Scare-A-Van

Every year, about a week before Halloween, the base puts on a fun Halloween event.

This year they created a new event called "Scare-A-Van," where we drove in our cars to 16 various (and decorated) locations around the base to collect candy.

(These events are always so thoughtful and the kids really enjoy them, but why, why, WHY do we need to collect Halloween candy a week before Halloween?!)

Sydney opted not to go (she stayed in our neighborhood to play outside with her friend). When we got home I asked what they did, and she answered, "We pretended like a lemon was a ball and tossed it back and forth to each other."

Well.

Lorelei, Ford, and Ruthie all agreed that it was MUCH more fun than they were envisioning. I think us allowing them to eat candy in the car helped them come to that conclusion.

Happy Sunday! I do NOT feel prepared to start the school/work week tomorrow, but we shall press on.

Great Wolf Lodge

Chet and I treated Lorelei (and her siblings) with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge for her birthday.

It was actually not his or my idea. My friend Stephanie told me a couple of months ago that she was taking her daughter (Lorelei's best friend who lived next door to us in California), and I instantly asked if we could come too. I didn't even originally plan for it to be her birthday gift, but that's what it ended up being.

We (just the kids and me -- Chet had to work) left first thing Wednesday morning, drove to the Lodge in Le Grange, Georgia, and stayed until Friday. It was SO much fun, and really the perfect birthday present (and a bonus that her best friend was there too).

I PROMISE I will post a few more pictures this week, but here's one:

Happy Saturday!

Happy birthday, Lorelei!

 Our Lorelei turned nine today!

We spent the day at home, and there was no party (other than the 6 of us), but the weather was perfect and she spent most of the day outside playing with friends (her usual activity of choice).

She decorated her cake with Pokemon candles and four different colored sprinkles, and requested Papa John's Pizza for dinner.

She's such a joy.

Whirlwind

How (HOW) is it mid-October?!

I've been out of my usual routine for 2+ weeks now (more on that later), and tonight was no exception. I am attending a neighborhood party tomorrow (Friday) evening, and Lorelei's birthday is Saturday, and there are errands and things in general that I need to do to help make these events fun.

I REALLY didn't want to take a trip into town after dinner this evening, but I did (and our Friday will be less hectic because of it). Lorelei and I went to Party City and Dollar Tree, and now I feel a tiny bit more prepared to celebrate her.

She's a nearly-nine-year-old delight.

Goodbye, September!

I'm ending September on a high note. Probably because I completed a 3-mile run this evening (runners' "high" is real), we've had LOVELY weather the last two days, and my mom is coming to visit Friday (we're so excited!).

Also, I just started a humongous load of laundry consisting solely of socks and underwear, and I'm always thankful I have a machine to wash our clothes rather than having to lug them down to a river and beat them against rocks.

I'll end with this picture, which I didn't take today, but DID take this month, and proves learning and life in general go on here.

On to October (the BEST month of the year)!

(Happy birthday, Angela!)

Ruthie's Point of View

The other day Ruthie took dozens of pictures with my phone.

Several were of the refrigerator, specifically the part where ice comes out of the ice machine. (It took me a minute to figure out what exactly I was looking at.)

These were my favorite:

The first one is the area of our counter where the clean dishes finish drying (plus mine and Chet's vitamin containers, apparently), which happened to include a good shot of the Fiesta teapot (I think it's a teapot?) I recently bought at a resale shop.

The second picture is Monster wearing his judge-y look. Clearly he didn't approve of Ruthie taking so many pictures.

Happy Tuesday!

Here's a picture of Chet reading to everyone shortly before Ford's special night commenced Sunday night:

Please don't turn us into cat social services. We are aware that Monster could use just a tiny bit more love.