Halloween

As I recently explained to a friend, I have a habit of building Halloween up in my head to a point where it can never live up to my expectations.  And, although this Halloween was far from ideal, with two kids ending up on antibiotics and a cold rain falling during trick-or-treat, we definitely made some good memories with the kids.  We carved pumpkins, donned the costumes we made at a couple parties, spent one night admiring pumpkins and listening to a kids' band, trick-or-treated (rain be damned), and camped out in our basement to boot!

This is, unfortunately and unbelievably, the best picture I got of Luke and Ally in their costumes this Halloween.

A Halloween party, the highlight of this Halloween weekend!

Ally!  Notice the runny nose that became today's ear infection.

Carving pumpkins

Ready to trick-or-treat.

I don't do well with chaos

I have been once again reminded how much I despise chaos, how much I crave order. Oh, dear, sweet organization, my beloved, my sanctuary.  Knowing I can usually find you at the end of each day is all that allows me to tolerate the toys throughout every room of the house, the crayons scattered on the floor, the papers in the kitchen and shoes in the hallway.  Oh, how I miss you.

The last week and a half has been the epitome of chaos here in the Melbye household.  It all began the weekend before last, when we started moving our all our belongings from the first floor into the garage, basement, and study in preparation to get our floors done last weekend.   As we slowly became unable to find things that usually have a definite place, we also began packing to take the kids to Minneapolis for four days so that they would be completely done upon our return.

Without turning this post into a list of complaints, of reasons why the chance of me remaining sane another day is about 50% today (up significantly from yesterday's high of 30%), let me just sum it up in the following quick paragraph of explanation:

When the project began, it was discovered our subfloor was rotted.  The day before we left was supposed to be a day we could finish packing while workers got a headstart installing wood floors in the living room.  Instead it was a dusty allergy-inducing, so-noisy-no-child-could-nap disaster.  The day we returned, the day I'd looked forward to the previous week as the day we'd begin putting our life back together, turned into the day we could barely step into our house because the varnish was still wet.  This past weekend, when everything was supposed to be back to normal so I could enjoy my favorite weekend of costumed trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving, and cider with friends, we were all six camping out in the basement with access to only that and the bathroom and kitchen.  And now... although I've finally regained access to my computer, my desperately needed therapist, finally freed from being crammed into the corner behind a couch and chair for nine full days, I have two kids on antibiotics, and I now look ahead to losing access to my kitchen for three days this week while its floor is buffed and varnished a second time to fix a poor finish.

That 50% chance I mentioned... it was a soft 50%.

Duet

"No, Luke, it's an F.  'See?"

Wagon rides

A friendly game of poker

"You call this 'friendly'?  Have you seen what she's trying to pull?"

Luke and Ally have reached the point where they have to do whatever they see Kate and Anna do.  After Kate, Anna, and I played a game of cards, Ally insisted on sitting at the table, and then Luke followed suit.  They looked so cute sitting there like big kids.

Two then two

I used to worry that the big girls would suffer, having two little babies taking all my attention.  And I used to worry the babies would suffer, not getting enough attention because they came as a pair and there were already two other girls who needed my attention.

Okay, I still worry about this all the time.

But, not yesterday.  For a while yesterday, the "two then two" thing seemed just perfect!

Confessions

I'm not going to win any mother of the year awards with the confessions found in this post, but it you haven't noticed, I'm not in the running.

So...

Confession #1:  Luke's toothbrush has been missing nearly two weeks.  Ally's for almost a week.

Confession #2:  About a week ago, we replaced Luke's with one of the free one's my dentist gave me.  Yes, a full size adult one.  Of course we have been intending to get to the store, but Dave's team is in the playoffs.

Confession #3 is NOT that we haven't been brushing their teeth when the brushes were missing.  Instead, it's that (better or not?) we've been sharing one toothbrush between them... and not even rinsing it in between.  (sigh)

Where could their brushes have gone?  Well, that brings me to confession #4.  I let them take them to bed.  I know.  But, instead of getting them all riled up in a pre-bedtime tantrum, I just let them.

I've searched their beds for their toothbrushes, but they're hidden better than drugs crossing the border from Mexico.  Today I tore those cribs apart in the search for their toothbrushes.  Here are some of the things I found under their cribs, in other words, the other things I've let them take to bed:
(I'll start with the mundane and then get to the interesting stuff.)
-A toy baby bottle
-Rattle-like baby toy
-Part of their Brewer mobile
-Bottom of an old preemie bottle which is now used as a bath toy
-Sand box shovel... yes, straight from the sandbox
-One of my good Pampered Chef bamboo spoons (I actually ordered Luke his own set.  That kid adores kitchen utensils. And he's got good taste.  He doesn't like the 4/$2 set I found him at Wal-mart.)
-A McFlurry spoon, evidence of a complete collapse of willpower a month ago just begging to become confession #5!

And I didn't find either or their toothbrushes.

The sandbox

Luke loves the sandbox.

And in case that wasn't obvious enough yesterday when he become so angry at being removed from it that he bit me in the arm three times, he proved it again today.

He was sitting in his high chair having a cracker for a snack.  I asked him, "Do you want to go outside and play in the sandbox."  He took the cracker from his mouth, whipped it on the ground, and threw his arms in the air for me to pick him up.

My Anna

For the last couple weeks, I've been making mental notes of cute things Anna has said, but I haven't gotten around to writing about them.  So before I forget these as well, let me post them.

We'd been talking a lot about rainbows a while back.  One morning, Anna said, "Water is one of my favorite colors, because it makes rainbows."

