Halloween 2015

Beautiful Halloween this year. I usually try to do family themed costumes, but as the kids get older and have their own ideas about what they want to be we have to roll with that.

This year Chloe wanted to be a Vampire Princess and Connor wanted to do Star Wars. To make it work, Carl was Dracula and I was Princess Leia.

It turns out our new neighborhood isn't really into Halloween. We were only 1 of 2 houses that decorated on the block. That was the clue that it probably wouldn't be good trick-or-treating here. 

So we packed up and headed to the old neighborhood. The kids were up early that morning so naturally they crashed on our drive.

But fun was had by all once we arrived.

 There is another family in the neighborhood who had boy/girl twins a year and a half ago. They came in Star Wars gear too and looked really great. I only got this one picture, but I love little Leia's knit hat. She is too cute!

The Vampire Princess being "scary" while trick-or-treating. Thank heavens the Hello Kitty bag takes the edge off or she might not get any candy.

Healing Scar

So I had surgery on July 14th to remove a Squamous Cell Carcinoma on my cheek. The surgery went fine and the scar has been healing ever since.

I thought I'd provide visuals of how the healing is coming along.

July 15, day after surgery

July 18, four days after surgery. This was the worst it looked. (eyebrows look pretty good though)

July 28, two weeks after surgery with bandage strips over the scar. They blend in so you can barely see anything.

August 4, three weeks after surgery with no bandage strips

October 27,  about three and a half months after surgery

At this point I don't really worry about the scar as much. It is what it is. I do use the recommended Mederma gel each morning and spend 5 minutes each evening massaging in vitamin E oil. Hopefully it will continue to fade.

Love Wisteria Furniture!

One of the best perks of working at Wisteria is getting a discount on furniture. I've also gained a bit more confidence in my design style being exposed to all the ideas each day.

Since we've moved into a new home, it's given us the opportunity for a few new pieces to fill out the house. One piece I'm really excited about is our new acrylic bookcase. Below is the space I bought if for in the dinning room.

Once we got it home it sat in a box for a week. The directions say it takes two people to put it together, but I thought I could tackle it while Carl was out on a bike ride. I was wrong.

Once we worked together it came together nicely and I really love it.

Last week we also finally had a new sectional delivered that I'd ordered back in May. This is an awesome piece too.

Piper approved!

Weekend Activities

Weekends are for fun. The other weekend everyone had their favorite activity.

Connor broke out his "My First Mind-blowing Science" kit and we did a couple of experiments.

Connor told me his mind was blown, but Chloe wasn't as impressed. While we were working on the experiments Chloe went and changed for the occasion. I think we all know that scientist wear white. (and swim goggles if that's the only kind of goggles you have)

If she continues an interest in science I'll probably invest in a lab coat so we don't have to worry about messing up our white outfits.

Chloe really enjoys crafts and we had a few ceramics to paint. Everyone enjoyed this one.

I'm sure we'll have more fun this weekend!

6th Birthday Party

This weekend we celebrated Connor and Chloe's 6th birthday. 

Last year I was working part-time and spent a ton of time on a Super Hero party. Illustrations of the kids for invitations and decorations. Everyone got masks and capes to decorate with a bounce house out back. Click here for pictures from last year.

This year I've been a bit busy with work so I thought a party at Pump It Up would be easy and turn key. It was easy, but I was not impressed. Mainly I didn't order the right package.

There are three packages: Basic, Deluxe, and Ultimate. I did deluxe but what I wanted was the ultimate package. The main mistake was I didn't have goody bags for guests and I didn't even realize it until half the guests were gone. I'm super embarrassed. 

The next thing is little silly, but they have a black light room and they give the kids glow sticks. I asked the helpers to turn out the lights but they didn't do it. I didn't realize you had to have the "Ultimate" package for the black lights. I'm really bummed I didn't figure it out.

But the kids all seemed to have a good time.

A few other minor complaints. Juice and lemonade came with the package, but the young ladies who set up the room put out the Honest Kids juice pouches I brought instead of pouring the drinks that came with the package. Also, I had two cakes and brought to cake cutters.

The young ladies used plastic knives and carved up the center of the cake. It was awful, I had to turn away while they did it. It must be how someone trained them but I thought it was terrible. The cake still tasted good so it was fine. Probably have cupcakes next time.

They took pictures at the party and it costs $10 to buy them. I think I'll probably figure out something at our house next time. 

Serious birthday party dilemmas.

First Day of Ballet

This past weekend I signed Chloe up for dance lessons at Royale Ballet Dance Academy. She'll take ballet and tap. I think I'm just as excited as she is.

For dance class you have to wear pink tights, pink ballet shoes, a black leotard, and have your hair in a bun. Classes started Monday at 4pm so Carl was super dad and picked her up from school early, changed her into her dance stuff, and got her to class. He was concerned about making a bun so I did her hair before she left for school. You can tell in this picture she was a little nervous about her first class.

While Chloe was at ballet, Connor and Carl took a little excursion to the library.

When I got home Chloe was ecstatic about her class but a little worn out. I'm so grateful to Carl for making it work for the kids, but I did notice he put her leotard on backwards. 

A Visit to the Fort Worth Zoo

On Friday we took the twins to the Fort Worth Zoo. It's a bit of a drive, but the only reason we'd be willing to go to the zoo in the middle of August heat is because this zoo has an awesome splash park.

We saw some cool animals. Connor was specifically excited to see the Komodo Dragon for some reason. I really just like  hearing him say "Komodo Dragon" over and over. Chloe took a few pictures to share with her class.

I got a couple of cute shots of my kiddos too.

However, the best part was cooling off at the splash park.

We're All Doing Fine

I guess my update after my surgery was a little dramatic because I've had a lot of worried people checking in on me. The fourth day after surgery I'm doing well. 

The stitches don't really hurt at all, they just tickle/itch a bit. 

Fourth day after surgery and there's a little bit of bruising on the ends of the stitches. I think this is the worst it will look and it gets better from here.

I think the bruise on my hand from the IV looks worse than the bruising on my face.

The twins have seen the scar and they aren't overly concerned, Connor said he just didn't want anyone to stare at me. We have told them to prevent this we all need to wear sunscreen. Before we went out to swim today Connor reminded us he needed sunscreen on his face.


I have a follow up with the plastic surgeon next week. Everything is going well.

Water Balloons

Carl went to anew store today, Five Below and as the name implies, everything in the store is $5 or less. Connor picked a water gun and Carl got water balloons so everyone was ready to put on their swimsuits when we got home.

Filling balloons with water

I told Carl about "Bunch O Balloons" that fills and seals a ton of balloons at the same time. This may be a new purchase soon.

Gator full of water balloons

Tons of ways to enjoy the pool!