Halloween 2011

Halloween this year was a little crazy, but overall really great. We were running from a trunk-or-treat carnival, to a pumpkin carving contest in LA, to preschool and school carnivals, to Johnny's Foreman's house, etc. Many Snow Birds and elderly residents living in this RV park specifically went out and bought candy just for our kids. All week people were telling us which space numbers to visit on Halloween. One lady was so happy we were her first trick-or-treaters in over 20 years.

Jaxon lost his first costume which required an emergency trip to the 99 cent store for some impromptu pirate gear. Daniel alternated between his standard Firefighter costume and a SWAT outfit. Wesley was a Dragon. We kept asking him to find his tail to send him spinning in circles like a puppy. Of course Garrett was our 3 eyed, 4 armed sweaty teething monster. Really he was adorable. Johnny just had to take the opportunity to wear an old cowboy hat he was given. By the end of the night we both agreed the hat must have some kind of mite or bug living in it. We were both itching like crazy. Yuck. Then there was me. The tired mom (not shown) who didn't think to get a costume. Boring, I know. Although, I could pass for a trashy school girl if I braided my hair. It would go perfect with the tacky hickey I happen to have on the front of my neck. Thanks honey! I felt pretty classy at the preschool carnival! Oh the memories...

Penitent

Wesley is my little imp. He is so darn cute it is difficult to be upset when he does crazy things. He had a double ear infection a few weeks ago and needed antibiotics every day. One night just as I was about to give him his medicine our neighbor in the next trailer over had an emergency and was calling for help. Johnny and I ran out telling the boys to say put. Of course the medicine was left on the counter. A few seconds later Daniel is yelling "emergency" in our trailer which brought Johnny and I running back inside.

I should have dressed him as a skunk for Halloween. Little stinker that he is was so proud of himself! Not sorry in the least. An entire bottle of antibiotics on the rug. I took the rug outside to wash it off hanging over the back of the truck. Johnny drove off with it the next morning and I am guessing it is somewhere along the 58!

Taylor Swift

A few months ago my amazing cousin got me tickets to the Ellen DeGeners Mother's Day Giveaway show. It was awesome, but some of the stuff I already had. Some things I gave away, others I kept, and some I sold. I sold my Britax stroller and car seat as well as my Go Gaga Diaper bag. I talked to Johnny about what to do with the money since I had not earned it and I felt it would be kind of an insult to the gift my cousin had given me if I used it to pay bills. So, we decided I needed to use it to do something I would not ever have the change to do again.

On October 21st I flew to Phoenix leaving Johnny with Daniel, Jaxon, and Wesley for the weekend. I took baby Garrett with me since he is still nursing (despite getting his 1st tooth at barley 4 months old). I spent the weekend with two of my best friends in the world Ashley Huber and Janelle Schmitz. We went to Cheesecake Factory and to the Taylor Swift Speak Now concert. I love Taylor Swift! I thought since I had built this weekend up in my mind for so long that I might have been a little let down, but that was not the case. It was AMAZING! Totally and completely awesome.

Halfway through the concert she moved from the main stage to a glowing, rotating tree in the back of the arena to sing a few songs with just her guitar. She closed the concert flying over the arena on a small balcony. She even sang one sing with Jimmy Eat World and a new song "Ours" I had never heard before. It was a great night with great friends.

Sunday afternoon Johnny sent me a text message to have fun and take as much time as I needed to get home because once I got home I was never leaving again! haha

Johnny at work

Johnny is the one on the pole, not in the bucket. This was taken by the Groundman when they were on a storm call at twilight.

Isn't he sexy in his climbers? Makes my heart go pitter patter!

Photo shoot...or should I say shoot me now?

Wesley turned 2 in August and in my family that means it is time for his 2 year picture. This very important picture is a tradition that was started when my father was a child. My Granny has the picture made into 3 identical large oil paintings. Each generation gets one of the paintings. The picture rules are: it has to be classic, Victorian, timeless, no teeth showing when they smile, etc. We had to have 3 photo sessions done with Daniel to get his right. Jaxon was easier because I knew what we needed. Wesley was perfect. He sat perfectly still the entire time as if someone had hit the pause button. What do you think?

My second choice is this one.

Not the outfit most people would think of, but my Granny has dreams about what they need to wear, and of course, she gets her way when it comes to these pictures. Satin bow and all!

Garrett was more challenging. He had a huge blow out in his blessing outfit right as they started to take pictures. Of course, I only had two wipies left in the diaper bag that didn't do the trick, so I finished with the burp cloth and threw it away. I was determined to push through so I put him in the next outfit, picked him up, and he promptly hurled in my shoe. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

The kind photographer blessed me with some paper towels and we kept on going. Worth it? Yes!

Look at those dimples! Just as amazing as his daddy's!

After being there for 3 1/2 hours we left with cute pictures and a very tired group. Jaxon promptly threw up once we got home. Probably due to the candy bribes. Or maybe the crayons I caught him eating when he was supposed to be coloring? Most likely both!

Percival Day @ the Zoo

The Percival family got together at the LA Zoo last weekend for a perfect day of family fun and animals. Despite Diana's insistence to take pictures, this is all I managed! Sorry sis! Garrett looks exactly like Johnny and Jaxon!

We had a great time and I think it had to be the first full family outing we have had in a very long time!

1st School Carnival = Bankrupt in One Night!

(Picture disclaimer: Mom with 4 kids and a new phone = only 1 picture on the camera and a phone full of pictures I can't figure out how to access!)

Tonight was the Harvest Festival at Daniel's school. The boys were very excited and Daniel was so proud to bring in soda bottles and a cake to contribute to the event. Little did I know that school carnival fundraisers were so expensive! Between game tickets, face painting, bounce house wrist bands, dinner and shaved ice, pony rides, the silent auction, and of course the raffle, we left feeling a little light in the wallet. I even had Johnny return the two bags of kettle corn he bought. Is that terrible? My mother the health inspector would not be happy the people took the unopened bags back and resold them! Overall it was a great time except for the swarms of pincher bugs literally falling from the trees all over our heads.

The best and worst moment of the night had to be when we lost Jaxon. One second he went in the bounce house obstical course and the next he was gone. The first 30 seconds or so I was practical about it. Daniel and I re-checked the area with no luck. Then it escalated to frantically calling his name and checking to see if he found Johnny. Next my heart sank from my chest only to rise back up when I saw him across the field. The silly boy thought I would leave without him so he went to find me. When I first found him he didn't see me but I could tell he was looking. When he finally realized I had found him he burst into huge gushing tears. My own tears spilled out as I reassured him I would always find him, no matter what! It was the longest 90 seconds of my life!