Cute kids... dirty window!

1.

I sent my dear husband (with sons) on an errand to buy our last-minute pumpkins for Jack-O-Lantern carving and he came home with many pounds of pumpkin AND a dozen long stemmed red roses. I think I shall send him out for pumpkins more often! Such a gentleman, I am truly blessed.

2.

Jack-O-Lantern carving took up the entire living room this year, with each of the big boys taking on a gigantic pumpkin~ gutting, carving and perfecting before placing on the front porch. The dogs love to eat pumpkin, so they had to be kept away from the carving area lest their canines leave unappreciated marks on the hallowed gourds.

3.

Joseph put the "trick" into trick or treating at our place, cleverly installing an invisible line with a flying count Dracula. We will call this our home school science for the week. Upon our front porch visitors the Dracula would suddenly descend, giving fright in the night (and the next morning).
 

Look out below!

Apple harvest 2011

4.

"Luke" braved his first real steps this week, but still mostly prefers to crawl.  His new trick involves trotting along pushing a 5 gallon bucket as his "walker/jogger," sliding briskly along our smooth floors.  His twin sister, "Leia" will pull up and stand with some creeping, but doesn't show any urgent desire to catch up with "Luke."   Her voice is her prize possession, and she uses it frequently!  She loves to hold socks, one in each hand, and will clutch them for hours on end.  If she's fussy: give her a sock, she'll quiet right down.

5.

"Tony" enjoyed trick-or-treating with Peter and Tim; collecting a little bag of goodies on a loop around our neighborhood.  Grandma Billie and Grandpa Cliff were here for the holiday, but our doorbell didn't ring much this year.  We did have a few cleverly costumed visitors.  At dinner the boys made bets that a princess would be first to our door this year, but it was in fact a football player who gave the inaugural knock.

6.

Zachary ordered steel beams to begin constructing the frame for his Eagle Project carport at the rectory. Several construction-savvy adults have lined up to assist with the complex structure.  Smaller jobs for willing Boy Scout volunteers may come later.  Looks like the majority of the construction will be set to begin.... just at the start of his varsity swim season! 

7.

Our apple trees' harvest this year yielded a few dozen spotty but delicious apples.  We cooked up one batch for applesauce and kept the rest for snacking.  This years' gardening efforts dwindled to just apples and rhubarb, with whatever blueberries and raspberries could survive the bizarre "summer" weather.

Boo!



Thanks for hosting 7 Quick Takes, Jen!

boldly go forth


























Look, Peter is defending the unborn...
Don't you love his pro-life pumpkin?
Hopefully it touched the hearts of many of the kids (and their accompanying adults) who visited our porch on Halloween.

Joseph mostly wanted to bash a pumpkin with his mace, but alas, he lacked the required adult permission! Maybe next year... or not. It really wouldn't be Halloween around here without weapons for props.

The boys put their trick or treating costumes together all by themselves this year. There were odds & ends to choose from~ our costume collection barely fits into a large rolling hockey gear bag. Peter's St. John Vianney costume for All Saints Day did require a last minute sewing marathon, so I didn't feel too left-out or out-grown as the costume designer (a role for which my mom set a pretty high standard!).

There were fun times trick or treating in the 'hood. Joseph and Peter were ever so polite to each and every person who gave them a treat.

I was holding out for Skittles or Starburst (collected as a tax), but their bags were full of chocolate varieties this year.... oh well. In years' past, we would buy back their candy and give it away at the shop(s). This year it's all stashed in their rooms, and they ask permission each time they want a piece (really!). Usually I answer with, "After you finish your math!" or "After the bathroom is cleaned!" So the candy actually works out quite nicely as a the carrot on the stick! It all gets confiscated if I find one wrapper on the floor instead of in the garbage can... so they're on the watch for litter, too!