Pumpkins, pumpkins.....

Everywhere!!! Here's one of the pumpkins we carved lastnight. Hubby's of course! Just thought I'd share, we had lots of fun.

Cub1's conference went great, it was a little out of the ordinary, I'll have to blog about that later. ttfn!!!

eta... That was one weird conference. Okay picture this, about 20 +/- tables, 20+/- sets or so of parents/child and oh about 4 teachers. The conference was hosted by none other than Cub1. There were 2 teachers who kept coming back between checking on the other students and parents. Cub1 had a checklist to go through and make sure she shared all the reports, projects, and tests she was to share with us. She's doing great. Her teacher is the one I worry about. She (the teacher) lost an assignment I specifically remember helping her with and it is bringing down her grade. She was a little too ditzy for my taste. Cub1 assured me she isn't always soooo scatter brained, but she was a little stressed with 4 days of conferences. With how the conferences were conducted, I can see how!!! The good thing is she told Cub1 she could make up the work or if she can find it, even better.

Her math & science teacher was awesome!! I really like that guy. Apparently, he really likes Cub1 too. He's a real personable guy and is so willing to help Cub1 with anything she needs to help her in her studies. He is just one of those teachers who you can tell the kids adore him and the feeling is totally mutual.

Friday night, we went to the school's Harvest Carnival. Everyone had a great time, we took my littlest sister with us, she was dressed as a witch, but the rest of the gang were all decked out in their Star Wars costumes.

Saturday night, we had another Halloween party to go to, that one was awesome!!!! They hired a company to come do activities and basically this science type experiments for the kiddos. It's called Mad Science?!?! There was also a Haunted House for the older kids. That seemed to go on forever, but it was fun, fun, fun.

I'll post some pics to the Cub Cave later after I sort through them. The actual big day is approaching quickly!~

Sloooooow Down...

she says. What a novel concept. My soon to be 9 year old seems to have inherited her parent's work habits. Her parent teacher conference was today and went absolutely as I had expected. She's great, such a joy, does excellent work, buuuuuut... she needs to slow down. LOL She doesn't need to slow down because she is making mistakes right now, but her teacher doesn't want to get her in the habit of speeding about life and basically reflecting on her accomplishments. Again, haha what a novel concept.

That comment made me think about my life. I feel as though I am the busiest unemployed person I know. Yes, I know I am a stay-at-home-mom, but I can't even get that down just yet. I worked throughout with my pregnancy with cub4 and all the others for that matter, but that's not the point. I still don't have a grip on what "should" be done around the house, I have no real schedule, and you know I hardly "stay-at-home" at all. I thought being a "sahm" involved more staying at home is all. So with that, I need to work on slowing down too.

Back to the conference, the teacher apologized and felt she was wasting our time~ LOL that's a first. I hadn't heard that one before. It went pretty well though, we just chatted back and forth for 15 minutes and that was that. In the spring time she is suggesting cub2 be tested to join the highly capable class at another school. She's already involved in the program, but this would be an actual school change and all studies would be more advanced, rather than just added work. Cub2 is a little worried about leaving this school, but I'm sure she would do fine. It is a brand new program only in it's 2nd year. So we'll see how that pans out.

Parent Teacher Conference~ Round 1...

Well, Cub2 has her parent teacher conference tomorrow afternoon. I just love those. Talk about a big pat on the parent's back~ LOL I know it is their doings and what not, but I just love hearing how well they are doing, how sweet they are, what joys they are in class, etc. It always makes me smile. I'm just sooooooooo proud of how they do in school, it's just all that much better to have someone rave about their accomplishments to you.

Cub1's isn't until Friday, I'm a little anxious to see how that one will go. She's in middle school this year and has 4 different teachers now. I think we are only meeting with the homeroom teacher, but nonetheless it will be different!!! I'm honestly not sure how she is adjusting to middle school. She seems to be doing okay. They sent home progress reports and she hadn't turned in a few things (due to us keeping her out to go to the fair back in Sept. tsktsk) It makes me feel a little guilty, okay a lot guilty. I know the teacher's gave her a chance to turn that stuff in, but I just hope she did it and it's all good~ hope, hope! I honestly forgot how much work counted in middle school, it's a lot more intense than elementary.

