

Today was one of those days where mom brain really affected my life. Actually the past few days have been that way!! I forgot to pay our phone bill and AT&T actually shut down our long distance, so we couldn't call anyone that wasn't in our area code for a couple of days. And today I got all the way to the store and realized that my debit card wasn't with me. Then thinking I had enough cash to at least pick up some lunch so that packing up all three children and taking them out wasn't completely in vain, I headed over to the Taco Bell. Nope. Not enough cash to feed four people. By the way, since when did Taco Bell become so damn pricey!!! Needless to say, I felt like a complete idiot in front of my children today. I can't even say that I'm losing it because I think "it" was gone a long time ago. My brain has reached maximum capacity. "How sad", you say!! "She was only 29 and such a nice girl."

Do all moms feel this way or am I the only one here?? Is mom brain an epidemic?? I have never been one of those organized, got it all together types. My locker in school was always a mess, that is if I could remember the combination to even open it. I usually waited until the last minute to study for that big math quiz or finish that book report. But when did THIS happen to me? Scatterbrain doesn't quite cover it, but airhead sounds a little too harsh. I know there are people out there with way more kids and way more on their plate that are doing this way better than me. I'd write things down to help me remember, but I wouldn't remember where I put the paper they were written on!! What am I doing wrong and how can I make it better? For the sake of my family and all those involved, I feel the need for answers.

In my quest for those answers, I came across a study by a health correspondent from the UK. It says that 'mom brain' is not a myth and that psychologists have proven that forgetfulness from pregnancy and childbirth lasts for years. Some even call it 'momnesia.' Yikes. Other studies have argued that no such thing exists. Ya, right. Have those people give me a call when they have had to get a new debit card twice because they keep losing theirs. Or when they forget words like "the" and "you" in the middle of a sentence. Or when they leave the hot rollers plugged in overnight and the chord melts all over the bathroom counter. Have the people from that study give me a call!

Mom brain is real and it exists!!! But if there's a cure, I guess I don't want it. I wouldn't trade my dumbness for my three gorgeous kiddos for anything. I guess if it means anything, maybe they got all the good brain cells I did have! Good luck to each of them because I'm sure there weren't many!!!

So the next time you lose your keys for the tenth time or call your husband by the dog's name, remember that mom brain is real but it won't last forever. We can only hope!!!

Abby Dooby

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood here! The weather is cooler and I like it! We cleaned up this morning, I treated the kids to McD's lunch (I know, I am SUCH a good mom), and we did school. Abby is always asking to do crafts. SHe is so creative it blows my mind. So this afternoon when I heard the scissors going and the scotch tape dispenser... well.... dispensing - I knew she was working on one of her masterpieces. The end result was so cute I just HAD to take a picture of her!!



And then the more I looked at her, the more familiar the hat shape seemed. I knew I had seen it somewhere!!!!



Da POPE!!!!! Oh, I love my Abby Dooby. Life would be so dull without her!!!

Fix It!

Sometimes when things are going so horribly wrong, a good pee in your pants laugh will make you feel better. That does not mean that I think people losing thousands of dollars is a big joke. But sometimes all you can do is laugh! Whatever your take on the current economic crap is, I'm sure you can appreciate how funny this SNL skit is! And if you already saw it, watch it again! It was FUNNY!

"Fix IT!!!!"

SNLFixIt

Hulu.com has a ton of other funny skits from SNL too! Gotta love the internet!

This song goes out to.....

You. I know quite a few friends of mine are going through some challenging times right now. Remembering loved ones who have passed on, trying to get past things that have happened and start new, attempting to forge new relationships, worrying about what the future holds for them, or just plain struggling and trying to hold on to better times...

You're in my prayers. And this song goes out to you!! (remember to pause my playlist from automatically starting before you listen to this song)



"Picture" by Mute Math

I see our fate, I see our past
And all the things that could not last
It’s heavy on these eyes, frozen as I hold this photograph
It’s all we’re left that’s of any worth
And it’s so much more than a thousand words
Now in this frame is our only way we can endure

I pictured you and me always
And in this photograph we’re safe

All I hear in my head
Are all the words I wish I’d said
Sentimental thoughts are overwhelming me again
As I stare through a lens of tears
At what remains of those fallen years
Now in this frame memories are held to persevere

I pictured you and me always
And in this photograph we’ll stay
I pictured you and me always
And in this photograph we’re safe

Coping with this loss has broken me
And I’m just hoping things are all as they should be
I pictured you and me, you and me
I pictured (3x)
Oh, I pictured (4x)

I pictured you and me always
And in this photograph we’ll stay
I pictured you and me always
And in this photograph we’re safe

We're safe
We're safe

Just In Time...

I know it's really only the beginning of October, but I so have that Halloween vibe happening already. I am not into the super scary, gory Halloween stuff. It's the dressing up and the getting of the candy that makes me love this particular holiday! Ah, candy. Speaking of Halloween candy, have you tried the pumpkin spice Hershey kisses yet? I could eat a whole bag in one sitting. They are crazy delicious!

But anyways, the whole purpose of this post was to point out my very new and fabulous Halloween playlist! There are more songs if you click on it and scroll down, so be sure to listen to them all. It's a pretty good list of creepy songs if I do say so myself! Of course, I had to start it out with Thriller. That is the best Halloween song of all time. I still remember being up at Mrs. P's dance studio when I was little - we would turn all the lights off except for this one that had a red lightbulb in it and bust a move to Thriller. One of the best memories ever! I still remember the dance! And the video. Even though poor MJ has gone off the deep end, he was once so talented! One of my faves!

Just take a listen and I hope it gets you in the mood to put on some fake vampire teeth and carve pumpkins!! Halloween will be here before we know it!

Tortellini Soup

I love this recipe so much, I just had to share it! My mom made this for me right after we brought Olivia home from the hospital as a newborn. It is so hearty and good!! My whole family loves it!!

Tortellini Soup


1 large can chicken broth
1 frozen chicken breast, cooked & chopped (you can also use a rotisserie chicken)
1 pkg frozen chopped spinach
1 pkg Barilla cheese tortellini (dry, in the pasta section)
1 can diced tomatoes
1/4 tsp dried italian seasoning
1/4 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot over high heat, combine the spinach and chicken broth. Heat to boiling, then reduce heat to low. Stir in tortellini, and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the tortellini is cooked to desired tenderness. Add tomatoes and chicken. Season with italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Serve with a warm, crusty bread and a nice glass of white wine!!

New Keane!!!

The new Keane album 'Perfect Symmetry' comes out October 14th, so I thought I'd take a listen.....

It is VERY interesting. I seriously thought I was listening to The Killers for a moment. It is super different from their previous two albums and it will take some getting used to, but man I think I like it!! Change is good as long as you aren't trying to be something you're not. Here are a few songs from the new album... take a listen and I'd love to hear what you think!! Comments?? Feedback???

'Spiralling Down' - could be the theme song for the economic crisis we're "not having"


'Love Is the End' - beautiful sentiment


'Lovers Are Losing' - starts out like 'Crystal Ball' with a Killers vibe


"Prefect Symmetry' Live version - back to the old piano and I love it!!!


I'm gonna preorder it!!!!