Reflection Winner!!

I have to start this story back about a month ago. It all began when Ethan came home from school one day telling me about this great contest he needed to enter. Why... because there were prizes of course. I think that is all Ethan heard when they were introducing it...PRIZES! So I said okay, whatever, really thinking that he would forget about the whole thing, but alas he did not. He reminded me constantly that we had to do this and turn it in by the end of the week.

We talked about what he wanted to do and he decided that he wanted to write and illustrate a story. Fine. I looked up the rules and was really taken aback. There were rules to writing stories and if you illustrated them the pictures would not be judged, just the story, or vice versa. You needed three copies of your story turned in, which is no big deal, just a little harder to have to drive all the way to the UPS store for color copies. I was begining to think, is this really worth it? Honestly I will give you a ribbon and candy bar if you don't make me do this. I had a bad attitude and I just did not really want to deal with it.

Rambling sorry, Needless to say Ethan entered the Reflections contest for his school and he actually won top five in literature out of the whole school! I was shocked! I was proud! I thought I was done with this contest, but we are onto regionals! I have learned many lessons from this experience

#1. Bribery is good. Maybe if I need Ethan to clean his room I will mention PRIZES!

#2. Try new things, step out of your comfort zone, who knows you might just come out the winner.

#3. Don't let anyone tell you that you should not try, if you want to do it, DO IT!

#4. Don't hold your kids back because of your past experiences with something. I need to support my children more and let them spread their wings. It doesn't really matter if they win or lose, at least they had the guts to try.

#5. I saw my little guy's self esteem raise about 10 notches that night. He was proud, he felt good about himself, and that my friends was worth ALL of the effort we had to put into this contest.

I love my not-so-little-anymore-man! Congratulations buddy!

Obsessed Maybe?

I know that you have heard this before, but Emilee is crazy about princesses. Honestly she can play with them all day. I walked into the kitchen today and she had them lined up on the lap top while she was playing a game. I said, "What are you doing with your princesses?" she said: "They are helping me play Dora." Alright, whatever. I proceed to clean up the kitchen and she is literally asking the "girls" for advice.

"What do you think Belle?"

"Is this the egg Cinderella? You're right! Good job!"

Obsessed, Just sayin'.

I AM IN LOVE

So Aaron's mom introduced me to a purse a few years ago. Maybe some of you have heard about it, it is a MICHE purse. Great and all but I could really only use it when going out with the girls and the hubby, until now.

My friend Kristy introduced me to this little number and I am never going back.

It is the MICHE BIG BAG and it is heaven. Big Enough for a "mom bag" with everything you need but also so cute and in a flash it can change colors and styles. Although, I chose the same style in a different color...Maybe a Christmas present could be another shell (hint hint!).

Oh how I love you!

Halloween Fun!

The other day we were in the grocery store and Ethan saw this fantastic Haunted gingerbread house and he just had to have it. (Reason #1 why I hate to take the kids to the grocery store) But being the fantastic mom that I am, I bought it for him. We took it home and put it together. I now know that he just wanted the candy out of it and my $10.99 could have gone to much better candy, but needless to say we have created our first Halloween decoration of the year.

Hey, E, you kinda got a little something on your face... have you been eating the frosting?