Halloween 2010

Last night, we partied it up at the Babcock's for Halloween.

Thanks Jacki and Sheldon!!

Here's the best of the night...

Bob AKA Chubbs

Brett AKA Happy

Bryan AKA Gilmore's Caddy

Aren't Sisters Seriously the Best?

I couldn't be happier that the Hottie and I were able to produce this sisterhood....

I hope it's as good as this....

Man....I sure miss that Dawn. She's stuck somewhere inside of me.

Ugh!

Our Dirt

I bought Charlotte a jumperoo. She loves it. She plays for a bit and then she naps. Play. Nap. Perfect. She can barely reach the ground...so we've helped her out a bit. She doesn't quite get the jumping part just yet...but, she certainly loves the toys.

I bought the toy at Once Upon a Child. Have you been there? I felt ridiculous spending $100 for something that we will only use for a couple months. So...2nd hand it was. It was still $45. Stupid. Oh well.


Warning: the next part of this post may leave you feeling like I'm a bit of a snot. So...if you only want to think good thoughts of me...STOP NOW!


Once Upon a Child is 1.5 miles away. I entered the store and went straight to the entertainers. I located a jumperoo. I glanced at the price and lugged it to the front to make my purchase. I paid. I then grabbed the jumperoo and realized it was dirty. I disgustingly asked the store clerk if they clean the merchandise (you know - because they say that they wash all the clothes and sanitize the toys). She tells me they have clorox wipes and hands me a container.


Seriously.


I just paid for this entertainer 1 minute ago and she is now handing me a container of wipes to clean it. So...one by one I used up literally about 40 wipes on the enterainer while at the same time holding back the vomit.


Was that excessive? Probably...but, I was a scrubbing fool.
Was it really that dirty? Probably not.
Why was I so disgusted? Because it was someone else's dirt.


After I finished cleaning the jumperoo and used up the container of wipes, I carried it to the car an brought it home. Upon returning home...I scrubbed some more and washed the seat.

As I was completing my second thorough scrub of the toy...my mind wondered. I thought about how dirty the toy really was. Yes, it was dirty...but, definitely not out of control. Not any dirtier than either of the cuties booster seats in the car. So...if it wasn't out of control dirty - why was I so disgusted?


Here's the kicker - I realized that I think that MY dirt is better than other people's dirt. Yep. I'm a dirt snob. I admit that I am kind of a clean freak. But, really not OCD. In fact - my floors are filthy (they haven't been mopped in like 3 weeks) they've got spots everywhere...but somehow, I don't care. However - I'm sure if I walked into a stranger's house and saw these exact same spots...I'd be disgusted. The funny thing is, I would never hesitate to let Charlotte play with my friends' or family's toys. I wouldn't even notice if they were dirty...but - if it's a stranger...GROOOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!

Yep. I'm a dirt snob.

BLC

Here's my newest creation.

I can't take full credit.

I'm a blog copycat.

sorry for the weird angle - I was trying to avoid the flash light.

What did it take?

Frame - 1/2 off at Hobby Lobby

brown card stock

chipboard letters

cream paint

glitter

linen-ish material from hobby lobby

modge podge

pictures of the cuties

tape & scissors

I had everything but the frame. If I did it again...I'd skip the glitter. It got all over and I still have specks all over the glass. It's impossible to get every piece...and if I look to close at it...they drive me crazy! But...I think it turned out good enough. Even the Hottie noticed it when he and Brades returned from camping...so it must be cute!

Craft Night

Anyone interested in a craft night at my house?

Hmm...what is craft night?

Well, craft night will include drinks, food, chatting, and crafting. I'm open to all crafts. The holidays are coming up and we should all be getting our craft on. I love homemade!

If you're interested...I'll host it - but, I need some participants....Start looking for craft ideas. I've found lots...here's a few.

For the parent, looking to build structure....
http://www.lilluna.com/2010/08/creative-guest-post-magnetic-chore.html

For the LDS friend or sitter (like mine)...or if you have another quote...
http://www.lilluna.com/2010/07/tutorial-tuesday-our-family-forever.html

For the Halloween lover...
http://www.sassytalk.net/Home_Page.php
(really...this could be done for all holidays, birthdays, countdowns, days of the week, etc.)

