Halo and Horns...

Can you see the mischeif in this freckeled little face? It's there, just take a closer look!

This week I have seriously contemplated calling in to the Nanny 911 show to request a visit from that lovely woman with the British accent. Either that or placing a sign around Red's neck that says "free to good home" and placing him on the front curb... I'm only kidding. (I think.)

Yes, I have had a very challenging parenting week. Red has tested me in every way and has even shocked and surprised me with some four year old fall outs. One second he is melting my heart with his sweetness, the next he's behaving much like Satan's spawn. Hence the very fitting title.

Today was much better and I'm hoping we're over this little defiant stage. At least for a while... I am realistic and know this occurs normally as children go through the various developmental stages. But I need a break from it...

I love Red so much. I feel so fortunate to be his Mommy. I've been praying a whole lot lately. Not for patience (that one backfires...) but for the safe return of my sweet little redheaded boy!!!

I wonder if lighting a candle will help?!

Cobb Ranch

Our last stop on Sunday was Cobb Ranch. This is a huge pumpkin patch close to Children's Hospital. I've always seen it when driving to the hospital and have been wanting to visit forever. I have to say, I was a little disappointed. It is really big. The set up is neat, they have hayrides, a tractor "train" ride, tricycle races and a little area with farm animals you can feed.

I guess I'm just used to the little pumpkin patch by our house. This one just seemed too commercial. We had a good time though. Red rode in a tricycle race, rode the tractor "train" and we both went on the hayride.

We didn't buy a pumpkin there... Bummer. I think part of it is that we always visit the pumpkin patch as a family and since Franky wasn't with us, it just wasn't the same. I can't wait until he comes home. Our little pumpkin patch is waiting for us!!!

Riverpark Romp

After hanging out at the bookstore for almost two hours, we went over to Riverpark. It had changed so much since we had been there last. We walked around the shops, enjoyed a smoothie, and took some pictures. It was a great place to be with Red. He could run around and play without me hovering over him.
He had fun balancing on the flower beds and playing in the grass. The weather was perfect and he was having so much fun. I enjoyed watching him. What a beautiful day. :)

Red the Reader

On Sunday, we took Daddy back to the airport for his last two-week stint in the corn maze state (Illinois). After we left him, we decided to hang out in Fresno for a while. For some reason, this crazy city waits until 11:00 am to begin its Sunday mornings so we had a little time to kill.

We found a Barnes & Noble and we were both in heaven. Red and I both love books. Once inside we made a beeline for the children's books. We selected a couple and took a seat beside the little stage where on certain occasions, story time occurs.

We read "Spongezilla", a Halloween story about Sponge Bob Square pants. Then read a book about a little pumpkin who longed to become a jack-o-lantern.

After looking around a while Red says,"Mom, sit down on the bench and I will put on a show for you." I sit and he gets up on the stage. He goes behind one of their little props and comes out as if saying "tah-dah". He begins his show. Our cute little red head stands in the center of the stage, looks at me and says very matter of fact (while gesturing with his hands as if addressing a large group of people),"Some people can read. Some people can't....I can't read, SO-I'll put on a magic show instead."

I cracked up!!! He proceeded to put on a magical show. Pretending to pull a rabbit out of mid air and even discovered a bird behind my ear! What an imagination. So lucky to be witness to it.

Fun at the Fall Festival

The fall festival was awesome. Jean Marie and her cute little lobster joined us for a night of fun. We ate hamburgers and hot dogs and watched as Red showed off his best robot moves as he walked down the stage of the costume show.

It was cute to see all the kids so excited about the nights activities. They were all so cute in their little costumes.

The booths were great. Such a variety. Jean Marie and I enjoyed a treat at the "Decorate a Halloween Cookie Booth." Franky took Alex to each and every booth. Red's favorite was the "Yuck" booth where the kids got to stick their hands in a hole where on the other side, their curious little hands met a bowl of gooey gunk. Red is still talking about it!!!

Here's a pic of Red the Robot and Me - as a hot pumpkin mama with big hair!!! (What was I thinking?! The movie "Hairspray" comes to mind...)

Anyway, it was a great time. Everyone who participated went all out to make it a wonderful activity. Can't wait until next year!

Sew Much Fun

Loads of orange and black glass glitter, glue, ribbon, felt, orange and white gingham fabric, polka dot cardstock and lots of fun equals FABULOUS decorations for Red's fall festival. On Saturday morning, I got up and in tru Christmas elf style, completed all of my pending projects.

I would have never finished if it weren't for Gma. She glued and glittered, ironed fabric I needed to sew together and entertained our little red head. Muchas Gracias, Gma Mary!!!

