Sunday, November 30, 2008

Rash from hell

Luckily we are done with a round of antibiotics that really seemed to tear up Nicole's diaper area something terrible. We've been through this before but for some reason this time it really really did a number on her. We tried Nystatin, Triple paste, Desitin, Lotrimin and Gold Bond Baby all in various combinations of layers. Still she has these two little areas that just won't heal. So hopefully with today being our last dose we will be on the mends. I can't imagine how much it hurts her except that it takes two of us to hold down my 22lb peanut to change said terrible diaper area.

In other news, this is my last post for November thus ending the NaBloPoMo. I am not sure I could EVER do a post a day. I just don't have the time to sit down and type every night. I am sure a lot of my friends on Facebook wonder if I disappear with all the time I can spend away from the computer. Just happens.

Onto December. Only 24 shopping days until Christmas!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Getting it Together

I wish I could say that I did manage to post at least every other day this month, but apparently even that isn't true. It's not like I don't have the material, just not enough time to actually sit down and type up something by the day's end. Case and point, it is now almost 8:30 on Saturday night, Gary is at the Bruins game, Aimee is fast asleep and Nicole is not happy about being in her crib alone and is letting me know it. So I don't even have these few minutes to fill you in on our incredibly (cough, cough) exciting lives.

Thanksgiving was a nice day. We were busy shuttling from house to house in an effort to make all the rounds to see each family member. The girls still haven't quite recovered from little to no naps and later nights to bed. But it was a lot of fun.

Gary and I attempted shopping on Black Friday and actually did get the girls some things and almost finished our shopping. An accomplishment I never would have thought possible. His parents were nice enough to take the girls for the afternoon while we went shopping. It took us about 1/3 the time it would normally take us to shop had we brought the girls with us. So score in that department.

This is my favorite time of the year. We start the holiday traditions of finding the perfect gifts, wrapping them all up and coordinating our celebrations. The calendar is quite packed with parties, gift grabs and cooking plans. The girls even recognize the big guy on TV when they see him.

We're getting it together and hopefully we'll be decorated, wrapped and ready for the Christmas holidays soon.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Family duties

Yesterday on my way to work I got a frantic phone call from my mother asking me to come over and look at her eye. A little background information is that she had some vision issues a while ago where she lost sight in her left eye. She can still drive since you need 180 degree peripheral vision and she does have that. But it seems as though if something is going to go wrong with her, it happens to her right eye, the only good one. So on Monday she called me and said "come look at my eye". Apparently she caught the fun cold the girls and I muddled through and ended up with a pinkish eye. So I abandoned my trip to work to investigate.

Turns out her eye wasn't any more red than anyone else with a head cold but you can't tell with these things. In any event I took her to the DR, dropped Dad off at Hilltop so he could do some pre-holiday shopping and then picked everyone up and headed back home.

When did we all switch roles? I think when I became a mother it started to reach further than my own children and I have in some ways switched roles with my parents. It's daunting really and I wish that I had had kids earlier so that they could have been more independent when my kids are small. The still get around well and it's not like they are housebound but they certainly did much more only 5 years ago.

They are still some of the most important people in my children's lives but it's funny to look at my father and not really see any changes in him in my mind's eye. But yet my kids have never known him to drive a car, work a full time job or whip up a set of brick stairs. They never saw my mother in her scrubs heading off to care for the ailing in her nursely duties. Then again when my grandparents came to live next door to us I didn't see any of these things with them either. So yet again I am in realization that the cycle of life really does for the most part repeat.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Couldn't it be every other day this month?

Because I am certain I could do the every other day posting thing. This post a day is very hard for me, but I haven't given up yet. We have had a few setbacks here health wise. Here I am congratulating myself that both girls got through their first major cold of the season relatively unscathed and now I have a cabinet stocked full of antibiotics. What fun. Aimee ended up with a bulging ear infection which basically means there is so much pressure and pus behind the ear drum that it bulges out. Awesome. Nicole started to show signs of conjunctivitis and lo and behold it is because she has a double ear infection. Hers were not bulging but there was a lot of fluid behind both ear drums.

