Just Me!!

Even with my Cost Plus coupon they remained housed on their shelves...! They both were begging to come home with me! Owls have a special place in my h.e.a.r.t. I'm not sure if it is because they remind me of my favorite time of year, or being in the great outdoors, or the awesome way they can move their heads, or the cute noises they make that sound just like its' name! Either way anytime I see one it tries to find a way into my cart. Too bad that my pocket book kicks it right out onto the shelf again.

Charlie does the strangest things sometimes! As of recent, she sneaks into Ethan's bedroom after we've read to her, snuggled her, given her kisses, and said our goodnights! She gets under his desk and goes to sleep! So sweet!

Look she even has tears in her eyes! Beautiful.....

Hmm! Don't know how to go about writing this post, since I was sort of cranky for our annual pumpkin patch trip to Schilter's farm! We like to go to this particular farm for the cow train rides and to see all the animals! Unfortunately this year we were missing Valerie in our group! We had to make the tough decision to parent first, befriend second! Val has had some recent trouble with turning in her completed homework and actually doing it on time. When conference time came last week, it all came back to haunt her...! She attended the patch but front the back seat of our car, working on said homework! I love getting a quick shot of our family on the hay ride so it was hard to not have her there! Who's punishment is this anyways? Val was fine in the car, or so she said! She told us, "Grandma brought me two honey crisp apples so I was happy." Grr! Life lesson missed due to granny's apples...he hee! We ended up waiting in line for 90 min just to ride the cow tra...

We started this tradition last year, which you can refresh yourselves with here and here . We had a great time. I took Valerie and Ethan on Thursday, and Mark and Charlie met up with us on Friday (after a short trip to the outlet mall). I enjoyed going a day earlier and letting the older two have the freedom to roam around, MagicQuest, ride the waves with mom, and play in the arcade on mom's dime! We had the opportunity to upgrade to a Kid's Cabin which featured their own T.V., a bunk bed, and a single bed for Charlie. The kids enjoyed the freedom that their own room allowed, and Valerie felt very grown up when they offered her a key to the room on her arm band. I spent Friday morning relaxing in the lobby with the latest copy of Good Housekeeping, and some hot tamales. Friday afternoon we met Charlie and Mark in Centralia for a little shopping. Valerie got some clothes and Ethan go a new spiffy (just like Mark's) jacket. He also made out with a pair of Converse because ...

Sitting here in my room at the GWL enjoying some alone time! My mistake...turning on the television! I am watching HLN's covering of the Michael Jackson case! Very irritating how they are covering this case! Yes, I believe Murray is guilty of gross negligence but not manslaughter! For whatever reason, Michael found it necessary to continue to take drugs on a consistent basis! Let's own up to whose fault it is! Why are we a society that refrains from blaming or convicting the guilty party! Michael, although he was a giving and awesome musician, was a very disturbed man! Michael is to blame for his death, Murray is responsible for his lack of performing his role as a physician! His license deserves to be revoked, but he doesn't deserve to be labeled the guy who killed M.J. MJ what a mess you made! Katherine, please remember your son was an adult! Once you place the blame where it belongs then YOU too can grieve and move on!

I love fall! The weather is beyond wonderful, the trees are perfectly colored, and the harvest festivals are in full bloom! Today we took the kids out to Steilacoom for the Apple Squeeze Festival! The town was caught with their ducks out of a row, when nearly everyone in the food booths failed to bring enough! We attempted to have apple fritters, corn, and some toffee nut toffee...all were SOLD out! We eventually scored some toffee nut sprinkles for our ice cream, real honey (no preserves), and some hot spiced cider! Charlie enjoyed seeing all the scarecrows, and reciting the scarecrow poem at frightening decibels with Ryan in the middle of the Square. The Steilacoom Garden Club was sponsoring the annual "Scarecrows of Steilacoom." October 1st and running through the end of the month, residents and businesses are encouraged to create and display scarecrows. This year's scarecrow theme was in honor of resident and member, Sue Davidson. Sue was the creator of Scarecrows o...

Date Night. Yahoo. We trust Valerie now, to watch her brother and sister. We trust she will keep them safe from each other...he hee. We even pay her. In fact last night we made a transfer of $30.00 in Valerie's name to the Bank O' Daddy! Her bank is growing fast, now that she is employable (by us). We had went to Lakewood (to the posh chairs theater) to watch Contagion. Insert cough here, and here, and several touches to the face and you have pretty much seen the show too! Don't waste $19.00 to see this movie. Promise, wait for it on DVD. Maybe even as a free download on Netflix. We finished the night at The Hub in Tacoma. Beers, and one Cranberry Vodka helped the mood, and transitioned us into RELAX mode. We joined the Mira family (I haven't met one Mira I don't like yet) and rocked out to their boys' band, Ben Union. I love that their parents are always at each booking. In fact Mr. Mira made the sweetest statement about his sons' band..."I tell them a...

photo captured by M. Wegley We are Cardinals, or will be in a couple years! We decided to take the kids to a home football game to root for their future team. Unfortunately FP lacked some skills, and power. We enjoyed being out in the cold crisp air, sitting around the big Friday lights, and cheering for our school. In the end we walked away with a score of Franklin Pierce 6- Sentinels 15. Charlie loved watching the cheerleaders, but opted to be a future football player because she claims "I can run fast." Ethan was the one who was the most disappointed by the plays. Seems like Mark and Ethan have found something in common....football. My boys becoming a man! Valerie hung in there till about half time and then started drawing pictures of Dragons....somethings never change. We all had a great time, regardless of the score!