Friday, October 31, 2008
SURPRISE!
I told Dom earlier today (After he asked why we couldn't go show Mimi his costume)that even though we couldn't drive to Utah, that Mimi was with us in spirit...as "proof" I showed him how magical she was! She is SOOO magical she can appear in our halloween pictures!! HeeHee
My Ghastly Group
Ok, so I love these pictures so much I'm tempted use them as Christmas cards. I could cut and paste and Anthony and Christina in there somewhere!!
Waiting for Mom and Dad to hurry up and take them Trick-or-Treating!
Waiting for Mom and Dad to hurry up and take them Trick-or-Treating!
The Secret of the Nile
Is that Brooke should have been Cleo back in the day!
Sheesh, she makes being the ruler of Egypt look positively easy!
And how did my 11 year old come to look like she's almost 15????
Sheesh, she makes being the ruler of Egypt look positively easy!
And how did my 11 year old come to look like she's almost 15????
I Vant to Suck Your Blood!
Was there ever a cuter Dracula? Er, wait...Dom would not want his costume to be "cute" he'd rather I said "Was there ever a more fearsome Dracula?"
This was what he called "Batting Up". I think he meant folding his wings like a bat.?
This was what he called "Batting Up". I think he meant folding his wings like a bat.?
The Little Fairy Princess
I just loved Diana's costume this year. And I'm even more in love with it because I crafted it myself! About 10 yards of tulle, a crown from Gymboree and a pair of wings from the Dollar store and VOILA!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Hope everyone has a safe, fun SPOOKTACULAR night!!
I'll post pics tomorrow of the kiddos!
I'll post pics tomorrow of the kiddos!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Wanda Witch
Knock Knock
Who's there?
Wanda Witch.
Wanda Witch Who?
WANDA WITCH YOU A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Last night I was at TJMaxx and they had this "creepy thing" (As Diana would call it) on sale for $15.00!! She's motion activated and makes all sorts of halloweeney sounds! Too cool!
Who's there?
Wanda Witch.
Wanda Witch Who?
WANDA WITCH YOU A HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Last night I was at TJMaxx and they had this "creepy thing" (As Diana would call it) on sale for $15.00!! She's motion activated and makes all sorts of halloweeney sounds! Too cool!
Pumpkin Carving
First thing this morning the kids were ready to carve their pumpkins. This year we purchased a pumkin carving kit from a company called Pumpkin masters. Oooh, I am SO glad we did, it made it soo easy for Dominick to do his own!
Excuse the mess of bed head both on both of them.
Step one: Affix the pre printed pattern to the pumpkin
Step two: Punch out the premarked holes with the puncher thingy
Step three: You use the holes you just punched out as a "dot-to-dot" guide and carve out the lines with the little saw like tool. (I didn't take any pics, as I was standing over Dom supervising)
And Voila:
Excuse the mess of bed head both on both of them.
Step one: Affix the pre printed pattern to the pumpkin
Step two: Punch out the premarked holes with the puncher thingy
Step three: You use the holes you just punched out as a "dot-to-dot" guide and carve out the lines with the little saw like tool. (I didn't take any pics, as I was standing over Dom supervising)
And Voila:
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
The Galloping Greedy Gimmies!
Beat!
Crushed!
Defeated!
Drubbed!
Licked!
Mowed down!
Routed!
Smashed!
Thrashed!
Trounced!! (oh yes, trounced is a very good word)
Broken!
Put down!
I couldn't think of quite the right word when describing my genius in finally conquering Dom and Diana's HORRIBLE case of the "Galloping Greedy Gimmies" (As the Berenstein bears would call it anyway).
It never failed that anytime we'd walk into ANY retail location they had it in their pea brain's that they 'needed' something. Whether it was Walmart, Ingles, Home Depot or heck, even the FARMER'S CO-OP (We get gas there) they would whine, beg, cry and embarrass me to no end!
Well, I finally found a way to stop the Gimmies! Oh yes, I single handily "shut them up" so to speak. How did I do such an amazing thing? Muah ha ha! (That's my evil laugh)
I guess I should really give the thanks to Santa Claus.
Now,everytime Dom or Di picks something up and starts the "I want it" song and dance, I just smile and say:
"OK, but just remember for every toy you buy Santa takes one thing off your Christmas list!"
Who would have thought that 17 words could change my shopping life so dramatically?
For the first week or so they'd put their "Finds" back very grudgingly and then last week it wasn't so much of a challenge at all. Dom would ask "Will Santa take something off my list if I ask for a bag of chips?" Then today I almost hit the floor when after being SO good all afternoon I told Dom he could go with me to the Dollar store tomorrow to pick something out and he replied "But NOT a toy!" I could have melted on the spot!
Yes, the Fiore's have finally conquered the gimmies. Whew!
Crushed!
Defeated!
Drubbed!
