Lean In

A buzzkill...

Every year we go to a local shopping area and trick or treat from store to store..it's packed with kids..mass chaos..this year, I saw a post where another similar shopping area was doing the same thing, so we got "crazy" and decided to try something new...and it reinforced the fact for me why I DON'T try new things..I stick with tried and true...when we got there, many of the stores had signs in their windows that they were out of candy? How could that be if it just started...ummm, apparently the newspaper had advertised it from 2-4 and online, their site had said 4-6...we got there at 4...so it pretty much stunk...anyhoo, here's a few random shots..

I kept telling Tristan if he didn't wear his mask, he wasn't going to get any candy, but it didn't work :)

They got enough candy to satify them, but I was very disappointed mainly b/c I get such great pictures at the other place...

Next year, it's back to The Avenue!

My Goblins...

We went to a little trick or treat event (which turned out to be pretty much a bust) on Saturday..the good thing was, I got all my costume pictures out of the way while the lighting was good :)

Meet Frankenstein...I am a huge Frankenstein fan..goes way back to my childhood when I used to get to watch that old original Frankenstein..it was awesome..but scary...Chaz had no idea what he wanted to be so I searched costumes on the internet and came across this one..it's licensed by Universal Studios, so that sealed the deal..lol...

HIlarious, no? Do you see a resemblence?

and my little cowgirl..she looks so cute...she decided on the cowgirl thing way back..and never changed her mind, so I pieced things together to get this look..

Chaz's friend Tristan went with us..he was somewhat scary...

See? I told ya..Bailey wouldn't stand next to him for a picture..lol

and remind us from here on out not to do a costume that requires make up application for him..he had a hard time sitting still..and we have to do it all again tomorrow..lol

Bless his heart...

I was kicking myself that I forgot to get black fingernail polish to complete the look...

Happy Sunday...

Hope you have enjoyed your Sunday..it's been beautiful here..Chaz had a friend spend the night, we went to church, and then have spent the day outside..Bailey and I watching Chaz, Tristan, and Brad play football and baseball...

I finally got these two layouts photographed...

This one was inspired by the layout here by Jennifer Larson..cause ya know, I can't think for myself anymore..gotta have a layout to lift or a sketch..lol

The title letters and the stars are glittery..pretty much unable to tell that online..boo! I used a digital template for the "sketch" for this one...

I've got some crazy pictures of the kids in their costumes from yesterday..will try to post those tonight..

Meet and Treat...

The first of many Halloween outings in the next few days...The kid's school had this fun little event for the first time last night..Chaz had a ball game,so he couldn't go..bummer...but Bailey tore up the halls in search of candy..and friends..

I LOVED this artwork in the hall...

Her teacher from last year made the best Snow White!

Her teacher this year, Mrs.Anander..Bailey loves her...all the first grade teachers were dressed as condiments..lol

Her friend, Bailey..yes, it gets confusing..lol

This teacher had her real little dog as Toto..she was so cute!

A new friend for this year.."Elle"..I've heard a lot about her..glad I got to meet her and her Mom..

Fun times :)

Bailey is going to get LOTS of use out of her cowgirl costume this year!

He's pretty much won us completely over...

He's our baby :)

Wrapping up his fourth season of baseball too...

Chaz had his last baseball game last night (thank goodness..we're ready for a break! lol)...I had to take Bailey to a function at school, so we made it to the baseball game in the last inning..they lost by one point..dang!...but anyways, afterwards, they had a luscious baseball cake and got their team baseballs IN THE DARK..by then, it was pretty much dark and the pavilion has no lights...nice..so the pictures are questionable, but documented nonetheless..lol..

The boys were WILD...loud, hyper, slightly out of control..and that was BEFORE the cake..

He got a star for his batting helmet for getting a triple..well, sort of..he got a hit and due to many errors from the other team, he got to third..lol..but we'll let him think he got a "triple"...

He looks like he is receiving a baseball type of blessing or something..lol

Good job Chaz..you pitched and played well and had a good attitude all season..and THAT attitude thing is what is MOST important in baseball :)

Wrapping up her FOURTH season of softball...

Goodness, I can't believe she has played four seasons already and she's only 6 1/2...lol..Another 'Viper season down...we had a pretty good season, record wise, but what's more important is the sweet group of girls that made up this team...new friends, old friends..hope to have much of this team back together in the Spring..they won their last game of the season, had cupcakes for snack, and received some flashy medals...and once again, I forgot to get a picture of all the cool Moms that I've become friends with...darn it!

I love to keep my camera around my neck while I'm doing dug out duty and catch fun pictures of them...

(a friend of mine from high school, Katie, who also coaches a team, made this awesome line up board for a few of the teams..it was SO useful, especially that little magnet that says "next up"..cause I get distracted easily and would forget who was up to bat when they came back in from the field..you just put that little magnet where you need it and then you don't have to keep bothering the book keeper.. :P )

They are all usually "camera ready" ...lol

Sweet crazy loud little girls...

We have cute little siblings that wander in and out of the dug out too, this is only two of the about 6 of them...(I get to take that little girl and her family's pictures coming up soon ...excited!)

The girls were hitting the ball so hard this game! 

Snack and medal time! Cause really, the snack is what is most important about the game, right? (look how dirty her face is..lol)

Our coaches...this family lives and breathes softball...no joking..

One last "VIPERS ROCK AND ROLL"!!!! to end the season...

...and that's a wrap!

Thinking this probably wasn't a good idea...

The Autumn Mix...

This may be "TMI"...but...

I've put it off for two years..my GYN has encouraged me for the past two years to get my baseline..and I've put it off...and put it off..and put if off...until I saw Giuliana Rancic on the Today show the other morning and she was telling about how her breast cancer was found on a mammogram she didn't even think she needed (story here)...which is crazy because I give chemo to breast cancer patients all the time and see how bad it can be...but for some reason, her story put my butt in  motion and I called and made an appointment for today...I admit I have this mindset of "it's not going to happen to me"..but really? It could!

I've decided I'm going to treat it just as important as my annual PAP exams..we see so much "female organ" cancers where I work...and some survive and some die...damn those female organs! 

So, I encourage YOU to go get your mammogram too if you are around that mid to late 30's age if your insurance pays for it ... :) 

And that's my public service announcement for the month....

Finally, FINALLY, a new recipe I tried is being added to our rotation...

You guys know my history with new recipes, right? Well, I found this one on Pinterest and we had it last night...VERY good and the kids ate it too..and I shared some with my in laws for their dinner tonight...

Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake

picture and recipe from here.

The only thing I'm going to do differently is add some minced garlic to the mix..maybe along with the onion? it just seemed like it needed "something"...

I just had garlic bread along with it..yummy!

Give it a try...