Thank goodness we had a lot of Halloween festivities this year because Halloween night was a complete wash. It was very rainy out so we decided to just live it up at home where it was dry and warm. We had about ten trick-or-treaters come to our house...clearly, only the hard core candy addicts were out and about.
Saturday night, we participated in our neighborhood Halloween parade and block party.
Dave and the Dragon
Sweet Dragon Jack
Mommy and her baby dragon (do the see the kids in dog costumes in the background?)
Once, Jack was dressed and ready to go, we headed down the street to the parade staging area. While we were waiting for the parade to start, we met some of the other kids from the neighborhood.
Jack noticing his shadow
such a big boy and such a little dragon
Cutie Cupcake
Emerson the monkey. She was sweet enough to make your teeth ache!
Next, Slash showed up to lead the parade. (Interesting fact...real-life Slash is a Britican). This year was better than last year's parade. We had more participants and some awesome music to lead the parade.
Slash explaining the rules of the parade...safety first!
The parade of costumes, to include the Statute of Liberty, a cupcake, a mummy, a witch and more.
a quick stop to adjust the hood
Jack is so proud of himself
We took a slight detour after about 4 houses and went inside our house and had dinner before heading to the block party. After the boys ate, we bundled up and headed over to the block party. I have been waiting all year for the giant inflatable slide. Last year I was pregnant and knew that this year, I would be taking Jack down the slide this year.
Jack is ready to rock!
The infamous slide!
Jack and Mommy waiting in line for the slide
The climb to the top nearly did me in. Lady Liberty was a little too close for comfort.
We made it!
After the ride on the giant slide, Jack passed out!
By the time we got home, he was really passed out!
On Sunday, we went and volunteered at the Monster Dash 5k. You might remember this race from last year where Dave dressed as a hotdog for the run (check that entry out here).
Jack was, yet again, an all-star volunteer. He was happy to be outside and see all the sights.
Our friend, Rebecca asked what Jack was going to be for Halloween and I said, "here, I'll show you!" I took Jack and here is what I showed her:
Crafty Sue and I are going to a craft fair on Saturday so I've been busy sewing some onesies to sell.
I made patterns/templates for my bikinis and ties, then I cut them out and ironed them on my onesies
All ready to be stitched
Testing out ways to display the onesies at the craft fair
A couple close-ups...
Another close-up...
We'll be at the Western Wake Farmers' Market in Cary from 8am-1pm on Saturday, November 5. I hope you'll come by and see us. If you do, let me know...we might need some more hot chocolate!
Jack's girlfriend, Ellis, gave him a lion walking toy a few weeks ago and he love it! We got a little video footage of him that first morning when he figured out how to use it:
Jack has had a few play dates with a couple of his girlfriends. He is a busy boy and keeps me very busy.
First, his girlfriend, Claire came over to play for a little while. Jack was happy to show off his toys and Claire was happy to taste as many of his toys as she could.
Good sharing friends. It's hard to believe that Jack is a little over 3 months older than Claire!
Jack blows his mommy a kiss while Claire isn't looking
Claire giving Jack some "love taps"
Claire saying "Your heart is MINE"
Please help me, Mommy!
Bye-bye Claire! See you next time!
Jack has also had a few dates with Ellis. Ellis was born just 3 days before Jack.
One time, Ellis and her mom and brother Aiden came over for a walk to the playground.
Aiden giving Ellis and Jack a little push
Aiden getting ready to go down the slide...head first
The snake Aiden found while we were on our walk!
On another date with Ellis, we went to a local park. We played in some restored farm buildings and a log cabin and enjoyed the beautiful day. Erin (Ellis' mom) took some super cute pictures while we were there.
Jack and I really enjoy all of our play dates with friends. I think it is the one thing that has kept me sane(ish).
This is a catch up entry from the beginning of October...
Jack and I made a quick overnight trip to Charlotte to visit Mrs. Ryan Anne, my fifth grade teacher and Jack's MeMe Anne. Jack was, yet again, an amazing traveling baby and we had such a great time visiting Anne and Jim. When Jack and I arrived Jim had taken his car to the shop so Anne gave Jack and I a tour of their house and we relaxed for a bit. After a while, Jim called and needed us to come get him. We took the Shaggin' Wagon since it has the car seat installed. When Jim got in the car, I made sure I kept my hands at "10 and 2" just in case he decided to critique my driving since he was my Drivers Ed teacher about 16 years ago. Jim sat in the back seat with Jack and Jack could not take his eyes off Jim while he was talking. I often wonder what goes through Jack's mind.
Jack and Anne making a little music with a pot and a spoon
Jack showing Carly the same love that he does Scout and Molly
Jack sings a song while Anne plays the "drums"
We had a birthday dinner while we were there to celebrate my birthday. Jack loved tasting his MeMe Anne's cupcake. We had such a great time on our quick trip to Charlotte.
We can't wait to get back out and see our family again!
