So I started my new job on Monday and I really like it and I'll like it more this coming Monday because we are getting our stock for the store FINALLY!!! We did get the keys to our store a week and a half early so you can see that since the other stores don't get their keys they weren't going to shift the schedule around just for my store.

So until probably December 30 or so it's going to be kind of hard for me to post because I wake up at 5 am to leave for work at 6am to be there now by 7:30-8am and I don't get home before 5pm. When I get home I pick the kids up on the way and I only get to spend 3 hours with them before they go to bed and I try to spend an hour with "The Hubby" before I go to bed. So you can see why it's going to be hard, luckily I have this weekend off but then I'll be working around 50hrs for a little while since there are only 7 people in my store and we have to stock OVER 12,000 sq ft of store.

The kids seem to have made the adjustment nicely. "The Hubby" wakes them up at 7am and they are in school no later than 8am. I do notice that we do have better quality time together. "N" now draws people instead of just scribbling. He's really turning into a little man. He has such a great personality and is just so smart. We are working on his reading skills which he's doing really good. If I had kept working with him I'm sure that he would be reading way better than he is now. I have learned and have regrets but I don't linger on them and I just try to fix and do the best I can everyday and do it the best I can.

"O" doesn't scream as much. She does get along better with "N", which is nice. We do end up going out a lot but tonight HANDS DOWN was the best night we've had going out in a very long time. We went to Applebees and we shared nachos and talked. "N" drew this awesome picture of his uncle/godfather, me, "The Hubby", "O' and grandma ("The Hubby's" mom). I'm so framing that picture. It was really nice because we just kind of sat there, talked, played, colored and all that stuff.

We then went to Staples because I needed stuff for work and "The Hubby" bought "N" another notebook and mini-mechanical pencils. As I'm giving "O" a bath he's downstairs actually writing words and drawing people. What's sad is that it took my brand spanking new job to see how awesome my family and life really is. I don't know if I said who I work for now but I will tell you in time and if there is one opening near you if you live in Nevada, California or Arizona, I suggest you shop there because of that reason.

This past weekend was relaxing and nice and today was awesome because I started my new job but I had to wake up at 5am to leave by 6am to be to work by 8am. It's going to be a fun job, and very tiresome for the first little while. I feel bad because my store opens on 12/19 and our party is going to be 12/18 and I won't be there for either because I already purchased tickets for the Polar Express for those dates. "The Hubby" says that we could sell them and we can go to my party and stuff and I was going to but then decided that I'm not going to give up the tickets because I already purchased them, it's our last winter here, and I promised "N" that we were going. He's had too many promises broken lately and I'm no going to break that promise too.

I think I'm going to really enjoy working there but it's too bad that they aren't expanding back to the mid-west because now I can't transfer as I move up. I could be promoted as early as February.

This morning "The Hubby" had to get the kids ready and take them to school and I picked them up since I got off earlier than expected. All in all it was a good day, the kids left school without too much problem and now we're home getting ready for dinner. Tomorrow I have to go back to Mesa for my liquor test I need to pass but that should be easy since it's only 2 hours instead of 8.

I know that I'm really late blogging and it's a bad thing to do but I feel that it's better to blog late than not at all. It was crazy these past few days with getting ready for Thanksgiving and all that fun stuff. Wednesday I spent the WHOLE DAY running errands and luckily the kids were in school. I didn't get back home until after 6 and then we left to go get dinner. So really I didn't get home until after 8pm. I then stayed up until 2am cleaning and then we woke up around 7 am Thanksgiving morning and I was cleaning for the next four hours on Wednesday morning.

We started the turkey a little late and so we didn't eat until maybe around 4-5 pm but it was a good time to eat. We ended up having turkey, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing with homemade bread, and gravy. It was pretty good and the kids ate pretty good too.

We just kind of lounged Thanksgiving during the day, but we weren't able to watch the football game though. Then that night we went to Walmart to get a few things and we came home and we went to bed but I couldn't sleep so I played "The Hubby's" PSP and had fun with that.

Today we went to Anthem to ride the train and played at the park. We then spent the whole day out until around 2 and put the kids down so then my "MIL" and I went out and just did a little shopping and had fun without kids. So far its been a pretty easy going day and weekend. So I'm off until tomorrow since we have a sitter tomorrow morning so the adults can go to Carefree without kids.

