Trick or Treating

What a good time we had tonight! We trick-or-treated down our street, then went to see Phil and Cathy (thanks for the Butterfingers!), Barb, Matt, and Shelby, then on to Laurie and Dean's, and lastly to Pattie's. My co-worker loves to bake and gave us some cupcakes, then we went through the 2 rows of evergreen trees that were all decorated for the kids- Adam just wanted to poke at everything and say, "Is that real?" (there were spiders and skulls hanging from some of the trees). Tommy ate so much candy tonight he just ran in circles as fast as he could laughing. I think he finally passed out somewhere.

Happy Halloween!

The kids are excited about tonight. Casey was able to trade shifts with someone who doesn't have kids. We are going to trick-or-treat down our street, then hop in the van and go visit a couple people: aunt Laurie and uncle Dean, Barbie S., and Pattie (a co-worker of mine). Pattie said her husband made a little "haunted" area between a couple rows of trees that they have. But not too scary. I don't do scary.

Why?

I have been a dental hygienist for 8 years. I seldom see patients that chew tobacco, but I had one yesterday. Since it's my duty as a health care provider to inform the patient of the ill effects of this nasty stuff, I did just that. And he told me, "I LOVE to chew. I've only been chewing about 2 1/2 years, and I have no intentions of quitting" He was serious! Another discussion we had was about fluoride. He has read lots of literature on how dangerous it is. Is he SERIOUS?!?!?! He chews tobacco and smokes!! And he's worried about fluoride in his toothpaste! Wonders never cease. So that's my tirade for today. Here is some more info that I'm sure all of you are familiar with, but it's interesting to me nonetheless.


What's in Smokeless Tobacco?

Processed tobacco contains at least 3,000 chemical compounds including a lot of stuff you don't want in your body. Nicotine, an addictive drug, is what gets you hooked on any form of tobacco. Holding one pinch of spit tobacco in your mouth for 30 minutes delivers as much nicotine as 3-4 cigarettes.
There have been at least 28 cancer-causing chemicals identified in spit tobacco including:

Nitrosamines -- These are the most powerful cancer-causing agents in spit tobacco. While only 5 ppb (parts per billion) of nitrosamines are allowed in consumer products such as beer or bacon, spit tobacco contains from 20 to 43,000 times more nitrosamines!
Polonium 210 -- radioactive particles that turn into radon
Formaldehyde -- embalming fluid
Cadmium -- a metallic element; its salts are poisonous
Arsenic -- a metallic element which forms poisonous compounds
From the National Cancer Institute.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM!!!

This slightly resembled when Pam and I met. I wanted to post the video when Napoleon and Pedro were riding the bike together, but I didn't find it. Pam, I hope you have a wonderful day, it was so good to see you yesterday, you look so beautiful. Happy birthday dear friend.

Sarah's Baby Shower

This morning we had a shower for Sarah (Casey and Laurie's youngest sister). She is due around Christmas time and we are all so excited! Laurie and I went up north yesterday to decorate and bake our little hearts out. Maude was up until the wee hours still baking cinnamon rolls. Everything was so yummy, and there were 4 different egg bakes. Delicious. I think I am going upstairs to have a muffin right now. That's the bounus for baking it, we get to bring home the extras. :)

Nothing New Here

Casey doesn't enjoy reading out loud like I do. But when they crawl right into your lap it's hard to deny them their story.


Abby's little red nose didn't seem so runny today. It's taking forever to go away.


Abby hates to miss a thing. Adam and Rachel have discovered the mixing of colors, they were very tonight creating a new palate of colors.

I've been tagged!

#1. rules of the game must be posted at the beginning.

#2. each player lists 6 facts/habits about themselves.

#3. at the end of the post, the player then tags six people and posts their names, then go to their blogs and leave them a comment letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.


6 Things Everyone Must Know About Me

1- I used to want to be an Indian. You know, like Sacajawea. (sp)

2- I detest dirty fingernails.

3- I swore when I was giving birth to Rachel.

4- My great-grandma played the French horn, too! I didn't know that when I decided I wanted to play horn.

5- If I crunch down on a piece of onion I have to use all my control to not gag.

6- I flunked out of hygiene school half way through clinicals. I then went to the school counselor because I was feeling "lost". She was a Christian and so wonderful to talk to, she pretty much convinced me to not give up. I still think she was an angel. I love my job, so glad I stuck it out and continued on!

Jenny tagged many of my faithful blogging friends. I'll tag 4 people: Amanda, Laurie, Chris, and Phil.

Rachel's school day

When I got home from work today Rachel was very excited to tell me that the kids that were good today got a chance to write on the blackboard. Well guess what she wrote. That's right - "God is good". I asked her what her teacher said. Rachel said Ms. R. told her, "Very nice." I hope she meant it. The next 12 years are going to be very interesting...

