the library on halloween

Friends, the library on Halloween is lonely. I went in to return an overdue movie (you know that is expensive) and pick up a book on hold. I can't leave the library without perusing so it came to me, I'll read the new McCall-Smith book. So I hunt down the series (without reading the blurb on it) and go to check-out. Well, it wouldn't let me check this book out because it wasn't 'in'. So I go to the desk and tell my story. She scans it and says, 'Oh this book is missing.' Ha, it was right there, not missing at all. She says I'm the Halloween hero and we laugh because this same thing has happened to us. So, I head to What-a-Burger for dinner (I was too busy at the trunk-or-treat to eat chili) and had a long wait. If the library is slow, What-a-Burger is slower! Here I pilfer through my stacks of books and look at the McCall-Smith book. Lo and Behold, I have read this book already. I'm not surprised by that. I'm surprised that I got home with it. If I had read the cover at all, I would have put it back on the shelf. But as a true Halloween Hero I was able to listen to some small voice that said, 'You must get this book,' and saved someone from having to buy a book for the Litchfield Park Library. Props to me and 'your welcome' to whoever you are!

Candy Corn Party

We had a party today. Alex invited 4 friends which added up to 15 persons with moms and babies! The kids came in costumes (which I forgot to get a group picture; drats!), I told the story of 'The Little Old Lady Who Wasn't Afraid of Anything' and we had a candy corn hunt. It was a lot of sugar and fun. However, it was so hot that the kids had to strip off their costumes to play. Alex was cooking in his Buzz suit. He said, 'Mom, I just want to be a candy corn again.' Ryan did not wear his costume, but did get into my make-up today. Thanks to you friends who came. Watch out for your invitations for next year.

Happy Halloween!

Look at these cute boys! I made the Potato Head costume and Buzz was our first purchased Halloween costume ever. I couldn't top it, so I bought it! We are getting ready to celebrate our first 'National Candy Corn' day on Oct 30th.

Homerun

Alex hit a 'home run' at t-ball today. He hit far enough out to entice all the fielders to chase it and fight over it. Hence, he got to run all the bases before it made it back to the coach. I spent most of the 3 innings chasing Ryan. I think I'll stay home next week!

Henry and James

Henry and James are our beloved pet gerbils.

Pictured is only Henry because James is very shy. As you can see from the blurry images, they are very fast. We keep them in the office and Alex sleeps on the futon so he can be close to them. They are not up all night, but do wake up around 4am. I'm not sure how Alex can stand it; but he never complains.

Welcome!

I have been persuaded by some of you to start a blog; here we are!

October is a busy month for our family. I'm on the activities committee at church and we had a luau on the 13th. It was a success! We had a little pit bbq (which had to be grilled following the pit to ensure doneness). There was a large crowd and great entertainment.

Enjoy this 'beach' scene now. The count down to an actual Hawaiian vacation is 4 years, 2 months, and 5 days. I'll be celebrating 10 years of marital bliss on a beach.

October is also the beginning of T-ball for Dad and Alex. Dan signed up to be coach but it didn't work out, so for now we are just supportive parents. The coach has a dedicated wife that does way more than I would have done. I guess I just keep thinking, "He is only 4 years old." I want to be supportive but I could think of better ways to spend extra money on than a special team hat he'll only wear 8 times. But he does look cute!

Alex is a Gator this season.

Alex is in preschool this fall at the Buckeye Baptist Church. It is a bit of a drive and very Baptist but I'm happy with it. Alex doesn't come home as excited as last year, but he is getting a lot of social interaction with more kids and more activities. I think it comes down to his learning. He thrives on learning; Karen Ray enriched his days more. However, I'm taking up the slack. We are on lesson 18 of 100 towards teaching Alex to read. He loves his lessons and makes quick progress. By Christmas he'll be reading short stories!

Of course, our lives and home would be incomplete without Ryan. It would be quieter and safer, but what is the point of that! This is Ryan on the Quad (4-wheeler for us rednecks). The weather is nice enough for outside activities again. Mark and Trey took my 3 boys on a quading trip. Alex, the safe one, doesn't care for it but apparently Ryan has found a new, better form of transportation. Dan said he cried and cried when they had to get off and leave. Santa, we could use a small one for our backyard (power wheels style).