Monster Ball - An adventure for Grown-ups!

I love Halloween! It's honestly my favorite holiday. Maybe because it's all about having fun, there's no pressure to do anything, and you can celebrate it as much or as little as you want and no one cares. Maybe it's getting to dress up in something silly, outrageous and totally out there. I think it's a little of both.

In any case, last night Josh, my brother and I went to a very cool Halloween party put on by a local radio station. It was at an old church, and overflowed to a tent in the parking lot...There were 2 live bands, 3 bars, and yummy food. All the makings of a great time!

Our costumes: Josh decided he wanted to be Max from "Where the Wild Things Are", the book, not the movie. So, I found a pattern for a full body, adult size animal costume. I found 6 yards of white fleece (per the pattern), and set to work. I got it completely cut out in about 2 hours, spread out on the living room floor. Sewing took about another 2 hours. Then I hand sewed buttons on the front. Josh added pipe cleaner whiskers and made a crown from poster board.

I was planning to make myself a Little Red Riding Hood costume, but ran out of time so on the 29th, I gave up and bought a cute devil dress costume form Walmart. It was comfy, felt like I was wearing a nightgown, but very breezy! I had more than one "Marilyn Monroe" moment last night!

My brother's costume was also homemade. He was Professor Membrane from "Invader Zim" His costume took him more hours than I can even guess at, and was really awesome.

We had our sitter until 12, so we headed home about 11:30; Dropped Andy off at his house and then came home. We had an awesome time, and still get all of today to celebrate the day with Lily! Here's hoping you have a creepy, spooky, candy filled Happy Halloween!



The pictures are a little blurry because I used my phone, and we were in a dark tent...

Pumpkins, Ponies & Air Cannons!

We finally made it to the Central Oregon Pumpkin Company this year! Though Josh wasn't feeling 100% back to normal, he braved it in search of the great pumpkin!

My first tip, learned from this adventure, wait until the weekend before Halloween to go. There was NO ONE there! We didn't stand in line for anything but the pumpkin cannon, and that was behind one person! We spend about $30, and everyone had fun and Josh found his perfect pumpkin.

We started our adventure with a family ride on the horse drawn buggy. Fun, cold, and bumpy! Just as it should be! Next up was the Cannon. Josh went first, and then held Lily for her turn. He helped her aim, but the firing was all her, baby! I asked her over and over if she wanted to do the pony rides, to which she always said no. Very odd, since that's usually her first choice!

Anyway, since the pony ride was out, and we had 2 tokens left, Lily and I went for a train ride while Josh went pumpkin hunting. It was bumpy, and the seat back dug into my spine, but Lily loved every minute of it! We got a sort of "back side" view of the farm, and got up close to the chicken/bunny coop.

Josh had his much desired funnel cake, and we took the usual "cut-out" photos. All in all a good day at the Pumpkin Patch!

FYI - Central Oregon Pumpkin Company is located in Terrebonne, OR, about 25 miles north of Bend, right at the base of Smith Rock State Park. Go to pumpkinco.org for more info and directions.

Fall Fun

I love a good fall party! Something about fall makes me feel cozy and nice. Maybe it's all the sweaters and boots and warm drinks, I don't know. Any excuse to celebrate the season and I am there!

This morning we were invited to a Harvest Party at a friend of a friend's farm in Alfalfa. It took about 15 minutes to drive out there, but from the second we drove up to the house, it was almost magical. Huge, tall trees full of beautiful yellow leaves lined the field and scattered fall colors on the ground, there was a rooster crowing the whole time we were there, and they had tables set up all over the front lawn with fun activities for the kids to do.

We started by painting the small (2.5 lb) pumpkin we brought. Then on to leaf placemat making. (Stick some leaves to a piece of clear contact paper, then cover with another piece). There were homemade soups, and goodies, and there was a caramel apple station. Lily put her stick in her apple then dipped it and covered it with yummy treats.

The older kids, mostly boys, were jumping of the cab of an old truck parked in the field, so a slide was bolted to the top and placed on a giant bail of hay for landing on. Lily was not quite brave enough for that one.

We played and ate and hung out for about 2 hours, then headed home. Lily was on the brink of asleep when we pulled into the driveway. All in all, a very fun and totally free afternoon celebrating my absolute favorite time of year!

Cabin Fever - Being Sick Sucks!

It's day 3 that we've been stuck in the house due to Lily's illness. We are both bored. Yesterday I managed to escape twice; once to get coffee for Josh and I and then later in the evening I went to Wal-Mart and bought Halloween decorations. It felt weird being out without Lily, though.

I can't spend another day watching preschool TV, so I need to do SOMETHING! Maybe before it rains we should go collect and press some of the gorgeous fall leaves in our yard. Of course, as I write this, "Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie" is starting on the TV. Crap, I may be stuck now! Maybe I can convince her to let me record it for later...

