This is Halloween...and Lucy turns 12!

At lunchtime on Monday, I got a vist from the RS Presidency. They were really sweet with Ruby and it was a nice visit. I wish I had more people come over to talk to me and play with Ruby...That night Lucy had volleyball practice and I decided to take Ruby. Tyler was working on the Suburban (which is now finally fixed!) and I figured it would be good for Ruby to get out. It was not so good. She walked around staring at people and making introverted me super uncomfortable. There was also this loud guy who felt the need to comment on things she did and say he felt like a "nervous dad". Barf. She kept trying to get her finger in a plug nearby and that seemed to scare him a lot, even though I was right there and always got her away from it. Like calm down buddy.

Tbe weather was nice Tuesday so I decided to let the girls do only 1 subject that morning and then we would go to the zoo. We have a pass that we have barely used and I figured the weather is about to turn soon so we might as well use the pass while we can. Well the weather was really really perfect and it was nice to be outside, but the zoo is just not our favorite anymore. So much walking for so little reward. I think out of all of us, Ruby probably had the best time since she just got to be pushed around in her stroller. She got excited by the penguins, was fascinated with the butterflies, and said "hi" a bunch of times to the lion. We stayed a couple of hours and then headed back home so I could take Steven to the dentist.

After the zoo visit, I had some frustrations with Steven. As we were driving to the dentist I found out he had procrastinated his speech for his college class and hadn't even started the power point that he needed for the speech that day. At that point the class was in 4 hours and he still had to get a cavity filled. Argh. After his *very expensive, not covered by insurance* dentist visit, he managed to pull something together but he was fussing with emailing the power point to his professor just minutes before he had to leave. He gives me so much anxiety. 

Tuesday night Ben had his Soccer Banquet. These things are not my favorite but thankfully Tyler had been busy making friends while announcing at soccer games so he actually knew some people for us to sit by. We apparently sat at the table where everyone seemed to be originally from Germany so we were oddballs but they were nice people. After the dinner the JV coach gave a really long speech and by that time it was Ruby's bedtime and the girls were texting me that she was fussy and I needed to come home and put her to bed. I figured the end of that speech was a good time for me to leave. Moments after pulling out of the parking lot, Tyler sent me a text that Ben had received an award. I was so mad that I missed it by minutes! He got "Most Improved Player" and got a plaque and everything. I am so proud of him. Here's a pic when he got home of him and his fancy award.

Wednesday the girls had their electives and were able to wear costumes. They did not want to wear their Stitch and Angel onesies because they are not super comfy for school so we put together costumes just for school. Apparently only the adults understood Lucy's costume (pumpkin pie) and it was obvious that Penny was a cat but not everyone realized she was Hello Kitty. I thought they were fun though. I even used Penny's hair to make the ears.

While they were at school, Ruby and I ran errands and then went on a walk to the beach to play at the playground there. Ruby has started doing this super cute excited face.

After school, I picked the girls up and took them to the little stream that Ruby, Lucy and I had played at before since it was another warm day. Lucy does not like to share things and I guess that includes sharing places. She was not happy having Penny there and they kept fighting over getting in each other's space. Sometimes I wonder if I am doing them a disservice by giving them so much time together. It seems like it makes them more crabby towards each other. I did get some fun pics though.

Wednesday night Lucy had her first volleyball game and her team did really well. They won all 3 matches and I was impressed with how many times Lucy went after the ball and got it over. This might just be her sport...Meanwhile Ruby was tromping around, and making friends with another little one. This one was a few months younger than her and not walking yet. She tried to stand up using Ruby and that did not go well for either of them. 

Thursday was Halloween! The boys had a half day so at lunchtime I thought we would carve pumpkins. Steven was not interested and Ben barely was and honestly it was a bit of a disaster. Penny's pumpkin had started rotting and it lost part of its back side when she was scraping out the inside. I decided to carve Steven's and something was wrong with it because it smelt awful inside and leaked all sorts of nasty juices everywhere. And Ruby painted hers but the paint was not really washable and she still has colors on her. I think we all concluded that this should be our last year or carving pumpkins. None of them seemed to love it.

 Lucy made a stabbed person, Ben said his was a Chad, Penny attempted a Stitch face but it did not go well at all and I made a sad pumpkin because carving was no fun.

That night for dinner we had Mummy Dogs and then Mariah's family and the May family came over. Mariah did the girls' makeup and then we all went out trick or treating. The weather was really nice so even I went for a bit with Ruby. Caroline volunteered to stay at our house and pass out candy. Ruby had no interest in the trick or treating. She got one candy from one person and then gave it to the next house we visited. Most of the time she just sat in her "car" and watched all the things. I got bored after a bit (Mariah's kids are a bit slow at each house) and we had someone in front of us smoking and the smell was obnoxious so when we were back by our street Ruby and I headed back home. We stopped at Christy's on the way and she spoiled Ruby with candy. Back at our house I chatted with Caroline while Ruby took candy out of the bowl and then put it back in. She was really more about playing with it then eating it. Although sometimes she would put it in her mouth with the wrappers on...

