Going Nuts

Sorry, I couldn't help the cheesy title.

We live on Walnut Street. In our backyard is a giant walnut tree. We've lived here for more than five years and all we have ever used the walnuts for is ammo during back yard smack-downs. The fact that I don't really like nuts, especially walnuts, probably contributed to our lack of interest.

This year we decided to finally take advantage of the bounty that is available to us, so we did a little research, and Mike made two really awesome drying trays that we have set up in the garage. Daily, Mike and the boys gather the nuts and then lay them out to cure on the trays. In our wet and cool weather, it can take up to three weeks before the nuts are ready to be taken out of their shells.

I think we have collected at least 50 pounds of nuts so far. Mike will probably start shelling them this weekend and then we will keep them in the freezer until we are ready to pack them up for Christmas gifts.

I Blame it on Facebook

My mom asked me today how the boys liked Halloween, and I was like, did you see the pictures on my blog? And she was like, uh, no. And then I realized that I posted these pictures on Facebook, but totally neglected my blog. I was planning to post them here on Monday, but the time just got away from me. Enjoy!

Barking versus Biting

Last night I joined Mike's gym. While I was finishing up the paperwork with the college boy on staff, Mike took the boys upstairs to the childcare room. Just as I dotted my last "i", College Boy mentions that, by the way, there will be a one-time $20 fee for adding me on to the membership, in addition to the additional $25 monthly fee that Mike had discussed with the owner a couple of days before.

If there is anything that my husband gets upset about, it's additional and by-the-way fees. I mean, we almost left our newly purchased car on the lot when the dealer mentioned we had to pay $100 for some sort of security device they had provided. Luckily the guy decided to let the fee slide when Mike pretty much freaked out and threatened to leave.

And if you know my husband at all, it's pretty hard to imagine him freaking out or even raising his voice. He is a sensitive and gentle soul.

A sensitive and gentle soul who will not be tricked or talked into paying additional fees.

So when College Boy made this little announcement I sort of muttered under my breath that my husband was going to freak out when I told him. "But don't worry," I said, "I'll break it to him gently." As soon as I said this College Boy got very jumpy, pulling a $20 bill out of his wallet.

"Are you serious?", he kind of squeaked out, "because I'd just assume pay the $20 than have someone freak out on me." Well, come to find out, the week before a gym member went totally crazy, screaming at College Boy, and then figured out where he lived, and showed up at his door to continue the argument. Obviously, he was slightly traumatized.

Poor College Boy.

So I decided that I needed to clarify. I explained that when I said that my husband was going to "freak out", what I really meant to say was that he would probably come down and talk to him about it. Like have a conversation. I felt really bad that I scared this kid by exaggerating slightly.

And the $20 fee? Well it turns out that it was all a mistake anyway. It didn't apply to us. But when I went upstairs and start to tell Mike about the whole ordeal, he stopped me short as soon as the word "fee" was brought up. "What fee????," he growled. I mean he didn't even care that the mere mention of a possible "freak out" sent the boy downstairs into a near panic attack. As long as he didn't have to pay an extra $20.

Sunday Gratitude

Me, just last night, trying to get a picture of my Halloween costume. Apparently, my arms are not long enough. Imagine crazy hair, a bright orange skirt and black stockings.
I kind of like all the make-up. What was your costume?

Costumes that came together at the last minute, required no sewing, and were even better than I expected. And that the other two were very happy to wear what was already in the costume cupboard.

The most beautiful, sunny day in weeks. What a way to start the month!

Backyard clean-up and nut gathering.

A house full of family and friends. I dread our Halloween party every year (especially since the guest list seems to grow longer as the years pass), but, as usual, all went well and our home felt so cozy, as full-to-the-brim as it was.

Apple cider donuts and caramel apples.

Carved pumpkins that survived the night. We had no tricksters visit our doorstep this year!

An unexpected gift.

Entering the beginning of my Christmas crafting! I always overestimate what I can accomplish, but this year I am determined to finish everything.

An extra hour of child-free night time. Most people would say an extra hour of sleep, but my children didn't know that it was 5:00 am when they got up, not 6:00 am. But now it is barely, 7 pm, and everyone is in bed. Asleep. Amen!

"Harvest" Ideas

Somehow I got roped into planning 90 minutes of activities for John's kindergarten class's "Harvest" party. I suppose there isn't such a thing as Halloween out at Bridgeport. I thought I'd share with you what we are going to do, because, well, I like to share. And also I need to push that freaky picture a little further down the page.

We're going to play a harvest version of BINGO. I used the above picture as a jumping off point and then created my own in Microsoft word, creating a 4x4 table and then inserting clip art that seemed to make a bit more sense. Kids will cover the spaces with Reese's Pieces and then get a pencil or some-such for a prize when the get a whole line. I then had to create several different versions, with the graphics in different order, so that the kids wouldn't all have the same card.


The other activity we are going to do is make bagel bird feeders. We did this last week during pre-school for Charlie. Cut bagels in half and then leave them on the counter overnight so they can harden up a bit. The first step is to run a piece of string or yarn through the center of the bagel, leaving a long tail so it can be hung in a tree. Then have the kids spread their bagel with a mixture of peanut butter and shortening (you could definitely do this with just peanut butter, but I think cuts the cost a bit). Then each student will dip their bagel onto a plate of bird seed and press it in. These are super easy and very fun. The birds have definitely enjoyed their food this past week.

What do you have going on? Pumpkins already carved? Around here, we usually do ours the day before or the day of. Too much wet and mold.

The Crazy Lady Comes to Town

Me, July 2009 (photo courtesy of my sister)

I made my sister take this off her Facebook page because it was too disturbing. But then I decided to post it on my blog. Because I'm crazy like that.

Sunday Gratitude

John Quentin, Fall 2006

Finishing (and loving) two books, and starting on numbers three and four. I've missed reading, and love having books around me that I can slip into.

Watching the look on five three-year-old faces when I made them stick their hands inside a pumpkin and pull up some guts. Some were excited, and some were terrified.

Planning another birthday cake. Execution begins tonight.

Date night with my six-year-old. Can't tell you the last time I got to spend that much time with him all to myself. On the drive home I told him how much fun I'd had with him, how much I loved him. He answered with a big smile, "I know! I can't wait to get home and see Dad!"

Starting quite an ambitious craft project. If I wasn't reading so many books, I'd have it done already.

Rocking my baby while he sleeps on my chest between coughs, when the rest of the house is dark and quiet.

Charlie's new haircut.

Watching the boys jump into piles of leaves and then raking them back up and starting over.

Butternut squash risotto.

Hearing John recite his scripture perfectly from memory during the Primary Program at church. So proud. And sitting with my whole family made it even more special.