SNOWING!

This morning, I wrote about how the smell in the air reminded me of fall and how much I loved fall... guess what! It's SNOWING! Yeah, you read that correctly, snowing! It's not even Halloween yet!!  We just completely skipped my favorite season!  It's a wet yucky snow too!  I'm surprised it's sticking!! Now the question is... what's to come?!

Memories

Moving back up north has brought back a lot of memories.  This morning, waiting for the bus to come, made me think of when i was young and waiting for the bus.  There is a distinct smell in the air... oh how I love Fall!  It is my favorite season!!  The trees are beautiful and it's cooler outside which means HOODIE SEASON!!  I have actually given up hoodies for the most part.  I use to have one on at ALL times, even in Florida!  Now that it is the season, I get to wear them again!  

It's times like these that make me wish I lived closer to my family.  Everyone outside and playing in the yard.  A game of football would be fun!! ...Married with the little ones running around. Ok.. time to stop dreaming.  I was going to say, yeah right, imagine Kristin and Mikiel playing football... but you know what, I think they would!  I also think they would enjoy playing with my kids... one day, just as long as they left after an hour and didn't cry!  And no Mikiel, you can not toss little Joey like he's a football!  Haha Anyways!  Back to reality!  Right now, it's 35 degrees out and raining, not exactly the picture I was painting for you.  

Sock Hop

Positive, positive, positive... as Shawna told me, never write anything negative.  It's the good that you will remember.  Guess what, I'm not always the most positive person, but I will try.

First off, I would like to know where all of my outgoingness has gone.  In high school, I was much more outgoing and would say everything I felt or show my crazy side.  In college, some people saw that outgoing side of me but I became much more reserved.  Now, where has that fun side gone?  It never comes out anymore.   The goofy Alana, that will look like a fool because she's having fun, is gone.  Well, she's not gone, she just needs to come back to life.  Quick story... There was this kid in college who came around and I tried to hide from.  One night, he came over and decided to try to get me to show my fun side.  So, we went outside and he started screaming. He wanted me to not care about what was going on around me and just enjoy what I was doing.  I should've learned something from him.  Live in the moment.  Say what I feel and enjoy life.  Unfortunately, I didn't....

Overall, the dance last night was fun. Shawna and I listened to Greese on the way.  It got our 50s side ready to party. Shawna wore her Pink Ladies outfit and I was in my, Alana made,

poodle skirt. I must say, we both looked cute and fit our costumes!  The majority of people were dressed up and everyone looked great!  There was a cute little "Soda Shop" set up in the corner with cookies, hotdogs and ice cream.  Everyone was dancing and enjoying themselves. I need to not care and get on the floor and dance.  My grandmother always wanted me to take dance lessons, I should've done it!!  Shoulda, woulda, coulda.  Hey, it's never too late to learn right?!  I just need to do it and of course find the money for it.  I'm glad I got to dress up and meet new people!  That part is always fun!!

Enthusiasm

When I started this, I was way excited!  The excitement has dwindled.  I'll try to continue posting.  Let's see... I'm never going to live down setting the alarm on the cleaning lady.  Bill keeps joking with me about it.  When Gab, Ethan and I were leaving today, Gab asked if we were going to set the alarm... she was only kidding because the cleaning lady was upstairs.  Eh, it's funny.  If you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at? 

We went to a museum, Manmouth Museum, on Wednesday.  The parts for kids were cute, but it wasn't something that lasted long. They had a Space Adventure area.  There was also an Underwater Sea Adventure.  We left before the planetarium show because there was no way I could keep them entertained for an hour and a half until the show!!

  I took them to a new playground.  Josh LOVED it!  He kept screaming, this is the best play ground EVER!  Unfortunately, it was very cold outside and windy.  We only stayed a short while.  I'm really going to have to stop wearing flip flops and it's going to break my heart.  I think I'd rather keep my toes.  

I'm VERY excited about the next two weekends!  I really do enjoy Halloween!! My mom told me recently that I loved to dress up for Halloween as a child.  Then again, what kid doesn't?  

Side note real fast about what kid doesn't... I was making cupcakes, that look like pumpkins, for the kids.  I gave Ethan the spoon to lick the batter.  He took a lick or two and gave it back saying if he ate too much it would give him a stomach ache!  What four year old says that and who doesn't like cake batter?!?! Crazy kid! Also, I had to make the cake batter orange and the frosting because the store didn't have any!! What?!  New Jersey... I tell ya! 

