Smell my feet. Definately not Siobhans.

I guess my week of posts didn't really happen. This is still such an adjustment. Trying to sell our house has made for the scariest Halloween ever. We won't even get into that right now. I did complete costumes and the kids were pretty happy. Oscar has been wearing the hair spray since we went to a carnival on Wednesday night. Jeremy and Annisha were there also and we had a lot of fun, even though Jocelyn was afraid of Oscar. Alas, even the joker has to do homework and waiting until after the carnival was not the best option.

Yes, I am aware the following photos are sideways. I cannot save anything on a library computer so they remain sideways and I am posting them anyways. This is Oscar receiving a citizenship award at his new school. He was chosen from his class for his hard work and his ability to follow directions and help others focus on tasks. I am very proud of him and was glad his teacher called so I could attend the assembly.

This is my favorite pictures of the costumes. I do have an older daughter but 13 is a funny Halloween age and even worse for picture taking.

Today will be a fun, crazy day. Grandma day and dinner and then all the cousins will be trick or treating together. This morning I cleaned the kitchen and living room. I was listening to my headphones and vacuuming and remembering how at our old apartment I was so happy to clean. Maybe it was because it was just Pete and I and easy. Then I realized what it really was. I had the promise of a Lucky Strike at the end. Sometimes just remembering smoking makes it so hard to not want to. So, I am thinking of other treats instead today. Here are my 5 favorite Halloween treats.

#1. Snickers. My favorite Halloween candy.

#2. Kit Kat. Oscar was so obsessed with Kit Kats when he was about 5. Pete once sent him a letter from the Kit Kat police to get him to do something, I can't remember what.

#3. Harvest Moon Pumpkin Ale.

#4. A new one would be Caramel Apples. Sharron made these twice last week and I have dreamed of them every night since.

#5. Double Bubble. I love that powder on the outside.

What will you sneak from the kids?

Today I am at the library early because Olive participates in story time. It is a pretty large group of 3 to 5 year old kids and she could not be more different than Hans. He still requires me to walk him to the door at school, standing in line with the boys. Olive wants no part of that coddling and insists that I watch her from a distance. She is bold and outspoken and volunteers information randomly. Today is a Halloween theme and she was able to wear her costume. I cannot wait to hear her views on what others wore.
As I wait I am perusing the homes for sale and hoping that ours will sell soon. I think we are lowering the price this week and then after that Pete is thinking he may want to rent it out rather than take an even larger loss. So here are some homes I like today. This one, this one and Oscar really likes this one. We are afforded the luxury of having a place to live and are able to take our time searching out the perfect home. We plan on living here for years and years to come and we need a place that will be comfortable as the kids grow. As this will be our third home we will have purchased we have been able to really pick what's important to have. I can't wait to see what we will find.
In the meantime we have enjoyed the amazing views from John and Sharrons. Hans can spend the whole day in the backyard, playing in the sandbox and watching the birds,especially the quails. I am really happy to be here, especially after a rough start and some sullen days. I love it here. The mountains and the city. It is nice to be familiar with the area and know where I am going. I have always been able to appreciate places after I have left them and it is nice to just be happy where I am now.
So, I would love any suggestions on what you may have looked for in a home. I know I will forget something that I will be sure I wanted. Any suggestions will be appreciated or I will have to make it a list sometime! Maybe tomorrow????

Yeah,it's been awhile.

How I miss my blog. I look forward to having regular Internet access almost more than a new home. Once I get to the library, by the time I have checked my email and replied to them, I have little time left. That time I then spend reading all my celebrity gossip. This so I will have something to contribute to the awesome conversations I overhear at the school.
Pete has been very busy at work and is enjoying it. Last week he was in San Fransisco for a few days and promised when he heads back I can tag along. Until then he is taking me to the Ballet West Gala on Saturday. There are a great many perks to his new job that I am beginning to realize and enjoy. So, today I took the little kids to help me find a dress. It felt slightly like trying on Halloween costumes. That could not be me in a dress that cost more than my entire wardrobe I have constructed from various thrift stores? I couldn't actually buy it and instead had the saleslady hold it while I think this through. When asked for my name I told her to hold it under Petes since his office is in that particular store and he could just pick it up for me. Whole new ballgame. Suddenly the lady with a tote bag purse and a daughter in Pj's and sandals (her idea) was a real customer. And she loves Pete and we all needed hugs.
So that was today. I am so out of practise with my blog that I feel like I am not even constructing real sentences here. I will solve that by blogging all week! Remember I did that once before? SO, forgive todays lack of finesse and check back tomorrow for some progress. Until then, enjoy this....

