Halloween Recap!

Halloween was a blast this year.  Because of our recent financial difficulties, it was a little bit different than I had hoped (I didn't get to do the costumes I really wanted to), but we got to dress up nonetheless and we had so much fun trick or treating twice.  Yes, you read that correctly. TWICE.

Billa and Mama

My parents' HOA does a Halloween hayride every year since the neighborhood is so large and the houses spread so far apart (it's rural Hays County, what can I say).  It's a win win for everyone: the kids are kept safe by going in big group, it fosters a sense of community, and for those giving out candy, it means one visit only so you aren't constantly bombarded by the doorbell ringing every two minutes.  Billa wasn't the youngest by far, but she was one of the littler ones.  She really enjoyed running up to every house and saying, "Trick er please!" for her candy.  She got quite a bit too!  My parents house was one of the last stops and after heading there, she had a total meltdown because she thought she was done and wanted to stay with Boppa and Papa.

One of the funnier moments that evening was when she tripped in someone's yard and fell down.  She cried for all of two seconds before seeing the other kids pass her and then pushed us away to hobble to the door to get candy.  Girl has her priorities, ya know!  There were also a few times when she got really confused and bypassed people in their yards in favor of running up to their doors instead.  At one house, the lady was just as confused as Billa when B ran past her to ring the doorbell.

"Trick or please!"

Halloween night we went trick or treating with the Marino and the Patterson family.  This is now the third year that we've gone trick or treating as a group and it's been so much fun.  The kids are all so close in age and they play together pretty well.  Billa got tons more candy, although this time she was more interested in every dog and cat at every house we stopped by.  She kept waving people off so she could pet the dogs and even refused candy at some houses as a result.

All the little trick or treaters: Bumblebee the Tranformer (Cameron), Ariel the Little Mermaid (Madeleine), Tinkerbell (Sydney), Superman (Jacob), and the Halloween Sprite (Billa)

Ding dong!

At several houses, Billa was far more interested in people's pets than the candy.  I can't complain! 

I think Halloween is easily Billa's favorite holiday now.  It's not just the candy or dressing up (which she really enjoyed; she got mad at me when I didn't put her tutu on fast enough!) but the decorations that she loves.  Every house that had decorations she wanted to stop and look at.  One of the houses next door to her daycare had a lot of Halloween decor in their yard; the morning after Halloween they had taken it all down (I still haven't taken mine down...I'm in denial that it's over) and she keeps saying "Mama, puh-kin patch gone.  Ghost gone.  Puh-kin patch gone!" in the saddest little voice ever.  Somebody loves themself some Halloween!

The only problem now is figuring out what to do with all of the candy we got.  I've probably eaten my weight in it by now, so I'll freeze some for around Christmas time (stocking stuffers!) and maybe use some in some sweet treats to take to the office.  Not that the office doesn't have it's own perils there...everyone keeps bringing in their own leftover candy.  Argh!  Time to hit the pavements and up my yoga intake :o)

Gimme all yer candy, or ye walk the plank!  ARRRRRR!

Hope you all had a safe and fun Halloween too!

Happy Birthday!

I ain't gonna lie...if it weren't for Facebook, I would probably forget half the anniversaries and birthdays of the people I love.  So, thank you Facebook for reminding me that today are the birthdays of two very special people: my daughter's godmother (and one of my best friends) Debi and my cousin Kari!

If you have a chance, swing by my cousin's blog, Hound Girl.  Kari has two awesome dogs, Hayley and Fred and I love reading her stories about their adventures.  Plus, who doesn't like cute dog pictures?

And if you know a Marine, hug them or tell them thank you today in honor of my friend Debi.  Debi is a Marine and she was there by my side as I was giving birth.  She was also there by my side during some of the worst depression I have ever experienced and I am forever grateful for her friendship and her service to our country.

Happy birthday ladies...you are well loved in the land of Lapiz de la Guerra!

Kelly

Happy Halloween!

Hey ho for Halloween
When the fairies all are seen;
Some black and some green,
Hey ho for Halloween!

 

We hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Halloween this year!

Love,

The Guerra Family

Pumpkin Patch Adventures

Every year Sybilla's daycare goes to a local pumpkin patch and every year, without fail, something has prevented me from going.  The first year I had a big meeting at work.  The next year was rained out.  Not this year!  I was taking the day off and we were going to go to the pumpkin patch!