Anyway, we will have an adventure today, even if it's an inside, baking, making blanket forts and doing art adventure! I am determined! I will even get dressed!

H1N1?

Last night, Fever at 102.8...






Yesterday, Lily had a typical morning. Woke up at 7:30, watched movies until she decided to climb into bed with me and watch cartoons in my room until I chose to get up about 9ish (Josh left for work about 7:15). We were supposed to meet a new friend at the park at 10, so we hurriedly got dressed and grabbed some snacks to take, and got there about 10:15. Our new friend was nowhere in sight (I don't know if they left when we were late, or just never showed), but luckily the park is only 2 minutes from home.

Lily was not interested in playing so we decided to go home, with a quick stop at Starbucks first. I got my usual 1/2 decaf Caramel Machiato, and we got a 3 pack of mini scones to share. Once we got home, Lily sat on the couch to eat her scone and watch some TV. Withing 5 minutes, she was saying her tummy hurt from eating too many goldfish crackers at the park. I just figured she was over hungry from my neglectful morning of sleeping in. So, I suggested a cheese sandwich (she loves to make her own).

She made her sandwich in all the messy, too much margarine-ness that a 3 year-old does, and started eating. One bite in, and she started to gag. This has been her default reaction to something she doesn't like since she was an infant. Because of this, mashed potatoes never touch her plate. Anyway, she started to vomit, so I got her down from her seat and she ran for the bathroom.

About this time, Josh (who had gotten off work early) walked by the bathroom and discovered that she had not made it to the toilet, and the floor was covered in puke. Yay! He cleaned it up and our weekend plans for the pumpkin patch were off.

By the time she fell asleep on me last night, her fever had gotten to 102.8. Josh was long-boarding with my brother and brought home some Motrin with him. We woke her up, gave her some and carted her off to bed for the night. She woke up twice with what I can only imagine were fever nightmares (my worst fear when I'm sick). She woke up this morning with a 103.2 temperature and was never really "awake".

I went out for a coffee run about 11 this morning and forgot my debit card at the house. Josh called me, and in the background I heard Lily crying (a sure fire sign she was about to vomit). Coming home to get the debit card, I walked in to her naked, crying in the hallway, and him cleaning up, once again. We got her dressed and I continued on my coffee mission.

She spent the remainder of the morning and early afternoon laying on the couch, sometimes sleeping, drinking pedialite and watching Nick Jr. She had another dose of Motrin about 2:30, and then around 4 she started calling for me.

She sounded normal, not whiny and sick like she had. She wanted food. I gave her bread. She asked for a second piece, so as she ate it, I suggested buttered noodles to which she agreed. I could not make the noodles fast enough! Every couple minutes she'd ask, "Are my noodles ready?".

She just finished eating them, and though she only ate about 1/2 of what I gave her, it's progress! She's now sitting on the floor, playing (sort of) and watching Blue's Clues. If this was our adventure with H1N1, I'm glad it appears to be over, and I'm glad it's not the sickest she's been. As for the Pumpkin Patch, there's always next weekend!


Today, fever @ 99.2!

Who am I?

I am a wife, a mom, a Girl Scout volunteer, and a preschool teacher who hates going to school (no wonder I have not finished my degree after 3 tries)! Having a 3 year old daughter has been so much more than I ever could have imagined. I always said I wanted to skip the 2's and go right to the 3's. As a nanny and preschool teacher, it's always been my favorite age. 3 year-olds are so eager to learn and think that their teachers are the best things EVER! They get confused when they see you outside of the classroom, and they give hugs and words of love and cute crayon scribbles at a whim. I WANTED a 3 year old.

Now, with that in mind, there are struggles with having a 3 year old of my own. This one doesn't go home at the end of the day. This one wakes ME up in the middle of the night with nightmares and lost lovies. This one throws tantrums in the store that have me dragging her out kicking and screaming (with my cheeks flushed in embarrassment). And this one repeats the choice words I forget to sensor in front of her at the most inopportune of times.

But this one loves me more than anyone else. This one inspires me to be the best mom, wife and woman I can be. This one needs me to comfort her when she's sick, and to see her every drawing of me. This one makes me cry tears of utter joy just at the thought of her. This 3 year old is named Lily, and she is mine.

Being the mom of a 3 year old has brought out a certain amount of creativity in me. I've always been creative, but having a precocious 3 year old makes things interesting. We can't be home all day, ever. One, or both, of us will get antsy and crabby. Luckily, I like adventures, and I like discovering new things and new places and re-visiting places from my childhood and experiencing them for the first time again in her eyes. That's what this is all about, sharing some of our favorite adventures so that you too, can revel in the pure joy of being 3 in what I consider the coolest place to grow up (and I should know, I was born here too!).