Wednesday, October 31, 2012

A Very Scary Halloween Indeed

What was so scary?  I thought my camera was missing.
The Handy Man planned us a little escape last weekend. It was a great idea, but it doesn't seem we do romantic getaways too well.  The room had a hot tub and the bleach smell was a bit overwhelming.  Poor Handy Man did not react well.  Then, if that weren't enough, he had a gall bladder attack.  Poor thing. I felt so terrible for him.
Anyway, fast forward to this evening when we're headed out the door to the Halloween festivities and I cannot find my camera anywhere. I knew I'd packed it when we left Brown County, though hurriedly, in our quest for some organic apple juice.  I couldn't remember seeing it since we'd been home.  As memories sometimes do, I remembered clearly how it got in that unusual spot in the living room- after we found it.
Gardner E. brought a little treat for Giddy-up from her last adventure and I wanted a picture of him opening it.  Rae-rae had the camera and left it in the living room.
Whew. I'm never much on new gear. I just prefer what I have.  A broken heart is what I would've had if the camera had been gone.
Let me introduce you to this wee furry footed hobbit, Tolan Fussbuckle, who is the cutest hobbit ever!

 Kaye's cookies.
 Indiana Jones, Captain Jack
 Pocohontas,  Pirate Princess, and Cleo
 And one grouchy little Lorax.
Lucky for us all that I could capture such cuteness.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Smiling Big

Gee, I'm tired and I've only just begun.  This is conference week. I've done six, and have sixteen to go. Back in the day (3 year ago), students went home at noon on a Thursday and Friday to allow conferences.  Now, conferences still have to be done, but in the evening, and morning and at lunch in my case.
So, no Playdate for me this week.
I look back at the slip and slide sweet smiles pictures and relive all those giggles and it makes me smile big, but
then I remember that next week is Halloween and that I need to order big  cookies for Ol' Mother Hubbard's poopies, because there Granny isn't here to do it.  She went into the hospital for the last time on Halloween last year, but
I dropped off the cookie cutter I wanted used to fashion some sticky sweet goodness and the Cookie Ladie's Hubby let me pick a sack full of smiles in the form of red and green tomatoes, but
I miss that grown up Captain kid of mine, but
he not only received his Harvest Box in just a week, but seemed to enjoy it and I've gotten three e-mails this week, almost like having a conversation.
And on Friday, we kept Gideon and watching him dance, minus his clothes and diaper, but with the addition of a lard bucket on his head made me smile big.
Saturday's Fiber Arts Fair full of fluff and stuff that I absolutely love with a friend I love just as much was a big smile for true.
And I think back to Rae-Rae's best friend, tying the knot with her man in a beautiful outdoor ceremony, and I smile some more.

Okay, I can do this.
Hoping for some smiles for you this week.

Saturday, October 20, 2012

More Sliding and Pumpkin Fun

Playdate this week was more slip and slide fun with Ol' Mother Hubbard joining the fray.  Here they are praying before they head down.


 I have trouble  ever capturing good piks of Swee-tee. This night she wanted to pose for me. So cute!


 Later it was time to create rice krispie punkins.



Lovely fall!

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Little Miss Personality

A Shirley Temple Spotting ( kind of like an Elvis sighting) at the Harvest Homecoming yesterday. Missy Bugg competed in Little Miss Harvest Homecoming and was awarded Best Personality. 
 That's true of course, she is Miss Personality Plus.
 She was also the cutest, just sayin'.
 And, since the rules said to wear your fall best, she was also the best dressed.
 I was excited for our Indiana to Afghanistan project to come full circle. I received this picture of the Captain and his team from him yesterday. My kiddos at school will be so happy to see it.
His favorite holiday, being a bit scroogish, is Harvest Homecoming.  I've really felt a little bluesy this weekend, him missing Bugg and the food he loves. So, it was nice to get this yesterday.
I sent him a Harvest Homecoming Box, with honey crisp apples, caramels, pecans, instant apple cider, bullion, chix and dried noodles (faux chix and dumplings) and candy corn and peanuts, with a prayer that it would arrive as promptly as the banner ( a record six days).  I stuffed some colored leaves in there as well.  Not quite sure how I'll manage Thanksgiving, ha!
I have really loved having a fall break.  My next weeks will be so very hectic (conferences, open house, science fair, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, Gingerbread Party, Christmas Musical and, of course Christmas, so it will be back to twice a week postings, on a good week.
We're off!

Friday, October 12, 2012

Conner Prairie

Enjoyed another trip to the Prairie (I believe it's my 9th or 10th time).  They are always adding neat stuff, so it's new every time.  I'd never been with Bean and Bugg, so their view was also new to me. I wanted to take them since their Daddy trained with the blacksmith here.
Now they have a recreation and simulation of an Indiana city, Dupont, where Morgan's Raid raided.  It was cool. Three of the buildings you walk in  looks like the raid is happening right out of the window.  Great special affects had Miss Bugg screaming and diving behind me.  The weather was like completely ideal.  Fall at it's very finest.
We began in the Lenape Village where Uncle Jimi instructed Bugg on the proper way to paddle her canoe.
Next we talked to a trapper making a leather bag about all the animals one could hunt or trap in Indiana.
We likely could have stayed half the day playing with the babies in Mr. Connor's barn.  

 Time for some candle dipping

A new addition to Prairie Town was the option of choosing a job.  If you fullfilled all the obligations in Prairie Town, you earned a special sticker.  Bugg chose the job of Gardener, which entailed watering, hoeing and figuring out which plant was which.


 She needed to try a little calendula salve for her dry hands after all her hard work.
 Bean loved the weapons in the town of Dupont.

