Happy Halloween!

Halloween 2020.  We had the debates.  We had the worries.  We decided trick or treating being an outside activity was safe.  Or safe enough.  We talked about keeping socially distant.  And then we plunged in because Halloween is my favorite, and I just couldn’t see not celebrating.   

Harper was a zombie.  I had so much fun doing her make-up!   

Saige was a puppy.   She wanted her hair sprayed white.  The white spray definitely doesn’t work as well as the other colors!  

My trick or treating crew keeps getting smaller.  Grandma still sent candy for the big guys though!  

I picked Quincy up from her job, and she got ready in my office bathroom!  She and her friends went off to do God knows what.  Haunted houses and a haunted trail and maybe some trick or treating.  Sometimes it is better to not know!    

Saige and Harper did trunk or treat at the lake, and then hit up every single neighborhood in town.  I enjoyed driving them around and my friend Dusty kept me company!  It was a fun night!   We ran to sonic for 50 cent corn dogs and are now getting ready to watch Halloween movies while we wait for Quincy to call.   

Since  we moved to the country, we really haven’t had trick or treaters.  But today, we had one!  She’s the cutest little “kunk” I have ever seen!   She knocked on the door, and then yelled “ween” at us.  So we filled her treat bag!   I am so happy she came to see us!  I love this little skunk!  

Best holiday ever!  

Anniversary

Today is our 27th wedding anniversary.  It seems both like a long time ago, and also like a blink.  I don’t know what I did to get so lucky, but after all this time I still adore this man.  I can’t imagine a better person to do life with!  Sure, we have our days where we think about choking the other person out, but it is honestly mostly good.  

We aren’t the most romantic couple.   We had a nice lunch yesterday at the local bar because we knew we weren’t going to be together!   I had a chance to drive the cheer team and Jim hung out with the kids!   Adulthood just can’t be all fun I guess. 

Happy 27 years Jim!  Love you! 

School Halloween

Since there is no school tomorrow (no idea why), the school had their Halloween parties today.  Traditionally, the kids at Overbrook school parade downtown and trick or treat all the merchants.  Due to Covid, this was not allowed.  I was sad because I love this tradition, and this is our last kid’s last year.  The school asked the merchants to come up and set up a trunk or treat instead.  I have no idea why this is better.  It made no sense to me.  But at this point, I don’t even question things anymore.  Evelyn and I went up with Jim, who set up a station for the city.  I was a little worried (because it was pretty chilly today) that Evie would get too cold.  She sat like an angel in her lawn chair with her blanket and had a great time watching all the kids!   She also may have sampled a few of Poppy’s candy bars, but that is a different post!  

I love Halloween. I know you already know this.  Honestly though, what is more fun?  There is just nothing more fun than seeing all the kids dressed up in their costumes.  This kid though, he was my all time favorite.   I don’t know who he is.  I don’t know where he got the costume, but when he walks, it looks like the alien is carrying him away.  So, so funny!  

Saige and Lylah.  Saige was a pug (dog) and Lylah is her evil witch owner.  Not sure how they decided on this!  Saige had an absolute ball at school today.  They did science experiments.  They made slime.  They burned something.  They ate candy, had a parade and watched a movie.  What more fun  could one day hold?   She has a really fun (young) teacher this year.  She loves going to school  and she is good academically.  

Evie only got out of her chair when she saw auntie Mal!   I was very impressed with how good she was.  I love how mellow she is. When Madison got off work, she came outside to retrieve her and at that point she knows it is about time.  She happily went with her mom and took her nap!   

Harper’s class also had a small party, but they did not have their annual parade or anything else.   They were allowed to dress up, but they were pretty strict on saying no masks (aside from the ones they are supposed to be wearing).  Since Harper picked a costume that is not school appropriate, she decided to just wear her Halloween shirt.  Harper said it was an ok day but not as fun as they used to have.   

One other story - for about the last 15 years, Jim has bought the candy for the city to hand out.  I always go to help him keep his bucket filled and every single year I worry that he didn’t buy enough.  Every single time I panic a little.  Especially since he is an old softie and hands out a handful rather than 1 candy bar!   Today, when he got done, he literally had 5 candy bars left.  It always works out for him, but he makes me nervous cutting it that close!   I had visions of handing out the pen and paper mask stashes

 that I keep in the car!   

