Hey there and thanks for coming to see my TAT! ;-) This week for Talk About Tuesday I am sharing something I worked on this week during the boringest game EVER - I MEAN - the World Series. I luck out ladies, my hubs really could care less about any kind of sports, that is, until the World Series or Super Bowl. So while it was on for eleventyhundred hours this weekend I decided to work on a little project inspired by our upcoming anniversary.

I played around with our wedding photos, made a little clip show and set them to music - i.e. I made a movie! It was my first time playing around with this program and it came out pretty damn cool if I do say so myself :-D So this is the 'movie' of the wedding formal shots, it's set to OUR song, the song playing when he first told me he loved me - HE remembered that, is that sweet or what?! :-D

So tell me what you guys thought about my first try! And for more people TATing check out the Lazy Organizer!

Welcome back to Masterpiece Monday! Though it's a little late in the day, and I haven't scrapped anything new this week, I thought I would share anyway! These are some of my older pages, yes again, going with the Fall theme! Hope you enjoy! And if you've got something Masterpiece-y to share please do, we'd all LOVE to see it! Just link back to MM in your post, enter your Mr. Linky at the bottom and leave a comment! Happy Monday y'all! :-D


This is Thanksgiving 2005, a few days after we got married :-D It was our first Thanksgiving with all the kids and our moms so it was special. I love this layout, the checklist is cute :-D

For Thanksgiving 2006 we went to my uncle and aunts house in Orange County, we had the BEST time! Thanksgiving at their house is so much fun, they have 30 people on Thursday and 40 people on Friday! I like the buttons on this page, makes em pop!

This is the facing page in the layout, simple, but I like it :-D

Second layout, first page. I had a bunch of pictures of Terrible Two getting into all kinds of trouble so I put em all together. I love the paperstrips detailing her naughtiness ;-)

And my favorite page ... Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house starts with Appletini's in the morning - F-U-N - how else do you handle THAT much FAMILY?! ;-) Hehe, I like the title and the pic of my aunt, at the end of the day, empty martini glass in hand :-D

Ok, so here's the Mr. Linky - show me some love! ;-)

I heart fall ya'll {I am now required by O-town law to use the word "ya'll", ya'll}. To me, it's the start of cooler weather, rain {I love the rain}, and the HOLIDAYS!!!!!

This weekend my very busy busy DH pushed himself to his limit installing a wood floor and finished in one day, so that he could go with us to the pumpkin patch the next day, he's such a good daddy. It wasn't just any pumpkin patch now, it was the PUMPKIN FESTIVAL in Half Moon Bay! In which they were boasting of all things pumpkin flavored, arts, crafts, a Starbucks kiosk in the middle of the street, pumpkins and other stuff too.

Well, we had company this weekend and it proved to be really hard to tear ourselves away from their sweet sweet baby - I mean - wonderful conversation, so we got a LAAAAATE start. On a normal day, Half Moon Bay is probably 2-3 hours away-ish. On a weekend when they are having their FAMOUS pumkin festival and there is only ONE way in and ONE way out, it took us over FOUR HOURS. The last HOUR was spent on a 10 mile stretch of one lane highway going over the hills. We left at noon. 12 + 4hours = HELLA LATE.

So as we FINALLY come into town and smell the sweet mixture of salty sea air and the trees that only grow on the coast, we see the pumkin patch to end all pumpkin patches. It is so big that it takes up BOTH sides of the highway! They have to stop traffic in order to let people cross to the other side {i.e. 1 hour to go 10 miles}. But I kid you not, it was the most elaborate, decorated, awesome pumpkin patch I have EVER seen. So we went muddin' through the parking lot and headed in...



Terrible Two found and latched on to a pumkin right away. In fact she carried this pumkin EVERYWHERE ALL DAY. It was little and cute though and she kept saying "bukin - BUUUUKIN!" if we tried to take it away ;-)

We just had the two kids this weekend, which I must say, made things A LOT easier! It gets so overwhelming trying to keep four kids occupied/happy/out of trouble/fed/in line that it just wasn't any fun. So we alternated our weekends with each set. We have Little Man one weekend, the girls the next, and Terrible Two all the time. We also have them all during the week to so they still get to be together, but not so much so that they fight all the time. Thus far, WORKING OUT GREAT!

