Fun Filled Saturday.

It was a really great Saturday.  It began with 2 cups of coffee before I got dressed and headed to Wal-Mart for a few things.  I normally never go to the W, but I needed sewing stuff, and Target has nothing in that department, and I did not have time to venture all the way to Hobby Lobby.  Anyway, I needed more stuffing for the monsters Bella and I had been working on.  Martha's birthday party was today, and she was having a monster party, so we decided to create a custom fleece monster just for her.  Of course Bella had to make one for herself too... Anyway, she has a red Ugly doll from my Aunt Cathy that we used for inspiration named Mynus.  She named her new blue one that she made Plus :)  It was a really fun project and Marty really liked hers, which is what matters the most anyway <3

Before the birthday party, we went to Lowes for several things, but most importantly we got Christmas lights for our house!  We're going to do the whole house this year, and I couldn't be more excited!  Vince even got all the lights out later in the evening, and plugged them all in while they were arranged sporatically on the green shaggy rug.  Something about it was very soothing and it put a big smile on my face :)  We also got a swing for Bella to hang in our huge tree in the backyard.  She was in heaven, and even made up a song about how lucky she is to have a swing in her backyard.

4 p.m. - Party time!  Once at Marty's, Bella took off to the backyard to find her peeps and begin having fun.  I spotted Laura and gave her a big hug because it was the first time we had seen each other since at least September.  That is way too long!  She is definitely preggo with #4 now, and glowing/beautiful as always.  We made the rounds chatting with various adults while the kiddos had a blast running around, drinking Capri Sun after Capri Sun, licking icing off of cupcakes, wrapping each other in streamers, and playing tag.  Marty got a "Monster High" doll and was in a state of total bliss.  Her parents have denied her these toys for about 3 years now, and somebody broke the seal.  It seems the floodgates are now open, so thanks Kim!  Before we said goodbye, I got a picture of the 3 Amigas - Allie, Bella and Marty.  They have been buds since birth, and it has been so much fun watching them grow up.  I seriously can't believe that 2 of them are now 6 with Bella not far behind.  Slow down already!

After we got home from one party, we all got ready to go to another.  Bella thought this was just fabulous.  2 parties in one day was almost too much for her to stand :)  Our friend, Russell, had gotten married earlier in the day at the JOP, and he and his bride, Krystal, were having a small party to celebrate at their house.  We dropped by to give our congrats, and enjoy a little food and fire pit action before calling it a night around 8.  Bella lasted all of 5 minutes before she was out cold.

It was a really great day.

Highs and Lows...

A lot has happened over the last 3 weeks, so this is going to be a highlights reel of sorts.  Enjoy.

• The Sunday before Halloween, we went to the Renaissance Festival.  I knew it would be Bella's first time, but I was unaware that it would be Vince's first time.  I really couldn't believe he had never been.  Granted, this would only be my 3rd time (I went once in Houston with Jen, her sister Amy, Pat, Regina's sister, Jen's college roommate Andrea I think, and maybe Jen's boyfriend Brandon... it was a mixed bag for sure).  Bella dressed up as a fairy for the occasion, and she scored new fairy wings, a cool headband, and lots of candy and prizes for completing a scavenger hunt throughout the fair.  We had a really great time, and the weather was perfect.

• Halloween and Trick-or-treating... Bella chose to be a panda bear this year, and trust me, this was after much deliberation over a good 3 month period.  Mainly between Rapunzel and a panda, and I'm glad the panda won out in the end because she was stinking cute in her costume.  After school, we headed over to Marty's house to go trick-or-treating in her neighborhood.  Vince had class, and our neighborhood is very dark and spread out, so we usually venture out to one of our friend's neighborhoods.  After a little playtime, we got the girls dressed, and then it was time for make-up!  I have to admit, it was really fun doing these 3 because they were totally into it and excited about it.  I would have rather died at that age if you tried to paint my whole face green like Liz was able to do to Freida, who is only 3!  After everyone was in full costume, we stepped outside for some fun pictures before stopping by a friend of Liz's house for some chili and conversation before we hit the streets for candy.  Trick-or-treating in Liz's neighborhood reminded me of how it used to be when I was kid.  The kiddos were able to run from house to house pretty freely while a group of adults followed behind watching for cars and keeping the group somewhat together.  By the end of the night, Bella had quite the stash of candy, and was worn out by all the fun that was had.  While waiting in carpool line the next morning before school, she looked like she was about to fall asleep and told me she was still tired.  Somebody had a really great time!