Ok so I haven't been keeping up on the house work or anything and here it is 2 days before my MIL comes out and I have a weeks worth of laundry, vacuuming 1,500 sq ft of carpet, sweeping the other 1,500 then mopping, plus stairs and then I have to also edge the backyard. I won't get into why this happened but from now on after today it won't.

I still also have to get my work shirts (from any store that carries polos) and I need those before tomorrow because I refuse to go to anymore retail stores until after 1/15/08. And I need to get the rest of our stuff for the Thanksgiving dinner. If it was just the four of us I wouldn't care as much about the house but now that she's coming out and it's the first time she's seen the house. I'm just a bit overwhelmed and hopefully by Thursday morning it'll all be calm and we'll be ready to make Thanksgiving dinner. I just pray that I can get all this stuff done before she gets here. I hate the fact that my Roomba quit working AGAIN. It's the second battery replacement. I swear sometimes that thing is so not worth it. I'll re-review it later after I get the new battery.

So the night after Thanksgiving is my 10 year high school reunion. I won't be going which I'm a little bummed because I haven't seen most of the the people since the night I graduated and I really missed those fun times. That was one of the best years I had in at that time because just before I started my senior year of high school my mom died. I switched high schools and I knew most of the people at the new school since I was 5 years old and it was nice because most of my friends knew my mom and I could just have a little pitty party every now and then with them.

It was a good year because it helped me not deal with the stress and turmoil in my home life. I really wanted to reconnect with them because they meant the world to me and I don't think I ever told them that. You know how you are when you're young like that, selfish among other things.

Like I said I'm still bummed I'm not going but then it's ok because my MIL is coming out Thanksgiving day and spending the weekend here. The kids are SOOOOOO looking forward to it. I have sent emails to my friends letting them know but no one really seems to either care or notice. It's a hard feeling because I already feel isolated and that just makes me feel worse. A lot of crap went on with me after I graduated and wasn't able to keep in touch and now that I have been trying they don't care and it's just a sucky feeling.

I guess today is my pitty party day just for me. I don't have many of those so I think I'm entitled to one once in  a while. So now it's really late and I need to get to bed. Sorry about the pitty party but it's just one of those nights and I found out that a few more of my friends are getting divorced and that I find out by bulletins and not by email or by phone.

I guess that's a bit harsh but I'm disappointed to hear that my car has been AXED. I am the proud owner of a Dodge Magnum. I see that car everywhere, in the city I live in, my car own Magnum was recognized on the internet (by it's rims). It's an awesome car and it's a lot classier than it's siblings the 300C and the Charger. I guess it's their choice right? Except for the fact that we have been buying Dodge for around 4 years.

They also quit making the Pacifica. That was a classy SUV, on the pricey for American, but still looked good. That's what suck about certain cars, they don't hold value. The Pacifica I can get used with about 17,000 miles for about $19,000 loaded the way I want it too. I have learned the hard way to buy cars used and never new unless you really love that car and you can pay cash for it.

So now "The Hubby" is talking about getting a cycle endorsement on his license. He can do it, that's fine. My problem is that I'm deathly afraid of motorcycles. We did find this awesome one called the Yamaha Star, it looks amazing and even better in person, but I still can't help it. If we as a society weren't such bad drivers (talking on the phone, eating, messing with kids) I would consider getting one for myself. That motorcycle isn't that expensive and I guess are more reliable than a car and get better gas mileage. We'll see, I will try to get over my fear of them.

Yeah it was a lazy day for me today. I woke up late (usually the kids' are my alarm clock and they've been sleeping in), got into it with "N" because he wanted to walk to school and it looked like rain to me. We were late, he would've missed his recess and stuff if we had walked. So we get off and going to school, "N" then decides to smack "O" for doing something to the door, I don't quite know considering she can't reach the door in her car seat, which leads into this whole chain reaction thing.

She wants me to carry her, doesn't want to stay with her teachers' (but when I leave she's fine), you know, kid stuff. So it takes me about 20 minutes to get out. I walk to the gym and run for about 41 minutes. It was supposed to be 45 but I was getting really tired at 38 minutes. Came home and it started raining and the cars had to be parked outside so that way the construction guys could fix my garage floor.

As I wait for them to finish I decide to take my cat outside since it's not hot anymore. He's been a real freaking jerk, it smells like pee everywhere, he never used to do that. We have moved twice since we've had him and no one has lived in this house before us. I took him out on his leash and I hope that since I let him have fun outside that he'll be nice to my inside.

