Happy Halloween!

I didn't get to take the girls out Trick or Treating because, well, I just had a baby. And its funny how little energy one has when one has given birth a few days ago.

Also, can I just say I had no idea how much recovery is involved in a natural birth? I'd had c-sections until this point, and I had the illusion that regular birth would be a cinch to recover from. Oh, how wrong I was!

Although its not my usual style, I found this picture funny and timely, so to celebrate Halloween and my recent birthing, please enjoy:

Yeah, that's about right except I didn't have pumpkin seed tears. Mine were real.

She Has Arrived!

Introducing Rose Felicity, born on my birthday, October 27th at 1:31pm. 7lbs 3 oz, 19 inches long. 

Argh, matey. I be born.

Party of 5

Today is THE Day

Today is my due date. I am feeling ready to go. But nothing is happening yet. This is not part of my plan. I planned on going into labor either early or exactly on time. If I am not in labor by midnight tonight I am going to be ticked.

Well, ok, I will not be ticked. But I will be bummed. I cannot wait to hold this new baby in my arms, and everyone is asking me, "When? When? When?"

I wish I had an answer, but in the meantime I am starting to feel the pressure. I should just hide out in my house until she is born. Every time I see someone I know they ask me "When?" ... which makes me feel like I can't show my face around here until I am holding the baby in my arms instead of my uterus. I mean, how embarrassing! I am due but I am not in labor! Hello, body! Can we have some cooperation here??

So I think hiding is a good idea. That's my tactic. What do you do when you labor is imminent and everyone is staring you down?

Tina Fey at Green Valley Ranch

Since we moved so close to the District at Green Valley Ranch, and the weather has been nice, we are able to actually walk over there without too much effort. A sudden burst of energy over the last few days (a sign of imminent labor perhaps??) also contributed to us being able to walk over there the last two nights.

Tonight, though, instead of a band there was a DJ leading all the kids in the spongy play area in a rousing version of the Hokey Pokey. We were having dinner outside at Rachel's Cafe and enjoying the ridiculously perfect weather while this was going on, so we heard it but didn't get over there until after we finished eating. By that time, the DJ had moved on to more "adult" music for the kids and parents crowd. In other words, very urban pop music.

Can I just say how fascinating people-watching is? One little girl of about 7 years of age was busting some serious dance moves - I am sure I recognized some of them from past Madonna or Janet Jackson videos. Which these days no doubt translate into Britney Spears or Justin Bieber moves. Not that I have seen much of those pop stars dancing lately since I don't have a TV anymore, but it looked about right. It actually made me cringe to see such a little girl dancing like that.

But the best part was the DJ. During the pop songs, she was also bustin' some moves. Some kind of sexy, hip-shaking moves. She was into it. Which no doubt is part of her job, to keep the energy flowing. But the really funny thing was how incongruous her appearance was with her dance moves.

She looked like a housewife. Actually, she looked like Tina Fey portraying a house wife. Have you ever seen Tina Fey's Liz Lemon character dancing? It was kind of like that. She had the frizzy mouse-brown hair and glasses. And a shirt that looked a lot like one of my maternity shirts, except super low cut. Its a cute shirt, I would totally wear it and feel cool. It's just a maternal-looking one.

So think about watching Liz Lemon dancing sexy after a bad, hectic day at the 30 Rock studios. It would probably amuse you, wouldn't it. Well, this amused me too. Not in a mean way - though I know it probably sounds mean. But in a really funny, pleasant, "you go, girl!" kind of way. I love to see people enjoying themselves and being comfortable in their own skin. Mostly because I have always been too uptight and uncomfortable in my own skin to achieve that sort of public freedom of movement.

Maybe secretly I have always been scared that if I did dance like no one was watching I would end up the focus of someone's blog post. But you know what? I bet she was having a great time. And I know for a fact all the kids and parents were. So maybe the bottom line is - I need to take a page from this woman's book.

PS - I LOVE living in Green Valley.

Clark County Heritage Museum

Let's play a game called "Quaint or Creepy?"

This is where I post pictures of something that I must categorize as either quaint or as creepy. It's October so I think this is appropriate. I went to the Clark County Heritage Museum today for the first time. I am going to give it a Muppet Rating, but first the important part: Quaint or Creepy?

Quaint.

Creepy.

Quaint.

Creepy.

Quaint.

Creepy. And weird.

Quaint.

Creepy.

Quaint.

Creepy.

 

Quaint.

 

Creepy.

Quaint.

 

Very creepy. I wasn't expecting to see that in there.

Quaint. A sweet shop!

Baby creepy.

 

Quaint.

 

Creepy.

Creepy...oh, wait, she's real. Yeah ok, still creepy because she was standing as still as the manequins.

  And, I saved the best for last. UBER CREEPY:

Is he missing a finger?? And what is that fabric hanging off what appears to have formerly been his index finger? When he turns and fixes his gaze on you, that is Halloween creepy right there.This was the only manequin that I saw moving so it was entirely unexpected. Considering all the available creepiness, it is a shame they aren't having their Ghosts and Goblins of Nevada's Past event this year for Halloween.

Ok, now that I have had my fun, here is my review.

For younger kids (ages 1-5 range) the running around is fun - there is lots of space for them. But the place itself is not going to be very interesting to them. At the end of our exploration Ivy asked me where "the kids stuff is". I guess she was a little disappointed. But there are nice picnic areas to have lunch in, and as long as the weather cooperates it is a nice outing. Cheap, too. Only $1 for kids and $2 for adults. Groups get a discount. I paid 50 cents per.

