but wait - there's more!

he's gone mad - mad I tell you!!

and beware his unholy creation!

Parker was very theatrical. he developed a little laugh he would do for people. he didn't understand that 'mad scientist' meant crazy though. when people asked him if that's what he was he'd say, "no. i'm a happy scientist!"

Caden was very in character too. what with all the frightening tantrums and the weeping and wailing? he was a very convincing monster! the poor thing hated the bolts glued to his neck.

I'm sorry son but mom is a costume Nazi. the bolts are an essential part of frankenstein's monster and a neck strap won't look convincing enough. you will endure in the name of Halloween and like it!

get ready for the halloween shake down!

the season's festivities included...

going to a pumpkin patch with cousin grant

this is my fave. note Dan's disgusted expression.
now direct your eyes to the child on the far left.
that's why.

oh look. happy again.

finding 'the one.'

handsome boy.

and that's when my camera's battery died.

witches' night out.

the geddes girls and I


earl the owl. we met at gardner village.
it was love at first sight.

the nevin witches

we got a little loopy as the night wore on and the sugar kicked in.

what child wouldn't follow this one into her gingerbread house in the woods?!

carving pumpkins - of course.

everyone knows you carve better when you stick your tongue out.

fuits of their labors.

a full range of emotion.

witches be crafty!

I think my boys may be growing up with a model of the female homemaker that's disproportionate to, perhaps, what is more common. Every woman they know and care about is a wicked creatin' machine! I just hope their future wives are into it too or they might think something is wrong with them.

I'll admit I may go a tiny bit overboard sometimes. but hey - I'm not the only one!

festive pillow cases made by Grandma. {my mom}
they look adorable on the boys' orange polka dot sheets.

homemade eyeballs.
we grabbed a package or two of white ping pong balls from the dollar store,
added a few colored permanent markers and...

but none were cuter than the ones parker made.
great kids craft - he had so much fun he was giddy!

spooky broach.
hit the dollar store again for an assorted bag of plastic critters.
'paint' them with regular school glue and coat with glitter.
i did about two coats. when it's dry, attach a bar pin on the back with hot glue.
makes a fabulous party favor!
careful where you pin it though - this guy has roving hands!

spidey pillow.
I stitched mine with heavy white thread and my machine.
but you can achieve the same effect with fine yarn and hot glue.
the fairy god-mother of all glues.

poisoned apples.
grab the already made caramel apple dip {chocolate flavor} from the store and warm it up. Whisk some in a bowl with a teaspoon or two of boiling water to make it more runny.
add a drop of black food coloring and drizzle on top of apples.
then gently shake to make it creep down the sides. don't worry, it'll dry.
spooky. and tasty. spasty. or tooky?

trick -or- treat bag made by Nanna. {dan's mom}
I swear they didn't call each other.
they just happened to make their projects out of coordinating fabric.

Spider's nest cupcakes.
great for your next party.
these remind me of the book: the trouble with mom.
darling book! recommended read for the kiddos.
not just for Halloween either.

a scary story for Halloween

Last night Dan and I put the boys to bed and kicked back to watch a little t.v. After a while we heard Parker making some distressed noises.
"He must be sick." I said.

We went down to his room to find him clawing at his throat and an expression of utter panic on his face. Dan asked him what he swallowed and he managed to get out "a button."
He has a magnet board in his room with 1" buttons glued to the magnets.

I quickly sat down on his bed and told Dan to get him some water. He was pulling at his throat like he was trying to get it from the outside. It was clearly still lodged in there. I was so terrified in the few seconds it took me to deliberate. Should I try to give him the Heimlich with my limited memory, or should I try to help him swallow it completely? If a kid swallows two magnets, it could cause some serious damage to their intestines.

Just then he started to vomit and I bent him over my knee to get it on the floor. As soon as he bent over, the magnet shot out like a bullet and landed across the room. The edges were all chewed like he was gnawing on it for a little bed time snack. It must have slipped down his throat accidentally. Why a 5 year old would put a button in his mouth is beyond me!

But he came away with nothing more than a sore throat and a whole lot of fear. For now, we will be hanging his artwork with tape.

my, what big hair you have!

....the better to rock you with my dear.

I read a blog called modern kiddo - which is quite cute. And she featured an artist named Michael Fleming, a.k.a. tweedlebop. I thought his art was supa cute so I popped over to his sight to maybe find something to adorn judey's walls.

that's when I found this gem.

Can someone with tight curls please topiary their hair? Mine is thin and straight or else I would accept the calling. {Julie, I'm looking at you.}

I miss these mop tops.

I can't wait for their hair to grow back. I vow to never never buzz it again. no matter how many times I get asked when I'm going to cut it, no matter how sweaty they get in the summer.

did I cut off his face?

Probably. When Parker's teacher said they were going to do school pictures, I imagined something much cheesier. You know the navy marbled back drop, the 'turn your body away from me, turn you head towards me. Now crank you neck so your ear touches your shoulder. ' - like we're all contortionists.
Isn't my boy so handsome? Even though he looks a good 3 years older than he is.
View more of the photographers stuff here.

Magic Lotion

I have had a rash on my face for about 8 years. My dermatologist diagnosed it as peri-oral dermatitis. And for 8 years he has not been able to prescribe anything to make it go away. whether it's a big patch or small, on my chin or the corner of my mouth, it's been my obnoxious constant companion. And this last pregnancy, I thought it was going to host a hostile take-over! Then I went into a beauty supply store and the girls at the counter told me to try Cocoon lotion. BRILLIANT!

I've been using it for about 2 months now and my rash completely gone! I put it on all over my face right after the shower, on the infected area periodically throughout the day, and then all over again at night. It's like a miracle.

If you hate your skin - you must try this. The back says it heals dermatitis, eczema, acne and psoriasis just to name a few. (And I've noticed my blackheads diminishing too.) I paid $35 for a big bottle which is the same as my co-pay at the derm.

Here's to happy faces - CHEERS!