Whoooooosh!

So whoosh, it's just been a whirlwind of activity since Friday morning.

It started with Sofia's preschool Halloween parade. Every year, the whole school parades down the local downtown area and the local businesses dole out candy. It's always rather hectic, but fun. We brought the brothers this year as they are sort of honorary members of the school. (or mascots)

Before we left, I tried and tried to get a good shot of Sofia with the boys or even Sofia alone, but it just wasn't in the cards. She had a baby doll with her and absolutely refused to take the doll out of the frame. When I expressed my displeasure with this, I got the evil eye. (note the doll dressed in her shorts and a pair of panties. I think it's time for this girl to have some doll clothes).



I did eventually get a few good shots from her.





We eventually made it to the school and the boys waited excitedly for the parade to start





Sofia and her class get ready to leave (next to her friend, another Sofia, another Minnie)





The boys learning the ins and outs of trick or treating



Checking out their loot





Saturday night, kids bouncing off the walls waiting to trick or treat. It was 5 p.m. and they were ready to go. David kept saying "Go! Mommy! Go!" We finally left, not really knowing what to expect. We hadn't trick or treated much last year as the kids were still very small. Wow. THis is a great neighborhood for trick or treating, that is for CERTAIN. It makes me a little sad to think that we may not stay here as it's really a great, family friendly place. We met many neighbors that I'd not had the opportunity to meet before. Oh, the irony.

One bump in the road was a man dressed up as a wolf. Sofia was convinced that this man was real. She was borderline hysterical, insisting that we go in the opposite direction of this man. At one point, she was trying to hide in the bushes.



We did make it through that scene and the kids started to really enjoy going from house to house. Sure, the candy was fun, but I think they just really liked the idea of going up to strange houses and seeing who or what was inside.











At one point, we came upon a very cool, haunted house. The kids weren't quite what to make of these







All in all, it was a lot of fun. The neighborhood was bustling, there were so many kids, so much Halloween spirit. I haven't experienced a Halloween like it in many, many years. We returned home and waited for kids to come to our door, but most had already come. Our next door neighboor said he'd had oodles of kids, but we'd been out during that time. The kids were able to answer the door and give out some candy, so that made their whole day.

As they went to bed, I asked David if he liked trick or treating. His eyes got huge. "I WIKE IT!"

Today was pretty relaxed, as relaxing as 3 kids can get. In the late afternoon, we headed over to a local seaside restaurant for a mother's club event. They were playing a movie on the lawn below the restaurant (right on the beach) for us. We were able to order food from the to-go menu and just hang out and let the kids play. It was hectic, as outings always are, but still fun.

At one point, I had a terrible scare. Steve had brought the food to me and I was busy doling it out while he was taking Sofia to the restroom. I look up and David is gone. GONE. I see him halfway up the huge staircase, leading up to the restaurant and parking lot. I am there alone with William. I had no choice but to bolt up, leaving William behind (in a crowd of people I know) to grab David as Steve was nowhere to be found. I ran up the stairs after him and he began to think it was a game and ran faster, towards the parking lot and highway beyond that.

I don't think I have ever run as fast as I did. I grabbed him as he laughed.

I was shaking.

Meanwhile, William completely freaked and ran after me up the stairs. He was in hysterics and everyone was trying to figure out who he belonged to. It was pretty dramatic.

I was ready to kill Steve, even though it wasn't really his fault.

It took me a while to stop shaking after that.

Sofia was able to play with her little friend and they had a great time, so it ended up being a fun night.




The best part was the end when all the kids were doing their dance moves.







This week, I should have some definitive answers about our living situation. Of course, I thought I'd have those last week, so who knows. I'm trying to stay positive and take it as it comes. Not like I have a any control over the situation anyway.

Loving My Boys

Some shots of the boys. They are officially 2.5 now! Hard to believe.

I am thinking of getting a new lens for Christmas. All you photogs out there, especially if you have/had a Rebel? What would you recommend as a next step up for me? I do like the close up stuff, mostly natural light, etc. My photographer friend recommended this one.

