HALLOWEEN!!!

Sigh.

It is a "make" Halloween costumes year.  

I love and hate these years.  I love homemade costumes.  They are unique, cute and last much longer than store bought ones.  I hate them because making all these costumes is stressful and hard...also it always ends up costing more money than I planned.

This year, all three girls wanted to be some kind of princess!  So THREE princess dresses were in my sewing future.  

We bought the fabric early (like the day before I left for Boston early).  But I didn't start sewing until late.  So I was sewing costumes right down to the line.  

                                                 

Luckily for Lorien, she had a church dance early in the month and wanted to wear her costume.  So her dress got put together early.  I am a pro at a little girl princess dress.  I've made a dozen or more.  But I've never made a grown-up girl sized princess dress.  It was daunting but turned out really cute.  I was super proud of it.  Lorien looked like the perfect Glinda.  

                                                 

Wyatt wanted to be a caveman.  His costume was the easiest.  Just sewing a couple of straight lines on some furry fabric.  A while ago he found a cow's thigh bone on one of our hikes out in the hills.  He used the bone as his caveman club.  It was cool--in a gruesome way.

                                                

Clare wanted to be the live action version of Cinderella.  Her dress wasn't too hard to put together...although I wish I bought twice as much tuel to really fluff her skirt up.

                                                

Adell was a darling Rapunzel.  That wig took some figuring out.  I watched a tutorial on another crafty mom's blog.  She made it look easy.  However, I didn't account for the weight all of that hair was going to add.  Adell had a hard time keeping it on.  She looked cute all the same.

And because I am a glutton for punishment, I tried to make myself a Wicked Witch of the West dress.  It was hard.  It did not turn out nicely.  The top was huge and weird.  I couldn't get the zipper in.  I looked a wicked mess.  But it's Halloween so who cares?

And Colter!  I did not make Colter's costume.  I saw this little construction worker outfit on sale at the fabric store and snatched it up!  He was super happy to be an "auction worker guy".

The kids got plenty of Halloween related use out of their costumes.  They wore them to school, to the church Halloween party (is that an oxymoron--church Halloween party?), and for trick-or-treating Halloween night.  So all of the sewing work was totally worth it.  They were also very proud of their costumes--which always makes me feel nice.  

                                                

A house right next to the middle school goes all out with Halloween decorations.  We drive by that house twice a day, every day...and every time at least one of the kids says "We HAVE to trick-or-treat at that house!"  This year we made it to the house.  It was creepy and cool.  The kids loved it.

                                                                                          Happy Halloween!

EARTHQUAKES!

                                   

For the last week or more we have been having lots of little earthquakes...like hundreds of them.  I don't feel most of them.  They are usually less than 3 magnitude and they happen all day and all night.  The kids have started to notice them--and like them.  

One day, Will was working from home.  Every so often he would call out to me "did you feel that one?"  Most of the time my answer was "no".  He was sitting in a quiet room with fewer distractions while I was bustling around with kids clamoring for my attention.  Each earthquake was really small and only lasted a second or two.  Late in the afternoon, when all the kids were home from school, we heard a big boom sound and the whole house started shaking.  I was standing next to Lorien near the tall book shelf in the living room.  All of a sudden as the house was shaking I shouted and shoved Lorien "get away from the book shelf!" Then I remembered that I have several other children and maybe I should try and keep them safe too.  This all ran through my mind in a second and by the time I had those thoughts (and shoved Lorien) the earthquake was over.  It ended up being a 3.5.  That same night, around 10:00 pm, we had another big shaker.  But over all, they were pretty small and all were uneventful. 

We all learned that you can hear an earthquake before it hits.  There is usually a big or small booming sound.  The times I heard the quake before it happened I thought it was a kid closing a door or something.  But knowing that just ended up causing unnecessary paranoia.  Now, everytime I hear a booming sound (a kid actually closes a door, the garbage truck goes by etc) I get jumpy--expecting the ground to start shaking.

*post edit* we ended up having over 200 mini quakes over the space of two or three weeks.  They were all centered around and in our neighborhood.  It was weird and kind of cool.  It made me get our emergency kits together and go over some disaster preparedness stuff with the kids.  

One and only(s)

With three kids playing soccer this fall we decided to pass on our usual season passes for Stanford Football.  Our Saturdays were devoted to watching Wyatt, Clare and Adell play soccer.  To quote Will: "I'd rather watch our own children play sports than watch someone else's children."  Also, with only one soccer player last year we were only able to make it to a few Stanford games.  

We did check the schedule and find the one night/weekday game and bought tickets for that game.  So, our one and only Stanford football game was last week.  Stanford vs. UCLA.  

Stanford won...because we were there.  We had a great time.

                                                 

The other one and only that happened last week was a field trip for Adell.  I never, ever, ever go on field trips with my kids.  My biggest reason is it is hard to figure out what to do with all the other little kids I have at home.  Also, I hate riding on a school bus.  I rode a bus to and from school every day of my school-aged life.  I've thrown up on school buses...on field trips.  It is not cool.  I do not need to barf on a school bus as an adult.  

Alas, my refusal to chaperone field trips makes my children very sad.  I've not been able to be in Adell's classroom (like I was with the older kids) so to make it up to her...I went on a field trip.  

I rode on the bus (no puking).  I watched other people's children run all over the place.  I carried four pumpkins around.  I chaperoned like crazy.  