So suffice to say we have been very busy here lately. We hope to return to regularly scheduled programming by tomorrow. We'll see.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

And so it goes....again

Since I don't work full time, nor am I home with the girls full time, I feel as though I am always half assing my way through things. Today for example Aimee was not 100 percent because we just discovered yesterday after a trip to the doctor for a cold that would not let up that she has quite an ear infection in her right ear. So getting out the door today took a little more effort than it normally does for us. And our house is a wreck right now to prove it. I know I left the house with toy pieces everywhere, dishes in the sink and the coffee grinds still in the coffee maker.

But, Gary took the girls to school, dropping Nicole off at daycare and Aimee off a nursery school. He called me and asked me to meet him at the school because some pictures that were taken of them at the daycare (their "school pictures") came back and he wanted me to see them. So I met him at the nursery school, saw the pictures and instantly I became the attention giver. Aimee needed me to take her into school. So since being on time to work had already gone out the window I took a moment to get her out of her father's truck and walk her to school and deposit her safely. As I got into my car, I needed to write a check and when writing the date it occurred to me that today is my wedding anniversary.

Amazing isn't it? I forgot my own anniversary with all of the things we do everyday as part of taking care of the kids, house, work, etc. we totally forgot that a mere four years ago (I know, a three year old and a 2 year old...not much time wasted is in all of your minds..) we exchanged vows among our family and friends and partied afterwards. We did make plans to go out to dinner this weekend so it's not like we let it slip by entirely but the fact that living life in Suburbia has taken precedence over all other pieces in my life. It's amazing to me that four short years ago we were standing there with all of this ahead of us. Yet, four years from now, Aimee will be in 2nd grade and Nicole in kindergarten. I didn't know time goes by so fast until I had kids. I also didn't know the love I had for Gary on that November day four years ago would lead to even a greater love for him seeing him with our children from that union.

So here's to the first four years and hopes for many many more in the future.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Girls Day Out

On Tuesdays, Nicole and I drop Aimee off at nursery school and then try to find something to do with ourselves for 2 and 1/2 hours. It's a strange period of time. Not enough time for some things, too much for others. I would try to grocery shop at this point in the week but Aimee really likes visiting the deli for her slice of cheese and gets upset if she realizes we went to the grocery store without her so that options out.

Today we went to the mall. I don't know what happened in the last 10 days since I was there but apparently Santa arrived, the big Christmas tree is there and every store is having holiday sales. I don't know about you but I hate feeling rushed. I even realized today that Oldies 103 here in Boston is already playing continuous holiday music. Now I love Christmas as much as the next person but for some reason this year I am having a hard time adapting to the fact that the cold weather is actually here. I feel like it was August yesterday. So Nicole in her stroller and me pushing her we walked the mall together to get some exercise and check out what is in the stores right now. It's going to be a sparse Christmas this year since we really don't need much and there are not any big ticket items for us to purchase and we are afraid to use a credit card for anything these days. But it was nice to walk around the mall, check out the sites and see the big man himself sitting there having kids sit on his lap for pictures. Should be interesting to see how this goes for us. Last year we got a decent shot of the girls with Santa in their matching sweaters and jeans on. But Nicole is in that strange phase where anyone not mom or dad or relative send her into a face hiding snuggle into my shoulder.

It's nice to have this time just the two of us together. Ideally I probably should have enrolled her in a music class or something but this is what Aimee and I did together...stroll the malls, check out the people and the sales and it was fun to do it again today. You know what really floored me today? I came home and checked the calendar and realized that there are only 5 more Tuesdays until Christmas.

