Hannah was invited to a Princess Party today.  She was very excited.  She got all dressed up in her princess costume and after putting a present together, she was on her way.  She was very proud of herself to cross the street all by herself.  When she got home, she informed me that it was a makeover party and proudly showed me her freshly painted finger and toe nails.  “It was SO cool!”, she said.  When I asked her who was at the party, she said she couldn’t remember.  At the mention of the name of one of the girls I thought might be there, she said, “No, she went to college.”  (The girl is in my primary class!)  Then she said, “I’m almost ready to go to college, huh?”  Please no!  Not yet.  I’m not ready!

Last night was the annual Turkey Shoot.  It took a lot of convincing to get Joe to take the boys because last year was not a good experience for him.  He was suffering from a stomach bug then, and it made for a long and miserable night.  But after much conversation he finally decided to give it a shot.

Hannah, AJ and I had a good night.  We talked and played and went to bed a little early.  I woke up about 10:30 to a phone call.  Joe wanted to know if I was o.k.  I told him I was…just sleeping.  I thought he would be to.  He said that my cell phone kept calling him.  I knew that I had left the phone in the car the night before, so I began to be nervous.  I called the cell phone to see if someone picked up.  It went to voicemail on the first ring.  Then it started calling me.  That really scared me.  Being that it was the Turkey Shoot, I didn’t know if any of the men in the neighborhood were home, so I called 911.  The operator thought it was strange enough too to send out an officer.  By that time I was really freaked out because the phone had tried to call me again.  I went into Hannah and AJ’s room and sat up against the door, just in case someone came into the house.  I was glad that I had the motion sensor set downstairs.  The operator had the police climb the fence so that they could check out all the entrances to the garage.  When they gave the all clear, I went downstairs and let them into the garage.  While they were checking all the nooks and crannies, I pulled the phone out of the car.  Sure enough, it had called Joe 19 times and me 3 times.  The only thing I can think of is that it was cold and wanted to come in.  :)  It was just dialing the last number that called it.  We slept with lights on in the house and I stayed up until 1:30 just to be sure.  It sure made for an exciting night though!

1. Add a comment on my blog. Leave one memory that you have had with either Joe or Phyllisa, It doesn’t matter if you knew us a little or a lot, anything you remember!

2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty funny to see the responses. If you leave a memory about us, we’ll assume you’re playing the game and we’ll come to your blog and leave one about you!

I remember being interested in the presidential election in 84.  I don’t remember why I was interested in it, I just remember sitting in the living room, glued to the TV.  I don’t remember my parents being in the room.  I don’t remember being informed on any of the issues, just concerned that President Reagan won. I was 7 1/2.  I haven’t thought much about that memory until Monday.

Monday, Nathan came home from school and asked if he could print some fliers.  He said that there was this guy named Rocka Backa (Barak Obama, I corrected him…he called him Rocka at least three times more during the conversation.  I had to work really hard not to laugh!) who was running for President.  He said that Obama wanted to raise taxes and that would mean less money for us.  He also said there was a guy named McCain who was also running for President and that he wanted to cut taxes, which meant more money for us.  So could he please make posters that say, “Obama Sucks!”?  I had Nathan call his dad and recite his diatribe because it was so comical.  Joe and I did set him straight on the issues as we understand them and did not allow him to print “Obama Sucks” posters.

Tuesday, Nathan came home from school with more bad news.  “My friend Joey says that if Obama is elected President, he’ll let sexual abusers and child abusers go free.”  That got my attention!  I told him that if that were true, no one would vote for the man, and that it was just a plain lie.  Where did the kids come up with this!  Nathan was very disappointed every time we updated him that Obama was winning.

Last night, when we were going to bed, Joe informed me that Nathan and his friend had made a pact that they would smash their tvs if Obama won.  Joe told him that he didn’t own a tv, so he didn’t have one to smash.  This morning I strictly forbid him from doing any property damage based on the result of the election. 

Daniel told us the morning that if Obama won, we’d all starve to death.

*sigh*  I have no idea where they are coming up with this stuff.

Halloween was especially sweet this year for me.  We had all been sick for the week leading up to it, so I skipped our traditional stuffed pumpkin dinner and cooked a Stouffer’s lasagna instead.  I stayed home to pass out our traditional Go Gurts while Joe took the kids trick or treating.  Nathan was a policeman, Daniel was Thomas (I think he’s been Thomas three years in a row now!), Hannah was a fairy princess, and AJ was Eeyore.

It was bittersweet to put AJ in the Eeyore costume.  He wore it almost all day.  All of my kids have worn that costume at one time or another, and AJ was just as cute as any of them. :)  We only had him go up one side of our street and down the other.  Then he came home to help me pass out Go Gurts.  He was so CUTE!  Everytime someone knocked on the door or rang the doorbell he’d jump up and toddle to the door.  He’d stand there while I passed out treats. Kids and parents alike would ooh and ahh over him.  Then he’d shut the door.  It was very precious!

I also love hearing “This is the best house!” and “Awesome!  Go Gurts!” and other such joyous explanations when kids see our treats.  It just makes me happy.  :)  I think in the 5 years since we started doing Go Gurts we’ve only had one set of boys complain, and they were too old to be trick or treating anyway.

When the kids got home, we ate dinner and watched our Halloween Tradition Movie, “Hercules”.  I have no idea how that tradition came to be, but it is and the kids were so excited when I told them it was time.  Almost as excited as they were to Trick or Treat.  It was a pretty great day.