Clear Lake Community Center Costume Contest!

The next evening we went to the community center and they had a bunch of activities indoors (which is good because it's getting cold here). The babies were coming down with a cold, so Olivia had to be bribed to put her box on (she usually wants it on). But she left it on long enough to participate in the contest with her big brother :)
Here she is munching on pretzels and dancing...then a little girl's costume catches her eye:

(There's a little bit of a realization that she doesn't want to be wall-ette...she wants to be something really girly and princess-y...she's already a real primadonna..not even 2 yet!)

I know these clips are real short, but she just looks so cute I had to post em.

There were some really great costumes--home-made ones are the best! This little garden gnome was so adorable!

 AND GUESS WHO GOT FIRST PLACE IN THE UNDER 5 YRS CATEGORY!?

 That's right. My wall-e's! There were a lot of under 5 yr olds competing and some I thought surely had us beat, but the L & O charm won them over!

 And here they are making pizza with me the next day...it was hard to allow them to make a mess, but I know they thought it was so cool to mix the dough, spread the sauce, sprinkle cheese and CREATE their own food. They subsequently ate the whole thing (I swear I only had a few bites!)

Here's their review on it:

Fear Not Festival

Since daddy didn't have Halloween off, and finally had a few days off, we went to a couple festivals during the weekend. First we went to a local Presbyterian church and there was delicious popcorn and corn dogs, a couple bouncy jumps, and a trunk or treat. The babies enjoyed it for a while, but eventually Olivia wanted out of her box. Lucas was a trooper--he always wears his wall-e costume with pride :)

Eventually she just started goin up to random people with candy and tried to take a handful...she thought that was the deal lol.  And then since Lucas has been consistently pooping and peeing in his potty, (he can take off and put on his pull-ups on his own!) we got them this car track and they loved playing with daddy and the cars:

Costume Storytime at the Library

Since the babies have so much pride in their costumes, (as do I!) we are taking every opportunity to sport them. We went to the costume storytime at the library, and daddy met us there after work tonight. They did pretty well, and everyone liked the costumes, but some of Olivia's broke...the glue gun didn't work too well on certain parts. I need to re-fashion the claws and the tin hat. They did pretty well during the stories and songs and molded some clay ghosts. Then they did a mini-parade and got some candy and toothbrushes :)

So excited to show off.

Taking a break.



 After the storytime they got ready for the "parade!"

 Getting the hang of it..

 She's either upset about getting a toothbrush or not getting more candy!



S'More Mashed Covers

I just did this one pretty quickly today. Needs a whole band and drums, but I like the combination of 2 great songs:

And I did this one about 2 weeks ago...it was late one night when John was gone and I stayed up too late...it's pretty sloppy and the sound quality is as bad as ever. Maybe I'll get a recording interface for Xmas...:)

If any of you who read my blog, can think of any songs that would go together well, please let me know !

It's in the family :)

I just thought I'd share some of my family's stuff on here. I wish wish wish I had my mom and dad's recordings but their's were before the Youtube/digital camera days and they're all lost :( I hope my mom will get back into music and record her singing.

This is my eldest sibling Sarah--she does Kitchen Karaoke :)

This is my second eldest sibling Susan--she only recently started recording--and the second one was an appearance on Sarah's "kitchen karaoke":

and a cute drunk collaboration:

I couldn't find any of my older brother Jon's drumming solos on youtube, but he's a great drummer.

I did just find Norman's recordings! He's getting really good on guitar all on his own--also check out his "rock band" drum playing--really cool!

It's James' and my mom's turn to record something--do it! Maybe a duet!

Doctor Lucas

My visit with Dr. Lucas went better than with my real doctor...:)

This morning I was playing doctor with the kids. We didn't really have doctor toys, but we used our imagination and Lucas ran with it. It was so cute to hear him play the doctor, and then play the patient. I wanted to buy them play doctor stuff and play food (isn't that stuff fun!?) and since Lucas has been pooping and peeing in the potty all day today and yesterday, I figured he needed a reward. So when John got home went to target and got them some new toys. It had been a while anyway. We found great deals--we got a huge thing of fake food for $10, and the doctor set for $10. We only opened the doctor set tonight because it was late. But they love it and I love witnessing their blossoming imagination and creativity. Some good memories here:

This is the cutest thing :)

Also another cute mommy milestone: when your toddler starts giving you hugs, kisses and says "I love you" without being asked, just out of the blue. True unconditional love is so fulfilling :)

Wall-e-ween 2011 (part 2)

This year, I was unable to think up a good idea for homemade Halloween costumes for the babies. And I couldn't bring myself to pay even $20 for one at the store. Lucas wanted to be Wall-E again anyway, and I had better ideas for this one, for comfort and ease is moving in it   (last years was too rigid and his arms weren't able to bend). I was going to make Olivia be Eve, but she wanted to be wall-E too. As I was looking through the festivals in my magazine, I saw there are some costume contests coming up for their age, so I devoted myself to making them Wall-E & Eve.

