Nate is 40! It feels so weird, mainly because it doesn’t feel any different than being 30. We’re still us. He’s still him. But now he walks around with the big 40! label attached to him. So weird.

It certainly wasn’t the type of celebration I’d always imagined, but then again, I didn’t anticipate a global economy crash, either. So I couldn’t import Michael Andrew (loud site warning) and his big band from Florida to play at a huge swing dance party this year. Dangit. That’s been my plan for 10 years now. (And it would have been SO AWESOME)!

BUT, we did have a really nice evening at home with the kids and Nate’s parents, which is what he wanted.

I spent the entire afternoon in the kitchen making biryani and homemade angel food cake (at his request). Best. cake. ever. And that was pretty much it. Except…. for sweet little Veronica. I swear, she’s the most creative and thoughtful person I know. She continues to amaze me. All on her own, the dear, she made this

and filled it with strips of paper on which she wrote as many things she could think of that we love about him. I’m sorry to say that when she went to her sisters to ask them what they wanted to put in the box, they laughed her right out of the room, telling her it was a stupid idea to give a “piece of paper” as a gift. Broke my heart.

So she did it on her own. Not only that, but she included things about Nate that she knew her sisters liked, and included them as if they were written by her sisters. I’m tearing up just typing the story. She told Nate to take it to his office and use it when he’s having a rough day. I love that little girl.

It was a fun albeit low key night. Abby was in attendance that evening, but was in her usual “don’t take a picture of me” mood.

Over the weekend, Nate’s parents and siblings surprised him and took him out for a fun night of sushi and a movie. Happy Birthday, honey!

I know, I know, it’s only November 2nd, and we have a few weeks ’til Thanksgiving, but can I tell you how ready I am for it? Even though things are going pretty gawsh-darned awful for us right now, I can’t help but feel so grateful for the things that are going well. And something about the Thanksgiving season with it’s tendency towards family and personal reflection, feels very comforting to me.

And I am grateful for many things. For one, Halloween is over! The week after Halloween just might be one of my favorite weeks of the year! It’s over! And I’m so very happy.

More importantly, my fantabulous man is turning 40 today. I adore him and wish him a most happy birthday. Nate, I’m beyond-words grateful that you came to the planet and we happened to meet up.

This Thanksgiving theme just might continue all month if I continue to feel it like this. I wasn’t planning on posting the turkey so early, but I walked through my dining room yesterday, and the sun was coming through the window and hitting it from behind. It looked cool so I took the picture and didn’t feel like sitting on it ’til the 24th.

I wasn’t kidding about the gawsh-awful by the way. We could use prayers.

So, bah humbug, I hate Halloween. However, we had fun trick-or-treating around the neighborhood with friends. If that’s all that Halloween entailed, I wouldn’t hate it. But it’s not, so I do. Here are pictures…

On Saturday morning, we had our who-knows-how-many annual pumpkin carving party. Clark carved his own this year. Happily, there was no blood. Well, none of HIS blood anyway.

Here are Abby and Olivia, once again clearly demonstrating how they feel about having their picture taken

group shot with Grandma and Grandpa

That evening, we had a big halloween party at church. Here’s the one picture I have of Abigail in her Batgirl costume. (She’s painting faces, not bat-punching little girls).

We spent an entire afternoon looking for the perfect pair of boots a few weeks ago. She’s wearing them, but there are no pictures.

Here’s a couple of Max. I’m usually the one watching the baby while everyone else runs off to play, so he’s the one that gets photographed the most. It’s a matter of proximity.

And finally,

Finally.

Last night while the girls were at church activities, Clark and I made gingerbread cookies. He was amazing. He made perfect cookies, with no help from me other than encouragement that it’s ok to have sugar all over your hands when you’re rolling cookie balls

Now he thinks he’s pretty hot stuff and says that his cookies are better and yummier than mine because he’s such a great cookie maker. Thanks, bud.

I spun new yarn yesterday and today. The stuff yesterday is thicker than I’d like for a hat, so I’m going to do something else with it. The thinner, oatmeal tweed was spun this morning and is delicious. The other stuff is delicious, too. I’ll make it into a smallish, soft scarf or something.

First of all, here’s Liv as a brunette. Or redhead. Or whatever.

We had a wonderful time at the bluegrass thing. I’m so impressed by Liv’s orchestra teacher. She teaches at 2 junior high schools, so both schools came. She was the only one in charge. It was just her and assorted parent chaperones. We spent Thursday night in instrument specific classes, where the kids learned how to play the instrument of their choosing. I was able to help out in the guitar class. Then late that night, a number of instructors, chaperones and students played together, mostly improvising. Bluegrass style. Totally fun.

