He's Back!

Guess who was parked on top of our Christmas tree when we walked in from all of our Thanksgiving travels? Chewy, the Elf on the Shelf! I thought Sophie B. would pee her pants when she spotted him hanging out on a branch. So he's back and he's taking notes to report back to Santa.

His story somehow landed on her bed. We had to read it immediately. Of course the most important thing about Chewy is that he can't be touched. Once touched, his magic disappears. Then I guess you are SOL because there is no one to report back to Santa whether you've been naughty or nice.

And of course we had to do some goofing off with the Christmas ornaments.

Now we are parked on my bed watching old school Rudolph. Tis the season! Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

10 On Tuesday

1. Still on a giant Scooby Doo kick around here. Apparently, I bare a striking resemblance to Velma. Whereas my daughter says she looks like the "pretty one" with the "cool scarf" around her neck.

Exhibit A: Mama

Exhibit B: Sophia

Now the bad part of this is that the other day I ordered an orange sweater. A few weeks later, I ordered a red skirt from the same place. The catalogue had them paired together with a purple scarf. Sounds crazy but looked cute. There ain't no way I'm wearing that orange sweater and red skirt together! See exhibit A.

2. My house is officially decorated for Christmas. If GiGi were a Smurf she'd be Christmas Smurf because she came over on Sunday and helped me to do some serious decorating. She can whip up a wreath in .2 seconds. And her secret, fishing line.

3. Ugly Christmas Sweater party is set for December 5. Steven's ensemble is hilarious. Thanks to my aunt for sending me not one but 2 dickies from Uncle Kev's stash. Funny, she said that I did NOT have to return them. Said that the were just going to "disappear."

4. We are about 20 days away from seeing "the mouse" And I'll be truthful, Sophia Carr could really give a flying sh*t. I'm pumped to be spending some serious cash on tickets.

5. My cousin Shane is headed to Afghanistan next week. Stinks.

6. I'm in a "hate the world" kind of mood today.

7. But wait, I saw New Moon and it was awesome despite the awkward pauses stupid Bella screaming as though she's in child birth during her "bad dreams." So maybe I don't hate the world. I came out of the theater on Team Jacob.

8. We are headed to PA on Wednesday for Thanksgiving. Four days full of cousins, a puppy, and craziness! Stella is going to have PapPap's blood pressure going through the roof! But she'll have an ally in Aunt Amy. We are doing our Christmas gift exchange while we are there since we stay down here for Xmas. I know what Soph is getting and lets just say that I have a feeling Snoopy snow cones will be forced upon everyone.

9. Pierced ears have been a hot topic around here lately. Soph's intrigued by them, wants them, but also knows that there is pain involved so the chicken in her takes over. I'm leery because even if she does go through with it, I know that she'll fight me to the death taking care of them.

I chickened out on multiple occasions. The first time, i was 4 and went with my best friend. I made the mistake of letting Allison go first so I saw what went down and said, hell no. Then finally a few weeks later my great aunt was watching me and i announced that I was ready to bite the bullet. Not wanting me to change my mind she said, "get in the car, lets roll!" I distinctly remember that I had on wonder woman under-roos. That's it. And I remember her taking me down to a small town beauty shop, climbing up in the chair, and that was that. In my under-roos PEOPLE!

10. On that note, I'm out. I'll leave you with a photo of Hanna Montana. This was from a birthday party where Sophia's behavior was class act. NOT.

44 Months

Daphne, I mean Sophie,

Scooby Dooby Doo, where are you? Perhaps you are in Puerto Rico chasing el chupacabra. Running from ghastly ghost pirates (my personal favorite). Or maybe you are hanging out with Sunny and Cheer, the Harlem Globetrotters, Batman & Robin, or Don Knotts. It all blurs together considering that I've watched no less than 3432 episodes in the last month. All I know is that you can't get enough of the Scoob.

The highlight of this past month was of course trick-or-treating. This year we ventured over to Ben's neighborhood since there are only 7 kids in our new neighborhood. Why is it that kids feel the need to run as fast as they can to each house. It's as though you truly believe that they are going to run out of candy before you can reach their doorstep. So run you did, and fall you did. Skinning your knee and causing us to make a quick costume alteration in the middle of the street. But you picked yourself up, dusted yourself off, and quickly ran to the next house. We chuckled when you announced to a few people that you couldn't eat peanuts but not to worry, you would give those snickers bars to your mom and dad. Thanks for thinking about us baby girl!

