Beware! The Howdy House of Horror

Trick or Treating took place over at the Howdy House. There were quite a few scary things spotted there tonight!

Stitching a Squirrel!

Well it appears that my talent at photostitching is somewhat impaired. I tried to create the image of this squirrel running across the wire, but it just wasn't meant to be. I tried to stitch it in Zoom-browser, I tried it in Picasa, and I even tried it in Photo-shop. Either my cropping size was wrong or something else, but it would not stitch itself together. So fine! I will do this instead!  I don't care! (actually I do but I give up!) I'm not all together disappointed though, I do find it to be a bit "interesting".

Finally Elizabeth

We had the opportunity to get out and take Elizabeth's Senior Pictures.

My beautiful girl!

She has always had the most beautiful blue eyes.

My Liz

Heater Guy

It's been a while since I found a face. No, it's not a smiley face, I do like those best, but still a face. Isn't he just so cute!

The Chest

Jim has this small chest that is part of his Rendezvous stuff. The pattern on the lid of the chest is what caught my eye. Sometimes that is all it takes.

Marvelous

"In all things of Nature there is something of the Marvelous" ~Aristotle

Minty

 

I'm not exactly sure how the Halloween candy ended up in my shopping cart tonight. I'm not even sure how it managed to get past me at the check out lane. But when I got home and looked in the bag, there they were, SURPRISE! And my favorite candy too, well...at least one of my favorite candies! The dark chocolate wrapped around that minty inside, mmmmm! I'm thinking there was some unseen force that put those in my cart tonight. 

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!!

A Ghost Joke

What kind of ties do ghosts wear?

Boo-ties!

Pumpkins

The girls carved their pumpkins last night. When they were little it was quite a family affair to carve pumpkins. The dads had to first cut the pumpkins open, so the mom's, with some help from the girls, could scoop out the gooey stuff. Then up to the dads again to carve in the scary faces. But the girls are all grown up, all we have to do now is just watch as they do it. We have Elizabeth's on the left, next Tori's and then Laurel's.

And So it Ends...

We traveled to the University of Illinois for the last High School Marching Band Competition of the season.

This is Elizabeth's last high school band competition. It is sad that it has come to an end.

And this is the last time Elizabeth and Alexandra will be out on the field together. Who knew four years could pass by so quickly?! Maybe next year we will be watching her in a college marching band!

13 Nights of Halloween

I'm watching my favorite Halloween movie tonight, Hocus Pocus! Along with a cool night and leaves all over the back yard I've caught the Halloween spirit. To keep in the Halloween spirit I needed to find something SPOOKY to take a picture of. How did I do?! Are you frightened?! BOO!! Now back to my movie, if only I had some Halloween candy...

OUCH!

This demonstrates what happened to me yesterday. See my little empty spot on the upper left. OUCH! I don't know for sure but I  think I may have been a bit traumatized by all this!

Tooth Removal

Today's the day, tooth pulling day. You arrive and of course they ask you how you are? Well what do you think? I'm here getting ready to have a tooth ripped out of my mouth, how do you think I'm doing? They sit you in a room all alone, "be right back!" My heart is pounding, I am feeling quite nervous about all of this. How bad will it hurt? What if I get dry socket? What if it messes with my sinuses? What if, what if, what if?! The Dr. pops in real quick to get you numb, "did that hurt?" Then off again, all alone, waiting, waiting, waiting. Back again, trying to be cute now, "was that number 15? are you sure? is this number 15?" Haha, you're so funny! I'm grasping my hands together tightly thinking "hurry up, hurry up, hurry up." A lot of pressure is felt and some stinging going on but it was over quickly. Honestly he was very gentle through the whole thing and did a good job. Now home. They provide you with this dry socket gel to help prevent dry socket and relieve pain. Ice and Ibuprofen to help the pain too. I survived the night with very little discomfort. I'm up for another day feeling a little nausea, but not too much pain. Taking the Sockit! gel with me to work.  I am relieved that it is over and hope not to have to deal with this again, ever!

Poor Ole' Puppy

Jack had to have a little surgery today to remove a small fatty tumor that had broken through the skin. Everything went well, except for the cone. Doesn't the look on his face say it all?! It just totally throws off his sense of direction or he just doesn't realize or care it's there. He keeps whacking it on the wall, knocking stuff over, goosing me! Goof ball!! He gets to wear this for 2 whole weeks, ought to be fun!

