Trick or Treat

Took Bella Trick or Treating.  Bella was a veterinarian, Newton was Woody (from ToyStory).

                           That's Alex as a mustard container

Bella's main goal was to see her friend and to visit her teacher's house.  While making our way to her friends house, we were visiting other houses along the way.  Bella would decide that she didn't want to go to a house, so we would skip it.   Her friend wasn't home, so, we headed back toward out house.  We bumped into a couple neighbor kids and Bella got a second wind.  Running from house to house with them.  Isn't that what Halloween is about?  How much candy you can get?   We got a bag from one of the houses because "someone" forgot to bring one with us (who could that be?).  The loot bag was quite heavy.

3 hours later we finally made it back to our house.  I got lots of exercise.  Newton got a few dog treats (he was a good sport) and Bella got TONS of candy.

Did I mention, we went out AGAIN?  We had to visit the grandparents and go around their street AND see her teacher.  A few more houses (hey, she NEEDS THAT CANDY!) then back home.

The kids in the neighborhood like to visit our house bc we lower the candy in a bucket from our deck out front.  We also move the spider and skeleton around, too.  We have been known to scare a few little ones (not on purpose). 

                      Looks like I need to do a little dusting


Happy Halloween!  I'll leave with these final words from Bella:

Secure Me

I sell security cameras and hear all kinds of stories.

I had a customer who was trying to catch her ex-husband breaking into her house.  Apparently he was crawling through the dog door.  Since the dogs know him, they didn't bark.  She wanted a camera that she could set up with out him knowing/seeing and record what was happening.

I gave her a couple of suggestions.

The C800 All in One Security Camera with DVR receiver was my first choice.  The camera, which is 3/4" x 3/4" x 1", does need to plug in, but is easy to hide anywhere.  I suggested that she plug it in and place on top of her refrigerator.  She keeps a light on in the kitchen at night, which helps because this camera does not have night vision.  The DVR receiver can then be placed anywhere (within 300' of the camera).  Set it to motion detection and when he starts crawling through the doggy door, she will have proof on the SD card that she can then hand over to the police.

My other suggestion was the PI1000

The SVAT PI1000 - Motion Sensor w/built in DVR looks like a motion sensor for a security system, but is a tiny camera that records onto an SD card.  Again, doesn't have night vision.  But a great way to put on the wall across from the door to catch her Ex making his way into her kitchen.  Your video proof is on the SD card which can be handed over to the police.

Since this customer needed to have the door open for her dogs, these two cameras offer her a great way to catch any unwanted visitors.

Field Trip

I went to the children's museum with Bella's Kindergarten class.  The kids were quite excited.  I was given the task of keeping track of 5 of these kindergarteners.  Seems like an easy task, right?

We board the bus & all sit near each other.  Get off and walk to the main room for a class presentation.  All is going great.  The meetings over and our group (4 girls and 1 boy) decide to visit the potty first so we don't have to make any stops along the way.  The girls all go and the boy and I are sitting on a bench waiting.  He says, Whats taking so long?  I said, Get used to it.  You'll be doing alot of this in your life.  We talked a little about our favorite Super heroes.  He is more Spiderman while I'm more Batman.

The girls finally come out and we head upstairs to the train.  (we had a little pow-wow before we left school and planned out what we wanted to see)  The minute we walk into the room-5 kids scatter everywhere.  Let me remind you that it's not just our 22 kids at the museum.  There are lots of parents/grandparents with kids.

As I am trying to rope in some kids (the girls) to the train, I am having a small little problem.  I can't find the boy!  Great!  There goes my shot at most responsible parent! (well, not like I had a chance or anything, but, you never know)  I finally find him at the block station, remind him to keep track of me and bring him to the train. 

The whole time I'm counting.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  1, 2, 3, 4.  ?  Wait!  Who's missing?  Its the boy again!  I turn around in a panic, look up, down and find him about to crawl through a mirrored tube. (multiple boys, hmm, I just need one and shake my head and come back to reality)  I bring him back to the group.

We then have a little group meeting.  Lets try to stick together.  You have to see me at all times, stay together.  Yea, yea, yea.  Meeting adjourned - they all run in 5 different directions.  Well, that was a big help.

We make our way down to the Bubble/water play area.  Playing with bubbles and some moving onto the water area.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5.   1, 2, 3.  ?  Wait, who's missing?  Ok, she's climbing a ladder behind the waterplay area (I can only see her hand) Oh, and 2 are now climbing the stairs to the top of the water fall.  Ok, Phew.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  1, 2, 3, 4, 5.  1, 2, 3, 4. ?  Where's the boy?  Panic.  I look around, ask the teacher and another mom.  I ask the kids.  I walk over to the next exhibit and there he is, having  a good time.  I bring him back and we move on. 

