a good read.
Right?
I battled the throngs this morning (and no, I wasn't trampled to death like the poor guy in New York.) I found almost everything I was looking for, and my Christmas shopping is 93% done. Are you 93% done too? And are you wondering what to get for that final 7%?
Might I humbly suggest some reading material? There's some good stuff on my sidebar, including the most recent issue of Irreantum, yours for the bargain basement price of ten buckeroonis. C Jane's book is a delight (truly--just ask my mom, who read the whole thing the night she babysat), and all proceeds go to benefit Stephanie Nielsen. The Mother in Me is a perfect gift for any mom and written by some of the coolest ladies I know. And then there's my book, too. Most of you have already read it, I know, so if you have you're off the hook. But if any of you live in the SLC/Provo area and would like to give it as a gift, I'd be happy to sign a copy for you. Let's meet for lunch at Zupas and get a bowl of Chicken Enchilada Chili and I'll whip out my pen.
And now I must go and gird up my loins for tomorrow . . . the great day of decorating. Oh, the paraphernalia! Wish me luck.
Oh! Not so fast. I forgot to say that yes, we had a fantastic Thanksgiving yesterday (thanks Mom). Lots of great food, and I didn't humiliate myself bowling at the Fat Cats bowling alley last night. A Thanksgiving Miracle!
And congrats to Forrest, who came in 6th place in his age group (35-39 year old men) at this year's SLC Cold Turkey race, a 6K in City Creek Canyon. Not only did he do the Hallstrom name proud, but he preemptively burned off all the calories he subsequently consumed at Thanksgiving dinner. He went with his sister Mindy and her husband Pete, and all three of them did great (and will probably remain svelte throughout the holidays). Great job, guys!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Hey. It's the end of the year.
Which means:
1. The calendar is full of scribbled appointments: "Buca party." "Elise choir: School, 2:30, Retirement, 5:00, Family: 7:30." "Wilkey Adult bash." & etc.
2. The people on the television keep saying "lame duck session." I wonder if the actual lame ducks (the people, not the birds) feel bad about such terminology, even when they know it's not personal?
3. Home, Family & Personal Enrichment. Meetings! Party Planning! Calendaring! Gathering of reimbursement receipts!
4. Hot Deals. Buy buy buy! And if you don't and the whole entire United States of America disintegrates and slides into the ocean as a big, lumpy, crumbly mess, it's all your fault.
5. Important Movies. Although I haven't seen one yet. (Is is just me, or does it seem like slim pickins? And is it just me, or do you harbor some skepticism toward the Hugh Jackman/Nicole Kidman epic Austrailia? And is it just me, or do you think that movie title deserves an exclamation point? Austrailia!) I don't think James Bond counts as an Important Movie.
6. Food Opportunities. Just last night at book club I had some caramel pumpkin layer cake. And I wasn't even hungry. (But yes, it was tasty.) Gaining five pounds in the name of courtesy--ahhh, the holidays.
7. Day after Thanksgiving Shopping Extravaganza. And yes, I like it. I do! It's fun! Gives me a little shot of adrenaline, and I get most of my shopping done in one long, jostly, bargain-ey morning.
8. Christmas Card machinations. What photo to use? The whole family, or kids sans parents? (This year: kids sans parents, posed this Sunday in front of the fireplace. Wyatt was being ridiculous and wouldn't let go of his dinosaurs, so the dinosaurs will be featured. It's an okay picture--not one of my favorites--but it'll do.) Also--family Christmas letter. What format? What tone? Lots of decisions.
9. Christmas music!!
10. And once again, the question: What in the world do I get my dad??
1. The calendar is full of scribbled appointments: "Buca party." "Elise choir: School, 2:30, Retirement, 5:00, Family: 7:30." "Wilkey Adult bash." & etc.
2. The people on the television keep saying "lame duck session." I wonder if the actual lame ducks (the people, not the birds) feel bad about such terminology, even when they know it's not personal?
