Dear,

Dear Target,
If you are going to sell measuring cups that are simply decorative, you should SAY THAT on the description. Otherwise someone will be baking 4 dozen cupcakes and thinking, "Gosh, that looks kind of... runny... " but they will persist because they are baking 4 dozen cupcakes and doing a majillion different things at the same time and then they will look at their beautiful new measuring cups suspiciously and test them only to find they are a 1/2 cup off! That's a LOT when you're BAKING, TARGET!
Sincerly,
I now own decorative measuring cups (how useful)

Dear Miss L,
I am gearing up to write your birthday post and I am having a hard time because you are so, so, so THREE. So big, and lately? So, so bad. You are a naughty little drama queen but I love you so.
Love,
Mama

Dear Thanksgiving and Christmas,
Why you have to be so close together?!
From,
I need more time between cross country drives!

Dear Self,
Let it go. Let it go, let it go, let it go. Things are different now and it's OK.
Love,
Me

Dear Sarcastic, B*tchy Voice in my Head,
Do not come out my mouth.
Signed,
I MEAN IT

I realize that picture is screwed up... sorry about that. Anyway, that map shows our Thanksgiving week travels. Point A was a quick overnight in St. Louis. We drove by the arch on our way through the next morning, but other than shoving all 6 of us into a hotel room for a sleepless night, it was fairly uneventful.

Point B is Kansas City, where we went to Union Station and the science museum and then over to Great Wolf Lodge, where the kids had probably the most amazing time of their lives. Again, all 6 of us were in one room but at least it had a half wall partition so we managed OK. (Why do these kids hate sleep? I swear they will pay for this when they are teenagers.) We met up with family there as well, 2 nights in a row, and went to a cool restaurant where the kids were so enthralled with dinosaurs and fish tanks that they forgot to torture us (much) during dinner.

Point C is my parents' town and we spent the rest of our time there, visiting with various other family members and having a fantastic Thanksgiving meal and trying to force convince the almost 3 year old to be halfway decent and not scare all my childless cousins into buying their birth control in bulk. (Probably not successful, but that's what a week-ish of poor sleep will do to a 3 year old. *sigh*)
We did get to go out on a very rare date. We went a vineyard and had a nice time. We were back in less than 2 hours... it's sad that we can never think of things to do on dates anymore. We always end up at the grocery store (we did this time too).

Then it was time to head home, and the kids must be getting used to car rides because aside from car sickness, it was pretty smooth sailing. Thank goodness! In exactly one month, we're going to be driving to Texas, so it's a good thing they're getting used to it.

9 days, 1400-ish miles, 3 bottles of wine, too much turkey and not enough sleep and here we are: home sweet home.

outtakes

Taking our own family pictures was especially difficult this year. With 6 people in the photo, or even just the 4 kids; there is always someone doing something stupid. Silly faces, closed eyes, strange poses... you name it! For your amusement, I'm posting some (OK, way too many) outtakes here. Pay special attention to O's face, because that kid cracks me up.
And you guys? This isn't even close to half of the pictures. 

This bench hurts my knees!

We just promised them ice cream if they could just look at the damn camera.

Still excited about the ice cream.

Since everyone else looked decent d decided to poke himself in the eye.

C's turn to make silly faces

closed eyes...

Believe it or not, O cannot smile on command to save his life.

STOP HOLDING MY HAND!

Reminded them about the ice cream...

Don't ask

omg

just... wow

This is the point a lady bug landed on D's face. haha

damn ladybug

la de dah, what's going on here?

Are we done yet?

He did that face on purpose.

ha!

There's a BUG!

Here's the thing(s)...

Thing the 1st:
 I've been feeling terrible lately. Probably a combination of stress, poor eating/sleeping, extreme busy-ness and, because of those things; anxiety. I've decided to cut way back on caffeine (I've been drinking 2-3 cups of regular coffee a day. I'm trying to cut back to 2 or less cups of half caff or less/day, then down from there.) and... sugar. Sugar makes me feel like crap. And yet, no joke, I can't seem to stop eating it. I want it. I need it. I crave it. I love it. Feel like crap? Eat something! Sad? Eat something! Lonely? Eat something.
*sigh* I'm on just over 24 hours with very little sugar (I did have creamer in my half caff) and I have another terrible headache, just like yesterday. Wheeee!
Sugar and caffeine detox right after Halloween and before Thanksgiving? Sure, no biggie.

Thing the 2nd:
 Homeschooling doesn't make me special. It doesn't make me a better or worse parent. It's just something that was right for our family and I felt strongly compelled to do. Now that I am doing it, I can say, unequivocally, that there is no reason to be scared. Of course it's not always easy, but lots of things aren't. There's good and bad with everything.
All I'm saying is; I was scared. I was pretty much dragged to homeschooling kicking and screaming. I kept saying NO and kept being told YES until I finally decided to listen to that voice.
Honestly, if *I* can do it, anyone can. Truly.
(I'm NOT saying everyone should want to homeschool, I'm just saying if you DO want to, -and I'm not saying you should- don't be scared!)

Thing the 3rd:
In less than a month my very last baby, my only baby girl, will be officially too old to call a baby. She won't even let me call her that now, actually. Every time I look at her I'm both thrilled and melancholy at how grown up she's getting. Three is still little, and when she's 13 I'll reminisce about her at 3, but for now it seems so old for my last baby.
She's funny and sweet and independent and strong willed and although she makes me bang my head against the wall on a daily basis, I know she's going to be an amazing woman someday.