The Teacher was Right

When Rachel's kindergarten teacher said the students would be writing sentences by the end of the year, I thought it seemed impossible. But here we are, not even 2 months into the school year, and she IS writing sentences! I just took this picture a minute ago, I made her correct her backward "s", but that's it.

My new decoration

Here is my new fall wreath that I bought yesterday at the craft show at the Ryder Center. I have been sporting the heart wreath that Jenny sent me for my birthday in February. Casey finally said, "You know, Valentine's Day was a long time ago." So I took that as my cue to go ahead and purchase something for myself. :)

Fall Fun

I bought a couple used costumes today from Wears Like New. I really didn't think the pumpkin would go over very well. It turns out EVERYONE wants to wear the pumpkin. It is actually a homemade costume. If I had more ambition I would get a pattern and make a couple more. But I don't.

Just Another Day

I was a little concerned when he got out the Barbie dolls, but then he started taking their heads off. I guess he's pretty normal afterall.


Happy camper after a nice afternoon nap.


Casey's look said "autumn" to me today, it was a nice change from his usual white shirt and tie.


Poor Abby, she just can't get enough to eat.

Here is a little night time activity that my kids call "running in a circle". For some reason it is loads of fun. I guess it beats vegging in front of the tv.

Weekend Update

My parents came over Saturday afternoon and brought my grandma Boice along. She's one of those snowbirds that spends her winters in Florida, she'll be leaving in a week. When I was little I used to love going to her house and playing in her huge closet, she had more shoes in there than in the clothing store she owned. Nice red high heels... I wonder if they would fit me now?


"Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted sisters..." Jenny and Barb used to sing that all the time. What movie is that from?


Abby is spending a lot of time on her feet these days. She'll be 11 months old on the 17th. Her new favorite thing to do is climb onto the kitchen table. I keep all the chairs pushed in trying to thwart her, but it doesn't always work.

Today's Events

Treat of the Day- Chocolate Zucchini Roll, from Taste of Home, of course! I shredded and froze some zucchini because I have been dying to try this recipe- it was great!


Ahhh, the Billy-Bob teeth, they never get old in our house. Someday Adam's head will be big enough where he can put them IN his mouth. And since I know Josh will ask what Adam is wearing, it is a Peter Pan costume that Pam handed down to us. Halloween is just around the corner, you know.


Our first official sleepover! The kids love having Amber around, she fits right in.

My favorite conversation of the day

Setting: 10:30 am this morning. Adam is still in bed...

Me: "Adam, you need to get up now."

Adam: "Is it church today?"

Me: "No."

Adam: "Then I think I'll just stay in bed."

School is going to be a rude awakening for this boy next year!

I had such a good time at MOPS this morning! Unfortunately Amanda and her brood have been sick so they weren't there, I always miss her wisecracking when she's not around. I think Tracey said there were 19 of us this morning! Wow, we are really growing! I was worried that with so many I wouldn't get to know the ladies sitting at the other tables, but Stephanie had us all sit in a circle on the gym floor, and she had different games for us to play so we could get to know each other better. Games like "If you could go on a second honeymoon where would you like to go?" or "If you had a day where you could do whatever you wanted (without kids!) what would you do?" It was just so fun hearing everybodies answers. And one of the girls at our table told us her testimony and it was just amazing what God had saved her from, and now she lives her life fully for the Lord and isn't afraid to talk about it. It was truely a great day.

Sunflower Dress

I love homemade things. Aunt Na made this little dress for Abby. Na married uncle Dennis about a year ago, she is originally from Thailand. She is a very hard worker, busying herself with farm chores and in her spare time has become quite the seamstress. She altered a pattern to make this little dress for Abby, I love the material it's made out of!

What's Blooming

My favorite fall bloomer- the Japanese anemone. Pam, I gave you a piece of this. Next year it should look something like this!

Then and Now

Here was the garden back in July.



Here is the garden today. I have little hollyhock sprouts along the fence, but the rabbits keep eating them off. Next summer it should look all luscious and filled in.

You know it's Fall When...

you see a mouse scurrying by the kitchen door out in the garage. I'll just pray it stays out there.

Favorite Shirts

Here the boys are proudly displaying their favorite cut off t-shirts. Adam and Tommy were good helpers today and picked up branches for daddy as he trimmed Judy's tree up a bit.

Highlights from Today

The highlight of EVERY Tuesday- watching the "Badage Truck" go by.


Rachel played store when she got home from school today.


I like Adam's fuzzy eyebrows in this picture.


The toybox doubles as a playpen while we are trying to get the boys ready for bed.


Abby is picking up where Adam left off- trying ever so diligently to remove the rest of the flaps from the books.