Happy Halloween!

On a regular day...

At Halloween...

Happy Halloween! I picked up the free local weekly paper, The Journal....because it had a picture of the Carson Mansion on it. I read the story and it turns out that not only is the Carson Mansion one of the most photographed buildings in California...it is also the basis for many haunted houses! I looked on line and sure enough...it is! I thought I would share how it looks typically and on one of the images I found online. This house is only a couple miles from where we live, and I get a peek at it every morning when I take Elliott to school.

The guys have been busy helping out at the haunted house....if I am on my computer in the evening, I can hear screams. It is an annual tradition here, the city loves it.

Well...Lee is making cookies....and they are calling my name!

Pumpkin Hunting....

The wagon full of pumpkins...88 pounds!!

Elliott pulling the wagon.

Elliott and Lauren coming out of the corn maze.

Ok...I admit it...I think pumpkins are the coolest vegetable!!! I love the shapes and the colors, the ones with warts, and curly stems. We went to the same pumpkin patch we went to last year, in the Arcata Bottoms (the farmland area in Arcata). It had rained the night before and we were prepared for an ugly day...but the rain stopped for our adventure. Lee stayed home to work on the the paper he had to write for his algebra class. Elliott and I picked up his friend Lauren, and made our way to the pumpkin patch. Lauren is really nice, I like when the boys have friends that try to engage me in conversation too and not just the boys. She did a great job, asked lots of questions. We had fun trying to find the perfect pumpkins....I took the picture of Elliott dragging the wagon and said that I needed it for when he did not want to go pumpkin hunting with me...the smart boy said he would always want to go pumpkin hunting with me. We ended the day with a slice of New York pizza and a quick walk around the Arcata Plaza.

The Coast Guard hosts a haunted house every year....and this year both Lee and Elliott have volunteered to help out. They will be out of the house the next four evenings. The city looks forward to it every year. Tonight is the walk through for the CG families. Last years house scared the crap out of me...I am looking forward to tonight... with a little apprehension. We were not in housing last year and did not get any trick or treaters...so I am prepared for the masses this year. I am pretty excited to see all the kids in their costumes.

Mason.....

I just thought I would share a couple of pictures Mason and Arrielle posted on Facebook. Are they too cute or what!!!????

Mason and Arrielle...cheese!!!

Mason and Bianca, how cute are they???

I shoulda asked more questions....

shells on the beach at Samoa, they look like angel wings

Lately, I have been feeling like I should have asked my mom a ton more questions. Mainly, about girl stuff. Dad...you can skip this blog! I have cruised the library, and checked out books about menopause lately. I have been getting a lot of symptoms that let me know, it is around the bend for a few years now. I know for my mom it happened early...I just wish I asked her more about it. Lee gives me the deer in the headlights look...but has been pretty awesome about my babbling on and on about stuff. I really do not have a lot of friends my age that are having the same symptoms I get....so I am stuck with the internet and the library. My doctor already told me I am normal. Navigating the internet on this topic, is like trying to run across an eight lane freeway. I guess in the end...I will have an excuse for being bitchy and proof that people can spontaneously burst into flames (aka...hot flashes).

Here are a couple other things I have been pondering...don't you think candy corn should count as a vegetable??? I do not want to admit that there is a jar right next to me right now...whoopsie! We have to attend a Chiefs Call to Initiation dinner next month, I am working on an excuse as to why we should not go...just because I do not want to wear panty hose. It is also $70 for us to go...and on our anniversary weekend....I would much rather spend the money on pizza and a trip to the book store. With all the medical terminology I have been studying...shows like House are a lot more enjoyable...because I can figure out what they are talking about!

I guess that is all for today....back to laundry-land.

I love Sunday's....

All week, I look forward to Sunday. I think it comes from working at the bank...Sunday was the only day we were closed! Sundays in our house are pretty mellow....Elliott upstairs doing homework or online chatting with friends, Lee will find some old movie for us to watch...while I make something for dinner. I thrive on the sound of the dryer drying the clothes for the week, the smell of candles scenting the air and the meow of the cat...letting us know there are birds out there and he wants to get outside (he should know by now that we will never let him out to hunt). There is always a phone call or texting marathon with Mason and Arrielle too.

I love the simplicity.

From Elliott's Backpacking Trip...

A couple pictures from Elliott's backpacking trip. They went to the Trinity Alps Wilderness. It looks so pretty!!! I am so glad he had a great time!!