I hit the jackpot with these kids you guys. They are amazing, fantastic, infuriating little creatures! I don't even want anymore because I can't imagine having another one so wonderful*.  
The thing is... they keep growing. And, you know, you want them to. But, it hurts juuuuust a little.





*I'm sure I'd change my mind if I did have another one. Which I'm NOT.

Christmas crafts

We had a Christmas craft swap last week for the moms' group I'm a part of. Our price limit was $10 or less, which I blew on the star ($5), ribbon ($2) and the scrapbook paper (more than budgeted but I only used a couple sheets and have lots left over so I called it good). I made my own modge podge so that was free. (2 parts glue to 1part water)
Here's what I started with:

Here's what I ended up with:

I actually made two, and this is the one I kept, but the other one is the mirror image so you get the idea. I got the idea from this blog, and then modified it a bit: star

I also made (for free!) these little Christmas signs for a mantle or shelf. I used scrap pieces of crown moulding we had in the garage and paint that I already had as well, so all it cost me was time.

This is the one I used for the Christmas craft swap. I kept JOY for myself.

They each had a bit of glitter over the paint so they shine a little as well. I used this tutorial for how to paint lettering: lettering

movie reviews

Now that it's football season, I've been watching a lot of movies on Amazon Prime. Some I've really enjoyed and some not so much. I realize that some or most of you have probably seen a lot of these movies, because we never rent movies or get to the theater so practically every movie it new to me. I'm not going to give any of the plot away, I'm just giving my thoughts on the movies.

 No Strings Attached

photo from Amazon.com

I thought I would really like this movie because I love Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman. I didn't hate it. It was a cute movie and ended in a predictable but satisfactory way. However, the character that Portman played was annoyingly - predictably - commitment phobic and the storyline was confusing at times. I would not say it was "Smart & Sexy" as the picture says, but more like "Predictable but Cute".

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World

photo from Amazon.com

I thought this movie would be very funny (Steve Carell!) but I found it mostly distressing with a few funny parts and an ending that pissed me off. This was the only one of these movies that we actually paid to rent (we had a credit, but still had to pay a little) and I regret it. Greatly.
Keira Knightly was quirky and cute, but it seemed overdone. Carell was depressing, frustrating and not all that funny. I hated the ending too. I guess the end of the world just isn't that funny.
There were some good parts, but I wouldn't recommend this movie. Not my cup of tea.

Morning Glory

photo from Amazon.com

This one came out in 2010, but I hadn't even heard of it, so maybe it was a flop in theaters. I have no idea, but I really liked it. It was certainly predictable in parts, but if you've seen as many rom coms as I have, well, you expect it somewhat. I liked the main character, played by Rachel McAdams, although she was spastic at times... or all the times. Harrison Ford, surprise surprise, played a grumpy old guy. He did it well, although he was grumpy even for HIM. Loved Diane Keaton in this, but I always do.
Overall, it was a feel good movie with funny parts and a hint of romance. I liked that the main character wasn't defined in this movie by the romance and relationship. It was more of a sub-story. And, hey, it was free and I didn't have to watch football. 

The Lincoln Lawyer  

photo from Amazon.com

I saved the best for last! I loved this movie!! It had some unexpected twists, and McConaughey played a 'slick bordering on greasy but still has heart' lawyer very well.  This one kept us guessing and had some thrills, a tinge of romance, and it made us mad and sad. I can't say much without giving away important parts of the plot, but I would highly recommend this movie! 

November!

November is always a busy month; it seems as soon as Halloween is over we start the downhill slide to Christmas. However, Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays. There's no gift pressure, you can just get together and have fun with family members and eat a good meal. The weather is usually more or less decent too. I don't participate in the Black Friday madness because I'm usually mostly done with Christmas shopping by then, I hate crowds, and I prefer online shopping. So, November is usually a good month as well as busy.

This year we are going on a special trip before Thanksgiving. In two weeks we'll be finishing up our second school session of the school year, and then we're heading to the Great Wolf Lodge! D's wanted to take the kids forever, and we got an amazing deal on a 2 night stay! After we spend our 2 days there, we're driving to my parents' house, which is a few hours away. We'll spend Thanksgiving there and head home the next weekend.  (Notice I'm ignoring the hours upon hours of driving we'll be doing to drive up to St. Louis, over to Kansas City, down to my parents' house and then home.)
When we arrive home, L's 3rd birthday will be the next weekend and then we'll decorate for Christmas and attend all those parties and fun holiday things that take place that time of year! Before we know it, it will be Christmas! 

November list:
* Take pictures for family Christmas cards.
* Make Christmas cards.
* Get ready for L's birthday.
* Plan/ready for our trip. (short sentence for a massive undertaking)
* Finish Christmas shopping.
* Lose 5-10 more pounds before I have to see my entire family. haha
* 2 birthdays.
* 4 classes for the bigger boys. (not including catechism every Sunday)
* 1 hour 1st reconciliation meeting for D & I to attend.
* 3 hour 1st reconciliation workshop for both of us to attend with d, on the day we were supposed to leave for vacation.
* Preschool special Thanksgiving lunch/program for C.
* Plus, you know... life. Oh, and D informed me he will be working extra overtime before we leave. Fabulous. (I'm rethinking my above statement about liking November...)

(I'm definitely going to be praying that no one gets sick!)

For those not my Facebook friend & not sick of seeing Halloween pictures: