Merry Christmas to All...

We all had an excellent Christmas! Everyone loved their gifts. There was one gift that when opened had people and pooches alike exclaiming: Are you FREAKIN kidding me???!!! But, I assure you-it is indeed true!





This Christmas the boys received the gift of music:

They became Band Heros!

There was some assembly required:

But once we got it all up and running...

Everyone thought this gift was "Saaaahweeeeettt!!!!" (Please see above and join in. Give me your most high pitched rocker scream..."Saaaahweeeett!!!")

We spent ALL afternoon jamming to some great tunes. And ALL afternoon while we were singing, drumming and strumming to near legend status, Harlow girl slept through it all. Please see below:

While we wailed away ....

And sang some soulful ballads:

Harlow slept on...

While we strummed some killer riffs....

Harlow dreamed on....

Song after song. Harlow snored along.





Finally, at the end of our afternoon concert, we yelled: "Thank you and good night!"

And someone replied:

"Ah Nighttime! I thought it would never get here!!!"

Hope your Christmas 2009 was wonderful as well!

Merry Christmas to you All! And to ALL a good night!!!

Looking forward to Christmas Break...

Well Christmas time is upon us. You know what that means...CHRISTMAS VACATION!!!! We have been plugging away at our "Box-o-Knowledge." Now there is just two more days to go. Two more days to get to a stopping point. Two more days until we are done until after the New Year. Two more days until we all get to rest. Which is a good thing. Because quite frankly, we all NEED a break.....

Apparently some of us more than others! ;O

Guess in dog years, this semester has been 7x as long!

Have you seen it?

We are always so behind in the times because we never see movies in theaters. We only watch them on DVD/Netflix. Soooo, I'm always commenting on a movie 6 months or so after the fact. That being said, have any of you girls seen this flick yet...or remember seeing this movie a year ago?

The critics may not have given it very good reviews, but Ricardo and I enjoyed it. It isn't going to win any awards. But, that's alright. Because, sometimes you just want to relax and be entertained. We laughed and laughed through the whole movie. And the panty scene in the restaruant...one of the funniest, most laugh out loud till you cry, scenes EVER!!!

Just wondering if you found it as humorous as we did...

It's not Tolstoy, but it's a start...

After months of learning letter sounds and blending them together, someone finally read their first story!!! "The Big Bus" may not be much of a page turner, but it's a HUGE accomplishment! Way to go Brown Eyes!!!

The Boys Bathroom...

I'm all about giving the people what they want. ;) You ask for it-I try to deliver. So without further adeau, here is the boys bathroom (Without the boys this time. )

The aforementioned shower curtain: The close up of faux painted walls. (Or faux paux walls/ceiling if you're not into that kind of thing. LOL!)
And the beadboard treatment as an accent along one wall. You can tell from the door, that we did the beadboard 5ft high. Then added hooks for hanging towels etc. This comes in soooo handy in the summer time after the boys go swimming.

I was trying for an lodge/ summer camp kind of feel. I already had the paint left over from the other rooms, so I just had to buy glaze. The dog pics above the toilet were leftovers from our other house. All we really had to buy was the shower curtain, crown molding , beadboard and hooks. The labor was free, as Ricardo and I did it all. So this bathroom was done reeeeally inexpensively. I'm really pleased with how it turned out. And more importantly, the boys just love it.

3 Prefixes I can do without...

I had my hair done on Saturday. (Love it!!!) While the color was processing my stylist left to run an errand. As I sat there with eyes closed in relaxation mode, I heard a snippet of a conversation from the stylist and client next to me.

Client: Do you have any brothers or sisters?
Stylist: Yes. I have one brother and one 1/2 brother.

The comment has stuck with me for the past 48 hours. I'm not judging his comment. I'm just curious as to why he feels the need to specify. I really wished I could have gotten him alone for a moment and asked. Why? Do you think your heritage is more important, or less? Do you not like your other brother so you feel the need to qualify it with the 1/2 prefix? Or have you been raised with that prefix, so it comes naturally to you?

