The entire family was home Friday night. We took advantage of a mild Halloween night and went trick or treating.
Andrew was a SWAT team member, while Ella was a unicorn fairy. She wore a hat, so the unicorn horn stayed home.
We walked the entire neighborhood (a little over a mile) and had a nice night. It’s always great running into other neighbors and their kids out and about.
One thing I noticed was that neighbors were giving kids a choice this year. “You can take two pieces from each bowl,” or “We have potato chips, popsicles, or candy. Pick one.” Well, wait just one cotton picking minute….
We never got a choice as a kid! We took what they handed to us. Then we’d go home and create a “keep” pile, a “garbage” pile and a “mom or dad” pile. None of my kids like Almond Joy. I always had a ton of them after Halloween. This year, they picked their favorites, so zero for me this year.
By the end of the night, they were pooped. But both were in awe of our neighbor’s huge pumpkin, so they had to get a picture in front of it.
Yesterday was a lazy day. We stayed home and I took down the Halloween stuff. I probably should have taken advantage of the mild weather and put up the outdoor Christmas stuff, but I didn’t.
Instead, I began to rake the leaves. I wound up with a big pile, but no leaf bags. I apparently used them earlier in the year. The kids didn’t mind at all.
We had Parent-Teacher conferences last week. We are thrilled that both kids are doing well. We found out things that Andrew was doing in school that we didn’t know he could do. We both felt kind of bad when we were done. “Gee, how dumb did we look when she said he could spell his name?” (Up to this point all we’ve seen him write is an “A.”
We’ve got some pretty color on the trees this year. Slowly but surely, the leaves are tumbling to the ground. It is still too early to start raking, however, I knew the kids would enjoy jumping in the big pile.
Ella’s hair in that one picture cracks me up. She had a blast!
She got to go on a playdate with a friend this weekend. It was about 25 minutes from us in Holly. They do a Dickens Festival every year where everyone dresses up in period costumes and they sing Christmas carols. I’ve never been to it, but really hope to go this year.
Since Andrew was with me, we decided to find something to do while Ella played. First we found an old railway station. It still stands, but most of the windows are boarded up. He thought it was cool. He walked around it and looked in to see the inside when he could. Then we walked the railroad tracks for a bit hoping to find a railroad spike or two (no luck).
After we got back in the car, I found that there was a cider mill not too far away. So we drove over there to get cider and donuts.
He loved checking out the old trucks that were there and running in the hay maze. There was a wooden train that he played on, too. There was a guy under a tent playing gospel songs on his guitar and we sat and ate donuts while we listened.
We thought about getting pumpkins, but decided it was best to wait and go when all of us could be there. We certainly enjoyed our “guy time” together. We got a little bit more yesterday when Ella went to the doctor. Andrew and I sat in my bedroom and I watched him play my Forza Horizon game. He loves busting up fences and, as seen in the next photo, loves chasing animals.
We’re closing in on Halloween and I know the kids are excited. How about you?
It seems like the last 7 days have been nonstop for our family, but in between doctor appointments, work, and school, we’ve managed to find time to enjoy some fun moments.
First Photo
If you’ve been following this blog for any length of time, you know that my children are no stranger to a camera! My daughter has had her share of photo sessions, too. However, this week, we received her first “official” school photo.
There is something poignant about getting this picture. It is the first of many that we will receive over the next 13 years. This one will go in a frame the kindergarten photo going on top of it next year, first grade the following year, etc… Each year, we’ll compare the older photos and stand in awe of how much she has grown and all of the little changes that take place. It is hard for me to comprehend this, even though I have been through it twice before with my older boys.
As if my daughter’s picture wasn’t enough, my youngest son went and had his third birthday photos taken. Our photographer always captures our kids in beautiful photos. Instead of a full session, we took advantage of her “Fall Mini Sessions”. It was 15 minutes and we got plenty of poses.
