ooh la la

Ok. I guess you are expecting a halloween story, or sexy costume story right?? Nope. I was just bragging about myslef because I made French Onion Soup from scratch yesterday. Wasn't thinking ahead though . We are having our party tonight and the house still stinks of onion. Oh well. Its funny because the recipe said "light french onion soup". I have been trying recipies from magazines which mostly happen to be parenting magazines. What does that mean? Most of the recpies are 'fast'. Well dummy me mistook 'light" for 'fast". Still when all the work was done, I thought it was pretty good!! Kids just liked the bread and melted Guyere cheese on top. Sophie and Zoe got Dora soup. I was the only one who actually ate the onions. Yes I was plesant to cuddle with!! Actually I was pretty busy decorating for tonight. Even though it looks like only one family is coming, I am still excited. Trying NOT to drive out to Micheals and buy more " Halloween crap".
ooooh or the dollar store!! NO NO NO> I will be good and do more cleaning . Maybe.
Happy Halloween everyone!!
(if anyone is interested in the recipe, e mail me, it wasn't THAT hard and was really good!)

Pumpkins

Its that time of year again, pumkin carving time! Always a big deal at our house. I think next year though, we are going to have one or two "family " pumpkins. ( since I ended up carving Sophie's and Zoes.) Yes, there are no pics of the finished pumpkins because the camera ran out of batteries and you guessed it. So did we! I have to get some before halloween, for sure! We made cookies ( that were ok for Sophie) , roasted the seeds and watched Charlie Brown on t.v. Yes there were a few tears and tantrums ( some of the older kids refused to listen when I said a pattern wouldn't fit, was too small and won't work, but lesson learned) but it was a good night. Why no pictures of me? Well I made the poor choice of wearing orange, which against the yellow in my kitchen made me look red, red , red faced and my hair kinda orangy. Festive, but not attractive! I am never standing in front of the kitchen wall for pictures again. Have to say a big thanks to Nick who carved of all the tops ( daddys job every year!) and helped clean up. I HATE cleaning up pumkin mess.
Alas the great pumpkin did not come and do the dishes or clean the floor while we were sleeping. Maybe next year? ( have to mention that yours truly spilled diswasher powder ALL
OVER the floor and no matter how I swept/vaccumed it am still stepping on gritty stuff
I give up on having a clean floor!)
Happy Pumpkins!

More Halloween party pics

Here is the rest of the gang make sure you check out the last post too! Lemme tell you MS America spent a LOT of work in that puffy hair.( see previous blog) YES a fake um.... boob fell out and I gave up on them. ( oh quit laughing everyone has boob stories!) Thank goodness no one but Emily noticed and she scooped it up and shoved it in the diaper bag. ( thank goodness, those daggone things arent cheap!) GOSH I love that child!! Anyway, we were a hit but didn't win the Disney tickets. I have to say all the costumes ( in our family)were worn by more than one family member and Zoes was mine when I was three!! ( Yes, all the other girls wore it for Halloween when they were three) Zoe came in third and won a cerificate to the PX. Well its better than nothing! Happy Halloween everyone. ( did I mention that my costume was so much work that now I don't want to dress up on halloween night??) Any Twilight fans get a load of Katey???? The little vampire "biting " katey was the grand prize winner. So cute. Zoe would have had a shot but she was afraid of all the costumes and wouldn't even look at the judges without being carried. Oh well, it was a fun night anyway!

Halloween Party

No, Not our halloween party, but a company function. I made it to the second round of judging ( as did Zoe) but you could only choose 1 family member to compete after the first round. So we went with Zoe and she came in third! ( Thanks Mom for the Hollie Hobbie costume, all four girls have worn it and now it is is gonna be Claras turn when she is three!) Now that I have spent the hours on the hair, make up, glitter ( and YES false eyelashes) I am thinking Becky just might be wearing her cutsey halloween t shirt on Halloween!!!

San Diego Zoo

We went to the Zoo yesterday. Weather was perfect, I brought enough snacks and water this time and the kids enjoyed it. It is all up and then down hill but the kids saw tons of animals. I kept peeking for a cleberity or two but no luck. There are more pic on the Kodak website if you want a link, e mail me.

