Halloween

Halloween is very strange here. Where I grew up, Halloween was on Halloween. Here it is on the night announced as Halloween. Last night, Oct. 30, was our officially sanctioned trick-or-treat.

We left early to get to Grandma Wandas' for our yearly popcorn balls. She made 80 of them this year. Next, we went to the fire station for a goody bag, and a photo op with Billie Jo. We headed for We-town, and went to the fall festival at New Life Church. The children take music lessons there, and have a lot of friends in the community.

They played lots of games, won oodles and gobs of candy, had their hair spray painted, their pictures taken, raced tri-cycles, and bounced on the jumbo bounce. After an hour and a half , this chick had, had it, and I began the monumental task of rounding up the troops.

Some 20 minutes later, with 7 children in tow, I made my way to the van, and collapsed in my seat, only one more stop. We went by Bobbie Sue's to see Kyli in her costume, and get more of the dreaded candy.

Today, the real Halloween was much calmer. Daddy brought home chinese food, I made alien/ghost cookies, and choc. covered pretzels. The children carved a pumpkin, and we roasted pumpkin seeds. Later everyone, and I mean everyone, dog-piled on my bed to watch my favorite Halloween movie, Young Frankenstein.

This year the gang dressed up as Nicole-Daisy Duke, Connor-baseball player zombie, Jonathan-zombie victim, Sean Patrick-spiderman, Christian-batman, Alexandra-tinker-bell. All the costumes were either home-made, or recyled. The tinker-bell costume, I purchased 16 years ago for Ashley.

game over

Connor played his last football game of the season Sat. night. Fortunately, it was in a neighboring town, so our drive time was only 25 minutes. It was a beautiful night for football, and the boys played a great game.

We-town beat Holdenville, 24-6. Connor made a couple of great tackles, and the announcer said great job by #32, and he turned around and flashed a 3, and the announcer said make that a great job by #33 Connor Tucker. He was so proud.

Connor had a large cheering section again, he was very proud Kyle & Timmi made his game. As much as I love football, I am not sorry for the season to be over. Practice 3 nights a week, and a game every Saturday is very time consuming. I would cheer about all our free time now, but basketball season started last week, and will last until Feb.

I have 3 children on 3 seperate basketball teams. Jonathan plays on the 3-4th team, Connor plays on the 5-6th team, and Nicole plays for jr. high. I think it's going to be a busy winter.

life

I have given a lot of thought and prayer to the upcoming presidential election, and I have decided to support the McCain/Palin ticket. I am not a political person, but I do follow politics,and believe every citizen has an obligation to vote.

There are several issues, that weigh upon my mind. The economy, national security issues, the iraq war, gas prices, to name but a few things. In the end, it all comes down to one thing,life.

Choose life, the bible tells us, whatsoever, you do to the least of my people, so you do unto me. As the mother of 9 living children, and with 3 little lost ones waiting for me in heaven, life is so precious to me. I think every life has value and meaning.

Who are we to determine who will live or die, and whose life has meaning. Does anyone other than God have the right or ability to make a judgement on life. Does your life have value? Does mine? As I sit here in the middle of the night typing with one hand, and nursing my 10 month old daughter, I am struck once again with the wonder and beauty of her fragile life.

She is completely dependent on me, and the choices Imake for her care. Who decides her value and worth, the world , ajudge?

As for me, Ican only say she is priceless.

fall break

Whoever said fall break was a break. A break from what exactly? The little boys have been wild,crazy, no insane, from all the excitement of fall break. I have even entertained the idea of tying them all to the tree, but I couldn't think of a good reason to do it.

It has been a hectic break. Nicole was gone to leadership conference from wed. to fri. I gave my talk at 4-H wed. afternoon. Ashley babysat on fri. night, and sat. morning Connor,and Jonathan had to be at the school early to decorate their float for Heritage day and ride in the parade.

That same morning Kyle took my car to work, and left me stranded. I had to make arrangements for other people to pick up the boys, I missed seeing their float and watching the parade. I was quite annoyed.

Sat. night Kyle came in from work with a temp of 101. I missed Connors' football game because someone had my car, and he came home with a headache, and fell asleep in his football uniform.

Sun. morning, I got up for church. Kyle had a temp. of 101, Connor was still sick and slept until 1:00p.m., Ashley was sick, Christian was sick, and I am flat tired.

We ended up in the emergency room with Kyle when his temp. spiked over 103.4 He couldn't stand or walk with-out help, and he just held his head and moaned. He has the flu, and 2 ear infections, he was also dehydrated.

Connor has come downstairs crying with his head twice. This looks like the beginning of a very long week. On a happy note it is only 2:00a.m. , Chrissy darlin' who napped 4 hours today, has finally given up and gone to sleep. I think i'll turn off pillow talk, and join him in the land of winkin' blinkin' and nod.

clutter

I have come up with a semi sort of plan to make up for my insane behaviour at the yard sale. As I have emptied the boxes, and put items away. I began hunting for unloved, or unwanted items to refill the boxes, and take them straight to the van, out of temptations way.

