Cooperative As Always

Just a quick post before I am off to get my kids ready for Thomas' Halloween party at school. I am super excited that they get to wear their costumes twice this year. My mom put such hard work into them and they turned out so great I want everyone to see how cute they are.

Anyhoo, when I took pics of the kids the other day I was cracking up at this photo. It captures, almost perfectly, the response I get these days when I pull my camera out. I say smile and he responds.




He just walked in here and started laughing at the picture. Somedays being a mom is the easiest job.

This is what bordome gets you....

So to be perfectly honest I have a hundred things I could or should be doing right now, but I fresh out of motivation to do any of them. It could be because they all fall under the cleaning category, but nevertheless I am blogging in my boredom.

I have been browsing blogs and pouncing around etsy, but ended up doing a little more photo editing. I look at everyone elses photos and want mine to look as good. Anyway, here is my doggy Riley and another pic of Taylor.







My kids and my dog seem to be my only subjects for picture taking. The rest of my family balks at me when I take out my camera. Well I guess my kids do too, but I don't give them much of a choice in the matter.

Take it from me...

Do not go to the Arizona State Fair. Let me just tell you that it is a complete joke. My husband tried to tell me, but in true Melissa fashion I had to find out for myself. Imagine the fair.... now think complete opposite. Don't get me wrong it had the normal rides and people, but the feel was not the feeling of a fair. Honestly I don't think we were the only ones questioning why we were there. If it is any indication how crappy of a fair it was, Thomas wanted to leave after only an hour. When we took him to the Ostrich Festival it was so much fun we couldn't get him out of there. In my mind I thought it was going to be just as fun.

I took my camera of course, but only got a few pics worth sharing. I big intentions on having lots to share about our day at the fair. I took this one right when we got there and am sharing it only because I thought is turned out cool.




This was one of only 2 rides that Thomas went on and the highlight of the day. Really only because Tom and I laughed hysterically while Thomas drove his bumper car in circles.




And of course what fair isn't complete without a ride on the Carousel, I think this is the exact same horse he rode at the Ostrich Festival. Oh how I wish our day had turned out like that day.

Playing around

So I was playing around this morning with a pic of Taylor that I took the other day. I am becoming obsessed with photo editing and have decided that my pictures aren't all that bad they just need a little fixing. Now don't get me wrong I am certainly far from a photographer. I am also becoming well aware the work that goes into all of it. My ultimate goal is just to have great pics of my family. I take my camera everywhere just ask my family.

I know because I am a mom too, but really???

I don't think there are very many people out there that do not know what I do for a living besides be a mom. But if you don't, I work for Safeway. I have worked for Safeway since I was 16, so if you do the math... OK don't do the math. Anyway, I have seen it all when it comes to the comings and goings in the grocery store. Too many stories to tell, but today I had to post based on what happened.

Now I know because I am a mom too, that when your kids are sick it is a real pain. There is always something that needs to be done at that moment or so it seems. I vowed though, when I had kids that at all costs I would keep them out of public places when they were sick. It is definitely in my top 5 of the most annoying things people do in a grocery store. Bringing your SICK, COUGHING, SNEEZING, RUNNY NOSED kids in the store. Just stay home if you can.

Now I know that when your kids are sick that is when you need medicine and such, but you DO NOT NEED the cheap meat we have on ad.

Anyway to my story, this lady came through the express line today and my good friend Jeannie was checking. The lady had her son with her and her son was wearing a mask. Yes you probably know where this is going. She says to Jeannie, "My son is sick with the SWINE FLU" as he is coughing. Jeannie, without even thinking says "THE SWINE FLU? Why are you in here then?" The lady went nuts. She was absolutely 100% ticked off that Jeannie would say that and draw attention to her son. As if the mask he was wearing didn't already do that.

Let me just say that this is a prime example of why something like the swine flu gets out of control. Stay home people!!!! Safeway has home delivery and would be happy to deliver those items you can't live without!! We as grocery store employees do not want the SWINE FLU or any other flu for that matter.

Well it would really be better if she had a pitchfork!!

If I haven't told any of you lately my daughter is EVIL. If she wasn't so cute it would drive me crazier than it already does. I suppose she is like me when I was her age, but really there is no proof of that. I mean that I was ever THAT evil! Girls are entirely different than boys I can tell you that much. She will look right at me and keep on doing whatever it is that she knows I am not liking.

I took this pic today while we were playing outside and when I saw her pick up the broom I immediately thought... ?? "Witch???" Sometimes yes!!!



Happy Halloween week everyone!! More fun pics to follow all week long!

Here it is....

One of the two costumes my mom has made for Taylor and Thomas for Halloween this year. Taylor is going to look adorable. The shoes arrived in the mail yesterday and they are a perfect fit. If I could teach her to say "Trick or Treat" the night would be complete, but I may have to settle for her version of please which sounds like cheese.

A Sneak Peek....