See, even with only 3 subjects I just can't seem to get them all smiling and looking at the camera at the same time - it's the rule of 3's I think ;-)

Little Man picked out a great pumpkin for himself

and then helped us find a few more. Then he played in the jumpy houses, tried to go in the haunted house but went through the haunted hall way instead, and then we realized that THIS was NOT the pumkin festival . . . so we packed up to go find it!

Eventually we did. However, the festival appearently went until 5:00pm as we got there at 5:05 and they were all but GONE. :-( I was a little upset.

But we walked around a little, I LOVE Half Moon Bay, and got a pumkin cookie. Again, the rule of 3's prevailed in the picture above...

After we were done pouting - I MEAN - having a great time at the pumkin festival, we attempted to leave, and saw a longer line of traffic than when we waited to ENTER the city. So we decided it was time to eat! We went to a cute little English pub right on the coast. It was ok, the picture here shows the highlight of the meal. But in any case, when we left 45 minutes later, traffic was GONE. We made it home in 2 hours . . . TWO HOURS! That's what I end up spending on the road 2-3 mornings a week just getting my kids to school! {I pick them up from their dad's house} So knowing that, I'd love to spend more time there, I am a beach bum at heart. Glad my hubby is too :-D

Actually, in about 4 weeks we have a weekend away planned for our anniversary to Monterey! Wow, it's only 4 weeks away now! We've been planning it since JUNE!!!! That is when I had to book our babysitter - she's a busy girl ;-) And she and her wonderful new hubby have agreed to watch my heathens - I MEAN - girls :-D so we could actually have a WEEKEND ALL TO OURSELVES!!!!!! We've only had two nights alone since our baby was born 2 1/2 years ago, one of them was our wedding night. And I know some people don't even get that much, but for us and our situation, it's EXTREMELY important that we have our couple time. We NEED that time to just be together and be a couple and remember what it was that made us fall so much in love in the first place and why we want to work so hard to stay together. SO, 4 weeks baby!!!!! w00t!

TNT!

Today for my first Talk About Tuesday {or TAT} entry, I'll be sharing a fun Halloween Craftsy Friendly Project! TAT, as I understand it, is a chance to share things and talk about stuff that you've done or that's going on. So I thought this would be a great TAT! Rebecca just told me the other day that she got "BOO!"'ed and after I found out what it was I decided that I too, would like to BOO! So I BOO YOU! HEY there's no reason for boo-hoo! When you see what is the BOO, you'll say "that's true!" ;-) Ok, Dr. Suess hour is over...

THIS is my BOO Basket! Well, one of the three that I made and delivered today to 3 of my friends {and forgot to take pics of - not thinking of the TAT factor}. The Neighborhood Phantom comes by your doorstep and leaves you a bundle of Halloween Joy! In return for this festive goodness you are instructed to then BECOME the Neighborhood Phantom! You choose 3 people to impart your Halloweeny goodness upon, make up baskets or bags or whatever you want, but keep it simple and inexpensive. Then you deliver them with the instructions {more on that below}, ring their bell, and RUN! You can hang around if you want though too.

I filled 3 baskets with a bunch of inexpensive Halloween fun stuff from various dollar aisles and stores, did pretty good I think! My baskets included things like a Halloween themed dishtowel and pot holder, kids cup and pumpkin straw, small can of the Jones Soda, some shaped cookies wrapped up in a treat bag with ribbon, a little costume for Mama :-D, and 10 Halloween cookie cutters to fill in the bottom! OH, and candy corn of course :-D All that stuff was a $1.00 and often times, LESS! I am waiting {NOT at all patiently} to see if anyone figures out it was me! :-D

I ended up scrapping my cards because I don't have a working printer right now. I didn't take a pic of the inside of the card {again, I forgot about my TAT!} but they were CUTE! Now you can come up with a poem of your own, or go by the one listed below. But I challenge ALL of you who have read this to go BOO'ing! It's really A LOT of fun and gets people in the spirit of giving and just having a good time! I've been told that people also do this for Thanksgiving {Being Turkey'd} and Christmas {Getting Frosted!} so I think I might just try that out too :-D

For more fun TATs check out the Lazy Organizer and all her TAT fun! OH and if you decide to BOO someone, leave me a comment and let me know! I'd love to hear about it!!

