A Howlin' Halloween

What more can I say? We came, we saw and we conquered Halloween. The kids seriously DUG their Halloween costumes (and have worn them daily since the big event), we parents had a blast hosting our third annual shindig (although I could've done without the neighbor's creepy clowns and dragging shovel that spooked more than a few of us) and the newest superhero to grace this planet made his debut. Oh yes, Diaper Man was in full effect, much to the...chagrin?...wonder?...amazement?...of adults and children alike. And let me tell you, those green tights are a sight to behold...

Hopin' yours was as memorable as ours!

It's All About Timing

Things were looking bright for us Mowad ladies this week. A week off from school for Fall Break meant we had a week of great plans all lined up: get-togethers with friends we haven't seen in awhile, a tea party, a nature hike, a park day with Liv's class and a Halloween parade. I was feeling pretty good at having arranged so much fun for the girls, knowing it would ensure my sanity as well and make for quieter, calmer times at home. And I knew Paul had a major project at work this week that would mean long days and late nights and no help 'til bedtime, so I knew the busier we were, the better.

And then the insidious cold crept in. And by cold, I don't mean the temperature outside. The week began unraveling as I came to realize Olivia was congested, followed quickly with a nasty cough Monday evening. We woke the next morning to Malia's runny nose and I threw my hands up and surrendered to the virus, canceling all plans and realizing that this week had taken a turn for the worse. We were now homebound.

Wednesday morning we opened the door to this little beauty.


Adorned with fantastic drawings by my adorable nieces, Lexi and Brooke, this box was chock full of Halloween goodies, which have kept my girls happily occupied. The pumpkin lanterns have led to lots of imaginative play, including tromps through deep caves and spooky forests. They've dressed up and gone trick-or-treating with their new kitty treat bags, collecting all kinds of odds and ends to fill up their bags (Malia's sack weighed at least 10 pounds by the time she was done...and the girl only weighs 26 pounds, so she was doing some heavy lifting).
We've hung window clings, painted Halloween pictures and read and re-read some great Halloween stories that have us talking about haunted hotels run by a girly little pig and Elmo's pumpkin that looks alot like his fish, Dorothy.


Indeed, I am indebted to my thoughtful nieces and sister-in-law, not only for sending us a package full of fun, but for sending it just in the nick of time. Thanks for the box of goodies! Can't wait to see you in a month!!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like...

HALLOWEEN!!

And we Mowads like everything about this time of year (except Fall Break...I mean, didn't we just start preschool less than 2 months ago?)

Is there anything better than half a month of activities leading up to a great holiday? We are busy hitting the Patch (can you ever have too many pumpkins?), donning costumes for dress rehearsals and pulling out the spooky spider webs in preparation for All Hallow's Eve.

And with the brisk, wet weather, even Southern California is in a Fall state of mind. There's a yummy batch of pumpkin bread on the counter, rain boots coated with fresh Patch mud sitting in the garage, and candles and flashlights dotting the house after a night of black-outs.

This year, with life seeming at it's fullest, we decided to go the store-bought costume route, quickly discovering that 2 and 4-year olds have decidedly strong opinions about their costumes and cannot be swayed without massive amounts of bribery (along with massive headaches). Here is a sneak peek of their choices, which are most certainly fitting with their personalities:

Alas, Maddie slept through her dress rehearsal.

Winner Winner Winner!

Yep, we hit the lottery. We hit it big. Really big. But no, we won't be seeing any money from it (unless you count the tax credit), and actually it's a fairly expensive win for us, considering the cost of proms, extracurricular activities, college tuitions and weddings.

It occurred to me the other day that we hit the GIRL lottery. For some people, this is not a big deal, but while attending a little boy's first birthday party last weekend, I met a number of moms that are, to put it politely, obsessed with having a baby girl. As we wandered through this party, we became something akin to celebrities, or maybe professional athletes...well, more like professional girl-makers. With so many family friends in attendance, everyone wanted to see how much our girls have grown and to meet Maddie, but it felt like we got a ton of attention because everyone wanted to have their own daughters and granddaughters. Imagine how my mother-in-law felt, boasting of 5 granddaughters at this party! She certainly won the girl lottery after having two sons. And I can't tell you how many people pretended to abscond one of our girls...Maddie took the brunt of it, being the least mobile and most likely to be held by friends and strangers alike. (And it may have been the first time I didn't get asked, "You gonna' keep trying for the boy?")

So all week I have been using my new perspective to appreciate the girlieness that has taken over our home, and to recognize just how lucky I am, three times over, to win the girl lottery.

In the Blink of an Eye

Whooooosh. It went by in a blink. Gone. Three months. The littlest of the little in baby time. Never again will I experience this phase of motherhood and wow, it's a powerful phase. Exhausting. Emotional. Overwhelming. And frighteningly amazing.

Happy 3 months to the littlest of my littles, Miss Madeline. How you have blessed our lives with your precious little sighs, sweet little gurgles and huge gummy grins. You are so busy already; holding your head up, chattering with your sisters and drooling up a storm. And growing like a weed, hearty and healthy in 6 month clothing and huge diapers...you are my first to tip the scales and I am enthralled simply watching you thrive.

You are intertwined in the fabric of our family and holding firmly onto each of our hearts. I truly couldn't tell you which member of our family is more in love with you, and maybe it's because you were the final piece of our puzzle, the last to fit, just-so, making us all feel complete and ever-so full. What a blessing you are, my love, and how fortunate I am to be your Mama!

(This is one of those mom-views I never want to forget. Especially when she's too big to hold in my lap.)