Music

I have been sort of trying to teach Morgan to play the piano. She tends to get impatient with me and vice versa. She can play a few songs that I taught her, and then she got creative and made up her own song called "Cats Wild".




This is what happens when Greg is in charge of music appreciation.

Halloween

Pumpkin guts!

Slimy hands.


Pumpkin carving artist.

Greg calls this his "punk rock" pumpkin.

Alice in Wonderland.


Hula girl Morgan with cousin and friend.
The gang.

November 14th!


Time for the Halloween post. Our Halloween was not all that great. We took the kids trick-or-treating and they whined and complained most of the time that they were tired of walking and their bags were too heavy. What?!? Whose kids complain about getting free candy? Oh, mine do. I'm taking all the full size candy bars and stashing them for myself when I need some chocolate therapy.

On to more exciting things. Only 12 days, count them, 12, until the new Bond movie! Hello Daniel Craig! Yes, I have a celebrity crush on him. Ok, not exactly him, just his Bond character. Now the question is, do I see the movie before Thanksgiving, or wait until that night when we all go see a movie. I do not know if I can wait that long. For those of you who cannot relate because you are too obsessed with seeing the Twilight movie, we can never be friends again.

Playhouse

Yes, bright orange!



Chalkboard wall.



Taylor "boogie" nose.




Greg has been working on a playhouse for the girls and it is officially finished. They absolutely love it and they are happy about helping out with the painting. Greg let them pick out the colors and then they helped him paint. It is a big hit with friends!

"Punkin" Patch

Indi, Claire and Morgan on swing.
Taylor feeding a pygmy goat.
Looking for pumpkins.
Hot and tired.

Today we went to the "punkin" patch, as Taylor calls it. Of course we picked the hottest day in October to go, again. Where else in the country would you go to the pumpkin patch mid-October and have to put on sunblock and consume copious amounts of water to survive the 90 degree weather? Needless to say, by the time we had tromped through the thorny rows of dry, parched pumpkin vines and picked out our pumpkins, the kids were ready to go home. They at least had fun at the petting zoo and swinging on the tire swings. We may skip the trip next year and buy our pumpkins at the grocery store. Oh well, it was an experience they will remember and hopefully when they are a little older, they will appreciate it more.

October

It is finally October. This is by far my favorite month of the year. For me it is the official kick-off for fall. I adore the colors, scents and weather associated with this time of year. Most importantly, it is the month of Halloween--my favorite holiday. Celebrating Halloween all month long helps me justify eating candy and watching "The Nightmare Before Christmas" everyday. Today is the day I can dig out the Halloween decoration box and set out pumpkin and spice candles. I only wish it was cool enough to wear fall clothing and cozy up on the couch with a cup of cocoa. Maybe next month. For now, I have my candy and "The Pumpkin King".

New Addiction

Yes, I know. I have sorely neglected my blog, but with good reason. Ok, not really. I just got a Facebook account and I have been addicted to acquiring new friends. Can you blame me for wanting lots of friends. Greg is way ahead of me, so I need to dedicate some time to my FB account. I must have more friends than him. So, here is my shameless plug for my FB account. Check me out and request me as a friend. Thanks!

Praying Mantis Attact!

I just want to start by saying that Greg gave me permission to share this story. Though I would probably share it even if he told me not to, because it is too funny not to talk about it. Tonight, Greg was walking out the french doors to the side yard and I noticed that he let a huge bug in. Luckily I stopped him from accidentally smashing it in the door frame. I turned the light on and we saw that it was a huge praying mantis. Greg did not want to smash it so he grabbed a paper towel to gently catch it and put it outside. Just as he was about to grab it, the praying mantis flew up into the air and then straight to his eye. It landed on his cheek just below the eye and he freaked out. I am not even exaggerating when I say that he screamed and started flailing his arms. He started yelling, "Where is it?, Where is it?". It landed on the entertainment center and then crawled up on the TV. I got a large plastic cup and then he coaxed it into the cup and took it outside. My description of the situation does not do it justice, but believe me when I say it was hilarious. This is the guy who loves to watch scary movies (he did not think "The Ring" was scary) and who did not hesitate to follow, on foot, a guy who broke into cars, until the police caught up to them. Next time you see him, yell "Watch out, praying mantis!" and watch him duck for cover. I love my brave husband!