Spidey Motel or Refugee Camp?

Ok people, what is with the spiders this year? I thought they were supposed to keel over with the first fews snows.

It would seem as though these nasty creepy crawlies think we are running the spidey motel or refugee camp.

NEWS FLASH-WE'RE NOT!

Although my dear father-in-law and husband insist they are good and keep the "other" bugs in check I still insist on killing them. They have past their point of uselful when they wind up on my son's wall and in his crib bedding. For peet's sake the kid's already been stung by a hornet. We don't need to add spider bite to the list when he's less than a year old! I mean seriously, look at things eyes. Gross!

I'm seriously considering letting off a bug bomb. Anyone ever done this?

Random.....

I definitely have a love hate relationship with Target and Costco. I

can't ever leave without spending a good chunk of change. I always whine to Todd that there isn't a Target right around the corner. It's actually a good thing or we would be in some serious financial trouble.

I've always been a very honest spender too. I just can't hide anything from anyone~especially Todd. I'm actually excited to tell him about the "deal" I just got! For some reason, I have decided that if I preface my purchase to Todd with, "It was a serious deal, it normally is whatever and today it was ...," I guess it makes me feel better. And, truth be told, I don't think Todd really cares. Maybe if I was coming home from Banana Republic and JCREW all the time it may be more of an issue.

So my frustration continues with these dangerous stores. Here was my list for Costco today:

*Diapers

*Formula

*Wipes

*Laundry Detergent

*2 pair PJ's for Katie

Grand Total: $110

Seriously, there's five things on that list. I'm going to have to start rationing diapers for Joey and formula too. The kid is a one man recking ball financially and around the house! Good thing he's stinkin' cute!

I swear, how do people afford to buy formula from birth on? Joey's been on it for a total of two weeks for some feedings and he drinks it like water. We go through a the huge can size in a week and that is with breastfeeding! I suppose that is why he has gained 2.5 pounds in the last two weeks. Holy Cow!!!!

The reason for the formula bafflings is directly related to Joey deciding to give up the "snack shacks" today. I'll admit it's a bittersweet thing. On one hand I have my freedom back, and on the other I am no longer "needed." I do love that time that is just ours to share. And then there's the girls. Oh, the poor poor girls. They took a beating with this kid. They'll need some time to recover. And let's be honest, full recovery would require some serious surgical intervention.

So with mixed emotions ....

The snack shack is closed until further notice.

And, I have a hot date tonight with the bigger of the two men in my life.
Dinner buffet and courtside tickets to the Jazz. How's that for a date night?! Oh, and it's free. Thanks Burgesons.

Here's to a night of excitement and a nursing free pair of unmentionables.

Tragedy

Our thoughts and prayers are with our friends tonight as they mourn the loss of their baby boy. We pray they will be comforted in their time of pain.

Todd recevied a phone call today from a good friend who's son choked earlier today and died tonight. We have been in shock most of the evening. We are speechless as we contemplate the grief this family is experiencing.

We have been reminded of how precious life is and how each day with our children is a gift. I think we have hugged our babies a little tighter tonight and have been reminded to slow down and to savor each moment we are given with them.

Little Red and the Big Bad Wolf?

Despite my best efforts to convince Katie to be Cruella I have failed. For most of the month of September I tried to convince her how cool it would be for her to be Cruella and Joey to be a Dalmation. I could just see that big fur coat, black and white hair and of course her awesome imitation of Cruella. Trust me, it would have been awesome! Instead she wanted to be a princess. I really couldn't handle a princess Halloween. I told her she dresses up as a princess everyday. Why don't we try something new. So there I was trying to come up with something great, but that would also coordinate with her young brother. I know, I'm cheesy like that. I secretly can't wait for the day we when can be the Incredibles!

Well, for some reason she decided Little Red was the way to go. She has been the most excited about carrying around a basket full of muffins to hand out to people. So here we are as Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf/Bear.

In all honesty I do love making Halloween costumes. I think it is so fun to have something unique. No double duty at the preschool show, church etc. etc. But, after making Katie's costume I was burned out. Sewing with two small children really is a task. So poor Joey is Katie's old bear costume and we call it a "wolf." I must admit he looks stinkin' cute in it. Plus, its warm. So here's the terrible two-some for some Halloween pictures!

Gardner Village Witch Hunt

Every year (since we've lived here) we've headed out to good ole Gardner Village for the annual witch hunt. This year I'm feeling like a stellar mom because we have been three times! Unfortunately, the first, with the camera was over UEA weekend. Yup, there we were with a gazillion other folks. We had to wait in line for these pictures. It was one of those, Come on sweetie quick smile, please?????" And then child is too busy watching other kids to even look at the camera.

Now this litte guy I've got trained. Katie tolerates my picture taking while this little guy hams it up. Pretty cute if I do say so myself!

OUCH!

My poor baby got stung by a wasp yesterday. And, the kicker is, he was playing in our house!!! (This picture doesn't do it near the justice it deserves. But, I was to preoccupied to take a picture until I knew he was ok!)

I was literaly sitting 3 ft from him. He was playing with the Weebles and all of a sudden he started to wimper cry. It was that cry that something was really hurting him and he was scared. I looked around trying to see what the problem was. He has been teething lately so I figured that he had tried to eat the toy and hurt his gums. Well he continued the wimper cry and was trying to suck on his left thumb. I went over to pick him up and when I looked down at the Weeble there was this huge wasp on it. I totally freaked! Immediately I'm thinking anaphylaxis? What if it stung him in his mouth? When I picked him up he really started to whine more. Then I started to cry as I ran upstairs to look for some Benadryl. Of course, we didn't have any Benadryl. Note to self ---BUY SOME BENADRYL!

Lukily, I did find Afterbite that I had bought for camping. (If you don't have this I highly recommend it.) After searching visible body parts and I finally found it had stung him on his left palm. It was swelling up fast. In a matter of 5 minutes his arm was swollen to his elbow. Panic set in again. I debated, do I throw him in the car and drive to the hospital or wait it out. I decided since he wasn't showing any signs of having a hard time breathing I would just watch him. And watch him I did--like a hawk for the next hour or so. Once I put the medicine on his hand he clamed down quite a bit. After and hour or two the swelling even went down. Luckily my baby boy is ok now. And the hunt begins for the wasp. I'm gonna kill him!!!

Poor Katie is scared to death now of "swaps" in our house and with good reason. She was in tears when she woke up from her nap and saw Joey's hand. I love that she has such concern for him at such a young age. I hope they always look out for each other.

Maddy & Dawson

MADDY

I had so much fun with this little lady. Aren't her cheeks so squishy and cute?! Her mom had some of the best things to put in her hair. It really makes me want to have another girl.

DAWSON

Cute Dawson! This guy LOVES trains. So, of course, we had to have the train in his pictures. He also wanted to make sure the trains could see him when they weren't in the pictures!