#7 - Halloween!

How to work in the Halloween post?  Can you really be thankful for Halloween?  Maybe in some ways, but I think I'm more thankful for the amazing technology that allows me to post pictures and stories of my family so that people we love, faraway or near, can see them and know what we're up to as often as I'm willing.  It is incredible to me that within seconds of making this post, hundreds of people we know could read it and be updated on our lives.  All costing nothing more than a few minutes of my time, an internet connection, and a reasonable computer.  Since the Grandparents aren't on facebook, I know they are needing some pics.


Halloween this year was just a little bit too much by the time it was over.  We did so many things!  Long gone are the days when you hesitate to spend much on a costume that will only be worn once.  Even without the dress-up factor, the kids' costumes are nearly worn out.

Harriet's preschool field trip to the Galloping Grace pumpkin patch:

I'm 4.

Galloping Grace comes through once again for a much needed horsey ride.

Harriet and her current bff Adalynn

Mommy, Gracie, Hattie trip to the pumpkin patch - the next day:

Janie and Evan made a quick cousin stop in ABQ for the weekend:

frosting Halloween cookies

strolling through the ABQ BioPark

Trunk-or-Treat at the Church:

Daddy is such a scrooge about Halloween.  We held him down and painted his face like Darth Maul so he'd have a costume.

Padme and Vader

Harriet's preschool party:

shortly followed by Grace's class party 5 minutes later... no costumes allowed... momma didn't take pictures of the second graders being gross with their candy.

Zoo Boo with the Wixoms:  (BOO ON THE ZOO!  This was a TOTAL bust... never going back (to the boo that is, we'll still go back to the zoo)... good thing we took pictures this time.)

our ducky little friend, "baby" Rylee

Carving Pumpkins:

Hattie didn't want to cut hers open.  Grace carved a moon and constellations into her "luna" pumpkin.

Halloween Party hosted by David's boss:

Finally!  Halloween - Trick-or-Treating in the Neighborhood!

you under-estimate the power of the dark side

quick dual Darth Vader duel to start the night

the girls with Abby and Tyler (friends down the street)

the "haul" - I'm also thankful that my kids think this is A LOT of candy.  oh, little do they know about filling an entire pillowcase!

Grace's favorites:  Twix, Crunch, 3 Musketeers, Tootsie Rolls

Harriet's favorites:  Jolly Ranchers (she calls them jully ranchers), Tootsie Rolls, Pink Bubble Gum

#6

Today I'm thankful my parents encouraged me to go to college from the time I was a little kid, and paid for my education.  I went to a really great school and they're playing a good football game today.  Go UTES!

#5

Today I am thankful that he

is my husband and coming home to the 505 tonight after a long week in D.C.

Gratitude Journal #4

I need to come up with a different way to title these posts - so boring.   But, for today, I am thankful for fall leaves.  Which is to say, I am thankful for fall leaves that don't fall in my yard!!  I have occasion to drive over the Rio Grande river several times a week.  It is a little more than 10 minutes away from my house.  It is also the only spot in Albuquerque that is covered in deciduous trees, mostly Cottonwoods.  Right now, the Cottonwoods are a deliciously warm golden color, made even warmer by the Albuquerque sun shining on them.  I seem to keep finding myself without my camera when I'm driving over the Bosque.  Anyway, these fall trees are gorgeous.  And, the best part?  They aren't in my yard!!!

I do miss the beauty of New England, but it was such a love/hate relationship with those leaves.  I always felt that Fall was highly over-rated.  Last year, I raked 6 wheel-barrowfuls of leaves just from my driveway, every week.  By the time the season was over, I know we were around the 100 mark for bags and wheelbarrows of leaves raked from the yard.  Then, in the spring, we did about 30 more from the leaves that fell after the snow came.  I tried to count one time, how many trees were in our yard.  I lost track in the 60's and most were at least 50 feet tall - FULL of leaves!

just as the leaves were turning last year

a "few" trees

Now, I can enjoy my leaves, and NOT rake them too!  Ok, today, I did a little raking since the wind has blown neighbor leaves on over - just for something to do out into the sunshine.  I think the whole yard took me about 8 minutes.  Perfection!

the ONLY tree in our yard (and no, it hasn't changed color yet)

"before" - sure, I could have waited for the afternoon ABQ breeze to take care of this

"after" - do you see the tiny little pile of leaves over there?  that's it!

