Halloween Part Two: Costumes.

This year Jason is going to be a zombie, and believe me, I wanted him to choose something else, perhaps something cute and cuddly. I guess that's not cool for 7 year olds. The deal was he could be a zombie on Halloween, but had to wear an old costume to the Y so he wouldn't scare any senior citizens out of their dentures. The twins were Thomas'. One was Jason's old costume and one I had found years ago, brand new at a Goowill for $2. Friday night the Y had a family Halloween event with games, prizes and treats. We went with some friends and had a ball. The boys played lots of games and won tons of tickets. We spent a hour and a half there then headed home. More later.

Halloween Part One: The Pumpkins.

We carved our pumpkins last weekend because Daddy is out of town this weekend. Jason and I had 2 larger pumpkins while the twins had itty bitty ones that they are lugging around daily. Daddy is always are go to pumpkin guy, while I sit back, take the photos and read. This year he did a Jason from Friday the 13th for Jason. He doesn't know who Jason is. He isn't allowed to see the movie, but he knows him from the costumes. I got a girlie skull with a bow. Each of the babies got jack-o-lantern ones. More photos on flickr soon and more on Halloween tomorrow and Monday.

Happy Anniversary Hubby.

To my Husband-

Happy 9th wedding anniversary Babe. Who would of thought 10 years ago, when we first started dating, that we would be here now? Especially in Minnesota with 3 amazing children? I think that is awesome. I think you are stellar. Thank you for sharing these last 9+ years together with me. Sooo thank you...

Thank you for being my personal chauffeur because I hate driving.

Thank you for saying I am beautiful.

Thank you for always cutting my grilled cheese sandwiches diagonally.

Thank you for making me laugh every single day.

Thank you for the most handsome offspring ever.

Thank you for spoiling them.

Thank you for being an amazing father, and family man.

Thank you for letting me have a dog even though you are the one who always takes care of him. Seriously, who knew it would be so much work?

Thank you for being my go to gadget tech. I'm to much of a spaz.

Thank you for knowing all my secrets and loving me anyway.

Thank you for doing almost all of our cooking.

Thank you for being outgoing, adventurous and upbeat.

Thank you for struggling through not just one, but both Twilight movies with me.

Thank you for giving me those momma night outs. They keep me sane. And sober.

Thank you for not losing your sanity during those hours I am gone.

Thank you for squishing all the bugs.

Thank you for protecting your country. I am proud to be a soldiers wife. I am proud to be your wife.

Thank you for allowing me to kick you randomly, through out the night, when you snore.

Thank you for letting me go to bed early and sleep in.

Thank you for sticking through all the ups and downs on our roller coaster of love.

Thank you for always wearing your wedding ring and never taking it off. That means a lot to me. Even though I rarely have mine on.

Thank you for supporting, encouraging and financing all my hobbies.

Thank you for all the hugs and kisses.

Thank you for always tucking me in at night.

Thank you for being able to compromise. Or accepting bribes.

There are a million other things I should thank you for, but most of all, thank you for loving me just the way I am. Especially because there is only room for one crazy person in this relationship. Here's to the next 9 years and many more. XOXOXO

Love You,

The Wife

Friday Night Dakes.

Minus the photographer, Jason. October 22, 2010

25 Things.

1. I wear a pink Power Balance bracelet. I am thinking of them as Christmas gifts.

2. I only eat Cherry Poptarts, and always with milk.

3. I work less than 12 hours a week at the Y and I love my co-workers.

4. The double spacing is driving me nuts, but won't let me fix it.

5. I have dry hands and need a good lotion and my nails are always a mess.

6. I need a good hairspray too now that I am using it daily.

7. I saw Aerosmith live at 16 with Bell.

8. I desperately want a baby girl.

9. I am a spaz in general.

10. I am reading book #52 of 2010.

11. I hate the cold weather.

12. That includes Minnesota weather.

13. I really miss my Grandpa Long. I pulled out an old VCR tape that he used to record the kids on, hoping to get a glimpse of him, but knowing I will at least hear his voice.