I hear it often. "Step sibling." "Half sibling" "Adopted Child." I really would like for someone to answer the question "Why?" Why do you feel the need to specify the exact nature of your relationship?

I guess I'm more than merely curious, I'm a part of the equation. I myself am a "half." A "non biological." It bothers me. Immensely. I was raised with the comment of not "really" being someone's daughter. It would come at me from out of the blue. I would be in public and be introduced as "Stacy so and so." Then came the qualifier: "You know she's not really his, she's REALLY so and so's daughter." Really??? Really?!!!

I even heard it from my own mother more than once. Whenever it was convenient for her, (like after they divorced and I repeatedly asked to go live with my Dad after she remarried) she made sure that I knew "He's not even your REAL father!" Really??? Really??!!!

Another example, my middle sister (upon getting angry with me one day) announcing, "You're not even my real sister! Your just my 1/2 sister!" Really??? Really???

I don't consider my sisters, "half sisters." I never have. I never will. I don't "gel well" with aforementioned middle sister. But, I would never consider her my 1/2 sister. She is my sister plain and simple. If in need, I would still give her an organ, etc. As for my youngest sister? I know for a fact that she doesn't qualify me as a half sister. Nor do I condsider her anything other than my sister. Unless I were to say she is also my friend.

I just think that life is hard enough without adding monikers that aren't necessary. Or necessarily kind. Everyone wants to fit in. To be a part of a whole. It doesn't matter "half" "step" "adopted" "biological". What matters is love. If you put time, effort and love into raising a child, they're yours. End of story. Think about someone else's feelings before you apply a prefix to someone's situation. And if you need to qualify that someone is a "half, adopted, or step" than perhaps you should look deeply inside yourself and ask why exactly that is. Maybe there is something lacking in YOU not the other way around.

I admire Jada Pinkett Smith for coining the term "bonus child." She gets it. She truly understands. There really shouldn't be any step, half or adopted...only bonus. I feel so blessed and so grateful for my family. My Dad, my sister. My wonderful husband and sons. I also feel blessed to have "bonus" family in my life. People that don't have DNA that matches mine, but who the word friend just doesn't seem adequate enough. People who love and care for me as much as I do them. People who accept. People go to the mat for each other time and time again.

So lets do away with half, step and adopted. Let's add words like bonus family, chosen family, etc. It might just make a huge difference to someone. It would also be the start of making the world a much kinder, more accepting place.

Behold...My Grasshopper

It is no surprise to anyone who knows me, how much I love my boys. My love for them is so immense, it is immeasurable by current standards.

It is also no surprise to anyone who has ever met my boys, how different they both are in personalities. Both are wonderful, kind, beautiful, and lovely little individuals. That being said however...I must mention that they are indeed INDIVIDUALS. For example, ONE abides by rules and regulations. Never tries to push the envelope. Not even a smidgen. He is a model citizen. A poster child for good behavior. I admire and respect him immensely. He has achieved what has always remained elusive to me.

The OTHER ONE is another matter entirely. He LIVES to shock, amuse, and entertain. It is a desire in his soul too stong too be denied A sense of humor, too large to be contained. He has bent the envelope so far apart, that the aforementioned rules have come flying out and scattered upon the floor. Upon which, he just looks at them, shakes his head, and giggles at so absurd an idea as rules. Sadly, I identify with this pint sized rebel all too well. I have seen my past become my future...and it scares me. More than just a little.

Here is just the latest example of Brown Eyes' wacky sense of humor and compelling desire to shock people:

Yesterday, he announced: "I have to go potty." He giggled, grabbed the camera and headed for the bathroom.

Upon seeing this I said: "Brown Eyes, what are you doing???"

He replies (laughing hysterically): "I'm going to video myself going to the bathroom."

