Wordless Wednesday - Then and Now

2000

2008

Our own Mini Mom Club

Last Saturday I got to spend some time with 3 great women, and their kids. In total, there were 11 of us, well 12 if you count the one on the way.

The first was my friend Malia. I have known her since I was 17. We used to bowl together, long ago. She is one of the few people that understands my crazy bowling stories, since she is part of most of them. She is also the one that I went to see New Kids with.

She is wonderful. She has two boys, Kai is 6 (just a bit younger than Boo) and Drew is 8 months. Both boys are so amazing. I got to snuggle Drew off to dream land, and man it was great. Such a great snuggler.

Next is Theresa. I met her the night of the New Kids concert, she rode down with us. She is hilarious! She has three girls, and I can't keep the names straight. I know her oldest and Boo had a great time putting on shows for us at the playground.

Lastly is Angie. I didn't meet her before that day, but she was great. Her daughter was the youngest, almost two, but ran with the older kids like she was their age. She was great. Always giving her mom a heart attack climbing up the fun ladders they have at the playground.

Each of the kids brought something different to the group, as did the moms. We each have our personalities, and we meshed so well. the laughter and giggles that followed the day were wonderful to hear, from all of us.

We are even planning a Saturday next month already. I can't wait to have some grown-up time while the kids get to play. None of the kids wanted to go home, and the parents felt the same way!

Super Girl and the Champion!

The kids had the best time Trick or Treating last night. But first, we had to learn what Hunter's costume was. Due to the lack of turning in homework, he had no say this year. Boo and Gamma picked it out for him. He was nervous.

Boo was Super Girl. She wanted to be this or Bat Girl, but the Bat Girl costume was a bit to short for my tastes. So, Super Girl it was.

Here she is at her school party. I spent the afternoon with about 60 6 year olds. It was a great time, and we made so many crafts.

Hubby left early to get Hunter, so that they were home before Big Sis stopped by to see them. We wanted to give him time to see his costume, and check all the online grades he had made up the past two weeks. When he saw his costume, he loved it. I figured he would, but it is one that you either love or hate.

We picked this one, because Hunter is the Champion. And, he had gotten so excited seeing Michael Phelps on the Corn Flakes box.

Isn't that GREAT! I loved it. He rocked that out last night. So many people gave him compliments on it, and he even told him that Gamma and his sister picked it out. He was a hit!

Big Sis stopped by with goodie bags for the kids, and to see the costumes. We had kept Hunter's a secret from her since we got it, and that was pure torture. We even told her hubby, but not her! She was not impressed about being kept out of the loop. She loved it, and laughed when she saw Hunter. He struck a pose. And can I say, that even a day later, my kids are strangely entertained by the tiny Whoopee Cushions she brought them...great.

We left around 5:30 to go to our friends house, have dinner and then hit the streets with 5 kids. It is MJ's first Halloween, and she had a blast in the stroller, the cute little Chicky that she was. Mr. Z and Mr. W looked great at SWAT team members and Darth Vader. Mr. W and Boo held hands a majority of the night, so we kept laughing and saying "When Good and Evil Unite". lol

The kids had a blast, and Hubby even got into it wearing his Wild Jersey and sporting a hockey stick all night. He walked the kids to the doors to make sure they said thank you each time. We have stiff penalties for forgetting that key piece. Thankfully, it only took Boo having to miss one a house for everyone to keep it straight.

After we left them, we stopped by Gamma's so that she could see the kids in their costumes, and she always gives them a Halloween treat bag. This time, there were books involved. Both my kids were excited.

We don't normally let the kids have any of their candy when we get home. Normally they are so wiped out they don't even care. So, it was this afternoon before we even went through the loot.

The kids were outside or at a friends house, because otherwise they will want to eat it all right then and there. This just causes less stress.

Actually, this way Hubby can get his own stash for work, and the kids don't say a word.