Gratitude Journal #3

Oh man, what to write about today.  I think I'll say I'm grateful for Harriet's preschool since we went on another huge field trip today with them.  Sure, they require A LOT from parents and the whole thing is completely over-the-top and a little insane, but I have never seen a woman more excited about doing her job than the woman who runs this preschool.  She is so creative, so imaginative, so loving, so excited to see the kids every day, and is genuinely interested in each of them.  She is teaching them valuable life skills, to do EVERYthing for themselves (which is something I am not good at), teaching them very good and appropriate curriculum, and celebrates each tiny accomplishment that they make.

field trip to the pumpkin patch a couple weeks ago

Harriet could not write her name before preschool started this year.  She only wanted to write the H and wasn't interested in any more information about how to write the rest.  I tried so many times to help her, but she did not want my help.  Now, only about 8 weeks later, she is writing her whole name (and nickname), and spelling them correctly too.  I'm so grateful for preschool teachers!  I know I could never be one for SO many reasons.  (Reason #1 is that I could never turn on the hose in the school yard ON PURPOSE so that the kids could make mud under the slide and slop it around with shovels and buckets to their hearts content!)  Thank goodness for the preschool teachers in the world!

Gratitude Journal #2

I am thankful for grandparents who like to play with their grandkids.  I had some who did the same for me when I was growing up and playing with them provided some of the best memories of my childhood.

no one is ever sorry in this game except when they lose!

David's parents have been living with us since we got home from Disneyland in September.  They are building a house 12 minutes away from ours and staying with us until it is finished.  Grace and Harriet are LOVING this situation.  They have built-in playmates and their favorite babysitters anytime they want.  Harriet greets Grandma first thing in the morning with her deck of Old Maid cards and the last thing they both do before climbing in bed is to go rough-house with Grandpa, fighting all the time whose turn it is to beat him up.  The Sorry games get a little heated to say the least!  Last night, Grace asked me if I could please do Grandma and Grandpa's chores so that they could start the games earlier.  Guess we know where I fall in line.

You know your house guests have set up residency when you get an invitation to a party at your own house that you didn't plan!  Last week, Grace and Harriet had invitations waiting for them on the coffee table when they woke up.  They were invited to a Halloween party that night in Grandma and Grandpa's room.  The invitation said:  after homework, before bath time.   Will it be fun?  YES!  Will it be scary?  NO

They did crafts and played games and got candy.  Who knew you could have so much fun in the guest room of your own house?

a little 'pin the face on the pumpkin'

I know Grandma and Grandpa are anxious for their own house and space (come on, you who doesn't love sharing the kids' bathroom!), but I know 2 girls who are really going to be missing their grandparents when they don't live with us anymore.  Thanks for all you do for us, Grandma and Grandpa!

November Gratitude Journal #1

So, I just made a comment on Jared's blog that I wasn't going to blog today and therefore would not be able to participate in the overwhelming task of NaBloPoMo (which is National Blog Posting Month and you're supposed to make a post every day for the month of November.)  Then, I headed over to Molly's blog for a quick minute and she reminded me of a great and easy way to post every day.  She does 30 Days of Thanks.  Really, is it that hard to make a list of what you're grateful for once a year?  Maybe it will make me nicer (I know my live-in in-laws would love that!  So would my kids and husband.)

Here goes.  I'm super tired and want to go to bed, so my first entry is this:  I am grateful for the Sun.  It's not a secret and it's not a new thing on this blog that I'm loving our new home in Albuquerque where there are something like 330 days of bright crisp sunshine each year.  We had 2 overcast days in a row about a week ago and I thought I was going to go MAD!  I truly suffer from S.A.D. and I have to say that the good ol' ABQ sunshine is doing a great job of keeping it at bay.  It was a gorgeous, beautiful day today.  It was yesterday too, and the day before that.  I actually got a sunburn on Halloween.  I know I should fear skin cancer, but I just can't get enough!  Thank you Sunshine!  I'll work in the Halloween post somewhere soon.

stuff that makes us proud to be parents

These girls we are raising are so awesome.  Yes, sometimes we wish we could FED EX them overnight to Grandma's house, but every so often, they just blow us away with how sweet, smart, and talented they are.  We like to think we have something to do with that?  maybe?