To which I reply: "Brown Eyes! Some things are private."

Still laughing, he says with attitude (and I quote): "And obviously, SOME things are not."
Then.... he SLAMS the bathroom door in my face.

Much laughter (on both sides of the door) and a few minutes later, he emerges. Proudly displaying this self portrait:

The image is Shocking, Funny, Breaks all the rules of Propriety, While still managing to be impossibly cute.

I couldn't be more proud!!! :)

Much love and admiration Grasshopper!

The Ironies of Life...

Life...it's always something isn't it???!!! I'm thinking of making a new and improved board game with some of the ditzy real life scenarios that occur in my everyday "Murphy's Law" existence. My whole life seems to involve doing or saying one inane, dorky thing after another. In fact, I can't tell you how many times my hubby Ricardo has uttered these words: "That's alright Stac, you just sit there and look pretty!" Too many times to count that's for sure.


Here's an example of a little scenario that happened to me this morning...



Woke up. Fed dogs. Got coffee. Logged on laptop to check e-mails. Had 23 awaiting me. 3 from my bank (never a good sign). ALL of them overdraft notices/fraud alerts. (An even worse sign!) I have 3 overdrafts so far today-and it is only 7:30am. I'm getting the impression I should just go back to bed and call it a day. With all the overdraft charges I have already incurred, it is really the smartest, most economical thing I can do at this point. Don't you agree??!!



I paid all my bills on the 1st, like I always do. Notified hubby-all the bills are paid. However, it is going to be tight until next payday. We MUST not do anything foolish. Watch our P's and Q's. Be frugal. etc. Ricardo suggested transferring money from our savings account at one bank over to our checking account at yet another bank to tide us over. Sounded like a good idea at the time.



Only, imagine my surprise this morning...when instead of depositing money into my checking account...it WITHDREW money FROM my checking account. Money that wasn't in there to begin with. Yeah, it's all chuckles at this point. Chuckles and overdraft fees.



I notified dear sweet husband Ricardo of the mistake. He went down to our local bank with the checking account, notified them what happened. Reversed the transaction. And had them waive the fees. (He's very good at that sort of thing.) Now we just have to sit tight for the 48 hours it takes to have the money moved from one account to the other. (As our savings account bank is somewhere else entirely.)



I gotta say, Ricardo was none too happy about the situation. Not at all. I tried to explain that it was an innocent mistake. Could have happened to anyone. Nothing to get all flustered or upset about. After all, he's the credit/finance man. Surely, he's seen that kind of thing happen before right?!



I told him I loved him. I also told him not to be too hard on himself. As you see,... he was the one who made the "oopsie" reverse money transfer to begin with, not me..... Life sure can be ironic at times huh?

I will have to ponder upon that little irony a little. Right after I finish sitting here and looking pretty. ;)

Have you ever noticed...

Have you ever noticed how children will inevitably wear white to the dinner table EVERY SINGLE TIME you cook spaghetti or enchiladas??? Or maybe that just happens in my household. Great Googley Moogley!


A HUGE "shout out" ;) and Thank you to who ever it is that invented Shout Liquid Gel!-I just LOVE YOU for making my life easier!!!

Sometimes it's Hard to Be a Woman...

Yes, sometimes it is hard to be a woman. I know I'm not saying anything new. And it is nothing that every female hasn't had to deal with at one time or another in her lifetime. Whether it be the daily shaving of your legs n pits. The coloring or highlighting of your hair. The facial masks, lotions and acid peels to stave off aging of the face. The PMS, the monthly cycles, or the ultimate in woman hardships-pregnancy and childbirth. It is indeed not always easy to be a woman.









I'm not saying it is easy to be a man either. Don't get me wrong. Ya'll have your hardships as well. But, and here is the big BUT...women love you no matter how you look. You put on a few "lbs."...fine by us. More to love. You lose a little hair...it doesn't faze us. You get gray hair...we think you look more distinguished. ETC. Also, society is a little easier on a man's appearance I do believe. (Please correct me if I am wrong.)