When Hunter is with us for Halloween we divide the candy into three piles. One for our house, a bag for Hunter's house and a bag for Hubby at work. Since Hunter won't have candy at his mom's otherwise, this is just easy for him. It also can cause less problems for him and his other sisters later on.

The night was a huge success. The kids had a blast, and the grown ups did too! Hope you all had a great night!

Head on over to 5 Minutes for Mom for more Halloween pictures!

A recap

It is flingin-flangin cold out today, with winds hitting close to 40 mph. Not a good time when your office seems to have a wind tunnel effect.


So, while I tame my now crazy hair here are some fun facts of the weekend...

-In the past 6 days I have seen my sister 4 times! I think I might have DT's today from Big Sis Withdrawl.
-Boo finally has something moving...and you will have to figure out what.
-With all Hunter's homework issues, he didn't get to pick out his costume...Boo did. She was nice, and it is HILARIOUS! I can't wait for Friday.
-There is something to be said for having lunch with 3 women and their children. The best conversations in a long time were had. I can't wait for next time!!
-Boo got two spares and a strike at bowling this weekend. She was through the roof!
-I spent 7 hours scrap booking with Big Sis on Friday. I will share the finished products later.
-I still haven't done my NKOTB post...I promise it is coming! The weekend got away from me.



More later tonight!

pjmomof3boys, of Boogers and Burps tagged me for a great Meme...I was supposed to go to my photos and post the 6th photo in the 6th folder. I had to pull from the 7th, since the 6th is just pictures of my old van...they need to be deleted at least.

So, here is Boo from two weeks ago, with CD, my Dad's dog. She had this one taken, so she would "always remember what CD looks like as he gets older". LOL.

I don't have anyone to tag, since she tagged the people I would have. So, take a shot. It was fun to go through the folders after this, and remember so many things that have happened.

Last weekend, well two weekends ago, we were at my Dad's helping with some wood chipping. I gave Boo my camera, and let her go nuts. She wanted me to share her "wonderful buggy shots" that she got.

Her caterpillar (don't call it an inch worm on accident, she gets mad...)

Her Box Elder Bug. I hate these things with a passion!!!

And another caterpillar.

Boo was very proud of herself. She loves bugs, and thought finding

these ones was great. She got some other great shots, but those are for

another day.

Checking in

This past weekend was a great one. We had dinner with my brother in law on Friday, friends in town Saturday and Sunday, and Vikings FINALLY won a game today. Fun all around.

Boo and Hunter have started bowling again, and as we get into the swing of the season, I have to get used to actually being fully functional by 10 am on Saturday again. I dread when Hunter moves up a level, and bowls at 8:30. Ugh!

I got some baby time on Saturday night, watching my friends 7 month old so they could attend a birthday party. While he has a cold, and was UBER crabby it was a good time. He is such a cute baby, and even crabby I loved the one on one time.

The weekend was lovely. Great weather, great friends and wonderful eats.

Two times lucky!

At almost any carnival, there are games to play. Some that give away pictures, candy and stuffed animals. There are throwing balls at bottles, darts and balloons and simply picking a rubber duck.

And then there is the game that I never win. I have been trying this game since I was a little kid. Boo wanted to play and won...not once but twice!


When we arrived at the carnival on Saturday Boo wanted to do the rides first, of course. It was perfect because there weren't a lot of people by the rides. After her couple rides, we made our way to the few games they had this year. Boo didn't want to throw a ball at some bottles, she didn't want to pick a duck...she wanted to win a goldfish. Man....

So, after two throws out of her 7...she hit pay dirt! She won her first fish. She promptly named her Kim...Kim Possible that is. She was giddy. She insisted that we call her Grandmas and Grandpas to let them know she got her first pet.

After the fireworks, we told her we could try to win one more on our way out. She got a little excited.

This time, it took 4 shots before she got another, but she did it. She named this one Ron...Ron Stoppable. Are you seeing the same pattern here.

