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halloween 2012.

We love Halloween here at Casa Arrocena.  With five daughters ranging in ages (currently) from 9 years old all the way to 24, we have been celebrating this holiday full force for many years.  Chances are pretty good that we'll keep it going for no less than a decade more! 

The Halloween celebration began on the Saturday before the official holiday with a costume party thrown by one of the triplets' classmates.  They were so excited for the party, but I was stoked that it was another opportunity to wear their costumes! Heck, they usually only get one wear per year.  This year was definitely better!

 (Japanese Anime Schoolgirl)

 (Alice, from Alice in Wonderland)

(...and Mulan)

Then finally, on Sunday, we decided that it was time to hit the pumpkin patch and get the usual pics I love to take, as well as pick up our batch of pumpkins for the house. Thankfully, there is a pumpkin patch on a farm just about 10 minutes from our house... (another benefit to our recent relocation!) The triplets had fun riding a tire swing, taking a quick hayride, and getting a little dirty around the farm. Good stuff. Kid stuff.  Exactly the experience I want them to have. 

October 31st began very early for us; I had to pack up treats for three 4th grade classes... Pretzel Hugs, which seem to be our go-to treat that everyone loves.

Next, we had to help the triplets get dressed up in their costumes again for school.  Costume parades at school are the best.  I swear, I live for this stuff... 

And because I love Halloween just as much as the kids do, of course I had to doll-up with my super-big hair bun accented with my "Lily Munster" bow.  Any opportunity to wear that bow is not lost on me! 

Back at home, the Daddy had done some magic with more of that spider-web-stuff that we love to use every year... He's such a great daddy, and I love that he shares our enthusiasm!

And as dusk fell... the little ones got increasingly anxious... 

Unfortunately, it all has come to an end and I'm ready to pull down everything down today... Pack it up, until Halloween 2013 arrives. The candy stash is tremendous... I think I'll chuck some of it before the kids get home from school...

2012 Goals.

I'm back today... Not sure why I picked today to resurface in Blogland, but it seemed like a good time to say hi. :)

Lots going on here. I'm pushing through a 2012 de-cluttering goal I'm working on with a few online friends... I'm also back on the Project Life journey (after taking a year long break) so I'm trying to stay up on that one. Posting pictures to my iPhone app, "my 365". I like it a lot and I know it will be helping me with Project Life.

Take a closer look at the list I have going for clutter removal and reorganization:




Do you think it's too much?


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

keeping up with my December Daily.

This is my second year creating a December Daily album.  I am loving it, although I admit that I was less prepared for it this year than I was last year.  I think having a job this year has everything to do with it.

It's the 15th of the month so I am only 1/2 way through my album and still need to pick up more photos from processing.  But here are some random shots of the photos already going into the album:

{All photos were taken exclusively with my iPhone this year... }

this is what 40 looks like.

I'm 40 today.  I can't believe I just typed that.  I always felt like my 40th birthday was light-years away... like it just couldn't possibly happen yet... but it's here. 

Not too sure how I feel about it... Am I bummed out?  Not really.  It's a milestone for sure. But I'm the type of girl who's thankful for each and every year I'm given on this earth.  Although I will admit... I'm slightly obsessed with remaining wrinkle-free and... so far so good.  But the calendar doesn't lie. I'm 40.  For REAL. But I'm good with that, you know?

I'm looking forward to a special 40th birthday "celebration", courtesy of my amazing husband of 23 years (please don't do the math...). I'm not a "party" type of girl, I don't like to draw attention to myself and/or throw parties for myself; although I DO love to throw a good "kiddie" party for my kids at least once a year.  So we're going with a quieter celebration, just how I like it.  More on that when we get back... (yes, we're going out of town for this one... FUN.) But not until he gets back from his business trip.  Aaaaah, work!  Sometimes, don't you just hate it!? :)

In honor of my 40th-- my 4th decade, my 14,600 or so days on this earth... I'm taking one of those random quizzes that everyone loves.  Remember those "SLAM" books everyone used to have in Jr. High?  Wow, I AM old, huh?

Anyway, here goes... 40 questions for the 40 year old.  Happy birthday to ME!


1. What time did you get up this morning?


Every morning I wake up at the same time (on days when I'm not starting work at 2am, that is...).  I'm always up just a few minutes shy of 6am.  The triplets' alarm clock is set for 6:15am, so I like to get a few minutes on them before they start their day.


2. How do you like your steak?

Medium/Medium Rare.


3. What was the last film you saw at the theater?

Ohmygosh, I can't even remember. No doubt it was a kid's movie, most likely Disney! Hey, it's sacrifices like never going to the movies to see an adult flick that makes you a real parent, right?

4. What is your favorite TV show?

General Hospital, but GLEE runs a close second.


5. If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be?

Anywhere in the world? That would be somewhere that is no less than one hour's drive from my parents.  Now if only I could convince them to move back to California!

6. What did you have for breakfast?

Pumpkin waffles and a cup of coffee.


7. What is your favorite cuisine?

Man, I go crazy for some good Thai food.  Thing is, good Thai is hard to find.  But Mexican food is my ultimate comfort food, so they're both my faves. Oh wait, then there's Italian food.  I love me some Italian.


8. What foods do you dislike?

Zucchini.  Definitely dislike. No much more than that one. I generaly like ALL food! (Hence, my curves... )


9. Favorite place to eat?

Well, there's this small little Italian place that I absolutely love.  Sort of a mom and pop kind of vibe... and the food is just amazing.  But last night we were at Yard House for my birthday dinner with my parents.  SUCH a good meal.  So I really should mention it. ;)


10. Favorite dressing?

Blue Cheese.


11.What kind of vehicle do you drive?

Typical mom-car, an SUV.


