spooky Big Top

Happy Halloween!

special thanks to Zach and Jon for joining in the spooky Big Top fun.

trick or treat defined

Daniel, my young Jedi Knight (who only just last week was going to be a pirate again), defines what is this thing called Trick or Treat for the “old people” who don’t know.

You put on a really cool costume, like a Jedi Knight, and you walk around the neighborhood when it is dark. Then you go to people’s houses, knock on their doors and yell, “Trick or Treat!” They come to the door and give you candy. And if you smile like this

and say, “Oh, thank you!”, they’ll give you more candy if you are little and cute.

Yeah, that is pretty much how it works in this neighborhood.

daily Hazel #87

Super Hazel to the rescue! Here she is helping her mommy tighten up those abdominals that she so generously stretched.

That girl! She just gives and gives and gives…not unlike her grandmommy.

erased

I know everyone cares because I care so I will share that two weeks post-op I am slowly but surely getting better. I can walk about 1-2 miles at a slow pace without too much pain. Of course that means I pushed myself one day this week to walk a faster paced 3 mile walk (less than 45 minutes) just because two weeks ago I could run 3 miles with no problem. I paid dearly for that flash of foolishness. Still I pressed on this week and continued to walk everyday.

I went in to see the vascular surgeon and enjoyed his self-congratulations for the wonderful job he did on my leg. I have to admit it; he should be proud. The leg is still bruised up a bit and a little swollen but when I look past that I am excited to see no more rope-like, twisted, tortuous, swollen purple veins running up and down the length of my right leg. Too bad I don’t have my own before picture but I do have the sharpie outline of those veins that were removed two weeks ago. The surgeon tells me that this case is one for his book that he shows new patients so after December if you were to consult with him you will see a before and after view of my leg. You’ll know it is mine because it will be the pasty white one. When you do, be sure to tell him that I referred you.

a change in the weather

Oh how I love the Fall! This morning, in my neck of the woods, showed the promise of a change in the season at last.

I hope the promise of today proves to mean a change in more than just the weather. I have done my part. I hope that you too will do your part and vote!

seriously, just do it!

Please tell me that you will.

daily Hazel #86

Last week, I tried applesauce. This week mommy is seeing what I think of sweet potatoes. She is so excited because she tells me that sweet potatoes were her absolute favorite when she was a baby.

So mommy, you say this was your favorite?

you must choose

I’m in a bit of creative flux so I’m going to just do this little meme I picked up from Florinda who picked it up from Meg Fowler.

Coffee or tea?
PC or Mac? Should I confess that I have never used a Mac? Does that make me a bad person?
Kids or no? I bet my kids are relieved by my answer.
Political or no? But I tend to keep my views to myself…most of the time.
Summer or winter? er, Indian Summer? Is that still okay or correct to say?
Artificial sweeteners or sugar?  Actually I prefer none because I am sweet enough already!
Fries or salad?
Lake or ocean?
Own or rent?
Email or phone? I hate talking on the phone.
Traditional medical care or natural remedies? I have to keep myself in business because I do have several children to still get through college.
Vegetarian (or vegan) or carnivore?
Apples or oranges?
Follow celeb culture or no? I am a watcher, I confess. This is one of my favorite daily reads because I need to know what celebrities with babies are doing. At least until Ashlee Simpson pops out that baby.
Liberal or conservative? With conservative influences thanks to my darling husband.
Rural or urban?
Car or SUV?
Atheist or not (“not” includes agnostics)?
Marriage: necessary or no? I guess I am just an old married lady at heart.
Cable or not? Since I can’t choose my dish
Campsite or hotel? This is how I “rough it”
Alcohol or no? How could I turn down a good wine, really?
Up early or up late?
News online or news on TV? I even like to read it in the newspaper!

bubbles, bubbles, bubbles

The bubbles were a hit. The lighting wasn’t exactly what I hoped for as the clouds rolled in. But we had fun with the bubbles and eventually, got the right shot for this year’s holiday card. Ironically it is bubble free.

bubble boy

Getting ready for a family photo shoot and since my clowns are at a difficult photographic age I got some props to keep them occupied and distracted. Whoever said babies and toddlers are the most difficult portrait subjects never had to shoot several teenagers together.