Boys are gross and awesome.

So on Halloween, Bee came in from playing outside. 

We were about to go trick or treating so I started helping him get changed.

And that's when it happened.

I smelled...

body odor.

Boy had some major, major BO.

Huh?!?! He's SIX!!

A fluke?  Maybe!  But dude needed some serious deodorant before I'd put his costume on!

(and can I just mention that my husband totally wiped his arm pits with wet wipes before he used his own deodorant on his own son! 

That is a mental picture I want to remain in my memory bank forever!)

I was super shocked. 

Still am.

Still can't bring myself to apply deodorant on him everyday.

Still haven't bought him any of his own.

I'm sure his friends at school thank me.

Bee thinks he's become a man.

And then there's the toilet seat.

No, not the 'leaving it up' problem.

The opposite.

Dude leaves the seat down and then pees all over it.

TMI?

Well, that's nothing.

Certain girls in this family,

then sit down on said seat,

and it ain't dry.

Then there's the toothpaste.

Dude, what did the toothpaste ever do to you?
(and this picture does not do the toothpaste mess justice!)

And the bathroom mirror.

Seriously, is it that hard to spit in the sink?

And since he started taking showers, I swear they have become and shorter...

I once told him he could stay up to watch TV with us if he took a shower first.

The kid was in, out and dressed in his pajamas by the time I could count to ten.

Yah, maybe that explains some of the BO issues...

Geesh, if this is six, what the heck happens at sixteen?!?!

I could go on, but I think you get the idea...

boys are gross.

But, then there's everything else...

His prayers.

Heartfelt, soft spoken and totally in tune to our family.

He prays for his sisters, including the one in Korea,

He prays for success for my store and safety while at work for his dad.

He is an excellent first grader, working at a second grade level for both math and reading.

He is kind to others,

listens,

 is affectionate,

and oh so sensitive.

(we're working on that in some areas where he might be a little too sensitive!)

He would do just about anything to protect his sister,

and he'd do the same for me.

He loves to play, loves his toys even more,

and would do just about anthing to get a new one!

He can find something in common with anyone, no matter the age or gender,

and will give attention to someone no one else cares to.

And he's dying for a little brother!
(he'll have to take that one up with his daddy!)

He is compassionate,

loving,

obedient,

has tons of potential...

I think he's pretty special

and can do anything he sets his mind to do...

yah,

boys are awesome.

Happy It's Halloween!

This is my seventh Halloween with kids and I'm not any more prepared this year than the last six! 

I am not one of those moms who plans weeks in advance, searches out costumes, orders ones I can't get in stores online and then sits patiently and waits for Halloween to come around.

I'm more like, oops, it's almost Halloween, our church's trunk or treat is a few days before, better waist an entire tank of gas (literally, in my big 'ole Suburban,) drive my less than thrilled three year old around searching every store, costume outlet and then some, for something that will work in the right sizes.

We saw the Luigi costume at various stores previously, but Bee wanted to be a ninja...

all the Mickey Mouse costumes were sold out and Seon-Mi refused to be Minnie.

So I spent all last Friday in and out of a million different stores, the outlet mall, twice, and ended up right where I started...

All to come home to one disappointed little boy and a little girl...

but never fear, my kids are easily bribed and getting them into those costumes was like stealing candy from a baby...or rather promising loads of candy to those who wore the costumes their exhausted mommy made them wear...

(But if you wait last minute like me, you just might get a Pottery Barn costume at the outlet for only 15 bucks!)

And because I am the mom that I am, I will most likely forget to take anymore pics tonight before actual trick or treating, plus, I'm lucky to have snapped these few while they're still and looking at the camera at our church's trunk or treat a few days ago!

(and who knows if they'll cooperate for a second night of 'I hate these costumes but I'll do anything for candy')

Let's just say Halloween is not my forte.

 Girlfriend has a mane of her own!

Doesn't he look thrilled?!?!?!

He's really crying under that mustache (kidding, but he did beg to take it off) and she's just thrilled there's candy involved... 

So if you happen to see Luigi riding into town on a unicorn, and neither of them are crying, well, it's been a good enough Halloween for us!

You may think I've learned my lesson and will start planning early for next year, but nope.

That would be too easy...

after all, we will have one more kid to add to the mix next Halloween and tracking down THREE last minute costumes will be all sorts of fun!

Alright, go ahead, let's hear it, I know you wanna judge me...lil' bit. :)