Should I mention that Hubby and I both took a cup full of balls, and didn't get a single thing. Still can't win!


So, we now have two fish, that have made it through two nights. We got the fish tank, and food. Boo was so excited to go to the pet store that she drove me NUTS asking what time it was. But, now she sits and watches Ron and Kim, and has very important conversations.

The Carnival came to town!

Friday night was the local festival in our city. It is always a great time, Boo and Hunter look forward to it each year. Hunter wasn't here this year, but he will benefit from his sister's talent, that is for sure (more on that in another post).

This year, we went on Friday night, because it was supposed to rain Saturday. Perfect, because another local band was playing and we wanted the chance to see them.

The festival has a carnival, fireworks and not one, but two parades. While we will miss one parade, we might get to the other.

The carnival is small scale, only a couple rides and three or four games. Politics was huge this year, as our city is in the middle of a financial crunch of their own doing. City Council and Mayoral election booths were set up along the way.

Boo loves the rides. This year, she is to big for the toddler rides, and not quite big enough for the big kids rides without her brother (I don't do rides...ever. The Ferris Wheel makes me sick). So, she had the giant slide, flying alien ships and the swings.

She loved the swings, had a smile the entire time. She even struck up conversation with the girl next to her. I love watching her when she gets to do things like this, she is so happy.

And like so many other times, I ran into someone I haven't seen in 5 years. She walked right up, and I squealed like a little kid. It was great to see her, and I can't wait to catch up on what has been going on.

This year, they had a Mechanical Bull, and of course Hubby and a couple of his friends had to try it out. They all fit in perfectly with their lids (hats) and wranglers. The band made it even better.

Hubby did a great job, lasting pretty long. They even had a mode for kids, but Boo was having nothing of it. Not so much.

After some fair snacks, we settled in to listen to the music. Boo noticed some kids walking around with crazy hair, so asked if we could take a look. I didn't want to get her hair painted, but I let her get face painted and a hair accessory that lights up. It is pretty cool. She was happy, and it got better form there.

We found a booth that had light up necklaces that don't die after one night. They are battery operated, and have about 5 settings. Hers had a dolphin attached to it. She loves it! She begged to wear it to bed, but I could only imagine the light coming from her room if we let that one happen.


Note her cute Product (Red) hoody! A great thrift store find from our shopping spree.

The firework show was wonderful. We always sit right below the hill, so we lay back and watch the show. They always seem to top the last year, and this year was no exception. Boo had the best sound effects (Ooooo, Ahhhh, Wow). It is fun to listen to her.

City carnivals are always the best. You run into people you hardly see, spend a night with friends and good times.

And there is more to the story...for another day.

Little bit of this, Little bit of that

This short week has flown by. Between the breathe catching back pain, the cooler temperatures and school starting, nothing is getting done. We are officially on school mode. We don't go out during the week except for dance class starting next week.

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At Boo's school program last spring I ran into an old friend from growing up (It's a small world is playing in my head). I found out today, he lives in the same townhome complex as me, and our kids ride the same bus.

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I am seriously in love with my new truck.

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We have been working to eat out of our pantry this week, to stretch the budget more and more. We only went to the store once this week, and that alone is a miracle.

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Having the RNC in town has been cool to watch, especially at my building. We are one of the hubs for the law enforcement. I sat in the lobby this morning and watched around 40 different officers come into our building. The down side, they have taken over almost half our parking lot. It is a long enough walk as is.

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Boo and Hunter are both loving school so far. That is huge for both of them. Listening to their after school stories is a laugh a minute. That is, if you don't count the pulling teeth I have to do to get Hunter to tell me ANYTHING! Such a boy.

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Fall is coming to MN. The leaves are starting to change, and the cool temps are perfect for sleeping. I have slept with the windows open everynight this week, and had the best sleep because of it.

The weekend will be busy, but next week will calm down a bit (I hope).