Monday, November 17, 2008

Snuggle

Last night was yet another loss in the battle of the sleep. Aimee had a tough night in general for some reason. She kept crying out, not quite awake not quite asleep. Finally I asked her if she wanted to sleep in my bed with me. She gave me a little squeak of a yes and into my bed we went at about 9PM. As soon as she got there she suddenly became very chatty and told me how much she loves to snuggle with me. To be honest, it is very endearing. But I am still battling the cold they gave to me and I was exhausted, uncomfortable and not really into snuggling last night. But I was happy that being next to me brought her enough solace to fall into a less fitful sleep so I endured. Until about 12:30 when Nicole woke up and called for me. I thought that perhaps she needed a diaper change but a quick change revealed just a damp diaper. So for three hours we sat together in her room until 3:30AM when she finally fell asleep again and I was able to put her into bed. I somehow made it into my own bed at that point and got to sleep until about 6AM. Needless to say I have a bit of a headache to go with my congested head. I can't tell if it is because of the congestion or lack of sleep, but either way I am going to bed sans kids tonight.

I am hoping for an uneventful night. Do any parents get to sleep all night through consistently? My mother can't recall any of us doing this sort of thing to her but I don't know if it's just the distance of it all in her memory or if she was blessed with good sleepers. I know my sister in law has good sleepers. I think that you either have good sleepers or you don't. Aimee was a good sleeper until she got into a big girl bed then it all went down hill. Nicole never slept well. So I am off to bed, I may be snuggling later with a kid or two - we'll see.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

My turn

Well the girls have beaten their cold, but apparently it's my turn. I didn't want to disappoint the few of you that are out there and miss yet another day of posting but I am not quite up to par today. I knew it was coming on with my scratchy throat and tiredness but I thought if I had enough vitamin C and rest that I could beat it. Sadly that is not the case. My head feels like it is going to implode and everything sounds like it's in the other room to me. Ever get that feeling with a cold, that you aren't quite there? So I have put the kids in bed, Gary is cooking supper for me and his lunch for the week (includes peppers, onions, carrots and chicken all in one pan...thankfully my nose is plugged up..) and I am going to sit down for about the first time today. That is the problem with having kids and getting sick, you just can't become the priority.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Cancelled

I used to watch a fair amount of TV in my earlier days. Particularly when I had graduated from college, lived at home and worked full time. Obviously this was way before kids, Gary and being grown up. Now we have this wonderful device known as a DVR so while I would like to watch more TV, I can't actually do it. Instead I record many shows that I would like to watch and fill up our DVR as it goes unwatched. However, last night I made an effort to watch some of my DVR'd shows. One in particular had just started this season, The Ex List. Basically it is about a woman who goes to a psychic and is told she only has a year to marry and she has already met the man she is supposed to marry. So each episode she co-incidentally runs into a new old flame. Not a great premise but I like it. It's a light, airy, comedy type of show that I find refreshing in the world of COPS, CSI, Numbers, etc. that are basically all based on crime. And all the reality shows. I will admit tuning into some of them once in a while like Biggest Loser (okay I love this one), American Idol and Dancing with the Stars, but that is about it.

So I catch up on the two episodes I had on DVR and realize that it wasn't on last night at it's usually scheduled time slot of 9PM. Hmmm...a little googling and I find that it has been cancelled. Cancelled. I HATE THAT! It's not enough that we had to sit through boring TV last year due to a writers strike, but a few of the shows I have liked over the last few years have ended up being shelved. It ticks me off. The list is growing and growing and it's sad to me. Again I am not huge into the more gloomy shows listed above so the ones I like that seem to get cancelled are the funnier ones to me. The following is a list of my all time favs...

Freaks and Geeks - seriously one of the best shows of all time that aired for such a short time.
The Class - One season it lasted and ended and I easily came close to peeing my pants each episode.
Arrested Development - need I say any more?
Saved! - a TNT original series that I really got into one summer never to be heard from again
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip - Star studded cast yet still it failed. At least they ended it easily by tying up all of the loose ends.
Side Order of Life - A cheesy but cute Lifetime Original series that lasted one summer season

I am sure there are more but that is all I can think of at the moment. So what are your favorite shows that have been cancelled? I think the ultimate bummer is having the shows on the DVR, getting into them and THEN realizing they are cancelled.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Another day

The girls continue on their quest to rid themselves of the never ending cough that has come to rest at the base of their throats but thankfully not quite in their lungs. As such I figured that we really didn't need to infect our friends at playgroup should any stray spit fly as the result of a deep throated cough. So we spent most of the day inside. I won't lie...it was another rough day.