3. Home, Family & Personal Enrichment. Meetings! Party Planning! Calendaring! Gathering of reimbursement receipts!
4. Hot Deals. Buy buy buy! And if you don't and the whole entire United States of America disintegrates and slides into the ocean as a big, lumpy, crumbly mess, it's all your fault.
5. Important Movies. Although I haven't seen one yet. (Is is just me, or does it seem like slim pickins? And is it just me, or do you harbor some skepticism toward the Hugh Jackman/Nicole Kidman epic Austrailia? And is it just me, or do you think that movie title deserves an exclamation point? Austrailia!) I don't think James Bond counts as an Important Movie.
6. Food Opportunities. Just last night at book club I had some caramel pumpkin layer cake. And I wasn't even hungry. (But yes, it was tasty.) Gaining five pounds in the name of courtesy--ahhh, the holidays.
7. Day after Thanksgiving Shopping Extravaganza. And yes, I like it. I do! It's fun! Gives me a little shot of adrenaline, and I get most of my shopping done in one long, jostly, bargain-ey morning.
8. Christmas Card machinations. What photo to use? The whole family, or kids sans parents? (This year: kids sans parents, posed this Sunday in front of the fireplace. Wyatt was being ridiculous and wouldn't let go of his dinosaurs, so the dinosaurs will be featured. It's an okay picture--not one of my favorites--but it'll do.) Also--family Christmas letter. What format? What tone? Lots of decisions.
9. Christmas music!!
10. And once again, the question: What in the world do I get my dad??
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Twenty Years
So Forrest and I have officially been two-little-lovebirds-sitting-in-a-tree (and, yes, k-i-s-s-i-n-g) for 20 years. Well, scratch that. We've been k-i-s-s-i-n-g for 18 years, since there wasn't any smooching going on from April 1990- April 1992. Well, scratch that too. Forrest wasn't doing any smooching from 1990-1992. (And I wasn't doing much of it. And it was halfhearted.)
ANYWAY . . . twenty years. That's a loooong time, baby. But a long, good time. I can't imagine spending two decades with anyone more intelligent, hilarious, generous and fun then the man I met when he was a 145-pound 17-year-old who drove a beat down Chevy Citation and wore a Violent Femmes t-shirt, a white cardigan and bright red Chuck Taylors.
And yes, Dad, you had good cause to be suspicious (who WAS this guy hanging around all the time???) but I've got to thank both my parents for trusting little sixteen year old me and seventeen year old him and not kicking him to the curb (or locking me in my bedroom), because I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone better.
But enough mushiness. Y'all know I love my man. But I love him ESPECIALLY right now because of the surprise he sprung on me last weekend: a celebratory getaway extravaganza! And boy, did we have a great time.
My parents helped out (thank you thank you) and stayed w/ the kidlets so we could sneak away on Friday afternoon. Here we are, on our way out the door to go see Quantum of Solace:
Don't you think Forrest looks a little like Daniel Craig in this shot? It's the piercing blue eyes. And yes, hon, the muscles.
After seeing the movie--which was full of gunshots and explosions and car chases and pretty ladies in slinky dresses and Bond getting the crap kicked out of him--we took off toward the mountains. I had no idea where we were going, but it became clear pretty quick that we were headed to Park City. What I really didn't expect, though, was to pull up to the swank-a-rific Stein Erickson Lodge. I know! Forrest got a good off-season deal on Hotels.com (still wasn't cheap, though) and this West Valley girl felt pretty pampered for a couple of days. I wonder how rich you have to be to stop worrying that the doorman/concierge/server isn't judging you for your Old Navy windbreaker? (Well, I just answered that, I guess: when you are rich enough not to be wearing an Old Navy windbreaker.)
We had a gorgeous room and an even more gorgeous view.
