We got Baby Girl in her costume and took her over to Marlene’s before they went off on their trick or treating adventure. They all looked awesome. Hopefully she’ll post some pics because seriously they looked great. Baby Girl was not quite sure what to make of all of it. But she didn’t freak out. She just looked sort of confused. Like she was thinking why do the grown-ups make us kids get in these silly costumes? I just don’t get it. By the way, Marlene’s bathroom looks beautimous.

After Marlene’s, we went to see Grandma and Grandpa and Great Grandpa and she had a good time playing with all the toys and wearing herself out. In fact, she fell asleep in the car on the way home. She slept on the floor while we were eating our dinner. Then Rochelle came by with her sister and sister’s friend and again Baby Girl had the confused look on her face trying to figure out this whole costume thing.

We just got finished putting her to bed about 15 minutes ago (late late, but oh well). I truly know I’m a mom now because I have her favorite bedtime book memorized. First one to identify the book by the first few lines gets a high five from me: “The moon is up, it’s getting late, let’s get ready to celebrate, it’s………” Go!

Hope you all had a lovely evening, too. :)

Baby Girl just pulled herself up using the sofa! This is the first time she’s pulled up using something other than a human being. Oh. My. Gawd.

I remember Halloween last year, we (as in Marlene and I) were discussing what I would dress the baby up as this Halloween knowing that she would be almost a year old. She actually would be just over 9 months old had she waited until her due date to make her grand entrance. Instead, she’ll be 11 months old on Wednesday. Either way, we were discussing costumes. And Mike, silly man, said,”She won’t need a costume - she’ll be too little.” And of course Marlene and I sliced him to bits with our patented “I did not just hear you say that” glares. (You should see Marlene’s glare in particular - it’s formidable.) Anyway, he backed down, OF COURSE. Because who wouldn’t when confronted with the glare of the future godmother and the very pregnant mother-to-be? But I think in the back of his mind he was still thinking that he was right.

Therefore, I got immeasurable pleasure this morning during our Halloween costume photo shoot with Baby Girl listening to him tell her how adorable she looked, how pretty she was, how sweet she looked, etc. etc. And yes, OF COURSE I said I told you so. What do you think I am? A saint! NOT I! :D

But seriously, she does look absolutely freakin’ adorable in her FairyFly costume. I wanted a butterfly, but I only found fairy stuff that I liked so therefore she is a FairyFly. Then I had to make the darn petal skirt. And it came out pretty well if I do say so myself, especially since I was working WITHOUT. A. PATTERN. Yes, it came from my head. I’m proud of that. If the stupid sewing machine had not had the demon in it that day it would have been less of a pain in the butt, but there you go.

So, now (drum roll please) may I present to you…Baby Girl on her first Halloween as The FairyFly! Woohoo! Wild applause! Click for the picture! Whee!!! (Read on …)

I know some people hate cleaning out pumpkins, but the one thing I love about it - I mean absolutely LOVE about it is the smell. There’s nothing like the smell of gooey pumpkin guts. :D

Mike is working on carving the pumpkin and Baby Girl is watching him from her high chair even though it’s well past her bedtime. Oh well. You don’t have your first Halloween every day, do you?

I’ll update with photos in a bit.

Updated: Photos –> (Read on …)

Mike thinks he can do the dishes, take a bath, give Baby Girl a bath, and get ready for church by 4:30. (It’s about 4:00 right now.)

I’m thinking….NO!

I’ll update you later.

UPDATE: Sorry I didn’t get a chance to update before we left, but since we are really supposed to BE at church at 4:30 (for rehearsal) and it was about 4:33 or so by the time he was ready to walk out the door (SEE???), I didn’t have time. Let me just say, he did do a really good job of getting ready quickly today - I have to give him credit for that. However, I also know that it never would have happened if I hadn’t told him he couldn’t do it. Reverse psychology works again. I’m gonna remember this!

As usual, since I have no kitchen at the moment, I haven’t tried these, but it’s always interesting to see a twist on the old standard oatmeal cookie recipe.

Oatmeal Chip Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon molasses
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Beat in the molasses, egg and vanilla. Combine the flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips.

Roll into 1 - 1/2 inch balls. Place 2 inches apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

Yield: about 1 1/2 dozen.

From the Taste of Home October/November edition.

Lesson #1: Daddy must check his pockets before playing on the floor with Baby Girl because if he doesn’t, two dimes might fall out and not be found until she’s about to put them in her mouth later on. Catastrophe averted, but Mommy almost had a heart attack in the meantime.

Lesson #2: If you see something you want at the beginning of the Halloween shopping season, like say, a cute little furry white trick or treat basket, you should get it then, otherwise you may be stuck with the Elmo bag because it’s the only furry one left. On the other hand, Baby Girl loves red, and it makes a nice hat for when she wants to pretend she’s a Drum Major.

I was privileged tonight to see Monsters, Inc. for the very first time. And oh. my. gosh. One of the cutest. movies. ever. I think I need to go get this one on dvd. I wasn’t planning on watching it, but I turned the tv on after Mike left for work and I was getting Baby Girl’s food ready, and it happened to be on CSI: NY which was way too bloody and gory for me to be comfortable watching with her little eyes watching along with me, so I started flipping channels and I landed on Monsters. The little girl? Boo? SO FRIGGING CUTE I CAN BARELY STAND IT. Loved this movie. LOVED it! Time to start watching all these cute movies I’ve haven’t watched yet. Or at least it will be soon enough.

So tell me, what’s your favorite movie to watch with your kids?

Mike took off for work in his Halloween costume. What I want to know is why he always seems to end up borrowing something of MINE? Click if you wanna see a pic: (Read on …)

Ask 4 - 8 year olds what love means, and you might get answers like the ones I got in a recent email: (Read on …)

We were running around all morning, so not much time to post, but before we left, we did make a quick little clip you might enjoy.

Hopefully I’ll post something more substantial later on.

We have a full length mirror in the closet and Baby Girl LOVES to look at herself in mirrors. So tonight I stood her up in front of the mirror while her daddy was finishing getting ready for work. First she gave herself some nice big slobbery open-mouthed kisses. Then she tried to blow raspberries on herself. That’s my girl! :)

Okay, it’s that time again. Yep it’s payday. Oh, wait, I don’t get paid anymore. Well fine, then I’ll just have to make do with Flashback Friday. This week? Halloween…..spooooooky. Tell us your crazy/spooky/funny/weird/wacky Halloween stories. Then post a comment or send a trackback so we can all go read them and howl at the moon!

Now where’s that picture of Mike in the dress….. (Read on …)

My buddy Theresa has “ghosted” me, courtesy of Liz. And hey! Why not? It’s Halloween (almost) and that’s what I’ll look like myself after I eat this stupid bag of candy corn sitting here beside me. :P If you wanna play this crazy silly game, go visit Liz for the rules. In the meantime, I’m ghosting Marlene and Syndromes! Whee!

Updated: Since Mr. Syndromes is not in the Halloween spirit right now and Alysha wants to celebrate Halloween really really bad but those vegemite eating countrymen of hers are just not into it, I’m gonna ghost her instead. Whee!!!