I thought about going outside at one point but between the wetness outside, the lack of cooperation in getting dressed inside and the overall gloom of the day we decided to stay inside. My mistake. I should have just thrown on any type of footwear they would have taken, let them go without a coat and called it a day and went outside. The two of them have been fighting non-stop - one watching the other just waiting for them to drop a toy so the other could come in for the swoop and take it away, thus wreaking havoc on the other sister. I really should invest in a black and white striped shirt; at least I would feel the part of referee.

On the bright side both girls slept right through the night last night which caused me to listen to every little creak and squeak just waiting for something to happen. Hopefully we can have a repeat performance tonight and I will actually sleep through too.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Still trying

I have missed a few days with the posting every day but I am way ahead of where I normally am for posting each month so I am going to consider it a success. I didn't post yesterday because it was one of those days as a parent where you wonder if you have enough patience to do this job. The girls and Gary are the love of my life, really, but yesterday my patience was tested to the breaking point. I know the major part of it is the fact that both girls are sick right now with coughs that can be likened to 50 year old pack a day smokers.

We missed swimming yesterday because I didn't think that getting wet and being cold would really help Aimee's current cold state. So we stayed at home all day and therein lies the problems that occurred yesterday. I tried as best I could to distract with Play doh, coloring, markers, baking, etc. but with each passing task the girls got more out of control and my patience was thinner and thinner. I don't think the lack of sleep from the past few nights due to their colds and both of them waking at separate times throughout the night did much to keep the anger at bay either.

I finally snapped at about 4PM when I asked Aimee to help me pick up the millions of pieces of toys on the living room floor to get ready for supper when she looked me straight in the eye and said "no". So I tried another tactic and tried to make a race out of it to see who could pick up more stuff the fastest to which she said.."I don't want to." Lovely. So I threatened with a time out and she said "okay" and went off to her room. While in there she proceeded to remove every single book from her bookcase. Now Aimee loves to read and has close to 60 books on her shelf so I reached the point of no return and raised my voice to a level that not only got her attention but made her start to cry and say "you scared me."

Again, I will take that parent of the year award anytime now....

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Bedroom for Three?

Apparently the croup has come back to visit our house. I was outside with Aimee last night at about 12AM letting her take deep breaths of the holy cold air. The two of us were quite a sight had any cars actually come by at that hour to witness. Me in my lovely flannel pants and huge wool sweater and Aimee in her PJs with winter hat and coat, the two of us wrapped in a big blanket. It actually helped her quite a bit and after a little while the two of us went back to bed...together. Only to be joined by another barking seal in Nicole's room. Yes, double trouble truly. She didn't sound nearly as bad as Aimee but Gary went into get her and brought her to me. Gary got to head to Aimee's room with it's flannel sheets, snuggly blanket and every stuffed animal known to man while I stayed in between the two furnaces and tried to get a few winks. It never ceases to amaze me that they will be up all night sometimes in their beds but they come into mine, heave a sigh of relief and sleep right up until 7:30. Go figure.

Thoughts and wishes that tonight will be better. Aimee already asked me if we can go outside and sit on the steps tonight. My response.."I hope not" which of course got the requisite.."why?" At least I can always count on somethings in my life.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Welcome to winter

One minute we are happy and snappy beating all the germs to the punch with our clean hands and vitamin C intake. However, apparently there is no way to get out of the winter colds. Of course it isn't full blown yet. But I was outside all day today doing some work at one of my project sites. While it wasn't that cold outside, it was very breezy because we are down the Cape and on a golf course. But now after being there all day I am feeling a bit chilled, wind burnt and with a scratchy throat. Grr. So I am off to bed but I didn't want to neglect my few readers out there and not post just because Old Man Winter is starting to get the better of me.

