Airbending & Waterbending Power

This Halloween we did all the usual Halloween things like decorate a pumpkin and dress up.  We were sad not to be in Utah or Texas so we could see little nieces and nephews (and brothers and sisters) dressed up in Halloween garb.  Since my side of the family was getting together on the Friday before Halloween for an early "trick-or-treating" party, we decided to be there with them...via live video.  It wasn't quite the same as being with them in person, but we had fun talking to everyone and seeing their faces.

Very few people knew who we were.  Can you figure it out?

Obviously, our excellent disguises and "bending" moves give it away.  We dressed up as characters out of one of Luis's favorite shows...The Airbender.  

Luis was Ung, the Avatar, and I was Katara, his waterbending sidekick.

Luis really enjoyed putting on makeup and creating his staff.  Yeah, he freehanded that dragon using a Sharpie.  Pretty impressive, right?

An Offer, A Sucker, A Shade Other Than Red

I do not have pleasant memories of needles.  Then again, who does?  Luis has nicknamed me "scandalosa," which in Spanish means someone who is overly dramatic.  Okay, so I do tend to dramatacize everything; however, after this episode, I think Luis will take me a bit more seriously. 

It all started with a phone call last Thursday.

Ring Ring...Ring Ring

"Hello?"

"Hello, Ashley?"

"This is her."

"Hello!  I would like to offer you a job at our school district as a child care assistant."

I know right?  Fabulous!

(THAT was the offer.  Here comes the sucker.)

"Yes well, we need you to come to a pre-employment meeting on Monday."

(aka - you're not getting paid sucker)

So, like a sucker, I went.  Did I really have much choice?  The meeting was just dandy, AND I learned all kinds of useful information, like the district's mission statement, not to wear "extrememly brief" clothing, and what to do in case of a fire (suprisingly it was NOT push, shove, and trample to get out the door).

Next, we learned about the further requirements before we could gain employment.

1.  Read the online polices - fine.

2.  Obtain a background check - whatever.

3.  Get a TB check - say what?

That's right, NEEDLES!  I hate needles.  Imediately, I decided to have Luis with me.  Yes, I'm an adult.  Yes, I can zip my own zippers.  Yes, I sleep without my favorite bunny.  No, I can't face a needle without someone holding my hand. 

(Here comes a shade other than red.)

Luckily, Luis also had to face a needle since he was missing a shot on his immunizations.  He made a few calls, and found out the pharmacy at his school offered both his shot and my TB check.  So, I drove over there midday today to meet him.  First, Luis was ushered into the side room.  As I sat alone, I kept telling myself I was going to be fine.  Yeah right.  I'm such a bad liar. 

Next, they called for me.  Of course, Luis dutifully sat by my side where I could hold his hand.  The pharmacist cheerfully came in.  He may have even been whistling, I'm not sure.  He assured me it wouldn't be that bad.  Whatever.  Luis informed me his needle had been bigger.  EWWWWW! 

Mr. Pharmacist pulled out the weapon.  I looked away. 

PINCH  PINCH  OWWW PINCH  WiGgLe WIGGLE pinch 

He yanked it out.  Luis peeled his hand free.  I started whimpering and glanced down.  There was a strange white bubble inside my skin.  Gross.  The pharmacist skipped around the corner and we stood to follow behind.  I stood and it hit.  Dizzy, Black.  I began passing out.  Luis rushed me back to a chair, followed closely by the pharmacist and trainee.  Talk about embarassing!  In an effort to appease them, I tried to appear calm and collected...just a bit tired.  They asked if I would like a water.  Yes.  They asked if I was feeling better.  Yes.  They relaxed.  I then asked Luis to pass the garbage can.  I think the pharmacist almost joined me.

So Luis, you wanna be a  pharmacist?

Sugar Yuck

How many sugar cookies have I made in my lifetime? 

THOUSANDS!!!

I was a sugar cookie momma at Great Harvest and made them every week. 

Lucky Luis right?

 Yeah, he's really lucky!  (Guess who forgot half of the butter?  ME!)

When that happened, I was distraught.  Luis did not expect my reaction, and didn't quite know what to do.  He said things like "It's okay, don't let it ruin your night."  Well guess what, it already DID ruin my night.  I was so MAD!  We were going to have so much fun decorating them, but who decorates mush?  I did have a backup, since I had a pack of sugar cookie mix in my cupboard, which I made.  But by that point, I was to upset to enjoy frosting them.  We waited until the next night.

See?  My happy face is back!

M-I-C K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

First of all, I would like to report an actual fact.  When Walt Disney first created the famous mouse, the name was originally Mortimer Mouse.  I like to sing it that way.

"M-O-R   T-I-M   E-R-M-O-U-S-E"

Dennis & Julie (bro. and sis-in-law) won a free trip to Disneyland in sunny California which meant...you guessed it...we got to join them!  Luis had never been to Disneyland so we were both ecstatic!  Since it was October, everything was decked out in Halloween attire.

Did you know there is a Disney fire station?  We could care less about it, but since we were waiting near the entrance for Dennis and Julie, we decided we might as well take a picture.

 Being the lame-o that I am, I brought ponchos for Luis and I to wear on the water rides.  Luis refused, but Julie was more than happy to don the fashion statement with me. 

(Side note:  yes, my poncho is on backwards, but guess who's head remained dry - BOOYAH)

There are some rides that are more of a tradition even though they are less than thrilling. 

Haunted Mansion was just too cute to pass up.

Girls are made of sugar and spice all things nice.

Boys are made of snips and snails and puppy dog tails.

(I don't know what's wrong with them.)