Pass the Pea's Please

Peas, peas, glorious peas! I love my peas! And what a better brand, Double Luck. Maybe... if I eat these peas I will double my luck?! Certainly worth a try.

Tori's Turn

Victoria's turn for Senior Pictures. We started late in the day so we didn't get as many as we wanted, however we have plans to take a few more later on.I guess that is one of the advantages of having a relative take your picture!

I am bummed that this turned out blurry, but there is still something about it that I really like.

I really like this one too!

The wind was starting to pick and we were all getting a bit cold by now. Time to wrap it up!

 

 Oh, just because I wanted to see what it would look like...

Tuckered Out

 The band did an exhibition show just for families and friends today. Gave us the opportunity to take some pictures with the girls in uniform. Grandmother and the girls.

 Liz and Gracie

"Another picture, really!"

And finally Liz, she just couldn't take any more. It's nap time!

Senior Night

Tonight was the last home football game of the season. We won, 42-0! 

It was also Senior Night.Seniors and their parents were recognized at the game tonight. Parents lined up with their kids and walked out on the track for all to see. I can't believe my kid is a senior! We are very proud of her!

The Terrible Tooth

There are not too many things worse then a toothache, they really stink!I have a tooth that is going to be pulled on Wednesday but decided to flare up yesterday afternoon. It progressively got worse through the evening and then all day at work today. By the time I got home I wanted to take a pair of pliers and rip it out of my head! Obviously I couldn't do that so I settled for Orajel and Tylenol PM. It did provide some relief, for a little while.Wednesday can not get here soon enough.

Meeting Place

We held a training at Starved Rock Lodge in Utica today. I brought my little guy along, knowing that this was work and not play, but I wished I had my big guy with me! There are so many amazing things here to take pictures of. These pictures are just from around the lodge alone. The trails and canyons are even more amazing. I can't wait to get back there and get some more!

Jim's Medals

My amazing husband received two medals at the NMLRA National Championship Shoot held in Friendship Indiana this past September. A First Place medal for Primitive Match 612, Any Old Muzzleloading Pistol and Third Place for Primitive Match 610, Flint Pistol. Shot both matches with the .54 caliber flint lock pistol and round balls that he cast himself, shown here in the picture. Also pictured is the powder horn and shootin' bag that he again, made himself. Sometimes little boys never grow up.

Baking

It was a good night for some baking. Baking brings about those little cozy feelings, hearing the whirl of the mixer, the yummy smells coming from the kitchen, the beep-beep of the timer telling you they are done! Mmmm! Then watching your daughter decorate the cupcakes with frosting and sprinkles, reminding you of when she was little, when there were more sprinkles on the counter or in her tummy then there were on the cupcakes! It was a good night for some baking.

*Do I spy a little face in that cupcake?! Why, yes I do!

Boots

I can't sleep when your not here. Hurry home, I miss you and I need some sleep!

One More to Go

We are getting close to the end of Marching Band season, one more competition to go.

They did an awesome job tonight even though they didn't place, they were up against some big competition.

Decided to play around with shutter speed.

Fine Arts Fair

Fine Arts Fair at the high school tonight showcasing all the musical talents...Choir, Orchestra, and Band.

Elizabeth plays in Symphonic Band with her Bassoon.

Alexandra plays in Concert Band with her Clarinet.

Fabulous Fall

Just fabulous...

Finding Faces

I was informed by my "followers" that I have not found any new faces lately, so...here you go! This reminds me of a bird or Squidward. Yes, SpongeBob SquarePants finds many ways to invade my life.

The Fence

There is light shining on the other side of the fence. 

Where am I? 

I'm stuck on this side of the fence.

How will I get there?

Open the door.

Co-Pilot

Out and about on the road today where I discovered I had a co-pilot. I noticed this grasshopper on the side of the van when I left the parking lot at work this morning.  He eventually made his way around to the windshield where he hung out with me for the rest of my route. This little grasshopper had quite an adventure today!

Picture Lady

Spent my afternoon taking Senior Pictures for one of Elizabeth's friend. Grandmother came along as the "Pose Adviser." We had fun, hope she likes them!

Little Tori

Homecoming Dance 2011

How did my sweet little Tori who looked like Cindy Lou Who when she was a baby, turn into this gorgeous lady! What a beauty she is!