Disney On Ice

As if our October wan't busy enough, I just had to go and buy tickets for The Disney On Ice show.  The kids had a random Friday off of school so I thought it would be a fun treat and a great way for us to spend the day together.

I assumed, this would not be on Jack's bucket list {I mean it was a show packed full of princesses}, but to my surprise, he handled it like a trooper and even got a kick out of Lucy's excitement.  

I don't lie when I say we spent as much time trying to get to our designated parking spot at the arena as we did at the actual show.  That part was pretty brutal.  But the performance certainly made up for it.

Please excuse my kid's hodge podge of outfits.  Maggie insisted on her Elsa dress {naturally}, Lucy did not, she actually wanted this "beautiful dress".  Which, I can't deny, I most definitely prefer this outfit, but I mean if you've got one in character clothing why not the other?

And Jack just wanted to be warm.  So we had to break into his winter clothes.  

And that leaves me to this...

{Oh, and I must mention these fabulous photographs can be attributed to my iPhone}

Elsa and Anna, without a doubt, stole the show.  They really milked this one, but it was fantastic!  We had pretty great seats with a back entrance to all the concessions...very convenient.

During intermission, the littles opted for a snowcone snack.  As if we weren't already cold enough.  Take a good look at those beauties...that's $48 worth of ice there.

Lucy was literally on the edge of her seat the entire show.  She could not get enough and was so disappointed when the curtains came down.

Both girls brought their own chore money to buy a souvenir.  Jack decided to save his for bigger and better things.  Maggie chose Cinderella's Palace Pet and Lucy immediately chose the Elsa braid {because we don't already own about 3 of those}.

We raced home just in time for me to get up to school for Maggie's Kindergarten conference with her teacher.  Nothing but good news...yay!

Pre-school Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch up next this weekend.  Heeelllloooo October!

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}