The next day, we divided into 6 groups or “bands,” mixing the instruments up, and each band worked on a song. We played all day, in about 1 hour increments, breaking for meals and a block of 2 hour free time in the afternoon. Then more band practice. Then sound check. Friday night, the parents arrived and the instructors (a mom, dad, 3 sons and one friend) did a show. Then each band performed their song. Ours was “shortenin’ bread”). The instructor family did a finale of “Johnny B Good” bluegrass style, and it was rockin’.

So. much. fun.

However, the food completely sucked. I can’t even articulate how bad it was. If I go again, I’m taking a cooler and feeding myself. Well, myself and Liv. She hated it, too.

This was our band.

I’m in a pink hat, in the back, on the left. Liv is to the right of the banjo, under the horizontal cello, wearing red. Our instructor is in black, holding the yellow stand up bass.

Here are some more photos. Our practices were all indoors, but we played outside while waiting for our turn to sound check on stage. And it was freezing.

That’s pretty much all I got in the way of pictures. It was a busy 28 hours.

The local fire station was hosting a pancake breakfast and tour Saturday morning, so we all had fun with that.

Can you tell which of my kids really likes to have her picture taken, and which totally doesn’t?

In other news, I need a black/gray based hat. I don’t have one, and I have acquired some shirts and a scarf over the past year that really don’t go with brown. So I might have some spinning and knitting in my near future. It got real cold, real fast, and I need more woolies to keep me warm.

The weather couldn’t have been better. If it had got any warmer, I would have been uncomfortable, because I was prepared for the worst. As it turned out, Clark shed his coat and hat. I took off my coat, but still had on the snowboots, alpaca legwarmers, wool fingerless mitts, scarf, and hat. Happily, we didn’t need rain gear, but it looked threatening a few times.

All in all, a lovely day.

I’m really excited because this afternoon, Nate’s taking over the household duties and I’m chaperoning Liv and her orchestra at a Bluegrass/Roots music retreat. It’s 28 hours of intensive instrument lessons and jam sessions culminating in a live performance Friday evening. The students get to pick either their orchestra instrument, banjo, mandolin, stand up bass, or guitar. Liv is going to learn the stand up bass. The parents are encouraged to play instruments along side the kids, so I get to take my guitar.

It sounds like so. much. fun.

I’m taking all the seats out of the back of my Expedition in a few hours so I can swing by the school and pick up a truckload of basses and cellos. Then Liv and I are off to the party!

🙂

No one gets dinner ’til their room is clean. Every day. Not only that, but it’s not mom’s responsibility to remember to check rooms before dinner. If it is discovered that someone ate dinner with a messy room, they get an hour of chores that night, and any other punishment that suits my fancy.

I’m. Sick. Of. The. Crap.

I’m tired of being ignored, taken advantage of, and pushed over because I’m “nice” and understanding of circumstances. There are no more circumstances. If you want to eat, you’re going to clean your room. And if you clean it every day, it’s not going to get so messy that cleaning it up before dinner is a big deal.

So deal.

In other news…. Dad the Great-dyer-of-hair was at it again Sunday morning. Liv is now brunette.

I haven’t managed to get a picture after the fact.

I escorted Clark and his class, along with 2 other kindergarten classes to The Farm to get a pumpkin and look at barn animals and such today. It was weird being a veteran mom and helping the newbies out. For some of these moms, the 5 year old was their oldest. Wow. It’s been a long time since I was there. And yet, I was right there with them corralling my 2 year old. Kind of funny.

I’ll post pictures of the Great Pumpkin Acquisition soon.

Max was quite charming and adorable today. Hooray! It’s always nice to enjoy someone on their birthday.

Max totally understood the “blowing out the candles” thing. I, however, didn’t fare so well. I only put one candle on it the first time. Max blew it out. Nate asked if there shouldn’t have been two candles on the Zinger, and Clark and Veronica yelled at the poor birthday boy to stop reaching for his cake while I went and set-up the “do over.” Which totally confused the little guy and actually means he blew out a total of three candles…. that’s not a problem, is it?

He handled the mishap quite gracefully and with some light reassurance that it was now ok, ate his cake.

In other news, today was my first day in Clark’s Kindergarten class heading up music time. Yup, I get to take my guitar into class once a week and lead the kids in some fun songs. We kept it short and simple today, but I have grand plans…

Anyone know where I can get props like frog and monkey masks really cheap?

Max will be 2 tomorrow. He didn’t get the memo that he’s not 2 yet. By the way he behaves, it’s quite clear that he thinks he turned 2 six months ago.

I can hear him right now, in the crib, laughing and talking very animatedly to either 1. the wall, or 2. his still sleeping older brother. I would be inclined to go and get him as I’m sure he needs a diaper change and he sounds just so darned cute. However, I have learned from experience that when I go to get him, his seemingly charming mood will immediately shift upon seeing me and he’ll turn into the angry, tantrum throwing thinks-he’s-already-two that I deal with on a daily basis.

Yesterday is still fresh in my memory and can I just tell you….?

I don’t want to.