This last Sunday in church was one of those days to be proud parents.  Nothing major went on, but they both just showed us in little ways what big people they are on the inside.

David is one of the co-teachers for Grace's Sunday School class.  The lesson topic was about developing your talents.  David asked Grace if she'd bring her guitar to class and play for everyone.  We were pretty surprised when she didn't shy away and said she'd be excited to do it.  I totally thought I'd have to bribe her and beg her.  She even memorized an extra song so that she'd have two to play without bringing her music.  She played Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" and also "Yankee Doodle."  David said she did a really good job.  She said she was nervous, but that didn't stop her or make her hesitate to do it.  We are really happy with how much she's learned in her guitar lessons this year and love hearing her practice.  (I am so sad that today will be her last class with her current teacher since he just accepted a job at Cornell University and will be moving to New York next week.  We were lucky to have him while we did.  I am so not looking forward to trying to find a new teacher!)

Meanwhile, in Jr. Primary, Harriet was the spotlight child.  I don't know who interviewed her or when, but this is what was said about her:

Name:  Harriet Chapman  .
I am a member of   Sunbeams 1   Primary Class.
My favorite thing to do is  color with crayons in my coloring book.
I have   4 + 2 dogs    people in my family.
When I grow up I want to be    mother     .
My favorite color is     pink    .
My favorite animal is       elephant      .
My favorite food is     ramen noodles    .
My favorite thing about Primary is       singing songs and my teachers     .
An example of when I chose the right      when I tell my sister I love her    .

Harriet really does love babies and has such a natural tendency to nurture and take care of things.  I know she'll be a great mom someday, but sometimes I'm afraid that the kids will look at what a nutcase I am and decide they don't want to be a mom if it means losing your marbles.  When I read this, it gave me hope that I'm doing a good job.  I also love that Harriet said that she loves her primary teachers.  They are both the cutest, sweetest people.  She was so scared to go to church classes by herself when we moved here.  Both of her teachers were so loving and patient with her and she is now very attached to them and excited to see them (although she still has to take her blankie to class so she's not scared.)

awww... what great kids I have!  I need to print this and blow it up and frame it so that when they drive me crazy I give them the benefit of the doubt.

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 2010

...as it is loosely called around here...  Wow, are we lucky to live in such a cool place.  About 4 hours after we got home from the MUSE concert, we woke up the troops to go to our first mass ascension at the balloon fiesta park.  Words and pictures just don't do any good.  But I'll give it my best.  This was just utterly amazing.  What you can't capture on a camera is the 3-D effect of seeing the massive volume of these balloons as they inflate and take off.

We got there in the dark, so we were able to see the sunrise and be there when the first balloons filled up and took off and we stayed a few hours - as long as our sleep-deprived children could last.  Grace was really pushing for us to stay to see Darth Vader take off, but some of the bigger balloons took hours to get off the ground and we had no idea how much longer we would have to wait for him.  We made do with seeing him get inflated.

Actually, I should mention that a teacher at Grace's school is a balloonist.  She graciously shared her balloon with the school for Albuquerque Aloft morning (city-wide school celebration the day before Balloon Fiesta kicks off.)  This was really neat because we got to see them put a balloon together start-to-finish and blow it up and launch it.

Grace and her friend Neleah

Since we live on the west mesa with a great view directly to the balloon park, we got to enjoy the balloons each morning from our upstairs windows.  We literally woke up to hundreds of balloons in the sky every morning.  What a fantastic way to wake up!

I decided that one of the most fun things to do during balloon fiesta week is to do errands in the morning about the same time that the balloons are coming down.  They have some control over where they land, but sometimes not a lot.  They land ALL over the place.  Each balloon has a crew of people on the ground waiting for it to come down and then they drive a chase truck to pick it up.  It is fun to be out and about when the chase cars are driving all over and the balloons are coming down in parks, in the middle of major roads, out in the open desert, etc.  Balloon fiesta week would be a great time to commit a crime (not that I'm considering anything) because the police are completely consumed with traffic flow to the park and escorting the chase cars as they retrieve their balloons from crazy places.

One morning, I was sitting at the computer and heard a WHOOSH, WHOOSH, WHOOSH sound outside.  Honestly, at first, I had a brief thought that it sounded like a hot air balloon, but quickly dismissed it.  Then, it kept going and I decided it sounded like someone dragging something across a driveway.  Then, my senses popped and I realized that it was "landing time" and there was probably a balloon right outside!  I ran out the front door to see a balloon hovering just inches above the houses on our street.  It landed about 3 houses away right at our school bus stop.  SO COOL!  Its chase car was there immediately and I couldn't believe how fast they got it packed up and drove off.

