Wordless Wednesday: Every Child's Dream

Because a New Puppy Doesn't Fit in Her Candy Bag

Halloween night was something I was anticipating, but also concerned about.  Zoe LOVED her costume and she loves candy, however, she's not so keen on strangers.  Trick-or-treating could've gone either direction. 

We all went to Grandma Kathy's (my mom's) house for some pre-trick-or-treating fellowship.  She also lives in a neighborhood with loads of grandparents, so they were bound to give out some good candy and not be too scary.

Zoe had her trusty horse Kisses and was dressed for action.

The she realized she had to have her coat on and carry her candy bag.  I got horse duty while grandma snapped pictures.  N stayed behind to pass out candy.  I really think he just wanted a few minutes to watch some history of The Real Wolfman. 

After her first house, Zoe was an old pro.  As we walked down the stairs, she would say, "next house.  More candy!" 

That was until she got tired of walking, we put her in a stoller and then she just wanted to send me or grandma to the door to get her candy.  We had to bribe her with candy to get her out of the stroller. 

Then it was off to Aunt Becca's and Uncle Josh's house.  She was totally excited because they have a black dog named Tucker.  After about 5 minutes of Uncle Josh holding poor Tucker in what I can assume is a hold off UFC, did Zoe feel like she would approach Tucker. 

It was an instant bond.  He would let her pet his tail, she would let him "kiss" her cheek with his nose.  He was the highlight of her Halloween.  She cried for exactly 1/2 mile (the distance to our house) and about 10 extra minutes just so I would know that she REALLY REALLY REALLY wants a Tucker of her own.  I had to bribe her with a play date at Aunt Becca's house. 

Then I got out the candy bag and the size of her loot made her temporarily forget her favorite puppy in the whole world.

She switched to nuzzling M&M's like her mom does when talk of puppies comes up.

Murder and Laughter

Last Friday we hosted a murder.  Both N and I were a wee bit excited about this one.  N got to wear his fedora and I got to wear my Used Car Salesgirl wig.  We ordered some Italian dinner, made some salad and bread and we were ready for our guests.

The murder took place at La Sperenza, an Italian restaurant in Little Italy.  We had Frank Sinatra playing in the background.  Pepi Roni, N's twin, was gunned down in the kitchen.  We actually had blood spatters to prove it.  I love Halloween props!

The entire cast of suspects arrived!

Bo Jalais (Luke) and Angel Roni (Angela).  Bo works in the vineyard for N's character.  Notice he painted his finger tips purple.  He is totally commited to his role.  It's what we like to call method acting.

Rocco Scarfazzi (N) and Tara Misu (me).  Please note the read boa.  Apparently when you spend less than $5 on a boa, it can be known to die your wig and neck pink.  I looked totally sunburned after the night of murder.

Mamma Rosa (Melissa) and Marco Roni (Stacy).  In a very awkward twist, they had to play mother and son.  It led to some really inappropriate behavior since they are in fact husband and wife.

Even though we skipped through the CD a little quicker than we should've and revealed the murdered before the end of the game, it was a great time.  Angela made some killer tiramisu (not to be confused with me, Tara Misu). 

Thanks Melissa, Stacy, Angela and Luke for making our muder so much fun.  We can't wait until the next one.  Anyone up for disco?

We're hosting another murder

Tonight we will be hosting our second murder mystery party.  This one takes place in an Italian Kitchen.

N will be going as a vineyard owner named Rocco Scarfazzi.  He's stoked to wear his pin-striped suit and fedora.

I will be playing the role of Tara Misu, Roccos' former maid and now fiancee.  Apparently I have feminine wiles. 

And some appropriate hair.  Check out the wig I bought.

It is called the "Used Car Salesgirl Wig."  I can't even tell you how excited I am to wear this thing. 

Pictures will be coming.

Nature Scares the Living Tar Out Of Me

The summer before my freshman year of high school we moved from our house in town to a house miles outside of town.  At the time, the area we moved to consisted of a gas station, our housing development and another one up the road.  It's safe to say I've come into contact with nature more than I would like to. 

One of the first things I learned, while getting my driver's license was if you see a deer in the road, stop because that little deer is a scout and others will follow.  I cannot tell you how important that little tidbit of information has helped me over the years.

Since moving into our house, I've learned to tolerate frogs and N will go to extreme measures to find and remove snakes.  As much as I've learned, there are certain encounters with woodland creatures that you can never prepare for.

Last night Zoe and I went to my mom's house after our church's Harvest Party to show her our loot.  Plus Zoe was spending the night since today is an early day for our house.  I kissed Zoe goodbye, shut the door and walked to my car.  Mind you, it's pitch black outside.  What do I see near my car?  A mamma moose and her calf.  Honestly, I almost sharted.

Those creatures are huge.  Since a mamma was with her calf, you can't get too close because she might charge. 

There is nothing that will get your adrenaline pumping faster than seeing a 700 pound moose watching you, measuring your every move while her 400 pound calf is climbing up a tree to eat.

Unless, of course, you're driving to work on October 29th and you see that it's snowing.  I'm actually not sure which is scarier.

Yee-Haw and Howdy Partner

Tonight is our church's annual Harvest Party.  It's also the one place we take Zoe for some trick-or-treating fun since going door-to-door freaks her out.

I think our little cowgirl is using method acting to get into character for tonight's fesitivities.

Not only does she have the stance, but she also has a really great joke.

Knock knock.
Who's there?
Yah
Yah Who?
Are you a cowgirl too?
She's going to be a natural at breaking the ice!

Gourd Puzzles

Last year, after the patch, Zoe wanted nothing to do with the pumpkin carving.  She was more into the big spoon I was using to scoop it out.  Until she got a little guts on her toe.  Then the entire kitchen area was dead to her.

This year she had a totally different mindset:  pumpkin seeds are her friends.  She requested that she have her painting shirt on.  In Sunday School that morning her teacher (aka Grandma) was teaching how we have junk, like pumpkin guts in us when we don't share or hit your friends.  God doesn't want us to have junk, so we have to take it out with His help.  Then you carve a cross in a pumpkin and let the light shine through.  Or something like that.  She's very clever.

Zoe was well prepared for the "junk" as she called it.  Which is reassuring that she's listening in Sunday School and not running around with a ladybug doll and screaming like she was two weeks ago.

We put on her painting shirt and got to work.  We cleaned the dirt off the pumpkins and posed a bit.

Then we decided that we really didn't want to work on the BIG pumpkins yet, just the "teensy" ones.  Since she was already dressed for painting, she thought that's what we should do.  So we did. 

Then she saw me hacking into the BIG pumpkins and wanted in on the action.  It's like buried treasure in there with all them seeds.

Then even seeds couldn't keep her attention.  She ran, got a flashlight and wanted to see the pumpkin all lit up.

It wasn't too long before she saw another opportunity...

...afterall it is just a big, 3-D puzzle waiting to be completed.