Cub1 started band this year. She's playing the flute. I played the flute for 4 years in school. Strange, but I did. I have heard Hot Cross Buns being played waaaaaaay toooo many times to count since the beginning of the year. She is getting better though. whew! LOL I found it kind of odd, the song mixture they have her playing. Hot Cross Buns, yeah okay I can see it, Jingle Bells, but of course it's almost Christmas Kinda, Good King Wenceslas, okay same reason, the Funeral March??? uhhh I don't get it. Da-da-dmdm-da-dmmdmmdmmdmmmmmm (sorry the best I can spell it out.) It's just kinda freaky is all.

Both the girls started basketball up again. UGH!!! So that means basketball twice for cub1 for a couple days only next week, but still... basketball 4 times (for both) plus 2 days of cheerleading. (for cub2) Busy, busy, busy. I'm not complaining really, it's just sooooooo much running around to do in such little amount of time.

A boring photography post...

After reading Mel's comments in the blog entry below. I figured I could at least explain what camera and such I'm using. I've provided links so you can get an idea of how to get the same stuff relatively cheaply. (I know Mel is interested in getting a DSLR, sorry to bore anyone else~ LOL)

I have 2. Yes...2. My hubby was kind enough to encourage me to buy the best I could at the time and after reading many reviews almost 3 years ago, I bought a Canon Digital Rebel(the 6.3 mp, like I said this was almost 3 years ago, the xt wasn't released yet, at least as far as I knew.) I have the 18-55mm kit lens I bought a sigma 28-80mm macro lens and that was and still is a lens that doesn't go far from my camera. I also bought a4gb Hitachi Microdrive, so it saves mega pics *wink* Next Joining my camera bag was a sigma 100-300mm, this soon became hubby's favorite lens, he loves taking nature pics.

I was fully content with this setup until I started reading photog forums and reading more about photography, it was time to move up. First I added a 50mm 1.8 lens. This was a great addition, but I wanted more and quicker. I told hubby the top of my wishlist was a Canon 20d.Canon 20d. So after fireworks season, he told me for my birthday (Aug 2005) I could buy it, but the rebel was his *LOL* oh what a sacrifice :oP I got it early in July :o) Love, love, love it!!!! It's soooooooooooooooo quick! The rebel is and was great, but the 20d is instant power on and shoots so quickly after powering on and rapidly! I also bought 580ex Speedlite Flash and also ordered anOmniBounce for diffusing the flash.

Finally my latest 2 additions (beginning of this month) to the camera bag... my all in one zoom, Sigma 28-300mm Macro, which has only left my camera a few times to be replaced by the 50mm to take portrait shots. Lastly, my Sekonic L358 Light Meter. I think that's it!!!

Anyhow, I have shot a few events for the casino down the road, that's the need for the light meter. The lighting in there is terrible!!!! I, along with hubby also shot my sister's wedding back in August. This has also been a great help for our side business in taking pics of hubby's artwork. He has a few art auctions every year and it's that time of year again. The next one is Nov. 5th. We are busy trying to build up enough images for a gallery to add to our website. It's also been very helpful in taking pics of his paintings and digitizing them. So, as helpful as these cameras have been they have honestly paid for themselves and surely will in the future too in one way or another!

What's next??? Bees! and a Photoflex Litedome Softbox & a Photoflex Litedisc 52" Silver/White and most of all space!!!! LOL

Just one...

pic. These aren't there costumes, but I bought them anyway. (just for pics :oP) It's a Pumpkin Costume and a Spider. Initially, they were both for Cub4, but Cub3 fit them as well, so wtheck.

I'm posting more to the CubCave That's where I've been posting a few pics here and there if you wanna see.

It made me grin...

It was probably an evil grin, but nonetheless it curved upward. I read this joke in my email a short moment ago. It reminded me of sooooooooo many people. It wasn't the situation, just self proclaiming bs that people say.