Sunday, November 9, 2008

With cat like reflexes

Last night in our never ending battle of going to bed Nicole was calling from her room "baby bottle" so that she could feed her baby while she was in bed. However, I have found that if I give into this request I can sometimes find this bottle within the confines of her sleeper so I don't typically give into this request. Last night however she was relentless in asking. I was eating my late supper while Gary was preparing something on the stove when we hear the pitter patter of little feet coming down the hallway and into the living room and shrieking "baby bottle". She picked up the bottle and Gary and I looked at each other with very surprised looks. Nicole headed back to her room and suddenly realized that she could not get back into her bed. Of course Gary was following her back to her room and promptly put her back into bed.

So needless to say I didn't get a whole lot of sleep last night just because I was terrified that she was going to come running out of her room at any second and into mine. That is how it started with Aimee, she would run into our room in the middle of the night when she woke up and stare right at me. Freaked me out so we gated her into her room. It can be argued that it isn't safe to do so, but it gave me a little peace of mind.

With Nicole though, I didn't hear a creak, thud or squeak as she got out of bed. She just ran down the hall looking for her baby's bottle like it was nothing. I think I have a future ninja on my hands. Luckily last week I had the premonition that she was nearing this accomplishment because she was putting her foot up on the rails while waiting for me to get her out of bed each morning. So I spent some time making sure that every outlet was covered, every piece of furniture was securely attached to the walls and that all extra items were tucked away and locked behind the closet door. She went down tonight without incident but I know when she figures out she can get out of her crib easily that is it and big girl bed here we come. Can she really be that old?

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Update from the sleep trenches

Ah, elusive sleep. How I have missed you. I am happy to report that Nicole slept through the ENTIRE night last night right until 6AM this morning without incident. I was heaven. Aimee on the other hand woke up at about 12AM calling for me. However, Gary and I have made a pact that he is to do the middle of the night wake ups from now on because the kids sense I am a marshmallow and will cave but that Gary means business and will not bend. So he went in and told Aimee to go back to sleep, that she was okay and that he would see her in the morning. Worked like a charm. So I was actually able to stay in bed all night long. A girl could get used to this.

And in case you thought I forgot about my quest to lose weight, I have to confess that I fell off the wagon for a few weeks. I missed one meeting, then one turned into two and two into three. But I went back this past week and have been doing great ever since. The dog has never been so in shape with our walks around the neighborhood. I have decided that while I do love to take the girls for walks that this is my time. I hardly take time for myself anymore so when I get a chance to walk without them, I take it. Typically it is only on Saturday and Sunday or the random work at home day. But I am back on track now, I won't post my latest gain from WW because I honestly didn't look at it, but rest assured it was a gain based on the reaction from the receptionist person that weighed me in...sigh. Halloween is my downfall and now that I have two trick or treaters it was doubly hard this year. So now, onward and downward.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Have You Met Lady Luck?

So I just found out that I won a pay it forward contest on McCashew's blog (link to left since I still can't figure out that whole link in a little word thing..someone comment and tell me how to do it or e-mail me or something). How exciting is that? All just by having to tell what my most memorable Halloween costume was. I can remember it so clearly. I was 4, going to nursery school (the same one Aimee attends) and my mother put my hair in rag curls (does anyone even do those any more?) the night before with my grandmother. Then in the morning, she put on my dress that was probably more like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz than Raggedy Ann, but the closest we had. She then painted my nose red and some of those little black marks above and below my eyes and there I was, Raggedy Ann. Unfortunately, as soon as the finishing touches were put onto my outfit, I burst into tears and decided I didn't want to go to school looking like that. I am sure I crushed my mother with it, but being the mom that she is, she just said to stop crying, I looked lovely and another tear would ruin my makeup. So off I went. I will go to her house tomorrow and see if I can find the picture of me in my get up. She really did a great job.

