For those not as well educated in the random, obscure characters of Super Mario Bros. I give you the original photos that the costumes were based upon.

Archer as Dry Bones. A skeleton Koopa.

Cameron as Yoshi.
I know not completely accurate. Lay off.

Mitchell as Shy Guy

Strawberry Shortcake

Apple Dumpling

It was a fun couple of days. Matt and I still need to get in costume again to take pictures. We dressed up for the ward trunk or treat. I was in charge of said event and in the chaos didn't get pictures taken of us.

Stay tuned.

Save Money. Live Better.

I have a problem with this motto. Every time I step foot into the spawn of Satan's store, I turn into a bad person. I become an aggressive cart driver, I am abrupt with employees, and irritable towards everyone shopping. Now, I don't shop there very often, maybe once every couple of months for one or two things that I just can't find anywhere else. Now that they've stopped carrying my color of Nice 'n' Easy, I have no longer had the "need" to go there.

Fast Forward to today. I knew that they had the best price on a ream of copy paper (that's now on my kids' list of school supplies) and Expo brand fine tip dry erase markers (do they really have to be Expo brand?). So, I braved the outing, with all 5 kids in tow, which, I admit was my second mistake. The first of course being my choice of store (and the horrific parking).

I got the copy paper, they were out of dry erase markers and watercolors just like everywhere else, and could not find a steno notebook to save my life. The school supply section was a complete joke. Granted, this is the day before school starts, but it wasn't even laid out well.

I had five items, so I waited to use the self-checkout, which I love for small purchases. I am not one of those people who think they can do it better than the paid checker and take my overflowing basket to check out myself. Of course the machine froze on me and wouldn't take my coupon and wanted the "attendant" to do it for me. Meanwhile, Child #1 and #2 are "entertaining" themselves by running in small circles around each other. Child #3 was repeatedly begging for a pack a lip gloss, and when told "no" more than once, starts screaming and crying. Child #4 was climbing out of the cart and onto the little self-check out shelf (and "thank you" to the lady behind me who saved him from falling on his head). Child #5 just started crying.

It was quite the afternoon. I now quote my philosophical husband who believes "if there were no "insert store-that-shall-not-be-named" and no middle schools, it would solve three quarters of the world's problems."

Save Money. Live Better. Unless You Have Kids.

Why?

I like to blog stalk. Some people blog as a way of creative escape, some blog to share memories with others, and some use their blog as a journal. But there are a few blogs that I read, one in particular, whose blogger never blogs about anything bad that happens in their life. Only the great parties they've thrown, or the wonderful trips they've been on. Their blogs make me feel like I don't have the nicest house with granite counter tops, teak cabinets, slate flooring, or all stainless steel appliances. I also feel like a bad mom who doesn't love her kids enough pick up all the Otter Pop wrappers after them or have them signed up at with the best (and most expensive) ballet academy or sports camps, or whisk them away on fabulous vacations all across the country. I also feel disorganized, non-crafty, and boring. So, why, do I continue to read these? Self masochism I suppose.

Now, if you are reading this, you can be absolutely positively 100% sure that I am not talking about you or your blog. I can guarantee that to you. The blogs I am referring to are those of your best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend.

Double Your Pleasure

Same age. Same dress. Same bow.

Be Careful What You Wish For

So, for a long time I have said that I would love to be called as the Ward Activities Chairwoman. I love to plan parties and have no one come. (At least that's been my experience when planning my own gatherings.) A couple of weeks ago, I got the call. Either I mentioned it to the right person, or they really wanted to get us (and by us, I mean me, because Matt is an awesome teacher) out of teaching the pilot class "Strengthening Marriage".

I don't know about your wards, but in the last 4 years that we have lived here, we have done the same activities. The Chili Cook-Off in March, the Pancake Breakfast on the 4th of July, the Trunk-or-Treat in October, and the Christmas Party. I'm going to bet that it's the same for most of you. Minus the Chili Cook-Off in March. March?? I only make chili from September on, when the weather is right. Now that I think about it, here in Idaho, that can include March.

I got the "go-ahead" to shake things up a bit. I might get fired before I even get to some of my ideas, but it needs to be done. While I won't mess with the Trunk-or-Treat, I definitely have plans for the Christmas Party. I hope no one is offended when I don't serve ham and funeral potatoes.

What are some of your favorite or not so favorite activities that you have been to? I'm talking church gatherings, neighborhood block parties, school parties. We, Mormons, can adapt almost anything to suit our needs, right?

Make Up Call

When Mitchell was in K-2nd grade, he always made a Valentine's sack at school to put all his valentines in. I thought it was kind of a cop-out. What happened to decorating a shoe box or constructing something hugely creative, like my brother's poster board size Pacman? He came to me last year, the night before the party at school, and said he was supposed to take a shoe box (nothing bigger) for his loot. I had not seen a note about this (I guess they figure 3rd graders are responsible enough to relay messages home), so I didn't know exactly what he was supposed to do. I asked him if he was supposed to decorate it and his reply was "eh, we can if we want". I asked him if he wanted to and his reply was "nah, I'll be okay" (whose kid is this??). Now, we don't buy a lot of shoes in the box (I'm more of a find-a-great-deal-at-TJ Maxx kind of gal), so the chances of me finding a box around the house were pretty slim. I remembered that I had bought a pair of shoes for Addison to grow into (thank you Famous Footwear cousin discount) and they were still in the box up in her closet. I gave the tiny size shoe box to him to take. As I waited for him after school, I watched all the kids exit with their extravagantly-decorated-bigger-than-shoe-boxes-box. I felt like the worst.mom.ever. I managed a craft store for 2 years for crying out loud, and I sent my kid to school with a girl's Esprit box for his valentines? Right then, I vowed to make it up next year. I am usually one of those moms who doesn't do their kid's school stuff (poster's, oral presentation cue cards, etc.) for them. I help them, but I really think it's important that they do it themselves. But I needed a make up call.

I present this year's make up call.

I know, it doesn't have a cord. I'd appreciate you getting off my back about it.


Thank goodness for Pepsi products being on sale last week.



To be fair, he did help, I let him think up the tin foil and cover it.

Budding Ballerina

Addison takes ballet through our City Rec Center. To say she loves it would be quite the understatement. For her winter recital they did a little number to "Kiss the Girl". Which couldn't have been more perfect for her. She concentrates so hard and tries to perfect every move and position. This has been a great outlet for her and her princess drama. Now if we can move on past the tantrums we will be set.