Happy Halloween!

Halloween has always been one my my favorite holidays.  I just love costumes!  In high school, before I decided to become a teacher, I daydreamed about studying theatrical fashion design.  I pictured myself heading off to Broadway with a needle, a glue gun, and my imagination.

Well, that didn't happen.  So I lived the dream vicariously through the big kids' Halloween costumes.  Every year I made their costumes, from designing, to sewing, to embellishing.  Those are some of my best memories.  It's tougher now with the little kids, being a working mom.  But while I don't have that kind of time or energy right now, I hope to get back to it soon.

To Trick-or-Treat or not?  That was the question.  You know how I am about candy.  How do I take my little ones from door to door and then not let them have their spoils?  So we decided not yet, but next year for sure.  They had so many fun things to do, though, they didn't even miss it.

At the pumpkin patch, looking for that perfect pumpkin...

 This year the girls wanted to be Disney princesses.  Here we are posing before heading off to the Little Gym's Halloween Party.

Here's our little Tinkerbell...

And our Ariel...

They had a great time at the party, although Caitlyn had to do the routine sitting out and being shy for 20 minutes.   Once she got into the swing of things, she was all over the place.  We might have to sign her up for Little Gym soon!

On Halloween Day we made cookies...

Then we carved our massive pumpkin.  Well, I carved and the girls gave me pointers.

  

  

 

Happy Halloween!

12...Picture a Love

What do I love? I love going to the bookstore!  I love walking in the door to a million books as far as my eyes can see.   I love the cozy chairs and soft lighting that beckon me to come in, sit a spell, and lose myself in another world.  I love the scent of coffee brewing, and the knowing that it will be there waiting.  I especially love to walk among the shelves, running my hand along the books lined up like chocolates, each with some mysterious center, and trying to decide which I will taste first. I love knowing that any of them can be mine.

11...Picture Hatred

What do I hate?  Hatred itself.  Intolerance of any kind just makes my heart hurt.

10...Picture My Screw Ups

This is who I do the most screwed up things with...

Okay, so really...I can't think of anyone.  I spend my time either keeping people or getting people out of trouble, not getting into it.  Lame and boring.

9...Picture a Friend

This post is about the "person who has gotten me through the most."  As I look back on my life over the years, I have to say that Melody is that one person who I truly counted on.  Here's an old-school photo from 20 years ago! 

There were several periods of my life, from 16 to about 25, when I just really, really needed a good friend.  Someone who cared about me.  Someone who was wiser.  Someone besides my mom and sisters to listen and understand me, and to just lend a helping hand once in awhile.  Being Kharli and Christian's grandma, she was always there for them, of course.  But she was there for me too, even after she wasn't my mother-in-law anymore.  So even though I have a new MIL who I love, and she has a new DIL who she loves, and I don't see her very often anymore, it doesn't negate my memories or feelings.  She will always be that person in my mind and heart who I remember as the one who had gotten me through the most.