BOO'ing Poem:

You've Just Been BOO'ed!

Since this is the time for goblins and bats,

For Halloween spirits, for ghosts and cats,

For weird happenings and witches' brew

These are the things I wish for you...

May the only spirit you chance to meet

Be the spirit of love and friends warm and sweet.

May the only goblin that comes your way,

Be the Neighborhood Phantom and this give away!

"Tis much better to give than to receive" goes the old verse,

And something this easy won't empty your purse.

It's YOUR turn to pass along a treat and a BOO!

Because now the Neighborhood Phantom is little old YOU!

So take some time, pick three friends sweet,

And give to them each a Halloween Treat!

You only have 3 days - so you'd better hurry -

Leave a treat on the doorstep, ring the bell - THEN SCURRY!

Terrible Two's toys . . . I found this at the top of the stairs, just as you see it . . . perhaps she'll become a famous chef someday . . .

Halloween 2001 - Boss was only four and was the cutest Belle on the block!

Halloween 2002 - Boss was Mulan and Princess was, well, princess Belle.

Halloween 2003 - Boss was Barbie of Swan Lake and Princess was Sleeping Beauty, the costume was fitting don't you think ;-)


Halloween 2004 - Boss was a Fairy Princess and Princess was Barbie as the Pauper, that's my father-in-law, he likes dressing up almost {or more ;-)} than they do!

Halloween 2005 - Boss and Princess chose costumes that ended up not fitting so well when we got home, so on a whim we switched them...and the fit! Boss was Barbie and the Magic of Pegasus, Princess was cute little pixie!

Halloween 2006 - Boss WANTED to be Scarlet O'Hara and we found the most BEAUTIFUL green and white dress, from the BBQ at Twin Oaks scene, but her dad said no. So instead she chose a Spanish Rose, Princess was Snow Queen, and Terrible Two was a reluctant Sleeping Beauty ;-)

This year is going to be SO much fun! Boss is a pirate, Princess a Spider Witch, and Terrible Two is a monkey! I will for sure be posting pics of THAT!

Ok, so there are my masterpieces in all their glory, where are yours?? Go ahead and post your own Masterpiece Monday! Feel free to use this lovely graphic courtesy of Rebecca, mention and link to MM, and submit your Mr. Linky below! OH and comments are of course appreciated :-D

TNT!

While I enjoy these few fleating moments of quiet I will enjoy my coffee and a little conversation. I need to talk. I need to talk about the oddity that is the world of the "Mommy Groups"...

I've always had just a few close friends since I was pre-mommy phase. We all have kids now and always did the whole birthday party things, get together, scrap, whatever. Well they have all now deserted me and scattered to the far reaches of the US and left me vulnerable to be SUCKED in by the "mommy groups" - for this I curse their names every day - WELL, not EVERY day ;-)

Where I lived before - ghetto was not strong enough a word to describe it. I couldn't talk to neighbors, unless I was in the market for Meth. I couldn't join a close playgroup, since they appeared to be more of a support group for former meth users. I couldn't go to the parks since the homeless seemed to use them more than the kids did. So when we decided to move I was all about getting out there and meeting people. And so I have. And so I have realized that it's a whole different world out there my friends...

I have been inducted into the tribe and have become privy to some of the rituals. I have done my best not to be seduced by their heathen ways but I fear I am not strong enough to pull back. These are some of my findings/observations...