12. What are your favorite clothes?

Anything comfy, soft, cute, and NOT black.



13. Where would you visit if you had the chance?

I'd spend an entire month in Italian countryside.



14. Cup 1/2 empty or 1/2 full?

Always 1/2 full.  I'm not a pessimist.


15. Where would you want to retire?

Somewhere I could see my children (and grandchildren if I'm lucky) every day, where I could breathe in the ocean breeze by just opening my back patio door, where the sun shines on my face each morning, and where I could eat ice cream any time of day.


16. Favorite time of day?

I'm defnitely a morning person. 


18. What is your favorite sport to watch?

Football, I suppose.



19. Bird watcher?

Ugh, no.


20. Are you a morning person or a night person?

See #16.



21. Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have a dog and I think she's the smartest dog in the universe.  Cutest, too.


22. What do you want to be (someday)?

A professional traveler and food critic.



23. What is your best childhood memory?

Me and my roller skates.



24. Are you a cat or dog person?

Cats are not for me.  I am a dog person.  Big dogs, preferably.  I don't care much for dogs who are the same size as cats.


25. Are you married?

All my life. And until Kingdom Come.


26. Always wear your seat belt?

Yes, always.

28. Any pet peeves?

Crazy-looking eyebrows, people with bad grammar, chronic tardiness, artificial suntans, writing in my checkbook register in any color other than BLACK, when people forget to wash their hands, etc. I'm sure there are more.  I'm nutty like that.

29. Favorite Pizza Toppings?

Spinach and Garlic.

30. Favorite Flower?

The orchid.



31. Favorite ice cream?

Haagen-Dazs Vanilla.


32. Favorite fast food restaurant?

Chipotle.


33. How many times did you fail your driver's test?

I never did!


34. From whom did you get your last e-mail?

From my Mama. I've been getting one at least once a day lately...


35. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card?

Toss up between Gap and J. Crew.

36. Broccoli?

Yes, please.


37. What was your favorite vacation?

Probably camping as a kid.


38. Last person you went out to dinner with?

My parents and all 5 of my daughters... just last night.  It was great!  Any other day, my answer would be, "the triplets"!  They are my constant companions!


39. How many tattoos do you have?

Just one on the back of my right thigh.


40. Coffee drinker?

I pledge allegiance to Starbucks.

today.

Today I am spending the morning at Starbucks, websurfing and enjoying my Naked OJ, a multrigrain bagel + my Toffee Mocha.

Today I look tired.  {I can totally admit that, I'm not in denial!} I feel tired, too.  It was a long, but fun weekend and here I am on Tuesday still in recovery mode.

Today I need to work on the finishing touches to the triplets' Halloween costumes.  The problem with being a "Crafty Mama" is that we NEVER buy costumes; they're always homemade.  It's been that way for as long as I can remember.

Today I drove my 22-year old daughter to school.  That's a rarity; she usually drives herself everywhere on her own.

Today, for the 4th day in a row,  I woke up next to my husband after he had been on a month-long business trip in the Philippines.  I'm hoping he can stay close to home at least until after the holidays, but his employer might have something else in mind.

Today I'm thinking about my plans for Thanksgiving, my 40th birthday and Christmas.  We're spending Thanksgiving at home as we do every year (we prefer it that way), and hosting a family (my parents + siblings) Christmas at our home this time around.  As far as my 40th birthday goes, I'm still undecided about what to do but I'm considering a one or two day getaway with the Hubz.  We NEVER do that.  Vegas, maybe?

Today is my last FULL day off from work before I begin a 5day-in-a-row stretch on the night shift.  That usually doesn't occur in my schedule but my co-worker is taking 5 days off around the Halloween weekend.  Sucks for me and my kids, but I'm pretty sure we weren't part of her consideration when she made her plans and laid them on me. :/ Oh well.  What goes around will come around, eventually.  We'll have OUR time... I'll just stay positive.  The alternative is not who I choose to be!!!

Today I'm wearing a cozy scarf (my daughter knit it for me) and my warm and toasty Ugg boots.  {Can I just say that there is NOTHING like a pair of genuine Uggs?}

Today I'm going to prepare a hearty beef stew to warm our tummies on this chilly Fall day.  Can't think of anything better for dinner.  YUM.

Today my swollen lymph nodes are not as painful, I've hardly noticed them since I woke up this morning.  They are in my armpit area (both) and one above my collarbone area. I'm pretty sure they are swollen and hurting on account of the vaccinations I received at work last week.  I'm not entirely sure about the complete cocktail of immunizations I received but I do know that it included a tetanus, a flu, a whooping cough and an H1N1.  After Googling my symptoms over the weekend, I found the swollen lymph nodes to be common after these vaccines.  Hope it goes away soon.

Today I really need to get a handle on the triplets' laundry and to begin some type of organization of their closet.  The Hubz and I were discussing it last night and decided to go ahead and take off their closet doors to start with.  Hmmm... Maybe I could begin my day shopping for some cute new curtains for their closet?  Sounds like an excellent plan. :)

Today is early dismissal day at the elementary school.  Kids are out at 1:15pm.  This means I have less time to run around and do my errands.  Better get off this laptop and get down to the business of my day. 

Today I'd really like to scrapbook but I doubt that I have the time.  I can't remember when I DID have the time... :( Gotta set a date to scrapbook with my *best scrapbooking buddy*!

Today I'm gonna text my husband, kids, siblings and parents an "I love you".  For no reason, just because. ♥

Have a great day today!

still learning something new everyday.

Yes, I'm still working on my project, "Learn Something New Everyday" on Shimelle's website.  I'll share more on the project later.  For now I want to share a little hardcover book I made on Shutterfly a few weeks ago.  My family loves this book!

Click here to view this photo book larger

What do you think?