Trick or Treat

Everyone kept asking what MA was going to be for Halloween, my response was "MA".  I knew I wasn't going to take him around house to house, nor did I want go searching for a costume for him.  I figure next year when he's another year older, it would be the right age. 
The day of Halloween arrived and I just went about my business that I normally do on Sunday's...cook, clean, laundry etc.  It was 5pm and we were outside washing the cars, my goal was to get this all done before the Trick or Treaters started arriving.  As VM was washing away, I was keeping MA from getting into the things in the garage.  I noticed a plasic bag of TJ's stuffed animals when I remembered what was in the bag.
We had gone to the Happiest Place on Earth about seven years ago and TJ and his sister bought matching Goofy headbands.  It had the green hat with floppy ears and you wear it on your head like a headband.  BINGO!  I knew what MA was going to be for Halloween!  I grabbed the headband, rummaged through my makeup drawer to see what I could find to color his nose.  I ended up finding an old mascara tube that still had some life left and used it for MA's nose.  Voila!  Costume, check!
So, here is MA as Goofy for his first official, last minute Halloween costume!

                                                               

TJ's Party!

It was about a month's worth of planning for TJ's party.  At first it was going to be a basic birthday party, but then I decided to tie in the fall/Halloween theme. 
I kept the decorations very simple due to the fact I didn't have my sidekick to help (my sister TA was unable to come into town that weekend).  I didn't want to burden my parents (they do enough already).  My husband unfortunately had to work.  And the birthday boy...well you can fill in the rest.  I would ask him his thoughts on decorations and what desserts I should make, you know I thought he would be a good sounding board to bounce ideas off of since it was his party.  Yeah so he was no help!  So it was up to me to basically plan the party from beginning to end.
I was so excited to make the cupcakes and some different desserts.  I am not much of a baker when it comes to cupcakes but I found a recipe that looked simple enough and tied in with the theme.  Then I found some cool looking cookies that I knew the kids would get a kick out of.  And the other desserts are ones I've done before that were just basic but good ol' faithfuls!

I made sure that I had the games all organized so the kids wouldn't get bored and I could keep them focused.  After the party was over, TJ made a comment and had said that he was worried because the party was off to a slow start.  Ha!  He had no faith, once the kids got there and had a few slices of pizza in them ~ things got going to a pretty fast start.

In the end, they all had a fantastic time and they all loved the goodies! 

The B-day boy playing Party Bingo!

                                                This was the "How Many in the Jar" game!

The kids playing the "Elephant Exchange"!

                                                                     The dessert table!

My Mummy Cupcakes!

The "Mice Cookies", pretty realistic!

                                                                   G-ma giving MA a spin!
                                                                             

                                                                           

Peas n Tank Q

Ahhh!  Music to a parents ears when their child learns those proper words of etiquette...please and thank you.  MA learned how to say this a couple of weeks ago.  Now mind you, I said he knows "how" to say it just not sure "when" to use it.
Jumping up and down on our bed while saying "tank q" with every bounce, or chanting "peas" with his cars in the living room is not how to properly use the words.  We're still in early stages of learning but I'm so proud that he can at least say them and now we're just teaching him when to use them.  So, two out of three's pretty good.  Next it's "you're welcome"!

Karate+Kid=Self Defense?

Karate was a part of TJ''s life for four years.  He learned a lot from his Sensei, mainly self-defense so if TJ ever needed to protect himself he knew what to do.  He got all the way up to a blue belt when he decided to call it quits.  His love of baseball was his higher calling and karate was just not as fun as it used to be.
I was hoping that he would still have that instinct and he would not forget what he had learned.  Well, the other night was proof that he still had it in him!  (Nothing serious happened to him, he's safe!)
I was getting MA's bath water ready in the tub.  VM and I were in the bathroom when I had asked him to shut off the water.  TJ and MA came in so we were all squished in the bathroom.  TJ has his back to me when MA pulled on the back of his t-shirt.  TJ was lost his balance when he took a step back and placed his heel to steady himself.
Well, one of the first things they learn in karate is that if your hands are preoccupied and you need to defend yourself...aim for the top of your attackers foot.  That will definitely hurt and stun the attacker momentarily.  And you ask how I know this...because when TJ lost his balance, he stepped back and his heel landed squarely on my left foot!  His weight had shifted so when he fell back, all that momentum was forced on the spot closest to him, which my foot was occupying at the time!  Owwww!  That did not feel good.  Tears sprang to my eyes and I was "stunned momentarily" that I couldn't talk!
I limped to the bedroom and propped my foot up on some pillows.  I couldn't move my foot because it hurt, so TJ got me some ice to help with the pain.  After about a half hour, I moved the ice pack and you could see two spots that I knew would eventually become a bruise!

So, I guess I don't have to worry too much about TJ.  He can defend himself and knows what he needs to do if he's ever in a sticky sitution.  Karate was definitely a great sport allowing TJ to learn self-defense so he can protect himself.  Thanks Aunt T for getting him involved!

**Two days later this is what my foot looked like...

Mmmmm...pake

MA decided he wanted to be a big boy and have his pancake at the big table.  I tried to change him out of his pj's before breakfast but was only able to remove his shirt.  So, here's my little one half dressed, eating his pancake on Sunday morning!

Intro to PT 101

Well the time has come for MA's introduction to potty training! Lately he's been hiding in his "little corner" in the living room when he has to go #2. So he understands when he makes a mess, he'll let us know!
We went to the store and bought him the "Royal Potty" complete with music! So when he does make a potty, music will play. Pretty high tech! Not something we had growing up.
As much as I can, every hour I try to put MA on his potty to go. Most of the time nothing happens. It's usually five minutes after I put his pull-ups back on that he goes! Go figure!
Today I put him on his potty and you can see he was really concentrating. What do you know, I see a little drop fall into his potty! He was so excied, he looked right at me and said, "I - go - pee!". (I was floored that he said that!). His dad and I were so excited, as he was too! He hopped up off his chair and looked right in and you can see his little droplet in the potty. Barely there but you could see it. MA was very proud of his accomplishment and kept sitting on his chair to see if anymore would come, unfortunately his well was dry!
Maybe this is his "ah ha" moment and now knows there's a #1 and #2.

                                                         

                                              It's hard to see but his pee is there!