The view after dark was nice, too: the lights were so soft and twinkly and peaceful. That night we had a fun dinner at an Asian fusion place. Forrest has been reading this book about sushi--yes, a book about sushi--and he was anxious to try some of Park City's offerings. And mmmmm . . . it was good.
We slept in that morning, had a delicious breakfast at "the lodge," (yeah, it was a lot of eating, and I'm paying for it) then we headed home. But we were only home for a few hours before jetting off again to the Segullah couples' pre-holiday party, which was also a grand time. At any rate, it was a fabulous weekend, restful and restorative and fun. My batteries have been effectively charged.
Oh, and two final things. One, Irreantum is at the printer (hooray!) and should be mailed out in the next day or two. Two, I got my hair cut kinda short and decided to color it darker, and a little red. I'm tired of the blond highlights. Time for a winter look. Voila:
ANYWAY . . . twenty years. That's a loooong time, baby. But a long, good time. I can't imagine spending two decades with anyone more intelligent, hilarious, generous and fun then the man I met when he was a 145-pound 17-year-old who drove a beat down Chevy Citation and wore a Violent Femmes t-shirt, a white cardigan and bright red Chuck Taylors.
And yes, Dad, you had good cause to be suspicious (who WAS this guy hanging around all the time???) but I've got to thank both my parents for trusting little sixteen year old me and seventeen year old him and not kicking him to the curb (or locking me in my bedroom), because I can't imagine sharing my life with anyone better.
But enough mushiness. Y'all know I love my man. But I love him ESPECIALLY right now because of the surprise he sprung on me last weekend: a celebratory getaway extravaganza! And boy, did we have a great time.
My parents helped out (thank you thank you) and stayed w/ the kidlets so we could sneak away on Friday afternoon. Here we are, on our way out the door to go see Quantum of Solace:
Don't you think Forrest looks a little like Daniel Craig in this shot? It's the piercing blue eyes. And yes, hon, the muscles.
After seeing the movie--which was full of gunshots and explosions and car chases and pretty ladies in slinky dresses and Bond getting the crap kicked out of him--we took off toward the mountains. I had no idea where we were going, but it became clear pretty quick that we were headed to Park City. What I really didn't expect, though, was to pull up to the swank-a-rific Stein Erickson Lodge. I know! Forrest got a good off-season deal on Hotels.com (still wasn't cheap, though) and this West Valley girl felt pretty pampered for a couple of days. I wonder how rich you have to be to stop worrying that the doorman/concierge/server isn't judging you for your Old Navy windbreaker? (Well, I just answered that, I guess: when you are rich enough not to be wearing an Old Navy windbreaker.)
We had a gorgeous room and an even more gorgeous view.
The view after dark was nice, too: the lights were so soft and twinkly and peaceful. That night we had a fun dinner at an Asian fusion place. Forrest has been reading this book about sushi--yes, a book about sushi--and he was anxious to try some of Park City's offerings. And mmmmm . . . it was good.
We slept in that morning, had a delicious breakfast at "the lodge," (yeah, it was a lot of eating, and I'm paying for it) then we headed home. But we were only home for a few hours before jetting off again to the Segullah couples' pre-holiday party, which was also a grand time. At any rate, it was a fabulous weekend, restful and restorative and fun. My batteries have been effectively charged.
Oh, and two final things. One, Irreantum is at the printer (hooray!) and should be mailed out in the next day or two. Two, I got my hair cut kinda short and decided to color it darker, and a little red. I'm tired of the blond highlights. Time for a winter look. Voila:
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
File It Under Shameless Self Promotion
But you're just my family and beloved friends--except you, random person from New Dehli whom I've never met but who somehow stumbled on this blog--so it's not as ishy if I just tell ya'll about a new interview with me that was just published in a magazine called Mormon Artist. And the interview was done in two different email exchanges, two weeks apart, which is why I used the phrase "itching to" twice. (Who knew I had such a fondness for that little linguistic gem?).
You can check it out here. (And there are a number of other really interesting interviews in the magazine as well.)