And here's a little peek of our booth...

I have to brag, our booth made almost $600.00 dollars (almost as much as the food booths!)AND Mr. Nate asked me to leave my decorations at the school until Halloween is over! :)

I love it!!!

Something Fun

We have had an incredibly busy and extremely fun few days. Last week, G Mary came to visit. We had a whirlwind schedule of activities planned and to my delight, all went very well. The list looked something like this: host a sewing play day, make cupcakes, finish Red's Halloween costume, pick up Daddy from the airport in Fresno, meet Jean Marie and sweet Sophia at Fashion Fair Mall, start our Christmas shopping, pick up a couple of necessities from Boot's Camera shop, sew together eight banners, a table cloth and make a sign for the cake walk booth at Red's fall festival. All to be completed by Saturday.

So, on Thursday morning I got up and ran a few errands and picked up some of the supplies I needed. I came home and made some yummy banana nut bread (as a treat for our play date). Gma and Red put together a snack for the little ones. I couldn't resist taking their picture. They were having so much fun and had quite the assembly line going with that snack mix!

At 2:00, my friend Lisa's mom (who had volunteered to be the teacher at our sewing play day) arrived, along with my friend Dalia and her two year old twin girls. We got our machines set up and turned on some toons for our little peanuts.

We had such a blast learning about and playing with our machines. We talked, giggled and just really enjoyed spending time together. All the while Red and the girls played. When they left, I felt so inspired. I was ready to start tackling the projects I needed to complete for the fall festival.

We have decided to have a sewing play day once a month. I can't wait for our next one. I have a couple of sewing projects that I can't wait to start!

Ride

When I was a kid, on the weekends we would frequently go for a "ride". That was a trip in the car just to enjoy each other's company with no particular destination in mind.

We would drive around town, past homes that we liked, to the small towns in the foothills nearby. Sometimes we would end up stopping for lunch or exploring a new place we had been lucky and found. Where ever we ended up, we always had a great time just being together and enjoying the ride.

When Franky and I got married, we carried on the tradition of weekend wandering. Most of the time we end up in Springville, sometimes other neat spots close by. Still, just enjoying our time together.

I loved the conversations we would have as we rode along. Sometimes silly, other times deep conversations about our hopes and dreams.

Now that Red is with us we still have the wide range of chat. Only now it's interjected with the occasional "Where are we going?", "This is taking a long time.", "Did you see that cow?", "Can we listen to the 'Hey batter swing' song?", "Are we going to Walmart?!".

Even with the chatterbox in the back seat, we still love the ride. Perhaps even more than before since one of the dreams we hoped would come true is behind us in his booster.

Today Red and I took a ride. Just a short one. We drove through Success Valley. Red hooped and laughed as we rode over the hills that make your belly feel like you're on a roller coaster. It made me laugh to hear him cracking up in the back seat. It's the little moments like these that make me realize how much I miss Franky. He would've been amused by our little redhead too.

I had taken the camera along with the intentions of getting some pictures to use in a fall themed album. I spotted this cool fence and thought it would be a great back drop.

We were surprised when this horse decided to come and visit. Red carried on a conversation with him for a while. I snapped some more pictures and then we headed back home.

Red (who had been not so happy to go for a ride) says, "Mama, that was a fun ride. I liked the hills and seeing the horsey."

I had a fun ride too, Red. Maybe this will be a tradition he will enjoy with his own family someday. :)

No, It's not a microwave. It's...

my latest invention.

Yes, I have a new project. I am in the process of creating a little robot. He has an endless supply of energy, an electric personality, an incredible mind and is very cute. If only I could harness that energy for things like cleaning house, ironing and cooking. That would be fabulous!

Actually, as you have probably already figured out, I am making Red's Halloween costume this year. I wanted something unique and fun. Red loves robots and so it was an easy pick.

I started working on it this morning. I was lucky to have found two boxes in our garage that were perfect for the robot's body. I wrapped them in foil and massive amounts of tape. I've been embellishing the body with things I have around the house and in my scrap booking room. It has been so much fun.

It is only about a third complete. I need to buy the supplies for his arms and legs and then Franky is going to add a real special touch to our little creation. I can't wait to see it completed.

Red is already asking to wear it. I've had him try it on a couple of times to get some measurements. When I took this picture outside, he asked if he could go show it to every one. "They really need to see my costume, Mama!" He is pumped up about it.

The costume will make it's grand debut at Red's school. They are having a fall festival this next weekend. It's going to be a blast.

I've gotta get...I'm making decorations for the "cake walk" booth. :)