14. We will try to celebrate Christmas in Kansas.

15. Did I mention a baby girl?

16. I'm hoping Becca gets the best Thanksgiving/Christmas surprise ever!

17. I am waiting on 2 packages in the mail.

18. I would get rid of 4 of my tattoos right now, if I could.

19. I have lost 8 more pounds.

20. Mike Rowe is sexy, so is Harry Connick Jr.

21. I got glasses at 12 then contacts too.

22. I will buy TS3 on DVD on November 2nd.

23. I love pasta. It was dinner last night and will be tonight too. The boys and I ate some for lunch. We don't do much meat here. Maybe once a week.

24. Most of our cleaners are organic too, including my make-up. I just can't let go of Clorox, I used it in my dishwater.

25. I dream of being a novelist.

Your 4 Favorite Dakes Yesterday.

On Reading.

I am happy to be raising a reader. Jason just finished Magic Tree House #12 today. Each book is about 80 pages. He own books 1-12 but is missing 13-16, which we will pick up at the library tomorrow. He also has books 17-24 from Jordyn, who is also an amazing reader. The series, so far, goes to #44. (So these would make great Christmas gifts!)

I give a lot of credit to my Grandma Lee, who used to take me yearly around my birthday and Christmas to get a new load of books and to renew my membership card at the bookstore. She actually bought me my first book that really got me into reading when I was 12. It was an R.L. Stine book The Girlfriend. After reading that, I read every book of his back then. It was more than 80 books. He is also famous for the Goosebumps series and is quoted to be "The Stephen King of Children's Lit." (Some of his work will be on my Christmas Gift list for a certain 11 year old girl.)

My goal for this year was at least to match last years total of 38 novels. Well I met that in July, so I set a new one of 60 novels. I am on #52 right now and will finish it today, and start 53. Next year I hope to read just as many. Last year 14 of those were on my kindle. I read it all, non-fiction, memoirs, fiction, the classics are my faves.

I am so sad of the years lost 2004-2008 where I rarely read. And then I only had one kid! I can count 5 books that I read in those years, maybe a few more. I have gotten rid of a bunch of my collection of books. I used to have hundreds, now I just have my most faves and some new reads.

Being the reader I am, I have a never ending-that grows daily- To Read list. Currently there are 28 on that list.. and it does grow daily. I am that person who loves airports to. It's like a buffet of reading.. you read at the terminal, on the plane, during the layover, on the next plane.. Love it.

I was that girl in school who actually read all the required books. In fact, my first detention was in 7th grade during English class.. I actually got in trouble for reading my book during class. What kind of teacher gives detention for reading?? And in English??

Jacques has a totally different approach to reading, and it's not osmosis. It's, and I quote, "I'll wait till the movie comes out." Or "Just watch the movie" And his favorite is, "If it's a good enough book, they'll make it into a movie."

Here are my books read in 2010 and 2009.

October's Cutest Couple : )

Momma Dake : ) Me.

Dirt Biker Boy.

Dirt Biker Boy.
Originally uploaded by mandydake

Jason's first day on his first dirt bike. See two posts below for more info. Video: October 8, 2010

Tonsillitis in my Toddler.

I took Zachary to Urgent Care this morning thinking he had an ear infection. The last two mornings he has woken up yanking on his ear. He also had a runny nose and fevers almost everyday this week. Needless to say, it wasn't an ear infection but tonsillitis. Poor Guy! He's got a Rx for meds and let's hope this helps quickly. (Photo: Zach's mug with hugely enlarged tonsils with white patches of yuck on them.) Wow!

Christmas in October.

The only thing on Jason's Christmas list was a dirt bike. We have been talking about it for a while, but one came up for sale, at a great price. And while I was thinking more about trying to fit the bike under the tree.. Daddy was happy to spoil the kid (and take the credit) right away. So Jason got his bike and surprising me, he took of on it the first try and has been riding non-stop ever since. I was really surprised by how naturally it came to him. I guess learning to steer all those Power Wheels helped him a lot.

Oh and did I mention that Momma and the boys love the bike a lot too? Yeah. We do.. FYI- All the kids wear helmets when the ride. Ryan and I were just posing for some photos in these shots. There's a bunch of new photos from the week on flickr and look later, here, for a short video of Evil Knievel Jason riding the bike.

From Monday Night.