Carleen and Mike

Me and Carleen were talking about Halloween for us as kids and how different it is now. Observe: I’m here, alone, except for Liam, it’s 6:30 as I write this, yet I haven’t had a single trick-or-treater. 10 - 15 years ago, I should have several rings of the doorbell, by at least the younger crowd still out with their parents. It’s probably just as well, we didn’t buy any candy anyway, we never get trick-or-treaters. Also, both the mall and Wal-Mart are having a trick-or-treat night. In a way, it’s kind of sad - a generation of kids with parents so scared of some vague, ethereal boogeyman (read: pedophile), that they’re subjected to trick-or-treating in bright, safe gigantic symbols of American commerce. I understand the fear, I really do, I’m wondering if I won’t fall prey to the same fears as Liam grows older. Isn’t it better to fear the boogeyman that’s not there, than to risk allowing your child to fall prey to the one that is?

Halloween has almost returned back into an “adult” holiday, instead of taking your kids out trick-or-treating, you drop them off at the babysitters while you dress up to go to a Halloween party. Maybe that’s what Hallloween is morphing into, I don’t know. Maybe I’m just out of touch with the trick-or-treat crowd. Maybe it’s just more Bible belt, anti-pagan trash that’s ruining my holiday. What I’m really sad about is how apathetic I’ve become towards the whole holiday. It never crossed my mind until yesterday to even buy candy, and even then I forgot - and it doesn’t even look like it’s made a difference. I just rent my horror movie (actually, I did that yesterday, and I didn’t rent, I bought 28 Weeks Later, awesome, but actually not a very good Halloween horror movie), I’d say eat a butt-load of candy, but thanks to Crohn’s I can’t even do that anymore. So basically I rent a movie and if I get around to it, carve a pumpkin (we actually did that this year, first time in the 5 years we’ve been here.

LATER:

But are any of my above reasons the real reason why we don’t get trick-or-treaters? Are there really less people trick-or-treating than when we were kids? Can I really blame the lackluster turnout on society? Unfortunately, no I cannot. As I was putting Liam down to sleep just now I heard (and saw as I passed the window) many children and parents out making the rounds, all of then blowing right by our house. And then it struck me…we have no porch light.

*sigh*

We’re back, I kind of feel like I need to do a rendition of Billy Joel’s “We didn’t start the fire” to explain everything we did and all the people we met in the short time that we were there but basically it was a great trip, Mike and I got a couples massage from his parents as our belated birthday gifts (that was the suprise), it was good to see family, good to see friends, bonfires, board games and bad tasting beer, Liam had a blast meeting his various cousins, aunts, uncles, great uncles and aunts, great grandma’s and such, the wedding reception was Aloha cool with tasty garlic mash potatoes and Mai Tai’s, we’re exhausted, here’s some pictures for now.

So, we made it to New York. We’re here for Jamie and Krissy’s wedding reception. I can not believe how freakin’ beautiful this place is in October. I mean, the trees are on fire with autumn colors. I simply can’t stop talking about it, every time I look at the window I gasp.

I’ve been nervous about this trip for awhile. Liam did amazingly well for having had nothing to eat, no milk (wouldn’t take it) and no naps (just wasn’t going to happen). He had some trouble with his ears on the last flight into Albany but otherwise he was an angel and dazzled everyone on the plane with his charming smile. Everyone was really patient during his most trying moments, thank goodness.

Mike’s parents have a suprise event going on for us today. We’re just about to leave. Apparently they’re going to drop us off somewhere and take Liam for the day. I am most intrigued and will report back with details later.

Here’s a cute video we took of Liam walking. He’s been taking steps for awhile but it wasn’t until about Wednesday of last week that he started really walking.

The cutest thing about this video is Mike getting annoyed with the camcorder. You have to start with this video first.

It appeared that the video in the camcorder was full so we switched it out. But then the damn thing wouldn’t stop beeping so Mike got annoyed and I took over. I don’t usually have the “magic touch” when it comes to technical devices but for some reason on this day the Camcorder Gods took pity on us and I managed to press record and somehow it started working. Suffice it to say, I think Mike and I might be investing in a digital camcorder some time soon.

Also, don’t miss Liam in his adorable bat costume. Mike did one hell of a job putting it together. We had our little Halloween get together last night and had an absolute blast.

SPLAT!

We had a wonderful full day. Started out at my dads. He walked Liam to the park while I ran the route and met them there so we could feed the ducks. Then we headed to the pumpkin patch to pick up some pumpkins and mums. Liam had a blast crawling through the fields and hugging pumpkins. Then my dad and I drove down to my uncles in Tulsa where Liam got to meet some of his cousins for the first time. Good times.

Your Halloween Costume Should Be

A Girl Scout

Mmmm…no.

Assuming we actually get to do something for Halloween this year (Mike and I will be in NY for Jamie’s wedding reception that weekend), I’ll be dressing up as a French maid. Liam’s gonna be a baby bat. Mike started on his wings today, they look good so far. As for Mike? Not sure yet, but I’m trying to talk him into being Dracula. Baby bat and Dracula, kind of cute, don’t ya think?

It’s been a long week and I’m all behind like a cows tail. Fall has always been my season for re-order and organization. (I never was able to get into spring cleaning). I was hoping to have a garage sale this weekend but I wasn’t able to get all my closets sorted out in time so I think it’ll have to wait until we get back from New York. November isn’t really the best time for garage sales but oh well, hopefully I can make enough money to cover some of our xmas gifts this year.

Things just got too busy this week. On a friends request, I spent all day Wednesday playing volleyball for a United Way fundraiser. I used to play volleyball in high school. I’ve always loved playing volleyball. It’s a great sport, nothing like pounding on a leather ball to relieve stress. But after six hours of playing my body is so bruised and battered. It’s been three days and I’m still sore and exhausted.

I know that we haven’t even gotten to Halloween yet but Mike is already asking me what I want for xmas. I really don’t know. I mean, there are plenty of things I want but they’re just not really appropriate for gift giving or far to expensive. I was thinking about asking for a camera. I bought Mike an eight hundred dollar camera just before Liam was born but its kind of too complicated for an unprofessional photography person like me. It would be neat to have a simple point and shoot camera but something with snazzy features (like Cindy’s…sweet, I need to get those eye pictures from you, they are so awesome!). I asked him for an iPhone but he just laughed hysterically in my face so, don’t think that’ll happen. Then I told him I wanted a loofah. I took a shower at my parents house the other day and they have loofah’s. I used to have loofah’s too before marriage/parenthood yanked me out of my oil brat dreamworld and required me to be a more frugal spender. Now I just can’t justify spending ninety cents on an item that doesn’t really do anything different from a regular wash cloth. So, seriously. A loofah would be a great gift. Would make a nice stocking stuffer.