For the tank or tee flower accessorizer...
http://www.poshlittletutus.com/item_51/Girls-Blooming-Flower-ChiffonTutu-Pettiskirt-Top.htm

For the office...
http://www.howdoesshe.com/my-favorite-things-with-2x4s

For the reeeeaaaaaally clean peeps...
http://www.howdoesshe.com/please-remove-your-shoes

For some Subway Art...
http://diaryofacraftaholic.blogspot.com/2010/05/rtw-subway-art-tutorial.html
(think of what you could do...favorite phrase/quote, family rules, love reminders, chores, alphabet, etc.). This one's cute, too:
http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/09/spooktacular-subway-art-tutorial.html And, this one:
http://www.sawdustandpaperscraps.com/2010/09/halloween-subway-art.html

For some door decor...
http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/twine-wreath-tutorial.html

For an anniversary or engagement gift...
http://adventuresofthemichelenafamily.blogspot.com/2010/07/picture-plaque-tutorial.html

For that old dollar store plaque...
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/09/dollar-store-antiqued-plaque-tutorial.html

For those girlie headbands that are so cute...
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2010/06/dollar-store-denim-rosette-headband-tutorial.html
And for the rosettes: http://littlebirdiesecrets.blogspot.com/2010/09/fabric-rosette-tutorial-extravaganza.html

For a monogrammed plaque...
http://www.creationsbykara.com/2009/05/cheap-easy-wood-plaque.html

OMG!! There are gazillions of crafts out there I want to make...anyone want to join??

Please say yes!

Schnepf's

It's that time of year again. Schnepf's Farm. It has definitely become an annual event for all of us. This year was extra special...we were joined by:

• The norm - my parents, Cori and Aidyn, the Babcock's, Billy,
• Robin, Aaron, Lincoln, and London,
• Aunt Karen and Bart,
• Aunt Rene, Uncle Mart, KateLynn, and Carley,
• Bobby, Laura, Michelle, and Jenny,
• Rainie, Justin, and Talon,
• BJ, Stacey, James, and Kate
• Bob and Ava

Yep...it was a gigantic crew of us making our way through the farm. We ate, enjoyed a hayride, rode the carousel, slide, swings, coaster, bumble bees, airplanes, and of course the train. We always go later in the day and enjoy the "haunted" train after dark. Funny how we go to a pumpkin patch...and leave without pumpkins. Somehow...we normally decide to just go for the fun and then get our pumpkin at Fry's. Is that weird?

We're getting close...Happy Halloween!

I love this picture!

Thank you Ashley!!

Fruit Punch

Saturday night we had date night. Well...really we hung out with some friends for drinks, food, and laughs. And...probably me talking waaaay too much. But, oh well! My parents took the cuties home from a family birthday party. To make it easier, they drove the van - and we drove my mom's car.

First - I was so embarrassed because our van = filthy. Their car = newly washed. My dad even wrote a little note to us on the windshield...WASH ME.

Second - I'm not sure...but, I think my mom is trying to create a Fruit Punch air freshener. Check this out.

And...the air fresheners didn't stop there - a second strawberry one hung just below.

4 Months

Our chunky-monkey is 4 months.
She really hit 4 months back on the 24th of September.
But, today was her 4 month check-up.
(we're a little behind)

4 month stats:
Weight: 14 pounds, 9 ounces (50%)
Length: 24.5 inches (50%)
Head circumference: 43.1 centimeters (80%)
She got 3 shots.
She cried.
The other 2 cuties laughed.
It was kind of funny.

It's hard to believe that it has been 4 months. But, at the same time...it's hard to believe that it has ONLY been 4 months. It seems like she's been with us forever.

Happy 4 month birthday!!
(3 weeks ago)

Missing

I'm missing my Cuties.

And, the Hottie.

And...tonight, I'm missing this

Sorry, Buddy!!

I miss you!!

I hope you played GREEEEAAAAAT!

POST EDIT: The Hottie just called me...Brady hit a home run. Woo Hoo Brades!! Way to go, Buddy!!!!!!

Hot Mama Shoes

I'm out of town.

