Trick or Treat . . .

. . . you know the rest!

Happy.Halloween.

Pumpkin Guts.

In observance of our annual Halloween-Eve

tradition, a hole was cut in the top

of the pumpkin and the guts were

dug out . . .

The sharpie, an essential tool in the

process, was acquired to draw

triangle eyes . . .

a nose, and a jack-o-lanterny mouth.

Why is drawing on and cutting a

pumpkin so much fun?

I must say that I am a lover of the

traditional pumpkin with triangle eyes,

a nose, and a mouth.

I am also a lover of a Dad who takes

so much time with his boys and

engages in these efforts

every.single.October.30.

I.heart.him.

Hittin' the Links!

A bea-uuuuuuuuutiful day

was had by the guys on the

Somersett Links today as

the guys went out to

golf and Gramps joined along

for the ride in the cart.

Mike had the day off in celebration

of Nevada Day, which seems to be

a pretty big deal up here in

Northern Nevada!

. . . pretty darn close to the pin!

While the guys were out having such

a blast, I was busy earning that darn

PhD . . . Really!

Trout Fishing At Marilyn's Pond.

Thanks to Sam our resident

photog, we have amazing

pictures of the day spent

at Marilyn's Pond fishing for trout.

Mike took the boys to the pond as he

had an extra day of!!!

Mike, who was so excited for

Luke to catch a fish,

caught the very first one!

Luke caught three fish and reeled them

in . . .

but they got off the line just as they

got to the shoreline!!!

Luke loves fishing and

is ever searching the

internet for stocked ponds

in Reno!!!

Mike is ever so happy to obligue.

Get ready for your next day off Dad!!

I Heart Badges.

Yippppeeeee! Get ready sewing machine . . .

We've got some badge sewin' on to do!!

Luke brought home some Boy Scout

badges that need to be sewed on his

uniform.

No.problem.

Boy Scout badges are one of my

very.favorite.things!!

Carb-o-licious!

A girl just has to have her mashed

potatoes . . .

That is just what I did today.

I figured after a 10 hour reading

marathon, I deserved a HUGE

bowl of mashed potatoes.

I shared with my family,

of course, and they loaded

them with more butter

and gravy.

For me, I prefer them right

out of the bowl . . .

piping hot!!!

October 25.

October 25 will always have a

soft spot in my heart.

October 25 is Gram's birthday.

Gram loved many things including

her family.

She always shared many fond

memories of Halloween and

how her mother, Nana, planned

birthday parties with a

Halloween "motif".

We sure do miss that Gram.

She was and will forever be

a very special part of our

family.

We were talking about it

today and wondering

how Gram is celebrating

in Heaven.

Happy.Birthday.Gram!

Halloween Tradition.

Ever since I can remember, Gram made

these yummy, yummy popcorn balls

for Halloween.

My family and friends l.o.v.e. these

popcorn balls and ask for them

as soon as the holiday rolls around.

What could be better than butter,

brown sugar, and honey?!?

Popcorn balls ala Gram!!

(I know that you are totally

digging the yummy white tile

and grout with the special

paint in the background.

Rental.home.gotta.love.it.)

Dr. Seuss Fabric

It.is.here.

I am so excited!

Dr. Seuss fabric has arrived!!

I am looking for a cute

quilt pattern to make

an awesome quilt from

this new fabric!!!

Isn't it just the cutest ever?

These fabrics remind me

of the bazillions of times that

Mike and I have read

Dr. Seuss books to our boys!

I can still hear them saying,

"Read.it.again."

A Camping We Will Go.

Yep! Our amazing Dad did it again this

weekend!!!

Luke has his FIRST official Boy

Scout campout in the woods

about seventy miles from

Reno . . .

(Can you believe Luke wears a 10.5 shoe?)

My Tenderfoot Scout.

Luke has been waiting breathlessly

for today!! He has been so excited

for his first campout.

We are so thrilled that our new

church has a wonderful

Scout troop. We excited that

he has an great Scoutmaster and

super examples to grow with.

Luke and one of his very favorite people.

Off and running.

(Actually, they really did smile

the first time, but I always

have to take about five pics

with my new camera!!!)

Have.fun.guys!!!

Pumpkin, Pumpkin.

Loving, loving the fall in fabulous

Reno, Nevada. Today I took

Gramps to an eye doctor

appointment in Carson City -

What a beauuuuutiful drive!!!

I am so looking forward to:

*All day Saturday in my

pajamas with my new MAC!!!

*Putting on a face mask and

slipping into the jetted

garden tub with tons of

bubbles.

*Date night with Sam on

Saturday . . . we are going

to see "Social Network".

*Praise and worship at

church on Friday evening.

*Finding a new pizza

joint for Friday night

pizza.

*Polishing my toe nails

with dark red polish.

*Eating red devil cinnamon

gummies while watching

the new episode of

"Amazing Wedding Cakes".

*Starting two new papers

for my classes!

*Putting finishing touches

on Halloween decorations.

*Baking Halloween sugar

cookies.

*Handing out Halloween

candy.

*Picking up the preview of

our new houseplans

next week.

*Locating subcontractors.

*Picking out the color

and exterior materials

for our new home.

Lucky, lucky girl!!

Mac Pro 13.

Oh yeah! My boys have been so

nervous ever since I started

grad school that something

awful was going to happen

to my schoolwork using a

PC.

We took the plunge and went

over to the APPLE STORE!!!

OMGosh!!!

After Sam spent a good chunk

of time getting my new little

baby just perfect, I am in

Heaven.

Assignments? Bring 'em on!!!!

I can't wait to get typing on

this little baby!!!!

I.love.my.mac.