Halloween FHE

Carving pumpkins has been a Halloween tradition for a long time.
See here, here, here and here.
(that's as far back as my blog goes, but the tradition goes back many more years)

So, for the family night before Halloween, we headed out to the local pumpkin patch to procure our pumpkins. . .

Nolan chose one just his size. . .

His father found one that looked like Medusa. . .

But once we'd discussed it, we discovered that no one was really that excited about the CARVING part. It's just so messy. . . and we weren't feeling it that night.

And so, it is with heavy heart that I announce a change. . .

Henceforth (unless Nolan changes our minds next year) we will hold an annual pumpkin patch visiting, caramel apple making (and Guitar Hero playing) Halloween event. . . And only those that really WANT to carve will carve.

Nick, Ben, Melissa, Mike & Tamera waiting for the caramel to set up

Kevin and Nolan playing Guitar Hero

Mike, Tamera & Melissa decorating their apples

& Vanessa enjoying the caramel and chocolate

The rest of us, will set our pumpkins on the front porch to smile in a much more natural way at all of the neighbors.

Friday Randoms

1- We went to see Isabella play soccer 2 weeks ago. Nolan had a blast kicking the ball around with her.

And borrowing my sunglasses.

2- Nolan & I have had a nasty cold for a week now. The kind that makes you cough up a lung and feel generally crappy and, in my case, lose my voice almost completely. I spent 2 full days sounding like Marge Simpson.

& for the first time in my life, Nyquil is not helping me sleep. Is it weaker than it used to be? Or is it me?


3- We went to the health department yesterday to get vaccinated for H1N1. I have a slightly unreasonable amount of fear about swine flu. We all have asthma in our house, and are prone to getting coughs that won't quit. Nolan especially. So it was really important to me that we get him vaccinated, and us too, if possible. Ben found out about it the day before and got to the health department early that morning. He was 10th in line. And it's a good thing. This is the line that looped around the parking lot as we were leaving:

There were just as many people behind me
and in the building when I took that photo too.
It was like something out of a movie.

4- Nolan went with Tamera to a photo shoot this week. They were there early, so Tamera took some shots of Nolan while they waited. I LOVE them. Nolan had a ton of fun playing in the leaves, and she captured the future model in him.

Blue Steel

5- The month of October is completely getting away from me. November is not going to be better. I can't really handle the idea that snow is going to be flying and it will be Christmas before we know it. I like this season! I want to enjoy it!

Halloween Portraits

So. . . remember when Ashley took our pictures? (how could you not? it was weeks ago, but it's only 2 posts back)

This same awesome Ashley is taking Halloween portraits for the kiddies! GO! Take your kids! It's insanely cheap, and she'll take awesome pictures, I have no doubt at all. And who ever gets a really good picture of the kids right before you run out the door to trick or treat?

No one, that's who.



And if you're feeling really benevolent, tell her I sent you.

Friday Randoms

You know it's convention season when I can't manage to blog more often than every 10 days. . . geez.

So here are a few randoms for you:

1- Convention is the time of the year when I feel 2 things. . . 1) really good at my job and capable of saving the day at least 15 times a week. 2) really bad at my job and incapable of accomplishing anything.

REALLY good for a person with anxiety, I tell you what. . .

2- We're going to have a new niece in February! This leads me to want to start sewing and crafting up a storm. . .
There are SO many cute girl crafts out there
(the grass is always greener, right?)

Either way, I am SO excited for Jeremy & Emily.

3- Nolan is going to be Mickey Mouse for Halloween. I had a thought to have him be Remy from Ratatouille. . . but alas, the Disney store didn't have a costume for Remy. But the second he saw the Mickey costume, he was sold. Will he actually wear the head piece? Probably not. But we're going to try. (the ears squeak for pete's sake!)

Is it cruel to make your man child wear black tights under his Mickey costume? It seems like the only thing that would look right. . .


4- Dreyers Peppermint stick ice cream. Slow Churned. 1/2 the fat. 1/3 less calories.

Seriously delicious anyway.

I didn't believe it either. . . but take my word for it.

5- As promised (oh, 2 weeks ago) a little peek into Nolan's favorite pass time right now. Singing along to "So What" by Pink. He gets SO mad if you won't play it over and over and over again. Which is why he starts saying "No No Na!" at the end of the song. Luckily Ben had it on repeat.

He gets more and more words right every time. Unfortunately, this was recorded before he started doing the spitting part at the end. . .