Happy 61st Birthday Grandpa and Dad!

My Dad turns 61 today and Coretta and Geno wanted to wish him a Happy Birthday from Switzerland. We love you Dad and Grandpa!! Hope your day is as special as you are!

Halloween Preparations Continue

So far, my Halloween Costume Party is at around 86 people, and needless to say I have been busy working on 36 treat bags for the kids as well as multiple decorations and party ideas. So far I have filled around 60 popcorn hands, created spooky faces on several pumpkins, created bats, witches, ghosts, creating pumpkin and monster rocks, murals, and even made monster candy trophies for the kids to be given out for scariest, most creative, cutest, most original, and best overall costume. I am getting a lit apprehensive of having that many people in my house, but hopefully I will be able to keep everything under control and still manage to enjoy myself. Planning the party has been a great time and allows me to put my creative skills to use. I decided to put my costume together and see how it looks, and I am pleasantly surprised. I have never worn fake eyelashes, but was amazed with how easy they were to apply. My vampiress costume will definitely be a hit. Here is a couple pictures before vampire teeth and with vampire teeth.

Coretta's Fall Holiday

Coretta has just started her fall holiday and has a couple weeks off. This past weekend, the weather was rainy and cold, so we decided that the family would call this a mall day, so off we went. We started the day by eating at the Zugerland cafeteria, the kids favorite, and then we all split up to do some shopping. How did I get Nick to agree to this you may ask? I dangled a new International DVD player and a home theatre system in front of his nose, and he immediately said yes. Coretta ended up buying a few things from Claire's and two sweaters with the money given her from Grandma and Grandpa Earnest for her birthday. She, being the bargain shopper ended up leaving with 50 dollars left.

That Monday, Coretta and I decided to start this holiday with dropping Geno off at school, and heading into Zug for a little Starbucks, and a lot of shopping. Coretta was excited to spend the remainder of her fifty dollars that had been burning a hole in her pocket. After a lot of shopping, she bought a hat and Guitar Hero game system for the Wii. Here is a picture of her modeling her new hat, one of her sweaters and her new Wii game. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Monster Mash--Happy Halloween

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Purple Pride

Nick has finally returned from his trip back to the United States and came bearing gifts for everyone.

First of all, we all received our Halloween costumes and they all fit perfectly. Never know if that is going to happen when you order online. Coretta also received a pair of black converse and black boots, an Abercrombie and Fitch sweatshirt (in case you didn't know, labels mean everything these days), and a lot of books which included a few classics like Johnny Tremaine, Where the Red Fern Grows, Number The Stars, and Coraline. She also received a Brain Quest workbook and Brain Quest flashcards so we can supplement where we feel is needed.

Geno received the coveted possession of all, with his number four Brett Favre Minnesota Vikings jersey. Although it is as long as a dress, he still wears it with purple pride. Amazingly enough, they do not have jerseys any smaller than an 8. Geno will have a couple years of growth out of it though.

Although I didn't ask for anything, Nick brought me back the most beautiful necklace and earrings set in the same stone. He also bought Coretta one as well.

Although he had fun in the States spending time with Grandpa Tom and seeing his old childhood friends, he was happy to be home with his family who equally missed him.

Below is just a collage of Geno sporting his new jersey!

Pre-Halloween Party Decorating

We are planning our Annual Halloween Costume Party and so far the guest count is at 63 people. I have been busily working on decorations, and still have a lot more to do. Since it is hard to find Halloween decorations in Switzerland, because it isn't really celebrated, it has allowed me to be creative. Creativity has always been a good outlet for me: writing, photography, and art being the top three on the list.

We are also having games for the children and adults such as pumpkin bowling, mummy relays, bobbing for apples, as well as a treat bag filled with candy for all my little haunted friends.

More pictures to follow of the actual party October 31st!

Coretta turns 10 years old!

Yesterday was my lovely daughter Coretta's 1oth birthday. It was on this day then 10 years ago that she came into my world and forever changed my life for the better. I remember at the age of 26, looking in the mirror and trying to wrap my brain around the fact that I was going to be a mother. Nick was working at a gas station full time and going to law school at Hamline University in Saint Paul.

I, having one dreaded class left to complete to finish my degree, was waitressing. I remember thinking to myself that the first thing I needed to do was get my degree. From that day on, my life changed, and I being 9 months pregnant in August, was sitting in a non-air conditioned room at the University of Minnesota completing my last class in child psychology. I remember I was too big to fit in the desks at this time, so I had my own chair without the desk. Needless to say, I did get that degree and a year and a half after Coretta was born, I also had a teaching job.

I never thought that motherhood would change me in the ways it did, but I am grateful every day that I have had the privilege to be a Mom. Coretta, being my first child, and not knowing what I was doing, was an easy baby. I remember, however, that she had this special talent of always waiting until Daddy was holding her to puke (usually all the way down his back). I can't even count how many times while feeding her or burping her that she threw up on him. I remember Nick's face, when we could finally bring our little girl home, watching him feed her the bottle and listening to jazz music.

Coretta is as unique and dynamic as her name. That is why I chose it. I wanted my daughter to stand out from the crowd, be a strong individual who was grounded, opinionated, intelligent, with the ability to bring people together and always be a good friend. Without her even knowing this, she has completely and utterly lived up to this ideal more than I ever thought. I am so very proud of all of her accomplishments and the fact that she still makes time for family and realizes how special that bond truly is.

For her big tenth birthday, we took her to Europa Park early, but on her actual day, we had homemade lasagna, bread, and cake. She received many great presents from her Grandma Marilyn, and Grandma and Grandpa Earnest such as money, books, cards, and movies. From her Mom, Dad, and Geno she received clothes, Wii Singstar, earrings and a necklace.

Coretta on your birthday, as well as every day, I want you to know how truly special you are to your family, your friends, your teachers, and your community. I love you with all of my heart and as Mom and Dad have both said "Stop growing up!" because although we are equally happy and sad to see you grow up into your own person, it is hard to let go. Happy that you seem to be a well adjusted kid with morals and values, but sad because we know how hard the world can be: living on your own, the pressures of finding a career, your first heart break (and yes Coretta some day you will have on of these). This is why we would like to bottle up this moment and keep you this age forever. We love you my darling always and forever.