A nice weekend....

Lee and Mike in front of Mike's Saturn Sky

Lee and Mike in front of the Vette...there is quite a bit difference in the loudness of each car!!

What an interesting, fun, and relaxing weekend...all rolled into one! Elliott left for his backpacking trip of Friday....so, like the hard core party people we are, especially all alone for the weekend...we headed home for frozen pizza and a viewing of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Yeah, that is how we roll!! Saturday morning, we got up with the intentions of hitting the gym...that did not happen, Lee worked on cleaning the truck and I put the finishing touches on getting the house ready for company. Mike and Terri rolled in around noon. It was so nice to finally meet them. I have been hearing stories about Mike for a long time...he and Lee met in Bahrain. Terri and I hit it off right away, comparing notes on children marrying and planning weddings.

We chatted for a while and then headed out for a little adventure. We went to Mazzoti's for lunch....yummy Italian food. Then we headed to the casino...Mike likes blackjack. I had stashed away $20 for the slots....Mike headed for the tables, Terri headed out looking for her favorite machine, and Lee found the free soda! Right away, I found my favorite slot machine...I Dream of Jeannie!!! The same slot machine I played in Reno and Las Vegas! Woo hoo...it was a penny slot too! I put in my twenty...and after what felt like forever (probably 2 hours), I still only donated $10 to the casino. That never happens...usually I lose it all fairly quickly. We headed home to chill out....Terri and I on the couch discussing kids and our goofy husbands and Lee and Mike on the patio discussing the state of the Coast Guard. Right as we were about to call it a day....there was a medical emergency next door, I rushed over to watch the kids, and Lee helped out the neighbor with a ride to the hospital. It was a little scary, but everyone is fine!

Terri had to work late Sunday afternoon...so they headed home after breakfast. It was a nice visit and I would like to hang out with them again. I spent the rest of the day counting down until Elliott came home, eager to find out about his first camping/backpacking adventure. He finally called around 6 and told me it was time to come get him. He had fun, and said he would like to do it again! He took some great pictures...I will post some of them as soon as he gives them to me to put on my computer. He slept under the stars, hiked, rock climbed and tried curry all in one weekend!! I am so happy he enjoyed it!

My class.....wow, what a time sucker!! Actually, I enjoy it. It is not easy, and it is challenging. I think there is someone in this house studying at all times, me during the day and Lee and Elliott in the afternoons and evenings!! In fact, I better get back to it...I am a week ahead and I want to keep it that way!

Awww...Fall!!

My sweet grandbaby, Adelle.....she hopped into a kids stroller one day at the park! I think she knows she is a princess!!

This is the time of year I wait for...FALL!!! It is my favorite time of year! Marked with cooler temperatures, pumpkin spice lattes, and the day dreams of huge turkey dinners!! We have had some sunny days this week, but the wind has started...and it likely will not stop until next summer. It is time to put away all the cute cropped pants and flip flops and dig out the sweaters and boots. Soon the rain will begin and it will erase all the memories of sunny days. I love when the magazines start hinting of the holidays to come. We will be hitting the pumpkin patch soon. The house is decorated in all its Halloween glory...I love it!

I started the second part of my medical front office training this week...medical terminology. I am only about half way through chapter one and my head is spinning. I really enjoy engaging that part of my brain again. It is a lot different than when I went to college....way back when. I can even access programs on my Ipod to review the words. Lee's algebra class has started too...I am pretty sure he hates it.

Two things for the upcoming weekend....Elliott joined the backpacking club at school. They have a two night trip this weekend. We managed to borrow the things we did not have...and now he is ready to go. I am eager to hear all about it...Elliott has never camped before. He does love walking and hiking though. We have company coming too, Lee's buddy from when he was in Bahrain is coming up (they live in Novato, north of San Francisco). Frenchie (also known as Mike) and his wife are driving up and staying overnight. I am excited to meet this friend...Lee has talked about him a lot.

Mason and Arrielle are doing well....the puppies are going through their terrible two's right now, and making them a little crazy. They put a deposit on the place where they want to get married...it is a great location. They joined Weight Watchers together...so they can look their best on their special day, and so far they are doing great. I am very proud of them.

Well, I should spend some more time reviewing my word roots, prefixes and suffixes, and combining vowels...did you know that the combining word lys(o) means dissolution???? Well, neither did I...ugh!!