• To be a true part of the "Mommy Group" you must be a stay at home mom, if not, you will be accepted but on a lower level as you can not and are not devoting your entire being to your child/children
• You must fall into one of 3 catagories: 1) Have a newborn; 2) Pregnant; 3) Trying {desperately} to get pregnant - if not, you are on the lower level of acceptance as stated above
• You should have more than one child
• Your children should not be more than 18 months apart - if they are - you will be HOUNDED as to when you will be conceiving your next and what you may be doing wrong
• You should NOT have school age children - if you do, do not have them around as they are wild and uncontrolable and could be overwhelming for the babies
• You should not have more than 3 children - if you do, you should not try to have them all in one place as that could be overwhelming for the babies
• You must devote all nap/quiet times to the "Mommy Group Message Board" where you must post and reply to all posts even if it is just to say "cute" or "thanks for sharing", even if you don't mean it - OH and if someone isn't posting the obligatory meaningless reply - SHUN them they are dead to us!
• You can not have a healthy sexual relationship with your husband - and if you do, you can not speak of that deviant behavior but must listen to others talk about their distain for the act and methods of "other stimulation" i.e. "I need a vibrator!"
• You must participate in 'playgroup' gettogethers at least 2-3 times a week working up to 2-3 A DAY or be considered 'inactive' and again considered SHUNNED-YOUAREDEADTOUS!
• You must own 1-2 SUVs, if you don't - wait - who has a child and DOESN'T own an SUV?
• YOU MUST BREASTFEED
• YOU MUST BREASTFEED for at least 1 year and preferrable until your child can chew steak, and ask for a glass of milk with it
• Those who do not breastfeed shall be glared at when breastfeeding is discussed, as it is at EVERY gathering for apx 50% of the time
• You must devote yourself to making sure your child is being educationally stimulated at all times, even if that includes wearing THIS
• You should look into getting "some help around the house" {read: get a maid so you can be free to attend all playdates and still have a perfect house}
• It is recommended that you do not have a sense of humor and not be sarcastic - if you do, you will be sectioned off into the 'bitchy moms' group
• While at playgroups, all conversation shall pertain to 1) Breastfeeding; 2) Trying to get pregnant; 3) The cute new thing your 1 year old is doing; or 4) The eleventyhundred things you child is NOT doing that someone else's child IS doing
• And above all else...You MUST devote all your waking, and sleeping, moments to your child and no one else...

Now remember, these are just MY findings as I navigate this new world and it's odd ways, other groups rules may vary - a little ;-). I shall update you as I infiltrate their group further and try not to be shunned...can anyone remind me WHY I wanted to subject myself to this?? Oh no! They're starting to suck me IN!!!!!

TNT!

Sorry, none of the house itself :-( and you really wanna know why, read this entry - nuff said. However, I do have some pictures that I thought I would share.


This is Boss, Princess and I at Family Fun Night at their school. We all got our faces painted {I think I was the only mom walking around with a flower on her face - lucky me :-D} and played games, won prizes, and had a great time. They are quite the social butterflies! I think they must have talked to and pointed out 60 different kids! There was quite a turn out, Boss said every kid from her class was there. I love that about this community, people are really involved. Princess won the cake walk and ran over with a big bag of what we *thought was a piece of cake {that I was going to dissappear with ;-)} but as she opened it, she looked a little dissappointed - being that there was only a box of cake mix and a thing of frosting!

This was one of our first dinners in the new house, actually LIVING in the new house. DH stopped by the local cheese shop and brought home crackers, a loaf of fresh baked bread, a block of smoked gouda, and bottle of wine. Talk about good eatin! OH MAN. So we put the baby to bed {the other kids were with their other parents} and went out to our porch. Right now is the PERFECT weather for porch dinning. We are right in front of the pool so the view is kinda nice too. We actually end up out on the porch most nights. It's almost like a little getaway and has some great ambiance, that is of course, until the neighbor hears us outside and muscles his way in >:-/ Not that I don't like the guy, cause I do, it's just that he's ALWAYS around. I'm working on setting up a schedule with DH on how much togetherness is too much...