Anyway, the point of this trip down memory lane is to tell you all that I WON! I was picked at random to be the winner of a Pay it forward contest. I am so excited. So stay tuned here because I will be paying it forward so all of you lurkers out there will have to comment so that I can put you in the running. I will start when I come up with a fun item to comment on and after I receive my package which I need supply my home address to McCashew first to receive it.

And another reason I feel like I have luck on my side is because I was doing a good deed today of delivering a meal I prepared for someone that just had a baby in my Women's Club. She lives way out of my average driving distances into the middle of no where, coincidentally near where I lived briefly when Gary and I first got married, so I was not happy about having to drive this far to deliver the meal I had put together. But, on the way to her house, I came across gas for an insanely low amount of money. Are you ready for this...hold on to your hats....$2.19 per gallon. I think I was paying more than that 4 years ago when I got married. I was so excited, I dropped off my meal and promptly came back to this station and filled up for under $40 for my enormous car.

It's all coming together Terri these days people.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Home working

Yep, I decided that with the rain, my youngest daughter's inability to sleep through the night and the general blah ness that I feel today that I should work from home. I really think that working from home gets a bum rap. I love to work at home and I actally get 100 times more work done at home than when I am in the office. Since I am at 24 hours per week and lately I have had a lot of work outside the office at my different project sites that it has been quite a while since my butt has been inside the office walls. But honestly with the rainy day traffic to and from work adding another 3 hours onto my day how can working from home not be more productive. Even more so when the girls are at their regularly scheduled daycare day. Well, Aimee had nursery school first but then she gets picked up by her Daddy and he takes her to daycare where she meets up with Nicole.

So being home working and since it is technically my lunch hour of 12 o'clock I posted to keep going on this every day post thing.

Sleeping last night went better, Nicole slept until 3:15 AM and then I went into see her, changed her messy diaper and had hopes for a quick return to slumber. Didn't happen until almost 5:30 at which point I decided to let her cry it out and in 5 minutes she stopped and slept until almost 7:30. She was cranky this morning though from those few hours of lost sleep. Then again, so is her mama.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Lost a day

I am really trying to post everyday, but I just don't always have the energy to do it at night when I finally have the time. Yesterday was a long day. It started at 5:30 when Nicole decided that it would be fun to be up at that time. So on Tuesdays we take Aimee to nursery school and yesterday we also had to do two errands while Aimee was at school, vote and hit a toy store. So we dropped Aimee off, picked up my parents and took them to vote (they came so that we could take turns going in and not having to bring Nicole in since we heard horror stories about waiting in line...turned out to be untrue at our location) and then headed to the toy store. The local toy store from us was having a fund raiser for Aimee's school where if you bought toys and stated your affiliation with her school the school in turn got 20% of the proceeds of your sale. Apparently it is their biggest fundraiser and gift certificates even counted toward the totals. Bonus. So I picked up some Christmas presents for the girls and my nieces and they even gift wrapped them. This is the first time that I have even thought about shopping before Thanksgiving let alone be wrapped! Bonus.

Nicole however, fell alseep in the car while I went into the toy store while she was out in the car with her Papa so her nap was from 9:30 to 11:30 in her car seat. So our afternoon nap was taken quite early in the day. Then we picked Aimee up, hit Daddy's work to say hello, made a trip to Trader Joe's for some staple items including stickers and balloons and then went home to play in the yard. We also had a make up lesson for ballet so we were out again from 4-5. So needless to say by the time we got home everyone was exhausted including me since no nap equals no downtime for mom.

Our latest development in the battle of the sleep deprived is that Nicole has suddenly figured out how to put her foot up on the rail of the crib. I thought I had a few more months before I had to start worrying about her getting out of her crib. Apparently not. So we don't like to put her in there upset lest she tries to swan dive out of her crib like her big sister did. We already have sleep issues with Nicole, I can only imagine how awful it will be to deal with her in a big girl bed. I am seriously considering a crib tent. Anyone ever used one? Maybe it is the sleep deprivation talking. Aimee actually sleeps great lately -- it's Nicole that has been having issues. Unfortunately our solution was to bring her into bed with us and since last night Gary got a few toes in his face throughout the night, that must come to an end. So tonight is our test night. We are going to do some tough love with some good padding on the floor lest she tries her acrobats and hopefully she will sleep through the night. Wish us luck!