Licked!
Mowed down!
Routed!
Smashed!
Thrashed!
Trounced!! (oh yes, trounced is a very good word)
Broken!
Put down!
I couldn't think of quite the right word when describing my genius in finally conquering Dom and Diana's HORRIBLE case of the "Galloping Greedy Gimmies" (As the Berenstein bears would call it anyway).
It never failed that anytime we'd walk into ANY retail location they had it in their pea brain's that they 'needed' something. Whether it was Walmart, Ingles, Home Depot or heck, even the FARMER'S CO-OP (We get gas there) they would whine, beg, cry and embarrass me to no end!
Well, I finally found a way to stop the Gimmies! Oh yes, I single handily "shut them up" so to speak. How did I do such an amazing thing? Muah ha ha! (That's my evil laugh)
I guess I should really give the thanks to Santa Claus.
Now,everytime Dom or Di picks something up and starts the "I want it" song and dance, I just smile and say:
"OK, but just remember for every toy you buy Santa takes one thing off your Christmas list!"
Who would have thought that 17 words could change my shopping life so dramatically?
For the first week or so they'd put their "Finds" back very grudgingly and then last week it wasn't so much of a challenge at all. Dom would ask "Will Santa take something off my list if I ask for a bag of chips?" Then today I almost hit the floor when after being SO good all afternoon I told Dom he could go with me to the Dollar store tomorrow to pick something out and he replied "But NOT a toy!" I could have melted on the spot!
Yes, the Fiore's have finally conquered the gimmies. Whew!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Excuse me whilst I wet my pants.
For those of you who know me well, you know I love to read after I've put the kids to bed. I curl up on the sofa with my latest book in hand and read till my hearts content. Usually this is never a problem, I simply go to bed when I can't keep my eyes open any longer.
That was until I started reading a series of books by a certain maniacal pair called Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. These books aren't scary, they are absolutely nail biting, heart pounding, "hearing things in the shadows," terrifying. It's been a long time since I've read anything that really gets to me, and these guy do it and then some. They are not gory or absurdly gruesome, but they are indeed the masters of suspense. They make you want to look under your bed before going to sleep, but you won't be able to do it. You'll be far too scared. Instead you'll stand at the doorway wondering if you can make the 10' distance from door to bed in one jump. Turning off the light will seem suicidal. Yes, I finally found authors who scare the crap out of me, but keep me coming back for me. I'm a glutton for it.
Last night (After finishing Cabinet of Curiosity's)I sat on the couch planning my exit strategy to get into bed. I was absurdly scared. So here's how it went: Leave the lamp on, cross the room turn and turn on the overhead light, come back and turn the lamp off, run to the bedroom and turn the bedroom light on, come back and turn the overhead light off, get into the bedroom turn the bedside lamp on, turn the bedroom light off. Climb into bed, making care not to let my feet get to close lest anything creeping below try and grab me. Pull the covers up high and then wake up Ed and say "Honey, you left the bedside lamp on, turn it off please". TA-DA!
RELIC: (Their first book together)
Makes Jurassic Park seem like a fun day at the zoo.
That was until I started reading a series of books by a certain maniacal pair called Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child. These books aren't scary, they are absolutely nail biting, heart pounding, "hearing things in the shadows," terrifying. It's been a long time since I've read anything that really gets to me, and these guy do it and then some. They are not gory or absurdly gruesome, but they are indeed the masters of suspense. They make you want to look under your bed before going to sleep, but you won't be able to do it. You'll be far too scared. Instead you'll stand at the doorway wondering if you can make the 10' distance from door to bed in one jump. Turning off the light will seem suicidal. Yes, I finally found authors who scare the crap out of me, but keep me coming back for me. I'm a glutton for it.
Last night (After finishing Cabinet of Curiosity's)I sat on the couch planning my exit strategy to get into bed. I was absurdly scared. So here's how it went: Leave the lamp on, cross the room turn and turn on the overhead light, come back and turn the lamp off, run to the bedroom and turn the bedroom light on, come back and turn the overhead light off, get into the bedroom turn the bedside lamp on, turn the bedroom light off. Climb into bed, making care not to let my feet get to close lest anything creeping below try and grab me. Pull the covers up high and then wake up Ed and say "Honey, you left the bedside lamp on, turn it off please". TA-DA!
RELIC: (Their first book together)
Makes Jurassic Park seem like a fun day at the zoo.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Leslie & Brooke's Favorite Series!
Brooke and I both LOVE to read, and we're always sharing our new finds with each other. Over the past year we've really enduldged ourselves in some seriously awesome series!
Here are our top favorites: (In no certain order)
The Inkspell Trilogy
by: Cornelia Funke
One cruel night, Meggie's father, Mo, reads aloud from INKHEART, and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of fiction, landing instead in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie's in the middle of the kind of adventure she thought only took place in fairy tales. Somehow she must master the magic that has conjured up this nightmare. Can she change the course of the story that has changed her life forever?