THIS is my favorite way to blog :-D I was out on the porch the other day, desperately trying to come up with a funny/witty/entertaining/interesting/thought provoking/funny post, don't worry, you didn't miss it - after a cocktail or two I decided it might not be the BEST time to broadcast my thoughts to the internet... Not my fault though, the neighbor wanted me to taste test his Cosmo recipes cause he had a girl coming over later that night - see THAT is why we keep him around ;-) He's good for SOME things ;-)

I don't even remember when this was but I think it was one of the days we were moving. It was like in the late afternoon and I walked down the stairs to see this. SO FREAKIN CUTE, especially since neither of them usually take naps in the afternoon, they never stand still long enough! I just thought they looked so funny all contorted like that!

So now you have pictures! w00t! ;-) I was going to write more about how happy I am here, how great things are going, how SOMETHING has finally lived up to it's hype, but I have kids to get dressed and presentable and a playdate to get ready for :-D So this will have to do for today. I'm acutally just so damn pleased with myself for posting 5 times in 6 days! I KNOW, shocking isn't it?! Well keep reading down if you just came back, I've been busy ;-)

TNT!

TNT!

Well, kinda. More like venting to you - oh gracious internet - so I don't blow up at my husband who really is doing the BEST he can with the oh so limited time he has.

My $5 disposable, high quality, top O the line window cover just fell down. Why? because it was held up with high quality, fancy, blue tape - as it has been for over a month - that's why. As lovely as my new neighborhood is, I don't really want to expose it to the chaos that is the Rockwell household, or me in my underware.

I am also tired of digging for all the kids' clothes in gigantic piles because their dressers are still in the boxes they came in, or half put together taking up space in my beautiful closet!

I also hate looking at the wall where the baseboards should be. When my talented DH installed our tile, it got a little messy, as tile install do. So the walls have thin set and all other manner of crap all over. Plus, the paint stops there, but not in like a line, but in roller strokes.

I also would LOVE to have my beautiful granite counter tops grouted. They have been installed for weeks, sans grout. I am also looking forward to having a backsplash instead of just seeing where the former backsplash was. I can't wait for the grout to be finished on the floors too where it ran out.

And as much as I LOVE dusting, I kinda can't wait for the construction dust not to make my coutnertops and cabinets looks gray.

And as fun as it is to play Count The Nail Holes, I am looking forward to having the trim painted on the door to The Boss's room. I am very glad she now has a door, don't get me wrong, I am super impressed with DH for getting a door for free, installing it, and drywalling it in where there was only an opening before. It's just hard have it stand out cause it's only primered and the nail holes show.

And as fun as it is to hear "Oh hun, just wait and let me do it MY way" {read: the RIGHT way} I hate hearing it everytime I ask where the hammer is. Or the paint. Or the GROUT - maybe he's right about that one...

I know, it totally sounds like I am just bitchin up a storm here - 'there goes Bitchy McBitch on another rant about how bad things are - WHATev' - I know, it sounds terrible.

I just don't function as well living in chaos. It bothers me to look around and see things half done when I can't FIX them or do anything about it. I have control issues :-D I have many issues, control is a big one though. It bothers me because I am pretty much constantly surrounded by it on a 24 hour basis and can't do anything about it.

Except play Bitchy McBitch. But I don't want to play that with my wonderful hubs because he does work so damn hard and there just aren't enough hours in the day or pain med scrips. So I don't want to vent to him - LUCKY YOU GUYS! :-D Really, I am thinking of him, see how sweet I can be - LUCKY HIM! ;-)

I know moving and settling in takes time, and I know that it WILL all get done at some point, I just need to find the patience to wait for it. AHHHHHHH self awareness . . .

Also, I really CAN'T complain to him cause there IS stuff I COULD do, I have haven't. There are boxes I could unpack, toys I could put away, rooms I can semi-organize - I just haven't. UH OH - there goes ANY sympathy I just had right?! Again, I tell you - oh lucky internet peeps - cause you can't make me do NUTHIN! - HA! ;-)

Ok, rant/vent session over for today. I appreciate any and all support and will accept any and all comments of support - comments of 'get over yo damn self' = DELETE. :-D

TNT!