Fall Fun

S. played hooky from work so we could go to Cox Farm. We met up with my sister, Jeannie, Mom and some friends. It was about 80 degrees and this pregnant lady was not dressed for that! We had a fabulous time riding the slides, hayride, eating apples and drinking cider. It was pretty funny to see the kids running around yelling, "Bees!" when we were getting the cider.

Little Man's first time down one of the many slides was a little crazy, so he was apprehensive for the next couple and had to go with S. He got over it soon enough and was his usual dare-devil self. Love these moments. Why can't we play hooky everyday?

All Hallows Eve

I am a preteen trapped in a 30 year old's body. S. and I still have that 10 year-old mind-set that the one with the most candy wins. It's quite funny, because I can honestly say our kids haven't had one ounce of their trick or treating candy since All Hallows Eve (I have only had some of our leftovers). But the sheer joy of getting free candy makes my heart palpitate and my blood-sugar level rise. I think the baby in my belly even did a little dance as we walked around the neighborhoods.

The kids had a great time getting the treats, but not appreciating the few tricks they experienced. We went around our neighborhood for a little while and then headed to Gma and Gpa Mud's house for some hearty soup, homemade rolls and Hocus Pocus (well, the kids didn't watch it, they just went trick or treating some more). One of the Mud's neighbors dresses up every Halloween like someone who died that year and acts like them. It is always entertaining. Last year he was the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin (moment of silence) and this year it was Robert Goulet. The man even sang us "If Ever I Would Leave You." Boo didn't want any candy from him afterwards--I don't know if it was his white zombie face or his singing.

At least next year the baby will let me pick out his/her costume! So much for me deciding what my kids are going to be. Apparently the kids had a theme this year--red. Boo is Gabriella from High School Musical (but she is nothing like the actress in real life--scandal), and Little Man is of course his favorite character, Elmo. He talked for weeks about how he was going to be Elmo.

My latest obsession

Love, love, love this new show on ABC. It is a dark comedy with characters that you want to be (can I please have Chuck's clothes and hair?!). And a sitcom that breaks into song? A pie shop called The Pie Hole? Now, that is right up my alley. Watch the first four episodes online at abc.com and I bet you become addicted like me. I told S. it was a sacrifice for me to go to bookclub last night and not watch it at the regular time. He told me that was ridiculous--that was like saying it was a sacrifice to miss dessert to go to a movie (Thank goodness for DVR/Tivo so it wasn't too much of a sacrifice). Just shut your pie hole and watch. See you next Wednesday at 8:00.

Columbus sailed

Who gets Columbus day off? A lot of the counties nearby didn't get it off school. But, S. got work off, and we didn't have to teach Seminary! Any holiday is welcome here! We had a fun day going to Glen Echo Park, even though the Carousel was closed for the season (Who knew? It was 80 degrees that day!)

One of the {MANY} benefits of being a Virginian--Great Falls. Not really a benefit of living in Maryland--the view is not NEARLY as good from their side (can you tell I am a Virginia Snob?). For Columbus Day we went to Great Falls after picking up some cuisine at La Madeline. We were a high class family eating at the picnic tables. The kids loved climbing the rocks, but I have to admit I was a little paranoid seeing all the signs for how many drownings there are each year. I haven't been to Great Falls in years, and they have blocked off a lot more places so risks HAVE to be lower. I love how in the pictures we are holding our children in someway so they don't fall. Call me overprotective.

Candy Crack Corn

I love this time of year. The air is crisp, leaves start changing color, you can wear cute jackets, and I can TOTALLY rationalize eating tons of CANDY CORN. I love it. I know only a few who can join me in my obsession (Mary!). What is it about those little nubs that are so scrumptious to me and leave me longing for more? That's right. All that SUGAR and COLOR.

How to eat a candy corn:

1. Buy only Brach's. Those other might LOOK fine, but nasty.
2. Don't go for those pumpkins or even the "chocolate" candy corn (and don't even get me started on the "Christmas" candy corn).
3. The three flavors DO have different tastes.
4. Never eat them in one bite (unless they are on a cupcake or a cookie).
5. You must hold one in your hand, and take small bites starting from the white part, up.
6. Don't think that Jones Candy Corn soda will actually taste like the real thing--it doesn't.
7. For best results, eat only in the fall.

We have a decoration with candy corn in it on our front table in the foyer. The kids always ask for them when we are getting ready. I give in a lot, but they sure are fast at getting those shoes on!

Sing us a song, you're the piano girl!

We finally have a real piano!!! About a month ago Kitt's music was having a piano sale so my mom and I went to check it out. I called S. at work to have him help me decide. He basically gave me the go-ahead to get the one I wanted. It took me a while to decide, but I finally went for the nicer of the two I had narrowed it down to--a Kawai upright. It has the sound of a baby grand, and basically the only way up is to a grand piano. S.'s only comment was, "Do you really need a concert piano?" My reply, "No, but Boo might" (Seriously, she is amazing. Yesterday she played Ode to Joy by ear).

A couple features I love about it--the middle pedal you can move to the left to make it quiet. Unfortunately, Boo has figured out how to take it on and off, but the Little Man hasn't. I still have SOME sanity. And it has a slow fall cover for the keys--no smooshed fingers like on my mom's baby grand. For a few days after getting it S. would joke about getting his plasma tv now, but I clearly pointed out that something to develop a talent came before entertainment. We have a rule that you have to wash your hands before you play it. Boo is so good about it, and she always makes sure I have washed mine when I'm playing, too.

I think I can start to get over my bitterness towards my oldest sister getting my mom's upright. Here's the story: My mom used to tell us that the best pianist would get her upright after she got her baby grand. I practiced, and practiced and waited for the competition (okay, not really, but I still was up for the fight). Enter oldest child: the one who told my mom her secrets, the one with the big mouth (yes, Jean, you, but you never read this so why am I writing it?). She gets married, owns a house in Atlanta, and gets a calling at church to be the primary pianist. No more competition. Oldest child wins out--she gets the piano. My other sister, Mary and I are thinking, temporary, right? We are the ones who can actually play (no offense, Jean). Jeannie moves up here, and Mary now has a house (so it took us a little while to have a house), strange thing happens--Jeannie gets to KEEP the piano. First children always get the best stuff. Maybe parents do love their first a little more...(not me, Little Man, I love you both).

3 Decades Old

It's official. I am 3 decades old. No longer will I say my age in years--What? How old am I? I am three decades. This is a milestone than many of my friends and siblings have already reached, so it doesn't feel like a big deal. Besides, 30 is the new 20, and life is GOOD. Here are a couple pictures from my past three decades, and a few moments.

Ages 1-10: Florida--(no, I was not born here, but I don't remember anything from my birthplace, Belgium, and we left when I was 3! I hope Boo remembers her good friends in Charlottesville!), snakes under our swing set, our "yellow brick road" of dandelions in our backyard in Ohio and how they ruined my favorite Cabbage Patch Kid outfit.

Ages 11-20: Walking 25 miles in white KEDS when I was 12, Girls' Camp, silly card games with "kings" (who knew I would marry one of my "kings?"), Oakton Stake youth conferences and dances, silliness, crushes, being wild and crazy, getting my license, tping, swimming in the resevior, singing at Disney World.

Ages 21-30: Craziness at BYU, London and graduation, marrying the man of my dreams in 2000, Mexico--teaching, living right behind Cartier and Louis Vuitton, 1st child, 2nd child, fabulous friends in Charlottesville, "real life" in D.C and loving it.

I can't wait to see what the next 3 decades hold!