Trunk Or Treat

TJ trick-or-treats at our car. He had a piece of candy every time I turned around. No surprise he complained of a stomach ache before we left. Santa and his good buddy, the Incredible Hulk.

As usual, I wish I'd taken more pictures. Coker did a great job setting up an "Alien Autopsy." It included cauliflower "brains," olive "eyes," a ginger "heart" and noodle "guts." Paul was Count Dooko, which I have no idea how to spell, Coker was a Man in Black and I was an alien.

I Like the Beach!

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This is on Manhattan Beach in California. Paul did not remember going to the beach before this, and TJ had not been to the beach.

A Little Cilantro

Coker and I love watching Top Chef. We imagine that we can cook and Coker has tried a few of the recipes. I can follow a recipe, but my outcome isn't always what I'd hoped. The contestants on the show throw ingredients together and create fancy new dishes.

One of the challenges tonight was an amuse buche, which could be anything. Coker asked what I would make, to which I responded, "for whom am I cooking?" (Well, not exactly. I'm writing here, not talking.) If I were to cook the ultimate one bite for Coker, it would have to include bacon. I named off the ingredients I would use: toast, bacon, egg, Tabasco. Coker said it would need to be rye toast with butter and strawberry jelly, and don't forget the salt. Otherwise, my choice would be the best bite he'd ever had.

Listening to all this and talking at the same time, we realized Paul wanted a turn. His amuse buche would be, "a little cilantro, a snail (the first ingredient the chefs had to use), and a cracker." He would "make" Coker eat it, because of the snail.

Show Me Your Mad Face

Coker and TJ started a new game. It always begins, "Show me your mad face..."
Show me your happy face.

Your sleepy face...

Your surprised face...

And on and on!

Games We Play

I was inspired to write about fun games, made up and otherwise by Antique Mommy.

Reading her post, the first one I thought of was "Turn me loose, little goose." When I was little, I sat on mom's foot and hugged her leg with my arms and legs. She would drag me around, chanting, "turn me loose, little goose!" Both Paul and TJ now enjoy this game. I am less graceful than I remember mom, as I hobble around with a boy on each leg. I had to change the chant to, "turn me leese, little geese." Now that I give it more thought, I could have addressed each "goose" separately and used the more correct, "turn me loose..." Alas!

"Pillow House" is a current favorite with my boys. They pull out every pillow they can find and pile them up in the living room. My designs that include little rooms using the sofa and other furniture are not well-received. Burrowing into the house is more fun than crawling. I don't get it, and neither does Coker. His distaste for a pillow mess is greater than mine. Pillows are easier to pick up than legos or play-doh, I say.

I love "Hide and Seek." Paul is becoming a good hider. His seeking ability is coming along; he often has to ask me for a clue, unless TJ is hiding with me. When TJ hides with me, he giggles or "whispers" and gives us away. Little TJ loves to play, but just needs a little help. He's always on my team.

"Tickle Monster" is our version of chase. One person is the Tickle Monster and chases the others around the house until someone has to stop to catch his breath, OK, her breath. It's almost always me.

We Are Family

My cousins planned a weekend getaway to the Lake Texoma region. The lake was fun, the food was good, and the company was great. My boys are WORN OUT! TJ dealt with it by getting a little grouchy and Paul just kept going and slept on the way home. He didn't even wake up for the DQ Blizzard stop. That's tired!



Well, TJ did catch a couple of catnaps, like here during our family worship service. He bowed his head for prayer, but didn't raise it until the service was over. That may have happened to me before, but never in service, of course! Casey lead a fun children's service before TJ dozed off. He wanted to sit with her after she finished.



Paul shares his artwork with Shannon, who is also an impressive artist. You should see the eyes and hands she can draw!



Here are my mom and her sister, Maeda. I wish I'd pulled out the camera more often this weekend. We certainly saw much more beautiful backdrops than these video games and there were better picture opportunities. Alas!

The visiting, the boat ride to and on the lake, the meals, the family worship service (complete with bulletins) and learning a little more about some of the people I love made for a wonderful time. Thanks and love to you all!

Today's Sweet and Funny Memories

TJ:
"It's not diaper-rhea!"

When I asked TJ to give 80-something-year-old Mrs. B a hug goodbye today, he ran up, gave her a big hug, put his hands on her cheeks and gave her a big kiss. She was so happy, she had tears in her eyes.

When I picked TJ up from class, he yelled, "mama" and ran fast to grab me around the legs.

Paul:
"Nana has whale water in her pool." I clarified that it is whale like a fish, not well like a hole in the ground.

At breakfast, "Did a mouse really eat TJ's cookies?" Coker told the boys an elaborate "story" about a mouse eating TJ's cookies, even though I ate them. This was at least two months ago. He's still thinking about that mouse.

Paul gave me lots of hugs and even a kiss today - just because.