What the heck

After an entire lifetime living in Kansas, one would think I would not be surprised by the weather.   Maybe surprised isn’t the right term.  I am never ready for the abrupt changes and craziness.  Thursday it was 84.  Friday 48.   All weekend was cold and today....snow.  Take me back to Thursday!   I love fall.  I truly do.  I do not love snow. Or driving on slick roads.  Or making decisions for teen drivers.  Or any other part of winter.   It wasn’t even a large amount of snow, but blah.  No.  Go away!  

Jim broke a tooth.  We have switched to a new dentist.  The new dentist recommended extracting the tooth.  Jim has been having a lot of discomfort, and he was happy that they could get him in early this morning.  Of course, that meant we had to ask aunt Mallory for help with Evelyn this morning!  Luckily, it was a late start day, so she got to hang out at school!   I picked her up when I got done with the bus.  We had to park and walk across the street, and it was snowing pretty hard.  Evie wasn’t impressed.  She kept yelling “rainin!” I told her it wasn’t rain! I taught her to say “stupid snow!”  She seriously amuses me on the daily.  (Jim appears to be doing just fine!  I hope he heals up quickly!)

This evening, Landrie came over so they could try on and plan out their Halloween plans.  Preston went out for dinner with a friend.  The little girls and I made fun of their crazy costumes.  Jim had a meeting.  I had my first ever parent teacher conference over the phone.  It was awesome I must say!   It was a crazy evening.  

And crazy, cold evenings should end with a cat and dog snuggling on your lap as you doze a little! 

Weekend fun

We had a fun weekend around these parts.  Cameron was able to get Preston a ticket to the sunflower showdown.  Preston was so excited!  He really wanted to be allowed to drive himself out to Manhattan.  Jim and I were fairly uncomfortable with this idea.  After all, he’s only been a legal driver for a week!   We did let him go.  He was required to text upon arrival, and before leaving!   He had an absolute blast.  Thank you to Lauren for the pictures!  And the best part?  KSU dominated KU and it was a fun game to watch! 

Grandpa was moving cattle this weekend.   They took Evie over to watch.  She absolutely loves cows!  I’m glad they took her!  I’m also glad she could watch from the car!  It got stinkin’ cold!  

Jim, the younger girls and I had a much needed relaxing day at home.  We did clean some stuff and got the pantry and food cabinets all cleaned out, and Jim was able to fix my lazy Susan, which has been off its nut for a couple weeks.  I am sure happy to have that thing functional again!   We watched the KSU game on TV, which I am convinced was the only way to go with the weather being so cold!   

In the late afternoon, it dawned on me that this is Halloween week and the girls did not have their costumes yet.  So we made a trip to town!  After multiple stops, we are all set!  Of course we love the spirit of Halloween store and had a good time looking at all their stuff!   We were gone a lot longer than I planned, but it was really fun!  

Proud parent moment when your high school student spends all her money on a party pooper costume!   I did laugh at her.  What she doesn’t come up with. Crazy girl!  

Colin was home for a few hours today to get his truck.  It was good to see him!   He was even able to stay for Sunday dinner.  I miss this kid.  He is doing great things in his life. I am thankful that he’s not too far away, but still.  

Before Sunday dinner, Evie got to go to the pumpkin patch!   She had fun!   I was planning to take the girls yesterday, but we never made it, and they thought it was cold enough they just wanted to buy their pumpkins at Walmart.  

This little girl is a pure joy.  She put on her hat, grabbed her backpack and told me bus!  I guess she didn’t know it is Sunday!   I love her little personality.  She is pure energy, orneriness, and a whole lot of sweetness.  

The girls waited all day for Evie to get here so they could carve pumpkins with her!  She dug right in there.  Not even a second of hesitation!   They tried to get Preston and Colin to do some carving, but football!  

When Colin had to head back, Saige was pretty sad.  She thought he was staying for a few days.  She loves her Colin.  

Besides cooking, laundry,  cleaning and carving today we also got the pool winterized.  We would have done it sooner,  but the chemicals we needed were delayed.  We definitely waited too long.  Messing around draining water and adding chemicals would have been better if it was 50 degrees warmer!   The pool winterization kit came with this giant pillow.  It floats in the pool under the cover and supposedly absorbs some of the movement from ice, protecting the side walls.   Or something scientific that I didn’t actually read. The kids really didn’t want to put it out there.  They thought it would be fun to play on.  I could foresee broken bones, so I nixed their plans and  the thing is now in the pool. We will see how it works I guess!   It is a lot more fun to open a pool than it is to close one.  Pure sadness at the coldness!  

Also sad how fast weekends fly by!   The kids are convinced that there will be enough snow tonight for a snow day.  I tried to tell them there won’t be snow days this year. There will be stay home and do remote learning days.    Poor kids!