Another fun thing to do at balloon fiesta (apparently) is to go to a "glow" at night.  They don't launch the balloons, but they tether and inflate them and fire them up so that they glow and you can walk around and look at all of them.  We tried to go to the special shapes glow, but it ended up being canceled for wind (so did the one the next night.)  They still ran the "afterglow" fireworks which were pretty nice, but we will definitely have to make it to a glow next year.

Here's a very small sample of the pics we took:

Christmas card?

the "newest" New Mexicans... welcome to your new home Grandpa and Grandma!

Resistance

I finally ran out of it - resistance to see MUSE live.  We were first introduced to this explosive little British band while playing Guitar Hero a couple years ago.   Can't deny the marketing there.  Last year, when I saw U2 in Boston, I found out that the next night, they would be playing in New York with MUSE.  The fine line I drew to force myself not to go down to see the amazing U2 show again along with a band quickly shaping up to be another favorite was extremely thin.  But, I resisted, hoping for a chance to see them another time.

Just after moving to ABQ, I found out that MUSE would be bringing their Resistance tour here!  Woo hoo!  Except, we were going to have a pretty fantastic (and expensive) summer and fall with all our travels and activities.  So, $$ and reason won out and I resisted buying the tickets.

Then, the balance tipped, when David found out that his new biking buddy and awesome wife had tickets to the concert.  Well, there's just no good reason to not go out with new cool friends, right?  We called them and kind of invited ourselves to go with them since there were still tickets available.  Definitely the right decision.  The resistance is over.

Dave and Muffin picked us up in a cherry red Mustang convertible that Muffin had borrowed from her dad's vast car collection.  1000 points to Muffin!  A bike guy and a car gal - they are right up our alley in so many ways.  We had a fantastic evening drive to eat Indian food before the concert and then headed out to Rio Rancho for the music.  Dave, Muffin, and I bought sweet concert t-shirts first thing in the door.  Score again.  Too bad for David, too practical to be a member of the MUSE t-shirt club.

We missed the opening band, Passion Pit, kind of on purpose.  I hate sitting through bands that don't excite me and everyone seemed to agree on it.  So, we got there just in time to find our seats (almost scored sitting together with the Merediths) and sit down, wait, stand up, for the MUSE to come out.

MUSE just might be my new favorite band.  I don't know, U2 and I do go way back and they are the soundtrack to my life, but MUSE is quickly gaining.  The concert definitely ranks in my top 2 or 3 out of about 60 concerts I've seen.   They are amazing live.  Again, I am so mesmerized by watching someone who is THAT into their music and mega-talented to boot.

They had an unbelievable light/laser show, a pretty rad set, and the coolest instruments I've ever seen.  The drum kit, grand piano, guitars, everything all had their own lights that pulsed with the notes.  Their songs and imagery make you feel like you're on a cosmic trip into the depths of outer space sometimes.  About 1/2 way through the show, giant beach balls, wait, no, they're giant eye-balls filled with red confetti, rained down on the crowd.  The red confetti inside made the eyes look all blood-shot.  It was creepy, but seriously fun to watch them bounce around and eventually pop and bleed out the confetti.  This band has recently been called "the best live band in the world."  When I first heard that, I thought, wait - wasn't that U2's title?  I think U2 better watch out for these guys.

Lead singer, Matthew Bellamy, is maybe the most talented musician I've ever seen perform.  His vocals draw you in first, but he plays a screaming lead guitar too, and knows the piano backwards and forwards.  He could just about be a one-man-show, but he's got an amazing bassist and drummer backing him up that you can't overlook either.  I usually don't notice the bass players in bands as much as I do some of the other band members, but this guy doesn't let you forget that without his bass, the songs would be nothing, and doesn't shy away from the vocals either.  It's just crazy to hear how much music can come out of 3 people who let loose.  I was just reading an article that sums it up - imagine Queen, Depeche Mode, and Rage Against The Machine, all smashed together and then exploding with a new sound.  If you have the means, I highly recommend catching this band when they come to town!
All in all - a great show, a great night, with great friends.  Ahhh....