You are still a kid who loves music. And I hope you are always a music lover. And I hope you always love such a wide variety of music. Nothing makes me laugh more to hear you break out in a song that it's particularly age appropriate. The other day your daddy was dumbfounded when you broke out into a chorus of "Walkin After Midnight." On the way back from the mall the other day you told Gigi, that you "woke up dis morning, smiled at the rising sun." And I often hear you, singing, "a hip hop, a hippie the hippie to the hip hop, you don't stop the rock."

You love all of the kids in the neighborhood. Every.Single.One.Of.Them.Nicholas, Nathanial, Zack, Toby, Tanner. And I love that you love them. I love that you get excited when you see someone outside and run as fast as you can to join them. I love how you go next door, ring the doorbell and ask politely if so and so can come out and play. I love how we literally have to bring you inside kicking and screaming when it's time to go to bed. I'm so happy that we moved here. When I told you that some little girls would be moving in to the house down the street you got so excited and immediately asked if they were going to be your friend and play outside with everyone.

Christmas is right around the corner and you didn't need anyone to tell you that fact. You've asked me countless times if "Chewy" the Elf on the Shelf would be able to find your new house because he needed to report to Santa how good of a girl you were being. And also, that the jeep that you want is pink.

This coming month we'll be heading to Grammy and PapPap's for Thanksgiving. So far you have told me that you are thankful for dinner with your family, Reggie, and Stella. But not spiders or lady bugs. In fact, you "hate their guts." Oh and you are thankful for John Denver and yesterday on the way to school you asked me if he would be able to play his guitar at your school Christmas show. When I explained to you that unfortunately, John Denver is in heaven, and not almost heaven anymore, you said, "oh, well then I guess Michelle's daddy will have to play then." Poor old John Denver. Who needs him when you've got Michelle's daddy. Maybe your daddy could come to school and swing a golf club for the class.

So happy 44 months Little Bit. This time next month we'll be hanging with Mickey Mouse. And big surprise for you is that your friend Allie from school is going to be there too! Same week, and same hotel! What are the chances. Of course I'm not sure why we are spending so much money taking you to Disney World when for $5 there's a perfectly good Snow White in Hurricane. Who knew!

Love Mama

A Wedding Interview

My child must plan on marrying Warren Jeffs and become a child bride since she says she's getting hitched at 14! Please excuse her rat's nest hair do and my obnoxious voice!

In case you are wondering why in the world she says she's getting married in Puerto Rico, Steven and I got married there, five glorious years ago. Five looooong years. Just kidding. So she thinks that's where you go to get married. As for being a cow girl when she grows up, I have NO CLUE where that came from Maybe she'll end up marring a millionaire rancher like the Pioneer Woman!

Tuesday Halloween Edition

1. Out of 12 months, October is probably my favorite because of Halloween. I start thinking about costumes in August. This year, however, Sophie was dead set on being a witch. As I've mentioned before, a witch with a crooked hat and crooked broom. Score on the broom but not on the hat. Regardless, I think she turned out pretty cute!

2. We also carved pumpkins! What I thought would be a fun activity for the kids in the neighborhood turned out to be the moms standing around the table carving pumpkins for them while they ran around like wild Indians playing.

Here's Sophie and Nathanial showing off the pumpkin that his mom carved. HA!

3. Trick-or-treat night really made us miss our old neighborhood. People in our old hood really go all out for Halloween. This year, since we are in a new neighborhood with only a few houses we decided to go trick-or-treating with Ben. The kids had a blast but it just wasn't the same. Gracie joined us too!

4. Since little Owen was a monkey for Halloween, I thought "wouldn't it be great if his dad would dress up as a giant banana?!" So I talked to Joel and asked if he'd wear a big banana if I found one. $5.49 later, this is Joel:

5. However, my plan to point fingers and laugh at Joel back fired when his wife called and said, "lets all dress up!" She had just dressed up for work and told me that she had these "awesome" costumes. Behold:

Yeah, not so awesome! Stephanie and I look like idiots dressed as flower pots while Shannon got to be the cute gardener!

6. So knocking on doors and saying "trick-or-treat" is becoming a thing of the past. It seems like everyone sits out in their driveway now. I know three little kids who got very excited to actually ring a doorbell and wait patiently.

Unfortunately, the old bag who opened the door gave each of them on single Tootsie roll. Wow.

7. Saturday we had an adult/kid Halloween party to hit. I wanted us all to dress up but for the life of me I couldn't think of anything. Then a few days before the party, crikey, it hit me! We could easily be the Irwin Family. A few iron-ons and plastic snakes later Sophie was Bindi Irwin.
8. I was a chubby, brunette, Terri Irwin.

9. And Steven was the legendary, Steve Irwin, may he rest in peace. Had there not been kids we might have went with some blood and a stingray.

10. So that was our Halloween. Sophie has been stuffing herself with candy and passing us all of the peanut filled treats.