That being said, society does judge a woman's appearance a little more harshly. And women especially will judge other women. Usually not to their face, mind you. But, a "Tsk tsk...I'm so glad I don't have (enter horrible affliction of your choice here) like so and so...."









Today, I took the bull by the horns so to speak. I decided to squelch the whispers. Give people something else to talk about. I dealt with my own latest horrible affliction- (Que scary music here...da da duuuum...)...facial hair. Yep, I admit it- I had it. Since my hysterectomy a few years back, I don't have quite the estrogen I once had. Poor, sad, little, uno remaining ovary can't keep up with the demand I guess. I first started noticing a few downy soft facial hairs popping up above my lip. Then, spreading to my chin. Then my cheeks... Next thing you know, I look like freakin Chewbacca!!! (Well, except for the height difference. But I digress.)









So, today I took a few "me moments" and opened up a "Moom Hair Removal Wax Strip Kit" I had ordered. Before I go any further, let me say these little all natural oil strips REALLY do work. Now, let me tell you HOW they work...









You gently warm up the strip between your hands. Alright. I figure, if a little warming is good-really warm is better. So I took it to the next level. I held my little strip right up to my electric fireplace. Yep, made it niiiiice n toasty! Then I applied it to my face per instructions. But I'm not stupid. I applied ALL the strips at once. I didn't want to do just one strip at a time and wuss out if it was too gawd awful painful. (Yep, I'm a thinker I am! :)









Next, I waited for the wax to cool a little. Wanted to make sure I got all those little hairs attached to it. Like they say in the military...Leave no soldiers behind. No sir ee!









Then, I ripped those little suckers off as hard and quick as I could. No gentle removal of the band aid here. We are talking lightening speed.









Let me tell you what it sounded like: Deep breath, RRRRRiiiPPPP, ...YIPE!!!...followed by hysterical laughter. Yeah, cause I had like 5 more to go you see. It was all shits n giggles for about 3 minutes there. No pain-No gain Baby!









But now, WOW!!! My face is as smooth and soft as a baby's butt. It also has red stripes where it looks like I took a belt to my face. But I'm sure the soothing chamomile oils (or whatever they are) will calm that down in no time at all....Like a day or two.



In the meantime, I am enjoying this new improved(?) hair free face of mine. Now, if I could just quit giggling and humming...."Sometimes it's hard to be a woman...."

Not yet a Man Cave

Every guy should have a place to get away.

A place where they can be loud.

Boisterous.

Where they can jump up and down to their hearts content.



On cold, wet days like this,

Our garage is converted into-



A Not Yet a Man Cave....

BYOB-Bring your own bounce! It's a hit with this 13 and under crowd!

Happy Birthday Ricardo!!!

You gave me your name.
And two wonderful boys.
You can give me a headache.
You bring me countless joys.

We've been together for 23 years.
We've shared much laughter,
and cried a few tears.


Sometimes you make me crazy mad.
But life without you,
Would be rather sad.

So on this, your special day.
Please note,
I'd have it no other way.

Than to spend the rest of my life with you.
In good times, in bad times.
In all that you do.

For I love you so much,
Sometimes it hurts.
Which reminds me...your present.
You're recieving "Life Alert!" ;O

Today's forcast is certainly interesting....











We have rain puddles. A few feet over, we have ice crystals...And right next to that we have snow flurries....

I don't know what the technical term for it is. And by the time I figure it out, it will have melted. Meanwhile, the boys want to know if this qualifies as a snow day! :0

4 Day Weekend

Did everyone have a lovely Thanksgiving? Did you take advantage of the long weekend and relax? Face the frantic mobs and go shopping? Trudge down to the basement or up to the attics and sort through all the boxes trying to find your holiday decorations?