Field trip accomplished.

                                                  

                                                 

I am probably never going to do that again.

Monterey

After my mental health vacation to Boston our whole family took a little vacation to Monterey.  I flew into Oakland Saturday afternoon, Will and the kids picked me up and we drove straight down to Monterey.  I haven't been home in almost a week--which is nice if home is making you lose your marbles.  

It was a perfect weekend to stay at a beach house.  We are lucky enough to know the family that owns this little beach house and they offered to let us stay there for the weekend of General Conference.  

                                             

We spent chunks of the day watching conference and eating candy.  The kids get to pick out a handful of meaningful words (Prophet, gospel, scriptures, etc) and every time they hear those words they got to put down a tally mark.  At the end of the talks they got to collect candy and treats for each tally mark.  Bribery is a great way to get kids to pay attention at church.  Amen.

Between sessions of conference we slipped down to the beach.  The house was literally one block from the ocean.  The front yard was beach sand.  For this beach-bum it was so very cool.

                                                

                                                                       

Sunday evening we took a special trip out to the dunes.  We had to drive for a bit, park in an abandoned military facility, cross the freeway on a closed overpass and hike down to the beach...but it was worth it.  

                                                 

                                                

                                                

                                                 

We ended up staying in Monterey for one extra day.  Lorien went back home with Uncle David and his family.  She had school obligations she didn't want to skip.  The rest of us spent the day at the aquarium.  I've only been to this aquarium twice.  It is huge, cool and expensive.  The first time we went it happened to be "locals day" and the place was packed!  It was not a very satisfying experience.  This trip was way better!  The kids got to see (and sometimes touch) everything.  We got to ask questions of the guides and ooh and awe over the wonders of the ocean.

                                                 

                                                 

I learned this cool thing about anchovies and sardines...really any kind of fish that travel in large schools.  These fish swim all around in swirling masses of thousands of fish.  Everyone knows they do this primarily because there is strength in numbers.  But plenty of us wonder, how do all of those fish swim around with out smacking into each other all the time?  Or, how do they know how to change direction at the exact same time?  

Turns out, scientists have discovered an organ inside the gills of these kinds of fish.  The organ can detect even the slightest change in water pressure or current.  So if one fish slightly moves it's head, every fish around "feels" it and they all move too.  (This may be the crappiest explanation ever...go ahead a google it for better information...)  

Anyway, I thought that was cool.  AND, I realized, my children have this exact ability!  I swear, they know how to move around my legs and body as I try to make my way around.  By some strange sixth sense, (or organ in their gills) they know exactly where I am going to be a millisecond before I do and how to get there.  I am constantly moving around with children swarming around me--and constantly trying not to step on them.  

It is amazing.

Thankfully, this sense seems to wear off.  Because adults do not do this.  I have high hopes for my children and my future ability to walk around without a kid being right under my feet all the time. 

                                                 

The whole trip ended up being one of those few family vacations where it was easy, fun and relaxing.  

Escape to Sudbury Mountain

I had an overwhelming week.

By Tuesday, I was a wreck...physically and emotionally.  We had all been running around all week, the house was a disaster, no one had eaten a real meal in days because in all my running around I couldn't get to the grocery store, Will was working long hours trying to solve the latest work-related-crisis.  Really, it wasn't much different than any other week--I just wasn't handling the stress very well...which happens.

Wednesday night Will told me he had booked a flight for me out to Boston to spend a few days with my dear friend, Anne.  Importantly, the flight was leaving first thing the next morning so I needed to pack.  

And just like that (snaps fingers) I was off on a little "psychotic mom induced" vacation.  

The flights were uneventful, meaning: although I got a little motion sick, I did not throw up all over the place.  Total win.  

                              

I had a layover in Nashville, Tennessee.  I"ve never been in Tennessee...the airport was nice.  

I arrived in Boston late Thursday night.  Anne picked me up at the airport after her econ class (at Harvard!).  I had to wait a few minutes for Anne to arrive.  I loved standing there soaking in the Boston atmosphere.  I could hear snatches of Boston accent from the people around me.  The area outside the airport is really different from when I lived there.  They have done a lot of construction and updating but it still felt like Boston and kind of like home.                                                 

                                                

Anne had her home all decked out for the Autumn season.  I was jealous and in love with all the decor.  The leaves were just starting to change.  There was still a lot of green but having come from California and our drought I loved seeing the green trees and grass as much as I would have loved seeing fall colors.  

Anne took me out on a whirlwind tour of her little, historic town.  After checking out the oldest running flour mill in America we went to a candy store and bakery.  We sat on benches designated for political parties.  I had to stand between the Republican and Democrat bench since I am a registered Independent.

Anne was such a great hostess.  She let me relax and chatted with me until late into the night...even though she still had all of her regular life to live every day.  We caught up on life, children, husbands and future plans.  It was glorious.  It rained a bit--which was also glorious.

I spent a fair amount of time oohing and awwing over Anne's charming home.  She has excellent taste.  I kept taking pictures of little decorating ideas I wanted to steal.  

                                                  

After two and a half short days I got back on the plane to head home.  It was a great little get away.  Recharging with a friend is just what I needed to recompose my scattered brain.  A million thanks to Will for shipping me off and Anne for opening her home to an unscheduled visitor.

Hopefully, next time it wont take a break down to get us together.