Friday was Lucy's birthday. She was lacking in the patience department that day and did not want to have a relaxed morning- she wanted presents ASAP. From us she got a fashion design kit, Polaroid photo paper, stickers, and a fanny pack. We also gave her some spending money. From her grandparents she got a clay charms kit, giftcard and money.

After the present opening, I did a work out and that was probably a mistake. I had promised to take Lucy shopping and as I said, she was lacking in patience. She stressed me out with her need to go as soon as I was done with my work out and shower. It's so much harder these days to leave somewhere now that I have Miss Ruby so it took me awhile to get ready. Anyways, when I was finally ready, we went to Target and she got a few more things- Mini Brands, colored pencils, sticker that you can color and candy. She was a happy girl. By that time it was lunch time, so we stopped for some Culver's. She is really loving cheeseburgers lately.

When we got home, I put Ruby down for a nap and then finished prepping for the party. I had to decorate the cake (a smiley face), put up decorations (they need some backdrops for pictures) and last but not least, tidy up the house. Lucy had made the invite and that meant she picked the party time. She chose to have it from 3pm Fri to 3pm Sat- early start time and LONG party. Claire and Geli were first to arrive. Jenna came late because she didn't get out of middle school until 3pm, Jenna's mom stayed for a bit to chat. We were outside and I had just told her how excellent Ruby was at going down the deck stairs when Ruby decided to just take a leap. She rolled pretty good and got a bump on her forehead. It was not great. Shortly after that, Mariah arrived with all her kids. She was there to give the girls all makeovers so they could do some dolled up bestie pics. I watched her kids while she did the girls' hair and make up. She was so nice to do that but our house just felt like a mad house- watching both Maverick and Ruby is a lot, especially now that Maverick is mobile. Mariah did some pretty over the top make up for Lucy. I don't think the other girls make up was quite as over the top but she did use a lot of mascara (the girls complained it was itching their eyes) and they all looked so much older. Claire had to leave for a couple hours to a volleyball banquet and she came back with no more makeup and her hair undone. Apparently her mom thought it was too fancy. At least we got pictures of all of them before Claire left. I only took a few but Mariah took a bunch with her fancy phone app and is going to send me them when she gets a chance. 

When makeovers were done, it was pizza, cake and presents time. She kept switching the 1 and 2 because apparently the makeup made her feel like she was 21. Her friends spoiled her. She got a sweatshirt, slipper socks, a giftcard to Hobby Lobby,a Christmas Tree, Dr.P and some cash. She will definitely have some shopping to do later.

Then they all watched "Ghostbusters: Afterlife" and gave eachother manicures. When the movie was done, Jenna had to head home because she wasn't able to stay for the sleepover and around that time Claire returned from her banquet. I helped set up beds and wished them all a good night. They said they went to bed at midnight but I honestly have no idea since I did not hear them for the rest of the night.

Saturday morning they woke up slow and then made a movie on Geli's Ipad. They did good entertaining themselves until about lunchtime. Around noon, Claire's mom picked her because apparently she thought that was when the party ended. That was actually a good thing she made a mistake with the time. I think Geli wished she was picked up then too because Lucy and Geli started to get bored, and honestly, I think Geli was missing home and in need of some quiet time. Instead though, Geli's mom ended up picking her up late because she had some things come up. Poor Geli and Lucy had a very LONG and BORING afternoon in which they watched a movie and then Geli played on her Ipad while Lucy did her own thing. They were socialed out.

I ended my Saturday by going to see the new Venom movie with Ben and Andrea. It was really nice to have some baby free time and escape in a movie. It was an entertaining watch- a good mix of comedy, action and a tiny bit of drama. 

Ruby slept through all but one night this past week. The one night she didn't sleep through, she was coughing a bunch and she went to bed after snuggling with me for 20 minutes so it wasn't a totally awful night. I am hoping we have turned a corner in nights with her but I just can't count on it yet. I am not trying to be a pessimist, just trying to be a realist. Her is a pic of Ruby with her buddy Chad.

Almost Halloween

Sunday was the Primary Program. I was feeling pretty nervous about playing the piano and my palms were nice and sweaty. I thought I might feel better after I started but I didn't really feel any better after playing the first song. I personally know I made mistakes in every song but thankfully nothing major. The kids were able to sing along. People were nice and told me I did really good. I would be happy to not do that again. Or maybe it would have been better if I had started off the year as the accompanist...

After church we put Ruby down for a nap and then Tyler and I went to Sister Facione's 80th birthday party. She has always been super nice to all of us. They had some yummy popcorn and candy to snack on and I chatted with various people. Conversing at parties exhausts me. I feel like I have to a put on a particularly outgoing demeanor that is not so much authentic me.