Pumpkins

This is our day at the pumpkin farm. As you can see, Zoe was terrified of this witch and the brutal sun was in everyones eyes. The kids had a good time, did a hay ride and corn maze and of course, got a pumpkin. Weird to see everyone in shorts, shades and hats!




I

Nuts

We went to the nut farm yesterday. No, not to drop me off, to get pumkins!! It has to be nearly 90 though I just couldn't get my head about the heat in October. In fact it was so hot we soon ran out of water. Had plenty of snacks though, the general store had every kind of nut you can imagine. I got the traditional toffee peanuts, some cashew brittle, black licorice and some peanuts. All this without thinking of poor Katey who can eat NONE of it. (BRACES!!!) she was not happy to say the least. We are off to the Zoo today so I will post pics later of everything.
Go nuts, we did! :)

Bad Day

If you have ever read the book Alexander and The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day here is MY take on it. Some of these things actually happened ( in the same day), some happened in the past. Most were yesterday!

Becky and The Terrible, Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

When i woke up this morning my sleep mask was off and so it was like i didn't sleep and I knew it was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. The kids woke up late i had to rush getting Sophie ready to school, I burnt my mouth on my coffee and no one but snapfish sent me an e mail. I had forgotten to make Sophie 's lunch we were out of lunch meat and the bread was frozen.
I think I'll move to Jamaica.
Zoe peed all over the floor I just mopped , and the power went out. She refused to take a nap.
Three cars in three minutes tried to kill me on the highway and I think it is illegal to stop at a stop sign in California. I almost missed my exit and horns were honking and my tire looked flat.
I was having a Terrible Horrible No Good Very bad day.
When I got home there was water in the garage and the toilet was leaking. I lift up the lid and get sprayed in the face.I burnt the sauce for dinner , cut my finger and when I went to boil the water there was a dead fly in it. The sauce exploded all over the clean stove and floor and Zoe spilled her juice at dinner. I knocked over the fan, banged my head on a shelf and tripped over SOMEBODYS shoes on the floor.
I got soap in the kids eyes in the bath, mopped up a tidal wave with the last dry towel dried them with a blanket,and couldn't find Sophies favorite elephant pajamas. Katey and Emily were arguing if a toe in the others room or hovering in the doorway actually counts as being IN the room and screaming at each other to get out and I scream shut up and everyone starts to cry. It is a terrible horrible no good very bad day.
I get the kids to bed pick up the shoes on the stairs bang my elbow on the corner and pour a glass of wine. I turn around and knock over the wine shattering my last good wine glass and spilling it all over the floor. I go to check laundry and a fabric marker got left in the dryer. An entire load of whites have black marker on them including three brand new things.
I think they have wine in Jamaica.
Nick falls alseep on the couch my pajamas have a hole and my pillow is dirty. I go check my email and get locked out of my account. I google karma and learn that some days are like that. Even in Jamaica.

Wild Fire and Toothless

This is Nicks face mask for riding on the motorcycle, perfect for halloween, huh?
Then, there is the immediate after I pulled Sophies very first loose tooth, what a cute grin!!

This is our first CA wildfire. We are fine for now, will keep everyone updated. It is very windy, and the smoke is heavy. It is mainside, about 20 or so miles away. I guess this equal to a northern snow storm, or a NC hurricane. Sooner or later we will end up with no power(ugh!) and can't really go anywhere. No homes are in the way right now, and we pray it stays that way!

Finally

It is 58 right now, but sunny. ( probablly going to warm up, ugh) We are so exctied. Gonna pull out the jeans and real shoes, not just flip flops! This weather I miss. We have a lot of household crap to catch up on today and I am getting over a radom fever. Everyone else seems fine. ( No one seems to feel up to doing the dishes though, ugh.) I take one day "off" and the house falls apart. It looks like I fed 50 people yesterday. I am on the third load for the dishwasher and nearly every pan we have is dirty. The kids had a "lazy " day yesterday ( oh it is NOT going to be a weekly thing for sure!) they could have whatever they wanted to eat, which in our house is HUGE. We watched Harry Potter all day and I did not move from the couch, a rarity for me. Of course now I feel gross and want to shower, pick up vaccuum and scrub. We have a ton of errands to do that we didn't do yesterday. And of course I STILL have those appts. to make.
The other big new is Sophie lost her first tooth. Pictures coming soon. She is so excited. I love this age, they look so cute with missing teeth!
Only a few more weeks till Halloween.....