Well I really wanted to save the surprise, but I just can't not give everyone a little sneak as to my Halloween choices for this year. If you have followed my blog you know that I decide what the kids dress up as for Halloween. I know, I know I am a mean mom and should let them pick. All I have to say is "Whatever!!" I am sure that this could be the last year Thomas does not fight me so I am taking full advantage.

I think the best thing about Halloween is dressing up and the creativity that goes in to it. I respect the fact that a lot of parents allow their kids to choose, but in my house mommy picks. And if I do say so myself I have never disappointed.

My wonderful mom has offered to make the kids' costumes this year and I am SOOO excited. You can make guess' as to which ones I have chosen, but this is your hint!!

Bath....check!!!

On days like yesterday when the kids are so wound up and out of control this is how we end the day. I sit on the toilet and usually read (today I took pics) and they play in the bath until one of them starts crying. Then its pj's and lights out!!





This time is was Taylor that cried first, not because of Thomas though, because I told her to quit splashing water out. She was the first out and off to bed, he followed shortly after.

This is my pic of the day with my kids. It was a good day as a mommy!!

Crazy at the zoo

Yesterday my friend Sarah and I decided to take our four kids to the zoo. Our husbands were spending the day in the Budweiser suite at the Cardinals game so it seemed like the perfect thing to do just the six of us. All in all the kids were good. Listening does not seem to come easy for any of them, but they did alright. I, of course took my camera and played mamarazzi the entire time. If there is one thing my kids will probably remember from their childhoods is that I was always in their faces with my camera. I take hundreds and after I have deleted and edited I end up with a pretty good batch.

Before I share my pics let me just say that what a cash cow the zoo is. $16 for adults, which is hilarious itself because an adult is considered 12 and up (I was unaware that at the age of 12 we are considered adults), $7 for children (2 and under are free). So for the 6 of us it was $53 just to get in the gate. I brought a small soft cooler after remembering that the last time food was outrageously priced and not that good. $3 a person to feed the giraffe which was cool, but since you wouldn't send your kid up there alone you have to pay for the parent who is just there to watch ???? Thankfully Taylor was free for this event also. And last but not least $2 a person to ride the carousal.

The Phoenix zoo took us for a total of $74. This is not so much a complaint from me just a mere question as to what our money goes towards. The bathrooms were a hazardous waste site and that is putting it mildly. They certainly aren't hurting for business from what I could see, the zoo was packed.

All of that aside it was a really fun day! And I had the grumpy, winy kids to prove it on the car ride home.

This is how Taylor spent her day at the zoo, she was WAY more interested in eating that looking.

Thomas feeding the giraffe. I can't believe he actually did it, he is sort of my little wimp when it comes to things like this.

He was so excited afterward as you can see

Thomas and Alyssa with an animal that most of the time they act like.

I just had to do it...

I am not a huge fan of promising Thomas anything in return for good behavior and such, but I had to do it today. I promised him that if he was brave for his flu shot I would buy him a toy. He asked me what and I of course said "Whatever you want!" So as I am blogging he is in my bedroom playing with his new Tonka Ambulance complete with an EMT and lots of sounds.

It is funny how a doctors appointment can really show you how big your kids are getting. The last time he went to the doctor for a routine visit he was not talking and therefor was not able to fight me on the issue. Now he is 2 months away from his 4th birthday and his 4 year doctors visit. I asked the nurse what I should expect and she smiled, at least 4 shots and he has to pee in a cup. I suppose I get to be the lucky one that holds the cup??

I sometimes look at my kids with amazement that they are mine, that I gave them life. I don't say it enough how much I love being a mommy. I still believe it is the most exhausting job I have ever and will ever have, but it is rewarding.

18 Months

Today is Taylor's 18th month doctors appointment. I know I say this often, but wow how time flies. She has really become a little "person" over the last few months. It is very clear how much she understands and how independent she wants to be. Tom thinks she is exactly like me, but I think she is more like her aunt KiKi (my sis). She says "no" to just about everything you ask her and it is only a matter of time before it is not so cute anymore. I predict that she will be ahead of most kids her age in all categories as with every other appointment. Both of my kids do not look their age and people are always surprised when I tell them how old they are.

Happy 18th Month Cookie!!

Not a TOTAL Bust...

Well I had my big sale yesterday and well it did not quite go the way I had hoped. Of course I had big dreams of coming home with enough money to do all of my Christmas shopping... yeah I know BIG DREAMS! Let me just tell you first that the lady that contacted me regarding the sale told me that there was no one else selling hair clips to her knowledge. Either she was NOT knowledgeable or she just didn't want to tell me the truth in fear I may not sell ($50 to the church for a table). From my count there were at least 10 other women selling hair clips. :(

Anyways, I enjoyed the whole experience overall and based on how much I actually saw people buying I was happy that I had sales at all. I would totally do it again though, I just know what to expect next time. The long and short is, I have an enormous amount of inventory for my etsy site.


One of the sets that I sold....Hopefully this will make their Halloween perfect!