Happy Halloween!

I'm attempting to 'live blog' right now. The trick-or-treating has commenced and Lubbock is taking his extra late nap again. I don't really mind since the time change is this weekend and once that happens, his naps won't really be all that late.

So far, the 'cereal' killer has been the most creative costume. My way down the street neighbor had her little three month old with her. I just don't remember Lubbock ever being that little. I'm so ready for another.

This morning, Lubbock and I joined Gretchen, Maureen and Brennan (in the picture as Luke Skywalker ... update ... my sister told me that he's not Luke Skywalker ... but since I've never really seen any of the movies ... what do I know?) for brunch at one of my favorite doughnut/breakfast places. Then we went to Geneva Commons to enjoy the warm weather. Originally, we were going to go there for trick-or-treating, but Jen had called and left a message saying that they weren't doing that today. Sugar! (As Maureen said today ... pretty funny stuff.) Gretchen fed Lubbock a little bag of M&Ms before brunch as a way of bribing him to like her (her words, not mine). I think Lubbock likes anyone that smiles at him, so the sugar was just an added bonus. She says Lubbock is a very serious child and reminds her of her daughter, Meredith, when she was younger. He can take a while to warm up to people.

Since then, we've been at home. I was able to find an overhead projector that was just delivered for the weekend. YAY! For free, too. I love all the help I've been able to gather up.

So far, so good ... until ... This group of five kids and three moms came by. The last kid dropped his wrapper on the sidewalk up to my house. When I gave his piece of candy, I asked him to please pick up his wrapper. He said okay. I waited and he acted like he couldn't find it. I walked down and pointed to it. When he got over to his mother, he waited for a second and then dropped it again. This time, I yelled ... "Sir, pick up the wrapper you've dropped for the second time now!" Both he and his mom were stunned, but he picked it up. What is wrong with kids (and parents) now-a-days? She gave me such a dirty look like I'm the one who was wrong! Sigh.

Lubbock's eating and then we're going to head out to go to a few houses.

We're back ... Lubbock's first trick-or-treating adventure was pretty fun. We stopped at the neighbors house (the picture of him on the porch). He just thought that we were going to go in everybody's house. He'd climb up the steps and they'd open the door. He'd try to nudge in. Yup, he pretty much didn't get it at all! Next year. Our last stop was Heather's house. Since we play there at least twice a week, he got really excited and ran in the house. We couldn't keep him out. Eleanor came to the door to tell us about her Halloween adventures and we decided to come back home. Kevin walked the whole way and I didn't want to push him too far since he was not using crutches. Lubbock took a break on the walk back, providing another great picture.

I think the funniest thing about today was that he was totally creeped out by Aunt Lo in her sheriff's costume. He really didn't want anything to do with her and it wasn't even like she was wearing anything completely crazy!

That's it. Almost all the candy was passed out and Lubbock's down for the night.

Winner of Giveaway

The winner of the second giveaway is Jen! You're on a roll! I'll give it to you at our next playgroup.

I would have liked to use my new favorite website, random.org, to select a winner, but when there's only one of you ... there's not much random-ness to selecting the lucky friend!

Randomly Cool Website

www.random.org

Super cool website. I'm always 'tripping' over weird websites in my internet travels. This one will flip a coin, roll a die, shuffle a deck of cards, pick your lottery numbers, and re-arrange a list. How fun! (Or further proof that I'm beyond help.)

Good night!

Early Halloween, Part Two

This morning, Aunt Lo (as we're calling her around here) joined Lubbock and I as we ran some early errands. We went to Barnes & Noble to look for a book of children's skits (no luck) and purchase my 2009 planner. I can't believe it's already time for that!

We then went back to Norton Farm to purchase our pumpkins. Heather had called and I suggested she join up with us there. She was able to see what fun the children's area will be next year (it's almost completely torn down already). The guy running the stand said that in addition to all the play areas, they give free hay rides, too! I can't wait until it's open again. We were able to let the kids look at the animals, though. There were bunnies, ducks, roosters, goats, pigs, and others, but I can't remember.

We attempted to get a picture of the kids, but that was even less successful than yesterday! I was able to get a pretty cute picture of Eleanor and Lubbock trying to escape with their pumpkin selections!

I bought some pumpkins for the front porch and some small items for decoration on our kitchen table. I think next year, I'll just buy 'horse apples' to fill the container. They look great with the colors in my kitchen and still very fall-looking.

We then went to Panera to meet up with the Tri City Tots group for lunch. I can't believe how many people showed up. I invited Heather, thinking it would be a great opportunity to meet some of the other moms in a casual setting, but the room was so full, there was no chance to really visit. (Sorry, Heather.)

Nap time was a complete bust today as well ... Lubbock fought it when we got home, so I decided to get back out to finish our errands and he got crabby. So, here we are at 4:30p and he's just now fallen asleep. At least I can try to get my fall centerpiece done! I'll post pictures when it's ready.