Another day, Anna told me, "One time, I made a picture for Daddy, and I used all the colors in the land!"

Friday, Anna told me, with a look of utter despair, "One time, Kate went up the stairs before me, when I wanted to go first..."  After a big sigh, she continued, "And that broke my feelings."

I thought only cats did this

Luke found a new place to hang out.  

When I didn't notice he was there right away, he began calling for himself, to make me wonder where he was,  "Kukey...?  Kukey...?"

 

Chili threats

I told Anna she couldn't have chili for lunch today, because we didn't have any more leftovers.  She was frustrated by this and demanded chili a few more times while I prepared her penne pasta.  Even though I told her I'd make chili for her again tomorrow, she wasn't appeased.  She began threatening.  "If you don't give me chili, I won't eat anything."

"Okay," I responded, "I hope you're not too hungry this afternoon."

Realizing that hadn't worked, she pulled out the big guns.  "If you don't give me chili, I won't be your Anna anymore!"

"Oh!" I said, stifling a giggle and feigning a look of disappointment, "Well, where will I get a new Anna?  Target?  Pick N Save?"

"Okay," she said, backpedaling just a little, "I'll still be your Anna, but you just won't be able to call me 'Anna,' anymore."

So, my sweet... uh, Gertrude is taking a little nap right now.

Wheat berry pilaf

Picture from soyconnection.com

I made a new wheat berry recipe for lunch yesterday.  (Wheat berries are kind of like brown rice, but a little rounder.)  Anna watched me as I scooped some of them onto Luke's and Ally's trays.  Then she asked for some of her own.  When I gave them to her, she looked more closely at them, then looked once again at the babies eating them, and finally commented, "These remind me of tiny little choking hazards."

Mouth watering

This is quite self indulgent.  I doubt most of you care which foods I like, but...

Many people I know, including myself, have recently given up (at least for the most part) some of our favorite foods, some for reasons of health and others for ethical reasons.  Today I was thinking about which foods I absolutely love.  I thought it'd be fun to make a list.

My top eleven... I couldn't narrow it down to ten
Salt and vinegar potato chips
Kettle cooked are best, but I won't turn down others.  The salty sour makes my mouth want to dance.
Chocolate eclair torte
At times I have actually envisioned myself lying in a giant pan and shoving it into my mouth.  Is that abnormal?
Nachos
I like the kind I make myself the best.  A giant pile of tortilla chips, smothered in nacho cheese, refried beans, tomatoes, black olives, and a little sour cream.
French fries
As you'll soon see, my very favorite foods aren't fancy.  I don't need sweet potato fries or steak cut.  I actually like McDonald's the best.  I love them smothered in ketchup and a little mayonnaise (as if regular french fries weren't fatty enough).
Cream filled doughnuts
It's ridiculous, since I've always loved these things, but I don't know their official name.  I don't like the filling that's like pudding.  I like the fluffy, chocolaty kind.  Not fluffy like a cream puff, though...  I know them when I see them, and, yummm, when I taste them.
Burritos 
The less fancy the better.  A disgusting Taco Bell one is perfect, as long as I can drench it in my favorite condiment, Taco Bell mild sauce!
A&W butterburgers
Specifically a butterburger from A&W (now known as Chester's) in Plymouth.  They use the most amazing hard roll bun, smear butter on it, and add brown mustard, ketchup, and pickles.  It's amazing.  This was the first summer since I was pregnant with Kate that I didn't have a couple of them.
Nutella
I actually forgot my beloved Nutella when I first made this list.  I think it's because I've been intentionally repressing thoughts of the heavenly goodness for so long that I didn't even think of it when I wanted to.
Papa John's Pizza
Thick crust with olives, tomatoes, and mushrooms, and heck ya, I'll dip it in garlic butter!

Unhealthy salads
I'm not talking about baby greens with a touch of light balsamic vinaigrette.  I mean void-of-vitamin iceberg lettuce with cottage cheese, diced tomatoes, olives, and sunflower seeds, all slathered in definitely-not-fat-free ranch dressing.

Black olives
I could... okay, I have eaten an entire can at once.

Honorable mention
The following are also wonderful, but since they lack the fat and/or salt of my top ten, they're just not quite as addictive.
Bagel sandwiches
I love a toasted bagel with peanut butter, tomato, salt, cucumber, sprouts, and Dijon mustard.
Watermelon
Seedless only.  I don't have the patience for seeded.
Peaches
Only when they're good.  A bad peach is really, really bad.
Blueberries
I now have to fight Anna for them.
Tomatoes
With salt, not sugar.

My favorite drink
A&W root beer
Bring on the high fructose corn syrup.  Nothing has ever tasted better.

I've now become curious what other people find irresistible.  Please take a moment to tell me in a comment.

Drum roll, please...

Here are the remaining three costumes...

Luke loves "gogs" (dogs), so I converted a hand-me-down snowsuit into a dog costume for him. 

I think the tail is excessively long.  I think I'll shorten it.

The first costume I ever made for one of my kids still holds a special place in my heart, so I'm reusing it for Ally this year.  I didn't want Ally to feel like she was getting a hand-me-down... okay, I do realize Ally wouldn't care.  But I didn't feel like I was giving Ally a hand-me-down, so I added a cute little green tutu.

Kate wanted to be a fairy.  She requested three specific colors.  When I couldn't find tulle in those colors, I came home with these.  As she cried in disappointment, I explained they're perfect because every color of the rainbow is really composed of red, yellow, and blue.  Suddenly she smiled and declared she'd be a "Primary Color Fairy" this year!