Halloween 2013!

Halloween this year was a blast.  Some of it was old traditions, like going to Valley of the Moon, but most was new on account of our new house and neighborhood.  At first I was worried it would be a disappointment because our new neighborhood is too spread out for trick-or-treating... probably the only thing I don't like about it... and we used to have so much fun in the old neighborhood with a little party and sitting on the porch passing out candy.  Fortunately though my fears were not realized.

Valley of the Moon did a Scooby-Doo themed show this year, which was hilarious.  It was so fun to see Izzy actually watch and enjoy it for the first time! Last year we didn't even try to go and the year before Patrick spent most of the show/tour in the car with a screaming Izzy.... yes we are starting to see the light at the end of the home-arrest-on-account-of-the-baby years.

The girls and I carved pumpkins, Evie wanted a kitty one and while I did the actual carving she embellished it with ears, whiskers and drawings (and yes that is supposed to be a bloody nose).  Izzy mostly sat and watched but did decorate a pretty cool pumpkin at school.  I had bought her a dollar store make your own pumpkin too... which was also a kitty. (Clearly she was pretty excited about this)

The girls had incredible costumes courtesy of my Mom.  Evie picked out the pattern and requested a pink Indian princess costume and that is exactly what she got (Izzy didn't really have a say I am afraid... but we suspected she would want to be exactly what her sister was and we, fortunately, were right.)   Even though we knew we wouldn't be trick-or-treating in our area we still decorated the house and made pumpkins to put out front.

Then on the 31st we went over to my Aunt and Uncles house to go trick-or-treating in the 49ers neighborhood and let me tell you it did not disappoint!  Tons of kids, awesomely decorated houses and a few spooks and scares to make it just right.  Although I don't relish the idea of traveling away from our neighborhood for trick-or-treating I think we have found our new tradition!

Carnival and mini update

I am afraid this will not having Internet has made it so the blog is really hard to do!  That in a crazy schedule with work and PhD stuff. Someday I will have a September and October that isn't  way too full and just be able to appreciate the fall.  In the meantime a little catchup is in order.  Starting with the newest member of our household Sadie the mini dachshund, who came into our life about a month ago now.

She weighs about 3 pounds and is super cute. She loves to sleep with Evie and is super cuddly.  Once she is housetrained she will be the best dog ever!

We have been taking advantage of the wonderful fall weather and doing lots of things outside. Today Evie and I went to the carnival down the street with some friends of hers from school. I was impressed with some of the scary rides she decided to go on, I think her friends made her extra brave!

Life without furniture...

We are just a few months from marking the 1 year anniversary of our new house.  In many ways we have made it our own... pictures on the wall, chicken coop, fairy houses around the fish pond (which Patrick fixed), and a new super efficient air conditioner.  This last addition in particular has prevented us from doing what most people do in a new house... furnish it.

While the bedrooms are all nicely furnished our living spaces remain rather bare.  In the family room this means that there is ample space for nightly wrestling on the carpet, and the front living room certainly feels nice and open.  The kitchen is nice and open too, with only a small kids play table to take up space....  Although it vexed me at first, I have become quite accustomed to this bare room lifestyle.  Now don't get me wrong, I am all about couches and tables, but hey how many people can do cartwheels in their living room without fear of breaking something?  I have no doubt that someday we will have a house furnished like most folks do, but for now I will revel in the unique openness of our space!  (and in the ability to ad nauseum look at couches in order to find just the right one)