T-O-Ted

Hurst Halloween 2014

See's Candy worker, snowboarder, Blue Power Ranger, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle, and Pink Power Ranger (Seattle style-with rain pants under costumes):

The kids loved Trick-or-Treating in the pouring rain to get their candy:

Blake feeling full after a handful of candies:

A big shout out goes to those who decorated their stoops with fog machines and spooky decorations.  

Makes for an exciting night.

Goopy Gloop

We grew pumpkins, but then we bought a few to carve.  The ritual of lighting the pumpkins is so magical for the kids.  These are the parenting moments I live for:

Warning

The kids put cobwebs on the bushes last night.  We need to swing by Safeway and pick up some large, carving pumpkins so we can make a mess of the dining room table tonight.

Are you doing spooky things?

Cricket

My mother's 15 1/2 year old chihuahua has made her way to dog heaven after having a cancerous "thing" on her foot.  We all miss that Snickey-Doodle and her memories will always make us laugh or smile.  Our saying of "Crouching Snickers, hidden dookie" will also live on.

So...

We needed to find another chihuahua to fill that lonely place in my mom's heart and to help it grow in ways she didn't know possible (not interfering with the grandkids' section).

Meet Cricket Apricot Pad-of-Butter Burton (I added the middle name):

She is a sassy thing with a sweet disposition.  She was living in a doggie rescue home in Tracy, CA and now calls Sacramento her forever home.  I hope she is a good companion for my parents.  So far she eats newspaper, tissues, and drank my father's coffee out of his cup.  She will keep them on their toes!

Fall Nana Visit

I am loving my fall visit with my Nana.  Eating butterscotch pudding with her is creating a comforting memory.  

Shop Fall

Golfers

We mini golfed with the grandparents.  The kids loved it and my mom showed her mad golf skills (tied for 2nd place).  Go Grammie!  I get the Seahawks & a Cowboys game tomorrow.  Bliss.

Fire Fire Fire

What woman passes up the chance to go to the library to hear firemen read to kids?  

They laughed at each other during a round of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."

Blake had the day off of school today (parent/teacher conferences) so he was able to join us on our walk to pick Reade up from preschool.  The walk took us 1.5 hours today because they loved playing in all the yards and even played with a new friend for part of it.  The leaves are so pretty and we are enjoying how spooky things are slowly decorating the stoops:

Cheesesteak

We had leftover steak so I decided to make cheesesteak sandwiches.  My sandwich is emaciated because I sacrificed some of my portion to stretch for the kids.  Good thing, because they ate all of theirs.

History of the cheesesteak sandwich.

Materials

Reade's Montessori school sent out a link to the Montessori catalog they use so we can join together to buy supplies if we would like.  That is dangerous for me.

Yes, I need a pouring pitcher for the kids so I can set up a little table to combat all those "Mom, I'm thirsty" whines:

Reade has been rolling up all of our blankets in the house to "prepare" for when kids come over and want to play.  Montessori has them take work out and then do their activity on little rugs.  It contains the mess, as well as gives the kid a visual of what they need to clean up when they are done.  The catalog is out of them, but I am sure I can find some cheap ones at Ikea or another store:

I haven't seen this before.  What a fantastic idea.  I can't wait to start gathering little things from around the house (and garage sales) to make phonetic boxes for the kids.  What a fun activity to pack along when I make my kids sit at another Seahawks game at a bar&grill.  Just think of the themes I can make: Halloween, icky gross stuff,  colors, speech words for Blake, etc.:

Torn

The Seahawks gave me my love of football, but now I have to whisper something to you.  Lean in...and don't tell anyone around here.

"I love the Dallas Cowboys."

I have been putting in a lot of NFL time lately and my childhood memories came back to me.  I wanted to be a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader when I was around 12 years old.  I watch Dallas games now and I have to admit I get this silly, lust-y feeling for them.  Then, Tony Romo does brilliant things and I am in awe.  I have no idea who he is, but Wikipedia will bring me up to speed in a hurry.  What am I going to do on October 12th?  I am already feeling anxious.  I will have to wear one of each I suppose:

Pumps Yo!

We be harvestin' pumpkins 'round here!

King Pumpkin Man

Sometimes scraped knees happen when you pick pumpkins.

 The bounty getting big...

...and bigger...

...and biggEST.