School picture progression

I thought it would be fun to post all the school pictures Eli has had taken so far. It's fun to compare them to see how much he's grown. As you can see, he just keeps getting better looking every year. It's no wonder why he has girls at school trying to kiss him all the time. I just hope he learns to run faster too!

Preschool '08-'09

Kindergarten '09-'10

First grade '10-'11

Pics of the Faves

Pics of the Faves

What I found under all the stuff

After helping the Sparkle Clothes dolls organize and de-clutter, I discovered a possible reason for the hoarding,

To hide this:

This little scene was buried under enormous amounts of Polly Pocket accessories and other stuff. I think the couple was trying to use that stuff to hide their questionable activities. I have since had many long talks with this Sparkle Clothes doll about why it's not good to be "buried alive" with anyone until after you're married. I also sent the Lego guy home and talked to his parents. Hopefully, this won't happen again. Rest assured that all the Sparkle Clothes dolls will be keeping their trailer tidy from now on. I think that little doll has learned her lesson.

As for the Lego guy, I'm not so sure. Judging from the arrogant smirk on his face, this isn't the first time he's been caught "snuggling in a pink sleeping bag under a pile of stuff" before. And I don't think it will be the last.

Time to fast-forward all cartoon love scenes!

This is a conversation I had with Leah in the car today.

L: I wish I was in love.

M:Why aren't you in love?

L: Because I don't have a boy.

M: Why don't you have a boy?

L: I don't know.

I know the reason she doesn't have a boy. All two boys she knows are her brothers. They're good boys, but she's not allowed to marry them because that's illegal and gross! I don't plan on introducing her to new boys any time soon. Hopefully she'll just forget about all this love nonsense!

Hoarding: Buried Alive

A while ago, I was in Leah's room and I discovered something pretty disturbing.






Her Sparkle Clothes dolls (this is what she calls her Polly Pockets) seem to have developed a very destructive habit. They are hoarders. Do you see how much stuff is piled into their camper? They don't even have room for their table in there! They are reduced to eating dinner at the table OUTSIDE. I'm really worried for them. They need to resolve this problem soon or one of their neighbors might call the Fire Marshal and report them. They could end up in jail. I recommended that they seek psychological and organizational help for this problem. I hope they are able to find the root of this problem and remedy it soon.

Just as a side note...do you find it at all ironic that these hoarders live in a camper?

I did make two other costumes this Halloween...

...and I guess I'll tell you about them.

The first one was Mike's. He likes dressing up for the Halloween work party and he wanted to be something new this year. While I was going through my Halloween decorations, I came across a monk costume I had made for him a few years ago. After lovingly asking him to just be that again, he agreed since he had only worn it to a party at another company, years ago.

Last Thursday, the night before his work Halloween dress-up day, I was just finishing up Eli's costume, assuming that was it for me as far as costume preparation. I was asking Mike if he had everything all set for his costume when I jokingly, and oh, so foolishly said, "Wouldn't it be funny if you shaved your head to look like a monk?" That's when I saw a sly twinkle in his eye appear. He wanted to do it...he wanted to shave his head!

I tried talking him out of it, but it was no use. He used irrefutable reasoning on me. He said, "Becca, sometimes you just need a change." (referring to a change in hairstyle) There was nothing I could say at that point. And there was no turning back. So, we looked up a picture online to see just how it should look. Then, at about 11pm, I sat him down on a chair in our bathroom and did the unthinkable. I shaved a circle in the hair on top of Mike's head!

After I completed the follicle massacre, I could barely look at him. It just grossed me out too much. He apparently got similar reactions at work. Many of his co-workers complimented him on his costume and what they thought was a bald cap he was wearing. Upon closer inspection, they all realized what he had done. Some gasped. Others shrieked. One person almost fainted. But most just laughed. He did win them all over with his dedication to Halloween as evidenced by the number of people who voted for him in the costume contest. He won by a landslide. Having the knowledge of the $50 prize he won made it a little easier for me to look at him when he came home.

Fortunately, we both agreed that he wouldn't keep the new hairdo for very long. That night, I shaved the rest of his head to match the already bald patch. And once again, I find him attractive. His hair is regrowing fast. Soon, I will have something to run my hands over that feels more like hair and less like peach fuzz.

Now, as for the second costume I made, well, that was mine. I went as a Wife-that-seems-normal-but-is-really-crazy-because-she-shaved-her-husband's-head-so-he-would-look-like-a-monk-for-Halloween. Oh, and I put fake spider tattoos on my neck. It was a little abstract, but still accessible, I think.

Happy Halloween

Here's the Halloween recap:

Eli was Raphael, the red Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. I made the shell out of cardboard and paint. I will never make costume parts out of cardboard again because that stupid shell kept ripping and breaking. It did look really cool, though.

Leah was a sparkly bat. She tried to change several times after the costume-decision-deadline, but I would not allow it since I had already made the wings. She had lots of fun running up and down the hallway in our apartment, with her bat wings on, though. Noah had a great time stealing the bat glasses from her, putting them on, and calling himself Batman. I guess I know what he's going to be next year.

Finally, Noah was a dragon. You may ask yourself, "But isn't he wearing a dinosaur costume?" Yes, yes he is, but I told him it was a dragon costume. He wasn't too sure and did point out to me that there were no wings. I insisted enough that it was just a dragon without wings enough that he went for it.

This is Noah showing me that he has no wings.

We went trick-or-treating with some really good friends on Saturday. It was a little rainy, but not enough to keep us inside. We all had a really great time! And now, as I sit here with my tummy full of the kids' candy, I am excited for next year and wonder what costumes I'll make.

I don't think Leah likes her new hair clip