Monday when Ruby woke up from her nap I decided to take a spontaneous trip to get doughnuts from Longs, and Ruby and Lucy came with me. Since Longs always has a million wasps that come to say hello when we eat the doughnuts, we decided to stop at a little nature park to eat them on our way home. Lucy and Ruby had a blast playing in and around the shallow water. Even though the water was icy cold, Ruby kept sitting in it. She was pretty happy sitting and playing with rocks. Lucy really enjoyed climbing on branches and logs and wants to go back. 

Monday volleyball started for Lucy. It was a clinic at a nearby high school and the parking was awful and it was so peopley and loud. They had us parents go to a quick meeting and I picked the wrong spot. I ended up sitting by someone who was hacking up a storm. I really hope I didn't catch anything. Coughs are the most annoying sick to have. Lucy doesn't love the clinics either beacuse they are just so many people and she will be happy when we start up normal practice and games next week.

Tuesday evening we went to Tilson Street in Romeo to see all their cool decorations. We went last year and the kids really loved it so I thought we should go again. I also wanted to see how Ruby would react to all the spooky things. Steven normally has class that night but since he wasn't giving a speech, he could skip it. You would think that would've meant he would join us in our family outing, but alas he did not. The drive there was long but pretty with all the fall colors out. Tyler was a little grumbly but mostly because he hurt his toe on Sunday and it was bothering him. Ruby made sure to say "hi" to everything that scared her and she didn't love turning her back to the spooky guys. Ben was especially excited by a Pillsbury Doughboy hanging in a tree. Good times were had but I am not sure we will make the trek again next year. It really is all the same things for such a long drive. On our way home we hit up Wendy's for Frosties and fries.

Wednesday after dropping off the girls at school, Ruby and I ran a few errands to get things for Trunk or Treat and costumes. Then I came home and took Tyler to work. And as per tradition, Ruby and I stopped at the park on our way home. While there, there was a mom group and this lady asked me if I was there for it. When I said nope, she said I was welcome to join but they were all young beige moms (beige moms is literally a thing where all the kids dress in very beige colors). I did not feel like I would fit in so I politely declined, and after overhearing conversations, I definitely would not have. They were all talking about making their homemade granola and food for their dairy allergic children and things that just were not my jam...Ruby and I had a good time though and the weather was much warmer from the last time we were there.occasionally we 

Friday night our Ward had it's Halloween party. Tyler volunteered to watch his sister's kids that night and Lucy's friend Claire came with us and Luna and Geli and their mom met us there... So lots of extra people with us that night. Thankfully Tyler was true to his word and I did not have to help much with his sister's kids. He basically divided them out with our kids- Ben had Red, Penny had Jessie, and Steven had Wesley. That left Tyler with Maverick and me with my own baby, Ruby. Dinner was of course, chilli and hot dogs and there were games for the kids. Afterwards there was the Halloween costume parade and our family won for best family costume- Penny was Angel, Lucy was Lilo, Ben was Mr.Bubbles, I was Nani and Tyler was David (Steven was lame and not part of the fun, he just wore his work attire) After some careful reflection, I realized we were the only family in a themed costume so...go us? 

Then it was time for Trunk or Treat and our Trunk was epic. I was quite proud of it. Lucy made a poster of a cat that said "I left you a treat" and then we had a kiddie pool full of sand and candy. The kids had to get the treats out using a litter box scoop. I also brought a long my skeleton who was Claudia the cat lady for the night. We surronded him with cat stuffies and put him in a robe. The kids all had fun finding their treats. Ruby did not understand the point of trunk or treat and just wandered around watching everyone. I tried to get her to hold her bucket and "beg" for candy but that was not going to happen. After, when all the kids were trading candy, she did try to steal some from other kids. Not that she really knows what candy is since I never give her any. I am really trying not to ruin her as much as ruined the other kids.

Saturday was another busy day. Steven had an archery competition in the morning and got an awesome score of 275- this is after months of no practicing. Imagine what he could do if he actually put in some effort (a perfect score is 300). Meanwhile, the girls had some friends over for Halloween crafts. Mimi's mom actually dropped her off and didn't stay. That felt like more trust than I deserve but also felt nice to be trusted. The girls painted pots, made paper windsocks and decorated cookies.

After the crafting here, we all walked over to the beach for our neighborhood Halloween party. They did the cake walk and all won prizes so now we have way too many treats. Then there was a punch a cup thing where they got more prizes and then a pinata. They all had fun and I enjoyed a nice chat with Julie who was there and some of her friends. She literally knows EVERYONE in the neighborhood. She is much more social than me. After the party the girls' friends went home and then it was a quiet movie night for me, Ben, Lucy and Andrea. We ended up watching "The Haunting" which I think creeped out Lucy a little bit. It's a weird one.