A conversation

Oh the funny joy of a conversation between a three year old and a four year old:
Matthew : I go to cool.
Zoe: Oh. Yeah. You go cool? Big cool?
M: yup. I'm handsome
Becky: You sure are handsome!
Z: Yeah. I'm a cootie pie!!
M: lets play chess ( drags out chess set and puts pieces on the board as fast as he can)
Z: yeah!! ( looks confused , puts one piece on and watches)
m: King me , check me!
Z: oh! Check me!! ( giggle giggle)
m: Check mate, I win!, Yeah! Check Mate! ( has put all the peices on)
z: (giggle giggle) Uh huh! Mate! We win!!
M: I win!
Z: Lets have a tea party, come on!
M ; Ok! ( till he realizes what a tea party is)
and they just go on and on. I love getting my little boy fix, but it is another universe! The two are coloring right now and this adorable boy is sure he sees his name everywhere. ( I think he is recognizing the letter M)Zoe of course is very impressed . I happy she has someone to play with at least for today.

Feel the heat

Well, it is cooler today, low 70's thank goodness. I guess we had a fire here on base. Church class was cancelled for the girls cuz power was out over there. You could smell it and our whole house smells like smoke. It must have been brush because it smells like wood. I guess they got it under control . It was very hazy today and my sinuses are going nutso . I feel that it will rain ( or the few sprinkles they call rain here) , the face knows!!!
Nothing else to report here. Been a pretty boring day.

Grass is Greener

The grass is greener on the other side right?? I know I was complaining about the heat yesterday but I truly LOVE brisk October weather. It is my favorite time of year and I miss it. I did have to grin yesterday driving back from church and looking ahead and realizing I was looking at the OCEAN! That still floors me sometimes. Sophie is fine , jut more obnoxious CA paperwork for us. It seems we have to fill out twice as many paper here. They have so many crazy laws ! I need to get off my behind and work out, ugh this level is MUCH harder. It will be worth it when I fit ( yikes) into that blasted dress. Only 30 days till the ball and I have been eating twice as much. So, I have to work out twice as hard. Then I am going to stuff myself silly and sit on my behind for a few weeks. :) Actually November is crazy busy for us with birthdays, Thanksgiving and then getting ready for Christmas.
There was more drama at choir last night and now Emily wants to quit. I made a HUGE mommy mistake trying to save her. I didn't think she was ready for a solo and heard one of the members snap ( Well so and so can do it, SHE knows it!, heaving a big sigh throwing a book down) I FREAKED . Yes me being paranoid about what others think. Emily was having trouble hitting the notes, It is difficult to sing this part of the mass. I asked if there was an alternative and Emily cries she can do it. I tell her in the car I didn't think she was ready and succeeded in shattering my sensitive daughters heart into a million pieces. I did not sleep well last night.

heat wave

Oh How I am trying to adjust to October in Cali! It is 87 right now, with only a slightly cooler breeze. ( Sunny of course!) Usually we get a fairly brisk breeze off the ocean but not today. I feel sweaty and sticky and yuck! I got a very annoying letter from the school requesting a medical screening for Sophie ( poor Zoe will have to spend yet ANOTHER day in a waiting room) and a California shot record which is probablly a different clinic altogether, meaning more waiting ! Just more aggravation and appts. for me to schedule. I am not about to get on the phone in this heat, tomorrow though ....
ugh.
well, we might end up having sandwiches for dinner or ice cream. I miss my AC!!!
Got a long hot night ahead.. cranky kids and mommy:)

Fire!