I still have yet to go to the store. I'm too tired and it's too windy. Talk about lazy right? I know I have to go because we're out of water softener. It's one of my last few lazy days before I start working full time. I'm still debating on the part time job, I think I will probably quit it. I have to have the carpets steamed and clean the house before next week and buy the turkey and start letting it thaw. I just don't understand how these holidays are now so materialistic and less about being with family.

Every time I turn on the TV it's buy this for Christmas (it's even on sale). You know what's better than going into the holidays in debt right? I mean really, the kids will play with it maybe a day or so then they'll forget about it. Is it really worth it? I remember one year I made a whole bunch of homemade Christmas presents and I was shocked at some of the reactions I had gotten. It has come back to me that some would rather me not gotten them anything. What's worse was that I spent a lot of time hand making the presents.

It's a very sad day when people do that. It's not like I made them an ashtray. Its ok though, it's in the past and it's done. We were one of the people who spent a ton of money on Christmas when "N" was very young and even again when I was pregnant with "O", never again will I do that. It's hard to explain to them that they don't need everything that's on TV for Christmas, but I think they will get two things from Santa and I'm sure they'll get more from family. So don't feel sorry for them because they will still get stuff from other people.

Yesterday was my first time at the new gym and so I was excited about it. I still haven't been able to go to bed before midnight (hopefully tonight I'll be in bed by 11) but I did sleep really well. I ended up waking up a little late this morning 7:20am and the kids and I had breakfast together, they had cereal and I had a homemade breakfast burrito and a cup of coffee and we all had our vitamins. Got dressed, brushed our teeth, without any yelling or attitude and away we went. Since I woke up later we weren't able to walk to school like I promised them but I told them that we would walk home tonight. I figured that it's exercise we all get and on top of that the gym is right next door so I can drop them off, exercise and walk home. Cool thinking right?

So today I was on the elliptical machine for 30 minutes, could have gone longer but I forgot if I locked the car so I wasn't in the frame of mind. Tomorrow I'm going to go until just before my legs give out, since I have to walk home on top of it. I brought my Zune and we were good to go.

So now here I am all showered, energized and good to go. Last night was ok too. I had to go to the store and I pick "N" up Nick magazine, I thought it was Nick Jr. but whatever he was totally into it. We had a different type of dinner that kids seemed to like and we even had bath night. I'm slowly getting out of the angry yelling thing. It's been very hard for me for the past four years but has gotten really bad the last two.

We had family around us, 3-6 hours away, when we lived in Columbus, OH but really didn't see much of them and we have seem them even less since we've moved out here. I know that there is no excuse of acting this way plus the other crap we went through right after "O" was born, it's just been taking a toll on the four of us. Hopefully this time next year we'll be living in either Wrigleyville or Lincoln Park in Chicago.

Last week "The Hubby" and I joined a different gym called Anytime Fitness. It's cool because it's open 24/7 and it does have employees there seven days a week for about nine hours. They even have personal training which I'm going to use and they'll be adding classes in the next 90 days. It's a small, clean gym, it doesn't offer childcare but that's ok. The best part is that it's not really that busy and you can add things on to your membership (like tanning or classes).

I did my assessment today with the trainer and I wasn't as bad as I thought I was cardio-wise but everything else was where I expected it to be. I'm going to try to have a trainer once a week and I should be able to get where I want to be by the beginning of March. My cardio was actually a lot better than I thought, I guess it's very good, its something like 39.0 (I think) for however the treadmill measured it. I guess this ginormous house with stairs does have it's advantages.

The only thing I need to do, which I have known is that I need to cut back on the portions. But I think that most people have to do that anyway, I think that our society is a bigger is better kind of mentality. Look at the SUV's, look at the restaurant portions, or better yet look at the quality of the food you get when you eat out. Look at Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill, after watching that I hope you think twice about eating there. That and the food really isn't that good or worth the wait.

If you want to eat out, maybe you should watch the 30 Minute Meal show on the Food Network, she has healthier food you can make in the same amount of time it takes to drive there, wait in line (like cattle), decide what to eat and then eat. I now prefer to eat at home because I know that I won't get sick AND it's a lot cheaper. Every week "The Hubby" and I take a night and we cook a whole weeks worth of meals. We make lasagna, enchiladas, breakfast burritos and sometimes london broil. It's nice because then all you have to do is warm it up and sometimes the food tastes better reheated. Just remember Less Is More. The LESS you eat and the MORE you workout the MORE you'll lose weight.