Sicko

Snow today! Hans was so excited that instead of his usual Saturday morning request, "Dad, can we go fishing?", he asked,"Dad, can we go skiing?" Really all we can manage is some catch up on some rest. We have been so sick this week. I kicked it off on Monday and still am not quite back to myself. Hans and Olive were in a bad way the last two days. Oscar has kind of gone in and out. Pete and Siobhan are the only two to escape. Pete has worked some wicked hours this week wrapped it up with the most elaborate business dinner ever. If I wasn't so nauseous, I'd be jealous. So, for that reason I never got around to posting a list. I have really missed my regular blogging and hope to get back to it.
There has also been the drama of choosing and making the Halloween costumes. I don't do the choosing, just the making. I love the process of watching the kids decide. There is a lot of thought put into it and a lot of details to follow. Oscar was set on Indiana Jones for the last year. He is usually the most predictable and opts for the character of the moment. Except last year when he went as Zelda. He switched it up on me and changed to the Joker after having his face painted at Oktoberfest. So, he commissioned his costume and added, "Don't make the jacket out of cheap fabric." Part of my fun in Halloween costumes is that they are worn once and can be made cheap and not to perfectly. When else is he planning on wearing a purple jacket? Hans wants me to figure out how he can open his robot costume, just like Bender and put those wax bottles inside, like he is carrying beer. I think we need some more age appropriate cartoons around the house. Olive safely chose a cat again this year but changed it up by asking for pink instead of black. Siobhan and I are still deep into negotiations. SO, finally let's get to the list and talk about our favorite Halloween costumes. Here's mine.....

#1. The Solid Gold Dancers. Me, Luisa and Alex. I believe I have a picture on here somewhere.

#2. We were some sort of french mimes one year. I know there is a name but can't remember what it is, although I'm sure my mom will. I mostly actually didn't like this costume, but remember it well. My aunt always did our makeup and it was thick and we were not allowed to scratch or touch. My mom made beautiful costumes, but I felt like a complete goon in mine. Also a trio deal.

#3. I was Cyndi Lauper one year and loved it.

#4. This wasn't at Halloween but my family will remember well what I wore to Nicoes baptism at St. Marys by the Sea. I chose a netted hat and knee stocking along with some sort of old lady dress and I swear I didn't recognize myself in the pictures. I am still shocked that no one made mention of this prior to arrival at the church. Unfortunately, there are several other of these occasions, that are also well remembered, usually by my dad.

#5. Michael meyers. I think we all had a turn at this.

So, thanks for the patience, I really am trying to get a routine going. Can't wait to hear about your costumes!

Testing

Live from the library!

For anyone that has the pleasure of knowing Pete, you are probably well aware that he is a minimalist. I on the other hand, being both a Paredes and a Sheppard love my things. This is something that I struggle with. I am comforted and happy with all my "stuff". Pete is not and in an attempt to make him comfortable I sometimes have to purge a few boxes of things. Moving brought out the worst of this struggle. I am proud to say that I did manage to fill a couple of car loads of stuff to donate and Pete kept the snarky comments to a minimum. Seeing as we are staying with his parents, there wasn't much to unpack when we arrived. Finally being somewhat settled is nice and it is fun to watch Pete and his Dad navigate their days. I can imagine what Pete will be like at his Dads age and also what his Dad was maybe a little like, trying to take care of a large family. They both have to be busy,busy,busy. I can't wait for the day when Pete constructs a ladder from 4 kitchen stools and a milk crate to work on the roof, a la John this morning. Something else I am really enjoying is my time with Sharron. I love family history and keep little stories written down for when the kids are older. It is nice to add some Lindgren stories so that I can feel knowledgeable in both areas. Over the weekend, when I was explaining the drama of my pack rat tendencies we talked about the meaning behind certain family things and why they are so important to each of us. This is a huge subject in family. My mom is a collector and has so many really great things. People are often amazed at how many interesting things she has and more than once I have heard the word"museum". But it isn't sterile or fragile. Just her precious things that she enjoys and takes care of. The kids have their names on certain things already, at Grandmas prompting. Just like we had with our Grandma. I am curious how others way in on this? Do you have special family "items"? What is special to you? Here's mine....

#1. When my Mom came before I left she gave me a bust of the Sacred Heart. He was always my Grandmas favorite and I think he is beautiful. I am still a little overwhelmed that she gave him to me and he traveled with me on the front seat of the car. I will always cherish him.

#2. All my babies pictures and artwork. I don't know which is more special to me. Pictures are obviously great to have,but I especially LOVE the artwork. I cannot discriminate and so I end up with ALL the drawings. I have files and files of them.

#3. My suitcase of Sheppard/Paredes memorabilia. This has expanded into two suitcases. All my newspaper clippings,photos, old school records, old art projects, notes my parents wrote, notes my grandparents wrote, various cards with envelopes addressing me as Chowhound,Chubette,Porkchop and various other "endearments".

#4. An old notebook that my Grandmother wrote the stations of the cross in. She wrote out the prayer for each and every station in Spanish and I just miss her handwriting.

#5. All my cards from my Grandma, Mom and Pete. Besides the kids, my three most special people and I save and reread all my cards from them.

I really am working on the pictures. I think I have a solution and if so will post a bunch tomorrow. Please don't fail me on the list. Especially when I have to drive all the way to the library to post it. Enough guilt? I hope so.