You can check it out here. (And there are a number of other really interesting interviews in the magazine as well.)
Monday, November 10, 2008
Ethan's New Blog
Ethan had a blog for a while that went by the wayside. But his blogging genes can't be suppressed, and he's picked it up again. I'm sure he'd be thrilled to have some readers pop by. It's called Junior Highlights (great name, Bud) and you can find it here. (I also have it on my sidebar). Happy blogging, my boy. And be careful with the political posts--they'll getcha!!
Saturday, November 08, 2008
My Week--A Play by Play
Sunday: Woke up at 5:15 with Wyatt. Fasted. Churched. Ate some mui delicioso roast-potatoes-carrots (sooo good after fasting). Went to the Wilkey Extended Family Home Evening at Grandma Muriel's warm and cozy Magna abode and let the kids get all rosy cheeked and exhausted running around the backyard in the darkness (goodbye Daylight Savings Time! Although I'd already said my goodbyes that morning at 5:15 with Wyatt).
Monday: Woke up at 5:19 with Wyatt. Took the kids to Marv Jensen Rec Center for their "Off Track Camp" ($35 bucks, Mon through Fri, 10:30-2:30. Great way to yank the kids away from the television set the last week off track. Also good way for Mommy to have the peace and quiet necessary to locate her marbles and put them back inside her head.) Took Ethan to GameStop where he purchased a VERY cool new game called "Little Big Planet" for the PS3, his reward for getting a 4.0 his first term in Jr. High. (Go Ethan!) That evening, attended Jonas and Elise's first piano recital with their new teacher, a very professional type whose students are all much more advanced than Jonas or Elise. But both kids did a great job and looked darling to boot. (And no, I don't have any photos!! I took video, but it's refusing to upload. Arggh!) Forrest spent most of the recital walking around Riverton Music with Wyatt, trying to prevent him from dismantling the trombones or taking a purloined drumstick to a $30,000 Steinway.
Tuesday: Election Day!! Woke up at 5:25 with Wyatt. Went to the gym. Watched lots of entertaining breathless reportage on the television, etc. etc. But then my day got derailed by a very distressing Facebook exchange between some folks on my Facebook wall (will not go into it here), which led me to the conclusion that 1. I am spending too much time online and 2. I can not control anyone, least of all people whom I haven't seen since my late teens and 3. I have enough going on in my life that I can't be spending my emotional energy on said people. So I deleted my Facebook account. Who knows if I'll pop back on eventually, but for right now I think the whole thing was a good reminder to me that sometimes you've gotta reign it in, baby. Forrest was out of town on top of it all (he always helps me keep things in perspective) but after a few husbandly phone calls, some election related, some Facebook related, by the end of the night my spirits were slowly climbing back out of the pit of despair. At 9:00 p.m. I called the kids around me to see history being made.
It was an extremely cool moment, for me and for them. I hope they remember it.
Wednesday: Woke up with Wyatt at 5:35. Cleaned the dang house. Graded papers. Finished up proofing the last little bit of Irreantum. Ate Halloween candy. Recovered from Tuesday-induced hangover. Stayed inside.
Thursday: Woke up with Wyatt at 5:45. Prepped for class. Finished grading papers. Went to Old Navy to buy myself one pair of jeans, but instead bought myself two sweaters, two tank tops, Wyatt two pairs of pants, Elise two tops, and Jonas and Ethan one long-sleeved shirt a piece. Wondered why I keep running out of money one week before auto-deposit hits the Mountain America account. Ordered Papa John's pizza to feed my offspring and inlaws (thanks inlaws!) who'd be babysitting said offspring since Forrest wouldn't be home before dark. Drove to SLC, taught my students all about "PLOT" (important takeaway: Only Conflict Is Interesting . . . hence, one could conceivably write a short story about Tuesday, but probably not Wednesday.) Drove home on I-15 whilst eating a Southern Style Chicken Sandwich from Mickey D's (I feel so much better about myself when there's no mayonnaise involved). Arrived home to find much joy awaiting: husband! Wyatt ready for bed! TiVoed "Office" AND "Thirty Rock!" Oh, the bliss.
