Halloween VII

I'm so glad I bought that Elsa dress a few weeks ago, planning ahead for Halloween. So proud of myself. But no! What does Isabelle want to be for Halloween? Charlotte. As in Charlotte's Web.

I melt over the fact that she LOVED our experience reading the book together. But she doesn't understand that Charlotte is a character from a book published in 1952 which was turned into a cartoon character in 1973. Nobody wants to be Charlotte in 2014! Rightly so, there are no spider costumes for 6 year olds right now.

So, this year, we are reverting to the time of the olden days, when I was a kid. It's the homemade costume year. Probably her last. But, as I'm not a crafty gal, I've recruited Mom-Mom SuSu (Susan DiSabatino) to help us out (aka, do all the work) so that Isabelle can be the most beautiful spider creeping and crawling her way around our neighborhood next month.

Even when I asked her to change her mind because I was so afraid of spiders, she sweetly said, "but Mommy, Charlotte was the best friend that anyone could ever ask for, and I want to be that kind of best friend all the time."

Charlotte? You win, girl.

Overheard for Christmas in the WWOI

We just got home from Puerto Rico late Monday night, and have been in a constant state of SCRAMBLE ever since. We had to jump right back into the school and work routines. But we also have to get ready for Christmas! Ack!

We raced out Tuesday night in the pouring rain to buy our tree. We decorated it Wednesday night. Ed is volunteering at the homeless shelter at our church tonight (Thursday) so Isabelle and I are handling the rest of the decorations around the house. Tomorrow night is my night to volunteer so I'm leaving Ed and Iz a "to do" list a mile long.

Uncle Don & Aunt SuSu are visiting from Chicago Saturday through Monday. And we're cramming in a home Ravens game on Sunday. Busy! Last night, Ed was starting the lights on the tree. To get in the Christmasy mood, I need to have the holiday music on, the TV off, and cookies baking in the oven.

So, there I was in the kitchen, whipping up a batch of chocolate chip cookies while Isabelle was directing Ed on the light stringing activities in the living room. Some funny things overheard in the WWOI last night...

"Daddy...Mommy's bells are bigger than my bells...but you don't have any bells at all." (she was referring to the jingle bells on each of the stockings)

"Daddy, why does Elmo only have one ball? Oh no! Elmo's ball fell off! "


"Daddy, why is yours so short? Mine is so much bigger than yours." (what size is YOUR stocking?)

"What's this, Daddy?" (pointing to an ornament)
"It's a gazebo, where I got engaged to Mommy many years ago."
"Why did you get in a CAGE with Mommy?"

"Daddy, we really need to find Jesus." (I think we all do)

Happy Holidays everyone. May all of our Decembers be peaceful and bright.