Halloween in June...

So I've been thinking of this coming Halloween and my 4th annual Witches party that I will be hosting this year.  I know, some people may think that I'm jumping the gun a bit...but if you haven't lived here, you wouldn't understand the urgency to order decorations/party favors/costumes/ANYTHING at least 2 months in advance or else it will not arrive in time.  I LOVE Halloween, and this party rules my year.  So, I'm trying to come up with a new idea this year to make it bigger and better.  It will still be a "witches" party - but I'm looking for ideas for food/decor.  Let me know if you have any fun ideas...  Last year I did soups and fondue desserts.  Would it be totally tacky to do the same thing?  I'm out of ideas.

The photos are from last years festivities - just to give you an idea of how fanatical I can get over this holiday.

Letter to Miss E - Month 3

What a difference a month makes!

My dearest you just broke what MUST be a world record!  You slept for 9 hours straight last night...I know for sure that you are my daughter!!  We both love to sleep - and you always sleep best when your arms are straight up past your ears.  Previously in the past month, you had been sleeping for around 6 hours, with a couple small relapses to 3 hours when your dad returned from Alaska. (I think you were too excited to see him, so that made you want to be awake more)  None the less, you are finally sleeping, and letting me sleep as well.  THANK YOU!!

You are SMILING so much, and squealing as well.  You love new faces and every time you meet someone new - you smile and SQUEAL.  You have also found your tongue, and hands, and I think any day now you will be able to grab your feet.  Your eyes get really big when you see your toes, and are fascinated when they move.  Your favorite toy is Mallory Monkey.  She is a cute little hula dancing chimp, and you cannot help but squeal when she's around.  We have been working on "tummy time".  This is not your favorite position to be in.  You can lift your chest off the floor and hold your head really steady, but you get really mad that you can't grab stuff and balance on one arm.  It all takes practice, and we know you're working hard.  

I am so proud to be your momma.  I could play with you all day long.  We have our own little chat sessions every morning, and I cherish every one of them.  We talk about what we are going to be doing that day, what books we have been reading (you mainly Dr. Seuss) and we're starting to get into politics (you're not sold on Obama yet, and neither of us trust McCain).  You have such a sweet little voice, and you also have a opera singer type voice - I don't know where you find your power, but it comes out and everyone has to listen.  You also have such expressive eyebrows, and we can tell that you are going to be pretty dramatic.  You try to copy our expressions too.  We have also found that you are very sensitive - you don't like people to talk when they are feeding you, and you definitely do not like people to talk loudly around you - this seems to hurt your feelings.  I can tell that you are just soaking it all it little E.    

Your aunt Emily is visiting us for 3 weeks, and you LOVE her.  She and you have formed a cute little bond, and it is so great that she came so far to meet you.  You have so many people around you that love you...WOW...how lucky can one little girl be?