Friday: Stayed cocooned in my bed until 8:00, since the dearest husband ever known to womankind got up with Wyatt at 5:48 and even got Ethan off to school. Went to the gym, did yoga. (The last 10 minutes of yoga class, you lay on the floor with a towel over your eyes and listen to twinkly music and a very sincere woman telling you to relax. It is worth every penny of the $60 I pay to Lifetime Fitness Corporation each month.) Brought Jonas's lunch (left in the backseat of the van) to Marv Jensen Fitness center to a very hungry Jonas. More Irreantum proofing. Made taco casserole on one side of the kitchen island while Forrest made a homemade apple pie on the other side and we listened to new Offspring songs on the iPod. Had dinner (Jonas even ate THREE BITES of the casserole!), puttered, put Wyatt down, left the kids home so Forrest and I could go watch Casino Royale on my parents' home theater system (Forrest has big plans for the new Bond movie next weekend and it was IMPERATIVE that I see Casino Royale in preparation.) And I must say, Daniel Craig is composed entirely of sinew, testosterone, and ice.
Saturday: Today, of course! Slept till 7:00 (even though Forrest was up with Wyatt at 5:52). Cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Oh, the cleaning. The discarded shoes, the little lego pieces and Pokemon cards, the dust on the blinds and black furniture, the gunk in the bottom of the tootbrush cups, the pencil drawings on the walls (thank you Mr. Wyatt). The toilets, the pee. The Halloween candy wrappers. It's never ending, I tell you. Entropy!! But after a crazy barrage of homemaking, and a little mean-Mom "You can't tell me you think this room is actually CLEAN!" lectures by moi . . . the house is in good shape. For now. So after the crazy barrage, took Elise to get her hair trimmed (NOT cut, heavens), went to lunch at Zupas (fun! although the lady put too much dressing on my salad, but whatchagonnado), came home to a sleeping Wyatt, and laid in my bed UNDER THE COVERS at 2:00 in the afternoon (I was cold!) and read Courtney Kendrick's blog-book for a solid hour. Made me smile. And now I'm blogging. And feeding Wyatt Sun Chips so I can finish. Have I told you he's obsessed with giraffes? And brontosauruses? Something about the necks I'm guessing.
At any rate, this has gone on long enough. Now Wyatt wants me to read him a book about (you guessed it) giraffes. And didn't I say about an hour ago I spend too much time online? See? Told you.
Monday: Woke up at 5:19 with Wyatt. Took the kids to Marv Jensen Rec Center for their "Off Track Camp" ($35 bucks, Mon through Fri, 10:30-2:30. Great way to yank the kids away from the television set the last week off track. Also good way for Mommy to have the peace and quiet necessary to locate her marbles and put them back inside her head.) Took Ethan to GameStop where he purchased a VERY cool new game called "Little Big Planet" for the PS3, his reward for getting a 4.0 his first term in Jr. High. (Go Ethan!) That evening, attended Jonas and Elise's first piano recital with their new teacher, a very professional type whose students are all much more advanced than Jonas or Elise. But both kids did a great job and looked darling to boot. (And no, I don't have any photos!! I took video, but it's refusing to upload. Arggh!) Forrest spent most of the recital walking around Riverton Music with Wyatt, trying to prevent him from dismantling the trombones or taking a purloined drumstick to a $30,000 Steinway.
