Halloween, cont'd

School Halloween party, followed by the Lion's club Halloween party.  Reagan won 2nd prize for her age group, Quinn won 3rd!  That means all three kids won something this Halloween - a fact they were pretty proud of.  My inner stage mom was in full swing.  Toddlers-n-Tiaras got NUTHIN' on me and Pippi Longstocking ;).

No, that's not a mask he's wearing, as his mother didn't know that Ninjas were supposed to wear masks.  It's his turtle neck pulled up over his nose.  That was his own idea.  I think it worked.

Colby (once we were home, and I insisted on him brushing his teeth extra thoroughly before bed):  "But Mom! I haven't eaten hardly ANY sugar tonight."  Yeah, right.

Extra proud Ninja Warrior - losing his tough veneer when awarded $3.

Because doughnuts for dinner are always a good idea.... how do you think those pig-tails got to standing straight up, anyway???

Halloween Fun

We had some distinguished guests come visit us today in the U.P.... Mr. Harry Potter himself flew in on the latest Nimbus 2000, followed by a Ninja warrior, and Pippi Longstocking.  We kicked off what has turned out to be the "season" of Halloween with a party at the local bowling alley.  Reagan won first prize for her age group - which merited her her very own bowling party!!!  WOO HOO, sistah!  And Colby won second prize for something,  I just didn't quite hear exactly what it was.  I missed the "awards ceremony", as I was off setting up for the NEXT Halloween party, put on by our local Moms' group.  Trunk-or-treating in the church parking lot was great fun, and about 73 kids showed up for the inaugural event.  Wowza.  It was more than a little chilly, but a good time was had by all. 

 Didja ever try to bowl with a monkey on your back?  It ain't easy!

Now to get all that hair color out of the young 'uns hair before church in the morning!  I forsee having to wash pillow cases on the morrow!

Home Improvements

We are Under Construction.  The living room floor's carpet has been torn up, and we are in refinishing phase of the maple floor underneath.  For those that don't know, our 100 year old farm house is shaped like the alimentary canal of an earthworm. Here's a visual for you:

 This is because we have a "moron" house, wherein it started like a box 100 years ago, and then somebody added more on, and then more on, and then more on.  All the additions, though, have been to either the front of the house, or the back of the house, resulting in... you got it.... the "earthworm".   No "rancher" or "tudor" styling here.  NOPE.  We live in a WORM.   And the living room?  It's the gizzard.  Smack-dab in the middle.  Which means, for the entire week, the front of the house is cut off from the back of the house.  Which means Mom sleeping in the front of the house, and kids sleeping in the back of the house.  Which means, no kids jumping into my bed at 6 am!!!  (They actually asked specifically about this.  "But Mom... if we can't go through the living room, how are we going to crawl into bed with you every day??"  Newsflash.  YOU'RE NOT.  Mommy is SLEEPING IN!!! )  It also means, though, that I have to REALLY think about my movements, because if I forget something on one side or the other, I have to tromp outside in the rain to go to the other side to get it.  Reagan, whose bedroom is 100% cut off by the project, and is sleeping with her brothers upstairs, fell out of the top bunk this morning.  I heard the "thunk" and the wail from my bed.  But... I waited.  Because Dad was getting ready for work on the "backside", and I was cut off on the "frontside".  And you know what??  It was taken care of!  WITHOUT ME!!!  Dad comforted little miss, and Mom stayed in bed.  It's almost like a spa resort, this childless "frontside"- there's no kitchen to cook in, no washer/dryer for laundry... only a king sized bed and a large master bath shower!!   Spa-like, that is, except for the total mess and lack of maneuvering room, as the entire contents of the living room are in the den, foyer, and MY bedroom.  Serenity it is not.

We'll be spending a good deal of time away from the house during this project, because it's kind of loud and dusty - not good for two kids with dust mite allergies.  We're going natural with the maple finish on the wood, instead of the cherry stain I wanted, because apparently maple is really hard to stain.  Apparently, there is great risk of blotchiness, because maple is such a dense wood.  Apparently, even though the floor was cherry colored to START with, that can't be done anymore.  I was disappointed, but will adjust.  Pictures to follow, once the project is complete!!!

Pumpkin Carving

I remember as a kid hating the "clean out" phase of pumpkin carving, and thoroughly enjoying the part where you turn a vegetable into a thing with a personality. Not so my boys. Goopy guts are the best part, to be flung into brothers' hair, squished between fingers, and spewed about the kitchen floor. Makes Mom a little crabby, actually. When it came time to actually carve faces, both boys started whining that they "couldn't doooooooooooooooooooo it." (sigh). Those pumpkins eventually got carved, albeit with ALOT of my help. Reagan was napping, which was just as well. We'll have our own "Mommy/daughter" pumpkin carving later in the week. No need to pick up bad habits this early in the game!