Monday, November 3, 2008

I said no

We are not doing so well with the whole daylight savings time ending. At first thought I figured that we would just be getting up earlier in the day and eventually adjusting. But now that it has been two nights worth of going to bed with the new time, I think I am realizing that Nicole just doesn't like to go to bed at night. Aimee I think is just so tired now that she doesn't nap during the day that she literally passes out when she hits the pillow. Nicole on the other hand has started to object naps and has figured out how to put her foot up to the top of the rail on her crib. Oh joy, another child in a real bed before 2 years old. But this morning when she greeted us with a 5AM wake up call, we did what any other sane parent would do and brought her into bed with us in hopes that she would allow us a few more winks. Unfortunately, there was no interest in her part of going back to bed. So I asked her if she needed a bum change (aka diaper change in our house) and she said...no. So I asked again and she again said no. Then I decided to get creative and I asked her "what did you say???" To which she answered, in the dark still no less..."I said no." Can't argue with that logic can you?

Sunday, November 2, 2008

Post Everyday

Well, according McCashew over there on the right (I can't figure out how to link you here in my text, sorry) I suppose I missed the first day of November for the NaBloPoMo - National Blog Post Month, but I will make up for it and try to post each remaining day for November.

We had a full weekend here with the family. It was very busy but very fun. Friday we had a low keyed morning by walking across the yard and having breakfast with Nana and Papa. We came home, played in the yard for a while then retired to the house so Nicole could have a nap and Aimee a rest. Then daddy came home and we gathered up our stuff to head over to Gary's sister's house where his parents live in an in-law suite to get ready for the evening festivities. I must say that I love them all living together, makes for a great visit each time we come over.

Anyway, we got pizzas for supper and gathered the kids together to walk the neighborhood to trick or treat. Among our trick or treaters was a witch, Tinkerbell, a mouse and a duck. I had a great scheme for Aimee and Nicole to have a "theme" for their outfits with Cinderella and Gus Gus but after wearing her Cinderella costume to dancing lessons, a Halloween open house at the Norwell Fire Department, Nursery School, daycare and to show various people, Aimee decided that she didn't want to be Cinderella any more and we had a quick last minute change to Tinkerbell which was really cute too. Though it left my mouse out in the cold alone, but still very cute.

This was a great year for us even though both girls didn't quite understand it fully but more than willing to walk around putting things into a bag, especially edible things. Nicole loved it though she didn't move as fast as the older girls. So Aimee went ahead with her Auntie Shelly and older cousin while I stayed behind with Gary, Nicole, my mother in law and our other niece Ella (the cutest duck I have ever seen). They were priceless together. Not quite getting the point fully but walking around looking cute as can be in their costumes putting their candy into their bags. At one house, Nicole threw an all out fit because the homeowner only gave one piece of candy to her bag where as the few before had given a few pieces to the cause. Smart girl I suppose, although quite embarrassing to have your mouse flat out on someone's walk playing the limp kid card on me. We decided that was our last house for these two and my mother in law took them back to the house. We caught up with Aimee and her Auntie who did their last visit for treats when Aimee looked up at her Auntie and said, "all done Shelly", thus ending our 2008 trick or treating.

It was exciting and I could almost hear the disappointment in Aimee's voice when putting her to bed that night when I told her that the next Halloween is a year away. It's hard to explain seasonal things to her like why Santa doesn't come for another two months or how come Storyland isn't open in the winter. She gets a lot of things but I am sure the seasonal things are tough to grasp. In any event, I am sure the memories of this Halloween will last forever for her. I know they will for me.