We had a busy weekend around here. Thanksgiving weekend is always a little frantic. We have children you see. They think that as soon as the Thanksgiving meal is over, we should IMMEDIATELY start bringing out all the Christmas decorations. I on the other hand, believe that we should take advantage of the of the 4 days to get some much needed miscellaneous home improvement project(s) done. While Ricardo, believes that the 4 day weekend should involve football and fishing. Sooooo, that is what we did.



Friday we set up all the outside Christmas decorations and lights.



These lovely snowman siblings are outside our front door waiting to greet you upon your arrival. Aren't they just all kinds of cute?! Ignore the present in front of them. I needed something heavy to keep them from toppling over if it got really windy. I placed some bricks in a box, wrapped it, and placed it in front of them. Ricardo laughed and said someone would probably take the gift. I said, the wrapping job is so hideous that they wouldn't look twice at it. HA! I can't wrap gifts to save my life. Missed out on the "beautiful wrapping gene" entirely. It's sad really. Almost tragic. But I digress....



We also got all the Christmas lights up.



Some people prefer clear lights. While others prefer multi-colored lights. Which type are you? I always think that clear lights look so elegant, while multi-color lights look so festive and fun. As you can see, we are in "multi-color mode" around here. Purdy-Purdy don't you think?



But what are lights without an inflatable???!!!

Or a little "yard art?"

Check out the little pup at the back of the sled howling. He makes me laugh.

Alright, so that was our Friday.....On Saturday, we transitioned from outdoor lighting, to outdoor landscaping.

Our poolside was a mess I tell you. All the grass was growing up in between our trees and shrubs, choking them out. We had those recycled tire tree rings around all of them. They were supposed to keep grass from growing up and around your plantings, while keeping them hydrated at the same time. Notice I said SUPPOSED to. In reality...Not so much. So, ripped up each one and placed edging and mulch around our landscape.

But before we did that, we had to put down weedscreen to keep the grass from growing through. Yards and yards of weedscreen. With cutouts around each individual plant. It was quite the chore.

We had to do this on both sides of the pool.

But don't you think that a little mulch can really make an area look nice?

And that A LOT of mulch can make it look even better??? :) *Note* -The grass left behind the bed here was not from laziness by the installers. We had to leave it alone for drainage purposes. Ugly, but necessary. Thank you-Mgt.**

In between these projects, Ricardo managed to watch 3-4 football games and go fishing twice.

Which leads us up to Sunday evening. We then decorated the inside of the house. Stockings were hung. Garland was strung. And trees were .....

well, what ever it is that you do with trees. "Put up?" Makes it sound like you are putting them away? "Assembled?" Makes it sound like you made it yourself. Oh I don't know what the proper term is. Just leave it at- "We put the flocking tree up." Hee Hee. Yep, still tickled by the word "flock" in all it's forms. I know, its "flocked up"...but some things will never change. ;)

Which leads us to Monday morning. I will say, there is nothing quite like a 4 day weekend to make your husband question WHY he married such a goal oriented, gotta get it done gal. On the bright side, after a 4 day weekend-he was more than ready to go back to work...so he could rest. HA!

I am now off to our regularly scheduled scholastic and housework program. No rest for the wicked. Yep, I'm a busy, busy gal! Guess you could say "I'm flocking busy"....if you were the immature, almost juvenile, laugh at anything type of person. ;)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend! Now, bring on Christmas!!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a day full of laughter and much to be thankful for!

Twas the Month Before Christmas....

Twas the month before Christmas.
And all thru the house,
Not a child was stirring.
Nor was my spouse.

I awoke early.
Logged on the laptop.
Did all my Christmas shopping,
Wearing Jammies and flip-flops.

No standing in long lines.
No waiting for hours.
Got all that I needed.
And then hit the shower.

My family heard me exclaim,
As I jumped with all my might.
"Free Shipping to my doorstep...
How fantastic! What delight!!!"