Photo Tag

If you're reading this ... you're tagged ... Go to your picture folders ... Open the 6th folder, 6th photo ... Post it.

Early Halloween, Part One

Lubbock and I went to Brandy's today to celebrate Halloween a bit early with our playgroup. All the kids were so cute and absolutely clueless as to how thrilled we, as moms, are that we can force them to be whatever it is they are this year. They're still too young for an in depth discussion about what they want to be and if it's feasible this year or not.

Brandy made delicious cupcakes and Lubbock actually ate some of his. She also made homemade lasagna, too ... what a good friend. She was up at 6a just to feed our sorry butts! Gift bags with funky glasses and jack-o-lantern balloons topped off the morning. Jen brought her friend, Mandi, to the playgroup and she even volunteered (or I roped her into it) to host one of our get-togethers coming up. She has the cutest little newborn. Well, not so little ... she said he weighed 12 pounds at 4 weeks. She also has a little girl and we definitely need more estrogen in the group. What great additions they will be!

For Lubbock's 'costume' ... He's wearing his Tony Romo jersey and two little bandaids that I colored in with a black Sharpie. I thought he would just smear eyeliner all over his face if I used that.

At the party, we had a peacock, a character from The Incredibles (I haven't seen it, so I can't remember who it is), Yoda, an elephant, and Tony Romo (I think that's Jessica Simpson by his foot). Jen said she got a better picture, so maybe I'll steal her's from her blog later. It's so hard to get a picture of five munchkins where you can see all their faces at the same time.

We played and talked for a while and then sat all the kids down from lunch. Apparently, Evan partied so hard, he couldn't even make it through lunch. I love hanging around Evan because he's such a loving boy. He gives hugs to everyone and I take them where I can get them. Lubbock has no interest in snuggles, so Evan has to fill that void for me. Sometimes, Lubbock sees Evan doing this and gets jealous!

I better get to work around the house so that I can go to my sister's movie night tonight. She's hosting a bunch of the girls from her work for a scary movie. My blood pressure is too high as is, I don't think I'll stay for the movie, but I'll make an appearance at least!

A Weekend Hangover

I think the worst part about having such a lazy weekend is the lack of motivation to get the week started. I couldn't even muster up the energy yesterday to pick my towel off the ground! Just stepped on it all day. Ugh.

At least I made it to physical therapy. She stepped it up a bit. I'm walking backward on the treadmill. I was so sore when I got home. I walked about 1.5 miles today between Norton Farm and the mall. If it were warmer, I'd get back out this afternoon, but Lubbock won't keep his mittens on, so he gets cold.

By the way, I'm so sad that I just discovered Norton Farm. Today is the last day they have all the stuff set up, but for $2 (free for under 2 ... bonus!) ... they have a big pile of hay you can throw around, a pyramid made of hay bales to climb, caged roosters and bunnies to look at, two horses (or donkeys, or something like that ... I'm such a city girl), a big wooden train to climb through, a maze, and lots of other things to do. They open again in May, but I'm sure the hay stuff doesn't come out until later in the season. I can't wait to go again next year. But, we went today and it was a great time. Lubbock wore his winter coat for the first time, too (thanks again, Grandpa John and Grandma Colleen). I bought some local honey from the Farmer's Market area. Yum! I think I'll have to have a peanut butter and honey sandwich later!

Then we went to the mall to play in the indoor playground with Heather, Eleanor, and Joey. Well, that was the plan. They've already torn it down to make room for Santa. That's sad, too. We walked around the mall for a while, rode the carousel, had lunch, and came home for Lubbock to take his nap.

He's not fallen asleep yet. I think he's skipping today's nap. Oh, well. We've still got to buy the Halloween candy before it's only the icky candy left. You have to time the purchase of the candy just right. Not so soon that you eat it all and not too late that you get stuck buying Whoppers (my apologies to my friends who happen to be fans of Whoppers!).

By the way ... anyone else a Mad Men fan? How great was the season finale? Did you even know it was the last episode? Is Betty going to keep the baby? Are Pete and Peggy going to be together? Is Duck going to commit suicide? What's Don going to do with his $500,000? So many questions ... and we have to wait until next season?!?!?! I personally think the priest (who I just figured out is Tom Hanks' son) is going to leave the priesthood and marry Peggy. I also think that the baby Peggy's sister has is actually Peggy's and that her sister had a late miscarriage ... explaining why she's so bitter toward Peggy. I think Pete will tell his wife that he got Peggy pregnant and leave his wife, thinking that Peggy will take him ... but, Peggy's not that into him anymore. I think Don will give the $500,000 to his California wife and take Duck's position. He may even come clean to everyone about his real identity. I think Betty will keep the baby and she and Don will start a new 'chapter' of their life together ... but, will he be Don Draper or Dick Whitman?