As you can tell the weekend is over. I normally only work two days a week at my part time job and so today was my first day back and last night was a crazy night that turned into a late day today. Last night "The Hubby" and I went to bed late because we are working on our bread recipe to make it taste awesome as stuffing so I made two loaves and one I forgot salt and the other I just added a bunch of stuff . We'll keep tweaking and see how it goes. Then we were also learning to make homemade tortillas. That's going to take a while to master.

So as I said we are on the homemade kick and I'm also getting into the whole organic kick as well. But I'll get to that in a minute. So basically we get to bed around midnight and we're dead tired and then I get woken up at 1:50 am to "O" wanting to sleep with us. I don't want her sleeping in our room when we have to work the next day just in case it's the one day she actually sleeps in. So I take her back to bed and I had no idea that her dog and stuff was down in our room. I put her in bed and I get back to sleep and for there on out, every half hour she comes back in.

It's not like her to act like that but I was just too tired to deal with it. So because "The Hubby", me, and "O" go very little sleep, I ended up getting going a half hour later leaving me no time to eat my tasty homemade breakfast burrito. And of course she doesn't want me to leave her in daycare. She doesn't cry but she always wants hugs and kisses, I don't mind doing that when I don't have to work but since things we're going so well I really didn't have time.

I picked up my dry cleaning on the way to work and had time to eat a breakfast bar I picked up on my way to work. You see, if I'm not on the road by 8:20 am, I could be late for work. Living here in Phoenix, if you leave even five minutes late you could be a half hour or longer late to work. So I worked my little shift, run to Walmart to grab a few things and I came home and ate lunch. After I finished eating I was sitting down a little too long and I passed out for about 10 minutes.

Basically I didn't get anything done so now I'm doing while the kids are home, which I don't like doing. Since tomorrow I don't have to work but I have a gym appointment tomorrow, I should be able to catch up on stuff.

So I fell asleep on the couch until midnight. I woke up and realized that I didn't clean the kitchen (from making our nest week of breakfast burritos) so since "The Hubby" was sleeping on the other couch I thought I'd be nice and do it so we wouldn't have to in the morning. Since I was pretty tired I wasn't thinking and put our three nice nonstick pans in the dishwasher. I woke up this morning and "The Hubby" showed me why not to put them into the dishwasher, there are these spots I can't get off.

The kids were very good this morning and actually didn't fight or cry (until I woke up). "O" is the crazy one, she is so stubborn and it's so frustrating. If you don't say what she wants to hear she will not look at you, answer you, or anything. After going through this for a while, it's very frustrating and exhausting. Both the kids can be. I have been so worn down, first because of "N" when he went through that stage (a while after "O" was born) and now "O" is doing it. When it's been a non stop attitude from both, you just break down.

I love my kids but I love having just one at a time too, one on one time. There are times where it's great to be able to have both and they not fight, but that's few and far between times. I know that it's because of me and I'm trying to work on it.

So until I get clothes cleaned and dried I asked the kids to clean their rooms so I can vacuum and put some toys from the old playroom into their rooms. I'll give them about ten more minutes before I go in and start helping "N". Right now "O" is screaming because I put her in time out. For what you ask? Running in the loft and almost taking a header down the stairs.

Another day of being a mom right. I'm hoping after we get going that it'll calm down.

It's FRIDAY!!! It's been a busy week and that means we're that much closer to Thanksgiving. Isn't it scary? I know and what's worse is that some stores have had their Christmas decorations up since Halloween. That causes a problem for me when I have the kids with me because they really LOVE Christmas decorations. I have told "N" that we were going to see The Polar Express train and Santa this year. Luckily he forgot and hasn't said much about it. We have this other little tradition we have with him, we get a sitter for "O" and the three of us go to the IMAX in Tempe and we go see The Polar Express in 3D, well not only does he get to do that but also SEE THE Polar Express.

Tonight is bike riding night, where just "N" and I go out and ride bikes. He loves it. We haven't done it in a while because of the heat but today was actually not very hot. I had to work today and am on my way up to get the kids and just chill before I have to go back to work on Sunday. I was hoping to have that day off too so I could watch the Lions beat the Cardinals. GO LIONS!!!!!

We will be adding some new features in the days and weeks to come. I'm hoping to get my little Reviews Babies back, we'll see when they are done with their temper tantrums.

All is good and right (as long as the kids are good right?). Have a good weekend all!!!

Today has been a crazy day and now I'm settling down to finally get some work done. This morning I woke up and gave the kids baths, while they were eating I took a shower and got ready for my interview, then took them to school. Luckily "The Hubby" was able to finish giving them breakfast and brush their teeth while I was also finishing up.