Upcoming events... tomorrow night is the Sock Hop!! I get to wear the poodle skirt I made. I'm very sad that Shawna bought an outfit to wear and will not be sporting her poodle skirt.  I must say, the pink ladies outfit is definitely more her style. I'm a poodle skirt kind of girl and she's a pink lady kind of girl.  Look at me I'm Sandra Dee.... 

Another side note. In high school, I started bringing a purse to school.  A kid told me that I'm a Trapper Keeper kind of girl and not a purse kind of girl.  It has scarred me for life!!  

Back to upcoming events.   Next weekend, I'm even more excited about!! Wednesday night, Chad gave me a call and told me about a camp out in PA.  Ok, I don't remember all of the details, but I do know that Friday night is a Halloween dance with games and a HAUNTED HOUSE!!  Then, we get to sleep in cabins!!  The next day is more fun and games that lasts all night.  The best part of it all... it only costs $15!! Oh yeah, and I get to meet YSA!! Yeah!!! Now all I have to do is ask to get off at 5... I really wish Shawna would ask to get off early also!!  ;)

So, those are my plans... Next month is my trip to the Netherlands and in December I'm going to visit family in Ohio and PA!!  I'm just racking up my air miles!! Who am I going to visit in January?!?! 

Flu shots, Chuck E. Cheese and the Jitter Bug!

Today was a fun day!  I will say it now... I am a dork!  Anywho, the kids were off today and had to get flu shots.  I wasn't too sure how smooth that would go, so I just didn't inform them.  Gab knew because she read the calendar and asked about it.  Josh asked why they had to go to the doctor, I just said, "I don't know, a check up." We got to the doctor's at 9 and the receptionist asked, "Are you getting a flu shot or just the kids?" Josh turned to me and said, "You said we were just coming for a check up!"  They were going to find out sooner or later.  Gab was the brave one to go first.  She didn't wince or anything, then again I couldn't see her face.  The other two were not easy at all!! Josh refused to go.  Ethan sat on my lap and I bear hugged him and she stuck the needle in but he squirmed and it came out.  So, I also put my legs around him but he still knocked the needle out!  Joshua in the mean time ran out the door. The nurse got Ellen and the boys were still not having it.  Josh promised he would go if I got mine done, so I did.  He's not a good promiser!  Exactly how many people does it take to give a 6 year old a flu shot?  5!  Ellen went and got two helpers.  Ok, she said she was going to get a strong guy.  I did not expect a 6'7" man!! He was HUGE!  A lady came in also, she was probably 5'8".  I felt beyond short!  Ellen ended up holding Ethan and the third try worked.  Joshua, on the other hand, was behind the doctors office bed thing.  The man pulled the bed out, Ellen went on one side, I went on the other and we lifted him to the bed. She held part of him, I had his arm, one of the nurses had his legs and the tall man also had his legs. At least it only took one time for the nurse to give him the shot!  Of course, he was screaming and crying for a while afterwards.  We ended up walking around her office and then looking at pictures from a nurses trip to Africa.  They got lollipops in the van.  

At noon, we went to Chuck E. Cheese.  We ordered pizza and ate first.  Then, three hours of games!  Ethan's favorite thing there is the snow mobile.  Gab loves the skeet ball, because you get tickets.  She finishes her coins way before the boys do, I try to pace her.  Joshua just loves everything.  He bounces from one thing to the next.  They played tag in the tubes for a short time and tried to cheat by asking me where the other ones were.  Of course, I didn't tell them! All in all, it was a fun time.  

It was a little after 3 when we left and I didn't want to take them home yet.  Instead, we went to the playground.  That wasted a little bit of time.  Trying to do the monkey bars, balancing on the ropes, playing tag and swinging in the tire swing.  We decided to go home because they still had to have snack, shower and eat dinner before 6.  

