Presenting...Joaquin Star!
Welp, Mommy finished the costume. Not a moment too soon. See, I was getting the smile glued on just as trick-or-treaters began ringing the doorbell. I really gotta stop doing stuff like that.

Here is the fruit of my labor holding the Patrick Star doll I used as inspiration:
(Click image to see bigger.)

Now, not all of the delay was due to my procrastination. On Monday, I got a call to pickup Joaquin at daycare because he had the heebee-jeebees (code word for diarrhea). On Tuesday, we had a checkup and he got a tb test, and ppd vaccine. On Wednesday evening, he started getting congested and had a 102 degree temperature that lasted into Thursday. I called the doctor and we visited again today. Doesn't seem to have an ear infection yet, just a lot of congestion and general yucky feeling, and, there's that fever thing. He was a trooper to even get dressed, let alone visit people.

Yet another Halloween has come to an end. I feel pretty good about it. I accomplished more than usual. Next year, I hope to be a little more organized, finish the costume earlier so Joaquin can maybe wear it for more than one day. And, I hope we're not sick. Bleh.

I really want to make these holidays special for my family, something Joaquin will look back on fondly when he's grown and I'm gone...he'll say, "I remember my Mom used to..." and his wife will get exasperated because she can't live up to his super mom. Ha, yeah, that's what I want. Happy Halloween!

Oh, as a side note, not the best idea to carve pumpkins too long before Halloween. I tried to keep them moist by covering them with a plastic bag and putting Vaseline on them. They started to mold. I took them outside hoping the dry air would be good. Too late. We still used them. The gnats flying around them added a spooky Halloween effect.

Punkin Party 2003
In the tradition of Jenny, we had a Pumpkin Carving Féte last night. And what a blast it was. Here are some pictures of the event.

I forgot to add that after this, I am staying away from the computer (at home) this week until I finish Joaquin's costume. I mean it! Have a faboo week!

School Cafeteria MemoriesNightmares
Mommy has bad memories of some of the cafeteria food she was subjected to in grade school. These memories have followed me into adulthood. I remember wondering, is spinach supposed to be wilted and soggy like that? Why does Popeye like that spinach so much? He wouldn't if he went to my school. And coleslaw? It is hot and wilted and it is touching my mashed potatoes! Why does everthing smell like that? Meatloaf...it's gray...and slimey...yeeech!

I took me a long time before I was brave enough to try many of the foods again. I found out that spinach is pretty good and doesn't, in real life, have that texture. I found the joy of coleslaw recently, like in the past two years. It's better than I remember, even if it is from KFC. But I was still hesitant to try meatloaf again. Well, I conquered my fear and made that for dinner. It was...good. What's better, it was easy. Seems you can put pretty much anything in meatloaf. Makes me wonder what the school cafeteria workers put in ours'.

I don't know if school cafeteria food has improved much recently, but I guess I will find out soon enough. *Sigh*

How To Build A Car
by Joaquin

1) Get the body and set the tires up next to it. Stick the steering wheel in. Get in and sit a while. Then take a nap so Daddy can put it together.


2) Wake from nap and get in the car like you own it.


3) Drive it around the house to get used to it.


4) Go to a Drive-In movie. Make sure Clifford The Big Red Dog is playing.


The end.

P.S. Grandma got Joaquin the car because she was having a hard time getting him to leave the daycare because of those cars. She thought it might make life easier. Now Mommy can't get him to leave the house in the morning!

Gardeners Delight
Joaquin helped Mommy plant the garden today. Got the manure mixed in and all the little lettuce, tomato and cilantro plants in the ground. Joaquin really likes to help and I really have to try to be more patient about that, I know I can always buy more, but three little baby tomatoes were at stake!

We also trimmed a tree and basil plants. This is where Joaquin is TRULY helpful. He went and got the trashcan and put the trimmings in it for me. It's funny when he takes charge like that. He knows exactly what is needed and runs to get the trashcan, drags it over and proceeds to pickup all the debris like he's been doing it for years.

After this activity, Joaquin was promptly put in the tub. He usually takes a bath right before bedtime, but lately, since it's bearable outside, we've been spending more time out there and it shows in the amount of dirt and grime I find on his little face, hands, legs and between his toes. I've been wondering what others do about this. Do they just wipe down the kid and go about evening activities, like dinner, etc., or take a full fledged bath? What a conundrum.

The Work Begins
Today Grandma watched Joaquin so Mommy could go in search of supplies to make Joaquin's Halloween costume. I found the perfect pink felt for the body and some chartreuse hawaiian print fabric for the shorts. Go me!


Now, I just have to decide how I'm going to make it. I've been studying Patrick, you know. His shape kind of reminds me of a Hershey's Kiss, except pink...and without the tag. I have a pattern from a duck costume I made Joaquin a couple of years ago that is similar to those kisses costumes. I thought about using that, but today, I found a Pooh/Piglet, et. al., pattern. Very cute and probably more comfortable as it is a jumpsuit and Piglet's shape kind of reminds me of Patrick...I hope it is not just because the color is similar.

