What Could Have Been

It almost seems too perfect, with all the typical evil, meddling mother-in-law jokes that go around, that my mother-in-law's birthday is on Halloween. Imagine the jokes and mileage I could get out of that one..."You think your mother-in-law is bad? Mine was BORN on Halloween."

Fortunately for me my mother-in-law does not fit the description of meddling or evil. To use a word she is lovely. She has played hundreds of games of Uno, Sorry, Trouble, or the current game of choice with the boys willingly and it almost seems as if she is enjoying it. She has read every book in our house at least once, if not twice. She never fails to send holiday cards to each boy and always helps out with school fundraisers. (Thankfully because Mom and Dad are really bad salespeople.)

On this, her birthday, we shall dine on Pumpkin Pie in her honor, read excerpts from "I Heard the Owl Call My Name" and snack on popcorn and peppermint patties. We love you Grandma! Happy Birthday to you!!

Definitely TREATS!

A cold and rainy trick or treat night sent us to the local university's dormitories for Trick or Treat rather that braving our street in the bad weather. Ethan declared it a "Maze of Treats." Here they are in all their glory..... Waldo

Pirate

Red Monster making "GRRRR" noise.

A few days earlier Will and buddy Bea trick or treated on K's campus along with Joe Pa. You never know who you will meet when you are out!

Ethan and Ben couldn't wait to get home and sort their candy. Then I had to take a record of the results. Tootsie Rolls 23, Whoppers 19, Popcorn 3, 3 Musketeers 11, Milk Duds 12, Pretzels 2, Twizzlers 14, Skittles 7, Smarties 23, Reese's PB Cups 8, Kit Kat 11, Snickers 2, Tootsie Pop 14, Pencils 5. Then Mommy got tired.....Misc. 35. Not a stellar year for the M & M....not a one in the mix. Is that possible??? Per Ben's request, please note the milk dud tower in the middle.

Happy Hallllooooooweeeeeen. My peeps

Nightly Routines

I am, like most people, a creature of habit. I thought of this the other night as I was putting the boys to bed. Kevin was at his late class so I had Will on my lap upstairs in Ethan and Ben's bedroom and after we had read a few books I started my set of bedtime songs.

I start off with "You are my Sunshine." which reminds me of my Grandpa Varner who told me stories of singing this song on hayrides with friends. Next I lead into "Godspeed" by the Dixie Chicks. I love a lot of music but have never been a country fan. However, I do enjoy the Dixies and this song is a good one for bed time and if you have boys.

Next I bring down the house with James Taylor's "You Can Close Your Eyes." Always a favorite of mine and a crowd pleaser. Then I jump into camp songs, "I am my own Grandpa" "Johnny Rebeck" perhaps throw in a little "Wild 'bout Horns" or "I Pity the Poor Little Froggy".

The other night I started to get a bit bored. Really? Am I stuck in a moment and can't get out of it? (Nice U2 reference, thanks.) So I pulled out a little "Carry On My Wayward Son" by Kansas but thought the lead air guitar might not have the calming effect I was desiring so I worked my way into "Closer to Fine" and "Galileo" by the Indigo Girls. I tried to work in a little Foreigner but "Feels like the First Time" seemed a little PG 13. Also, I have been trying to think of how to sing a radio edit version of my current obsession, Mumford and Sons but haven't worked that out yet. On a sidebar though somehow swearing with a British accent doesn't seem as offensive.

I suppose I will revert back to the old standards this Wednesday night because I realized I have difficulty remembering some of the words without the radio blaring and the instrumental accompaniment.

I just remembered I need to google the words to "House at Pooh Corner" by Kenny Loggins to increase my Pooh song repertoire for Will. He is into special requests.

I am not considering signing up for the reality singing show. Just looking for a little variety in my nightly routine. That's it.

I know. I hear you. Don't quit your day job.

Lottery Windfall

My brain starts to wander. What would I do with millions of dollars?

Of course, first and foremost I would give a substantial amount to anyone who has ever read and/or laughed out loud at my blog. Thank you. You will be rewarded for your impeccable taste or rather for the extra time you seem to have to do mundane tasks on the computer.

Next, I'd throw some to family and friends. Now is the time to suck up people. You never know...

Then, I'd buy my husband a new car with awesome gas mileage and a superb stereo system.

Mainly I would like to just throw it around the town creating bike trails, playgrounds, green spaces, etc. Wouldn't it be nice?? It's fun to dream.

You Should Have Seen the One that Got Away

Apparently we are fisher people.

We spent four hours last saturday fishing with the boy scouts at a private pond. Everyone loved it. Only Kevin caught a fish, to the dissappointment of some. I was proud to have casted out into the pond after several attempts landing on the bank beside me.

Fischer Fritz fischt frische Fische.

Throw back to my German major days, it's a tongue twister about fishing that I have tucked away in my memory banks for those moments when there is a lull in the conversation. Try it. It always seems to impress the little ones.

Apparently we will be purchasing our own equipment and we will be fishing again.

Fish beware.

FYI People

Yeah. I woke up in the night thinking...."Peter Piper didn't pick pumpkins! He picked a peck of pickled peppers."

Apparently my reference should have been Peter Peter Pumpkin Eater. But it doesn't seem to work as well and I feel some camaraderie with his wife. Life FEELS like I'm living in a Pumpkin shell at times.

Please update my previous blog with the following: [insert own nursery rhyme reference referring to pumpkins here] has nothing on us.

Take that Peter.

Farm Living

We pumpkin patched it up this past weekend. We opted for the one acre corn maze as opposed to the five acres. Once Ben, Will and I spent hours meandering around a corn maze. Nightmares!!

We picked pumpkins and Indian Corn and slid down the burlap sack slides. Good times for sure! It is this time of year that I start craving Pumpkin....bread, cookies, gobs, pancakes.

The boys were very excited to buy some gourds...one that looks like a three foot long snake and Kevin couldn't pass up a cool pumpkin. Peter Piper has nothing on us.

I Stand....Corrected.

My mathematician of a husband has finally entered my subconscious. While making the aforementioned cornbread, it was his voice inside my head telling me to "DOUBLE IT. DOUBLE IT."

Apparently I was to consider volume of the pan and in actuality a 12 inch pan is almost double an 8 inch pan. I forget why. Something to do with radius and pi and infinite numbers and blah and blah and blah.

Who knew?

My husband did.

Ponderings...If the Brain is Up For It.

There have been a few moments lately where I have become acutely aware that I am slowly but surely losing most if not all of my mental capacities.

1. Standing at the gas station pondering, "Why won't this nozzle go into the tank?" Shoving, grunting, shoving for say 5 minutes. Finally reading giant DIESEL sign on the gas dispenser. Oops. Very smart people to have made the nozzles different sizes. Very smart indeed.

2. Making cornbread at supper. Recipe calls for an 8 inch iron skillet. I have a 12 inch iron skillet. Decide I need to do a recipe and a half. Easy you say? I think I alternated every other ingredient accidentally doubling instead of one and a halving and then finally realizing it and unscooping the scooped baking powder, salt, etc. However, the bread still turned out divine so there!

3. I am sure there are many other moments to share. I will limit them right now so that my insanity remains under wraps, a least a little bit.