kirstencan

Aquabats + 1 {Costumes 2013}

So my boys LOVE the Aquabats!

The Redhead originally wanted to be Ricky Fitness.  But I told him I couldn't do braces.  Plus his tummy and smile are way better suited to Crash. :) He loves Crash because 'He gets huge when he's emotional'.

Monkey loves Eaglebones, but was disappointed because his hair didn't grow fast enough. :)  And he didn't want a wig.  So he did sport MC Commander's mustache to the neighborhood carnival (because the stache is super fun).  But Eaglebones remains his fave.

My friend pointed us to the Super Show on netflix a while back - which the boys LOVE and all of us are pretty into.  They also like the Aquabats pandora station (ska).  And someone would really like a CD for his upcoming bday...

My fave song is the one from their very first episode:

Belts/anti-negativity helmets/goggles = felt.  Shorts = sweatpants.  Logo = iron-on.

"You're just some buns and patties..... but I love you so much!"

We had quite a bit of fun with this quick burger shoot.  Plus I didn't have to make lunch.

Burger rain clip here.  My fave part is right at the 1:00 mark.  I love the squish sound when Crash puts his hands into the burgers, and his smile as he rains the burgers down, then Eaglebones' awesome smile +jump when the burgers start falling again.  Dudes, genius.

Actually, the whole show is pretty amazing. You should watch it.  I've heard they film around here sometimes, here's to hoping we can catch them one of these days (dreams come true!)!

The girl decided (last year!) she wanted to be a greek goddess.  Specifically Athena. 

She turned out super cute but I'm kinda glad I didn't put any more effort into it (ribbon sandals and wrist cuffs didn't happen, etc - we could have been a lot more intricate!) because she's hardly had a chance to wear it.  Unlike most years when she's worn it 3 or 4 times BEFORE the actual day.  She didn't really even want to do photos (waa?!).  Teenagers.

(Note:  Braces off = bigger smiles!)

This is just a thrift store dress (perfect!) draped with some cool clearance gold/black net fabric, and various little gold accessories.  She has a tan shirt under (and a white sweater for trick or treating!

Most people recognized what she was at a glance - but we found new respect for those who recognized the boys!

Hope you had a great Halloween!

Previous Halloweens (so fun looking back!):

2012 - Flapper, Tin Tin, Egyptian Soldier

2011- Faerie, Knight, Ash from Pokemon

2010 - Felicity, Han Solo, Link

2009 - Hermione, Ron, Harry

2008 - Maid Marian, Postman, Spiderman

2007 - Leia, Star Wars pilots

Pumpkins

We carved up those pumpkins this week.  It's fun when Aaron scoops out all the pumpkins super fast so we don't have to deal with it. :)  Except for Monkey, he loves the gooey stuff.

Monkey went for a "Frankenstein's Monster" (don't say Frankenstein, he'll correct you) kind of look he designed himself.

The girl carved a design from some video game... The World Ends With You?

The Redhead always picks a very classic (Charlie Brown style) jack o lantern.  He loves the idea, but hates carving. 




And here's our indoor jack o lantern - picked up this guy at Legoland.


This year is weird!  We all have colds, so our little 'class party' was cancelled.  We have yet to do costume photoshoots, and may just stay in pj's watching Harry Potter movies all day.

Actually, that sounds awesome...

I'm not good at this stuff.

Kid drama stresses me out.  My kids aren't drama magnets, thank goodness, but with a special needs kid ... drama is just part of the package.

And I'm not good at letting it roll off my back.

Well, sometimes I am, because goodness, I have to be.  Sometimes I'm not.  Hormonal factors may be a determining factor in that...

So I fixate on stuff.  And I stress myself out.  And I find it way hard to stop.

 

But sometimes it's HARD.  And things suck, and people are lame.

Like when your kids are all excited because they can see all the neighborhood kids across the street all outside playing in their costumes and get their shoes on to go play ... and you have to stop them just in time because you realize it's a Halloween party they weren't invited to.

But everyone else on the street was.

And it's right there.

SUCKS.

That meant not only were they not invited, but they had to see some of it, and there was no one else to play with (they were all at the party!).

And I was the one who had to give them that bad news (as lightly as I could!).

Come on.

That is super lame, right?

Luckily only one of my kids was in tears.

So I have conversations in my head.  Because do I say anything? (no.)  But if I did, here's what I would say.  And I do it over and over in my head until it's perfect.

I realize I tend to do this with anything that's stressing me out.  And I need to stop.  It's not good for me.  And it's not like I'm really going to confront the rude people.  Sometimes the kids get over these things faster than I do.  But when my kids cry about something someone else did to them... my heart just breaks for them.  Life is hard.

How do you stop your brain from fixating on hurtful stuff?

Anyone?  Hoping just expressing this helps.

(Don't be surprised if this post disappears soon.)

I tried publishing this without a photo... but I couldn't, so I will leave you with a photo of a better friend day.

 

Pumpkin Patch

Wake up call

I'm sure in her heart she's glad she has brothers. 

Just maybe not if you ask this early.

Behold

Pretty impressive stuff, right?

Camping

We went camping last week.  It was a short trip, but a good one.  It felt like so much work to get all packed up and out the door, but it was worth it once we got there.

None of us slept much, but we all had fun.  We had the campground to ourselves since it got so cold at night (below freezing!).  The stars were gorgeous.  The only bad thing about camping is having to get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.  Or take a kid to the bathroom.  That continues to scare me silly.

Custom Minifigs

A souvenir the kids picked at Legoland was to make custom minifigures.

We were a tad disappointed by the selection of pieces available (we wanted infinite possibilities! :) but it was still super fun.

You can tell whose are whose immediately.  Or I can anyway.

We thought it was so funny that the redhead picked ALL THE SAME guy - boring hair/sweater/glasses/no accessories guy.  We finally talked him into mixing it up a bit!

Not much, though. When he got back he was glad he had picked the pie.  Go figure.

And Monkey is... Monkey. That one on the left is the first one he made, and in my opinion, his best.  Nautical shirt, odd purple stripe pants, ...face..., skater beanie, AND a spider.  Awesome.


These photos were taken with my point and shoot on the hotel carpet, because you know all these guys are being played with now - and their cases, being awesome have NOT been thrown away, but are now empty.

I've heard you can do this at Lego stores, too - super fun!

Lego Magnets

I know it isn't 'cool' to have fridge magnets anymore.*  Design-wise anyway.  But I like my lego ones too much. 

Also I know you're 'supposed' to wipe the fingerprints off your fridge, but...

They just have a few photos and my menu lists (If I stack enough there, I can just flip the pile over and not have to make any more menus, right?  Right?) but these guys just make me happy.

Legoland minifig was My souvenir from Legoland this year.  Slave Leia just makes me laugh, she's a fave (also Boba Fett!  Woo!).  They've been on my fridge for a while, but I got a new set this time (and a LOTR set is hiding downstairs, shh!).

But a Lego Admiral Ackbar minifig on my fridge... that's just funny stuff.

*Also, let's face it, I will TOTALLY lose those permission slips/schedules if they're not on my fridge!  And I also really like those little ball magnets - given to me by a friend!

*ALSO, how cute are my fat babies?! :)

Two Thumbs

Who has two thumbs and can ride a Legoland coaster (like a boss) while posing awesomely?

This was a fun surprise - first I was just happy I got a good shot of the kiddos going down a drop - then I zoomed in...

*IMPORTANT EDIT:  This is not my husband, he was just a stranger in line. :)