  The materials were all very cheap, of course the main piece being a wiper's box, were free :)...we save the boxes for when we move. I decided to check out the fabric store near us, and found lots of great deals. I got some soft material that was on clearance since it was basically leftover/scraps. $1. Then I got 5 pieces of different colored felt for .20 cents each! Then some puffy paint/gel $1.50 each. I already had some fabric glue and a small sewing kit (though I really suck at sewing...). I picked up a few accessories at the dollar store: goggles, pie tins, duct tape, permanent marker. And I used scraps of cardboard that I cut off the wipers box to be Wall-E claws! I bought a packet of thick elastic bands for $2, to hold the box on, and to hold the claws on. I started using a glue gun (sticks are at the dollar store!) because it was quicker and stronger for all materials.

   John came home and just smiled at me working away..he knows me. My wierd quirks where I think up an idea and devote everything to it until it's done...usually to a fault. But it's fun. And it stopped me from eating all night haha. John doesn't really mind since he knows I always stay under the budget he has in his mind. :)

I made Eve so the face flips up if it got too claustrophobic...Olivia barely even tried it on!

   I finished hand-sewing the Eve outfit, but Olivia hated it and wanted out. It was sorta flimsy. Lucas tried it on and laughed but basically they both want to be Wall-E....so I am working on Olivia's "Wall-ette" today lol. Oh well, that Eve costume cost not even $2.  Here she is trying on Lucas' costume this morning:

The puffy paint is supposed to glow in the dark :)

These boxes were better than last years and more practical. I am glad they are both into it. I am excited to take them out trick or treating and maybe enter some contests!

 

Maybe we'll be Wall-E every year haha. No, I'm sure soon enough Lucas will be demanding to be a ninja or pirate etc. and Olivia will want to be a slutty little bratz doll or something lol...but for now, they are my little Wall-E's :)

(this AM was really bad for my allergies...excuse my sneezing/stuffed up-iness!)

Some Cute Clips

This videos were all so short so I didn't put them with their corresponding blogs, but they are cute so I put them all together for everyone to enjoy!

Church Fall Festival

The weather here is still undecided as to whether it is summer or fall. After mass I took the babies out to the festival and quickly bought a ticket for an adult BBQ plate, and a child's hot dog plate. It was very hot so I was glad the food was in the cafeteria. The food was pretty good but I let the kids eat most of mine, and Lucas ate his whole hot dog! Big deal since he's picky.

All really healthy...at least when Olivia's eating it for me :)

Lucas finishing off his hot dog

Olivia staring me down for more food....she does this new funny thing when she's frustrated or wants something from me (don't know where she got it) she says in a teenage-voice, "MA-aw-am!" Can't type it..i'll have to record it next time :)

Then we went outside and did all the fun free stuff....ice cream, pop corn, slides, a big caterpillar maze, a bouncy castle jump, games, golf, a petting zoo and my favrorite--they rode ponies! It would've been a lot easier and funner to have daddy there, but he's working hard to help us get that house in March...coming up pretty fast!

He got his little butt up there all on his own and enjoyed sliding down.

He kept walking right up to it to throw the ball in the hole lol. And a lady picked up Olivia to help her throw hers in too. Everyone was so helpful and friendly :)

They both wanted to go in this caterpillar (which was nice inside because the cool air that was inflating it) and Lucas got all the way through, after finally scaling the little hill at the end. Olivia got about halfway, and got freaked out by all the different obstacles so she turned around and came back out :)

    They finally got to go jump--Olivia just rolled around, but Lucas jumped!

This was our favorite--they loved riding the little ponies...they said "yeehaw! bullseye! horsey!" I was nervous about not being able to stand with both of them, but it was slow and I knew they both really wanted to do it. One of the handlers walked near Lucas just in case. But Lucas held on tight and felt like a real cowboy!

 And the petting zoo was cool. They loved seeing the rooster and petting all the goats and llama, and deer. And of course the soft bunny rabbit.

 Lucas considering the priesthood :)

 Olivia, not so sure about being a nun.

 Dancing to Smash Mouth...I think Smash Mouth is actually a really good band...is that nerdy? We all like "Walkin on the Sun", "Then the Morning Comes" and of course "All Star" from Shrek :)

 Everyone helped Lucas and he was so happy doing all these games :)

 Olivia got to do almost everything he did too.  

 They even danced a little but got mad when I poured a little water on them to keep them cool. They drank they juice and water too, but I could tell by their red cheeks it was time to go. So we went home and all took a nice and much-need Hodge family nap :)
   St. Bernadette's is such a great community and everyone volunteers so much of their time and efforts. What they call "Time, Treasure and Talent". Truly out of the goodness of their hearts. I am just now learning the differences between Carmelite, Dominican, and Franciscan orders, (which is what St. Berandette's is) and that the priests here take vows of poverty. I respect them very much and it seems all the parishioners do as well, sacrificing to help not just our church, but the surrounding communities and poverty/disaster-stricken areas around the globe. I hope to get involved with the Respect for Life ministry once John gets some time off. :)