Jeepers, Creepers........

Okay, Okay, so we've been a little busy lately for blogging, but were are still here and will have a better blogging month- promise! Ella is a HUGE ball of fun (and energy) right now! She can most recently say "I love you" (I've been waiting for that one) =), and pretty much anything else she wants to. She talks CONSTANTLY!!! (she gets that from her dad)=) She is LOVING music these days and requests her favorite CDs all day long. She knows LOTS of the words to songs! Too fun! Her favorite things right now are her new rain boots, lip-it (chap stick- thanks aunt connie for buying the organic version), giving Pacey treats out of the pantry, and marching.
We have been so busy the last few weeks with work, church projects, a garage sale, family visitors, traveling, birthdays, etc., etc. It has been such a crazy month! I feel like life should slow down (yeah, right)!
I cannot believe it is Halloween again! Seems like 2 weeks ago we dressed our 9 month old in ruby slippers! Oh, how time flies!! Ella is very into all of the "halloween" stuff this year. We've been to two pumpkin patches, and every time she sees a pumpkin, she yells "pup-kie!" - too cute. She will be dressed-up as an ELLAphant tonight. Can't wait.
She and Mimi are having a blast @ The School of Mimi. That's one thing I've not blogged yet- Ella finished four full days of school at Central Christian Academy when her Mimi decided she had worked for First Security Bank long enough. =). School was great, but we decided for now that Mimi was better. =) And, I think I'm safe in saying that Ella is not the only one excited about the whole arrangement. I think Mimi described it the other day as "living her dream". Wow. Ella is blessed to have such wonderful grandparents- and what better teacher? Michael's Mom retired from 27+ years of teaching- BONUS! Anyway, it's wonderful and we are so thankful that Ella has this opportunity.
There, I said it. My child is a pre-pre-school dropout. whew.....feels better. =)

I got back last night from Trade Days at Canton, TX with friends, while Ella stayed the night at aunt "Ca-Ca's" (Aunt Connie's) house! She got to trick-or-treat in Nashville for the first time! Thank you Ca-Ca for loads of fun (and Elmo balloons, pizza, coke, suckers, etc.)! Ca-Ca drug (and carried) her all over town to trick-or-treat, and I'm not sure who had the better time! I think everything went exceptionally well (Ella even WORE the elephant head for two hours) right up until they passed a CLOWN during the festivities. uh oh. At which point, Ella jumps into Ca-Ca's arms yelling "no way, no way, no way". WHICH BRINGS ME to my Halloween Day current "Biggest Things Creep Me Out" list: (I've been discussing this with co-workers the last few days and felt the need to share) =)

MY CURRENT BIGGEST JEEPERS CREEPERS

Along with the cliche of bugs, snake-in-my-toilet, the dark, and exorcist eyes;

1. You guessed it: CLOWNS. Any shape, form, fashion, happy, sad, goofy, big shoes and all. It's just not right.
2. Dolls with roley, googley, or any such type of freakish eyes. I'm not particularly fond of the ones that you can buy that look just like your child. It's just not right. The word "lurking" comes to mind.
3. Chicken Fried Steak. (yes, I have lived in the south all my life) There's just something not right about breaded beef (if that's what you THINK it is) coated in white gravy (even worse). I don't want to look at it or smell it. Meatball sub sandwiches are second on the scariest foods list. My husband happens to LOVE both of these. Poor Michael has to eat these when I'm out of town. In fact, I don't think I know of one single guy, at least, that doesn't love this food. hmmm....
4. Overalls for women (even in the 80s/90s). THE SINGLE MOST unflattering fashion faux-pas that I hope is available NEVER again. Yes, I had them when I was 15. Big mistake. Extra scary-boo points for the colored cotton type. Just don't do it.
5. Ryan's Steakhouse. It's been 5 years (and a grand total of two visits) and that's still too recent. vomit. Hepatitus waiting to happen. And that's just from stepping onto the commercial carpet.
6. Shoe Carnival. (see #1) If you've ever had the loudest "some-clown-on-the-microphone-come-on-down-and-spin-the-big-clicky-wheel-for-a-deal" experience, you know what I'm talking about. Ruins a perfectly good shoe shop. Creepy on so many levels.
7. Children of the Corn.
8. Caves.
9. Prepping a WHOLE chicken or any other fowl, and then having all of that underneath your fingernails. Bones, skin, and cartilage, oh my! However, I have BIG plans to confront this soon. It just has to be done. And blogged about. (more on this later) I LOVE to cook. This is the only one of the fears listed that I feel hinders my foodie existence. It just so happens that I'm currently feeling up to a life-changing experience. =) Baby steps....

What are your biggest fears? TAG-you're it! I'll list the best in my next post along with some new photos of the sweet girl, I mean ELLAphant! HAPPY HALLOWEEN!


Can you believe it's been a year?