Witchcraft

Grasshopper cookie + chocolate-dipped Bugle = witch hat toppers for kindergarten cupcakes.

Yes, I am the room mom and, yes, I will be pre-medicating before tomorrow's party.

This is my newest way to get help with the laundry. The kids love tossing dirty underwear over the banister.

I stand below to catch and sort. It's actually kinda fun.

Just watch for stray socks on the entry hall table.

And tonight I'm feeling truly evil after taking Jake to get braces. Two days before trick-or-treating. He can't eat anything hard, sticky, or chewy. Poor li'l pumpkin. Doesn't he look all grown up though? He's my Halloween-tween now.

What trouble's bubbling at your house?

Slices of the Big Apple

Perfect travel companion.

NYC's funky food court...Chelsea Market.

And what exactly is Chocolate by the Bald Man?

My new favorite restaurant!

Kate's Paperie

Paper addicts unite!

Night on the town.

How are things in Glocca Morra?

Breakfast for one.

Peace amidst the pace.

Just the break I needed.

Good News Thursday

1. We're off to the World Series. Again! Of course I didn't start watching the Phillies until this week. Of course I only know the names of two players. (The cute ones...duh!) Of course I fall asleep before the seventh inning every time. Still, deep in my heart, I'm a phanatic. Go Phils!
2. My husband will be in my time zone. For more than two days! October has been an experiment in single motherhood. Not a fan. Thankfully, he will be in town all next week to get me through the Halloween horror. I think we will still recognize each other.
3. Today litttle pumpkins. Tomorrow the Big Apple! How lucky I am to have my mother in town. She adds natural carbonation and sparkle to the everyday. This morning we're taking the twinkies to the local Scarecrow Festival. Tomorrow just the two of us leave for some new york minutes and a whole lot of Bloomingdales. Can't wait.
4. The health care crisis? I get it now! Although I'm late to the whole podcast revolution, I really really love it. My new fave is This American Life and this week I've been listening to their fascinating report on health care and insurance. Now I can stop nodding and pretending that I know what people are talking about. I feel smart.
5. I found the solution to holiday stress...leave town! Thanksgiving? Christmas? You don't scare me. I am going to let someone else do all the work. Turkey day in the middle of nowhere surrounded by my favorite li'l pilgrims. Christmas in t-shirts and flip-flops. I am actually looking forward to the festivities for a change.

What's your good news today?

A Visit From Mother Superior

My mom is in town this week and she brought a few new "habits" with her...

like eating healthy and abstaining from Coca-Cola.

(I guess she decided one heart attack in the family is enough.)

Today we went to the salad bar and on a nice long afternoon walk.

She's virtuous...but not holier-than-thou about it.

I mean...this sister still knows how to party.

Look at the Halloween fun she brought for my goblins...

Nothing's better than a visit from your Mummy!

Which Old Witch?

True confession. I have a witch who comes to visit me. Not just at Halloween, although she does seem particularly wicked this October. My personal witch comes on a very regular basis. A cyclical basis, if you know what I mean.

When she's in town, my children scurry around with slightly fearful looks on their faces. My husband tries to avoid eye contact and hides in his office as much as possible. He knows that an innocent "How's it going?" may result in foot stomping, drawer slamming, eye rolling and sarcastic exclamations.

It's not me. Promise. It's just that darn ol' witch. Does she come to your house too? Then maybe you know what I'm talking about.

I'm trying to embrace this evil enchantress. I want to know what makes her tick and how I can make her visit a little less harrowing. I'm learning slowly. Here's what I've discovered so far...

Aside from the obvious (swimsuit shopping and cross-country trips with small children), there are just certain events that should NOT be planned while Ms. Witch is in town:

1. Changing a fitted sheet on the top mattress of a bunk bed.
2. Looking between the sofa cushions in the family room. Ditto for children's closets, under beds and the third seat of the minivan.
3. Making German pancakes for breakfast. I don't care if you DO have an extra dozen eggs. It is just way too much effort for the dark lady and even the teeniest of negative comments from a child or spouse will trigger a witchy cold spell guaranteed to hover over the kitchen for the remainder of the day.
4. Listening to an eight-year-old's Party of the Year CD. Particularly Track 5--Cotton-eyed Joe.
5. Helping a fifth-grader with fractions and decimals.
6. Watching a husband pack for a four-day business trip. Unless, of course, you WANT to make it easier for him to leave. In that case, invite Witchy-poo to hop right in between the two of you on the bedspread. Oh! and encourage her to bring up the checking account.

