More Treasure Boxes...Round 2 of making Treasure Boxes at the our house. As you can tell, we are really into making things with cardboard and boxes. Throw in a few stickers, markers, a little glue and art supplies...hours of fun! Other than just keeping an eye on Julia and the glue, they have a big time. Gives me an excuse to buy shoes...ha! Honest honey, we're just running out of boxes!

Fireman...Jacob and John made a homemade firetruck over the weekend from a box we got at Costco. They actually sawed out a hole in the bottom so Jacob can stand in it to drive it. It is pretty cool and he is really proud of it. He decorated it himself.
He even shared with his sister. What a guy!!!

Swim Lessons...Well, I actually managed to get a few snapshots of Jacob at his swim lesson on Saturday morning. He has such a great time. Unfortunately, I have to take pictures from the upstairs bleachers while holding Julia's hand so it made it interesting...ha!

Good News...John finally got his truck sold. Yea! He had to make a whirlwind trip to Dallas and back since the guy was selling his truck and didn't want to be without one. It was a crazy 24 hour period but as we say in the country - he "gotter done"! That is a big relief!

Yesterday, Julia and I spent the morning at Target getting her a new winter coat, winter pj's, etc. I found a great coat that is actually two separate pieces so she can wear the liner now and as it gets colder, then I can add the outer shell. I love things with dual function. Yea!

I've been trying to get organized. Jacob and Julia are both having Halloween parties at their schools but on different days with different supplies. Jacob's school is having a Storybook parade and they get to bring their costume to school to wear for the parade. But we got a note home yesterday that his teacher would like it if we could send a book to school with their costume character in it (if possible). So, now I am on a hunt for a Batman book with Robin in it (yes, he wanted to be Batman's sidekick, Robin...oh well...). A mother's work is never done. Sometimes it feels like the kids have all the fun and the parent's get all the homework. You know? But it is all worth it when you see how much fun they are having in school.

Rainy Days, Part Deux...Julia loves any excuse to wear her rain coat and rain boots.

Rainy Days...Well, we've had several rainy days this week so Julia and I have made the most of it with painting, dress-up, etc. The next couple of postings are a few pictures.

Wine Sommelier...Well, it is day 2 of John's part time job at the wine store in Huntington. He is really enjoying it and learning so much. He has gotten to do several wine tastings already and is learning so much about different wines, regions, how they are made, etc. It is great that he has found a job like this that is a natural interest for him and that he looks forward to going in to work. Yea!

Had my 2nd PTA meeting this morning. The school will be having a costume parade and party of the 31st where each class makes their own costumes. Should be very cute!

Halloween Costumes...The kids and I went to Party City yesterday after swim lessons to get their Halloween costumes. Julia is going to be Princess Snow White and Jacob decided he wanted to be Robin. So, of course they each have already been wearing their costumes. The funny thing is, Julia has to change costumes to play superheros with her brother. She won't play superhero in her princess costume. It's not the right outfit. It's hilarious!

She loves being a princess...Princess Julia loves to wear her royal pink blanker and her pink tiara.

Catch Up Mode...Ok, how do people work full time jobs all day and get the home stuff done, too?!?! I have worked 3 out of the last 4 nights at the restaurant and worked all day around the house trying to get stuff done before I left. I was way behind. It has taken me a day and a half just to make a dent in the household chores. And I'm very tired. I work again tonight and tomorrow night but then I am off the rest of the week. Yea! Looking forward to some catchup time and possibly some down time when kids are asleep.

Cowgirl Julia...While I was working last night, John, Jacob and Julia had a big time making and flying paper airplanes, playing cowboys/cowgirls, hide and seek, and drawing. Quite a time! Here are a few snapshots of Julia in her new pink cowboy boots all "duded" up.

I worked both Saturday and Sunday night for a total of 11 hours. It was EXTREMELY busy Saturday night since it was Irish Fest that day. Last night was my first night to work all alone. I was a little nervous but it went fine. However, there were 17 take out orders so I was running back and forth placing orders like crazy. My dogs are barking! I work again tonight but then will be off on Tuesday so that'll be nice.

Irish Day/Festival...Irish Eyes are DEFINITELY smiling (or at least staggering) in the West End of Long Beach today. It has thrown up Irish in Long Beach. EVERYONE is wearing green and all but a few streets are blocked off in the West End. The vendors are set up on Beech St. and most houses have Irish paraphenalia and a party in full swing in one way/shape/form. Since I work tonight and John just got in this morning from work, we are not in amongst them but I have the windows open and it is extremely entertaining to watch everyone wandering by. I had to scare someone off from my parking space around 1pm today. It is totally the vibe and feeling that is in Stillwater during OSU homecoming. Very fun! I'm sure work will be amusing today with either people trying to avoid Irish Fest or people who have realized it isn't the same when you are 35 yrs old...ha!

Fall Decorations...Well, it's official. Fall is here and it feels like it. And everyone around here likes to decorate their porches. So, I got in the spirit and did just a few decorations.

News...I found out yesterday that me and another mom in Jacob's class will be the home room mother's for Jacob's class. Yea! It makes me feel like such a grown-up (like I am already at 35 yrs old...don't know why I still don't feel like one...ha!). Oh well...

We are experiencing our first "Noreaster" today according to the news. It is currently 58 degrees and pretty windy. Definitely sweatshirt weather today.

Video Queen...Miss Julia has really gotten into her brother's V-Smile game. Half the time she just holds the joystick and thinks she is playing. The rest of the time (usually by herself) she is trying to actually play. What a cutie!

Jacob's Field Trip...Jacob and John had a great time on the field trip yesterday to the Green Meadows Farm in Queens. It was 12 acres of petting zoo, puppet show, pumpkin patch, etc. Jacob brought home a pumpkin and explained that I needed to make a pumpkin pie with it. I promised I would bake a pie sometime in the next week. (I will not be using the pumpkin, only canned pumpkin for me...ha!) Jacob told me I had to bake the pumpkin pie today because it was fall. I explained that it would be fall for a couple of months so sometime in the next week would be fine. He also got to pet a baby chick, milk a cow, ride a pony, go on a hayride, etc. Lots of fun! John had all kinds of stories about the kids. Hilarious!

The Much-Talked About Snowi...Today was Jacob's first school field trip. John went with him and they got to ride a school bus to Green Meadows Farm in Queens. John said they had a lot of fun petting the animals, etc. There were so many parents as chaperones that John only had 2 kids, Jacob and Snowi. And for those of you who don't know, Snowi is the girl Jacob has a "crush" on that until recently sat beside him in class. He has talked about her since the first week of school. Well, John got a picture of them together. He said she is a very sweet girl and very smart, but also a little bossy. Ha!

Out of the mouth's of babe...Jacob announced night before last at the dinner table that Douglas, a boy in his class, told the whole class that his dad got a DUI for drinking and driving and was arrested. Talk about a quiet moment. John and I just looked at each other. John asked Jacob what his teacher said. Jacob said she just said, "I'm sorry." Poor woman. The things children know and tell the world is astounding.

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, No..It is Super Julia!...Protecting the streets of Long Beach day OR night.