For the older kids who might be able to understand more about the history, it will probably be a little more interesting, especially the print shop and the ghost town area. All things considered, including creep-factor and the fact that most of the history doesn't go much farther back than the 1920's, I give the museum:

Kid-Friendly Las Vegas Halloween Events

Halloween is practically here! So I went through and found some of the Halloween-themed events going on around Las Vegas this month and on Halloween itself. 
I know my formatting is jacked up but I haven't snared my hubby to fix it for me yet. I figured I would just get it up here and worry about formatting later. 

Lied Discovery Museum - All month

The museum has lots of activities all month long, including Los Dias De Los Muertos Celebration and  Ofrendas which will be on display all month. Activities are divided by age. See website for details.

Oct. 8-14: Skeleton Candy Baskets and Skeleton Figurine; Pasta Skeleton. Create a colorful pasta Catrina or Zapatista to celebrate Dias de los Muertos. 

Oct. 15-21: Mini Ofrendas and Calavera and Katrina Puppet. 

Oct. 22-28: Halloween- Pumpkin Patch. Create a pumpkin patch using pre-cut pumpkins and

your finger painting skills. 

Oct. 29-Nov. 4: Sugar Skulls and Yarn Skull Paintings.

Cost: Regular museum entry fee or annual membership.

Halloween Spooktacular - Oct. 22
Spring Mountain Ranch State Park kicks off the Halloween celebration at 3pm. They will also hold a Children's Costume Parade at 5:30pm and there will be prizes and snacks. You can walk through the Haunted Historic Houses and a spooky guided hike at the ranch at your own risk (parents must accompany children.) Be sure to bring a flashlight. Call 875-4141 for more details.

Nevada Southern Railway - Oct. 29 - 30

For Halloween weekend the train will be decorated and the crew will be in costume. This is appropriate for very young kids as none of is meant to be scary. The Halloween Train departs October 29th and 30th at 10am, 11:30, 1pm, and 2pm.

Cost: Adults (12 and older) $10, Kids (4 to 11) $5 without costume,  FREE with costume, Infants (3 and under) FREE.  Adults are encouraged to come in costume

Nevadaween - Oct. 29   

This celebration takes place at the Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort. From their website: "It's a Celebration of Nevada Day and Halloween! Come join us for Fun, games, raffles, and a pumpkin decorating contest. There will be candy, activities, and prizes for all the kids. Also Kids are welcome to come into the park dressed in costume! Go to www.friendsofthefort.org or call (702) 486-3511 for more information."

Cost: Adults 13 and up, $1; children 12 and under are free.   

Fun Town Fright Fest - Oct 7-31
This Halloween carnival takes place at the Galleria Mall on Stephanie and Sunset.  

Three spooky acres of freaky fun, food and frights including midway games, carnival rides, bungee jumping, inflatable bouncy rides, runaway train, haunted hayride, pony rides, pumpkin patch, street entertainers, raffles and more. All proceeds benefit People's Autism Foundation. Check out the website for more information.

Mandalay Bay Haunted Reef - Oct. 29

As they do every year, the Shark Reef turns into an extra-creepified exhibit called the Haunted Reef, and kids under 12 who come in costume will get a special treat. 

Nevada Residents: Adults, $15; Ages 5-12, $10; Children 4 and under, Free. See website for more details.  

Haunted Harvest at Springs Preserve - Oct. 14-16, 21-23 and 28-31  

Springs Preserve will have their annual haunted house, trick or treat stations, carnival games, live entertainment and a  Scavenger Scarecrow Contest. There will also be Haunted Hayrides touring the Trails, which will be at an additional fee. 

Cost: $8 for adults, $5 for children 5 to 12 and free those 4 and under. Annual pass members receive half off the regular admission price. 

Town Scary - Oct. 31

If you are in the mood for a super crowded Halloween experience, go here from 4pm-8pm. If you don't mind braving the crowds there is a lot of people watching and its cute to see everyone in costume. Kids can trick or treat at all the different stores and there will be hay rides.

Cost: Free

2nd Annual Las Vegas Halloween Parade - Oct. 31

All ages welcome to participate in the parade, but beware some of the scarier costumes it you have sensitive kids. Line up at 6pm, parade starts at 7pm. See website for more details. 

Movin' On

It is done. We are moved into our new house. This week has been crazy. It's not been so much stressful as it was exhausting. I seriously do not know how hermit crabs do it. If I were a hermit crab I would never move houses. I would just stay in my old one, even if it squeezed me in all the wrong places and made me look fat.

Somehow, extreme pregnancy and moving a house just does not mix. You would think that it would, but it does not. Of course, technically, we are not completely moved. I still have a ton of non-essential boxes in the old house. I have things that still need going through and things that need to be junked.

I hired movers for all the big stuff, but I was responsible for getting all our super-essentials into the new house. And since my husband started a new job recently he couldn't really take the time off during the week for the move. And yes, I scheduled it during the week on purpose - because my crazy nesting instincts are running overtime, and I needed to be in the new place ASAP. So I kind of brought it all on myself.

Thankfully, a trip to the chiropractor revived me after the big move. I don't know if you are believer in chiros, but I always thought it was a bit of pseudo-science and hocus pocus. In other words, in the past I never would have gone to one. And the first time I walked into my chiro's office, her glitter lava lamp and glowing rock lamp almost sent me right back out the way I came. But I was there on the recommendation of my doula, and she said it would help me have a good birth. So I went through with it. And you know what? The next day was the best, most energetic, happiest day I'd had in months. Go fig. So now I am a big believer in the helpfulness and efficacy of going to a chiropracter.

Well, that's all for now. Super boring post, I know. But I figured I ought to at least write a little bit of an update. I am working on my Las Vegas kid-friendly Halloween events post for all you moms and dads who love Halloween more than your kids. Yeah, you need your kids to be the shield that legitimizes your being so into Halloween. I know because I am one of "those" people too.