Ooops, I Never Posted Pics of Zach's Birthday Party, poor 3rd child...

Halloween TV Specials

Halloween Specials are on this week!!

I still love watching them and I love watching them when they come on TV, with the cool toy commercials. When I was a kid, I used to grab the TV guide that came in the Sunday newspaper when we got close to the major holidays and look at each night to see when a "special" was going to be on--I know, big dork. I refuse to buy them on DVD now though--then they wouldn't be "Specials" anymore. I used to look forward to the different holiday specials coming on; it was so cool to be able to stay up late those nights and sit with my little brothers and sisters and mom and dad and watch them--I can't believe the same classic Charlie Browns are still being shown. I'm glad they are; I get to relieve all the excitement over with my kids each year. I'm super sentimental, what can I say.

Anyway, here are the times and channels:

"It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" is on Tuesday and Wednesday at 8:00 on ABC

Then there's a new one this year:

"Monsters vs. Aliens: Mutant Pumpkins from Outer Space" is on Wednesday at 8:00 on NBC

Etsy Love

I love browsing around on Etsy. There are so many talented people out there. Are these little acorns not the greatest? They are in a really cool shop called Humble Bea's, and what's cooler still is that her husband, son and mom also have Etsy shops. You have to go check out her son's shop--it is the most adorable thing I have ever seen.

Beautiful Blog for Moms

You have to check out this Blog: More than a Mom by Caryn

Not just because she's my friend, but because she's an amazing writer. She'll make you laugh, cry and help you remember you are not alone in this crazy journey of motherhood.

First Grade is a cool place to be

It's a cool year for Johnathan; he gets to start all kinds of fun things. He has started going to a group at our church with Scott called Boys in Christ(BIC), which is a Father/Sun time every other Friday night where they do a fun activity, snack and Bible Study. Their first meeting they made marshmallow shooters and had a battle; this week they're meeting at a friend's house to watch the Phillies game; it is just so cute to see Scott and JJ go off together, excited to spend the evening together; so good for both of them.

He is also starting Cub Scouts and let me tell you he is one excited little boy; he loves flipping through his book seeing what he needs to do and all of the exciting things they're going to be working on. We've been to one meeting so far and I was so impressed. I didn't know very much about the organization before going in, but love the den we are in and can't wait for him to have fun; we have amazing leaders and what is so great is that it is all very family friendly--everyone can go to everything, at least one parent has to be at every function, but everyone can go if they want.

here's what we did our first meeting:

Our leader sat down with the boys and went over the Cub Scout Promise line by line and what each means and making sure they understood and took it seriously:

Cub Scout Promise

I, (say your name), promise to DO MY BEST

To do my DUTY to GOD

And my Country

To HELP other people,

and To OBEY the LAW of the Pack

We have another meeting tonight; we're making family scrapbooks and on Saturday we'll be touring a local battlefield; lots of fun and lots of service projects lined up, just can't wait!!

check out their website: Boy Scouts of America to find a local Council

How Cool Are these bubbles?

Has anyone else start thinking about Christmas gifts yet? I start early to spread it out. I saw these and thought they were the coolest things--great stocking stuffer or birthday gift for a preschooler. Colored Bubbles!! non-staining, non-toxic. Check them out at Zubbles, 2 bottles for $14.95.

Finishing off the birthday season with a Princess Bash

Audrey's 5th Birthday! 5 years went by so fast! She has really grown a lot over this past year. We're so proud of her. She jumped right back into school and ballet without any worries; is excited that she moved up to a new Sunday School and is in a classroom downstairs at church--because that's where all of the big kids are; decided soccer wasn't for her this year, but is asking to do ice skating. We might go try it out one day and see what she thinks. She has a very caring heart--I love to hear her pray because she really thinks about it and prays for people that she knows are sick; loves little babies and animals and of course loves all things sparkly and pink!

Aunt Em's Chocolate covered pretzels


her first American Girl Dolls. She's so cute with them, getting them dressed for bed every night and tucking them in.

Zach wanted to claim this kitty for his own

Party, Party, Party!!! We had our kids in August, September and October; so once August hits it's one party after another. It's fun planning them and watching each child get excited, but I must say, I'm glad Audrey's is at the end of the string of birthdays. Since Zach's party was two weeks ago I felt like we were still cleaning up from that; but it's really fun setting up all of the girly stuff and seeing Audrey get all excited. The boys don't get into the little details as much. Last week Audrey asked me if we could get out this little vase that we have with two little birds on it and put pink flowers in it for her party. Love that little girl!!!

We let the kids tell us the theme they want for their parties--this is a process that starts looong before their birthdays; they're so funny telling me throughout the year what kind of party they want to have next year. It's nice to see that they are still content with having small family parties at home; although we told them that they can have a few friends over for a party every other year; so next year will be that year for everyone; we figure that way no one feels left out. It's hard keeping things simple sometimes when there are so many cool parties out there.

This year Audrey wanted a Princess Party--mainly because she saw a cake at Shoprite that had 3 of the Disney Princesses on top and their dresses lit up; so we had to get that. She thought it was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen--the tackier the better for Audrey; she also picked out the candle that plays the "Happy Birthday" song. I had to keep myself from laughing several times when we were setting things up because it was just so funny and adorable the way she would say, "ooooh, mommy that looks sooo beautiful!"

A little note to our families: Thanks everyone for making all of the kids birthdays' so special this year; I know I don't always get to say it at the parties because I'm running around like a crazy woman, but they were all thoroughly spoiled.

Our Little Ham is 3 Years Old!!

Zach's kept us all very entertained here in his 3 years of life so far. Who knows what the Lord has in store for his future, but I have no doubt he'll be making people smile--you just can't help it around him. Happy Birthday Big Boy!

Off to see the Wizard

Next Wednesday for one day only the Wizard of Oz is being shown in select theaters around the country; it's called the Wizard of Oz 70th Anniversary Hi-Def Event. It would be cool to see it on the big screen.

Back to School

Everyone was ready and excited to go back to school this year.

Johnathan gets on the bus bright and early every day and has lots of cool stuff going on in 1st grade this year--music, art, computer & Spanish are some of the "specials" that his class will go to on different days of the week. He's so cute coming home telling us all of the new things he's learning. Yesterday he came running off of the bus and said, "mom, ask me how I am so I can tell you I'm good in Spanish".


Audrey's going to Pre-K 3 mornings a week and is excited to eat lunch there with her friends. She's a lots less anxious about things this year and is just having fun, which is so wonderful to see. She's a good and helpful little student. She made me proud on her first day when she asked a new girl who was crying if she wanted to come color and play. It's fun talking to her on the way home in the car because I get every detail of her day carefully explained to me; what the weather is like today, who was the line leader, what they made, what they had for snack, who she sat next to for snack, what book they read, what they played in the gym, and that this one girl had on pink sparkly shoes; so cute!

Zach, oh Zach, why do you want to leave me and go off to school. Luckily he isn't yet, but he would if I let him. He's my little buddy we go everywhere together. He's a very entertaining partner in errand running. He insisted that I take his picture with his backpack like the other two, but he's not going anywhere yet.

Let the busy fall begin; my official title is Chauffeur.