Understanding Halloween

Asher is at that age where he is beginning to "get" holidays... but only after they have passed. On Friday we took him to a church sponsored trunk-or-treat in an empty field with a bonfire and a chili cook-off. We ushered him around the circuit of cars and prompted him to say "trick-or-treat!" and "thank you!" ...but no dice. He was as silent as the grave. I wasn't even sure how he felt about his costume.

Last night was Halloween, and we started hearing a bit of excitement from our little pumpkin about his "Dash coshume." That made me feel good, because I did spend a little bit of time and energy on that. We allowed him to observe kids coming to our door shouting "Trick-or-Treat!" and he seemed to detect a pattern here. You say those words, you get candy, you go on your merry way. He tried it with our candy bowl. He walked up to it and said "Ticker Teet!" and gave himself a candy. We thought he was ready to visit the neighbors.

Next door there were a few groups of kids converging on the porch. He didn't like the looks of the crowd so he slowed up. The kids weren't going anywhere soon, however. We nudged him and pulled him through the crowd to the front door. He was very quiet. We tried to get him to say the correct words, but he didn't. He got candy anyway. We tried to get him to say "thank you" or "happy Halloween" but he didn't. He was a little overwhelmed. The pattern continued down the street. Only once did I hear a very quiet, high-pitched "Thank you!"

Well now Halloween is over. Every time he sees his pumpkin bowl he says "Trick-or-Treat!" and "Happy Halloween!" He talks about being Dash and he is very animated about it all. Oh well, he'll be ready for next year.

(P.S. This is the costume I made for Asher the day of our trunk-or-treat party. There was nothing in the stores for a 2T sized boy that was cute and cheap. Thank goodness for Joannes and the fact that it didn't need to look perfect.)

Don't Know Why

Something about this soap makes me happy. The "flavor" is fresh lime basil. I have a bottle by my kitchen sink, and I wash my hands just to smell it. Somehow, it reminds me of Christmas.

Joseph pics, finally.

Dan took a few shots of my adventures in Crazyland. (Aka being in a musical while 7 months pregnant.)
This is right after my freaking high solo. I'm "weeping" over the torn coat.
Can you spot the pregnant woman in "Go go Jo?"
Here I am as an over-excited Egyptian.


Last but not least, the Megamix finale. It was like an insane 9 minute workout. A workout where you have to constantly sing at the top of your lungs. Note my similar dance stance in the two final pictures.

The end.

Yes Man

I think I have only heard Asher say the word "yes" once. He usually prefers "okay" (like it was your idea, not his. ex: "Momma, Yodder Pops?" "What? You want an Otter Pop?" in a sweet, happy voice that sounds a bit surprised "okay!") or "sure" (pronounced "tsure", used in the same way as "okay" but more careful sounding) and, occasionally, "yep."

I'm not bugged by this. It does create some confusion when we have to tell him no, but I'll take it over a blank stare, grunting, or pointing and screaming any day.

(Insert cute picture of Asher here. My pictures still ain't workin'.)

Orange Poppy Necklace GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

I want to win the necklace with all the green-toned flowers, just to get a close up look and see how it was made. I think these babies are artsy and craftsy and differently beautiful.
Orange Poppy Necklace GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Being a Mom

Our family went to a football game tonight at Campo Verde High. We have a nephew on the team and a cheerleader niece. They were cute, and Asher had a fun time running around the bleachers with his older cousins. This is not a set up to tell you that he split his head open again, although there were many times I thought that might occur.

When we were leaving, Asher pitched a big fit. Huge. He usually lets us know that he is upset, but he gets over it pretty quickly. This time, he didn't stop shaking and crying until he was almost buckled in his car seat. He only stopped freaking out to THROW UP. Yes. He worked himself up so much that he actually lost what little dinner he decided to eat tonight. So there was barf in our car. I still have some sanitizing to do, but it is cleaned up. I needed a break. I didn't want to add to the mess.

That is not the worst part, though. His barf smelled like Doritos. We don't have Doritos in our house, but there were plenty on the ground at the football game.

Medium Well

If my play were a steak, that is what I would call it. Medium well. Anyway, it's done.

I am not sad that it is over. My body is too happy for the usual nostalgic feeling to kick in.

I have pictures to share, but apparently they are not working right now.