Double Bubble, Toil and Trouble . . .

The time has come again to document October's spooky festivities. We kicked off the season with a bang at our Church's Willy Wonka themed fall festival. My kids loved finding their golden tickets, using them to get in and then loading up on games and treats. Scottie brought her good friend from gymnastics Maya. On entering the "Chocolate Factory" (the gym, decorated rather spectacularly in streamers and faux candies) Both girls spied the chocolate fountain and I believe I heard Maya gasp out, "That is the most beautiful, delicious thing I have ever seen!" Ahh yes, wait until your spirits get low as a middle aged mother of four, chocolate in all it's forms, takes on breathtaking appeal. I digress, The kids loved filling their gullets with goodies from various games such as Veruca Salt's cake walk and Mike T.V.'s memory game. As Halloween approached costumes were decided etc. And it was an easy year. Scottie opted for Olympic gymnast, Tess was Mulan, Betsy was a fairy and Gunner chose skeleton at the last minute. Tess goes to two different preschools and after attending both those parties she said, "I am done with this." In order to get her to continue to dress up for the church trunk-or-treat and the actual Halloween night, I had to buy a Mulan wig. In between Parties we threw in our traditional trip to the pumpkin patch for our family pictures and to pick out pumpkins. Ah yes, the perfect family picture for Christmas cards.

Oddly enough we ran into two of the families we had been to that same pumpkin patch for the first time eight years ago! (Wish you were there Cannings!) "Wait Mike, surely there's room for six more on that cart!"
It was fun to see them and even more fun because Gunner got to stay later with the Gealta and Cragun boys to try the Corn Maze. Unfortunately we picked a rather thick skinned pumpkin which we had to let Joe wrestle with to carve. "Shoot! I always bite off more than I can chew. Better ask Scottie for help.""Look Tess, I'm getting it!" "Yeah, great, whatever. I need to find a bathroom!"
That said, none of my kids really like squishing around in the guts and interest in carving waned after just two pumpkins.
Every Year several members of our church line the parking lot with their trunks open and decorated and provide a safe environment for the kids to trunk-or- treat. Definitely dreamed up by a mother, this is an event we never miss. I personally feel they got enough candy at Trunk or Treat and wanted to leave before dark to Eastern Washington for our Nephew, Henry's, baby blessing. But Joe decided to throw in a few houses on our block Halloween night. So we Arrived late and sugar-low-tired at His brother Jason's later that night but thank goodness for Daylight savings giving us an extra hour to re cooperate. The Blessing was great; cute baby, delicious food, great company. The bad side was the shortness of the visit but we had to be back for school on Monday. I'm never sad to see October go, yahoo! On to Thanksgiving.

10 Years!

Remember those blissful newlywed days? All that time with just you and your spouse in la la land, so happy and in love. Remember all the fun things, exciting places and adventures had together, just you two? Well I don't! We got married after Joe finished a mid-term on Friday and had a weekend honeymoon so he could be back for class 8am Monday. But I'm not bitter. I'm not because HA! We finally got ours.
After 10 years we took some time for just us. This was the year of our 10th anniversary and for quite a while it looked like we might be apart on the actual day. Joe's brother has been planning to pitch his E.T. sequel to Steven Spielberg and decided on the 24th of October to do it; Joe wanted to support him and had committed to go down to L.A. for that weekend. I was trying my hardest not to be down about it, when Joe suggested I look into ticket prices and babysitting. After my parents graciously agreed to come and watch the kids (thank you so much!!) there was a week long flurry of planning and arrangements and voila! D-land on my 10th anniversary!

They don't call it the Happiest Place on earth for nothing.
This was taken by our waitress at The Blue Bayou. It's the restaurant you walk by when you get off Pirates of the Caribbean. I love the place but Joe had trouble swallowing both his steak and the price. I have to give it a thumbs down but I give two thumbs way up to the little pin on my chest. Not that anyone wants to or should have to look at my chest but if you give it a furtive glance you'll spy the button reading "Happy 10th Anniversary" that they gave us on entering the park. All day we got congratulatory wishes and special treatment, including the lovely, free chocolate mouse you see glowing in the picture.

You may be wondering how one person can go to Disneyland three times in a year and still be interested in it, or even called an adult. But I loved it! And was so glad Joe would take us! Just pointing out that the spirit of Walt lives on in his old apartment above the fire station. When he was in the park, the light would be on and the tradition lives on today. By the way, only total Disney nerds know this.

We maxed out each day with our favorite rides and foods and stayed so close to the park we could easily trudge our way home each night. (After a stop at the local burrito joint so Joe could finally get full with out feeling like he'd been robbed at gun point). Who doesn't want to wallow in pirate treasure?! This is my 8th time at Disneyland but my first on Tom Sawyer's island. I have to say it is not to be missed! That place was terrific and as if that wasn't enough after taking our raft back to the main land we rode Pirates of the Caribbean then ran into some salty Pirates singing in the streets. They asked that all the men join them for a chorus of, "Yo Ho, Yo Ho a Pirate's life for me" which Joe did. Turned out he was the only man to join and we now know he has a shockingly loud and low voice.
The Fireworks at the end of the day were the most awesome ones I have ever seen. A lot of things change at the park during Halloween most of which I don't like but not these. This show was hands down the best show Disneyland has ever put on. Put that in your pipe and smoke it Fantasmic!On main street, next to the Ice Cream Parlor are a bunch of old games. I tried this with my sisters in March and no one did real well, I think someone might have even turned up a "Frigid" rating. Not so for Joe who turned out to be the best kisser in the park. Even The Mistress of all Evil says so. She's trying to look both shocked and coy but don't believe her she was begging for more. And yes we are those people who stand there and take a picture of a picture. I just can't stand to pay the $15 but I thought this was worth having for posterity especially after the Kiss-O-Meter rating. Don't worry, that scared look has nothing to do with my lips. It's more the free fall we were about to undertake.No deal man, that sword's not going to budge; Best to test your brute strength on something fate has a little less to do with.
Our favorite ride at Disneyland was actually the Tower of Terror. It was lit up spookily for Halloween as well.
I loved seeing Joe's face the first time we went. You'd be surprised how fun it is when you aren't trying to act brave for your kids or coerce those small children onto a ride that truly is beyond their age and terror level. "I'm about to have the pants scared off me and I can't wait!"
This is a little off-the-beaten-path spot, Snow White's grotto. I love hearing her disembodied voice trilling with the birds and we managed to interrupt some serious romance in our quest for pictures. My wish was to come back again for another anniversary, Joe's was probably the same only inserting "not".

We threw in a day at Six Flags Magic Mountain and rode the big kid rides. Unfortunately we have no pictures of this day as we were literally starving ourselves to race to and from the rides. I actually met my coaster match riding X2. It was completely terrifying and I only went on it twice so Joe would think I was brave. Unfortunately when you scream NOOOOO!!! like you're being murdered during a ride, no one thinks your very brave.

And of course went up to L.A. to help Jarom pitch his sequel idea and see family. Sometimes I would ask Joe how many days worth we had lived in just 24 hours. Though it wasn't exactly a relaxing vacation, the trip couldn't have been better, we'll have to go on a lounge-around-the-beach-excursion next year. (hint hint)