I think my interview went well and I'll find out next week IF I get the job. I was so upset when Enterprise turned me down, even though I know and love cars. But hey, it's their loss right? I like working for Ann Taylor but the hours just suck. I get one or two days a week at four hours a shift. If I get the job at this other place, I just may quit but we'll see how it goes.

"O" was in an okay mood but as soon as I got into the shower all I hear is screaming. She's so frustrating, she cries all the time, won't potty train, and just bickers all the time with "N". I love her but she's just plain mean. I have to figure out what to do with her and her attitude.

So now I'm back home and I have yet to start rearranging the kids rooms, cleaning the kitchen and then get dinner started. Way to much stuff to do and no time to do it in. Passage of a mom right? "The Hubby" had the right idea of inventing a pill to where you never have to sleep......I would but then again I love sleep to much to lose it.

We are getting into the more homemade foods now. We now have this awesome bread recipe that's easy and cheap to make and can also be tweaked so you can make cinnamon sugar bread. The kids love it, it tastes great and it's healthier than store bought bread. We are still tweaking it so we can make a 12 grain wheat bread. Right now we have just plain white bread and cinnamon bread.

I think it tastes so much better. You don't have all the preservatives and chemicals it takes when it's massed produced and sliced. We made three loaves of bread yesterday and really it took about four hours BUT the only really work part you have to do it in the beginning while mixing the ingredients together and then the few minutes for kneading.

After that you let it rise for an hour, punch it down, let it rise again, knead it into a rectangle to fit into the bread pan while rolled up, let it rise for an hour in the bread pan and then cook for 30 minutes. so really not that hard and just really tasty and makes the house smell amazing.

I have been getting many emails, since my comments aren't working at the moment, about how to find a good babysitter. It took me a long time for me to get the five that I have. I'll give you my helpful places.

The first ever babysitter I had when "N" was almost two years old, I actually got from "The Hubby's" co-worker. The girl was amazing and "N" loved her to bits but after the co-worker quit we couldn't use her and that bummed me out. I went a long time without a babysitter. One time I went to my doctor's office and his nurse get me her two daughters numbers, don't ever do that. The mom and girls were kind of crazy and I didn't care for it.

Another way to find sitters is in your neighborhood. Ask around to see if there are any girls that are looking for a babysitting job and if they are any good. I had one from my neighborhood, she was good but she wasn't the kind that says no to the kids and when she finally did say no that they went into their fit.

I found one on Craigslist and she was good and is becoming a teacher but since we've moved I can't use her since we live so far away. The best places really that I have found are either at church or from Babysitters.com. I have two girls from a church that I use once in a while but the rest I have found from babysitters.com. You do have to pay a fee I forget how much but I think it's worth it. You can purchase a background check on each candidate as well.

I know that there was a Craigslist murder the other day but I have only used one from there and like I said I got really lucky with her. You do have to take precautions while checking out the sitter.

My suggestions are:

• Meet with the babysitter and have them hang out you with and your kids, to make sure you guys mesh well.
• Ask and check references.
• If possible, try to purchase a background check.

Now I'm not endorsing one way or the other for where to find babysitters. I know what worked for me and now I have a place to go when I need a sitter.

You just have to search around but here are the ways that I found good sitters, in order of MY favorite:

• Babysitters.com
• Craigslist
• Church
• Friends and neighbors

Please take every precaution when interviewing girls for you new babysitter. Be sure to ask questions, I will be adding those soon. I'm not really a fan of girls under the age of 16 years old. Girls younger than that are still a little unsure and may not be able to discipline your child when needed. But then again you may find a younger one that can handle that kind of responsibility.

Note that you could be paying a pretty penny for a sitter. My sitters range from $7-$12/hr. At that price I should be a sitter (but I won't). Have fun looking and don't be afraid to spend money on babysitter search places or background checks.

Happy hunting!!

So today I woke up late and the kids were late for school. As I'm getting ready "The Hubby" informs me that they are playing in the closet where I put their toys temporarily until I can fix their rooms to hold the toys. You see, last night "The Hubby" had this awesome idea about moving the office from upstairs to downstairs. So it's all moved but now I'm stuck with the aftermath of it. So is life right?

I went out and bought a futon for the spare room and while I was out I thought I'd be nice and get a new battery for "The Hubby's" watch I got him for Christmas last year. I'm really nice to the chick at the jewelry store and then she has this crappy attitude with me and then I get mad because she now informs me that it's going to cost ME money because THEY can't open the watch without voiding the warranty. Had I known I have to pay to send it in I wouldn't have bought it. So because of that and her attitude, I'm not a real big fan of Helzberg, the same as I'm not a huge fan of Tiffany either.