One girl ends up with a rug burn on her arm, so I have to ask for a band aid.

We run through the rest of the exhibits.  I'm getting the hang of this, its not too bad.  Time to line up for the bus and I hear, "I can't find my sweatshirt!" (we were told to leave all coats on the bus, some chose to wear their sweatshirts inside the building)  Its the boy.  I ask another mom to watch my group as the boy and I run back inside to find the missing sweatshirt.  Well, I'm looking and he is running around playing.  The guy I got the band aid from asked if I was a teacher.  I said no, which was probably a relief to him.  (1 kid has a rug burn, losing kids and their stuff doesn't exactly make me good teacher material)

We got the kids safely back to school and I made a mental note to myself for the next field trip:  Aspirin before and margaritas afterwards.

Super Size Me

We just joined one of those warehouse clubs.  Well, we belonged to one for a long time and just recently made a switch.  The grumbling in the background you hear is from the kids.  Apparently "EVERYTHING" is better at the old warehouse club. 

There are somethings that make me agree with that statement.  For example, the milk jugs always spilling/leaking.  You always need a wash cloth with you when pouring a glass of milk.  Yea, a few drips here, there, everywhere, you're probably saying, why are you complaining so much?  Well, when you're buying 6 gallons of milk a week, all of those little drips might add up to a half gallon. 

Then there is the fact that they don't always stock the same items.  They might be there one week, but, next week they're GONE!  That drives me crazy!  Who doesn't stock rawhides for dogs? 

The selection at this club is a lot different.  I like the variety.  There's always something new to see or try.  Which brings me to the sizes.  Do they really have to make the boxes/containers so huge?  Sometimes you're at the club and realize you are out of something, and, why not pick it up here and save yourself a trip to another store?  Save you gas, time, money and good for the environment, right?  What you end up getting is what RT and I call, the "lifetime supply." 

RT went to the club the other day and I had flour on my list.  They sell them in smaller packages, 20# each.  RT comes home with a HUGE 50lb bag.  The location in our cabinet at home for the flour is the bottom shelf. (try bending and shoving a 50lb bag of flour on a lower shelf in a cabinet)  This super size would have been great around Christmas.  (If I was making cookies for an army!) 

I'm trying to make the best of it.  I have made a few batches of cookies and several pizzas.  Luckily Bella's birthday is coming up in November...and, well, Nick's in December, and, hey, then there's Christmas!  

Now, if only I could use the flour to make rawhides....

This one's for you, wherever you are

Bella has been growing her hair out.  It has been a long road to get to this point.  Because her hair is so long, it's very hard for her to do anything unless it's pulled back in a pony tail.  Having all that hair makes her get hotter, easier.  She has been a good sport about the process.

This summer, the cholorine from swimming was a killer. (it meant more washing and conditioning)

Bella knows that this is for a good cause.  The hair is used to make wigs for children/adults with cancer.  It makes her feel good that she is doing something for someone else.

Her hair has seen alot in it's time.  It has been swimming, to gymnastics, to school, playing outside, climbing and swinging at the playground, hanging at the beach and playing with the dog.

I am sure you will be happy to know that your hair has had all this fun and is waiting to have more.  :)

Volunteer

I decided to volunteer for a couple activities.  Its a nice thing to do, you're helping out and it makes you feel good.
I didn't realize that these 2 activities would take up all of my time!  They certainly don't tell you that when you sign up.  An hour or two of your time is what you are told.  So, After 4 classes and several meetings and having to think about it while I try to sleep at night, I'm exhausted.

Back

Pulled a muscle in my back the other day.  Not exactly sure what I did.  If I did know, I would never do that again, thats for sure. 
I'm not one to lay around waiting for it to get better.  The first sign of healing and I'm up and about.  Obviously not a smart thing to do, bc, here I am, laying in bed again.
Its been great using it as an excuse to get the kids to help out around the house.  "Hey, can you get that, my back hurts."  Or, the one I really love, "Can you please clean/pick that up?  My back is really hurting me."
Yesterday, I asked Alexander and Bella to clean up around the house.  Bella's friend was coming over to play today.  They were picking up toys, dusting, vacuuming, sweeping.  It was great.
Bella's friend called this morning, and was unable to make it.  Alexander found out, and said, Hey, isn't that why we cleaned up?  I think he was ready to go over to her house and make sure she was sick and let her know about all the work he did for her.
Little does he know that I will be using the "guest is coming over" the rest of the week.