Spooktacular

Halloween Spooktacular is a massive Halloween party at our local rec center. Anyone and everyone under the age of 8 is there, and this year we took our neighbor Dylan with us. Of course once there we ran into most of the rest of the neighborhood, but FFM and Dylan had a good time making about 30 laps of the center making sure they had all the best candy and played all the best games.

Meet the Roaring Dragon and the Zombie Army Guy.
Waiting for the Cupcake Walk to Begin.

A real cupcake walk! Travis and both have fond memories of winning cakes and other baked goods at cake walks during our own youth.

Guess who won a cupcake! He's a lucky lucky boy.

Both boys made it through the Haunted Houses that night, FFM through the one for under 5's and Dylan was extra brave and made it through both the little and BIG kid Haunted Houses (he's got a couple years on our kiddo, though. What fun to have age appropriate scariness!

I would like to add a thank you note to Kelly T. for her face painting inspiration - I plunged right in and went full out. The photos here really don't do it justice, our little dragon really looked quite scaly and frightful and was quite pleased with himself and his toothy grin. Thanks Kelly!

My Lost Afternoon

Dear Josh McDaniels:
I agree with the fan that suggested you and your players donate today's salary to charity. Except for one game in freezing sleet many years ago where I nearly lost my husband to hypothermia, I have never ever ever left a game early. When the score tallied 45-14 with no end in sight I walked out on you today.
Sincerely,
One of the 76,125 disgruntled season ticket holders in Denver tonight.

Quote of the Day

"But Mommy, I WANT expensive toys!"

Gimpy

I feel lame. A week ago I had shoulder surgery and I'm still gimpy. All I had done was get three lousy holes poked into my shoulder, a bunch of bone scraped out, and some silly stuff slurped out that I didn't really need anyway. Now all I want to do is lay on the couch all day. I do get to blame some of it on the fact that my entire right arm still doesn't move above the elbow, and only recently did I gain movement from the elbow to my wrist, but I'm starting to get a wee bit restless folks!

I'm not used to being helpless (are any of us? Especially do-it-all mommies). I'm also not used to being a couch potato. I like to read. Or to go for a walk while FFM bikes/scooters/rambles about. Or I knit. And I constantly pick up the piles that we all trail behind us. I Organize, plan, bake things, cook dinner, you know all that day to day fun stuff? And I can't do any of those things one handed. OK, I can sort of read, but it's actually really hard to read one handed for any period of time-you can either hold the book OR turn the pages, but not do both...

So I'm ready for my arm to start moving. Here are some comic things I have tried to do, with varying degrees of success, one-handed with my non-dominant left hand:

blow dry my hair
dust
make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
wash the dishes (doesn't work-hah!)
pour milk out of reusable gallon jug (handle isn't on the side, it's a hinged one on the top)
pull a board game out of a stack of other board games
take lunch, swim gear, backpack, and 3 yr old to school in pouring rain
make no bake cookies
wrap a towel around my wet hair
snap F's pants
do up a bra strap (un-doing is much easier!)
read picture books with kiddo in lap

Every day gets a little better, I'm hoping that next week will see marked improvements. Poor F-ster is a bit bummed out that Mommy is 'broken.' He's been extra gently with hugs and has been very good about minding the right side, but misses snuggles and cuddles and big all over hugs. Must get fixed soon!

Nine

Where were you nine years ago today?
Me? I was busy marrying the love of my life.
Sharing life with Travis, and now our son,
brings me indescribable joy.
Thank you both.

Belated Home-iversary

One year ago we bought our house. I blinked and it's gone. Trite, I know, but so true.

Things are much different a year later. I'm getting more than 4 hours of sleep a night since I'm not doing an overseas move/buying a house/being a single parent all at the same time, there is furniture in the house, new paint on nearly every wall (there are a couple bathrooms holding out) and the once green grass is a disaster. While I'm halfway decent at plants I guess neither Travis or I paid enough attention to our grass this summer. The massive rabbit population that's taken over our neighborhood isn't helping matters, either.

So, for those of you who are wondering if we're settled in, I guess we're as settled as we're going to get. The home improvements will probably go on and on as it's in our nature to constantly improve, but the guest suites are always ready for visitors so come on by!