Halloween 2009

More to come! I promise! We had a lot of fun, but this mama is tired!!!

Star Senior

One of the highlights of being a "Senior" at Hope's school is the week that you are the "Star Senior." Hope has been counting down until her week since she started her new school. Some of the rewards for being "Star Senior" are thing so important like: Sitting on a red bench next to the teachers during group, helping set the tables for snack/lunch, opening the door to the playground, sleeping in a special spot for nap time, holding the flag ...you see just how special this honor is, right? You also get to tell everyone about yourself. We had to fill out a booklet of information together last weekend. It asked several questions, and I want to record some of her answers.

• What's your favorite color? Blue and red
• What do you want to be when you grow up? A mommy
• What do you do well? Hula Hoop
• What is something you like to do? Go to the cousins' house
• What is something you don't like to do? Leave the cousins' house
• What is something that makes you sad? When daddy goes on a trip
• What is your favorite food? Blueberries, strawberries, green beans and chocolate milk
• What is your favorite season? All of them

She also has to tell everyone her address and her telephone number, so there is a little pressure too! She knew it all.

We were also given a 1/4 sheet of posterboard to make a collage of Hope. I can't tell you how hard it was to sum up nearly 5 years of this precious girl's life on such a small place. Here is what I came up with:

And to get even more sentimental... I found this picture of Hope at the Infant Center her first time as the flag holder! She was still in the baby room, but my friends from the freshmen room came and stole her so she could hold the flag. I remember how proud she was!

Also, her "Senior Pictures" came in this week. How grown up is she?

Unfortunately, our star senior was out sick one day. The devestation that came at midnight Monday night when she was throwing up when she realized she was going to miss a day as star senior... Sadness. Luckily it was a short lived bug. Now, I am sick with a sinus infection. I can't talk either. I feel so yucky. I am not going to post the dates of our disney trip on the blog, but know that it is coming up in the near future, and we all need to be well! We have been dreaming of taking Hope to Disney World for her fifth birthday since she was born. I don't want sickness messing up our plans! Could we live in a sterile bubble until it's time to leave?

Elmo-Palooooza

The funniest thing has happened this week. Noah has fallen in love with Elmo. We watch a little Sesame Street around here, but not a lot. I was in Target with Noah last week, not even looking at the Elmo toys when Noah shouts, "Elmo!" I didn't even know he could say it! He had spotted this little Elmo friend.

We stood there for several minutes playing and laughing with Elmo. I resisted the temptation to buy Elmo on the spot, which was very difficult! I repeated my mantra to myself... "I want to go to Disney World more than I want this _______" (Insert Elmo here.)

So over the weekend, we dug out a few Elmo toys we had around the house, a see and say, and a phone. He carried them everywhere. He said Elmo hundreds of times over the weekend. No. Joke.

I remembered that we had an Elmo costume. Why? Here's a long story... I used to sell Elmo costumes on Ebay. Seriously. I would buy Elmo costumes on Ebay all throughout the year for cheap. Then, about 2 weeks before Halloween, I would list them. It was genius. I made a lot of money. But now, costume companies have wised up and produced more. There is much less Halloween craziness to find a last minute Elmo costume. Anyway, I still had one left in size 9 months, which is way too small, but still. (I have a cookie monster just like this too if you are interested!) I went and found it, and we put it on Noah as fast as we could without him seeing what we were doing. We put the hood on his head and took him to the mirror. He was soooo excited! He kept patting his head and saying "Elmo!" John tried to take the hood off after a while, and he freaked out!

And, if you are wondering if there is sibling rivalry going on here, umm, yes. Hope can not stand for me to take a picture of just Noah. And Noah did not want Hope taking a picture with him! So it begins...

Yes, she is completely blocking me from taking his picture on purpose.

Noah has been a little under the weather the last couple of days. He stayed home today, and will have to stay home tomorrow as well. After a trip to the doctor, I had to go to Target for diapers and Motrin. We had to go visit the Elmo isle, and those sad, sick baby eyes won. We came home with this.

It was worth every single penny. He looooves it so much.

Hoping to see more smiles like this tomorrow, and less sad, sick baby eyes.

Minnie

I found this costume for Hope at Duck Duck Goose for $3.00. I knew she would love it, and I thought she might also wear it for a little while when we are at WDW, which is quickly approaching! Well, Daddy went to Orlando last week for a training and brought back ears for the costume! Noah got some too! They will definitely be making the trip with us! (The ears AND the kids!)

Crush

Hope has a new passion in life. And it's not soccer. It's her soccer coach, Matt. She loves him oh so much. She is the only girl on the team, and she is using this to her advantage. She hugs Matt after every play. He will then pick her up and place her on the field where she should go. When we were getting Team Pictures made yesterday, Hope said to Matt, "Can we get a picture of just me and you? You could hold me!" So, I took these with my phone for her.

We are going to a Brian Kinder Concert later, and Hope said "Mom, do you know what coach I want to sit by at the concert?" Me: "Umm, Matt P.?" Hope:"Uhhhhhh-Huh!" They have already made the arrangements to sit together. I think the love is mutual.

One day I asked her, "Do you love Matt P?" She said, "No, he loves me."