Is it over yet?

Seriously, is it just me or has Halloween lasted for several weeks? I'm really ready for it to be over. Anyway, we went trick or treating in the village this afternoon and I sweet talked Bella into wearing her wig. Matea picked up on the whole concept of trick or treating rather quickly and if she could talk, I guarantee she would have been saying, "I'll be damned if Bella's gonna get candy from that stranger and I don't!". She actually threw herself down in the middle of the sidewalk screaming at one point because I had the nerve to carry her past one of the businesses Bella trick or treated at. And is it not obvious that she's a gold fish? We heard duck, chick, and rooster. She was also very offended when people said to Bella, "Here's a little treat for your brother's bag." Come on people. The goldfish costume is way too sissy for a boy.

Another day, another costume

Bella's mermaid costume isn't wearing very well (don't get me started, just boycott Lillian Vernon!) so she decided to mix things up today with this Snow White costume our neighbors got for her at a yard sale for $1. Why in the hell did I buy her the expensive mermaid costume when she looks so damn cute in this one?
Anyway, they had a little parade at school today. And, I mean little. There are only 6 kids in her class so Tater and I dressed up to make it a little more fun and exciting. Papa and Auntie Devin also came to see the parade.

Pumpkin Carving

We carved pumpkins last night for the first time. I don't know how it's happened, but every other year we've had something come up right before Halloween or just forgotten about it. Anyway, Bella was super excited about the whole thing and overcame her issues with getting dirty and dove right in her pumpkin. Matea, not so much. I cut the top off of hers, reached in and showed her how to scoop the seeds out and she just looked at me and cried. Later, she decided to take everything I had scooped out and put it back in her pumpkin.
Oh, and they both got free pumpkins again this year from Gordy, the owner of JJ's Market up by our house. Bella's always had a really sweet friendship with him and I think he enjoys having fun with the girls since his grandkids live out of state.

A mermaid and a goldfish

Don't the girlies look cute in their costumes? Bella has a bright red wig that goes with hers but she refused to wear it. Which caused me to launch in to the traditional, "Money Doesn't Grow on Trees" lecture and tell her that if she doesn't wear the wig to school with her costume, she needs to get $10 out of her piggy bank to pay us because she insisted on getting the wig with her costume.

We were supposed to go to a little carnival in the village last night but it started raining so our friends, The Rushings, threw together a little party instead. The girls got the wear their costumes, Steve got to have a few drinks, and I had one of those cheap cupcakes from the grocery store with 3 inches of frosting on the top. All were happy.

Ahhhh, this is the life.

Up until the last year or so, I really didn't appreciate living here. Yeah, the low crime, good schools, awesome weather have always been on my mind, but since I'm not really a beach person, I never really appreciated living by the ocean. But after a night like last night, and seeing how much fun the kids have out there, it's hard not to feel incredibly lucky. I mean, how many people can see the ocean from their house and have their feet in the sand five minutes after leaving home? We picked up dinner on the way there, ate in the back of the Explorer, and then spent hours playing in the sand, chasing birds, sitting by the fire and roasting marshmallows. As some German (or were they European?...that's a joke for Lena) tourists nearby shouted "Marshmallows!" in their super thick accents, it finally hit me that we're amazingly lucky to live in a place where people from all over the world come to visit. I'm not positive, but I may have officially given up my dream of moving to North Carolina and having a bunch of land, not really working but just leading a really simple life where we exist through bartering with neighbors for services.

Pumpkins, pumpkins everywhere!

We went to Avila Barn last weekend with my mom, grandma, sister and the five million other families that were there. Seriously, between the pumpkins and people, it was insane. Matea was in complete awe and spent a lot of time trying to pick up really big pumpkins. I was finally able to get some cute pics of Bella and I don't even care that she's not looking at the camera. Check out her huge dimple in the first pic. So cute.

A public service announcement....

I realize that not everyone considers couponing and bargain hunting a hobby like I do so I'm making it easy for you by sharing some of my vast knowledge of deals. Did you know that Walmart Optical will match competitor's coupons? JCPenney's currently has a coupon out for a complete pair of glasses for $99 (any frame up to $130, includes scratch resistant lenses and bifocals). I just got new glasses using a 50% off coupon that has since expired and went back in last night and got a second pair for $99. You can print the coupon here or watch your Sunday paper.

Even faux dogs need a bath

Back in July, for Steve's 30th birthday, I took the girls shopping at Dollar Tree (my favorite place after Kohl's). Bella picked out this little black dog for him and Matea fell in love with it too. I have no idea where she came up with it, but Bella decided to name the dog Little Addie. So, for my birthday last week, Bella insisted that Little Addie get a brother/sister. Now we own two of these wonderful dollar dogs, Little Addie and New Little Addie The girls play with them all the time and have spent the last half hour bathing them. Of course, Papa didn't think to get me the exact same dog we got him and now half our day is spent fighting over who gets to play with New Little Addie who has a lovely soft texture that regular Little Addie doesn't have and apparently the softer texture makes her more popular. This is what my life has been reduced to.

Anyone seeing a pattern here?

Whenever I get the camera out, Matea starts screaming, "Chee, chee!" and making this terrible version of her smiling face. It doesn't even matter if I'm in a different room, she hears the sound of the lens zooming and goes into posing mode. It's kind of painful to look at.