Tricks AND Treats

It's been a week of tricks and treats.

Tricks: found out my annoying, persistent cough is actually a touch of pneumonia. Who knew? Fortunately, it not severe and a round of antibiotics is now playing Superman to fight the demons. Speaking of demons, we also discovered that our hot tub caused all of us to get a lovely rash, either from the chemicals or a leftover wee beastie of some sort. Plans are in place to drain the tub, get a new filter, and go back to the pool store for a different batch of treatment chemicals. Or, perhaps drain it, get rid of it, and go back to being non-tubbing folk again.

Treats: And speaking of superheros, Curtis (aka Spiderman) is out with the girls for the goblin brigade. Mary was all dressed up as an angel and Lucy was the cutest pumpkin in the world. Then, ten minutes before departure, I found them stripping off their costumes to become a fairy and a ballerina. As they say, it's a woman's prerogative to change her mind.

While they've been gone, over 50 children have already knocked on our door...and it's only 7pm! I'm hoping we don't run out of candy. The only downside of having tons of children in the neighborhood!

Happy Halloween to all our goblin pals!

Harvest Happenings

I've been afraid to even mention this, yet I jinx us, but here I go: we've been enjoying the most wonderful weather-- crisp, clear and gorgeous! The good weather has allowed us to take advantage of all kinds of fall treasures. First, the harvesting of our first squash from our garden and our sunflower seeds.

Next, the Monster March, a fun neighborhood parade with thousands of costumed kids. We were in awe of the sheer number of kids in our neighborhood. The grandparents came with us as we marched in the parade with our favorite goblins.

Finally, the clear skies have given us a chance to try out our hot tub. When we bought the house, the hot tub was a big detraction because we aren't really spa fans and we were concerned about safety. But, we decided, if it's here, we might as well use it. So, we filled it with new water and plopped the kids in. They loved splashing around under the nighttime stars!

God is my co-pilot (or was that Dog?)

A conversation overheard while the girls were in bed waiting to fall asleep:


Lucy, calmly: "We be quiet in church so that we can listen to Dog."

Mary, emphatically: "You mean God!"

Lucy, calmly: "Yes, Dog!"

Mary, sternly: "No, not Dog. Greta is a Dog. GOD!"

Lucy, calmly: "Yes, Mary, Dog! That's what I said."

Mary, frustrated, "I give up! God Bless you and Good Night!"

Lucy: "Dog Bless you, too!"

Have you heard the news?

Today, while biking home from preschool, Mary asked me, "Did you read the news in the paper this morning?" And I replied, "Yes." Mary said, "Isn't it sad? The news that Emma's grandfather died." And I asked, "Emma from your class?"


And she repeated, "Yes. It was in the news." And so I inquired, "Who was her grandfather?" thinking he must have been a public figure to have his death make the news. And Mary said, "Mom, I told you. He was Emma's grandfather." And I said, "Well, why was he in the news?"


To which she replied indignantly, "Because he died! Our teacher said she got the news today that Emma's grandfather died and we all said a prayer for him."

While I was trying to decide how to explain to Mary the multiple definitions for the phrase "the news," she asked if she could call her grandfathers to see if they heard the news and make sure they were not dead. She figured that if I didn't get the news about Emma's grandfather, I might be missing other news stories, as well.

Fortunately, Mary's grandfathers are happy to avoid any news coverage of that variety for a very, very, very long time.

Van Loebgh

A little Mary art on this beautiful blue-skied afternoon. Mary's self portrait (which personally, I think beats Van Gogh's own version) and little sister Lucy (not quite as accurate given that her hair appears straight here, which we all know is not possible for Lu's locks).

Pumpkins and Paternity

Today, we trekked to Sauvie Island in search of pumpkins. While there, we rode in a tractor-pull to the pumpkin patch. A real pumpkin patch, mind you.

Now, good old Joan's Pumpkin Patch in Livermore was an elegantly arranged field of hay bales with pre-picked pumpkins. The Portland version is more authentic. A real pumpkin patch where pickers pluck their pumpkin finds directly from the vine. And where pumpkin hunters also have to step over rotten pumpkins, tromp in muddy rows, and push back vines to reach that perfect find. The girls loved it.

While on the tractor ride, I smiled at the other moms. One of the moms smiled back, staring at Mary and Lucy, and then started into the by-now-familiar inquisition that goes like this:

Stranger: "They are cute...are they sisters?"

Me: "Yes."

Stranger: "They really have different coloring, don't they?"

Me: "Yes."

Stranger, this time with awkward hesitation: "Do they have the same father?"

Me: "Yes. And the same mother, too."

The first time this happened about six months ago, I was blown away. Now, I find it rather humorous. We are taken through this questionnaire at least one time a week, which I've nicknamed the Paternity Poll. I guess today it could be called the Pumpkin Patch Paternity Poll.

Puddletown

Just as we suspected, 'it' has arrived. The gloomy, wet weather. It started raining on Thursday and hasn't let up yet.

Fortunately, the girls don't mind one bit. They love riding their bikes through the puddles, shouting, "Rooster Tail!" as the water spouts up behind them.

Greta, on the other hand, has to be shoved out the door. She does her business as quickly as possible and then bolts back inside, shivering. Poor Greta needs to grow some thicker fur to survive the winter. Right now it's just wet. Soon it will be wet AND cold!

All of you still wearing your flip flops and tank tops, we miss you. Please give your friend, Mr. Sun, our best regards.