Of course, Friday dawned gloomy and drizzly and our daycare lady called to tell us that she was cancelling the trip.  No way, I said.  We are going, RAIN OR SHINE!  Besides, it was only drizzling and intermittently at that.  We got to the patch just as it opened and already there were tons of kids.  The kids normally wear their costumes and things being financially tight this year, I put her in some stripey Halloween pants and her bat shirt from last year.  She however, decided to let her inner fashionista shine and added the skirt and boots all on her own!  I kid you not, scout's honor!

Billa in her get up. Add some wings and sparkly makeup and she'll be the cutest Halloween fairy ever!

"Mama! I run!"

We ran around the haybale maze several times and then went inside the main building for the "haunted house" and The Great Pumpkin.  It's all pretty tame since it's for little kids, but they love it nonetheless.

The Great Pumpkin, Jack. There's someone hidden behind a screen who will sing songs and talk to the kids as the pumpkin when people come into the room.

The "gross-ary" - like I said, it's pretty tame, but the kids love it any way!

Admiring all of the decor hanging from the ceiling. I swear, these people must have stockpiled Halloween decorations from the last thirty years...some of them are quite old!

Billa enjoyed riding on Daddy's shoulders to get a closer peek at the stuff hanging on the ceiling!

As we were leaving, daycare lady called and said they were going to come after all.  It was Billa's lucky day.  We ran around some more until her friends arrived and picture taking commenced.   The kids all ran around through the maze together, we revisited the haunted house and The Great Pumpkin, took more pictures, and finally ended our trip by picking pumpkins for the kids to take home.

Billa's class. She's the only girl. It explains a lot about my child's personality and behaviour!

Running through the maze with her buddies!

The perfect "puh-kin!"

Billa had a blast and I am happy to say that third time's the charm on this one.  I finally made it to the pumpkin patch!  Her outfit was such a success that I've decided we're going to skip the owl idea for another time and do a Halloween fairy instead.  I'll borrow some wings and do some cute makeup on her and we'll be good to go.

Halloween is my favorite holiday and I think it is quickly becoming Billa's favorite too.  Now every time Billa sees Halloween decorations, she now calls them "puh-kin patch!"  Even her little pumpkin that she brought home. I still haven't decided if we'll carve it or just leave it be.  Either way, this will be a Halloween to be remembered!

Cheers,
Kelly

A Little Bit of Crazy

Part of being sane, is being a little bit crazy. - Janet Long

The above was one of my quotes for the day and I laughed out loud when I read it.    The last couple of weeks have been a lot of crazy for me.  I'm hoping that makes me very sane, because right now, I sure don't feel that way.

I've had a sinus infection since the Sunday before last which has completely colored my world in every shade of green and yellow.  I haven't been this sick in a long time and it's really wearing me down.  My mornings are spent getting cereal and chocolate milk for Billa and then hacking up my lungs and clearing my sinuses of all the gunk that's collected there during the night.  I spent an entire week working from home because I felt so yucky and I had to bail on baking a birthday cake for a friend's son.  I thought I'd recovered enough, but I was just too worn down.  Earlier this week I thought I was getting better, but now I think it's turned into bronchitis or something similar.  My coughing at night has become so bad that I had to spend last night on the couch to keep from waking everyone up.  I can't speak half the time which is really frustrating.  Sometimes answering a question with a simple yes or no is even too much at times. 

I'm trying to remain upbeat about it all though.  I'm grateful I have a job that allows me to work from home, so I didn't have to miss any work, although in hindsight I probably should have taken a day off to rest.  Things financially have been terribly hard lately and by not going to work, I saved considerably on gas since I didn't have to go anywhere except daycare and back.  It also enabled me to get a bit of cleaning done around the house that desperately needed to be done.  That meant more time with Billa and Michael.  It also meant enjoying the view outside my window and being able to sit in my pajamas while orking.  That's always a plus, right?  I don't know about this one, but my pal Wendi says that all my coughing is giving me a workout and rock hard abs.  I'll give her the benefit of the doubt on that one, lol!

I'm hoping that this will all pass soon.  I'm ready to climb back in the saddle and have some sense of normality, whatever that looks like.  I'm taking the day off tomorrow to go to the pumpkin patch with Billa's daycare and I think spending the rest of the day lounging and doing nothing is just what the doctor ordered. 

Cheers,
Kelly