Yep, C-town.

The Hottie is at home with the kids.

Today...I got this picture via e-mail.

Lily.

Wearing a leotard.

And my heels.

Or, as she would call them...hot mama shoes.

The story goes down like this.

Taylor Swift comes on TV.

Lily hears her.

Lily says...dad press pause.

Lily runs out of the room.

Lily returns wearing her dance outfit and heels.

Lily says...ok, play dad...I want to dance.

Seriously???

I think we're in trouble.

Cousins

I have a lot of cousins. a LOT!

Growing up - I don't have one memory without at least one of my cousins in it. I was brought up with the emphasis on family. And, I love that. Although...family is kind of a "loose" word. There are a lot of people that I consider family...but, are really family friends...and they're just as special as family.

Our family relationship is very strong. We fight, we laugh, we yell, we cry, we smile...we're all so different...but, then we're all even more the same. No matter what, we are always there for each other. Such a special bond.

My family gets together for every event. You are never alone. Holidays are huge. We all celebrate them together. All of us. All gazillion of us. We know it's strange. But to us...its normal. I would not have it any other way.

I love that every family event finds us reminiscing back to the good 'ole days...mostly talking about the same stories and then always including a new one. I love listening to my mom and her sisters talk about their childhood...and my childhood. I love hearing stories about my grandparents. I love hearing about what the adults were doing as we were playing colored eggs or hide and seek...or even sneaking off with our own ice chest. So may memories. So much history. So awesome.

Us cousins have only become closer. It's a different kind of closeness. We're not really playing games...well, sometimes :), but the chatting and crying and joking and teasing and just plain old belly-aching laughter is just...so...much more special.

There is a new cousin generation. And...oh boy...do I see so much of the same type of closeness that feels like just yesterday I was experiencing. I love watching it from this side...while at the same time I'm now one of the adults (well, if that's what you would call us). It's like the best of both worlds...watching the new cousin generation unfold, growing stronger with my cousin generation (go BCF Misty!) and learn so much from the generation above me.

Family...isn't it wonderful?

No, this isn't the best picture...but, some of the new cousin generation are playing red light, green light.

Here the new generation is setting up chairs to watch the lightning storm.

Best.Surprise.EVER!

Dear Charlotte,

Awhile back, I wrote this post. At the time...you were growing, growing, growing in my belly. My pregnancy brought us fear, happiness, surprise, and excitement. Your birth brought us a sense of completeness. We do not know why we were blessed with you...but, we certainly are so thankful. You are so loved. So, so, SO loved.

Love, Mommy

Pinkalicious

Friday night was date night. But, not with the Hottie and me, it was with Lily and Mommy. Oh my goodness - did we have pink-filled fun!

Lily's favorite book is Pinkalicious. Or...as she says, "Pinklicious." She even wants to be Pinkalicious for Halloween. Too bad the costume is sold out pretty much everywhere. Recently I had seen an ad for Pinkalicious the Musical at Valley Youth Theater. So...I bought us some tickets for opening night.

I told Lily on Wednesday that we were going to have a Mommy/Lily date to see Pinkalicious. Wow was she excited...talking about it non-stop. Friday found us shopping for a pink dress and black sparkly shoes. When Bryan got home from work, he loaded up Brady and Charlotte and left for Brady's game. Lily and I finished getting ready and headed out for downtown Phoenix for our girls night out.

We planned to eat dinner before...but, due to an accident on the freeway, I thought we were a little behind. So...after parking next to the theater, we were directed to the only food place in sight (Pizza Hut) and ordered a pizza. We did a good deed that night. We ate our pizza and still had over half of it left, so we gave it to the homeless man that came into Pizza Hut to watch TV (since they had a pretty nice TV). He was very thankful. We then walked the 1 block to the theater.

Oh.My.Goodness. Pink galore. Pink cupcakes. Pink butterfly wings. Pink t-shirts. Pink costumes. Pink wands. Pink tiaras. Pink flowers. Everything was pink. Every.thing. Lily was in heaven. We sat down for the show.

