Introducing: The Litttle Mermaid {cast and crew}

Background: About a year ago Rylee really started getting into dress-ups and our collection started to grow. At a yard sale I found an Ariel costume for $2 and thought that was a perfect dress-up.  Ariel is Rylee's favorite "princess" {and therefore Kelsey's as well}. A few months ago the subject of Halloween came up and Rylee immediately said she wanted to be Ariel . . . . .  .and the theme started to grow.  

Here's the little ones:  Ariel and Flounder. Rylee will say "Flounder is Ariel's best friend"  and it makes my heart melt a little bit. We got a wig for Rylee but there was no way she was going to wear it all night, so we settled on hair paint.  I thought it turned out pretty good.  Our ward's trunk or treat/ chili cook off was 2 weekends ago :)

I kindof felt bad. The whole family theme was based on Rylee and I did the least for her costume {I did have to sew the sleeve back on just before we snapped pictures. . . . .that thing has been well loved :) }.  

Kelsey aka "Flounder". Yet another costume that makes more sense from the back :) Hers was the first I finished and I was really tempted to wake her up at 1am to try it on :) Good think I didn't because she hates putting on this outfit. silly girl. She must not have figured out how twirly a circle skirt can be. Though, I really think she's just mad that she's not Ariel.

It didn't take long for Rylee to convince her Dad to dress up as King Triton. It made her so happy! She would say "Daddy's going to be a mermaid!! and I'M going to be a mermaid!" and "King Triton is Ariel's Daddy, and Daddy is MY Daddy".

The wig didn't stay on all night but he made a valiant effort :)

Let's be honest for a minute: Halloween is mostly for children. And the girls will DEFINITELY be getting more use out of their costumes; but my costume is AWESOME! It pretty much made the theme. call me selfish. whatever ;)

It was so much fun to make.  After I'd finish or think of another detail I'd get so giddy.  You don't even want to know how many times I've sung "Poor Unfortunate Souls" around the house.  And the looks and smiles the girls gave me were even more encouraging. 

I mean, seriously? look at those eels: "Flatsom, Jatsom, now we've got her boys, the boss in on a ROLL!"
And the necklace "It won't cost much, just your VOICE!"
And did you notice there's suction cups on the underside of each tentacle? and they vary in sizes? Once you've get going, its hard to stop :)

"Don't underestimate the importance of. . . . .BODY LANGUAGE, HAH"

"they say a girl that gossips is a bore." . . . . . "pathetic"
"Do I help them? ..... yes I do." And in case you were wondering, yes I was in character most of the night.  And got a few requests, and several people to sing along with me. "life's full of tough choices, itn't it?"
-Funny story: the night I finished putting the 'skirt' together and the character started to form, mind you Michael was out of town and the girls were in bed so I'm working alone all giddy wanting to show someone and again its the middle of the night so I can't hardly send picture messages to even those who would appreciate it and Rylee happened to need to use the restroom (at 1 am).  I help her sleepy body to the bathroom and as she's sitting on the toilet (eyes strained from even just the hall light) and I say "wanna see what I've been working on?"  And pull on the tentacles. haha.  She looks up squinting and grins! "those are Ursula legs!"  After a little pause she says "Mom, I think you need a different shirt"  apparently my bright yellow pajama shirt wouldn't cut it for an octopus.

And finally, the whole crew together:

I even got the car in on some ocean attire :)

Halloween is so much fun! Good thing we get a lot of opportunities to dress up this week too.

I've been wearing my witch shoes and spider web or witch stockings to church all month and the nursery (and young women) have loved it :) As we were getting ready for the party Michael asked me "what are you going to do when Halloween is over?" "cry." :)

Date Week

You know how most couples have date night's? Well, we kindof hit the jackpot last week and pretty much got a date week.

We couldn't resist buying a groupon for Bon Jovi.  We saw him a couple years ago and had a blast so we thought we'd go again.  Did I mention he's Michael's favorite?

Lucky for us they upgraded our seats when we got to the stadium = awesome!

