What's Up?

Way too much to fit into a post.

See this?

I can not even come close to telling you just how excited this makes me.

This, my friends means that there IS a light at the end of the long dark tunnel.

It almost makes me cry thinking about it because our basement has been under construction basically since we moved in 9 years ago. The people who occupied the house before us started the project and left quite a mess for us to clean up. I wouldn't mind an unfinished basement but a half finished mess is like a thorn in your side.

So... almost all nights this month have been filled with scurrying around the basement hanging drywall and getting it ready for the mud/tape guy to come make the walls legit.

That's not all. We had a great visit from Shane's parents for Thanksgiving, I fainted for the first time in YEARS (So embarrassing!). Shane and I escaped the insanity for a night in Salt Lake and more.

Too much to tell, too little time to do it.

Things aren't looking any better as I think I may be painting my little tush off as soon as the walls are ready so that we can put up baseboards before my parents head south for the winter. Anyone have a sliding miter saw they want to lend us? Yes.... it has to slide or it doesn't work. :(

At some point I will try to legitimately catch up.

I Told You So

What did I tell you exactly? That blogging was taking a back seat in my life. Which is unfortunate. I love to blog but lately I feel as thought it's just going in circles, with nothing new to really talk about. And all the pictures are the same as the last years school/Halloween/summer vacation/etc. and the year before that.

I keep getting little ideas of interesting things to write about but don't have the time or the brain power to sit down and really organize my thoughts. Not to mention I have edited ONE home movie this entire year. In case you forgot (or didn't care) one of my goals for the year was to catch up on the home movies... One down... about 16 to go.  If they didn't take so blasted long! I'm still determined but we've been spending a lot of time in the basement these days/nights (the entire family room has walls... REAL WALLS!!!:):))

But before I forget...

No, Ezra is not potty trained. I have all the faith in the world that Ezra could do it. There is just one major hurdle in the way. He WILL NOT sit on (or aim for) the potty.  He'll do it with clothes on, but he stood there pouting and peed on the floor the day that diapers ran out.... then on the kitchen floor. At which point, I dragged him to the store and bought some diapers. I'm all for cleaning up accidents if it is a means to an end, but it's hard to finish what he won't even start. Some day, but for now I can't put us through the frustration. Even though I am pretty frustrated already. Roman really spoiled me with his willing and trusting attitude. Marisa is stubborn but likes to please. Ezra is stubborn and doesn't care what you think. I don't think there is a bribe big enough in this entire world that would make him do it. I have thought about giving the other two treats every time they go potty, or every time I have to change his diaper but that might only accomplish some over sugared kids.

And what was so bad about the timing? The diapers ran out on Wednesday and we went to Idaho over the weekend. Had he attempted to potty train. It could have been quite a fun trip. Fun in the not so fun sense. Instead it was just fun, diapers and all.

I took a total of two pictures because it was not a relaxing trip so much. It was a, see how much we can cram into 14 hours, kind of trip. But we did accomplish a lot. Saturday we witnessed my sisters daughter Peyton get baptized, played with cousins, visited Big Juds: Picture 1: not just big, but delicious.

Played with cousins some more. Marisa loves that Adison plays games with her. Picture 2 (of course Ezra refused to be in the picture):

dinner, swimming and bedtime. Then it was back home. The kids were really good the whole trip and everything went super smooth and super cold. Why does Idaho have to be so blasted windy?

This weekend we took advantage of a pretty good deal and Marisa and I went to Disney on Ice again. A prime example of "more of the same."

I love our little dates together but it's hard for her to enjoy it as much as if it were earlier in the day. As soon as the show started she was rubbing her eyes and by the end she was dancing instead of watching because holding still=sleep. Which is what she did the second I pulled out of the parking lot. Still fun, but if we do it again it's definitely going to have to be a strictly "princesses on ice" because they spent way too long on Alice in Wonderland... a movie she's never even seen;  Lion King, a movie my kids hate for some reason; and Peter Pan. But maybe we need to break up the monotony and try something different.

I thought the Pumba was HILARIOUS!

I'm starting to get out of my sewing funk and I'm thinking of getting creative. Maybe even make some things for Marisa. Maybe.... at least I would have a few new things to blog about right?

Halloweeners

There was very little to hate about this Halloween. The weather was as warm as it ever gets this late in October. (Don't worry, it has already made up for that by snowing! :*( )

My kids picked costumes that were easy. Well, Roman picked a skeleton which I assumed I would make at first, but the more I thought about it.... the more spending money at the costume store seemed like SO. MUCH. FUN! ;) He loved having his face painted though and asked if we could do it again... just for fun.

Marisa wanted to be Rapunzel and since I bought stuff to make her a Rapunzel dress way back in April (just haven't gotten around to it) I just had to get out of my sewing rut and go.

Ezra, I may have mentioned, didn't want to be anything, but you don't get candy for being grouchy so he put on his little Thomas costume from last year. The one that was kind of small for him then... Whatever, less work for me.

I wanted to dress up but could not find the perfect idea so I skipped it.

Our pumpkins, carved by yours truly. 

The school had a Halloween parade that we went to watch. I'm so glad it was warm. We have suffered through some freezing cold parades in the past. Of course, Roman's class stopped up ahead and then just flew by when they got close to me. Roman saved up a line leader pass that he had earned in class for today so that he could lead the parade.

We hit trunk-or-treat for a few minutes before taking to the streets. I don't like trunk-or-treat. Is that weird? I think it's nice for people who live in a sparsely populated area but it so anti climatic. You don't even get to ring door bells, say trick-or-treat or race from house to house. I've never been a fan.

So, we came home after a few minutes at the church and spent the rest of the night trick-or-treating our neighborhood. The kids had a blast! Ezra made it the whole way this year (although I did carry him a little because he was having a hard time keeping up).

As soon as we got home the kids got to work eating as fast as they could before someone pulled the plug. Oh.. candy..... I almost would rather just let them eat to their hearts' content for a few days and be done with it. I hate being asked every other minute for weeks for another piece. Roman would do a good job saving... maybe too good. He might still have it in April. Ezra and Marisa have NO self control.

I hope you had a fun Halloween too!