Trick or Treat!

Happy Halloween! Tonight was our town's "Hometown Halloween on the Square" where local businesses and organizations set up tables, the square is blocked to traffic, and the kids have a great time!

Ansley dressed up as Abby from NCIS, complete with Gotchic black hair and spider web "tattoo."

Federal Agent Macey kept us all safe and protected.

Lil Haley was a secret agent.

Sister Amy (the "nun") and Spiderman passed out candy at the SADD table (she is one of the sponsors of the organization). Batman joined us to trick-or-treat.

At the haunted house at Fort Sorghum, Batman got scared! (I learned that he is heavier than he looks since I had to carry him through it!) Little Spiderman loved it and went through four times along with Agent Macey.

Jack-o-Lanterns

From pumpkin guts...

...to a cool "Frankenstein" jack-o-lantern, complete with tack stitches.

Thank you, Aunt Amy, for a great time!

Aaargh! Pirate Birthday Party!

Aaargh! All ye scurvy lads and lasses will walk the plank if you don't have a grand time at Alex's 5th birthday party!

(Aunt Amy watched several YouTube videos to learn how to make balloon swords- and more. They were great fun and much safer than plastic swords would have been. She kept cranking them out for any of the pirates who lsot or popped theirs. The pirate ship bouncy slide was a huge hit!)

Whatever Wednesday

She's Home!

Our gal's home from her fantastic trip to DC! She's had breakfast and a shower, plus sorted all the dirty laundry. Now let the fun begin for Mom!

DC Trip

It is hard for me to believe that our older daughter is leaving this evening on a school trip to Washington DC for the long weekend! We have Fall Break next week, so she is only missing one (excused) day of school.

It is hard for me to believe that her Daddy and I decided to send her without one of us. We could have gone on the trip, not as a chaperon but as a guest (according to the principal). We decided that it would be a good thing for all of us if she went without us. She will be extremely well chaperoned with 12 teachers, the principal and assistant principal, school nurse, and numerous parents (two on my speed dial).

It is hard for me to believe that she will ride the charter bus Thursday night, tour DC all day Friday, check in to the hotel Friday night, tour DC all day Saturday, check out of the hotel Sunday morning, tour DC & Gettysburg Sunday, and ride on the charter bus all night Sunday to arrive home Monday morning. (Now do you see why neither of her parents are going?)

It is hard for me to believe that we broke down and got her a cell phone, but it is certainly giving me piece of mind for the trip. And yes, the GPS tracker feature is turned on. Not only is Big Brother watching, but so are Mom and Dad!

It is hard for me to believe how much my baby is growing up! Rationally, I know that this is supposed to happen and I know that she will have a great time, but it is really, really hard for me to let go. This sweet girl is growing up to become a beautiful young lady. Please pray for a safe trip!

Quotation of the Week

Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting Golden Delicious. ~Bill Meyer

Happy Fall!