Happy Halloween!

For Halloween, I tried to plan a lot of different activities for Zoie. I found the cutest peacock costume and found a matching headband on Etsy (she hadn't even seen the costume and it matched perfectly-- sooo crazy!) I found matching leggings and tights and some sparkly glitter ballet flats-- I was pretty gosh darn excited. Her costume was by far the cutest I had come up with. I was pretty impressed with myself. :)

However, plans changed and mother nature decided to get miserably cold and rainy, so we didn't get to go crazy with my week-long planned out festivities. (probably a good thing though.)
Saturday I took Z to Haunt the Zoo at the OKC Zoo. It was from 6:30-8:30, and we got there at 6:30 on the dot, only to find a line so long that you'd think Justin Bieber was in town. The line stretched out the park and all the way in front of the Science Museum. Which doesn't sound too bad, right? Nope, this was just the line to BUY tickets. There was an adjacent line for those who already had tickets that was even longer. I really wanted to get in the car and say "forget it", but we didn't. We sucked it up and waited for the HOUR AND A HALF to get inside. It was very cold outside. I'm not gonna lie-- very cold. But... It was fun. I have never seen that many people in one place in my life, and that's including the Maroon5 and Train concert I went to in September. For awhile it was shoulder-to-shoulder, barely moving-- but after a bit it thinned out and we were able to enjoy it. The kids got some great candy, as well as mini cans of coke and 3 bags of chips, which were zoie's favorite. We finally left the park at 9:30 and didn't get home til after 10. It was fun, but not quite sure I'd do it again.
On Sunday, we went and had brunch at the golf club and then zoie and I headed to the pumpkin patch. I had bought a groupon for the Chester's Pumpkin Patch in Piedmont. It was for a group of 4, but i just took Missy by myself. We walked around and she played on some toys, took a hayride, and she slid down a gynormous slide. Her favorite part? Petting the donkeys. Yep, that's my kiddo!

Afterwards, we ran home and changed into her costume, and went to a local church that had an outdoor trunk-or-treat. The kids got to paint and color, play games and they gave tickets to get hot dogs, caramel apples (my fave!), popcorn and drinks.

Little did we know, but there were judges walking around looking at all of the costumes. There was a surprise costume contest. Out of the hundreds of kids there, wanna guess who won first prize? ZOIE!! We were shocked! She even was given a little prize. She was embarassed, but proud at the same time. Love her!
I hope you all had a happy halloween! :)

Day Out With Thomas...

I heard that Thomas the Tank Engine was coming to town, so I decided to take Zoie. We had seen him before in Texas when Zoie was two--and since she still has a love for all things with engines--I thought it would be perfect.
We arrived at the Oklahoma Railway Museum around 1:45 p.m., just in time to catch the 2 o'clock departure. We jumped on the train and shortly after it took off. And in saying "took off", that term should be taken very lightly. We slowly chugged about a mile down the track. Nonetheless, Zoie loved every second. (That's all that matters, right?)

Afterwards, we had our picture taken in front of "Thomas". There were also little activities like rub-on tattoos, trains to play with, sing-alongs and a moon bounce.

Less than two hours later (and over $100 spent), we were done for the day. Zoie was happy, and therefore, so was I.

One of THOSE moms...

Yes, I am one of THOSE moms. You know, the annoying ones. The ones that drive you crazy around back-to-school time, making you pray for the following summer to get here soon enough.

I am one that will take a "holiday" day off of work on her first day so that I can keep her at my side for as long as possible. I will spend the extra 10 minutes fixing her hair in curls, because that's what she wants. I will dress her in the blue and orange and white dress because that is what she feels "the boys will think I'm pretty in..." we won't wear the shoes that match her outfit because they "hurt her feet", but will compromise to the next best (and closest-matching) thing.

I am one that leave cheesy little notes in the backpack or lunch box. These typically always include mushiness like "I {heart} you" or "xoxo" in some form or another. They are a fine line between showing affection and pure humiliation among their friends.

One that uses food as a means of art by "decorating" their breakfast or lunch. This could include shaping the peanut butter on someone's waffle into an evenly spread heart, making sure all the squares are proportionately filled. Not naming any names or anything.

I am one who spends wayyyy too much money on school clothes, even if I do shop clearance and sales and use coupons and online promo codes. One that has my child all set for fall-- five pair of jeans, seven pair of leggings, long-sleeved shirts, two new pair of boots, scarves and 3 new pair of tennis shoes.... Only to realize the night before school starting that, "hey! It's still 105 degrees outside and my kiddo only has two pair of shorts." Guess where we are going this weekend?

One of the ones who takes 176 photos of the first day of school-- before school even starts. Enough photos are taken at different angles, you would swear that you were starting her modeling career at a very early age.

One of the ones that takes enough above mention photographs that one could complete an entire 20-page hard-cover shutterfly book and still need excess room for additional photos "if I have to take any when I pick her up from school..." And the stated photo book is in the works--and completed-- by the time school is out.

I am one of the crazy moms that counts down the hours until I get to see my sweet face again, and can't wait to hear play-by-play details of her every move throughout the day, including "did you make any friends? What were their names? What did you have do snack? Do you like your teacher? Did you eat all of your lunch? Who did you sit by? Did you play on the playground? Did you get to see Kaylee? Did you two play? How did they call you in from recess? Did you get in a line? Did they give you a potty break? How was p.e.? Did you sit together as a class? What did you do? So do you know any of the kids names that sit at your table? Did you learn any letters today? Are you reading yet? Did you color a picture? Do you have homework? Are you tired? Did you rest? You didn't drink milk today did you? Do you need a snack? ....
And 90% of the responses include "I don't know", "I don't remember" or "I forgot".

I am one of the insane parents who waits in the "pick-up" line for about 45 minutes, just so I can see that sweet face come out of that building and fill my heart with love all over again.

And yes, I am THAT mom who bought her daughter a present for surviving her first day of "big school". And she loved her present and she loved me for it.

So if me loving my daughter with my whole heart and caring about her more than anything in this world, and would put her life before mine in a heartbeat, then I must say-- yes. I am one of THOSE moms.

And I love every second of it.
But all-in-all... I am proud to be THAT mom and wouldn't trade it for the world.