The whole box of jars she made me buy in order to get the glass baby bottles and blue Atlas jar, I am sending to the Jesus House as soon as I can finish filling the box. The 5 old painted dishes I bought for .50cents, well I think I can live without 1 or 2 of them , so they are going in the box too. I don't have to keep all the extra things, what a relief.

My box of baby dolls , need to be cleaned up. Some are pretty dirty. One little girl is called a dimples doll from 1968. I think I have found her original clothes. They need to be washed and ironed(groan),but I am putting her in Alexandras' room.

I am still trying to find the right spot to display my cookie jars/crocks. The colors don't look quite right when next to my apple red walls. I think the buffet in the dining area may work better. The earth tones should be happier next to the oak of the buffet. I can put my ivory ironstone soup tureens away for awhile.

I bought a beautiful frosted vase with gold trim and an ivory bedspread for Nicoles room and paid a total of .75 cents for the 2 items. She wants a french country look , and I am painting my iron bed black , and highlighting the floral details with a gold leafing pen. I think it will be really beautiful when finished.

Perhaps if I cleaned 90% of the stuff out of Nicoles' room, that would even out all the stuff I brought home.

open mouth, insert foot

A few weeks ago, I called Miss Sandy, the boys 4-H leader to see if she had found a veteran to come speak to the children regarding service and citizenship. She had found no suckers, oops volunteers. I mentioned I had a few items I could bring to share with the children, and before you could say jimminy cricket, I was the guest speaker.

I took a variety of items to the meeting, and set up my display on a red tablecloth. I had my Dads' purple heart, and a photo of him in Korea. Bens' Dads photo album from the pacific theater, patches from his uniform, a picture of him right out of basic training, a photo of his unit, and the flag from his coffin. I took several Uncle Sam hats, and a collection of miniature flags. I also made a poster listing the U.S. war casualties for every war since the Civil War to date.

I shared some of their war experiences,and some of their life experiences too. They were really affected by my Papas' story. He was born here in our small town, and was a sophomore in high school the day Pearl Harbor was bombed. He enlisted the next day in the navy. I asked how many knew a 10th grader , or a 17 year old boy? They all raised their hands. I read them the interview I conducted with Papaw when I was in high school. They all laughed, and some even cried, it was a really special time.

I told them what my Daddy told me, the day he gave me his purple heart. He said do you know why I received this medal? I answered, yes Daddy, you got shot. He said thats true, but I paid for something that day. I asked what he meant, and he said, I paid for your freedom with my blood, don't you ever forget that. Someone in uniform paid for our freedom, with their blood.

I have never forgotten it Daddy, and I never will. I love you.

oops

For the past several months, I have been cleaning out drawers,closets, cupboards trying to remove the clutter from our lives. I have a long way to go, but I keep telling myself is it important? Does it bring you joy? Do you really Use/wear it? I have spent months trying to convince Nicole she does not need 500shirts, when she only wears 100 of them.

My good intentions have all gone to hell in a handbasket (it was such a cute basket though). If I bought new outfits , or items for the home , I donated my extras to the Jesus House. Now what am I going to do. I have completely lost my mind.

My dear neighbor Rosemary is having her yearly yard sale with Quitta, now, I know this doesn't sound like a crisis , but it is. Rosemary finds, rescues, reclaims, the best junk beautiful things ever, and she knows my weaknesses.

In 2 days we have spent 114.00$ all my mad money, and I brought home 2 van loads of stuff. I bought an antique baking cabinet for$5.00, be still my heart. I did buy a few christmas gifts, but most items were for our home. I bought a new bedspread for Ashley for $2.50, I bought 5 cookiejars(I know, but I only spent $15.00) I bought halloween decorations, an entire box of really cute things for $1.00. The most expensive items were $5.00, so you can imagine how much we brought home. I have had so much fun playing with these items, rearranging displays, I got the biggest kick out of a teapot I only paid $1.00 for it has 2 little girls on an ironstone type pot.

My dear friend wouldn't let me buy 2 old sad dollies, no I had to buy the entire box for the whopping price of $2.00. Then she wouldn't let me buy just the 2 dresses I wanted , but made me take the box, for the exorbitant price of $1.00. That's right, I spent all that money , just a few dollars at a time , no big ticket items.

Now I have to really step up my declutter work, and find oh about 100 items, and give them away. I wonder if I have to give away item per item , or say item per price. I got 5 hats for a quarter, so do I have to give away 5 items or 1 for the sale?

I truly love the antique doll carriage, I am putting it on Alexandras' dresser with rescued baby dolls in it, when she is a little older , I am going to put up the pink ironing board with iron. It will look so cute in her room. The carriage and stroller are too fragile for playing, but they will look great on display.

Rosemary called, she is taking more items down to the sale in the morning, and wanted to know if I wanted to see them first. Drat that Rosie , she knows me too well. I am a sucker for old jars, quilts, worn junk, gently loved things from the past, and old baby dolls that need a good home.