Yes, all of the Mulleys are still alive and well. We have just been busier than a couple one-armed paper hangers lately.
I have been knee-deep in onesies that I am making to sell at an upcoming craft fair. Dave has been slammed with work (which is a good thing in this day and age), but we are considering ourselves lucky since at least he is at home. Jack has been busy getting cuter and cuter everyday.
I've got a major blog entry in the works to catch you up on the past couple weeks with the Mulleys.
Thanks for all of your emails, texts and polite nudging about the lack of blogs lately. We feel the love!
Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Jacque** who didn't like to sleep. His mother, Eliza**, and his father, Davey-J**, tried everything they could to get their sweet boy to sleep. They probably spoiled him by rocking him to sleep every night, but in their minds, baby Jacque had such a hard time falling asleep because he had such terrible gas. Unfortunately, Jacque became quite accustomed to being rocked to sleep and when Mom and Dad wanted Jacque to fall asleep on his own he would cry and cry and cry until Mom or Dad would rock him to sleep. Once Jacque would fall asleep he would still wake up at least once in the middle of the night for a little midnight snack from Mommy. When it came to napping, Jacque didn't like that either. He would happily sleep in Mommy or Daddy's arms, but not for very long in his cage crib.
Then, one day, Eliza and Davey-J took sweet Jacque to the very wise doctor and told him about their sadness and tiredness from the baby boy not sleeping. The very wise doctor told Eliza that it was time to give Jacque some "tough love" and to let him cry himself to sleep. He promised that everyone in the kingdom would be much happier once Jacque learned to sleep on his own.
That evening, Eliza and Davey-J put sweet Jacque to bed and he started to cry. He cried and he cried for about twenty-five minutes. Once Jacque became quiet, Davey-J looked on the monitor and he was sleeping while sitting up in his crib. He continued to sleep in the upright position for about an hour at which time, Davey-J went in and laid him down and he slept for many hours. He woke up one time that night and his parents just let him cry. He cried for about ten minutes and then fell asleep sitting up, once again. He eventually fell over and continued to sleep.
Sweet baby Jacque has continued his new found sleep habits since that special night twenty-four nights ago. He even did well when his traveled to Virginia and across the country to California. It is amazing what a little tough love can do for a sweet baby boy.
Jacque and his parents lived happily ever after.
The End
*told in fairy tale form to prevent the good fortune from being jinxed
**names were changed to protect the innocent
October 1, 1983 was the day that I turned three years old. It was also the day that I had my first birthday parade. The parade took place in the beautiful town of Spring Hope, North Carolina-where my Great Aunt Margaret lived. We went to my parade and then went back to Aunt Margaret's for some birthday cake. Every year we would go back for my birthday parade. Leading up to the big day, I would ask my dad if various people would be in the parade and he would "call" the head parade dude and would either say, "yes, the backwards clown will be there" or, "no, he won't be able to make it this year". Whatever my dad said was actually what happened...it was miraculous! During the parade, my dad would go up to every band and remind them that it was my birthday and they would play "Happy Birthday" for me....every time!
Fast forward to October 1, 2005 when I realized that it wasn't really my birthday parade by in actuality, it was the Annual Spring Hope Pumpkin Festival (now called the Spring Hope National Pumpkin Festival--I guess they didn't hear Dave was going to be there...then it would be the International Pumpkin Festival) which just so happens to be held the first weekend in October every year. The revelation of this news was quite a crushing blow to me, but I eventually got over it. As my birthday season started to come around this year, I decided that I wanted to go back and let Jack experience my birthday parade. It wasn't quite how I remembered it, but it was still just as magical!
so...this picture isn't great of Dave (he wasn't ready) but I look better in this one that I do the re-take and I'm writing the blog so I pick the pictures :)
Jack passed out before the parade started
He woke up and we jumped in the parade
Checking out the large man driving the tiny truck
Jack and I jumped back into the parade to see the clowns...unfortunately my crazy hair and clowns crazy hair covered up Jack
Clown driving the bus
Giant shopping trolley
Hooptie car in the parade (there was a lot of cars where the rims appeared to have cost more than the cars in the parade)
I guess anyone can be in the parade...this was a family reunion that had two trucks of people. Next year...I'm in!
more tiny trucks driven by not-so-tiny men
local animal hospital had dogs walking in the parade
These guys said that Jack was a hillbilly in training because he was wearing overalls
even more tiny cars driven my grown men
First family picture at the Pumpkin Birthday Festival
Lots of the floats parade participants threw candy...but one of the hoopties with fancy rims threw out wadded up dollar bills. I'm fairly certain that they were fake, but I was unable to get one because of the swarms of little kids grabbing them up.
Thanks to everyone for the text messages, Facebook posts and international singing phone calls. A special thanks to Spring Hope for putting on another great birthday parade! I had a great day and I loved spending it with my little boy (and husband and mom and cousins and uncle).
