Ghools and Gobblins

Hope y'all had a safe and wonderful Halloween.  We had a great time! I will admit, I was a little stressed at first.  All the peeps.  Ozzie eating every piece of candy off the street.  Max throwing tantrums and flinging his body on the ground. 

  Insert chanting..."Serenity now"!!!!!!!

But all in all it was some good ol' fashion fun.  I can't blame Max for being overwhelmed.  I mean there were monsters, super heroes and fairy's EVERY WHERE.  A little scary for a wee lil one.  

After we walked Miracle Mile (the street we live next to) for some trick or treatin' we headed home to put on our own little show.  The hubby was super excited for this part.  It was super cute watching him.  He set up the fog machine, pumped scary music through out the house and put up the strobe light.  

We went through three bags of candy!  (which required me making a last minute run to the store) Max had fun too.  He had his first lollipop! And trying to take it away was NO FUN! I guess I'd be pissed too if someone was trying to steal my candy.

And to end our festive evening was a 7 foot tall adult who asked for our glow stick.  

Um......sure.  I guess.

Oh Stockton, you never disappoint

Happy Halloween!

Boo

mama devil 

busy busy

trick or treat

Oz was a wide receiver

ohhhh, candy 

ra ra ra ra

Sneaky peak

Guess whose excited for tomorrow?

This mama!

Who doesn't love Nutella?

I am on a roll! I baking roll.  Pinterest has been inspiring the crap out of me. You?  

Not so sure how its helping my waist line though.....

These cupcakes were pretty yummy. 

 I cut the recipe in half so I didn't have 12 cupcakes staring at me. 

Also, you don't need a mixer.  Just use a fork.  

Easy Peasy!

source: pinterest

16 months....

oh vey......time. It stops for no one.

My little monster is now 16 months.  Almost a year and a half, which means he almost two.  Which then means he is almost a teenager! AHHHHHHHH

He says Mama, Dada, Obbie (which is for Ozzie our puggle, and apparently anything else that is furry),  choo choo and car.  He is also saying bye bye and is waving.  So freakin' cute!!

He is starting to dance now and I only hope there is more to come.  Right now he just spins in a circle till he falls down.

He still gives kisses but is a little more selective in his frequency.  He also gives out hi-fives.  I love that!

I look this picture the other day as I went to check in on him after I put him down for his nap.  He is surrounded by his favorite things.  His Brown Bear book, which he makes us read every night, usually more than once.  His limo hot wheel car that I picked up at an antique store.  I thought it was fitting since the hubby aways says a stretched 80's limo will be Max's first car, and Q his favorite furry friend.  It is the first stuffed animal he has taken too.

I love moments like this.....

Finger painting

Finger paints scares me.  

I know we should encourage our children to be creative and explore their senses, but oh the mess.

I decided to brave it. For the good of the child.  And I have to say.  It wasn't as scary as I had anticipated.  I taped the paper to the table (thankfully its glass) and put some blobs of paint down.  It was funny at first, watching him.  He looked up at me all confused.  As if he was thinking......you sure about this mama?  You know I am gonna make a mess....

I rolled up my sleeves and rubbed paint all over the paper. I gave him an encouraging look and......nothing.  So I put his own hand in the paint.  He looked at me again, made a defeated sound and   wiped his paint covered hand on my sweater.

I rolled my eyes.  Of course.  Here I was worried about the table, his clothes, etc....

I showed him again, and brought out a pumpkin to paint and he was off.

I think he had some fun.  He painted for about 30 minutes.  Just enough time for me to take some pictures and get snack started.

Success I think.  

a little more pumpkin...just incase you can't get enough

This week we headed back to Phillips Farm.  Its just such a cute place for the little ones to run around.  And it's free...bonus!

Had to take more pictures of course.  But this time I used a different lens.  Can you tell a difference?  I am trying to get more comfortable with my (f)1.8 50mm. This seemed like a safe venue for experimenting.

Also....

I made some pumpkin bread courtesy of Pinterest.  It was indeed yummy.  I wish it was a tad bit healthier....but what the hell, its damn tasty.

source: pinterest

I'm Stuck....

