This was Leina’s first try at her school photo. Needless to say, we signed up for a picture re-take today. I’m hoping round two yields something a little better. I can only guess that Leina was talking during the entire time. I can’t really complain because I have a hard time snapping a decent shot of her myself. It really is a rare moment when her mouth isn’t going a mile a minute. I shudder to think about our phone bill when she reaches her teen years.

Poor Kevin is having a truely terrible day. Awful would be an understatement. Too many demands, too few resources, and too much of a work ethic on his part have all collided. He called me early today after storming out of work. I guess he totally lost his cool and let fly. He was so mad he actually left the building, got in his car, and drove off. My only suggestion was that he go somewhere to blow of steam – talk a walk, get a cup of coffee, drive mindlessly. I’m not sure where he went or how he’s doing but I hope he’s able to shake off his rage and make it through the day. Sometimes, being a hard and conscientious worker means caring too much. It ain’t fair, but it is true. I’m sure Kevin will work through it but I find myself falling into mommy mode – I want to wave a magic wand and make it all better. Somehow, I don’t think a Hello Kitty band-aid will make it right though. If only you could have a retake day in life. Wouldn’t it be great? Things go horrible wrong and turn out topsy-turvy and everyone just smiles, shakes their heads, and says, “well, we’re gonna need a retake.” Only in preschool I guess, too bad.

The weekend of freedom is over and my little ones are back resting in their rooms. They had a blast at the grandparents’ house and were duly spoiled and treated. Usually, when they leave I mope around the house missing them. This time, however, I was floating on freedom while Kevin bemoaned their absence. He couldn’t wait to get them back while I was much more willing to prolong my freedom.

Now that November is officially here, the Christmas panic has set in. I have so many presents to make. I have a ridiculously long and ambitious list taped above my desk. The frenzy is so great that even the kids have noticed. Today, Leina asked me if I could play with her or if I had more sewing to do. Sorry kid. Momma can’t play until after Dec 23rd.

Here’s a sneak peak at a little pillow I’m making for a special little neice this year. It came out so cute! I want to keep if for myself! Now, I just have to make three more pillows, two kitty cats, a raven ornament, three banners… oh my, I must cease typing and begin sewing immediately!

My children.

Are.

Gone.

Gone!

We threw them out at their grandparents house and fled. Seriously. I left a trail of burned rubber out of their driveway. Then, we shopped, ate, drove, talked, worked, showered, and ate some more. It was heavenly.

We just got back from a massive meal with Kat & Josh. I wanted to go somewhere that didn’t have a kids menu or a kids corner or even kids. Anywhere. None! I had delicious frufru drinks, an artsy fartsy dish and a ginorous chocolate dessert thingy. And I didn’t even have to break out the wipes once. No one spilled their water or announced half way through the meal that their poo-poos were starting.

Did I mention that my kids are gone?

Tomorrow I will do whatever I want and not have to microwave a single dino nugget or mediate a toy dispute, or try and convince a child to stop pulling on the dog’s tail. Oh my goodness, just the thought makes me giddy.

And now, I’m off to bed with no worries of being rousted at 2:30am with an accident. I’ve shivering with joy. Good night!

Today was perfect – clear, cold, sunny and Friday. We has a totally free day so I rounded up the kids and headed for the zoo. The place was empty and the animals active. In sum, we had a great day.

Leina’s reaction to entering the zoo? Excitement.

Kulia’s reaction to entering the zoo? Energy!

After tromping about, we stopped for snacks. Kulia took her eating very seriously.

Leina was all smiles.

Their favorite part, however, were some animal structures they could climb on. They must have spent 30 minutes jumping and scaling these statutes. Kulia liked the little cubs…

Leina, however, prefered to curl up in the sun with the mountain lion.

This was one fine fall day. Hope your friday was just as wonderful.

Yesindeedie. Too much candy will make you sick. How do I know this? Not because my children sing about it incessantly let. Nor because they ate too much candy last night. Oh no, I have a much more personal and first hand knowledge about how awful you feel after glutting yourself on mini-candy bars.

Halloween started out great. Kev can home at a decent hour, the kids were dressed and ready to hit the road, the weather was cold but clear. Perfect. Around 6:30pm, Kevin and the girls headed out the door leaving me home to dole out the candy.

Now, I had a plan. My brilliant idea was to dump all the candy I really love into the candy bowl first. This would ensure that it would be totally given away and not available to lie around the house and mock me and my lack of self discipline. The plan was brilliant in design but lacked in execution. I was blissfully unaware of my folly as I heaped our candy bowl with mounds of scrumptious chocolately goodness.

You see, I had forgotten about the time delay. I don’t know about your house, be we seem to get hit in waves. We’ll have a stream of 20 kids marching up and down our porch and then….. a dead space of ten minutes until the next mob descends. It was that dead space that did me in.

The candy had just hit the bowl when the first fist knocked on my door. Smiling, I opened it up and grabbed candy to drop into eager bags. One, five, fifteen kids tromped to my door. And then, as quickly as they came, they were gone. I closed the door and realized I was alone with a giant mound of my favorite candy and I had nothing to do. I couldn’t really go start the dishes or fold the laundry. No watching TV or reading to keep my hands busy. Instead I paced up and down our front room, peering out our window, willing a kid (any kid) to head up my front walk. After 2 minutes, I caved. I scarfed a teeny tiny Almond Joy – perfect in its balance of crunchy almond, bitter dark chocolate, and dry sweet coconut. I had just crumpled the wrapper when my hand snaked out to grab a lollipop – sour apple flavor drizzled in caramel. When the next kid wave hit, the trick or treaters found me with a bowl of candy, a pock full of wrappers, and a lollipop in my mouth. It quickly went down hill. By the time my candy bowl needed a refill, I didn’t feel too great. Luckily, the next candy in line was the stuff I don’t care for so it was easy for me to abstain but the damage was done. The candy was getting crazy in my tummy and it was not fun.

I will say, however, that there was a silver lining. As planned, I handed out all the stuff I like and what we have left doesn’t tempt me in the least. However, I forgot to take into account the fact that my children would be tromping home with little tubs full of yumminess. In fact, as I type this, my tummy is again not so hot and I am surrounded by empty candy wrappers. Did you know that Milky Ways now come in dark chocolate? Or that Tootsie rolls have a vanilla flavor? That SweetTarts are, in fact, both sweet and tart?

Oh help me. Please. Come to my house and take all these bite sized temptations away from me!

Alright everyone. Gather ’round the computer. My girls have a very important service announcement for you…..

For those of you who do not speak toddler gibberish, the lyrics of their most impressive song are: Too much candy will make you sick. Too much candy will make you so sick. Candy, candy, tastes yummy but. Candy, candy gets crazy in your tummy. Repeat this, continually, at full volume, for three days straight and you will be in my shoes.

(If this video doesn’t work, let me know. OK?)