Monsters & Bugs

I assume there is no better way to share your loving appreciation to others than with monsters and bugs?   And that is exactly what I intend to do this Halloween season.  

I found these super cute googly eyed pens in the $1 section at Target.  As much as I wanted to snag a classroom full for the kid's friends, I just could not rationalize a dollar a kid.  So...I grabbed three, added a cute little tag and threw them in the Jack, Maggie, and Lucy's lunch boxes.  

I'm hoping it brings an October smile to their sweet faces while they are at school.

And back to those aforementioned classmates and teachers that we adore, you know I just had to do something festive for them as well.  While the boys were away camping this past weekend, the girls and I crafted away on treat bags for their friends and boxes for their teachers.

How cute is this "Bugs & Kisses" tag?  I found it on Dixie Delights blog.  You've got to check her out...way too many cute and crafty ideas.  I pretty much adore her and haven't even met her.

I found the snazzy little boxes at Michaels.  And also that spidery Halloween ribbon in the dollar bin there as well.  I filled each box with Hershey Kisses {obviously} and a few spider rings from the Dollar Store.  Tied it up and wah-lah...a creepy and festive thank you for our teachers!

The kids will be treating their friends to a smaller bagged version.  The three of them seriously can't wait to take these in to school.

Happy October!

So Proud

And to think, I was worried about my sweet Maggie going off to Kindergarten!  So proud of my girl and amazed with her academic progress.  I told ya'll...all she needed was a pretty teacher.  

Keep up the good work sweet girl!  We are soooooo proud of you!

Our Haunted House

I've nearly been on my death bed {no pun intended} since Clay and I returned from Napa.  I managed to get some nasty cold and have been nothing short of miserable.

It worked in Clay's favor because we weren't the FIRST to get our Halloween decorations up.  He just can't stand that.  I have to stalk the neighborhood and find another house decorated before we are allowed to do ours.  I have a rule...October 1st and I'm good to go.

Somehow, I managed to peel myself out of bed here lately to finish up the pre-sick decor.  The kids and I can't get enough of Halloween.  I mean could this holiday get anymore fun?

This year I made a valiant effort to separate my "Fall" decorations from my "Halloween" ones.  Jack got me thinking when he said our house "wasn't spooky enough".  You know what?  That kid was right.  The monogram pumpkins will just have to wait until November to make their debut.  

So this month it's all about a creepy and crawly Halloween...

This year, I added a door hanger that was more "halloween" instead of just pumpkins and found these fabulous witch hands at Target.  They may be my favorite new addition.  On top of that I almost broke my neck hanging that web, but we are all thrilled with the eerie touch it gives our front door.

The kids and I couldn't resist adding a few extra spiders too.  Can't ever have too many spiders.

Our Maple tree outside has been the home to these Dollar Store skeletons for six years now.  I think this just may be their last year.  {not too bad for the Dollar Store} I also grabbed some tombstones to make a graveyard right underneath.  Waiting for the kids to get home from school to tackle that job.

Inside we've added some SpOoKy too.  Jack was mighty pleased when he come home to find our entry way full of bats.

A few bats made it into the downstairs powder room as well.  And don't you just love how that they even make Halloween hand soap?  I mean, come on, just brilliant marketing.

The kitchen is full of Halloween hoopla too.  I use this battery operated Jack-O-Lantern to wake the big kids up on school mornings at o'dark thirty.  It serves as a handy flashlight {we try to keep quiet as to not wake Lucy} and it's pretty fun too!  They get a kick out of the ominous shadows it makes everywhere.

Our bar is filled with pumpkin chair covers and skeleton placemats.  It makes for an eerie eatery for my threesome.

Our breakfast/dinner table is in the spirit also {because don't you know, it's always in some kind of spirit}.  I'm only in need of something tall to put behind those candles and straws.  I'm still on the look out.  I'm sure I'll know it when I see it.

I feel in love with these Halloween pumpkins...at Target this year!  They are the perfect replacement to my regular ol' mini pumpkins.  Those have now been separated into the "Fall" tub.

Our deck door is still covered in spiders as it has been every October since we moved here.  The only difference is I now I have a big, medium, and small kiddo, so the spiders are dispersed more evenly.  You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Our mantle is equally scary.  I threw my homemade banner up there this year.  I think it adds a nice touch.

