Happy Halloween!

Scary, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Or, as I like to think of it, "Annual eat as many damn Reece's cups as I please" night. :)

XOXOX

4 years

Close Up Sleeping, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Dear Carter,

Four years ago you looked like this. Such a perfect little bundle of sweetness to come into our lives. We learned once again that the heart expands infinitely to accommodate more love, and that sleep is overrated.

For the record, you still look just like this when you sleep.

We love you so much and are so proud of you.

What Kind of Freak?

...would decorate her daughter's Barbie house with a Halloween party?

Um...

Whatever kind of freak I am? These special dolls were simply too cute (and on sale!) at Target, so I couldn't resist playing just a little.

One of the benefits of having a daughter is being able to play with her Barbies, I say. It almost makes up for not sleeping 20 minutes straight the first 9 months of her life. (Almost.)

Firsts...

IMG_4020, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Here's a photo of Bunny hanging out during her first 'real' swim meet, which was last weekend. Over two days, she swam in 5 events, including a 100 m freestyle that Paul said was a butt kicker for her (he took her Saturday; I took her Sunday). She is very proud of herself, and I can say she has been working hard. This swim team is a commitment for her, me, and the boys, too, really, as we all go to practice with her 3, count 'em 1-2-3, weekdays. Paul and I also trade off taking her on Sundays, but I admit, for me, sitting a-l-o-n-e on the bleachers reading for an hour is a treat!

It's been an adjustment, and there have been days when Bunny really just wanted to stay home and goof off (me, too, I admit!). But, all in all, she's a person who needs a lot of physical activity, and she enjoys swimming a lot--and she does swim A LOT!

Role Playing

This is how Bunny set up her Barbie doll one day recently. I can't even tell you how often I fall asleep in my fancy gown... clearly pretend play imitating real life!

Bay Area "Fall Color"

Boot Family, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Fall is most definitely HERE! After a hot, hot, dry, dry summer, the coming El Nino winter is going to be such a relief. (Remind me how much we need the rain when I am whining about 24 our of 28 days bein rainy in Feburary!)

We've already had a few storms, and had to dig out the rain gear. Since my house is way too carpeted, there is only a little bit of hard floor right by the door, and that is where we line up our wet boots. Okay, it's where they are haphazardly scattered until *I* line them up!

Cole, who prefers to be barefoot, highly resents my crazy ideas about confining his tootsies in dry and warm shoes. Even having 'frog eyes' on his feet is not helping much. Wish me luck, as these will be his go-to shoes a lot this winter and spring!

Boo!

Boo!, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

The annual boo-a-thon has commenced! All the kids in the neighborhood are having so much fun sneaking up to each other's doors, knocking and running off... plus hey, candy! Here is one batch, about to be couriered out by my scooter riding dare devil. It's like a chain letter: get 'booed' and you must boo 3 others within the next day. The first time I ever heard of booing, I admit my thought was, "Ugh, really, another thing I have to do for Halloween?" However, it is really pretty cute and fun (you were right, Heidi). So yeah... it is *another* thing to do, but a good one!

Life with Boys

Not Quite Tiger, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

The past two times I have 'awakened' my computer, there has been a strange sound in the DVD drive. I popped it open to see if maybe I had forgotten about a disc.

There was a piece of popcorn, a cracker, a dime, and a 2 Franc piece in there. No one's fessing up, but I suspect #2 Son.

Menu, 10-5

Click the linked image for hundreds of inspiring menus. I sometimes flip through the calendar, where I note each day's planned meal, and find ideas for dinners we'd liked but I forgot about. I get in weird ruts, where for weeks I'll make something, then we'll be sick of it and I'll stop and forget we like it. A couple of months later, it's like finding $5 in the dryer to rediscover a meal idea. :) Like quiche...

Anyway, here is this week chez moi:

Sunday: Rib roast, fauxtatoes, green beans, cheese souffles
Monday: sausages and peppers with homemade tomato sauce
Tuesday: Slow Cooked Green Chili Pork Tacos With Fresh Corn and Olive Salsa
Wednesday: Quiche, salad
Thursday: Chicken Paprikash in crock
Friday: C.O.R.N. (clean out refrig night)
Saturday: Salad with Grilled Chicken, Corn, Tomatoes and Blue Cheese

Rock On

Rock Painting, originally uploaded by Kristianna.

Just a quickie today...

Last week the boys and I spent a part of one morning painting some of the great rocks Carter collected at the beach this summer. They're currently brightening up a patch of earth by the rosemary. It's washable paint, so they'll lose their color over time, but hey, that only means we get to do it all over again! :)