Going Clubbing in your 40's

In my 20's clubbing was something I looked forward to. Took hours to prepare for. Once there, I spent hours dancing and drinking and laughing hysterically with friends. After closing the club down, we'd usually all go out for breakfast. Then the next morning, I might wake up with a headache. I might also vow to not do it again...til the next weekend.



Clubbing takes on a whole new meaning in your 40's. Oh, I still go clubbing. I went today as a matter of fact. Went with my husband.( Who was giving me such a hard time, I mentioned I might try meeting someone new once we got to the club....Hee hee!) We even took the kiddos with us. Sounds shocking I know! But then again, clubbing in your 40's means an outing to the local Sam's Club. There is no preparation beforehand; except, preparing a shopping list. There is no drinking involved-although, now that I think of it- it would definitely make the whole outing a more pleasant experience. Perhaps drain the box of wine before you reached the register. Hmmmm...Would be much easier to load it in the truck. :) Alas, there is also a whole different type of dancing involved too. Dance moves that include swaying from side to side with your cart to get out of the congested aisles. There is no unpleasant headache the next morning to contend with however. No. The headache starts the moment you see your total on the register. Shocking indeed!!! Buying in bulk can add up quickly.



I sometimes miss the good ol' clubbing days of my 20's. But I do have to say, when you go clubbing in your 40's...you definitely have a lot more to show for it. Just ask me, I have the receipt to prove it!

Anticipation...

When you are a pup, there must be a lot of things that are difficult to deal with.


But amongst the most trying things of all....

Waiting for your little brown eyed buddy to wake up so you can play!!!

Good Boy Maestro!!! Patience is indeed a virtue.

Tis the Season...

Well, it's that time of year again-catalog season. Catalogs with food for yourselves and others during the holiday season. Clothing, toys, furniture,fishing supplies, pet supplies, gift ideas, you name it-We'll get it. Daily. Then after Christmas, we will receive all the "Post Holiday Clearance" catalogs.



The sad part of all this, many would say it is the amount of paper used to print these catalogs. However, we are recycling fanatics. So, every possible thing that can be recycled at our residence, is indeed recycled. Today's catalog is sent off to the recycling plant. Destined to become tomorrow's toilet paper, grocery bag, perhaps... even another catalog.



No, the sad part of this is my reaction to the catalogs. I get giddy with excitement. I peruse nearly every single one. It's like being mailed a treasure chest and not knowing what you will find inside. The beautiful presentations of food that I will never make, let alone eat. The extravagant holiday tree and holiday decor that you will never find on display in my home. The abundance of gift ideas that had not been previously thought of. Useless items I didn't even know existed. It's like a sickness really. The need to look at these catalogs. A greater sickness still, the joy that all this visual stimulation brings me. If they had scratch and sniff catalogs, it would probably send me over the edge with excitement.



So, my question to you today is....Do you love the catalog season or dread it? Do you read yours, discard it, or opt out of receiving them all together? Are you a catalog junkie? Or do you think I am just a sad, pathetic individual who should seek treatment as soon as possible?.....Never mind. Don't answer that last question. But if you know of a good medical facility....you could send me their catalog. :O

55 Hours

55 hours doesn't seem like a long time. It didn't seem like a long time spent in a vehicle driving because I was so busy gabbing like a schoolgirl. 55 hours wasn't nearly enough time to indulge in my sister's fabulous cooking. Yummy!!! To reminisce with a sister and father you love more than words can say. To visit with wonderful friends you cherish and don't get to see nearly enough. While these moments are transpiring, you want time to stand still. But, time flies by in a blink of an eye. Yet, there was some true quality time jammed into those 55 hours. Smiles. Laughter. Hugs. As well as precious new memories to hold close.







However, 55 hours seemed like an eternity away from all my boys and critters. It was so wonderful to wrap them back up in my arms again as well. On the surface it didn't appear that much had changed in the short time I was away. Yet, in 55 hours my teenage boy who was the same height as me when I left...grew a 1/2 inch taller than me when I returned. His shoe size also grew 1/2 size larger. In 55 hours, my youngest son had another tooth emerge where a gummy grin had previously been.







