paint, pumpkins, it's fall, oh my!

It's October, so basically this is as close to Fall as it's going to get here. Best way to celebrate with a a toddler and preschooler? Why, painting pumpkins of course. We made a swing by the grocery store and inspected numerous pumpkins until we finally chose three perfectly robust, deep orange pumpkins. You know because painting pumpkins is so fun I wasn't about to miss out on that activity.


Mason could hardly wait to get home I swear he tried to bust open the paint in the car. Against all odds and my fabulous luck he failed his mission. I am fairly certain I heard "is it time to paint pun'kins yet, dis is taking sooo wong" about fifty six times in a fifteen minute drive home. Alas, we pulled in the driveway and raced inside to begin pumpkin (or pun'kin) masterpieces!


I carefully poured little runny puddles of colorful paint on to a paper plate, gathered lots of brushes, cups of water, and Mason's secret "snack" he somehow snuck in to the grocery cart to our backyard. It was time to get festive. So we did.



Max took right to the paint. He loved it - on his belly and hands and even as dessert. Max's recklessness was not appealing to Mason, the world's most easily stressed three year old. He was panicking...Max was making a mess, he was mixing all the colors, oh heavens no who does THAT? I don't know what I was dreaming of when I only set up one color palette for painting. I should have known better. These are my kids after all, I should wise up.

Mason excitedly spotted his mystery snack. In the cutest little voice ever he asked, "You got dat for me mommy? You are teh best mommy ever, I wuv you". I guess he meant you didn't realize I'd snuck a COKE in our basket while Max was screaming and throwing everything off the racks of every aisle we attempted to go down? You won Mase, you snuck it past me, but don't think it'll be that easy with the booze in thirteen years buddy. He won indeed. Sipped it right down with a festive ORANGE straw.



After the old fashioned coke was demolished, a spurt of energy appeared. Enthusiasm rekindled and painting ensued. Mason took a lot of time and worked hard, painting his tiny little pumpkin for nearly thirty minutes. I ended up having to force him to stop because between all the mixing of colors his pumpkin was starting to look rotten - well, a rotten masterpiece I mean.


The mosquitoes were in full force taking no prisoners and not quite taking the hint that it's FALL, or that were pretending it is. Lastly, Max had ingested more paint that was on all three of our pumpkins and I know, I know it's non-toxic, but the thoughts of what color diaper I was going to end up with tomorrow at 9:00 AM were more than enough to go ahead and end our lovely activity.


We are already painting pumpkins - so c'mon Fall, do your damn thing already.

st. patty's.

I had high hopes to perk up each holiday. You know like those moms who chew carrots up on Christmas Eve playing Rudolph or ringing in the New Year with the boys in 2010 banners and top hats. So far I've failed New Years and the most festive activity that took place for Valentine's day was letting Mason eat red and pink M&M's for breakfast. I'm clearly not doing so hot at making holiday's special or planning balanced breakfasts.

So today was St. Patrick's Day, I'm not Irish and I don't think I know anyone that is, but I wanted to go all out, because well it's the only holiday you don't have to celebrate.

I'd planned to dye our milk green and pretend leprechauns came and visited us overnight, but our milk went bad and I didn't have any food coloring. Fail.

Then I planned to get Shamrock headbands for the boys to wear to Little Gym. Fail. In my defense Max so would not have gone for that business. Mason probably would've protested it as well. But the one minute they would've worn them would've probably made for some pretty cute pictures.

Last resort was my brilliant idea to get McDonald's Shamrock shakes for Mason and I's dessert after the park. First of all, what better way to leave the park without a meltdown than McD's bribery. Nothing beats paying 99 cents for a cheap happy meal toy (that I probably have 3 of somewhere in my house) to get from point A to point B. Secondly, I've never tasted the Shamrock delight people rave over. And third, it'd be my St. Patty's holiday score. Before I pulled in to the golden arched euphoria, everyone had cried themselves to sleep. Fail.

I did manage to remember it was St. Patrick's Day as we were walking out the door and got the boys in green shirts. Thank goodness too, because apparently people don't mess around on St. Patty's day. I kid you not there was not one child (or parent for that matter) not sporting a shade of green. I felt a little morbid in my black Nike running shorts and black v-neck. Sue me, I am NOT festive (as noted in above holiday parenting failures). I mean the umbrella stroller I was pushing had some sage on it, that counts right? I mean it is the hottest new accessory in my closet, er, mom-mobile. Holiday fail 4.

Eh, at least Easter is soon. I have high hopes of bunny suits for my kids.

"Happy" St. Patrick's Day from the bash brothers.