What would you name YOUR pumpkin?

It's Halloween again! I love it for oh soooo many reasons! Here are three of them:

































What have we been up to this season? Well if you would be patient and just keep reading you would find out!

Here we have the adoring older sister "babysitting" Finn. In a few minutes she will tell me she is "all done with that (as she points at Finn)" because she is "worn out from all the moving."




























Next we have Henry and the Pirate Pumpkin he made. (In other words the Pirate Pumpkin he pointed at and shouted out demands while daddy burnt his fingers to a crisp with the hot glue gun.) Later Henry informed us that this Pumpkin is named "Pirate Bad Guy".






































Next we have Maggie posing with the Princess Pumpkin who she so elegantly named "Dayna" (and why not?) You will also see her gently caressing the chin of "Jamie" the Witch Pumpkin who is still awaiting her hat.



























Moving along to the Pumpkin Party! Maggie did the right side of her pumpkin's face all by herself! What did she name this pumpkin, you ask? Get ready for it.... "Amy"! Again, why not?



































Henry had help from daddy. After a lot of thought and consideration Henry decided to name his pumpkin "Henry". (It was a close call between "Henry" and "Bad Guy") Clever children here at the McDowell home.
















































Happy Halloween! From, Rob, Lilly, Jessie, Woody, and Bullseye! (You'll see what that means soon enough! Oh you'll see! And don't blame me if you die from the cuteness!)

More Watchin' Less Talkin'!

Recently my husband went on a business trip and came home with this little gem.



















I'm not going to pretend that I wasn't totally mortified. I think I might have let out a gasp of terror. My reaction was such for two reasons:

REASON #1:
This shirt is completely one hundred percent WHITE TRASH! Which, I hope you all would agree, WE ARE NOT. Here are just a few examples to reiterate this fact:

~I don't have a broken down car parked on my lawn
~I wear a bra
~When I wear said bra, it does not hang out three inches from my shirt for all to see
~I do not use phrases such as "I seen him yesterday" or "alls I know is" or "I come in before them" or my personal favorite "ex-specially".
~I don't call my children "little shits" (pardon the language)
~I have never asked another human being to pull my finger
~I am wise to the fact that the word "classy" is code for "trashy"
~My house does not smell like wet dog


I could go on, but I will spare you. This shirt, when worn outside the confines of my home screams "White trash jack ass on the loose! Don't stand too close lest you be subject to some sort of ignorant fart humor!" Again, mortified.





REASON #2
This lovely character is OBVIOUSLY supposed to be ME in this scenario! The obnoxious, nagging wife! - Bringing her man down, not letting him drink his beer and watch the game. Horrified I tell you! This is SO NOT how our relationship works! We are actually pretty great when it comes to compromise and sports. And Rob is SO NOT white trash! I can't imagine what POSSESSED him to make this hideous purchase. And he bought it at the ESPN Zone, (thanks millions ESPN) so you know that mess wasn't cheap.

I kindly expressed my dislike for the shirt in hopes that he would give it to a homeless person or D.I. or something. "Maybe we could cut it up and make it into cleaning rags that I can use to clean the house on game day!" I say. Unfortunately that little suggestion didn't go over too well and now he wears it when we get in a tiff. Such a mature fellow. I'm considering making a shirt that says:

"He said - Shall we try swapping positions tonight?
She said - That's a good idea... you stand by the ironing board while I sit on the sofa and pass gas!"

I am completely capable of pulling out all the white trash stops when necessary.

And this is how one achieves a successful marriage.

Where's the dang pause button?!

My baby girl is five! What is all that about?! It seriously feels like I just brought my tiny pink bundle home from the hospital yesterday! I don't know how I feel about all of this :(

That was then



















And this is now















She's a pretty little thing, but I'm not a fan of all the growing up business.



So she wanted a Strawberry Shortcake party (again) and it went swimmingly!...for the most part. Good old uncle BJ managed to single handedly eat all of the Mike and Ike Fruity Chew cupcake decorations that the children were supposed to adorn their cupcakes with. It was like it happened in one breath! One minute my little candy dish was full of colorful delicious sweets and the next minute they were GONE! Vanished before all of the guests had even arrived! But what good are uncles if not to cause a little trouble? And then Maggie's hair caught on FIRE while she was blowing out her candles. That was fun. She didn't even notice the hair flames because of the fierce intensity and concentration that is involved when blowing out candles on your fifth birthday. I panicked for a brief moment as I watched my only daughter's long gorgeous locks of shinny brown hair burst into stinky little flames. I blew a gust of frantic air at the fire and it went out immediately. Maggie was slightly annoyed as she thought I was trying to help her blow out her candles. Clearly a five year old needs no help blowing out their birthday candles! However I would think anyone can appreciate a little assistance when their HAIR IS ON FIRE! But you know, whatever.

Happy Birthday Mags! We love you, stinky singed hair and all!

Enjoy some shots from the party. Please note Henry as he was having one of his "bad days". Jealousy claims another victim. I have also included a shot of the sexy twins as they seduce the camera. I thought you might like that. ;)