um...

We started giving Landon the toy catalogs that have been bombarding our mailbox . I gave him a pen and told him to circle what he wants for Christmas so we can tell Santa. He of course found the most expensive thing in the whole catalog, a Buzz Lightyear power wheels, and now refuses to look at any other catalogs-- OR any other pages of this catalog. In fact I catch him staring at the picture all the time. The other day I was sewing while making sure Landon got his daily dose of TV. When I finally decided to look up from my craft I saw this:

I know he has a naughty list, but how does Santa feel about nerds?

"happy" birthday

All I wanted was to feel cute on my birthday so I decided to spoil myself and get my hair done. I last had it done in April. I made an appointment at Ulta and was excited when the Salon Manager said she had a spot for me. I thought since I'm getting the BEST stylist at the place I was willing to pay the extra bucks that only the top stylist is allowed to charge. My heart sank when the 95yr old lady walked out and said she was my stylist. After being denied the hair I went in for and enduring the WORST weave of my life I exited the Salon well over $100 (don't tell Sam) poorer and looking like this:The cut makes me gag every time I look in the mirror. Good thing my hair was super long to start, she hacked about 4inches off the length and I'm almost sure she used a bread knife. At least she didn't burn her hands (thanks to the oven mitts she wore) while singeing my hair with the flat iron. I wrote a hateful note, and plan to call cooperate on Monday. Thank goodness for foodstamps and their ability to buy Ghiradelli chocolate turtle cheesecake, the only part of my day worth remembering!

"this is halloween, this is halloween..."

This year Landon discovered The Nightmare Before Christmas and watched it constantly all month. The songs are amazing yes, but impossible to get out of your head. After some debate this year Landon was Syndrome from The Incredibles.












I finished his shiny black unitard early in the month and decided to make myself a costume. The pattern size is NEVER right, so my Alice in Wonderland dress ended up 12 sizes too large. I tried to take it in but it ended up just looking like crap so I only wore it once. Sam's costume never came to fruition, maybe another year. We went to a couple costume parties, here is our ward Trunk-or-Treat. Landon played all the games and I got some inspiration for next year's costume for Sam...
Our friends, the Shelleys also had a costume party so I pulled out one of last years oldies and found myself dying yellow tights for the 2nd year in a row. The night before Landon's school party he insisted on being a robot. Soooooo a cereal box, a jug of milk and a little tin foil later we have this treasure... If he were any older and he would have been beaten up for sure. Sam took Landon trick-or-treating Sunday night in the frigid weather, and he came back with the best loot ever!

jack-o-lantern blaze

Remember that creepy old Disney cartoon about the Headless Horseman? Well I recently found out we live about an hour away from Sleepy Hollow, NY where that story takes place! Every Halloween they have a huge jack-o-lantern blaze on the grounds of one of the many estates there. So Katie and I packed up the kids and headed off (get it) to the blaze. Since it was Katie's birthday we stopped for some Mexican food AND it was actually decent!! While waiting for it to get dark we ventured around the town to see some of the creepy sights, and to treat ourselves to some pumpkin pie ice cream. The blaze was AMAZING! There were so many pumpkins, each carved with incredible detail. I wish the pictures did our experience justice. I would urge each of you to join me next year- just fly out, no biggie! Landon loved our adventure and occasionally talks about Ichabod Crane like they're old friends.

"bowlink"

Landon asks for a story every night when we put him to bed. Since this is the only time Sam gets to see him I assume this is where Landon learned about bowling. One Saturday we finally took him, and now he's hooked! He asks to go "bowlink" ALL the time, and sometimes just sits and stares at one of the flyers we picked up from a nearby bowling alley. By the end of one game he's usually pretty worn out and just drops the ball at the line. Why are bowling alleys always gross? Oh well, I guess it's a pretty good indoor activity for when the weather gets nasty here.

fall

It rained all night which knocked many of the newly oranged leaves to the ground. Since our complex is surrounded by huge trees, the minute Sam got done with his final test of the week, this is where I found him... and Landon.

preschool

Landon started preschool a couple of weeks ago. I was really impressed with the structure of this program and think it will be great for him! So far he LOVES it. Since the other kids were crying and clinging to their parents I asked Landon if I should stay, but he insisted "No mom, you leave." It's weird to run errands without my buddy, but I'm grateful for him to get to do some fun things with other kids... and the 3 hour break is pretty nice!