We have been having a blast at my neighbor across the streets house. ( Kimberly) She has a fire pit and Nick and I are sold on it. Yesterday the kids roasted hot dogs on the open fire, ( we boiled them first) and later did marshmallows. SOphie was afraid of the fire and of course got something special since she can't have a marshmallow. I ate FOUR!! Had to take the bag away. :) Nick had done his famous ribs and they were a big hit with the Gibson kids. I even left Kimberly the rest of our precious Dinosaur BBQ sauce. ( we have a shelf in the garage full but feel free to bring some if anyone from Rochester ever visits us!!) Alas, I did not have ribs or hot dogs although smelling and cutting up those ribs I was very very tempted. Does licking sauce of my fingers count?? Well the kids all went to bed good last night and so did I . First good night sleep I have had in weeks thanks to a little ambien and keeping the mask on for six hours. What a difference. We are off to church now and then the rest of this SUnday will be picking up the house and other errands.
So fun, right?

Brace Yourself!

Here is Katey before and the beginnings of after on her braces!! She only has the top ones , she will get the bottoms in a few months. Only 1year ( give or take a few months) to go!!
Thanks Erica to the dental referral.
Here I am all dressed up in my special biker gear. I LOVE the jacket. My helmet has pink butterflies on it and those boots are actually part of an old Halloween costume. Yes, the riding chaps are coming soon because that coastal wind rips through my jeans, brrr. I even have gloves. The goggles tend to leave oh so attractive marks on my face. Oh well. Nick and I are off for a ride, sooooo fun!! Ignore the uncool saftey vest! Actually I am very happy to wear it since it gets foggy here a lot. STILL .
Off we go!
( Yes, I know Katey needs a haircut, I just can't convince her. TEENAGERS!!)

Totally Dental

Ok, now Emily has an appliance in her mouth, and Katey has her top braces on. I am thrilled becuase Emily's was covered by insurance. Kateys we pay monthly payments on, and she gets the bottom braces soon. Before and after pics are coming soon! I somewhat got over my wooziness and agitation but am going to the doc tomorrow to have the meds adjusted. The past few days have been agony and I refuse to take another pill. I will think twice before even swallowing a tylenol after this nightmare!! If you want details, e mail me and I will be glad to share. I am ok, nothing life threatning, just very physically and emotionally painful and uncomfortable. My visitors (construction crew) left around noon so I took a nap and then made cookies with Zoe. Yes we have all stuffed ourselves sick on them!! This is why I buy low fat sugar free ones instead of baking them !! Zoe was so cute, she was so ummm... helpful. Oh well, counters ( and floors and walls) can be wiped! I need to stop reading and get to bed. This Twilight series is addicting!! I can't believe Katey read it before me. There is a movie coming out soon and yes I am a fan. I won't say what it was about ( I figured it out instantly) in case anyone is new to the series. I HAVE to know what happens next! I promise to work on pictures tomorrow , if I am not seeing double again, ha ha .

Doped up

Bear with me, I am on new medication and not doing well on it. I am incredibly fustrated that stuff that is supposed to calm me and help me focus is leaving me dizzy, exhausted, agitated and irrtitable. Makes me think the diagnosis is wrong and all i need is a sleep aid to help keep the mask on. I tossed and turned all night which makes me rip of the mask which means... no sleep. If you have ever pulled an all nighter, how you felt the next day is how I feel every single day. Getting back to the doctor is a joke, I have to wait at least an hour on the phone to m ake an app t for two to t hree weeks ahead. Good ol millitary medicine.
Well in good news we are back to hot sunny weather here and today Katey gets her braces on! ( the top at least) Not much else going on....
Oh my there is major construction going on in my back yard ( so much for a nap later!). It sounds like the workers are in my house. Twice I have come running hearing a man and it is outside!! They keep taking water from my faucet on the side of the house which is annoying. Plus you have to step over a string of lights to get to it . You would think that would be a big, hey maybe I wont use this fuacet... but nooooooo. I am half expecting them to just walk in to use the bathroom!! ( yes I locked the doors) IT was bearable ( the noise) till they got the jackhammer out. All this to tear out and old park and put in who knows what. ( PLEASE OH PLEASE not a basketball court!!!)