Ditched

My loving hubby has ditched me. He called, decided he really wanted t sleep over with a friend...I know right, he's like 35...who does that? Seriously, he left for an over night road trip up north with a work buddy and will be back in a short 24 hrs. His kid-like excitement was pretty funny. Not wanting to waste my opportunity to be alone I decided to start my weekend off right. Usually, that means making chocolate chip cookies late tonight but I am out of butter and with 3 of 5 in bed for the night I am out of luck soooooo, I cleaned my kitchen instead. It really is awesome to sit back and see the fruits of my labors...so pretty I HAD to take a picture.

All this alone time did get me thinking about what I can do with my time when the kids go to bed. A hot bath with a good book crossed my mind but that makes me so sleepy. I could watch a chic flick, but my previous issue of kids in bed is a problem...hmmmmm. It is so gorgeous outside I may have to grab my book and a blanket and read out there. At any rate, as much as I love having my hubby home I am glad he can have some guy time too. He usually comes home so much more refreshed and ready to be the awesome dad he is.

Itchin for Fall crafting

With getting introduced to Pinterest recently and the sudden cooler temps I am feeling like a craft store trip may be in my future. I am itchin to do some fall crafting!!!!!

Here is AZ we don't usually have a Fall...and well, leaves change and drop in January...a little backwards I know. I took this picture a few weeks back when we went to the cabin as I was so excited to see some change in the seasons. This was the only branch I found on the property that the leaves were beginning to change. I imagine the whole tree is on its way to changing now...although not the richness of color most of the country gets it is special to us to seen even a little change in the leaves. Some day I will get back east to see Fall in all its glory!

Now THAT is a smart idea

One of the greatest ideas that came out of the mom2mom September meeting was putting all socks in a bag. I do not like laundry...even more, I am so perplexed all the time as to what the heck happens to all the socks. They go in and come out as if half of them abandoned ship in the washer. I am still convinced somewhere out there exists a sock monster.

This idea was presented with every child having their own sock bag, but in my family that would never work. Why? Well, several kids all wear the same size and type of socks and to have them each with their own bag put a ton of responsibility on them to actually use the bag correctly and I am not sure that would be any easier for me. So I adjusted and have attached one larger bag to the front of my freezer in my laundry room. They all know when they get home from school to put their socks in this bag. (It is not 100% effective yet but they are getting better.) I toss it in the laundry and what do you know...matching pairs come out of the dryer!!!

Can you feel my feet dancing for joy through my words? I think this idea was born from a very smart mother out there somewhere and I am just thankful to be the one who heard about it. Thank you too all the moms out there who have come before me and have passed on their amazing ideas...it has made one of my pet peeves a little more bearable.

Halloween Hair

I saw this hair style on another blog and well, you know...HAD to try it!!! I think it is soooooo cool! I actually think I may be able to make a pumpkin in her hair too, so my wheels are turning as to how I need to engineer it.

Oh and I am getting so much faster. This whole style took only two hours and there are some difficult parting that the picture doesn't reflect.

I love October...the hint of cooler temps and trying to do totally awesome hair!!!

PS I took the picture this morning after she had already slept in it that is why it is fuzzy already. I hope to get two weeks out of it since most of the cornrows are small and tight

Family

We traveled to Marana, AZ this weekend. (Marana is a smallish town about 20 miles east of Tucson) My Dad had a high school reunion over the weekend and my Aunts planned a picnic in the park on Sunday afternoon. I met, and when I say I met it was more like re-introduced to many of my Dad's friends who haven't seen me since I was like 5 or something. They were some pretty awesome people and we laughed and laughed and of course I heard a few stories about my Dad and his friends I had never heard before and love it....those small town boys had some serious fun. Anyway, my Grandfather and his wife surprised us and came from New Mexico and he gives the best hugs. Two of my Aunts made all of the food and my kids thought they died and went to heaven! It was a trip filled with laughter and reminiscing.

This is my Dad, Grandpa and Margaret

Then we added ourselves and my two Aunts, Lori and Christy

And of course the kids with their Grandpa this morning before he left for the airport. 

It was a very nice visit, we wish they could come more often. The kids are now excellent yo-yo'ers thanks to Grandpa. 

Soccer has started

Well, it actually started a couple of weekends ago but this is the first time that I remembered my camera. Jacob has a new coach this year, and about half the team is new also. They are a great team. It is amazing to me to see them play well, intentionally passing to set up shots on goal and such. Not to mention he is pretty darn cute out there too. (Although, 'cute' may not be what he wants me to say about him)

And yes, he has a protective brace on his hand. Last week he took a ball start into his thumb and jammed it or has a small fracture in the growth plate...either way, he was swollen and sore all week. Of course it's not 'cool' to play with it but I insisted. And to my shock I was right to insist if you can believe it...he took another shot to that same thumb on a ricochet and was only a little sore. He smiled later in the day and said thanks mom, it was a good idea to be wearing it. Yeah...I know!!!

Mi Amore

We took a few minutes to take an updated photo for Shane's frames at work. I just love this guy!! He is not into sports and yet has gotten me Dbacks season tickets for the past 2 seasons, and into 2012. He also bought a shirt so when we go I am not the only fanatic there. He supports me crazy obsessions with baseball and loves me even though he does not get it at all. I just love this guy!!!!