Here's the deal. In our house, our computer is in our bedroom as opposed to out in the center of all the action in the office/dining area like in our last place. Because of that, I'm not on the computer constantly like I was in California and that's why I update so infrequently. I hope I haven't lost any of my loyal friends/readers (ha ha, like I have loyal readers). Anyway, this post is going to be a long one. I hope you can stick it out.
This year for Halloween, Ian was Buzz Lightyear and Madeleine was Sleeping Beauty, a geisha, and Rapunzel. My favorite was Rapunzel but she only wore it to the gym the morning of Halloween (they had a costume contest--that she won!) and wouldn't wear it again that night. It's just as well though, since I have already decided that that will be her costume next year. Don't even suggest she might not go along with that. I'm the boss around here and what I say goes. Hopefully.
The festivities began a week before Halloween with a party at her ballet teacher's house for all the students. Of course she was thrilled to wear her Aurora costume, but I think she could have done without the party almost entirely. They made cotton candy at the end that won her over, but she basically wanted nothing to do with the games or the kids and especially not the haunted house.
The next night, Jack from preschool, had a raging party at his house. Spencer was busy studying for first trimester finals so it was just me and the kids. Madeleine's preschool teacher loaned us a geisha robe to go with the wig I found on clearance last year.
Ian sure liked being Buzz Lightyear even though his ear kept sticking out his hood. At our ward Halloween party there was another kid in a Buzz costume. Ian kept following him around and wondering where "the real Buzz Lightyear" was. I guess that's kid's costume was more believable than Ian's.
On Halloween night, Spencer was a skeleton and I was Medusa. I put snakes in my hair at least. Does that make me Medusa? Here's a close up:
I kind of wish I could have found some snakes that weren't neon. Maybe something a little more realistic looking. Something that looked more snake-like and less gummi-worm-like. That was too much to hope for this year.
We went trick-or-treating with Maggie and Mark and Lizzie and Jay and then went to our ward party. The kids loved trick-or-treating and playing games and eating at the party. I'm glad it's all over. There is a LOT to do around this time of year!
NEW SUBJECT
Ian got a potty. So far, there has been no action thereon, but we are hopeful. Madeleine is an eager teacher. By the way, pretend that my 2 year old doesn't have a pacifier in his mouth. That's something else we are working on. And by "working on" I mean I am thinking about finally getting rid of it for good, but obviously haven't done it yet.
Another new topic, after we moved here I quit LA Fitness and joined 24 Hour Fitness since there would be a location about 5 minutes from our house. Well, the new one opened yesterday and we checked it out today and it seemed like a piece of heaven. All the equipment is amazing, the place is huge, and they seem to literally have everything! The best thing of all is the kids club. It's enormous and has so much fun stuff! Mad said it's like Chuck E. Cheese's. She's right. They have a Wii station, an X-Box station, Dance Dance Revolution, a basketball hoop area, a basketball video game, etc. You get the idea. It's amazing! The kids already love going to the gym everyday, but I think they will be begging to go now.
Spencer totally rocked his first trimester of MBA school. He had this week off to rest up in preparation for the next term to start on Monday. It's been so nice to have him around and actually be able to talk to him!
Lastly, there is a new Ryan Adams album out that is so good! It's called Cardinology. Check it out.
But I am finally feeling somewhat settled. Our room has been pretty much a dumping ground since we got here and I finally had had enough. Spencer helped me put up these shelves so we could get a little decor in our room. It's much nicer than the piles of junk that were here before. OK, there are still some piles, but they will be gone soon. I just have to find them a more permanent spot.
This week I also got around to putting these few things in our bathroom to liven up the space a bit. It makes such a huge difference! I almost want to stand around looking at my handiwork all day. Do you think Maddie and Ian would let me do that? Yeah, I don't think so either.