She had some fall scenes set up outside and my son just rolled with the flow. There were pictures by a teepee. There was a nice fall set up with hay, pumpkins, corn and a wagon. She has a big backyard with a pond and fountain, an area with a porch, and various photo “stations.” One of those is an old pick up truck. My son made himself at home and she caught photos that look like senior pictures!
Old Friends
On Friday I went into work early so that I could leave early. My buddy, and old DJ partner, turned 60 and had a little party just down the road from where I work. By the time I got there, the party was in full swing. He had some guys running karaoke and there was plenty of singing. I had forgotten how many people really think that they can sing. I had flashbacks while I was there. I recall those days when I was out with the gang and we were all drinking. You start out singing fine, but as the night goes on your words and singing become … pretty obnoxious.
Based on the responses that he got back from the invites, two of my oldest friends were supposed to be there. Joe, Steve K, and I all graduated together. We were kind of inseparable in school. We were all band nerds and we were like brothers. Steve M (the birthday boy) was also in band, and we all played together in alumni band.
Steve K had some medical issues awhile back, and he was unable to be there. But it was nice to get some time to hang out with Joe and Steve M. There were a couple other folks who graduated from our school there, too. It was a bit crazy though, especially after this picture was taken.
Joe and I are younger than Steve, but Steve looks younger than us! Our grey beards make us look like the older dudes.
Trunk or Treat
A lot of people complain about the Trunk or Treat stops. For whatever reason, they feel that it takes away from the trick or treaters on Halloween night. Personally, I wish they had had those when I was growing up, because a kid can never get enough free candy!
None of us really felt great over the weekend. Lots of sniffles and coughing. It is probably the weather change and allergies. So we’ve kind of been staying indoors. However, my daughter has been dying to wear her Halloween costume and the weather was perfect on Sunday. It was almost 80!
Sam’s parents called to tell us that their church was having a Trunk or Treat and that the cousins were going with them. My kids couldn’t wait to go!
There were about 50 cars there with plenty of treats. It didn’t take long to get through the line and afterward, the kids wanted to go play on the playground with the other kids.
Fall Fun
As soon as the trunk or treat was done, we came back home to rest. But it was still daylight and the kids wanted to ride on their scooters. So I let them go outside for a few. As the rode on their scooters, I raked up some of the leaves. That was all it took to get the kids’ attention.
They saw me making a pile on the front lawn and this became their obsession. They had to jump in the leaf pile! They were actually walking with handfuls of leaves over to the pile and adding them to it.
And once I told them to have fun, they were in the pile!
They must have asked me to re-rake the leaves about 25 times so they could jump in them again. They were tossing leaves in the air and laughing like crazy. It was exactly what all kids should be doing on a beautiful fall evening!
There is nothing better than flopping in a big pile of leaves! Ah, fall!
Of course, being outside just set all of our allergies off and there was plenty of nose blowing that night. It was worth it!
Just a few days ago I posted pictures of the colorful trees in the neighborhood. All it took was a windy rainy day this week and many of those leaves have now fallen. As you walk through the neighborhood now, the ground is covered in yellow, red and orange while the trees are more and more bare.
More leaves on the ground meant more leaves to play in for the kids … and me! We certainly have had our share of fun jumping in the piles in the yard. It’s funny how different the kids are in regards to the leaves. Ella wants to be surrounded or buried in them.
Andrew, on the other hand, really doesn’t like to be in the pile much. I tried to get him to sit in the pile a few times, but once he is in there, he wants out! He’d rather pick them up and throw them.
It was just as fun for me to get down and play in the leaves with them.
Of course, it didn’t take long for the two of them to start throwing leaves on me!
The wonderful thing about these moments – they don’t cost a thing. I hope that when my kids look back at these blogs, they will remember with joy the fun that we had just being silly together.
The simplest things can bring about a smile and happiness – and this picture is proof of that:
Never be so busy that you don’t jump in the leaves!
Various Ramblings of a Nostalgic Italian 