Happy Halloween!

Today I will be going to work wearing a costume. Fun!
Then we're going to a family party at a friends house.

As a kid, I always loved dressing up.
And so did my kids. . . I hope they always do!
One of my favorite costumes I wore was Tinkerbell!

I remember running around the neighborhood
with my brothers & friends,
getting lots of candy!

I don't feel Halloween has to be used for evil.
It can be a great way to encourage imagination in our kids!

What are your favorite childhood Halloween memories?
Whatever your doing today,
Have a Happy & Safe Halloween!

Teens And Tattoos (And Husbands Too)

My most read Blog post of everything I've written, every single month is, hands down, Teens And Tattoos. Where I talk about getting my tattoo, and my oldest son Kyle turning 18 and getting his first tattoo. So, I thought I would update, since there is so much interest out there, and it's been well over a year.

Since that time, my Husband John got his first tattoo. He got it for Father's day last year. It is a Star made out of Music notes, on his right forearm. He says it's his two favorite things in the world, Me & music! :) (I asked him "if I die before you do, do you think your next wife will mind you having my name on you?" He said he'd just cover it up, & turn it into something else. haha)

And he knew right away he wanted more of them. As did Kyle. (He turned 19 this past July) I had made Kyle wait at least a year, because as I've said in that first post, too many teenagers, after making that difficult decision to permanently mark their body, see how fun & easy it is & then go crazy getting a bunch more tattoos, that in a year or two realize mean nothing to them, and they regret getting them. I didn't want that for him.

Well, this week John & Kyle got their second tattoos together. Some friends of ours from Church, have a family friend who is a tattoo artist from Hawaii who is in town. John got the word Music spelled out in musical notes on his other arm. You can read about his unique experience on his Blog here.

And as you know Kyle was very close to my Dad. (who passed away 6 years ago) My mom had given Kyle my dads wedding ring. My dad is 1/4 native American. (Of the Cherokee Nation) And his wedding band had Indian markings on it that were waves. So, Kyle has had this idea in his head that he wanted a tattoo using the waves from the ring with my dads actual signature. My mom happened to still have something with his signature on it, (Which Kyle now carries in his wallet)

He was thinking of doing it on his forearm, opposite his other tattoo as well, but I told him it might be cool to have the waves wrap around his upper arm. He sent his ideas to this tattoo artist who came up with the art work & shading idea. He said it was very tender getting the inside of the arm tattooed. But, he absolutely loves the finished product! It looks pretty cool! (even though it's a little bigger than I thought it was going to be!)

People always ask me if I will ever get another tattoo. Probably not. I love having a tattoo & I love my little star on my ankle. But that's enough for me. Or they ask me about coloring it in. I don't think so, maybe someday I might add little swirls around it or something. Well see.

Here are some pictures of Kyle with my dad:

Twin Day

My girls had "Twin Day" at school. It was part of Spirit week.
Now usually they will dress to match their friends, but NEVER their sister!
But, they decided to this year.
Go figure, twin sisters dressing like twins! What a concept?!
They looked so cute!

It has been awhile since they actually dressed alike.
Even when they were little, I usually dressed them in the same thing,
just in different colors.
Or outfits that "went together" but, weren't exactly the same.

Once in awhile someone would give them the exact same thing,
so we'd dress them alike for fun or something special.
Until they got old enough to where they would tell me
their sister was wearing that,
so they couldn't possibly!
(I'm so sure Mom!)
(But I still tried! It's just so stinking cute!)

It's The Great Pumpkin

When our boys were little, we started the Family Tradition of picking Pumpkins & carving them. And even though the kids are older now, they still love doing it.

Yes, I made my kids line up in the cut out truck!
(They are 12-19, don't tell them they are too old for that kind of thing!)

It was Fall brake from school, so we took a day & went to the Pumpkin Patch. Each kid picked their special pumpkin that would be just right for their idea to carve. Their ideas get better & better every year! There is tons of patterns now you can down load off the Internet. But most of theirs they did free hand!

Look: it's Schroeder & Lucy, Waiting for the Great Pumpkin!

And Linus & Sally!

And Snoopy & Woodstock!

We took home all the pumpkins, and after much consideration & debate, the designs were chosen. We carved and scooped out the goop, Salted & baked the Pumpkin seeds. Yum!

Carving away!


Gooey!

Lexi found a pattern for a really cute Hello Kitty design. Erica did a Peace sign! Olivia did a Hawaiian Hibiscus, and Kyle did the Hang Loose sign! Zach stuck with the more traditional Jack-O-Lantern! (which suits his personality!)

Lexi

Erica

Zach

Kyle

The finished Product: Day to Night

"I've learned there are three things
you don't discuss with people:
religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin."
-Linus
(So, I've broken all 3 rules! Oh well!)

U2

My Husband John has always been a Rock N Roller! (Me, I was more of a Disco Queen, or a Pop Princess!) And when he was a Teenager he went to his very first concert ever to see the J. Giles Band. (Remember them? "Freeze Frame!" or "My Angel is a Centerfold") And they had opening up for them some unknown band with the weird name of U2. As he tells it, they didn't have high expectations of what this band would be. . . Until they heard them. He said they brought U2 back out for at least 3 encores, and J. Giles Band, not 1! He's been a huge fan ever since.

The stage is set

Awesome light show!

A few months ago our Church did a series called The Gospel According To U2. John and his band covered a U2 song each week that went along with our Pastor's message. You can hear some of the songs they did here! John is singing on one of the tunes and/or playing Guitar or Drums on all of them. (Kyle played the drums on the other songs) Shauna is the other singer (or as we called them, Johno & Shauno, as opposed to Bono!)