On the other hand, Ms. Witch can be helpful in the following areas:

1. Expressing displeasure on the phone to the special-ed transportation department regarding a child's bus schedule or lack thereof.
2. Making killer desserts. She has a wicked sweet tooth.
3. Doing intense housework. Sometimes heartless rage can work in your favor.
4. Writing particularly whiny blog posts. Exhibit A. Exhibit B. Exhibit C.

This post is dedicated to the people who live with me and love me even when the witchlady comes to town. I think I owe them a killer dessert.

Reading is for Mammals

Today the big kids went to the library to read-aloud to therapy-dogs-in-training.

Isn't that the greatest idea, ever!?

I love to see my kids enjoy reading because I am always happiest with my nose in a book.

Here are a few good ones I've enjoyed lately:

If you liked Julie & Julia, if you TiVo Top Chef, then this is the book for you.

An insider's look at culinary school (more competitive than Harvard, who knew?) and, my favorite, gourmet recipes and cooking tips at the end of each chapter!

Well-written, touching, funny and eye-opening. A young mom's memoir about dealing with cancer--as a patient and as a care-giver. I loved it.

This is a novel based on the author's real-life experience. Raised in an upper-class English home, she meets her American birthparents as an adult and comes to terms with life on both sides of the Atlantic. A clever look at adoptive issues and Anglo-American differences.

Lisa See is such a great writer. I loved Snow Flower and the Secret Fan but enjoyed Shanghai Girls even more. I love learning history via fiction.

Another historical book, although this one is based at Stanford in the early 1970's. A novel about moms who love to write. I could relate.

I listened to this one on my iPod, which I recommend. The accents were so entertaining. I was just yearning to drive through the Irish countryside after this one.

What are you (and the mammals in your life) reading these days?

The Perfect Pause

"Bittersweet October. The mellow, messy, leaf-kicking, perfect pause between the opposing miseries of summer and winter."

- Carol Bishop Hipps

Ahhhhctober... I love it so much.

Yesterday Brad left for Palm Springs. Any other month I would be completely green with envy. But the thought of leaving crisp mornings, golden afternoons and cozy evenings is unthinkable. (Which is convenient, since me leaving for Palm Springs is equally unthinkable at the mo. I'm crazy busy and the kids are just plain crazy. So no California for me. Oh well...)

Our neck of the woods is so amazingly gorgeous right now. I was thinking that I wish someone would invent a Weather TiVo. Seriously, wouldn't it be so great if you could just record a couple of Indian Summer days and replay them during August's hideous humidity? Or after a string of grey January bummers? I'm surprised nobody is marketing this yet.

Of course, October has its bittersweet moments. In the four weeks since school started, I have had three sick children. Today it's Lukey's turn. Stomach troubles and fever. I worry most about Mr. Luke when he gets sick. Maybe because he had a rocky start in the NICU or maybe the Lyme disease...which is technically still in his system. He just seems to be the most fragile of my litter.

But I like having him home alone. It's rare that we have bonding time without Sam around. Right now it's just the two of us (and Tom and Jerry, of course) along with ginger ale, dry toast and a curly straw.

In other family news, Jake is learning to cook! He made this Banana Cream Pie last week. Other new specialties include Peanut Butter Brownies and Lemon Cake. Is there anything better than a guy who can bake?

Yes! A guy who changes diapers. He assisted me in babysitting this little cutie last week. I have noticed that Jake is extremely tender and patient with babies and animals. Shall I get him one? (Kidding)

In a rare crafty moment, I made these centerpieces for a going-away party we hosted for dear friends. Apples were the motif of the evening, so we served hot spiced cider and "Mormon champagne" (cold cider and ginger ale) alongside Pumpkin Gingerbread Trifle. So good...

Last but not least, today our driveway was recoated! Doesn't it look good?

Babe, I took these photos just for you. Enjoy your California sunshine. I'll be crusin' on this smooth stuff and enjoying beautiful Ahhhhctober!

p.s. Happy to report my dad is home from the hospital and celebrating his 63rd birthday today!

Happy Birthday, Opa!