Outta this world!

My office generally dresses with a theme each year...

This year we chose ALIENS!  We can't really be scary and we prefer to be cute anyway! 

Here are our decorations:

Our spaceship (made before Balloon Boy!):

Here we are:

(Debbie, Lisa, Me, and Melissa)

Me, acting "alien-ish" next to our spaceship:

Flashback Friday!

Halloween Style

Carson's 1st Halloween

Bumble Bee

2001

Adam's 1st Halloween

 Fireman

2004

Proud of my Mama!

My Mom retired at the end of March and has decided to volunteer at a local "safe house" for domestic violence victims.  Last night was her first class and she has several hours of training ahead of her, but I'm so proud of her.  She and I have both been victims of domestic violence so it's near and dear to both of our hearts.  I don't like to call myself a victim though; I've just chosen better people to spend my time with.

October is domestic violence awareness month

Mom-I love you so very much!  I'm proud to have you as a Mom and to be your daughter! 

Getting in the spirit!

I love Halloween!
Always have, always will!  Maybe it's because it is the day before my Birthday, maybe it's because you get to dress up, or maybe it's because you get to eat candy!  I think it might be all three! 

Larry and I are having a pretty big Halloween party, as in 35-40 guests.  We have been cleaning our house, buying food, and making preps for Saturday night!

Today I made these:

They are similar to my wedding centerpieces as they are the same glassware and candle!  I just added candy corn, candy pumpkins, and my Mom helped with the ribbon and cute embellishment!  I'm happy with how they turned out and the cost was very affordable!  I just bought the candy out of the bulk section of our grocery store! 

Halloween candy is expensive!  I wanted the real deal this year.  No Smarties, tiny Toosie Rolls, or Dum Dums!  I paid for it though!  I'm shocked at how spendy it is, even when you buy it from Wal-mart!  BUT, if you are having a Halloween party, you must have Halloween candy!

This is a 7 quart bowl!

Stay tuned for later this week as I have two different costumes to model!  One for work and one for our costume party!  LOL!

Our front porch...

Park play

It's really hard to believe that we played at the park today...at the end of October!  It was gorgeous though!

See????

We went down several slides and through the tube

Carson went on the money bars

While Adam climbed

We checked out the river

What we did most though, was fight over the one toy...



Sorry that the quality of the video isn't the best, I was using my cell phone.  After this video was shot the fighting grew worse and Adam ended up in tears with snot running down his face.  At that point it was time to come home. 

We had fun, but they need more than one of those toys!

Flashback Friday!

A boy after my own heart!

Adam loves licorice too!

Five

It's our five month anniversary...

Here are five pictures of me getting ready...

Make-up done & getting ready to put the dress on!

This bird kept trying to sneak a peek while I was getting my dress on!

My Mom helping me with my dress

Dress details

My Mom and Sister in Law helping me get my jewelry on

Early Birthday Surprise

Today after work, I came home to a huge surprise!  Looking back, Larry was acting a little odd and had to talk to me upstairs.   

I walked into my room and this was my reaction...

I love that I have string cheese in my hand

This is what I saw...

My Mom got together all the stuff...new nightstands, lamps, bed spread, candles, tray, tea set, mirror, wall art, etc.  Her friend Cathy made the black and white pillows, runner, and curtains.  Brad and Ryan filled my nightstand with candy, socks, lotion, and Cosmo.  They also gave us the wine on the tray on the bed.  I had a feeling I was getting a damask bed set for my Birthday, but this far exceeds that! 

I want a little black bench under the window...

Before...

What a HUGE difference! 

Mom, you rock like NO other!  Thank you for making my room so pretty!  I love every single detail!

Thank you to Brad, Ryan, and Cathy too!

Flashback Friday!

*I wrote this post several months ago, before my Mom decided to take the family on a Bahamian cruise.  I tend to write my Flashback Friday posts way in advance when I have time!  How funny!*  Two years ago my Mom took me on a Caribbean cruise for my upcoming 30th Birthday!


We had sooooo much fun!



We were late to our spa appointment, why you ask???Because we were busy buying diamonds!!!We drank girly drinks and we preferred the non-alcoholic kind!I sat on our balcony for hours, just staring out at the ocean!I tried to avoid 7-mile man who claimed we wouldnever be able to see Cuba from the ship!I couldn't sleep, my Mom snored!We shopped till we dropped, held turtles,& swam in the Caribbean.We ate bacon every day, did a little gambling, and sat in the pool.A Mexican lady insisted I needed to buy anugly gaudy ring, I declined.Jewelry and hand bags were purchased in excess!We bought rum that was claimed on our customs forms.We also bought Cuban cigars that were not claimed on our customs forms ;)



We bought these super cute crayons that were $5 a bundle in Mexico!We saw them in the Portland airport for $9 per crayon!
See??? We are bargain shoppers!



We created a ton of fun memories, I wish we could go back right now!

I love this picture of my Mom!

She made me get my pictures taken with these damn birds!

 

Holding turtles in the Grand Cayman Islands!

Me in the Caribbean Sea

P.S.

If you bring LOTS of bottled water, they will search your bags, make you open the bottles, and smell them to make sure you aren't smuggling alcohol onboard!

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch today and it was gorgeous out! We found one that wasn't far from our home and we got a ton of pumpkins & gourds for $35! We didn't have to pay for any of the fun stuff like a lot of pumpkin patches! They did have a hay ride that was $2 each, but we opted not to go on the hay ride as it just circled the patch once.

The slides

Tunnel Slide

Adam

Carson

The big huge Hay Mountain~Larry helping Adam up

They made it!

I love these boys!

Larry and I on top of the Hay Mountain!

Larry helping Adam back down...

Corn Maze

Doesn't Adam look thrilled?  LOL!

BUT, a decent smile from Carson!!!

Time to pick out our pumpkins

Adam in the patch!

Carson