A Little Bit Scary

Halloween was a little scarier than usual this year. A couple days before Trick-or-Treat, PK1 came down with aches, chills and a really high fever.  My main concern was swine flu (H1N1). Her main concern, when the fever came down, was whether she would be able to go out trick-or-treating.

I was so torn.  I felt like a terrible mom making her stay home, and I felt like a terrible mom if I let her go.

I consulted all my top advisers and decided to let her go to a few houses.  We were all disappointed to have to miss the neighborhood party, but our BFFs still came over. The kids were given strict warnings not to share germs or even touch each other!

PK2 was a cowgirl:

PK2 was a pale and puny looking American Girl:

Gram and Papa stopped by with such a big bag of wonderful treats, we really didn't need to go trick-or-treating.

LNG was a cute little hippie:

The BFFs arrive:

PLEASE BRACE YOURSELF
This will be the cutest picture you will see this year:

I told you.  Here is one more.

The BFF's daddy even paid $90 to get an earlier flight home from a business trip in time for Trick-or-Treat.  What a hero!!

PK1 did decide to go home a little early, but we are so thankful she didn't miss Halloween and even more thankful that she is healthy again.

PS  This is what I wanted our pumpkins to look like this year:

But PD said that the girls got to design their own and they wanted this:

Still pretty good, but isn't the picture I picked CUTE?  I might have to get my own pumpkin next year.

Here is a link to last year's Halloween:  Halloween 2008

Happy Halloween Week

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In case you wondered, the Werewolf is my college sister.  The PKs insisted she be out 5th family member.  We love and miss College Sister.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Face Painting:

Barn Slide:

The train:

Miscellaneous Fun:

Last year it was 80 degrees when we went to the Pumpkin Patch.  It was maybe 48 or 50 this year.  I DO NOT LOVE Ohio weather!  There aren't any pictures of me this year because I had pink eye.  GROSS! You can just imagine me in my mom jeans, fleece jacket and Tina Fey glasses chowing down on Kettle Corn and making PD buy me a bunch of pumpkins for the porch. For a little flashback, click here to see last year's trip to the pumpkin patch: Pumpkin Patch 2008  Something that wasn't different...I still have the best family EVER!

Halloween Party

We went to a great little Halloween party for a bunch of political families this weekend. It wasn't really that little.  It used to be just a few families, but it has grown into a much bigger operation.  There was a catering truck and valet parking this year!

There was a trick or treat set up along the cutest path in the woods.  PK1 tore off with her friends immediately.

But PK2 still stuck a little closer to me since there were some scary dressed up characters.  I kept asking her if she wanted to turn back, but I think she didn't want to miss out on any of the candy.

It has been freezing here...30's at night and cold and rainy during the day.  But the sun came out and it was a very nice evening.

There was also a limbo contest and a dance contest...for which PK1 got a prize.  I missed this because I was drinking wine visiting inside with some ladies.

Some of the intern types dressed up in costumes.  

What a fun night.  I was kind of wishing we had the land etc. to host such a thing, but when I saw the hostess running around with a clipboard and a walkie talkie, I decided I was glad to just attend. 

I Heart Huckabee

Mike Huckabee was in town to do a series of events with John Kasich last week.

And guess what?  I have a really close relationship with John's Deputy Policy Director.  (As in... I bore him two children.)  I was really hoping to go to a fancy adult event and try to shake Mike Huckabee's hand, but alas, no staff were allowed to go to that.  Then I was afraid that I wouldn't be able to go to the town hall meeting they were doing because I had no one to watch the PKs during the day.  (A downside to homeschooling.)  It was PD who finally suggested..JUST bring the girls with you.

It was such a crazy morning.  I had to take PK1 to her homeschool co-op first..we couldn't skip because it was picture day.  PK2 and I waited around for half the co-op and then after the picture we drove down to the Ohio State campus, eating lunch on the way.  I was super prepared with books and suckers for the PKs.  They had to be really quiet because the event was being taped.

As soon as we got there PD sent an intern to come meet us at the entrance and take us back stage!  This is where it gets good.  We were sitting backstage for only a little while watching PD and his crew go over the questions with the moderater when the guests of honor walked right in!

Mr. Huckabee was so nice.  He introduced himself to me and teased the girls a little and asked them how old they were.  He, of course, thought we were awesome to homeschool because he is a school choice guy!

The girls behaved perfectly (only two large suckers each).  PK1 even said she enjoyed listening to all the good ideas they had!

It was especially cool to meet one of my favorite politicians because he was so genuinely nice, and that is not always the case.

Apple Picking

I have never been apple picking before.  People around here act like everyone does it. Actually, they pick all fruit as though everyone does it.  Moms at church, moms at the gym everyone says, "We are going to pick raspberries today."  As though everyone does this.  Certain fruits become ripe and you and your children go to an orchard or whatever and hand pick said fruit.  This is foreign to me.

Well, I decided I would join in this apple picking thing this year.

It was GREAT!

The kids loved it, it was a nice cool afternoon and the apples were so good.

I am not even a huge apple person.  Give me a peach any day, but these apples were good.

We picked some that were good pie apples and some that were good eating apples.

Another thing some of my friends do is can fruit and make jam.

That is way more trouble than I am willing to go to.  I am going to attempt a cobbler later this week.

I think this will have to be part of our fall tradition from here on out.  In fact, we may have to go again this year because the girls and I each ate two apples just today and we are going to run out!

Blog Birthday

I suddenly realized that I started my blog one year ago today. I haven't been blogging much lately.  But I thought I would mention it anyway.