The girls from the gang we went with! All of whom are "Fergulicious!"
(l to r: Renee', Christen, Jena, Tara, Melissa & me,
none of the guys wanted to waste the time for pictures,
they had to get to the concert!)

The same month we were doing The Gospel According to U2, tickets went on sale for their tour. They were coming to Phoenix in October! John has always wanted to see them again since that first concert, so we, along with some of the other Church staff (and a bunch of other people we know) bought tickets. John's Birthday is in October, so it made the perfect Birthday gift!

Us in the stadium!

Well October finally got here! Last night was the concert. And let me tell you seeing U2 isn't just a concert, it's an experience! They put on an amazing show! Opening for U2 was The Black Eyed Peas. I was unsure if I would like them, they seem a little wild for my taste. (I'm old remember!) But I have to say, I really enjoyed them. And Fergie did "Big Girls Don't Cry" a song I love off her solo album.

The Black Eyed Peas

Fergie, doing her thang!

It was so much fun! They have the biggest set I've ever seen. The concert was at the University of Phoenix Stadium where the Arizona Cardinals play. (Next years Super Bowl Champs BTW) The roof was open. Both groups rocked the house! Both were just great!

U2

Us2

John was like a kid in a candy store! I'm so glad we got to go!

They were introduced as The Greatest Rock Band of all time!

Happy Birthday Babe! You Rock!

The Mommy Wars

I'm so sorry that it's been a while since I've posted anything new. I love Blogging, and it bothers me when I'm unable to do it regularly. The last two weeks I've been so busy with work: We've launched our new Fall Line. My District Manager came into town. We are having a big Anniversary Sale. We've had inventory counts we've had to do every week. So, needless to say, I've been working a lot. (It's a good thing I really love my job, and enjoy working!)

But, it also has it's down falls . . . Like it's Fall Break from school for my kids all this week, and I'm working. So, we couldn't go out of town, like a lot of families did over fall break. I also had to miss Zach's first Choir concert of the year, because I had to work.

I've been on both sides of the coin when it comes to Working Moms -vs- Stay At Home Moms! I worked until I had my first child, and 16 months after that, gave birth to my second child. But, when my boys were very little I worked part time just during income Tax season, Jan. - April 15th. And had my mom to watch my boys. Then we moved across the country, and we decided that since we were uprooting our two little boys, and moving them away from family, that we wouldn't also change their lives by my going to work and them having to stay with someone else. So, I became a full time, at home Mother. And I loved it.

Eventually I started to miss adult interaction. And started thinking that maybe when the boys both were in school all day, I would once again join the workforce. I am one who actually likes change, and would welcome the challenge. But, then as Zach was just about to start going to school all day, I found out I was expecting Twins! So, those plans flew right out the window.

I've basically been a Stay at Home Mom for the past 18 years! The last couple of years, I worked two days a week in the Church office while my kids were in school. But, then this year, that all changed! I got a part time job (or so I thought) working retail. And as you know, it soon became a full time job, managing the store! I now have one son in college (wow, that sounds strange) and one in High School, and my girls are now in 6th grade. So yes, my kids are old enough now to not have their mom with them at all times. I think they even like it at times! :)

But, it has been an adjustment for all of us. The house is messy, sometimes there aren't groceries (or the right ones anyway) in the house. Once in awhile I have to miss a school event, which I really don't like doing! Laundry seems to be the biggest challenge. With six people, that can be a full time job in itself! We still try to have dinner together as a family nearly every night! That is a priority for us, and always has been!

There are positives to me working as well: I feel challenged and accomplished. The money helps tremendously in this economy. I really do love my job, and enjoy the work. I'm able to use my creativity in both areas of my life, parenting and working!

I've never really understood women who look down on, or attack other women who are on opposite sides of this issue. Having been on both sides, I can see the positives and negatives of both sides, and believe me there are both! But, I feel that as women, we should stand together. We should encourage and help each other, not bash the other side. Even if you feel that every mother should stay home with her kids, that isn't always reality within every family. Some women have to work, due to finances. And some just want to. Maybe they know it makes them a better person, and therefore a better mother if they work outside the home.

And some women love to be able to stay home with their kids, and they shouldn't be looked down upon as not contributing to society. Or not being as smart as women who work. We, as women, as mothers, should stand together. Weather you work outside of the home, or stay at home, there are things we can learn from each other! We need to respect each other and the choices we make. Each one of us can be Super Mom! (at least to our own kids!)

12 X 2

Today is my baby girls' 12th Birthday!

We celebrated by going out to lunch (to the restaurant of their choice)
YC's Mongolian Grill. Lot's of fun and lots of food!

Then, they chose to go Ice Skating.
More fun.


We surprised them by having their friend Cailin, meet us there,
who is also spending the night.
(She, and her sister are among their BFF's,
but her sister Isabeau was out of town!)


It's been a long time since I've Ice skated.
And I soon became the "falling Star"


I may have been skating with 12 year olds,
but, I can certainly tell I am not 12 years old!
I will pay for this tomorrow.


I'm so proud of my girls,
and the young ladies they are becoming.

Happy Birthday Erica & Alexia
You'll always be my baby girls!

Let The Music Play On, Play On . . .

The girls in front of the auditorium

The girls just had their very first 6th grade band concert of the year.

Erica standing while playing her insturment

And let me tell you, there is a big difference between the 5th grade band
and the 6th grade band!

Erica, striking a pose with her horn

Erica plays the French Horn. (The only one in the Band!)

Lexi, front and center playing with the other flautists

Lexi loves playing the Flute.

Lexi with her Flute

The other day at work someone asked me if my whole family is musical.
My response: Everyone but me! :)