Elfing around...

How do you like my two little elves? Rose was an elf in her class play today. It was very cute and short, just the way I like it! 

We had cookies and lime sherbet punch after the play. It was crazy in the classroom. There must have been 50 guests in addition to the children from Rose's class.

Rose finally lost a front tooth over the weekend! Unfortunately she lost it while playing in the basement, so the tooth fairy had no reason to stop by. :(

More from the tub...

Do ya know the colors of the...rainbow? *WARNING* Graphic Image

Just thought you might like to see what happens when amateurs attempt (and fail) to place IV's in the wrong place and then place an automatic blood pressure cuff on the same arm. It's hard to see but there's a huge bruise on my wrist also. Yep, I could feel these veins bursting every time the cuff inflated, which was pretty much continually the whole day. I kept humming the rainbow song from Signing Time every time I looked at this over the past few weeks! LOL

OK, something nice now...

It's so much more fun when daddy gives baths! Why do I have so many bathtub pictures? Why am I compelled to share them? Hmmm.

Leroy

Leroy will be four years old next week. He is amazing smart! He is loud! He is solid!

He knows all the lines from the Chipmunks movie. He zips his pajamas like Mr. Rogers zips his sweaters...all the way up then down a bit. He never forgets to brush his teeth before bed. He calls Lowe's the "hard-work-Walmart." He cracks me up. I couldn't imagine life without him.

On Friday afternoon, I was at the auto repair shop, talking to my friend, K. I know how much Leroy likes this place, so I took him with me.

K says, "So, Leroy...you want to be a mechanic when you grow up?"

Leroy replies, "Nope, I'm going to be a truck-fixer."

He never missed a beat.

Whew!

It was quite a day here! Jordan had a field trip today, so we had to pack a sack lunch before the bus came. This kid is a snail. On a regular day it is a struggle to get to the bus on time. He also had a class party this afternoon, so the costume had to be sent to school in a bag. Last night he was not happy with his costume shirt, so I was worried that he might freak out on me this morning. Nope, he was very easy to get along with this morning and made the bus on time. Whew!

Next, I had to finish Rose's dress for her class party. Thank goodness that she goes in the afternoon. I still needed to hem the dress and I have never hemmed anything! It took me two hours and it doesn't look pretty, but it got done just in time to pack up for afternoon Kdg.

After she got on the bus I scrambled to get out of the house and do some last minute errands. We started at Goodwill. Wesley works there and was invited to a luncheon since that store won the store of the year award, or something. While he was eating, Ralph, Leroy, Thomas and I shopped. We found a shiny metallic tank top that looks like chainmail - great for playing dress-up. I also found a ladies size 4 suit coat that was perfect for Thomas' costume.

Next we hit the Walmart for drinking water and to look for a costume for Leroy. We found a couple of costumes for about $20, way too much. I wanted some vampire teeth, but they only had packs of 20. 20 vampire teeth?? Everything was picked over so I grabbed some pirate tattoos and the water and we left.

Next stop, Dillons. I love this place, mainly because they double coupons and mark down meat and produce. I also saw a cute costume the other day, but I didn't buy it because it was one of those shopping trips where I bought diapers, wipes and dog food. High dollar items! I left Wesley in the van with the baby, and Thomas. Leroy and I ran into the store on the off chance that the costume was still there. It was! Cheaper than the stuff at Walmart AND, 33% off!! We grabbed a couple of bags of candy just in case some kids knocked on our door tonight. The funny thing is that Leroy's costume fit him, but not the hat. I was perfect for Ralph, though!

Next we take Wesley for a haircut. He pays for his own haircuts now so he can choose where to go. I wait with Leroy, Thomas, and Ralph, who is getting really tired by now. Me, too. It is now 2:30pm and I need to get to the school to help Rose get into her dress. I promised.

We head for home after this. The traffic is heavy, very heavy. Of course, it is party day at the K-5 schools. Our whole little town is jam packed full of the cars of moms helping with Fall parties. I considered riding my bike up to the school, but I'm late. I'm late enough that the traffic had died down after I drop the kids off at home and get the baby down for his nap. Lucky me, my mother-in-law lives next door to the school so I park in her driveway. Otherwise I would have to walk 1/2 mile to find a parking space. Whew!

I brought Jordan and Rose home myself after the parties so they didn't have to take off their costumes for the bus ride. Rules. When we got home it was time to carve pumpkins. I delegated this to dad this year. He is normally out of town on Halloween, so it was great to have him around today. I broke out my old make-up kit and had a little fun with Thomas after the pumpkins were done.

By the time we ate a little dinner it was time for candy gathering. Dad and I took the four little kids, Thomas, Jordan, Leroy and Rose. Richard and Chipper stayed home with Ralph to hand out candy. Wesley had a date, so he wasn't around. That seems to be happening a lot lately.

What do you think of my pirates, Jack and Will? How about my cowboy and pioneer girl? Whew! I'm ready for bed.

OK, so I missed Sunday and Monday and I've messed up the 31 for 21 challenge. I'm just going to start fresh today and press on just like I do in real life!

Some odds and ends today...

Ralph is doing well on 1/4 liter of oxygen. He visits the cardiologist Friday, so I hope to know for sure then.

Richard does not need a cast for his stress fractures. In fact, he is beginning to put a tiny bit of weight on his bad leg while still on crutches. YAY!

Sometimes Leroy is so bright and funny. Today we went shopping at Lowe's. When we parked, he asked me if this place was the "hard work Walmart." I love the way he makes sense of the world!

Don't forget about Oleg! His fundraiser ends next week and I'm giving away such a nice prize. Oleg really needs a family to find him quickly and his grant fund will be a great incentive.

SEW/WW

One of my favorite memories is the way my seven other children adored Ralphie when he finally got to come home from the hospital last summer. Here is Leroy holding and feeding him...I can't believe how tiny he looks!

Leroy-ism

I took everyone to Target today. We were out of diapers and Leroy needed some new shoes. In the shoe department:

ME: Wow! Look, they have jellies! I haven't see jelly shoes since I was in high school.

LEROY: Do they have peanut butter shoes?

He is brilliant in an odd sort of way! He spent the next 15 minutes singing about peanut butter shoes! I did buy some jellies for Rose. They were on clearance for $1.97!