Seems 55 hours can make a dramatic difference in your life and of those around you. It can bring you rest, relaxation, joy, bliss, fantastic memories, and even personal growth. It can also remind you that time is a fragile thing. Something we should not take for granted because we don't know how much we are guaranteed.







So, I am now resolving to seize onto every moment and make the most of it. To spend more quality time with those I love. To find more time for myself and self improvement. To make a difference no matter how big or how small. To try and remember how precious the gift of time really is.

Heading North for the Winter

Okay, so maybe not for the winter. :) More like heading north for 55-56 hours and then turning right around and heading south again. But 55-56 hours without husband, children and pets will feel like an entire season. I will be excited to see everyone in the great state of Kansas. I will be excited to gab like a schoolgirl all the way up there and back. I will be excited to finish a thought, a sentence, a meal uninterrupted. Take a few deep breaths. Relax. Be responsibility free.



And then,after 55-56 hours, I will be even more excited to see all my boys once again. All my assorted critters of all shapes and sizes. To hug and kiss all of the aforementioned repeatedly. I will think thoughts and finished sentences and uninterrupted meals are over-rated. I will welcome all my responsibilities with open arms. I will be excited about all my chores. The cooking, the cleaning, the bill paying, the.....



Okay, everything is true except for the last 2 sentences. I really don't think I will ever be excited about those things.



Now, I'm off to spend the rest of the evening with my wonderful family. Then tomorrow I'm off to see my wonderful extended family and friends. Also, saying a little prayer that we will all stay safe while we are together and apart. Amen.

Love Is....

Love is .....a soft, warm puppy! We are pleased as punch to introduce you to an early Christmas present.... Maestro the Magnificent. A 4.5 lb little bundle of love sent to help heal a family's heartache.

Yes, love is definitely a soft, warm puppy....

No matter what the size!!!!

Our neighborhood really does Halloween up right. There is plenty of Halloween decor in the yards. Pumpkins and ghosts a plenty. And on Halloween night, all the neighbors are outside passing out candy and visiting. To make it even better, one of our neighbors has his own "party business" so, every Halloween he passes out his party favors....Popcorn from his popcorn machine, cotton candy-fresh spun, and Frozen Margaritas from his Margarita machine....with refills too mind you. :) I used to be able to hang with the big dawgs once upon a time. Shoot, truth be told I could bark louder than anyone. Ha! But not anymore. Uno Margarita for me por favor...no barking allowed. :) But it is a fun evening just the same.

But the best part of the evening-getting to see my boys dressed up in their costumes! Course I always have to snap a few pics. I ask you, when is the best time to capture the images? Before the big event, when they are too impatient to leave? After you return, when they are eager to dive into their goodies? Or after they get all "hopped up" on sugar-when you can get some real action shots??? I always do the before photos. I only get a few in before I hear "Come on! Come On!!! We are ready to leave!" :)

All that being said, here are this years costumes.... (cue the music please)...."da da da dummmmmm" (thank you!)

Brown Eyes went as....


The cutest Cat in the Hat EVER!!! :)

While Blue Eyes went in a costume designed after some comicbook/story character he invented and wrote several short stories about....

The Adventures of Muscle Man....(patent pending. :) Doesn't he look buff? And strong? And capable of rendering aid to those in need???

Just look at one of his many good deeds from last night...

He used his ultra strong muscles for good (not evil)- by helping his favorite aforementioned feline friend by hold up his drooping hat.

Rain Rain Go Away!!!

We have been getting quite a lot of rain here the past few days... weeks...months. I mean a LOT of rain...

Our backyard is beyond saturated! It is grotesque!!! I am REALLY tired of all the rain.

Some of us however, remain unfazed....