Halloween has already begun- pumpkin carving, costume making, and partying

Although Halloween is still a couple days away, the celebrations at the FLORES home have already began! We kicked off Halloween 2011 with a BANG!

Our complex had a Halloween party last weekend...in which they held a costume contest at the end: 1st place went to a pirate family, 2nd place went to a terrible costume, and 3rd place went to US: MARIO (Nico), Luigi (Peter), and Princess Peach (me)!

We won $30 gift certificate to Target!!!

I must share however, that I am most proud of this costume because I MADE IN MYSELF!
I got the instructions for the tutu from a BLACK SWAN costume that was on my friend Alyssa's FB page.

Here's what I did:
1. Rolled up the Tull and cut it into 6'' segments
2. I measure the elastic around my waist and subracted 4'', and sewed both ends together
3. the I unwrapped the 6'' tull rolls and cut those into 30'' pieces.
(That's when the fun began!)

4. I then started knotting the tull around the elastic band, until the tutu started taking shape!!

 Soon, the tutu looked like this!!!!!

5. Then I started working on the Skirt that would go over the tutu. Because I've never made a dress before in my life, it was a little difficult. I actually had to do carefull trial and error, since I didn't have any extra material either =0 6. Making the Top was also diffuclt.  SO i winged it...and this is what came out =).

7. I added the finally touches and reinforeced the seems so that I could dance the night away without worrying about my dress coming undone!

8. I had white gloves, white knee high socks, a crown, a necklace, a HUGE pink ring, and a GINORMOUS blonde wig to finish off my costume!

This was the first time I got to dress up as a PRINCESS and I felt like one!!!!

Here are some pictures of the night =)

Mario Helping luigi get dressed

the decorations

The buffet at our clubhouse

the dessert table 

our neighbors

A princess friend

  

Nico and Aaron

Nico's Friend Kiera--who's family won 1st place in the costume contest

My and My bootcamper Momma friends!

Check out this VIDEO:

And this is only the beginning....the REAL thing is sti1l a couple days away!!!! I can't wait!!!!

21 months old!!

Yesterday was Nico's 21st month....so Peter and I decided to go out last night and celebrate!

21 month update:

Height: 34.25'' (almost 3 ft tall)

Language Skills: Super chatter box and record player....REPEATS EVERYTHING. I've caught him a couple times trying to sing: Twinkle Twinkle little star (mainly just TWINKLE TWINKLE), Do Re Mi..., and the ABCs.

Favorite Word this month: NO...so we made a deal with the 4year old neighbor...He gets a penny every time he gets Nico to say YES, so far he has earned 15 pennies.

First Spanglish phrase: MAS PLEASE, however he's been full of little phrases like:

oh no, aww man, go heat, silla roja, excuse me, plus some other ones I can't think of now...=( 

There has been an excessive amount of wining....which we think is due to being frustrated since he can't get us to understand or get what he wants. We are trying to teach him more words everyday and remind him to use the words that he does already know to express himself...but he tends to opt for the screeching option.

Eating Habits:He really is HIT or MISS these days with food. Some days he won't eat too much and then the next he'll eat and then keep asking for MAS! He has started to successfully drink out of a cup...WITHOUT pouring it's contents all over himself.

Sleeping habits: He's pretty much sleeping through the night but often that means that he is UP EARLY! He's gotten into a good nap habit...of sleeping at least 2 hrs in the afternoon. During that time I've been working on my book...and i'm not going to lie, the days he doesn't nap....ARE ROUGH!! 

Other Stuff:

•  He says HI to everyone we see. 
• When he hears the computer (Skype) ringing, he turns, drops what he's doing and says HUELO (abuelo)....which melts my heart! 
• We had to drop the crib to a NEW LOW (which peter had to create) since Nico had decided that he wanted to start climbing OUT of his crib...with this adjustment, we should be good for a couple weeks...maybe months, but soon we'll have to start checking out toddler beds!!!!!!!!!! (he's growing up too fast!!!)
• While we are at BootCamp, he copies A LOT of my exercises, and makes the other moms laugh...I love when he works out with me =).
• Last week Peter dropped him off at Daycare and he DIDN'T CRY!
• At night before he goes to bed, he runs out to the living room in his "almost too small--again" pjs and gives me a kiss and says nigh nigh.
• Nico got a haircut today =) 

Happy 21 month Birthday Pumpkinhead!

MyMemories Suite Givaway

Hello Scrap-bookers!!! I have great NEWS!!! I am hosting a My Memory Suite Giveaway on my other blog: MakingMommy-Hoodeasier.blogspot.com! Go Check it out. I get to GIVE AWAY 1 FREE Digital Scrap-booking Software!

Aside from this giveaway, I also have a PROMO CODE you can use on the website to get $10 off : STMMMS85924

You too can be making beautiful scrapbook pages, quickly and easily! I made this one in 15 minutes while Nico was napping...since he will be celebrating his 21 month "birthday" on Saturday!!! 

Nico's first school artwork!!!

My little artist! Papa went to drop Nico off this morning and sent me this beautiful DUCK picture.

Happy Birthday Great-Grandmas!!!/ Feliz Cumple Anos Bis- Abula

October has been a BIG MONTH and there is still one more special B-day coming =)

Nico's Bis-Abuela Chava celebrated her birthday on the 4th And Today is Great-Grandma, Florence's Birthday!!!!

What a lucky boy to still have 3 GREAT-GRANDMOTHERS around, who love him so much!

Abuelita, Feliz Cumpleanos! Espero que hayas pasado muy celebrada y acompanada. Aunque estamos lejos....te queremos muchisimo y siempre te pensamos.

Florence, I hope you have an amazing day!!!! Nico sends you a BIG "HELLOOOOO" with a big smile. May all your wishes come true today =).

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Will Rodgers Park- Saturday Run!

This weekend we ran at Will Rodgers State Park...It was BEAUTIFUL! To think that we were just miles from our apt...but what seem like a WORLD AWAY!

 Check out the VIEW from up here!

The uphill running while pushing a 30lb toddler was NO JOKE...but Peter and I took turns and DID IT!

What can I say?..Adventures are all around us. We sometimes have to look up from life's regular activities and step out into the amazing world at our finger tips, breathe in the fresh air, and give thanks for the LIFE WE GET TO LIVE!!

NEW GARDEN- on the Balcony

 Nico and Papa planted some LETTUCE and CILANTRO plants in our RE-juvinated balcony Planter. These pictures explain the whole process...no need to add anything extra!


How cute are my little urban farmers!!!!


We used our OWN COMPOST to plant our next project---being GREEN starts at HOME!!

First- put the rocks in

Then mix the compost with the soil and pour into planter:

Start placing plants in planter:

Gather the loose compost/soil and place it on top of plants and around (preferably) 

VUALA, our new planter!

CLEAN UP!

 ....and finally: 
ALL DONE!!!