My boys. David just woke up here and was still in a daze.



William doing Samurai moves



...and then a striptease...



And David starts to wake up...






David and his *ridiculous* eyes. (One of the only good things that came from my mother's side of the family) Favorite things about David right now:

1. His love of singing. He has been known to belt out "twinkle twinkle" and "ABC" song at the drop of a hat.
2. His love of dance. He shuffles along the floor, laughing, while I say "Shimmy, shimmy, shimmy! Shake, shake, shake! Jazz hands!"
3. His small size. He's so easy to carry and is getting a lot of wear out of clothes.
4. His love of trains and tractors.



My little Will-man

Favorite things about William right now?

1. He calls himself Willman
2. He is so easygoing, will say "YEAH!" enthusiastically after almost any question.
3. When he doesn't like it, he says "No like it!"
4. His soulful brown eyes, beautiful skin & hair
5. His adorable spaced out teeth, complete with vampire fangs.

Some videos

When we were in Austin, we went to a friend's dance recital. This dance recital featured lengthy dance acts performed by girls aged 4 years old to close to 18 and everything in between. We watched an estimated 12 routines before cutting out at intermission and they varied from graceful ballet performances to hip hop, modern dance and everything in between. The girls wore makeup and glittery costumes.

The minute the lights went down and the curtains opened, Sofia was mesmerized. This has been the scene in our family room every night since.

Sofia Freestyles

Sofia shaking her money maker. Play close attention to the second video, William in the background and what a *great* and helpful sister Sofia is.

William the Multi Tasker

William the Multi Tasker

7 Quick Takes Friday - June 12, 2009

I am feeling scattered today, so I think a 7 Quick Takes is in order.

1. I have rediscovered the library. I do tend to get a bit ridiculous at the library, checking out so many books, I need a dolly to get them to the car. I exaggerate, but not by much. The irony of it all is that I never have time to read!! I did check out a slew of books for Sofia (I get so bored with the same ones) and a few for myself. A few on parenting, writing memoirs and one on an Ab diet. Well rounded, indeed.

2. The boys are in the midst of a full blown language explosion. It's about 7 months late, but it's here. It dawned on me the other evening while they were all chattering away that pretty soon, I won't be able to get in a word edgewise. Be careful what you wish for, right?

3. I'm knee deep in work AT work and it's seriously cutting into my blogging time. This just won't do. There's some political BS stuff accompanying the additional workload (apparently, someone else wanted the additional workload as the person who proves themselves becomes the golden child in this unstable economy, or that is the perception) and it's making an already sucky job even mores stressful as I feel that I have little support, in fact, there are people waiting for me to F'up.

4. Sofia has seemed to come out from her incredibly unpleasant last few weeks and become much more fun to be around. We'll see how long that lasts.

5. My friend is still at the hospital with her baby and he does seem to be improving. She is taking it one day at a time, but they are telling her he may need a heart transplant down the road. Right now, it's looking like medication and monitoring. My heart goes out to her in a major way as she suffered greatly with infertility and miscarriage before having this second baby. Life is just so f'ing unfair sometimes.

6. I told the mother's club web momma that I may need to give up the web content gig come September, due to the likely move. She was disappointed, but understood and I think they've already found a replacement. I've enjoyed doing the work and have learned a great deal. I have been able to fine tune my writing with a monthly article to the newsletter (about the website) and also being in charge of the home page content. Which brings me to #7...

7. The move back. It's all very bittersweet. I'm trying to think of ways to make 3 kids in one room work, so if anyone out there has any suggestions, I'm all ears. I'm thinking a bunk bed with trundle, Sofia on top, boys on bottom. We have to maximize space, the house is - in case you weren't around for when we lived there - 840 sq ft. That's right. We (the 5 of us) are going to live in a dollhouse. A dollhouse in one of the most expensive areas in the country, but a dollhouse non theless. I've made peace with the inevitable and to be painfully honest, I need to be where it's sunny. And near my friends. And my work. And Target. Not going to lie.