Max's sleepy time behavior has been super weird lately.  I can't remember if it started in Seattle or if this is a California deal.  So here is the situation.  I put Max down for his nap around 1-ish.  He usually goes down pretty well.  Yes, some screaming does occur, but eventually he gives in.  But about an hour into his nap he wakes.  when I go into the room and grab him I notice he isn't really fully awake.  I've tried to put him back in his crib, but no dice.  So I laid down with him and he instantly fell back asleep but on my chest.  For about another hour.  Now this has become a habit/ritual/expecation.  Which could be worse right.  I usually nap too (awesome), but sometimes, just sometimes I just lay there, stuck!!!

I don't get too irritated though.  I know this too shall pass and he wont need me like this again. So I drink it up.  Give him tons of kisses and rub his back.  He's a perfect angel when he's sleeping.

Laughing/crying out Loud....

This picture is too funny. I suppose because its so true. I knew pregnancy and nursing were going to change my body.  And I think I prepared for it the best way I knew how.  But I guess you can't really prepare for everything.

I miss my boobs.

Not that I had a lot to work with in the first place.  But they were there, and they were mine.  Now....well now they are sad.  Seriously, I think I hear them crying some times.

Enhancement has crossed my mind.  Even though I know its silly.  Plus I know I would never hear the end of it from my friends.  "Whatcha go and do that for?" "You are not your breasts!"  I know all this, but it doesn't change the fact that I am mourning their loss.

Am I the only one experiencing this? Ain't vanity a bitch......

~mama

What's cookin?

source: ivillage

Made this little number tonight.  Tasty.  I altered the recipe a little.  Not cause I am creative.  More that I don't like following directions. I added garlic, salt, oregano, and basil to the mix.  Next time I think I will also add spinach and fresh garlic.

Do give this a try.  You won't regret it!

Since I was feeling a lil M. Steward, I thought I would also use the rest of my pumpkin from the cupcakes I made the other day.

These were also tasters.  The only thing I am not loving about pumpkin is that is super soft and wet in the middle.  Makes me paranoid that I didn't cook it all the way through.  But we are all alive and not running to the bathroom, so I guess they are ok. Fingers crossed :)

recipe from The Shabby Nest

a return to a favorite...

Every time we come back to California, we always make a trip back to Santa Cruz.  This is such a funky little beach town, with such a mix of people.  Its only about two hours from our hood so its the perfect getaway.  Max wasn't feeling it as much today but he was very intrigued by the bumber CARS, of course.  I can't wait till hes a little older and I can be that annoying parent that takes way to many photos of him on the slow moving plane.

OLDIES

11mo.

super baby! (think approx 4mo.)

mine mine mine

If you have a cell phone and have a toddler, chances are you are currently negotiating ownership with that particular toddler.

Its amazing watching these little creatures handle such sophisticated equipment.

Of course I had to capture it on film.

enjoy.

~mama

Happiest place on earth

I pulled up to this place and I swear I did a little jig.  I was so excited! Like pee my pants excited.  Its like I died and went to craft heaven.  Now lets be clear.  I am purely a DIY-wanna-be-er.  In my day dreams I concoct all sorts of beauties that I would post on my blog.  Dare I even say have tutorials.  But that is so FAR from reality.  As for now, I dream.

Dream big or go home, right!

The possibilities....oh how they are endless in this place.  So many things I could attempt.  Styrofoamy thingamabobs.  I could make stuff with that. Glue, mod-podge, glitter, oh my!

It is definitely my happy place.

Till we meet again Hobby Lobby! 

Tumbling toddlers

Today after Baby Boot Camp a couple of us went the next town over to play.  Impact Sports is a gymnastics studio that has open play a few times a week.  On Mondays it is for 3 year olds and under.  Perfect for Max.  We went before when he was younger but he didn't quite get it.  He sort of just hung close and waddled around me.  This time he was more curious.  It was cute watching him get a kick out of the balance beam.  He kept looking at me with this look of success. 

"look at me ma, no hands".

even found a lovey to snuggle

get in my belly

the pit