I hope I can get motivated to make my decsions and work on the costume this weekend. I'm pretty excited about it right now. I consider this is one of the best things about being a Mom. Wish me luck!

Joaquin has finally started saying his name. "Baa-keem!" (Be sure to put the emphasis on the "Baa" part.) Well, it's close.

Joaquin-to-English Dictionary
Joaquin is still working hard on learning our language. He really seems to be coming along albeit slower than some kids I know. (By the way, Mommy has never really been great with other languages either.) For reference, I have supplied a few frequently used words from the Joaquin-to-English dictionary.

Wheeo--Cleo
Bone-T--T-Bone
LohLoh--Clifford
BobBob--SpongeBob
Chaus--Chips
DohDoh--Teletubbies
CD--Sandy
Pato--Patrick
Goon--George
GoonKoon--Grandma
Kiko--Candy
Sheeshy--fishy
Agua--Water (ok, that one's Spanish)

Weekends Are Good
Today was a nice cloudy, rainy day here in the "Valley of the Sun." I got to stay home. Nothing better than staying home with a nice, hot cuppa tea when it is raining outside. Unfortunately, it was one of those days where Joaquin was begging to go to school. Yesterday, I couldn't get him out of the house, today he's begging to go. He was going stir-crazy, couldn't even ride his "car" on the sidewalk outside. So, Tia called to get us out of the house and meet her for lunch. Yea, Tia! That filled Joaquin's bus-spotting quota for the day! Still have a three more days of the weekend to look forward to. Yea, Columbus! What to do, what to do?

Heeeyyyyy. Happy Blogiversary to Mommy! I still don't know what I'm doing.

Costuming Decision
Think we've decided what Joaquin will dress as this Halloween. Patrick Star! From SpongeBob Squarepants. Mommy is always looking for inspiration and the inspiration came from a SpongeBob candy bucket we found at Tar-jay. It was actually Daddy's idea. This is probably the last year we will get to decide on his costumes. Now, Mommy just has to figure out how to make it so that he will wear it! It'll probably be similar to the one pictured.

It Happens Everytime
Joaquin never had a high-chair. He had this booster chair that you tied down with straps to a regular chair and has a removeable tray. It worked great for us because we really didn't have room for a big high-chair.

Well, I removed the booster chair today because he hasn't used it for quite a while. I gave it to Grandma to give to a friend who has a baby. As she was taking it out the door, I got so sad. Oh, my baby's chair! He's such a big boy now, he doesn't need it. Pretty soon, he won't need me! Bring it back!

On the plus side, you should see how clean the chair that is was attached to is right now.

The picture accompanying this post is of Joaquin in his little booster chair Circ. May, 2002. That would make him around 18 months old. Wah! (Click image to see bigger.)

Scary Costumes
Daddy and I were talking about Halloween last night. We haven't decided what Joaquin is going as, but we're thinking of going as RIAA* lawyers. Those'll be some scary costumes! We're planning to give out illegal downloads and lawsuits and letting the Trick or Treaters decide for themselves if they are tricks or treats. What do you think? Have you decided on your costumes?

*Just for history's sake, as Joaquin may read this in the future: RIAA is the Recording Industry Association of America. They are currently suing people as young as twelve years of age for sharing "illegal" mp3s (a digital music format) on their computers.

Declaration Of Independence Roadtrip
Everybody at Mommy's work is really excited about this Declaration of Independence Roadtrip that is coming to town Saturday through October 12, 2003. The document is one of 25 copies of the declaration, printed on the evening of July 4, 1776 and delivered to the 13 colonies. This one is owned by Norman Lear, yep, the TV producer, who wanted to share it with everyone.

You should see the Museum staff, they are so excited because this is the only stop in Arizona; one of a handful in the Southwest. Their eyes gleam when they speak about it and everyone in the entire Agency is working extra hard getting prepared. I've never taken a tour of the Museum even though I work for the Agency, but the Docents have worked so hard learning about this roadtrip, I might see if I can sneak along one day, or maybe work in the area. I'd like to take Joaquin but he's still too little and since he's at the paper eating stage, I'm afraid he might take a chunk off of it. Can you imagine? Uh, who do I write the check to? How much? Eight million? Um, right.

I watched the star-studded video of the reading of the Declaration of Independence online. Some of the stars seem as though they didn't understand a word they were saying; Winona Ryder looked scared to death. I did find Michael Douglas especially convincing. I think they should have included former presidents. What are there now, five? Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush and Bill Clinton. Well, I think four of them could have handled it.

Of course all of this hoopla and I'm saying, as I got an 80 page informational "pamphlet" for another election here: "Another one!? I'm tired of voting!" Perhaps I should re-think that.