It's Halloween and I know one real witch.

But I won't name any names.

Let's just say you have a brother. A younger brother who you are very close to. You only want the best for him. He deserves it. Better than the best.

Someone who should be loving and respecting him is trying her hardest to tear him down.

I just want to beat her with her broom.

For my girl.

A while ago I painted polka dots in Payton's room. After that I was at a loss for what else to do. I asked her. She said she wanted "birds, owls and one of those things you blow on and make a wish." (A dandelion, lol.) So..........I saw canvases on sale at Micheal's. I already have the paint. I might as well try my hand at making her just what she asked for.

SO, for $3.99x4+tax..... :) ........we have..........

my mom rocks

Quail Valley

I am very proud of Payton. I have mentioned that last year, Payton was kicked out of the pumpkin carving contest because they said Brad was helping her. She was 3.

So this year, we stressed that the only thing we could do was hold the pumpkin still for her, she had to do all of the carving herself. She did it! She took about and hour and a half and she was sweating when she was done, but she did it. We left the area for them to be judged and we came back and saw her pumpkin was in the "Parent Assisted " group. No one helped her! And no one told us we could. But guess what? She WON! WITHOUT assistance. Against a bunch of kids that did have help. So there.

Ellie just punched holes in hers. But she did it all by herself. Since we thought she had too.

Payton and the winning pumpkin. It was her idea to give him hair.

Her goody bag. It was filled with candy and Halloween goodies. If you look closely, you can see the age group was marked "9 and under" and they crossed it out and wrote in "Parent Assisted". Creeps.

The Costume Contest was fun. There was a parade around the camp after.

Ellie loved this little guy.

She took her role as Wonder Woman very seriously. Superheroes always hole their arms like that, don't you know? Payton was anxious. The scary masks that the older kids had on scared her. The girls didn't win, but they both got a medal anyway.

Pretty Ellie, making a weird face, lol. But I love her blue eyes.

The magic show was great. It was in the spooky barn down the road from the campground. My nephew Joseph was chosen to assist in one magic trick. He was one of eight chosen to go up and pick a key to open a lock. the magician asked for the person with the only working key to raise their hand...he said they would "just know". It was Joe! We asked him later how he knew to raise his hand. He said "No one else raised theirs, so I did." I guess the magician knows the odds of having at least one attention loving kid in the group are high! Lol!

The girls played in the leaves all weekend.

They fed the ducks.

Me and Payton. Two days of no hair washing? I was slick. Ellie took the first pic. xoxo

The 3 of us.

Ready or Not.....

Hide and Seek is a favorite game of the girls. Most kids love it, don't they? This is probably one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Ellie is very very creative in her hiding. And she is stubborn. She is not giving up. She will stay there until someone finds her. She will stay there long enough for us to run into the house and find the camera.

We are going to Quail Valley this weekend to camp. (Well, RV.) Most of Brad's family is going and my mom and Glynn are driving up for the day Saturday. It's so much fun. They have Trick or Treating, a costume contest, a magician.....Last year I missed out on everything because Ellie was miserable and I came home early. Payton won the costume contest and I missed it! Maybe we will have another winner this year. They have a pumpkin carving contest too, but she didn't win that. She actually was kicked out because the judges caught Brad helping her, lol. Pumpkin carving is serious business in Quail Valley! :P

On my lunch hour I need to run to the store to pick up s'more ingredients and hot dogs to fish with. I am really excited about this trip. I think Ellie will do great this year. Payton is already there with Donna and Larry. They left last night and took her with them. She really felt like the big girl. C'mon 3:00!

Shasta

http://legacy.com/Bakersfield/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=119013739



Shasta Ariél Lewis
1982 - 2008
Shasta Ariél Lewis 1982 - 2008 Shasta Ariél Lewis was born in Bakersfield, California on April 10, 1982, and passed away suddenly on October 16, 2008. She is survived by her son, Jett Oliver Preston Lewis; her loving parents, Don and Arla Lewis; her brother, Zack Forster, wife, Christine and daughter, Kyleigh; her brother, Colby Lewis, his wife, Jenny and their son, Cade. She is also survived by her grandmothers, Arlene Estes and Vivian Lewis. The greatest love in Shasta's life was her six month-old son, Jett. Shasta was a loving and devoted mother who was thankful for every moment she and Jett spent together. Shasta was an accomplished student, receiving a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Communications from California State University, Fresno, in 2004. She excelled in softball, beginning her career at the age of four, and retiring her senior year as the starting first baseman for the Fresno State Bulldog's Women's Softball Team, where she set multiple records. Shasta was fun-loving and enthusiastic about all things she did. Her passions included cosmetics, trend-setting, and fashion. She loved to be the center of attention to make people laugh. She was a joy to be around, and was the light in a dark room. There will be a gathering of family and friends to celebrate her life at a graveside service at Greenlawn Memorial Park, in Bakersfield, CA on Thursday, October 23rd, at 10:00 a.m. Reception following at the home of Don and Arla Lewis. Please share your wonderful memories of her in the guestbooks section at bakersfield.com/obits. Shasta will forever be remembered as a loving mother, daughter, sister and friend.


We will miss you Shasta. :(

Why is it.....

....kids don't want to sleep? What happens between childhood and adulthood? Because I would give my pinky toe to take a nap today. Ellie would give her pinky toe NOT to take a nap.

So she's playing with her dollhouse and I am yawning.

Objects on Myspace are not how they appear.

Aly made a comment on Myspace about how Lori thought I might get mad at a previous comment. Get that?

I was confused and a little pissed that they were so blatently dissing me on MY page for the world to see.


I talked to Lori today. She explained the comment. It seems they were referencing an "inside joke". An "inside joke" that I started not too long ago and I should have been laughing so hard that I would have to comment back a LMAO (in caps, no less).

Whoops.


Now I find it hella funny. :P

Introducing Baby Toenail

There is a special little baby that lives in our house. She is a big part of our daily life.

Her name is Baby Toenail.

Baby Toenail sleeps with Ellie. She watches TV with Ellie. She plays with Ellie. She bathes with Ellie. Everyday.

I have to make her dinner. (It's invisible.) I have to wash her clothes. I have to kiss her good-night.

I have to paint her toenails. That's how she got her name.

She's naked because she is a Horack, and that is how we roll.

Plus, her clothes were in the dryer.

whatcha doin' punkin'?

payton. ellie. brad. julie. jason. natalie. dylan. pumpkins.

No words.

No words to express the shock, sadness, confusion, helplessness..........

Kimberly, Ethan and Alexander. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. If there is anything I can do.....ANYTHING.....do not hesitate to ask. I am so very sorry. I wish I could provide some sort of comfort right now.

All my love.

What did YOU wear to watch the debate tonight?