"Beguiling...the story seems to have been sprinkled with some magical fairy dust."--The New York Times Book Review
The Alchemyst: The secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel
By: Michael Scott
He holds the secret that can end the world.
The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.
The records show that he died in 1418.
But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.
Sometimes legends are true.
And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.
Septimus Heap
By: Angie Sage
The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?
The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and heart.
FableHaven
by: Brandon Mull
For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.
Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken -- Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good -- powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.
Chosen: [The Lost Books]
by: Ted Dekker
Think with your heart and prepare to die for you have been Chosen.
The land of the Forest Dwellers has been decimated by the Horde under the watchful eye of the vilest of all creatures, Teeleh. Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, is forced to lower the recruitment age of his army from 18 to 16. From among thousands, four new recruits are chosen to lead--and perhaps die--for the greater good.
The chosen four are sent on a quest to prove their character, but their mission takes a dramatic turn when they are intercepted, sworn to secrecy, and redirected to a different endgame. Now they must find the seven lost Books of History. Books that have power over the past, present, and future. Books whose words are alive. Books sought by the Dark One that control not only the destiny of their world . . . but that of ours as well.
The Eragon Trilogy
By: Christopher Paolini
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands....
The Twilight Series
by: Stephanie Meyer
I’D NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO HOW I WOULD DIE– I’d had reason enough in the last few months –but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this. . . . Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of something else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.”
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.
What Bella doesn’t realize is the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And, it might be too late to turn back. . . .
-Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight will have readers riveted right until the very last page is turned.
Here are our top favorites: (In no certain order)
The Inkspell Trilogy
by: Cornelia Funke
One cruel night, Meggie's father, Mo, reads aloud from INKHEART, and an evil ruler named Capricorn escapes the boundaries of fiction, landing instead in their living room. Suddenly, Meggie's in the middle of the kind of adventure she thought only took place in fairy tales. Somehow she must master the magic that has conjured up this nightmare. Can she change the course of the story that has changed her life forever?
"Beguiling...the story seems to have been sprinkled with some magical fairy dust."--The New York Times Book Review
The Alchemyst: The secrets of the Immortal Nicolas Flamel
By: Michael Scott
He holds the secret that can end the world.
The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.
The records show that he died in 1418.
But his tomb is empty. The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.
Sometimes legends are true.
And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.
Septimus Heap
By: Angie Sage
The seventh son of the seventh son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a new born girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son Septimus?
The first book in this enthralling new series by Angie Sage leads readers on a fantastic journey filled with quirky characters and magykal charms, potions, and spells. magyk is an original story of lost and rediscovered identities, rich with humor and heart.
FableHaven
by: Brandon Mull
For centuries mystical creatures of all description were gathered into a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary survives today as one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite.
Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea that their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep relative order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken -- Seth is a bit too curious and reckless for his own good -- powerful forces of evil are unleashed, and Kendra and her brother face the greatest challenge of their lives. To save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world, Kendra and Seth must find the courage to do what they fear most.
Chosen: [The Lost Books]
by: Ted Dekker
Think with your heart and prepare to die for you have been Chosen.
The land of the Forest Dwellers has been decimated by the Horde under the watchful eye of the vilest of all creatures, Teeleh. Thomas Hunter, supreme commander of the Forest Guard, is forced to lower the recruitment age of his army from 18 to 16. From among thousands, four new recruits are chosen to lead--and perhaps die--for the greater good.
The chosen four are sent on a quest to prove their character, but their mission takes a dramatic turn when they are intercepted, sworn to secrecy, and redirected to a different endgame. Now they must find the seven lost Books of History. Books that have power over the past, present, and future. Books whose words are alive. Books sought by the Dark One that control not only the destiny of their world . . . but that of ours as well.
The Eragon Trilogy
By: Christopher Paolini
When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands....
The Twilight Series
by: Stephanie Meyer
I’D NEVER GIVEN MUCH THOUGHT TO HOW I WOULD DIE– I’d had reason enough in the last few months –but even if I had, I would not have imagined it like this. . . . Surely it was a good way to die, in the place of something else, someone I loved. Noble, even. That ought to count for something.”
When Isabella Swan moves to the gloomy town of Forks and meets the mysterious, alluring Edward Cullen, her life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. With his porcelain skin, golden eyes, mesmerizing voice, and supernatural gifts, Edward is both irresistible and impenetrable. Up until now, he has managed to keep his true identity hidden, but Bella is determined to uncover his dark secret.
What Bella doesn’t realize is the closer she gets to him, the more she is putting herself and those around her at risk. And, it might be too late to turn back. . . .
-Deeply seductive and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight will have readers riveted right until the very last page is turned.
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