Legend of the Nightgown

Being the first day of October (or in my opinion, the first day of Halloween), I thought I'd explore some folklore (if you can call it that).

I recently heard that The Devil, (yes, THE Devil) has an eye for old-school fashions. Apparently he likes those old-fashioned nightgowns that girls used to wear (and I guess some older women still do). I haven't seen these movies, so I don't know from personal experience, but apparently in all those "Exorcist" type movies that keep coming out, The Devil prefers to possess girls in said nightgowns. Which, I think, means he really likes them.

(a scene from "The Exorcist" featuring the old-school nightgown)

I wasn't thinking about such crazy things when a recent visit to my mom's house brought forth a new (to me) old-school nightgown. She gave me one that she didn't want anymore.

And I certainly wasn't thinking of such things about a week later on a cold night at Scott's mom's house. I went to bed that night like usual, but something was different. Instead of my usual jammie shorts and t-shirt, I wore the nightgown, just to give it a try. Later that night, at about 3 am, I got sick. Really sick. Some of the worst stomach pains ever experienced made themselves known. I had to run to the bathroom multiple times for VERY unpleasant reasons, and got hardly any sleep. My stomach continued to hurt for three days. I thought it was food poisoning, but now I think it was The Devil, just trying out my latest apparel. Darn you Devil! I think I might have to burn the nightgown. What do you think?

Braggin' Wagon Wednesday: Dex goes to school

My little Dex is in preschool this week. It is an in-class trial to see how he does, hopefully we will find out tomorrow if it will be permanent. Right now he is in the morning class (9 - 12), while Corbin is in afternoon kindergarten (12:50-3:45) which means that I have to walk to school four times a day all this week. It wouldn't be so bad if it really felt like fall, which it doesn't. It feels like summer outside still and walking out in the heat 4 times a day does not make for a happy mom, or 3 happy kids. If he gets in they promised to switch him to the afternoon class. Thank goodness. Anyway, he is doing great so far, and really loves it. I just hope he gets to stay, I'd hate to see the disappointment on his face if they say no. Here are some pics from when he finished his first day (I forgot the camera before school. I guess I can't be super mom all the time.).

Walking with his class and teachers (he's in the yellow)

Holding hands with his teacher and looking for us

Walking home while Corbin asks him a million questions about his day.

Ps. On a side note, While I was posting this blog I got a call from my brother saying that my Uncle Bob passed away this morning. I just want to send my condolences to all my aunts and uncles and cousins who will miss him, especially Aunt Penny and my cousin Tammy, and of course, my dad. Love you Uncle Bob, I'll miss you.

Pirates Cove: Pictures

Now that I'm done complaining, here are some pics from Pirates Cove. There are A LOT, sorry. I couldn't narrow it down very well.

Ivy and I on the slide. This is the only picture of me from the whole trip. Thank goodness.

Corbin and Dex loved to go super close together.

Corbin and Ellie go super fast with the blue pad!

Dex sliding

Corbin in the hot tub. I LOVE this picture. He's so cute. (Can you see Lake Mead in the background?)

My adorable family in the hot tub over looking everything.

A VERY rare moment of snoozing

Another rare moment of snooze.

The other Brunson kids about to jump from the rock wall.

Dallin, Bowen, and Ellie

I LOVE this one of Ellie jumping!

The boys just went down the slide in a "choo choo train". I love when they get along.

A face only a mother could love! He was like "Mommy, take a picture!" So I did.

Dex getting his float on.

The giant new bridge at Hoover Dam. Its huge! Up close it is quite terrifying!

A big horned sheep (or something). There is this sign that says "Watch For Sheep" that we thought was so wierd, but then we saw a big herd of them walking in people's yards after visiting the hoover dam. That is NOT fake!

Corbin on the big slide by himself. The pool at the bottom has got to be like 20 ft deep!

Dex on the big slide with daddy (by the end of the week he went by himself, but I didn't get a pic)

Ivy on the big slide with daddy

Ivy napping with Daddy

Pirates Cove: Highlights and Struggles

Last week we went to Pirates Cove in Las Vegas with Scott's work. Here are some highlights and and struggles from the trip.

HIGHLIGHTS:

*Getting to see both sets of gma's and gpa's along the way, not to mention a great gma and gpa.

*Swimming all day everyday, without even one incident of near-drowning.

*Spending LOTS of time with my kids

*Getting to be out of the house for longer than it takes to go to church or the grocery store.

*Waterslides, waterslides, waterslides.

*Playing with cousins

*Brothers playing together without fighting.

*Witnessing the bravery of small children (even though sometimes they were a little too brave).

STRUGGLES:

*The 12 hour drive both ways. Even with lots of stops it was absolute torture.

*Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Ivy is obsessed with this show and watched it over and over again in the car, not to mention every morning when we'd get up. We're all very sick of that show. Except Ivy of course.

*The kids refusing to eat anything healthy. They think you can live off of Goldfish, cookies, and granola bars. GRRR.

*Bedtime and naptime. This was BY FAR the WORST part of the whole trip. No one got any quality sleep the whole time. It was ridiculous. I don't know how we survived it!

*Never getting to be dry pretty much the whole time we were at Pirates Cove.

*Meltdowns and tantrums. 'Nuff said.

*Injuries. Dex fell on the stairs. Ivy fell on the rocks. Corbin jumped from too high and the life jacket strap hurt his......ya know.....stuff. Both boys got rubbed raw on their arms from the life jackets. Ivy got sunburned on her legs. There were lots of bonked heads, and scraped knees, and LOTS of crying.

*Mom being completely overwhelmed with watching three kids in the water, who did whatever they could to avoid eating and napping and only wanted to swim and whine while Dad worked for the first three days.

Ahhhh.. I'm glad I got all that off my chest. I think I might skip this trip next year!

Braggin' Wagon Wednesday: Brave Boys

My boys are so brave in the water. What a relief that they aren't afraid of it, but know how to stay safe. They are having a great time. Here are some super fun pictures of their bravery.

Dex was nervous at first, but now he likes to go down the waterslide face first!

Corbin has no fear and doesn't hesitate to do scary things!

Dex jumping from the rock wall. I think he also yelled "Cannonball" or "Yippee" but I can't remember which.

Corbin jumping (higher than I anticipated) from the rock wall

And here are some of Ivy for good measure.

Chilling on the pretend beach. Her scar makes her look like she's already rockin' cleavage!

And here she is hanging out with her newest cousin Aiden. She likes to say "baby" constantly and poke him whenever she gets the chance.

Funny Story

The kids and I spent the entire day swimming in the sun and going down waterslides, and just seizing the day. The only time we weren't in the water was when I FORCED them to sit down for 5 minutes to eat lunch and when I FORCED them to take a half hour break when the melt downs went rampant. (also Ivy had a two and half hour nap, but the rest of us still swam during it.) Anyway, needless to say, by the time dinner came up at 6:30, they were exhausted. Dex fell asleep on the tile floor while he was supposed to be eating. I picked him up to put in his bed, and he opened his eyes just slightly and said, "I still need to swim." I was like, "What? You want to swim? You can't even keep your eyes open." And he was back asleep before his head hit the pillow. What a funny kid.

It's Not October!

But I can't help it. I tried to wait for October to put up the Halloween stuff, but I couldn't wait. Oh well, it makes me happy, and we should do things that make us happy, right! We haven't done the outside stuff yet, but the inside of the house is bustling with fall pumpkins, and Halloween goblins.

Ps. Who the heck is this guy spying through my back door. We have dubbed him the trick or treat bug, since he looks like he's in costume. Happy Halloween trick or treat bug!