It had been YEARS since I'd enjoyed bumper cars.  The cramped seating was probably an indication that it's a kids' ride, but who cares?  We were some of the only riders who can zip up our own pants.   

These pictures are a bit blurry because my spastic brother was on the close-up setting.

 

If you know the story, you know that we just COULDN'T pass up this photo op.  Yes, that is the Rickity Rackity Boutique...or in other words, the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

This HAD been our first ride of the day, but since we forgot to take a picture, we had it taken when we went back.  It was nearing hour 14 of Disneyland, which you can tell by our frazzled half-dazed expressions.  (Well, I guess Luis usually looks like that.)



All in all, it was fun FUN FUN!

Holiday Cards - Simply Shutterfly

Our family has been using Shutterfly for a long time and have loved the results.  I hadn't used a site like it until my wedding.  Luis and I had the idea to use Shutterfly to make a photo book in which guests at our wedding could sign their names and leave congratulation notes.  We loved the professional look we got from Shutterfly.  It is one of my favorite wedding keepsakes.

My family most often uses this site in creating holiday cards to send out to relatives and friends.

Right now, Shutterfly has a promotion for 20% off all holiday cards.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

Follow these links below for great holiday card ideas.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards

I like the idea of story cards.  They are a fun twist on the traditional Christmas cards that include a shortened version of the "what's up with us" letter. 

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-story-cards

This is my first year creating my own holiday card.  After browsing through Shutterfly's site, I found many lovely ideas.  Here are a few I like.

This one would be a good one for Luis and I, as we have had quite a year with many changes.

I like this photo year in review.

The colors in this remind me of something...

They even have some bilingual options, which of course I am very interested in.  If you're in the market for an adorable holiday card, be sure to shop Shutterfly!

By the way, be sure to remember the AFTER Christmas thank you cards.

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/thank-you-cards

Carnival

Being part of the primary is fabulous.  What other church organization would throw a carnival?  Not High Priests, that's for sure.  Our carnival was amazing, and mostly created by our Primary president.

It was complete with...

 Duck Pond

The kids had to pick two ducks that had the same word written on them to win that prize.  There were bubbles, balls, and slinkies.

Ball Toss

Elephant Toss

Kids had to throw a peanut into his nose.

Ring Toss

Fish Pond

Plinko

I think this was my favorite.

Frog Jump

There were these adorable froggy balls which the kiddos had to throw onto the leap pad.

And of course...

ME!



Feliz Cumpleanos a Mi!

This is the first birthday I've been away from home with a husband instead of my mommy calling the shots.  It ended up being so fun.  Luis did an amazing job (with a little help from a few calls to mom).

First, the cake, which we had a few days before my birthday.  Luis went all out and bought a cake pan, decorating kit, and confectioners sugar (which he later realized was powedered sugar - just add that to my hoarding stock).

To give you a little background on the cake, let me tell you a little story.  Months ago, I attended my friend Ann's baby shower.  One of the baby shower activities was to decorate onesies.  Out of these three, guess which one is mine? 

 

Isn't she an angel?  Well, she must have made an impression on Luis because here's the cake.

Luis even took the time to make a strawberry filling.

These candles sat on our table for a while.  They were so colorful and happy that I felt villianous chucking them out.  I think Luis felt the same.

Birthday.  Monday the 18th.

Luis came home from school before noon and presented me with my loot.  He picked out EVERYTHING on his own.  He said he felt a little strange going into "girlie stores" (Claires & Charlotte Russe), but decided to act like the brave husband that he was and pick out my accessories.  I feel he did very well and followed my criteria perfectly.

After that, it was off to the pumpkin patch to pick a pumpkin.  It was my first time going, and I LOVED it.

My favorite part was probably this goat's wicked awesome goatee...

...and rooster's wild hair.

 

Isn't she a beauty?

It was a coldish day, so when we got home we had some cocoa and listened to our current book on tape.  That evening, we dined at the Olive Garden.  Now, I love the Olive Garden, but I am currently a bit miffed with them.  The commercials say, "All you can eat breadsticks," but have you ever tried to order all you can eat?  It doesn't go over well. 

To begin, our waitress brings us out a whopping 3 breadsticks.  Obviously that's not going to divide equally.  We eat them and ask for more.  Two arrive and are gone in a flash.  We ask again.  By then, she has us correctly labeled as hoarders and stalls.  Half an hour later, a basketful of two more appear.  By then the meal is over.  I'm doing the math and realize we have had 3.5 breadsticks.  All I can eat?  Not a chance.  So, Luis and I do some negotiating and decide it falls upon him to ask for some breadsticks to go.  The waitress is suddenly at the table and hands us our bill, but before she can go, Luis stops her and says, "...hey...um...thanks."  She leaves. 

He blew that one, but still has one more chance to redeem himself.  The waitress must sense this because it takes another twenty minutes for her to return.  When she does, she sneaks up to the table, grabs his card, and begins to flee when Luis once again stops her in her tracks.  This time, Luis has some bargaining power ...her tip.  He smiles sweetly and says, "It's her birthday...and since she really likes breadsticks, can we have some to go?" 

Incredusouly, she glances at me and says, "You want MORE breadsticks?"  Can you believe we have the gall to ask for more after they have so generously stuffed us with 3 whole ones and another to split?  Well, if they don't want the breadsticks to be endless, they shouldn't advertise endless, because once in awhile they'll come across convicted hoarders who will go after every breadstick they can get!

She brings us the breadsticks. 

At this point, we can't bear to ask her to snap a picture, so we shoot our own.

It wasn't until we got home and unlaoded our sack when we realized why the waitress might have been a bit astonished at our request for more food. 



HaPpY bIrThDaY to ME!