• I'm a Reading Buddy every Monday morning for Bella's class, and I love it!  I know all the Pre-K kiddos now, and wow, are they young 4's, but so adorbs.  I'm really impressed with the number of 4 year olds that can already read, I mean damn!  I have a lot of fun with them, and I love how they all want to tell me about their weekend or whatever has been going on in their worlds before we get started.  I've also starte my "art project a month" with them.  Our first project was a fleece apple with a stick for a stem, and a felt leaf for decoration.  The kiddos sewed around the outer edge of a red felt circle, cinching it together and stuffing it with a plastic recycle bag to give it shape before adding a stick stem and felt leaf.  They all did a great job, and for November we are going to be making mini wooden boats, or Mayflowers :)  Pap Pap did all the prep work for them in a day, and I just need to get some canvas for little sails and we will be ready to go.  One more thing about Pap Pap before I move on... He has been helping in Bella's class garden since the beginning of school, and I can't believe the amount of work he has put into it.  This past Wednesday, he even taught a lesson about weeds - what they are and why they are bad, and they planted Swiss Chard.  He rocks!

• Acting class is moving along, and Bella absolutely loves it!  She has continuely brought up dance class, so it looks like we will be looking into that for the Spring maybe.  It will be a new studio though, because we have a different schedule with school now, and she needs to be in a class with kids her age so she can focus and learn at an appropriate pace.  On Thursday of this past week, her class took a field trip to see ImaginOcean at Blumenthal Theater.  It was a blacklight puppet show essentially, and Bella loved it!  She loved that she glowed during the show too, mainly her cowgirl boots.  

• Last weekend, Vince and Bella attended a Father/Daughter dance.  I got them both all dressed up, and yes they even kind of matched and it was on purpose.  We took pictures in the front yard before they left, and Bella blew me a kiss on her way to the car <3  Both of them had a blast, and when it was time to go, Bella said, "I wish it was the beginning."  Vince carried in a worn out Mooga Bear, who I quickly pjed and put to bed.  The next morning, I got the rundown on who was there, what everyone was wearing, what songs they played, and what dances they did.  She also showed me how to do the Macarena.... That hasn't died yet?!  Long story short, she had a great time, and so did Vince <3

• Friday - 11.11.11 - Veterans Day.  Bella was out of school, so we had a fun Mama/Daughter day.  After a quick trip to Hobby Lobby for a few supplies, we headed to Imaginon to see "Comedia Cinderella," an Italian comedic version of Cinderella using only 4 actors.  We were right up front, and the show was hilarious!  We really had a great time.  On the way home, we stopped and got Chick-fil-a for lunch, and enjoyed singing summer camp songs with Lisa Loeb.  Once home, we began work on some fleece monsters.  Marty, B-bo's friend, is having a Monster Birthday Party this weekend, so we decided to design and create a monster for her for a present.  Of course, B-bo had to design one for herself too.  Anyway, they turned out super cute, and I think Marty is really going to like hers.  I also dyed a tee for Vince.  I had ordered him a cool tee in honor of him growing a moustache.  It was supposed to be red and say "The moustache is the key to this outfit"  Well, when I got it, it was orange, not red.  I didn't want to send it back, and I didn't want an orange tee either, so I decided to try and dye it.  It worked like a charm, and now he has the red tee I intended all along.  I guess I should explain why red is so important... His company's main color is red, and his moustache growing team is through work, thus the red :)

As for me.  Good days are sprinkled in between bad ones.  All of a sudden everything seems that much heavier.  I know what it is... It's that time of year, plus Papa is gone.  How have 5 years slipped by, yet sometimes it still feels like yesterday.  I keep hearing it gets easier with time, and I guess I'm still waiting for that ease.  Maybe I need to quit waiting and start doing.  It's time for some new memories, and it's time to take December back.  I want it to be my favorite month again, not something I silently dread most of the year.  My Dad would want that, he would want that for sure.  I'm trying, trying really hard.

One last thing before I end this lengthy post... This year for Thanksgiving, we are celebrating with my side of the family.  This will be the first time EVER that we will all be together for a holiday minus an Easter here or there in Hattiesburg.  I'm really looking forward to it, and I think we all need it to help heal our hearts from this partially heartbreaking year.  It's going to be full of laughter, that's for sure, and it's going to be wonderful to see everyone.

Now, it's time to get ready for the day.  Happy Saturday Everyone!