I don't even know if that's the right way to say it *LOL* I guess it's just the disclaimer people add to before they are going to do something they normally don't do. Such as, "I'm not one to judge..." Seriously, here guess what follows??!? That's right folks... JUDGEMENT!!! ding~ding~ding We've got a winner!!!! Or "I normally wouldn't say anything, but..." insert gripe here. ahem, yes you probably would or you wouldn't have made such a deal of it in the first place. Like adding those key phrases makes it any better, seriously folks it just draws attention to it. People can benefit a lot from Thumper, you know with the whole "don't say anything at all" bit. Ya think that will happen though??? Prolly not.

Anyhow, onto the joke!!!!

A guy walks into the local welfare office, marches straight up
to the counter and says, "Hi... You know, I just HATE asking for
assistance. I'd rather have a job."

The social worker behind the counter says, "Your timing is
excellent sir!

We just got a job opening from a very wealthy old man who wants
a chauffeur and bodyguard for his nymphomaniac, underwear-model
daughter. You'll have to drive around in his Mercedes, but
he'll supply all of your clothes.

Because of the long hours, meals will be provided. You'll be
expected to escort her on her overseas holiday trips. You will
have to satisfy her sexual urges. You'll have a two-bedroom
apartment above the garage.

The starting salary is $200,000 a year".

The guy says, "You're bullshi@@ing' me!"

The social worker says, "Yeah, well... you started it."

Just a quick check in...

It's another week already. Still no costumes for the girls.

The party arrangements are set, the invitations printed and now we need to send them out. How far in advance are you supposed to send an invitation to a bunch of 8-9 year olds? Her birthday is Nov. 6th, also the day of the party. It lands on a Sunday this year.

This shall be interesting. 20+ kiddos skating about. Yikes. Good thing it's only 2 hours.

I almost have a 9 year old...

I'm busy masterminding a party for her and I think I have it set. We will have a skating party. We will be renting the skating rink. (I'm always so confused on that?!?! what is it a skating ring or skating rink?) We will order the party favors from Oriental Trading. We will have a monkey theme. We still have to check into a cake. We have to print out the invites. Then we have to wait.

Waiting. Waiting for the invites, waiting for the rsvps, waiting for the favors, waiting for the day.

I actually have never thrown a party and invited "non-relatives," she wants to invite some of her friends from school. She has been begging me since Kindergarten for that. I'm finally caving this year. The price I pay for having such a social butterfly child.

*Questionable content below...*

Anyhow, we watched History of Violence lastnight. WOW! That was actually a really good movie. There were a few scenes in the movie that had me a little shocked I was sitting there witnessing that... (hint, hint*69*) I've never honestly seen that in a movie. Not that I'm against it or anything, but it was just something I've never seen in a movie, like it's almost an implied action in other movies or just simply taboo. Who knows?!?! Hubby really got a kick out of me discussing that after the movie with him, but it just threw me for a loop they were so explicit ~haha. Once hubby thought about it, he couldn't remember a movie with that type of scene either so ~ HA! he knows where my shock was coming from. Although, I must admit he must have found that funny it was the first thing I brought up, but what the heck it was on my mind, may as well say it!!! :oP

I sure liked the movie though. It kept me watching and actually interested. Hubby told me he had read a review somewhere that the less you know about the movie, the better it is. That was hubby's response when I asked him what it was about. I left it at that and was genuinely glad I did. I enjoyed it probably more than I would have if I had read about it.

The other movie I watched on dvd, thanks to netflix, was Maria Full of Grace. That captured my attention immediately. Hubby had started watching it without me, so I walked in on the movie halfway through. I did actually watch it from that moment on, but started it over to see what I had missed. I had seen it on the guide for HBO a couple of times, but figured if I was going to watch it, I'd better do it on my own time. I'm really glad I did. Another good flick!!

Okay, enough is enough. I'm off to catch some zzz's, I'm a very tired mommy right now.

Much to his surprise...

Thought it was cute. Took a double take at first, what can I say, I'm lacking in the sleep dept.

