A Mayberry Evening of Treats.

October 31st.

8th Annual "Mayberry Street" Block Party.

Three superheros ... BEGGING the sun to go down ... so the treating could begin.
Of course ... there was picture taking.
Do you have any idea how hard it is to get three superheros to look at the camera?
And confusion.
A family superhero photo-op.
Flying practice.
And chili eating.
And then there was Miss Robin. Who was looking for some spotted puppies.
But took her chances with a crazy THREE year old instead!
And then I knew I was almost in heaven when I spotted MARY POPPINS walking down my street ...Cake, Pap Pap and Wonderwoman handed out candy to the DROVES of children who descended upon Mayberry. I think they were dropped off at the street corner. I have never seen so many people cruising the streets!
And then there was this Wiener dog ... going as a hot dog.
And Ironman ... met Ironman.
Oh .. and Miss Robin did eventually find a spotted dog (who looks a tad bit worried, don't you think??)And Eli tried to get me to let him eat chocolate candy for the 80 millionth time.

It was quite a night.

Photo Crazy Weekend.

This weekend, my brother, his wife and my nephew were in town. And pictures ... well ... I downloaded over 1,000 taken in just 3 days! We had a Christmas picture photo shoot ... a birthday party in the mix ... and a cousins photo shoot.

Exhausting but totally worth it! Thanks J. How Sr. for taking such great shots!

Dick and Jane.

I took the other two Charmings to the doctor and while I was gone ... my mom and J How worked on a little something. Um ... I was a little impressed. And he was THRILLED!

He had already read the other 30+ pages to me and was starting in on a new "chapter" ... Only my mom would have a classic like Dick and Jane laying around the house ... just waiting for her Joshua to be interested in reading it! And I LOVE that he kept checking the pictures for "context clues" ... To think I spent MANY years, trying to teach middle school students the same skill! Way to go, HOW!

Every girl needs one.

Yesterday I stopped at my favorite ribbon store ... to snag a few rolls of tulle. My nephew is coming into town this week and we're having a photo shoot. Audrey is the lone female in the bunch ... so I figured a blue tutu would be appropriate.
I'm just not sure how I'm going to get her to stay upright for the pictures?
She and gravity seem to be the very best of friends these days!

And the flower tutorial ... so fun! Can't you just see them in oranges and yellows on your Thanksgiving table??

Half Over. Already.

October. Oranges. Browns. Pumpkins. Garlands. Candy. Costumes. Usually one of my favorite months. Usually when the temps in our neck of the woods start to go below the triple digits and life outdoors can once again resume.

This year. Not so much. October is half over. Already. We've only been to the park twice. Once in the early morning. Once in the evening. Otherwise ... we'd probably still melt.

But I'm trying not to let that get me down. And I'm trying not to cringe each time the air-conditioning comes on to cool off our house.

The boys and I busted out our fall decorations the other day. Joshua asked why I was burning a pumpkin candle. I told him it was so we could pretend it was fall. Later he told me, "Well. You did it. It sure smells like fall in here!"
We made a new centerpiece ...
And an owl pillow ...
And pushed Halloween knee-highs on a foam wreath ... and made something festive.

And we haven't just been up to our eyeballs transforming our home.

We've been doing other sorts of things ... Like spray painting Joshua's hair BRIGHT RED for Hilarious Hair Day at school ...
Oh ... and I did find a project ... turning napkins into flowers ...
I'm thinking every room in our house needs a few of these ... and I picked up enough napkins at IKEA this week to make some for the whole neighborhood.

And then ... on one of our ventures to the park ... "Pockets" as we like to call him ... had his hands in his ... pockets ... just strolling along. And wham ...
Greeted the concrete with this chin. And the fat lip ... that was from the previous day. When he was pretending to be a bunny ...
Not a day goes by without some sort of Eli injury ... I might have the world's largest supply of superhero and Cars bandaids. Really. It's incredible.

And then ... to add some fun to the middle of the month ... I took a photography class. I learned more information than my brain is capable of holding. I thought I had a good idea of what I was doing during the 6 hour class ... and then I think all the info seeped out of my brain. Good thing I took notes.

We have a few camera purchases to make before I can do what I really want ... but I'm trying to stay away from shooting in "Automatic" and bust out my new skills ...
October. Half over already. Kind of amazing how fast time flies by and that Miss Bottom Lip will be four months old ... guess that means it's almost time to dig out the Christmas decor???

The Biggest Brother.

For Joshua, the morning really gets started when Audrey wakes up. He can't wait to hug, squeeze, snuggle, kiss and chat with "his Audrey."
My daily chant .... "I think that's enough kisses." or ... "Maybe you could hug her with a little less muscle?" or ... "How did she get in your lap? She was on the floor just seconds ago!!"
And the love is not just one-sided ...
Audrey lights up when her How enters the room ... or shoves his latest drawing mere millimeters from her eyeballs ... or talks to her about being superheros for Halloween ...
She's one very blessed baby sister.
With one spectacular biggest brother.

It's Possible.

There is a small possibility that I've been neglecting my children.
Look at that face. That has "Spend more time with me!" written all over it!

I suppose it's possible that I told the boys to go to downstairs and play with only the toys they could reach and operate themselves because I was on strike for an hour.

I was on strike because .... of this:
My new sewing machine. My new sewing machine ... given to me by some of the best people on the planet ... my mom, Ben's mom, my grandma and my Uncle D. Just because. Don't you just love "just because" gifts?? This is quite possible the best one ever!!
I have dreamed of having a machine for YEARS ... I have a folder smashed FULL of ideas. Sketches. My "I'll do this someday if I get a machine" folder. And now ... the folder has been opened. And the ideas are coming to life ... one little piece at a time. And ... well ... that's why it's possible that I've requested more "space" this week. And have deemed it okay to go on "strike" at least once a day. I'm telling myself it's healthy for the boys to wander the downstairs ... with no parental supervision. And I'm trying to not even freak out when I venture down there (after my daily strike is over) and see the destruction caused by their four very small (but apparently active) hands.
Because really ... I'm having the best time. Sorting through scraps.
Changing a white onesie stuffed at the back of a dresser drawer into a yellow bird shirt with a black neck ruffle ... and even making a skirt without a pattern (A BIG step for me ... I am a pattern kind of girl!!)
And spending my morning making Audrey's very own selection of "Baby Legs" ... using the easiest tutorial ever. I didn't even feel guilty this morning since Joshua was at school, Audrey was asleep and Eli was pretending to be a dog and panting at my feet for the duration of my creativity!

I am in love. And am super blessed and thankful!!! And if the kids start to look a little bored and malnourished from all my neglectful behavior ... would you mind taking them to the park and slipping them a granola bar? Thanks. I totally appreciate it!