Not Me Monday

• I definitely did not fail on posting every day in November on the SECOND DAY. I would for sure last longer than that
• I most certainly did not lose my gas card for the second time, call to get a new one, only to realize I had not put the new one in my car
• I absolutely am not addicted to The Howard Stern Show on Sirius Radio. I would never listen to such sexist, trashy radio
• I clearly don't go to Panera to get work done because if I go home my two year old has other ideas. I surely would never use a chain restaurant as my office
• I without question don't freak out every time my manager rides with me. I have been doing this job for 4 years so I am definitely used to it by now

That's it for this week! :)

Yabba Dabba Doooooo!

We have been talking about Halloween with Grace for a couple of weeks now. We would tell her she was going to wear a Pebbles costume and go Trick-or-Treating and get candy. She would reply, "and then Ho-Ho comes and brings me presents?" She is so confused, lol. No matter how many times we told her she insisted that Ho-Ho was coming and she was gonna get some presents. As if a bucket full of candy isn't enough?

As you can see we went as the Flinstones. We went to The Barczak's for a Devil's Night Costume Party Friday night. It was fun to do a family theme and to see all of the adults dressed up too. Saturday we started the night at my parents where I guilted Scott and Nicki into coming over so I could get some pictures of the kids :) They were so dang cute. Ally was Hannah Montanta and Luke was a monkey. You can see Grace is acting like a monkey in the picture of the two of them. Those two are monkeys all right.

We then made the rounds to Gma Dawson's and the Rumseys. We ended the night at the Tylutkis. Beckie was the original mastermind behind the Flinstone / Rubbles idea. Give me an idea and I am off and running! Be careful what you say Beck!! Most of the costumes were courtesy of my very creative husband. He refused to go to JoAnns but he did use my sewing machine.

Surprisingly, Grace enjoyed the Trick-or-Treating. We took her an Noah around the neighborhood and man was it cold! They both went right up to the doors and held their buckets out for complete strangers to give them candy. Grace insisted on eating every peice of candy as she got it. She didn't quite get the whole gather it and save it for later thing. She ended up running around like a wild indian most the night, crying when we had to leave, and passing out from a sugar coma in the car. A successful Halloween indeed.

Nablopomo

I'm gonna try it. I am not promising anything but perhaps this will make up for my lack of blogging the last couple of months.

5 Little Pumpkins

Click the video on the right first and then the video on the left for the rest. It took 2 takes to get the whole thing in. She didn't have a nap and the attention span was nonexistent, lol.

Nana has this thing she does with the kiddos around Halloween and they all absolutely LOVE it. It goes:

5 Little Pumpkins sitting on a gate

The first one says, "oh my its getting late"

The second one says, "there are witches in the air"

The fourth one says, "oh we don't care "

The fourth one says, "lets run and run and run"

The fifth one says, "now I'm ready for some fun"

(CLAP!) Out went the lights!

woooooooooooooooooooooooo

...and the 5 Little Pumpkins rolled out of sight

Pumpkin Carving

We decided to carve our pumpkins last Saturday. It was a beautiful morning and we even managed to get in some pictures before the yuck weather came through. These are home grown Dawson pumpkins too, from Adam's mom and dad. Grace thought it was great fun. Sydney and Dooley did too :)

Flavor Fruit Farms

We took our second annual trip to Flavor Fruit Farms today. A little different from last year when there was no one there! It was crazy busy with a TON of fun things to do. Matt and Jenny joined us for the little excursion.

Grace loved the animals of course and she put away a donut like it was her job. She really liked the funny little white pumpkins. Just like her: one of a kind!

Even at two little Miss G is still quite shy. I keep waiting for the "stranger danger" to pass but it just doesn't. And its' not just strangers but people she knows well! It is just such a funny thing to me since she is so crazy at home and around her people. Also because I tend to be pretty outgoing so it is hard for me to relate. I just wish everyone could see her true personality instead of her clinging to mama- lol. I have read a little about this shyness in parents magazines and such and it says the best thing to do is to just let them warm up to situations in their own time and never force them to interact if they aren't ready.

It was a wonderful Sunday. Good family fun at the pumpkin patch, a nap, and just hanging at home. Doesn't get much better than that :)

The "Wooden" Anniversary

Friday was our anniversary: October 9th, 2004. We have been married 5 years!! The traditional anniversary present is "wood". There are so many jokes but I just won't go there :) Hahaha.

We sent G off to Grandma's house on Thursday night so we could celebrate. We went to AKA Sushi in Jackson (oh so fab) and then to see "The Informant" with Matt Damon. It was a great night out. Even after 11 years together we still love to talk , or just be together and quiet, and we have always made each other laugh. I really think the secret of a happy marriage is laughter. Adam is and always will be my very best friend and closest confident. I love that no matter what he's got my back.

I worried that when we had Grace our relationship would change. And I think in some ways it has, but for the better. Together, we are weathering the storm that life can be at times and coming out a little bit stronger.