Tuesday: Election Day!! Woke up at 5:25 with Wyatt. Went to the gym. Watched lots of entertaining breathless reportage on the television, etc. etc. But then my day got derailed by a very distressing Facebook exchange between some folks on my Facebook wall (will not go into it here), which led me to the conclusion that 1. I am spending too much time online and 2. I can not control anyone, least of all people whom I haven't seen since my late teens and 3. I have enough going on in my life that I can't be spending my emotional energy on said people. So I deleted my Facebook account. Who knows if I'll pop back on eventually, but for right now I think the whole thing was a good reminder to me that sometimes you've gotta reign it in, baby. Forrest was out of town on top of it all (he always helps me keep things in perspective) but after a few husbandly phone calls, some election related, some Facebook related, by the end of the night my spirits were slowly climbing back out of the pit of despair. At 9:00 p.m. I called the kids around me to see history being made.
It was an extremely cool moment, for me and for them. I hope they remember it.
Wednesday: Woke up with Wyatt at 5:35. Cleaned the dang house. Graded papers. Finished up proofing the last little bit of Irreantum. Ate Halloween candy. Recovered from Tuesday-induced hangover. Stayed inside.
Thursday: Woke up with Wyatt at 5:45. Prepped for class. Finished grading papers. Went to Old Navy to buy myself one pair of jeans, but instead bought myself two sweaters, two tank tops, Wyatt two pairs of pants, Elise two tops, and Jonas and Ethan one long-sleeved shirt a piece. Wondered why I keep running out of money one week before auto-deposit hits the Mountain America account. Ordered Papa John's pizza to feed my offspring and inlaws (thanks inlaws!) who'd be babysitting said offspring since Forrest wouldn't be home before dark. Drove to SLC, taught my students all about "PLOT" (important takeaway: Only Conflict Is Interesting . . . hence, one could conceivably write a short story about Tuesday, but probably not Wednesday.) Drove home on I-15 whilst eating a Southern Style Chicken Sandwich from Mickey D's (I feel so much better about myself when there's no mayonnaise involved). Arrived home to find much joy awaiting: husband! Wyatt ready for bed! TiVoed "Office" AND "Thirty Rock!" Oh, the bliss.
Friday: Stayed cocooned in my bed until 8:00, since the dearest husband ever known to womankind got up with Wyatt at 5:48 and even got Ethan off to school. Went to the gym, did yoga. (The last 10 minutes of yoga class, you lay on the floor with a towel over your eyes and listen to twinkly music and a very sincere woman telling you to relax. It is worth every penny of the $60 I pay to Lifetime Fitness Corporation each month.) Brought Jonas's lunch (left in the backseat of the van) to Marv Jensen Fitness center to a very hungry Jonas. More Irreantum proofing. Made taco casserole on one side of the kitchen island while Forrest made a homemade apple pie on the other side and we listened to new Offspring songs on the iPod. Had dinner (Jonas even ate THREE BITES of the casserole!), puttered, put Wyatt down, left the kids home so Forrest and I could go watch Casino Royale on my parents' home theater system (Forrest has big plans for the new Bond movie next weekend and it was IMPERATIVE that I see Casino Royale in preparation.) And I must say, Daniel Craig is composed entirely of sinew, testosterone, and ice.
Saturday: Today, of course! Slept till 7:00 (even though Forrest was up with Wyatt at 5:52). Cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. Oh, the cleaning. The discarded shoes, the little lego pieces and Pokemon cards, the dust on the blinds and black furniture, the gunk in the bottom of the tootbrush cups, the pencil drawings on the walls (thank you Mr. Wyatt). The toilets, the pee. The Halloween candy wrappers. It's never ending, I tell you. Entropy!! But after a crazy barrage of homemaking, and a little mean-Mom "You can't tell me you think this room is actually CLEAN!" lectures by moi . . . the house is in good shape. For now. So after the crazy barrage, took Elise to get her hair trimmed (NOT cut, heavens), went to lunch at Zupas (fun! although the lady put too much dressing on my salad, but whatchagonnado), came home to a sleeping Wyatt, and laid in my bed UNDER THE COVERS at 2:00 in the afternoon (I was cold!) and read Courtney Kendrick's blog-book for a solid hour. Made me smile. And now I'm blogging. And feeding Wyatt Sun Chips so I can finish. Have I told you he's obsessed with giraffes? And brontosauruses? Something about the necks I'm guessing.