It really was a lot of fun.  He's a great performer and dances all over the stage. The best part is, he kind of laughs at himself while he does it. Lots of lunges, jazz hands, and shaking hips.  Great great night.

Then, the next night we headed to a continuing education cooking class. Michael signed us up as kindof a surprise. It was a kind of different, but fun. We made Saltimboca, and Italian dish. It was tasty.

Then Friday Michael took Rylee out on a 'date'. They saw the play "Willy Wonka". Rylee was really excited for the evening and kept asking when Dad would be home. Though, the play was a little over her head. They still had a fun night.

I took advantage of a little one-on-one time with Kelsey and the fact that the bike trailor would be 30lbs lighter and hit the street :) And then I pushed her on the swing without making her stop to give her sister a turn. Quality bonding time all around.

Friday Night Lights

Its Texas. This state wouldn't function without football.
That being said, we try to hit up a HS game or two when we can. :) We took the girls a couple weekends ago. Not sure why I was surprised but it was PACKED! The schools in this district share 2 stadiums, which is kinda different, but they're pretty nice and BIG.
It was a shut-out so we didn't keep our cheerleaders out to watch the end of the game, but we had fun.

Go Bears!

Dallas

Michael had work to do in Dallas a while back so the girls and I decided to meet him up there for a few days. It didn't work for us to all go up together, but we decided to still go. This drive however was NOT PLEASANT. I mentioned several times how dumb it was that I voluntarily got in the car AGAIN for a road trip after we basically lived in the car for a month. Dallas is a 5+ hr drive for us.
Maybe if I'd have planned the departure time a little better it may not have been so bad, I had to pack the car and the kids by myself (again), I forgot all sorts of things, the girls didn't take good naps and were crabby, then they followed my lead and were even more crabby. It was pouring rain, and then I smelled poop. . . . and that smell became even stronger. and through the mirrors I saw Kelsey's hands up in the air with a "huh?" type expression. I asked Rylee "Does Kelsey have poop in her hands?" "um . . . . yes Mom. Mom!! Mom!! Kelsey has poop on her hands!" great. just what I needed on a solo road trip where I already had zero patience. awesome. I pulled over to the nearest gas station and unloaded. The worst part was I was by myself with two small children one of which is covered in her own feces, while I desperately tried to keep it off of me and keeping the older non-tethered one from being fun over by a truck.
And to top it off, there wasn't a changing table in the restroom.
I wanted to turn the car around. And threatened to several times. But I was actually closer to the hotel than our home. and at home I would have to unload the car by myself.
We finally made it and went to bed. Hoping the weekend would be worth it.
and it was.
Amazing what a good nights sleep can do for you :) This ended up being a most relaxing trip!! it was wonderful. We could do whatever we wanted. Dad joined us when he could.

Agenda #1 was a local splash pad/park. It was great. It boggles my mind that San Antonio doesn't have more (any?) of these. Michael picked up lunch and our sister-in-law and nephew/cousin met us to play.

The hotel we stayed at was close to the outlet mall so we did a little shopping after dinner on night. We let the girls ride a little car. Seriously, it was 25cents- I always thought those things cost more money. The girls loved it!

Then Rylee found and begged her Daddy to buy her some Ariel pajamas. He obliged and she wouldn't let the bag out of her hands :) cute little shoppers!

We did lots of swimming, and good ole family time. We stayed an extra night and then headed home. The drive home was much less dramatic :)

Mullet-ectomy

What? You all don't call your haircuts mullet-ecomies?

Kelsey -girl took that phrase to a whole new level. 

I badly wish for my girls to have long thick hair and allow me to yank and pull it into various do's.  Maybe they'll have thick hair like me when they're in their teens. . . .by that time, I'm sure they won't let me touch their hair (That may or may not be exactly what happened to me)

At any rate, as difficult as it is for me to schedule that first haircut, it was time.

Seriously, it was getting to be ridiculous. It just one more act of "Good-bye baby, Hello toddler"

 

Business in front indeed. . . . nothing needed (or could?) be cut up there :) seriously, I wish.

As sad as it is, that's much better: cute little bob.

 Now, grow baby grow!!