 We are looking forward to all the fun October has to offer.  Seriously one of the busiest months of the year for us!  Until then...I'm heading back to bed. {I've just got to get better}

10 Years In Napa

TEN YEARS!  Yes, you read that right.  I didn't even know I was old enough to be married for 10 whole years.  Seriously, where does the time go?

So without sounding like a total sap, I swear, from the bottom of my heart, these have been the very best 10 years of my life.  Without a doubt...hands down.

Three houses, three kids, and at least four different jobs between the two of us, I wouldn't change it for the world.

Naturally, Clay and I wanted to celebrate the big 10 in a big way.  And naturally, I was torn about leaving my kids for too long.  {just can't ever seem to shake this mommy thing}.   Keeping all that in mind, my darling husband planned a four day get away for us to Napa Valley California.

Let me just say...it was amazing!

We flew into  San Francisco and made the drive up to Yountville in the valley.  There were periods of cities and then beautiful landscape along the way.  To be honest, I was just really ready to be finished traveling.  The flight topped off with the drive made for a long day.

It was all so worth it when we arrived at the most incredible hotel I've ever stayed in.  It was luxurious, glamorous, and totally down to earth feeling all at the same time.  Absolute perfection!

We had a "smart room" that adjusted blinds, lights . etc when we came and left.  It also had a steam shower that I fell in love with {and used often to release the wine drinking toxins}.  The food was incredible, the grounds were impeccable and the service was top notch.  I would have seriously moved in if I hadn't of had three littles at home waiting on me.

When we arrived after our long day of travel...this was waiting in our room for us with a dear Happy Anniversary note.  Clay and I wasted no time popping the cork and then taking a well needed nap!

Come evening we were ready to get out and check this beautiful part of the country out.  It just so happened that the pool bar was hosting a concert that evening.  And it just so happened that Clay knew the artist.  Totally unplanned we hit the pool bar and enjoyed a relaxing evening listening to music and, of course, drinking wine.

It was just so meant to be seeing as how the pool bar and restaurant were named after my littlest Cibula.  I couldn't get enough of seeing her name everywhere!  Lucy got quite a kick out of it when we got home too.

Clay and I took a lot of selfies {sans a stick} so please excuse the photography.  But, somehow I just couldn't rationalize lugging my big ol' camera around with me.

The next morning, I begged to sleep in.  Clay let me about "half way".  That's marriage for you ...a compromise.  We started our day with a drive up to the Redwood Tree Preserve.

Okay, so call me a total nerd {which several people already have regarding this issue}, but this was one of the highlights of my trip.  It was unbelievably gorgeous, amazing, fresh, a little chilly and so peaceful.  Every time I turned around I was in awe.

I would have complete, right then and there, but there was no way we were getting out of Napa without visiting a few wineries.

Over the course of the day, we popped into a few and had appointments for others.  Since we were already in the car, we hit a few spots on our way back down through the valley.  Everything was absolutely picturesque....and the company wasn't so bad either.

The following day we decided to forgo our car and travel by bike instead.  It was unseasonably hot, our palates were filled with wine, and we traveled down a pretty serious highway.  It was quite an adventurous day for me.

However, we did start our morning with a delish breakfast at the local bakery.  And lest I not mention, I had a two hour spa treatment in our room before our outing.  Fabulous!  Not a bad way to start the day.

We spent the remainder of the day wine tasting, meeting interesting folks, admiring the beautiful landscape, sweating our tails off, and even visiting Lucy's Garden...I could not resist.

Come evening, Clay and I were both pretty wiped out.  Not to mention we had a flight to catch the next morning in San Fran.  We opted for a casual dinner, but, yummy none the less, at some famous chef's restaurant.  We dined at the bar and enjoyed more good food, more wine, and met more interesting people.

A wonderful culmination to our 10th Anniversary vacation.

I can't imagine any other person I would have rather celebrated this occasion with.  Thank you to the love of my life for the ups, downs, three beautiful children, and this amazing life we have created.  I am forever grateful and in awe of what we have.

Cheers!

Looking forward to 10 more...and 10 more...and 10 more...