Roar

Look at my little bear! I wish you could hear her

roooooooaaaaaaar.

Communities

In Squash's first grade class, they have been learning about "communities." In case you didn't know, there are three categories of communities: urban, suburban, and rural. Everywhere we go, he wants to discuss it:

"Is this urban or suburban? There are no tall buildings, but that Wal-Mart makes it look urban."

"What is this, rural?" "No, I think it's suburban." "No way. Look at that field over there."

I came into the office this morning, and discovered this illustration, which I believe constitutes, RURAL:

Is he going to love going to Virginia for Turkey Day or what!?!?

One Small Perk

One of the (small) perks of being sick is lots of time in bed that you can spend reading!

I really don't like to watch T.V. when I am sick. I don't know why. It just annoys me, makes my head hurt (more), etc. So I read *a lot* when sick. There is not a publication in this house that I have not devoured. After my last illness, I even signed up for a subscription to Good Housekeeping after buying a copy at the drugstore. My first issue arrived on Friday, and I of course read it cover to cover. It was not bad. I also got my (sniff) last issue of Cookie on Friday. I read that Cookie is kaput. Sad, it was always good for 45 minutes of downtime.

Anyway, I had a book on my bedside table that a friend had loaned me a year or so ago. The title is dumb, so I had avoided reading it. But yesterday, I picked it up around 10 AM and hardly put it down until 10 PM when I finished it! It was that good! I highly recommend The Way Men Act (see, I told you, dumb title) by Elinor Lipman. This was the first book I ever read by Ms. Lipman and I plan to read my way though her full library now. It was very funny, quirky, light-hearted, and had great characters. I felt like I was watching an episode of Gilmore Girls. But not watching T.V.

Swiney

I am wrapping up Day #4 of the swine flu and my advice to all is to GET THE SHOT. You do not want to get this bug. It has been four of the least fun days I can recall. OK, back to bed.

Good Things

Things that are good today:

1. Noodle woke up after 6 A.M.
2. Fall leaves are out in full effect - red, orange, gold, yellow - and I can see them all out my window.
3. Clouds on the way to work this morning were spectacular - bluish yellowish purple.
4. NEW windshield wipers!!!
5. Meeting a friend for won ton soup for lunch.
6. Squash's exuberance last night that book orders came in (what to read first!?!).
7. Sun is shining!
8. Football practice tonight that will not require long underwear.
9. The smell of carving pumpkins.
10. My decaf pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. Off to a great start!

Apple Time

We are up to our ears in apples. It is a happy place to be. I think I have made applesauce every night this week (and not just because it makes the house smell fantastic). Any good apple recipes would be appreciated! I am planning on making Mom's (Rowe's) apple cake this weekend to take to a barn party...

Dinner?

I am in love with the idea of this recipe...

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/10/wednesday-night-dinner-spaghetti-with-artichoke-hearts-and-tomatoes/

Chill in the Air

Bundled up in four layers apiece, we headed out to the high school football game tonight. The cold did not seem to bother the kiddos.



Only my poor frozen toes.

Brother and Sis

Fall is awesome. Can't you tell?



Also, we love pinatas. This picture was taken right after the pinata was destroyed at our friend's birthday party (by a one-year-old, no less) and the kids got to scavenge for candy. It looked like the Noodle (other than the one-year-old, the youngest one there) was going to come away with one smushed Tootsie Roll, until I looked over and saw her brother shove a big handful of candy into her bag. So nice. Big brothers are occasionally good for something.

Rewind

Here's a look at the bear suit last time around (back in October 2004). Man, I have two cute little bears.