Halloween Super Girl pictures!

We decided to get some pictures before tomorrow's big trick or treat night... Here is Super Girl saving our living room from the Evil Legion of C.H.A.D. (cat hair and dust)!

Happy Halloween! Have a fun night.

Did you want those glasses WITH attitude or WITHOUT?

After the hot chocolate...

We went to a friends house and played in the leaves! Fun times!

Hot Chocolate Saturday

One of the really nice things about Autumn: A cozy kitty and hot chocolate on Saturday morning.Ella and Baubau can be so good to each other sometimes.
And Ella can stick her cold toes under someone else for a change!

I remember all ways trying to tuck my toes under my dad in the winter. He'd say "Go put some socks on!", but he was my favorite warmer upper. Now I understand that little toes can be quite pokie and sometimes leave bruises. And they never stay still. So I appreciate Baubau's help in the toe warming department.

One of those mornings...

It's not too often that I really make an effort to dress nicely (I guess it's all about low self-esteem, poor body image, and no money for clothes), but this morning I made that effort. I put on my new sweater and pants, and even found a pair of socks to match! I was feeling pretty good. I tromped my way down stairs to get my "nice" dress shoes to top the whole thing off when *squish* I stepped in a HUGE pile of cat vomit. I stood there for a moment, with one leg raised, in stunned silence. Then I started swearing. Good thing Ella had all ready taken the bus with her Pop cause she would have learned some choice words to add to that ever expanding vocabulary. I try to love Mamma Kitty for who she is and all, but some days I wonder (a little longingly) just how much longer she's going to be with us. How long do cats live?

Pumpkin Carving

Ella drew a face on the biggest darn pumpkin we could find...
Then she dug out it's guts...
slimy!
After a little facial reconstruction due to cutting errors she finished the project. Note the victims for next weekend are looking pretty scared...
Then we dug up some of the garden...
And planted seeds in hopes of our very own pumpkin harvest next fall.

After all the hard work we went in and roasted some seeds for a little snack.

It was a good Sunday!

Report to the General

General de Cline: -1 today. I thought I would be UP so I am pleased with how things turned out this week. My body is a little achey from all the weight lifting and trying to use that darn elliptical machine yesterday. Man, that thing is a WORKOUT!!! And it feels so awkward after using the treadmill. My bum hurts! I am going shopping today with Liz. I am a bit disappointed that I am not back down to my low point in July, but I have still made progress from last year. Today's total losses from my start date is -25.
I am setting a NEW GOAL today... I hope to lose 25 more pounds by July of 2007. That is an average of 2.5 pounds a month. I set my goal a little lower because those first 20 pounds just sort of flew off and then the next 12 were a struggle. I managed to gain some back (dammit) due to pigging out over the summer (mostly beer) but now that I am back in the saddle and have added the weights to my life I think I need to work on being more fitness minded and not just focused on losing pounds. Balance, Amy, Balance. So I am going to get stronger, healthier, and tone this flabby old body up! Onward HO!!!
Oh, shit, I think my trash can is blowing dawn the street. Ciao!

Knitting

I forgot all about knitting! I started a new project: Hat, mittens and a scarf for Ella. Scarf is first and it's about half done. Here is a picture. Ella picked out the yarn and it took a bit for be to get used to the extreme fuzziness, but now I am rolling right along with it. Any babies out there need a little hat? I'd be happy to make them one! Send me the head size and color preference!
I really need to get the scarf finished this week. It is DARN cold here. Don't believe me? Click on that Weather Underground sticker to the right of the page. Brrrrr.

Gettin' Ready for the Big Chill

Yes, that's right, we are preparing for the "Arctic Invasion"... At least that's what the forecasters are calling the winter storms that are heading our way. Ella is really looking forward to the snow. I am hoping to get the lawn mowed just one more time, and maybe rake up some leaves. Thankfully, it will warm up again early next week.
Here are some pictures of our sweet little darling. She loves her new daughter, Molly, who was given to her by her cousin Hayley. Molly goes everywhere and does everything with us. It's kind of nice because Ella has someone to talk to. She takes VERY good care of little Molly and we have birthday parties for her all the time.

Ella got all bundles up for her bus ride to school today. She and daddy have been taking the city bus together. It's a quick 20 minute ride to campus and we don't have to spend 30 minutes looking for parking! I think her favorite part of the ride is pulling the cord for the stop. *DING*!

All those chores are done except putting away the laundry. Sometimes I wish we just had one GIANT closet and three dressers in an all family changing room. It would simplify the laundry/getting dressed process. There is a house I want to buy on Elmwood Ave that, I think, could accommodate this plan. And it's "only" $157,000.I really want to buy that house. I LOVE that house. It only needs a bit of fixing up: all new plumbing, all new heating, many wall repairs, a new stove. The rest is cosmetic.... Besides fixing the wholes in the lathe and plaster walls. And some work in the basement. Really, it's a steal of a deal if we could buy it for $120,000. And had $50k immediately available to put into it. And it really is my dream home. If I try and imagine what kind of house I want it always ends up being a place like that. I forgot to mention that the entire chiminey(s) need to be redone... so add another $10k. Shit. I'll never get that house. Oops, I also forgot that it is entirely nob and tube wiring. That's gotta go.
I guess I should go too.

Report to the General

Well, like my pal Chris in Pella, I am +3 this week. Must be something in the air! OR the pizza one night, Mexican food the other, and my general laziness. I joined the "Fitness Center" yesterday and had an assessment yesterday. I am meeting my drill sergeant, Liz, on Monday morning for a workout.
Goals for Today:

1. Finish costume (1 1/2 hrs)
2. Wash dishes (1/2 hr)
3. Clean downstairs (2 hrs)
4. Wash guest room sheets and make beds (1/2 hr)
5. Other laundry and put all the clothes away (1 hr)
6. Errands (1 hr)
7. Vacuum (1/2 hr)

With all the little things that will come up during the day I will be glad if this little list gets finished before I pick Ella up at 4:30.

Happy Friday!

UPDATE: It's 2:30 and I am way behind schedule... The costume is done, along with dishes and guest room sheets, but there is still so darn much more to do!

Freaky Weather & Politicians

We had some really freaky storms here yesterday evening. Hail, Wind, Sunshine, More Hail, More Wind... We thought the orange sky and double rainbow rain break was quite pretty so we all went out to take some pictures. Too bad only one rainbow showed up in the picture... Along with our GLOWING Blind Pedestrian Area sign, which does not really glow, but looks impressive in the picture.
Our burning bush is quite fiery these days. I kind of like the way the raindrops are glowing. Perhaps a reminder that acid rain is in our not too distant future? I really need to get out there and trim the hostas.
Ron and Nelson having a chat. I sure hope Mr. Eisman is elected as our Governor in November - Or at least gets 7% of the vote. In my limited knowledge opinion that would be a victory for the Green Party.