One great thing about the VYT is that it is totally kid friendly. I guess that's why it's the Valley YOUTH Theater. But anyway...the kids are all invited to the front of the stage to watch. Lily was a little hesitant, so we started the show with her on my lap. That lasted for all of 5 minutes and then she ran up to the stage where she stayed put for the next 1.5 hours. She watched every.single.minute. When the show was over...she didn't want to leave. I finally pulled her out of the theater and she got to meet Pinkalicious herself.

We then headed back to the car and drove home. Lily was asleep in t-minus 5 seconds with her pink magic wand tightly held in her hand. So adorable.

I feel so lucky to have such a girlie-girl daughter to share pink fun. I can't wait for Charlotte to be old enough to go with us. Me and the girls. How fun!

With her "magic" PINK wand

Us...before the show

Lily after taking our seats

My "stalking" picture of Kurt Warner. Yep...he was there watching his daughter.


Lily and Pinkalicious


After the show...on our way out

Similac Recall

Dear Similac People - AKA Abbott Laboratories,

My name is Dawn Campbell and I am a long time user of your formula product. All three of my children have either used or are using your Similac Advanced formula. As a vocal advocate of formula feeding, I find it disappointing in the way that the recent formula recall has been handled.

I am pleased that Abbott Laboratories did send me a letter advising that formula I have purchased may be part of the recall. Yes, the letter itself is impressive. However, I would hesitate to refer to this recall as a "proactive, voluntary recall." The recall information page located here, states that the FDA determined that there is no serious health risk of the formula that contains beetles, but...there is a possibility of this contaminated formula causing a refusal to eat and GI discomfort. While I agree that a "tummy ache" is not a serious health risk, I would hardly call the FDA's determination and the recall that followed, as proactive or voluntary.

As a mother of an infant that receives their daily nutrients solely from Similac formula, a recall of this nature can be frustrating, inconvenient, and costly. Upon notification of the recall, I was fortunate to be able to return the 23.2 oz of container and exchange it for a new, unaffected, Similac product. The unfortunate part was that the same size container was not available as ALL, and I repeat ALL of the larger size containers were affected by the recall. This would not have been as big of an issue; however, I was then forced to purchase the smaller 12.4 oz. can that was $14.99 versus $20.99 (on sale) for the larger container. This means that in order for me to replace the exact same amount of formula that I had purchased only the day before, I would have to spend $28.07, or more than $7.00 more. And, the cost increase did not stop with that one exchange. I had to replace the formula container I purchased for my daycare provider, as well as 3 more containers since the recall date. And now, the grocery providers in my area are currently sold out of the small 12.4 oz cans and I am now being forced to purchase the liquid bottles. The liquid bottles do have a quick and easy convenience, but they also have some negatives such as, 1) they must be refrigerated after opening, so I must now carry an ice pack to keep it chilled, 2) once opened, they only last for 48 hours, and 3) they are even more costly at $5.99 per quart.

While I have no doubt that this recall is costly to Abbott, it must be clear that this recall is also costly to your consumers. However, Abbott is a broad-based, global health care company that employs almost 90,000 people. Abbott is a multi million dollar company, your average consumer is not.

Formula users are under constant scrutiny already without the recall due to beetle contamination. We are already concerned for the health of our children due to the recall, being concerned for the monetary cost of the recall should not be a concern we have to deal with, as well. Similac is the #1 infant formula in the United States. As a show of apology and thankfulness for our continued purchases through this recall, I do not think that a letter was enough. Included with the letter of recall should have been manufacturer coupons, a safe product replacement, or even the promise that grocers across the nation will have the ability to cut the cost of the available Similac products to ensure that consumers do not have any additional costs out of their pocket.

As a long-time user of this product, what I thought was the #1 formula product, I really expected a little more.

Thank you for your time,

Dawn Campbell

Food

We are introducing food to Charlotte. So far...so good. We started with cereal, she hated it. No surprise...none of my kids like it. So...we jumped to the foods. So far she's loving green beans and apples. Lily and Brady love to "help" out and feed her. And somehow, Lily loves the baby food, too! GROSS. It must be a consistency thing - I cannot stand baby food. Blah! Charlotte is a little piggy. She'll eat the whole container in one sitting. This weeks menu includes peas, pears, and squash.