How Old Are We???

Michael's birthday is the day after Halloween. The only worse day would be the day after Christmas! It's always "all I can do" to get through the Halloween week, only to have another party the next day. I'm usually up for parties, but so not this year. Unfortunately, Michael had to go to the State office for business (3 hours away), so we had a late party. He never got his sushi lunch that I promised him...so sad! Mallory and I tried to recreate the best chocolate cake on earth, found at Nothing Bundt Cake...and we came close. Michael loved it. All of the sudden this day is a blurr to me. I think we grilled steak and vegetables and had a yummy dinner.

I think Hallie liked the fire...I should light one more often. Anything to keep her happy.

She was happy to see here Daddy. She likes Michael way more than me!

This was Michael's big present from all of us. Logan and I shopped all day for it.

Logan thinks that anytime there is a party it is Logan's party...he says " it's Gogan's burday."

Oh Jillian...you always make me laugh, that is when you are not making me cry!

We gave him a big fire pit! We have needed one for so long.

Of course, the box is the best part. Actually, I think we should set up our big moving boxes for Christmas. May be the best gift ever.

Halloween

I can't believe that Halloween has already come and gone! Where did that time go?? I kinda didn't plan for my kids costumes this year as usual. This baby takes away all my thinking and wanting to do anything! Originally the kids all wanted to be Star Wars characters, but that didn't happen. So, the old standby cheerleading uniform made it out of hiding after almost 15 years! I talked Jillian into wearing her Rapunzel dress if I bought the wig. She was so happy to have the wig.

We should have had these curly hair pieces back in the day. I slept with sponge curlers so many nights!

She looks so funny with the wig on. I know why the movie is called Tangled! That is exactly what the wig did!

My Little Dragon! So cute! This is the ONLY part of Halloween that I like. I love seeing little kids dressed up in cute costumes. I hate all the ugliness of Halloween. I ordered his dragon costume off of ebay. So I wasn't sure about it. It turned out so cute and worth every penny! He loves playing in it. It was filled hours of fun...not to mention really loud roaring, trying to scare his sisters. People from the city were taking his picture all night when we went to the party on main street.

The actual day of Halloween always turns into complete craziness...and it did! It seemed like we had so much going on that day, trying to make it fun for the kids! 20 minutes before we left to go downtown to the trick-or-treating party a 2 liter bottle of Root Beer exploded somehow. The entire bottle went all over my kitchen floor and splattered on EVERYTHING!! It was a nightmare, but my house did smell good! I was loving my steam mop all night.

Since we had trunk or treating a few nights before Halloween, the Rapunzel wig did not make it. We had to braid it all back. But it looked cute still.

We got yummy cotton candy downtown...the best part if the night. We wont be going back here next year. I wish someone would have told me its not appropriate for kids...we saw a lot of BOOTIE, not to mention other things. Gotta love it here!

Logan LOVED trick-or-treating, but would not let go of my hand. He got freaked out by all the scary masks.

I always make my kids trick-or-treat at my door for a special treat!

Logan was so tired and just wanted to play in his car at this point.

After all the fun, we came back and had pizza and witches brew, with more Root Beer!

I didn't get a picture of little Hallie in her cute Halloween outfit. She was busy spitting up and crying...imagine that!

Playin' In San Diego

The day after our Taylor concert we hung around San Diego having too much fun! Ella, Mallory, and Amanda were in one room, and the rest of my kids were in with me. We woke up at 7:00 a.m, and the others woke up at 11:00 a.m.!! SO NOT FAIR!! If I slept long enough to dream, that is what I would dream of. We went to all the fun little shops in Old Town. The Candy Store was our favorite. They have real Taffy! So Yummy!

It is so pretty there.

There was lots of Dia Day Los Muertos stuff all over, since it was October.

We had a late lunch at the Old Town Mexican Cafe, our favorite!

After Old Town, I wanted to do some shopping (there is NO shopping where I live, kinda sad). So, we found a Mall and a Target with 2 floors! The girls bought these Taylor Swift calenders.

After hours in Target, we found a Clairs...for EAR PIERCING!! Mallory, the sweet talker that she is, talked her father into letting her get her ears pierced. This has been an on-going disagreement in our family. I am proud of Mallory learning how to sweet talk after all these years!

She got so nervous in the chair waiting. I kept telling her that she didn't have to do it, but she insisted!

Then Ella had her ears pierced. We were in the store FOREVER!!! I think Logan opened every package at his height!

After the ear piercing, we found some ice cream. Cute girls showing off their "new"self! They bought matching sweatshirts at Target!
Back at the hotel we all got a little silly. The girls went Taylor Swift dance party on us.

Nice 4 Star Hotel bed jumping. Hope they don't mind!

Ear Piercing excitement!

Speak Now 2011

I had a crazy moment a few months ago that involved letting my sister talk me in to getting concert tickets for Taylor Swift down in San Diego! So, I bought them for birthday presents! We were so excited all of October, as it got closer and closer. We met Amanda and Ella in San Diego for a girly girl weekend. Michael had to bail on me which left me with no babysitter for the concert. Luckily my brother has a friend that works in San Diego. I did have a stranger babysit my kids all night long in a hotel room...so not like me, but was so worth it. The concert was awesome. Getting ready to go.

Here we are getting to the stadium.

Our seats were on the floor, which ended up being so fun. We jumped up and down, danced, and screamed our heads off all night long. We were so tired by the end, we barely made it back to the hotel.We came ready with all sorts of glowy things!!

Ready for the show to start.

In the middle of the concert Taylor walks down the isle to get to this tree in the back. Since we were on the floor and close to the isle, I pushed Mallory to the edge trying to touch her. Taylor actually grabbed Mallory's hand. You can see it in the video of her walking down. You see Mallory's purple flower, then the hand with the glowy bracelets that Taylor touches is hers. It was so worth getting sandwiched in with all the drunk girls sitting next to us.

We ran to the back by the tree to get a better view. We were so close to her. Jillian cried the whole time she was in the back singing because we were so squished and she couldn't see. We loved how she talked and the songs she sang, especially fearless on the ukulele...SO FUN!!

During Love Story all sorts of confetti shot out right behind us. The girls Loved it. Amazing concert.

2 of the biggest Taylor fans! We didn't want it to end.

LOVE STORY

FEARLESS



Taylor Touching Mallory



SPARKS FLY



Beginning of the concert



CRAZINESS