Neighborhood Hooligans

Why is it that I am proud that my girls have discovered the art of toilet papering the neighborhood??

Bella is the Big 5! (But Still our Baby)

Isabella Bleau was born 5 years ago, mid afternoon, on a cool rainy fall day. She surprised us by her weight of almost 9 pounds. When I first saw her I did not know who this little person was. I didn't recognize her, it was almost unsettling, but when Pat brought Maddy and Katie by my bedside I was instantly at peace and felt the most joy I have ever experienced. MY family was here, all of them. It was the happiest day of my life and to remember that moment still brings tears to my eyes. We were a family, but Bella completed us. I felt that my "baby shelf" in Heaven was finally empty. We all made it and were together.
Five years seems like a long time, but I know it is just a flash in the span of life, so we like to celebrate every birthday with style and, usually, more than one party.
Bella was determined to have a Wizard of Oz themed "friend" party. I had a lot of fun with decorating and making invitations.

We even found the cutest lunchbox that Bella uses to carry many of her very special things. Mostly makeup.

Maddy and her BFF, Rylie, were a big help at the party and dressed the part.

I had not one thing to do with their costumes, but I was so grateful to have a responsible, fun loving 11 year old to help me with a house full of 5 year olds.

Maddy photo shopped this picture and has displayed it in her room, locker and on her Face Book page.

Lydia Walker, Bella and Cousin Anna.

5 balloon candles to represent the hot air balloon Dorothy planned to escape the Emerald City on. (Bella still doesn't understand why Toto jumped out.)

Bella thought she was so big because she got to have a "Friend Party"

Here is the Wicked Witch...

She was quickly destroyed and the candy was quickly consumed.

Happy Birthday, Bella, from all your many friends!!

This picture was taken the morning of Bella's actual birthday. She kept asking if she was "really" five.

Grandma Lucy spent the night and Bella woke up to a very special tea set she had wanted.

But... what is in the huge garbage sack?? She thinks it's a mini Book Mobile.

No, Silly. It is the Barbie camper you begged me for at Costco.

Later that evening, we celebrated again with Pat's family. How many presents can one little get??

Nice, a Barbie that allows you to cut her hair!!

Happy Birthday to You!

Happy Birthday Baby. Thank you for coming into my heart and home.

I love you.

Happy Halloween!! (Yes, I know it is December...)

OK, I am a little behind...

Oh well, Happy Halloween!
Bella was Dorothy and when Anna found out, she dressed in Mariah's old Wizard of Oz costume and they were the cutest Dorothy twins on the block!!

We usually have a full house on Halloween. The Walker family, some of their extended family, my sister, her gang and my mom, but this year it was just my family, Kimm's and Mom - but don't worry, we still had plenty of action.

I have already mentioned how Mom found our snake. Our neighbors had an absolutely terrifying and totally awesome spook alley. Seriously, very cool. And Katie almost broke both her wrists falling out of her original costume (not pictured) - a garbage can.

Maddy dressed as a weird ballerina. Eleven years is at the cusp of being too old to trick-or-treat, but I didn't tell her.

The best part of Halloween was spending time with Krista and Alex. I don't see my 20 year old nephew much (I think he likes his girlfriend better), but he is preparing to leave on a mission and, therefore, feels the need to spend some quality family time with "The Fam."

I loved it. Krista used to live with us about 3 years ago and now she is all grown up, on her own and as beautiful as ever AND in love with my sweet nephew. Ahhhh. To be young again.

Obviously this is Alex with his "pre-missionary" haircut. Or maybe it is part of a costume, werewolf??

I know these two are trying not to count the days they have left together before Alex embarks on his spiritual quest - but they aren't fooling anybody.

Don't worry, Krista, your wolf boy will back before you know it.

I love you, Alex. I love you, family. Sorry about the snake, Mom. Katie, quit hurting yourself, and to the Walker Family - you missed out!!! Happy Halloween!!

A New Moon is Rising at The Office

As Halloween approached our office was contemplating what to dress up as. Immediately, I had THE perfect idea: Let's play on the release of "New Moon" (for all the die hard Twilight fans) and each staff member would portray the part of a character of the book/movie.

I want it noted that not everyone was on board. They whined, "But how do we dress like rich vampires? What if someone hasn't seen the movie? I haven't seen the movie. I don't think it will work, etc. etc." Well, let me tell you, it did work. I casted the parts and asked for giveaways. I designed a slogan that said, "Dr. PAIN can fix that FANG" and "Now Accepting New Patients, Vampires and Werewolves Welcome" I was relentless, and soon everyone decided it would be OK. (I know, I am so humble)
After the first day dressed in character, EVERYONE was loving the whole Twilight idea, and it took off. Teresa designed a wall with our pictures next to the actors and patients voted on who looked the most like their counterparts. We had the movie playing in the lobby and the soundtracks playing in the back. The patients loved it. The staff loved it, and I got bragging rights that it was all my idea:)

Dr. Payne as Dr. Carlisle Cullen
Sometimes his make-up was a little blotchy, but over all very well done.

No one was really voting for him, so he was caught in the act voting for himself.

CeeJay was a perfect Alice. Perfect.

She borrowed Maddy's necklace to complete her outfit.

Kylie pulled off the helpless Bella bit with exactness, she even wore the boots.

(Like our Jacob and Edward standees??)

Watch out Bella, here comes Victoria for the kill.

Seriously, it got kinda' weird how each person so perfectly fit the part.

I mean, check out that hair!

Meghan was the big winner, though. No matter how hard I lobbied for best dressed, no one could compete with Meghan as Rosalie in her baseball outfit.

Heather ordered red contacts so we could be hungry Volturi. She had them express shipped, as it was a last minute decision. We have both had eye issues since, I don't recommend the cheap $20 red contacts bought from a website and mailed from the U.K.
But, dang, we looked scary.

When I first saw this picture I thought it was a post mortem photo of Michael Jackson.
I was seriously scary looking. I made a few kids cry.

We dressed up for a total of three days at work, and the first day we thought we were hilarious and took about a thousand pictures... Heather has this classic hung above her desk.

I really can't explain how irritating those contacts were. It took me over an hour to get them in the first time and I had only half, blurred vision once they were in place.

Like I said, we took A LOT of pictures.

Here is Janet as a Volturi with fangs - awesome. I really wanted her to play the part of Billy Black (Jacob's dad), but she refused.

I don't think we got any work done those days. Here is the majority of the staff, the other few must be with patients.

Teresa started face booking our pictures on OAB's page and the funnier we got the more she thought we needed more people to come see us. She started making some phone calls...

Heather and I running down the hall as angry vampires.

Notice the extern peeking out from on top of a ladder in the lab.

This picture almost made a few of us lose control of our bladder.

Kim, Edward and I at lunch - yes, we took Edward on a date. Yes, in public. Yes, people stared and took pictures..

Teresa is very good at her job. When she makes a phone call, people answer.

She got KISS 103.3 FM to broadcast from our office and give away Midnight Premiere tickets to New Moon

There is my Maddy.

And at this point I look at Dr. Payne and say, "You're welcome."

Guess who won the very first pair of tickets?? Katie Bug!!
(oh, crap - that means I have to go the midnight release, I already have tickets for Friday... that's OK, we were so cool 103.3 asked our staff to come to the premiere in full costume.) SWEET.

The inspiration behind it all - April Brugger, the world's biggest Edward fan.

Susan is a patient and came in dressed up with little Sara to check out the fun.

Poor Sara. She didn't like my looks.

Happy Halloween from Orthodontics at Bridgetower!!!