I met hubby for lunch today. It was a nice break from the ordinary, whatever that might be. I'm still not set on what I "should" be doing. We (cub3&4) went to get the mail today. I totally forgot what it's like to be out with two little ones in tow, by myself. They were pretty good overall though.

In the mail was this letter from the school for cub1 to set parent teacher conferences. Realistically, we can only do it on Friday, due to hubby being in school Tues-Thurs. So it was really important to get this preference list in by the due date. Hubby hasn't missed a conference yet and I don't want him to start now! I look at the due date... Thus Oct. 13. Dangit, wtheck are they thinkin'???? So I rush it up to the school and turn it in, making sure I comment on how I had just gotten it in the mail 10 minutes prior. She apologized and explained how they were supposed to mail it out last week, but it didn't get mailed until Tuesday. Well the good thing is, I'll probably get my preferred day because most people won't get it back that quickly. HOPE HOPE!

Anyhow, we have 2 costumes down, 2 more to come in. The girls' are in. The boys' ( the ones I am really worried about ) are not. I think I am going to email the lady to see if I should be looking for new costumes or how much longer I'll have to wait. I guess I shouldn't worry until I have a definitive no, but I'm really impatient :oP

Finally, one last pondering for the day... I have Go Diego, Go! on season pass for Tivo, which is fine and dandy until I go to play it and it's LazyTown~ ARG! I hate LazyTown, well cub3 does ;) Why the heck is it recording LazyTown when it's supposed to be Go Diego, Go!?? That's happened like 4 times~ LOL talk about disappointment for a 3 year old.

Would you like a little cereal with that???

Here's what I found in the cereal box *LOL* It's sitting on my desk now. I just don't have the heart to throw it out. Although you know with a little santa hat, it could be the likeness of St. Nick ~haha.

34 weeks...

Well pictured over to the right here is cub4 ------->
It's hard to believe he's almost 8 months old. I'm still torturing him with the weekly pics, every monday. It makes me wonder how long I can actually keep that up! *LOL*

I've got all the cub's costumes ordered and I am seriously hoping they make it in time for Halloween. One of the places I ordered from is just about 20 minutes away from me, but I ordered it online and it was a "pre-sale." I hope she doesn't email me back saying they are out of stock. They are totally HTF costumes too... ARG! I ordered a Yoda, a Chewbacca, and Amidala from Episode 1 & another Amidala from Episode 2. (2 girls what can ya do??) As always hubby will be a Jedi. He's leaning towards a Darth Vader next year, just to have the option. I'm still undecided whether I will dress up or not. I was going to be the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland but my whole family has this theme going, it doesn't fit :oP Who knows? I usually hand out the candy anyways, so I wouldn't even be with them while they are out and about. We usually get 100+ trick or treaters, so we always load up on the candy trying not to disappoint!

Anyhow, I'm still alive. We went to a birthday party for my littlest cousin (he's 8) He had it at the skating party. It was so much fun. I actually roller bladed myself. I went and bought an umbrella stroller to push cub4 around in and he absolutely loved it. Cub3 is getting the hang of skating very quickly. The lighting was terrible, so I don't have any good pics though. Ohhhhh well...

Before I go I thought I would throw out a few questions for anyone willing to answer...
1~ Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, as what?
2~ How many trick or treaters do you get every year?
3~ Do you roller blade or skate? When was the last time you had?

It's been far too long...

Hubby has started school. It's going quite well. YAY! I've been just super busy with the kiddo's basketball & cheerleading. Cubs 1&2 are loving it though. Cub 3&4 are keeping me super busy during the day, it should calm down here in a bit.

We did go to the zoo with Cub2's class. I took some awesome pics and the boys had lots of fun too. We just met her class there. I've been pretty busy with pictures honestly. I shot an employee anniversary dinner/reception dealy last week, and a baby shower. That was pretty fun. I bought a new "all in one" lens last week too. It is a 28-300mm zoom for my Canons. It came yesterday, so I spent a lot of the evening messing with that.

Time to go exercise again. I'll make sure and blog more often, I can't believe how much time has passed!!! I must start making this habit again!