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Best Halloween Ever!

Megan and Jack are out trick or treating, and its 7:20 and I'm almost out of candy - 3 big bags passed out. I raided the pantry and am now giving out fruit snacks.

We've never had so many trick or treaters and so many unique costumes. I went with Megan to her first house and she ran up to the door, knocked and then ran back to us. Jack had to walk her to the house - she didn't get it at first but she did by the end, and now she's having a blast :)

Back from Florida

I'm back from Florida and barely on the net. My laptop froze on the plane out and never came back. I have to goto the apple store this week and get it fixed, but first things first Megan has her 3 year check up in the morning. So no email for a while.

Florida was good, sad and happy all rolled into one. I'm pretty sure its the last time I'm going to see my old dog Buster and Muffy his sister. The are old and health failing fast. Also knowing it was my last night in my "home" from high-school. But it as a happy occasion too. Dad was so happy. Seeing him get married on saturday and seeing an extra bounce in his step. Its wonderful to see Dad so happy.

Now I'm home after being in the middle seat all the way home and I'm pooped. Megan was so ecstatic to see me. It felt so good, to come home.

Harder than I realized...

I've been packing this evening, getting ready to fly to Florida tomorrow. I guess i'd pushed out my mind how hard it would be to leave Megan even for 3 days. I've been close to tears all day - like I have a catch in my breath. Tonight as I tucked her in I just wanted to stay cuddled forever. I know its only 3 days, and Jack and Megan will have a great time. I can't believe I ever thought this was a good idea.

City of Trees

Jack and I went up to Sacramento once when we first moved here. I was not really impressed, considered it a backwater and overall thought it was very industrial. My opinion was not improved the 2 times I drove up, to visit the great dane "Roscoe" to consider adopting him.

Imagine my surprise when on NPR (I think Talk of the Nation but I can't verify that) I hear that Sacramento is the most treed city in the US, and it started back in the 1800's when they decided to be more like Paris. I will have to visit again sometime and this time pay attention.

Presenting Piglet!

After a little coaxing, Megan agreed to try on her piglet costume ... here she is...

I managed to finish the head piece today, with one quick trip to the store for a slightly wider bias tape. The one they called for was so thin I couldn't pin it straight let alone sew it on. But I like the finished look and over all I'm proud of the first major art project i've finished (except for some ornaments I beaded a couple of years ago for family).

Megan's party!

Today was Megan's 3rd birthday Party (actual birthday on Tuesday - a school day). We had over 9 kids (plus siblings of the younger variety. Jack made Pizza for everyone, I made the rest of the spread and everyone ate to their contented fullness. We had a bounce house for entertainment, and I set up a coloring project and stamping and well the kids didn't want to leave - thank goodness the goody bags enticed them out the door.

So that's where I've been, busy planning and organizing and buying for this once a year extravaganza. Megan had so much fun and really that made it all worth while. I'm now in that exhausted but too antsy post organization, can't believe it came off faze. Tomorrow I'll spend some quality time with the sewing machine finishing Megan's costume (for the costume parade on Thursday! at school,) before heading to Florida to see my old dad get hitched. Its a quick trip so I'm going with out Megan for the first time since her birth.

Price of poop

I'm doing what I thought I'd never do, bribing my daughter to use the potty with ....m & ms. Megan couldn't be happier to poop on the potty, which until I started this trickery wasn't happening except by accident. I'm sure your wondering - she gets 4 M&M's for every poop in the potty, and 10 for going a whole day with out going in the pullup. There are occasional side offers, like tonight after she got her first 4 I told her if she didn't pee in the pullup from now till bath time she'd get 4 more.

We might even in a week try a day in underwear, but i'm not pushing it.

good life

As Jack is in the kitchen making pizza for dinner, and Megan is working on a puzzle, I get to sit here and play on my lap top while football is on the TV. Certainly can't complain about this Sunday evening.

more on sewing

I went to class today and well, I put in my first zipper. I couldn't be prouder. I did have it out when I failed to actually attach fabric to zipper all the way down. My teacher had said sew close to the teeth and I took her to literal. But after that I got it in and well was totally amazed with myself. Now i'm working on the sleeves.

The strips on all the front and back panels including the zipper lined up... but the one insult to injury after all the grief the strips gave me is the thread is really weak embroidery thread and not the right kind. It looks good but may not wash well. If the strips fall off... i'm painting them back on!

update on sewing piglet

I've had some success while Megan was in school. Its not perfect, but the strips are beginning to look better. i've finished the whole front and part of the back. I have about an hour left which will probably have to happen tomorrow cause ...tonight is POKER!

craziness

yesterday I woke up to find that our fridge was not cold but cool and a puddle of water on the floor of it. So Megan and I spent the morning looking at fridge replacements, picked one out, and bought it. They said it would be delivered today and that I would be called around 11 about what time.

Well they called at 6:50 this morning!, I jumped out of bed and cleaned out the fridge, while, then Jack moved it out so I could clean behind it. They were here by 7:20, and it was all done by 8. Jack leaves and I start putting food away, only today is school. I looked at the clock and realized it was 8:36...Megan is due at School at 9... so I ran in and got her out of bed, on the potty, dressed, me dressed, got her OJ and graham crackers (breakfast of champs!) in the car and booked it. I put her shoes on her at school while she finished her OJ. but we made it and only a couple of minutes late. Then I came home and got a shower and clean clothes ... now the day can start.

Sewing blues

While Megan is in school I've been taking a once a week sewing class at Seams Dreamy. Well I'm working on a piglet costume for Megan and the damn strips on his body are killing me. I can't seem to stitch them on with out the zig zag zigging. i've already had to tear out the same strip twice. I know Renee will make it all better thursday, but its frustrating not to be able to get this one part done.

NOTE: yes dad I tried sewing it with paper on the back. It didn't really help.

ahhh

so Megan had a great day yesterday without a nap, playing with her friend Josephine first at her house and then at ours. She slept in this morning till 9:30 and when she woke up Jack went into get her so she knew it was still the weekend. After her 3 hour nap this afternoon, she woke up to me opening her door and jumped out of bed very excited. We went to the potty and while she was sitting there she said... "School today!" I said not sweetie its night time, we're making dinner and then bath read books and cuddle. She gave me a very cute pout and said "no Megan go school!" I said no "but you can take OSO on a walk with Daddy" well the tears started rolling then and she said "no Daddy go work, Megan go to school!" I said I was sorry and offered to cuddle and she finished on the potty and we headed to the sofa where she had me hold her while she pouted and teared for 20 mins.

Man the girl loves school! ... kind of wish I'd signed her up for 3 days instead of 2.