Love this place.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Visting Continues


 My little Giddy-up loves boxes of all sorts.  Bean and Bugg decided to decorate one of his boxes, while Aunt Lois looked on.  Giddy-up chose a pen.


Ahhh, alas, something catches his eye. What could it be?
 The vent cover. Should I or shouldn't I?  I'm afraid it was too alluring and down the pen went.
 Thankfully, he was distracted by making sure everyone was wearing their hat.  Even Aunt Lois had a bonnet, but did not wish to be photographed as Sunbonnet Sue.
 Lastly, Davy Crockett.  I sure he roamed the area in just such a hat and a yellow diaper.



Monday, October 8, 2012

Potato Candy

Today was visiting day.
 After I picked up Bean and Bugg we headed to Granny Wandy's.  I had packed their hats from bygone eras, a sun bonnet, coon skin cap, and a union cap.  I thought baby Giddy-up might enjoy pretending with Bean and Bugg when we visited there later in the afternoon.
I had history on my mind because I'm taking Bean and Bugg to Conner Prairie in the morning.  I planned to talk to them about all the periods of history we'll visit on our trip.
So we get to Mom's and Aunt G-Lou has an exciting project up her sleeve- potato candy. Have you ever had it?  It's actually like a peanut butter fudge, made in a pinwheel.  It was a part of every childhood Christmas I can remember.
I told Bugg she needed to put on her hat because this was a recipe from way on back. We get her bonnet on and Auntie G-Lou comes out sporting one of her own.


 Bugg loved playing in the powdered sugar, but wasn't so sure about it when it was gooky.
 Time to roll out the dough.
 Yeah, time to roll up they candy.
 Bean wanted a turn rolling some out as well.  He wanted some blueberry jam with his.
When they were all rolled up, she sent them with us to our next destination, where they  throughly enjoyed the treat after supper.  Yum-yum.  Thanks Auntie G-Lou.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Thinking it Over

About a year ago my brother joined the Playdate fray with his onliest grand daughter, Swee-Tee. That has certainly been a Playdate surprise because before I didn't get to spend much time with him or Swee-tee.  They come most Playdate evenings. Whilst the others come and go, Bean, Bugg and Swee-tee are pretty constant.  Bean and Bugg spend the night as well. I've really enjoyed the time with my brother, building a relationship with a great niece, and the relationship she's forming with her cousins.
He asked me this week, or rather brought up to me that while he enjoyed the time and opportunity, he knew it wasn't easy always being the hostess, that I worked hard,  and to please feel free to let him know if I just  wasn't up to entertaining.
He's been an awesome part of Playdate.  Now and again he brings dinner and along with Pap and their Opa and Uncle, I've appreciated Bean and Bugg having another male figure to chase, throw a ball and pass around some hugs and kisses in the Captain's absence.  My house is a wild an crazy kinda of gig, while his is very neat. I never feel judged for being the Squatley's.  He just moves the pile out of the way.  He loves good food so he is ever an appreciative audience. Still, I pondered what he said for a minute.

I tried to respond honestly.  I work really hard at teaching and by 3:30 I'm worn to a complete frazzle.  If I went by 3:30 fatigue, I would never do a blamed thing in the evenings. However, I'm just not willing for that to be all that I am.  I want these experiences with all of us. I want these little ones to get the value of family.  I want these memories for them.

It has been interesting returning to the days of old, when getting kiddos fed, attended, homeworked, bathed, powdered, storied, prayed, bedded,  up and at 'em, breakfasted, dressed, combed, etc., etc. was daily and habitual.
 Now, I'm constantly thinking, thinking, thinking. Let's see,
is the milk still good (when did I buy that gallon of milk?)
Juice for Bugg, Bean's special tea (you don't usually have coffee for breakfast?)
do I have cereal they'll eat (not so crazy about high fiber stuff?)
Toothpaste ( that is a neat color, with stars and fruity flavored)
the pajamas clean
snack ( no, they don't really want an Atkins bar)
homework (thankfully I'm baptized in new math and reading, I know all about ten frames and connections)
panties with a princess, underwear that isn't babyish, jeans that fit ( what do you mean they don't zip?)
Shoes ( no open toes, well those aren't  like really all that open and they match your dress, let's think about what's important)
Benedryl, Motrin and Honey ( for whatever ails you)
Recently, one of my student's parents were out of the country while the grands minded the children.  I got a note from an obviously harried grandma, apologizing for something she forgot. I told her, "No worries, I get it."
This morning, at 7:20, ten minutes before we usually leave and twenty five minutes before being late,  after the above mentioned activities, I had Missy Bugg dolled up in a beautiful green frock, matching socks and shoes and was getting ready to stick a bow in her hair, while Bean was finishing up.  Big sigh, all systems go.  He straightens his shorts and says, "Do I look fifties?"
"Do I look fifties, ummm, what does that even mean," I wonder, so I ask.
"What do you mean buddy?"  "
I mean today is Fifties Day and we're supposed to dress like the fifties?"
"Today, Friday, are you sure?"
"Yeah, I'm sure."
So, I don't say, "No, no you look like 2012, like every other kid, so as not to stand out and have your self esteem destroyed by a grandmother who doesn't have any idea if it's okay to wear a Lego, Ninja something shirt, even though it's sold in your size at the Kohl's." " YOU LOOK NOTHING LIKE THE FIFTIES!"
Instead I yell, "Get all those clothes off!"
Then hither and yon I dash, upstairs and down, moving my chubb faster than you can imagine! After visiting the upstairs closet, attic room, downstairs closet and back porch, here they are
 Complete with a duck tail.
Yeah, so it's not great, but it shore nuff is fifties, and I got them there with five minutes to spare.

One day, we'll all laugh about it I'm sure.

So, yeah, I'm tired, but I'd be tired if I didn't do it.  On we go!