I had this grand idea of getting all this stuff done (cooking a weeks worth of food), decorating the bathroom, cleaning and rearranging the kids' rooms and then finish up the spare room. I got as far as getting the rest of "The Hubby's" stuff out of the room and starting a load of laundry. But then again I did go buy a futon and run to the mall to try to fix the watch.

We are also rethinking how we do Christmas presents for the family as a whole. I can't really say what it is yet because then it would ruin the awesome surprise and the "True Meaning Of Christmas". I hope it's a good thing and if people don't like the cool presents they get, I'm sorry but it's the thought that counts right?

Ok well I need to go pick up the kids but I will have more fun tidbits tomorrow I promise.

During the summer before we left for our vacation I was playing with the kids and "N" got a little crazy with jumping on the bed. I know you say, "Remember the song NO JUMPING ON THE BED?" I remember it but we were just having fun. So he ends up falling onto the bed and something poked him in the arm and he bled like crazy.

We go to a children's ER and we wait for 3 hours (by then his arm has stopped bleeding and he's fine just very tired) and when we finally get into the room they look at his arm for I'm not kidding you 5 minutes and says he's ok. I'm a little upset because they could have called us a long time before just to tell me that but whatever. I would have gone to urgent care but there's not one close to our house.

I get the bill a few weeks ago and I'm livid at the price they still want me to pay on top of my co-pay $164.00 for a 3 hour wait and a 5 minute check. I wasn't ready to deal with them so I sat on it until today and I called them. If you are sweet to them and politely explain your frustration they are so nice to you.

I called today and I tell the woman that I have a question about my bill. She then informs me that I need to send a letter of dispute to them. I tell her ok but can you make a note of it because I refuse to pay it till it's been negotiated. I then start thinking, if I send a letter they can always say they lost it and I proceed to ask her if I can talk to someone so I don't have to wait forever for a response. She puts me on hold and comes back and tells me, "If I pay it today then I will only have to pay $82.00." So I jumped on that band wagon and paid it.

So if you have a bill you think is over priced for what you got, remember to let it sink it, wait a while (if it's in collections then you really can't dispute and you're stuck paying the full amount) and when you're calm call them and kindly explain the situation. If it's a full out ER visit with trauma you may want an itemized bill so you can then question it and then try to talk them down. But if you were like me and seriously had to wait 3 hours and then be told in five minutes that it's nothing make that point clear but be nice about it and they may come down.

I don't know if it works all the time but it did for me this time. It doesn't hurt to try and worst case is they say NO and then you just either go to your doctor if they can handle trauma or go to Urgent Care for cheap.

The kids were dressed up last night and I swear they made out awesome. We have the plastic pumpkins, like I had when I was a kid, and "O's" was so heavy that she couldn't even lift it to get the candy.

It's funny how much candy they got last night. It doesn't hurt when "O's" dressed as Dorothy and looked very cute and was super sweet to everyone.

So here it is the day after, they totally forgot about the candy and it's even sitting out on the bar (out of reach), "The Hubby" is sick and I'm just a little high strung today. I'm trying to teach the kids responsibility and teaching them how to keep their rooms clean while in the process cleaning the house.

They are old enough to learn to do chores and luckily most of the toys are in he play room. Unfortunately they are to young to understand that unless they clean their rooms, I will not be doing it anymore. I have a 3,000 sq ft house and it takes a lot to keep clean and so they need to start helping a bit too.

I think "The Hubby" had fun trick or treating with us. Last year the kids and I were back home in MI for a family emergency and weren't able to be together. It's getting more fun because "O" is able to talk more and walks all by herself and can stay up later. When I took them trick or treating last year I found out that the malls no longer allowed trick or treating and you either need to do it around your neighborhood (it was way too cold) or go to a church. We went to the church down the street from Rivertown Mall and "N" had a blast but "O" was still too small to be up that late without a stroller. Either way they had fun.

When it comes to trick or treating it's totally up to you as to where you go. I know in our neighborhood last night no one had their light on so luckily we went to a mall. Sometimes you make out better at the mall and depending on the neighborhood (East Grand Rapids, MI) you can make out just as well.

It's really not about the candy (at least for us adults) it all about the kids having fun. Just remember to check the candy before you the kids eat it.