At any rate, this has gone on long enough. Now Wyatt wants me to read him a book about (you guessed it) giraffes. And didn't I say about an hour ago I spend too much time online? See? Told you.
Monday, November 03, 2008
Smell My Feet
Had a fun Halloween with the kids scattered hither and thither. Ethan left the neighborhood entirely and went trick or treating with his friend Mitch. He made an impressive George W. Bush (although he wasn't entirely convincing, since he can pronounce "nuclear"):
Ethan took off at 5:30 and ended up sleeping over, so I didn't see the kid till the next morning, when he came calumphing in the house with his gigantic pillowcase full of candy. Have I mentioned that the years they pass like summer dew upon the grass?
The rest of the family trick or treated in the 'hood. Elise was a devil, Jonas a warrior/ninja, and Wyatt a lion (grrrrr! he said).
Fer cute, no?
Elise ended up racing around the neighborhood with her friend Tayler and these cute twin girls who've moved in across the street. She ended up sleeping over at Tayler's afterward, so we were down TWO kids Halloween night
(The girls, minus one twin).
Then Jonas took off with a gang of kids in the neighborhood. All his 2nd grade buddies were a variation on the same ninja theme. They got pulled around by a really nice guy with a trailer and his nice wife who festooned it (festooned? does that entail draping? Ah well, I like the verb anyway) with hay.
After he was done trick or treating he went to one of his friend's house, watched movies and jumped on the tramp in the dark until 10:30, so he he had an exciting night too.
Then Wyatt got to truck around with his Dad and I for a little while. At first he was suspicious about going up to all these strange doors, knocking and asking for candy. But after a couple houses, he got the hang of it. And there's nothing cuter than a toddler in a costume.
It was a fun Halloween--and now I have all the candy to contend with. (Those fun size Kit Kats are calling to me!)
And now it's Monday night. Which means tomorrow is TUESDAY. For the first time in my adult life, I'm really invested in a Presidential election. I'll probably be glued to CNN all day long.
Don't forget to vote. No matter who you're voting for--VOTE!
(But I've gotta say . . . GO OBAMA!!!)
Ethan took off at 5:30 and ended up sleeping over, so I didn't see the kid till the next morning, when he came calumphing in the house with his gigantic pillowcase full of candy. Have I mentioned that the years they pass like summer dew upon the grass?
The rest of the family trick or treated in the 'hood. Elise was a devil, Jonas a warrior/ninja, and Wyatt a lion (grrrrr! he said).
Fer cute, no?
Elise ended up racing around the neighborhood with her friend Tayler and these cute twin girls who've moved in across the street. She ended up sleeping over at Tayler's afterward, so we were down TWO kids Halloween night
(The girls, minus one twin).
Then Jonas took off with a gang of kids in the neighborhood. All his 2nd grade buddies were a variation on the same ninja theme. They got pulled around by a really nice guy with a trailer and his nice wife who festooned it (festooned? does that entail draping? Ah well, I like the verb anyway) with hay.
After he was done trick or treating he went to one of his friend's house, watched movies and jumped on the tramp in the dark until 10:30, so he he had an exciting night too.
Then Wyatt got to truck around with his Dad and I for a little while. At first he was suspicious about going up to all these strange doors, knocking and asking for candy. But after a couple houses, he got the hang of it. And there's nothing cuter than a toddler in a costume.
It was a fun Halloween--and now I have all the candy to contend with. (Those fun size Kit Kats are calling to me!)
And now it's Monday night. Which means tomorrow is TUESDAY. For the first time in my adult life, I'm really invested in a Presidential election. I'll probably be glued to CNN all day long.
Don't forget to vote. No matter who you're voting for--VOTE!
(But I've gotta say . . . GO OBAMA!!!)
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