It. Is. Finished. (a.k.a. When Penguins Fly)

Five years and one month later, the mistress airplane is complete.  Yes!!!!  We are the proud owners of a fully- built Rans S7s Courier, compliments of the hardwork, ingenuity, and perseverance of my husband.  I honestly don't remember what life was like before the "big project".  We're entering a whole new stage of life now ;).  It's a cute little thing, this plane, and now Rob awaits renewing his pilot license before taking the maiden voyage!  Be prepared for lots of footage for THAT big event.  Rob said it would be the BEST DAY OF HIS WHOLE LIFE.  I did remind him of the birth of his three children, and the magical day 14 years ago when he wed his one true love.  Oh yeah.  THAT, too. 

There's been lots of speculation as to who will be the first "co-pilot".  That's not going to happen for quite awhile yet, as there are rules about when Rob can take up his first passenger.  And Mommy has rules about children with busy little hands having their own airplane controls in the back seat, away from the supervising eyes of a parent.  So.... still up in the air (pun intended) on that decision. 

Mommy also wonders why there are still so  many parts left on the "great wall of parts" in the hangar, when the airplane is supposed to be DONE????

Play Date for Reagan

Little Ms. Tag-along doesn't get many activities that are specifically for her - so today, Mom decided to rectify that a bit.  Reagan and I met some friends at the Treehouse for some playtime.  I'll let the pictures tell it...

Bowling Fun

I regrettably didn't have my camera with me today (the group photo above was off of someone else's facebook page) when the boys participated in Youth Bowl day at our local bowling alley.    For the wallet-breaking price of TOTALLY FREE, the boys spent 2.5 hours eating pizza, taking a tour "behind the curtain" (you always wondered how they set up those little pines, didn't you???),  and learning the fine art of bowling.  They were sent home with videos, free vouchers for bowling, and a $5 arcade gift card.  Each.  I was so impressed at the bowling alley's generosity, patience with the children, and organization.  Way to go, Mine Shaft!  Colby was soooooo excited, he literally could not.sit.still. for the entire 2.5 hours.  I quote him here:

Colby: "Mom, this is the best day of my WHOLE LIFE.  I get to BOWL.  I get to DRINK POP, and I get $5 worth of arcade games!  And it's YOUR best day, too, because you don't have to pay for it!!!"

The pop may have explained quite a bit of the hyperactivity (literal somersaults on the floor).  The sensory overload may have accounted for the remainder.  Regardless, despite having to keep two boys from literally freaking out over the BEST DAY OF THEIR WHOLE LIFE - it was a really cool time.  They're having a free Halloween bowling party for the kids, too, and I think we just might show up!!

FALL- Words Unnecessary

Indian Summer

I know you're not going to believe this, because - quite frankly - I don't really either, but it was EIGHTYSEVEN degrees today.  That's 87.  Eighty. Seven.  In October.  Above the 45th parallel.  NO WAY.  At least, that's what the bank sign said, and I don't know how precise the bank sign is, but regardless - it was warm and beautiful.  Clean house?  Finish removing tacking strips from the living room floor?  Paint the walls?  Prepare my presentation for next week?  Cook?  Are you kidding?????  The regular Saturday chores didn't get just pushed by the wayside.  The were chucked with an emphatic "UMPH" out the window. 

The kids and I went to the pumpkin patch, where we survived went through a corn maze.  Didn't lose a single offspring, so I'd say we were pretty successful.  The pumpkin farm also has a pretty cool trebouchet for pumpkin chunking, so we of course had to stay to witness that.  Colby got to pick out the pumpkin that got flung ("the BIG ONE", he says.  No surprise there.). 

I had wanted to go to Lake Superior afterwards, but didn't trust myself to find a beach on my own with three kids in tow, so went back to the tried and true Chassell beach. I really didn't think that we'd have one more beach day this year, but... hooray!!! We did!!! Weren't really prepared, as who keeps swimsuits and towels in the car in October? But didn't necessarily matter to the short set. They'll swim in whatever they've got on hand.

AHHHH, Indian summer!  We have been so blessed this year, weather wise.  It's years like these that lure people into moving up here, lulling them into a false sense of paradise before the 300" winter hits.  Do I sound jaded?  Maybe I am.  Just a bit.