Traditions

I was happy to say goodbye to Disney princess attire this year. The eight year old had a hard time choosing between Hermione Granger (from the Harry Potter books) and Rey (from the newest Star Wars movie); both tough and smart girls a little more in alignment with my idea of a good role model than her previous two years' costumes (Elsa and... Elsa). The discovery of a costume set at Target that was just her size settled the deal: Rey just needed a hair stylist and she was ready to conquer the world.  The ten year old couldn't decide on a specific character, but fell in love with a $3 plain white mask, and therefore became Creepy Mask Guy.

I decided to get in on the fun this year with a super itchy rainbow wig. I don't think I was cut out for wig wearing, and the kids thought I was especially scary with the wig cap on because it made me look bald. So much for the dream of shaving my head so I don't have to deal with styling my hair every day.

You may or may not know that we do things a little differently around here when it comes to Halloween. With no neighbors close by and a general aversion to escorting our kids around so that they can ask for candy from strangers, my Sis-in-Law and I concocted a humdinger of a plan a few years ago that has made our kiddos very happy to be missing out on trick-or-treating.

There are still costumes and candy. And that is where the similarities stop. Our Fourth Annual Halloween Flashlight Easter Egg Hunt and Pinata Party also became a chili cook-off this year, and we added some more family members to our evening, making the fun bigger and better.

Creepy Mask Guy and Rey were happy to find two Kitties, a Greek Goddess, and a cousin who has outgrown costumes when we arrived. The weather was rainy, so all festivities took place under cover of the porch roof or indoors, but the Mamas once again won the day by creating an event to be bragged about, and the kids are already counting down until next year.

My Husband Thinks I'm Crazy

I recently spotted this old folk art needlework piece at a local antique show and just couldn't get it out of my head. I walked away three times because it really doesn't match the rest of my decor that well. Our house is full of samplers, rustic farmhouse frontier type architecture and oil lamps, with lots of wood and metal accents.

But this... folky, whimsical, lots of greens with pops of aqua and red, and that wonky black cat!

The dealer I bought it from got it from the son of the woman that made it. She was a knitter, and her son guessed that she made it in the early 50's. There is no way under the sun that she made it from a pattern, in my opinion, leaving me to believe that it is truly a piece of folk art, a self-portrait of a little girl with her kitty, doll under her arm, and ball of yarn hanging from a spinner.

I snapped a picture on my phone and kept looking at it while I walked the floor of the show looking at other antiques, and even acquiring an antique sampler in the meantime. But she was really all that haunted my mind. And with other past regrets remembered, I finally went back and made the decision to adopt her for my own.

When I brought it home, the Farmboy gasped in horror. "What are you going to do with THAT?" I could tell he was hoping that I was planning to sell it.

Nope.

I hung it in our entryway.

Fast forward a full week... he arrived at church with the kids (I always go in early for band practice) and whispered to me, "I think I probably gave up all opportunity to argue against that girl hanging in the hallway. How long has she been there? I just noticed her this morning, and if she's been there long, well, I didn't notice her and you won."

Yes. I won. She was there making me smile for a full week before her hater noticed.

Did I tell you that she is HUGE? Too big for any other wall in my house, except the one already occupied by my His Eye is on the Sparrow model.

Now please tell me you understand why I couldn't leave her behind...

The Rest of October

Fun with Leaves

I didn't ask them to do it. The "leaf raking" is usually done with the riding lawn mower.

This was all her idea. She used her mighty powers of persuasion to convince her brother and I to help get the leaves into a pile so she could jump in. She apparently doesn't remember the time I traumatized her as a preschooler (seriously, you have to click the link and go read that blog post. I'll wait.). Okay, now that you're back from that adorable little excursion, I'll leaf (tee hee) you with these nearly as cute pictures...

Pumpkin Patch Day

Once again, the school field trip took place at Liepold Farm, known locally not just for pumpkins, but for berries too. This year, the Daddy was able to take the day off from work to join us for the festivities. Due to high amounts of rain in the past week, the corn maze was a stinking muddy mess, so we ended up cheating and taking an emergency exit about 2/3 of the way through. But we considered ourselves winners anyway.

After arriving back home, the Farmboy demonstrated just why he is a great Dad, by undertaking the carving of the pumpkins lesson all by himself. And fun was had by all. Until the guts had to be removed, that is.

Anniversary Tree 2016

If you've been hanging out here on my blog for more than a year, you know that we have a special tree in our front yard. Purchased with wedding money and planted on the first anniversary of our first date, I decided way back then that we should have a picture done every year to commemorate both the growth of the tree and the (hopeful at the time) growth of our family.

This year, the vertical growth in our family is quite apparent. I think that either I'm standing in a hole or my ten year old is way too tall for his age. Most likely the latter. I predict that he will match my height by the time he's 12 and that he'll eventually outgrow his 6'3" Daddy. And the little girl is no slouch either; I just might end up being the short one by the time she's done.