On the ride home, I had the idea dance with them.  We watched, "Dancing with the Stars", in the morning and figured it would be fun to have our own competition.  Gab and Ethan went upstairs, so, Josh and I watched "Dancing with the Stars" to get some moves!  He was scared.  I just swung him around and flipped him for a little while.  Then, we called Ethan and Gab downstairs to watch our "routine".  Next, it was Gabs turn.  We actually came up with a routine and performed it for the boys.  Josh got a piece of paper and was our judge.  Let me tell you, he was tough on us!! Ethan gave us a 6 and Josh gave us a 5.  I guess we need some practice!  

I'm not sure what we'll do tomorrow, Gab wants to go to Manmouth Museum.  We'll see what happens. Good night!

Embarrassing!

Just a quick note... 

On friday, I was beyond embarrassed!  Forgetting that the cleaning lady was upstairs, I turned on the alarm and left the house.  When Ethan and I were getting in the van, he asked what the sound was.  I just said it was a car alarm and hurried him into the van.  On the way to his school, Ellen texted me.  It said, "Alarm went off. Police were dispatched. Please go home after you drop off Ethan."  Of course, after I received the text, I was caught by a train and then a funeral procession. I dropped off Ethan and went back to the house.  The alarm was still going off.  I went in, turned it off and looked in the kitchen at two police officers.  Oh man.  They were both really nice about it.  One was really cute but probably in his 40s.  The other officer said, "The cleaning lady doesn't speak a lick of english.  I yelled at her, GET OUT, over and over again but she just kept cleaning!  I was going to have to arrest her to get her to leave! She was definitely a trooper and just kept cleaning."  Then he asked, "Did you just forget she was coming?"  I should've said "Yeah, that's it!"  Instead, I said, "I forgot she was upstairs."  I'm so glad that you get 6 free false alarms a year!  How many have they had in the 10 years they've lived here... you've guess it!  ONE!  All because of me.  So, I left right after the police left and there were 5 neighbors out front "walking their dogs".  The next door neighbor asked what happened....   Let's just hope this never happens again!

Haunted House/Stake Conference

What did I do this weekend?  Well, Friday night I must not have done anything because nothing is coming to mind....  I can't be losing my memory already!! I do however remember Saturday.  I had several plans, get my oil changed, clean, go to the gym and attend stake conference.  The only thing that I actually ended up doing, was going to stake conference.  Elder Porter was presiding and I enjoyed it. 

 After stake conference, 8 of the YSA went to a haunted firehouse.  It was, to my surprise, a lot of fun!! I LOVE this time of year.  The trees are changing colors, it's nice and cool outside, there are haunted houses AND you get to dress up for Halloween!  We went to West Windsor and waited for everyone to show up.  I was worried that it was going to be HORRIBLE because we were the ONLY ones there!  Yeah, have you ever gone to a haunted house and didn't have to wait in line? Me either! It was great!  After everyone showed up, we walked over to the guy with the knife in his head.  Since no one was there, the scary people were outside.  They went in to set up and we waited under a tent.  Haley was so scared, it was hilarious!  We had to split into smaller groups.  The first group was Jayme, Chad, Chad's friend and me.  I lead the way, until we got to bodies hanging from the ceiling and I knew the third body was going to fall.  It freaked me out a little.  So Jayme, assuming he would not fall for the first person went ahead of me.  Thanks Jayme!  Two more guys fell also fell from the ceiling.  At one section, there was a green light and smoke, you could not see below the beam of light.  A guy jumped out to scare us and then went invisible.  I did not want to step on him, so I informed him of that.  He then guided me in the right direction.  How nice the scary fella was.  The next thing that I remember was after the hanging bodies was a bridge.  I just assumed it was a normal bridge.  Of course not!  I screamed because it moved, and a guy apparently jumped out and scared Chad.  At the end, there were some "little people", aka kids, who were rather freaky.  The entire time we were laughing.  Jayme had a nervous laugh that went something like a hu hu hu huu in a high pitch.  When we were outside waiting for the next group, Haley, Lizzy, Matt and Cory, we discussed what scared us the most.  At the beginning, Jayme was staring at the wall and the exact spot she was looking a guy appeared and scared her.  She had no idea he was there!  Mine of course was the men hanging from the ceiling.  It didn't scare me, I just didn't like the idea of it.  Chad was scared by the bridge guy and the "VERY little people" at the end.  When the next group came out, we tried scaring them... didn't work.  We then decided to go eat at the Americana Diner.  I'm glad Thom, even though he didn't go, gave us the idea of the haunted fire station.