Happiness and Halloween

Happiness is having your computer back.  My screen went out almost two weeks ago and I have just now been able to retrieve it from the computer shop.  I thought I could use the old dinosaur computer downstairs, but it was just irritating to use because it runs so slow.  The kids tell me that now I know how they feel all of the time.  I just smile and say ,"If you weren't ALWAYS on my computer then they wouldn't know what you're missing.":).  I couldn't download any pictures from that computer anyway because all of my pictures are on my laptop.  So now I have it back and I can once again keep others apraised of my life, because I know how all of you are just waiting with baited breath to find out what is happening.  So here it goes.
As always Dad planted pumpkins this year back in the spring before all of the trama that occured over the summer with his knee and later his stroke. When it came to harvest and sell the pumpkins we weren't really sure how to go about doing it.  We set up the trailer at Hoagies and put out an honor box and let people come and buy their pumpkins off of the trailer, only they didn't sell that well.  Later Lyle Dabb came and visited Dad and offered to sell his pumpkins for him if we would pick them out of the field and deliver them to his stand.  I guess Lyle had some problems with his own pumpkins this year and needed to find pumpkins to sell at his own stand. Mom and Dad agreed and we went to work.  The day we were set to pick all of the pumpkins my family arrived late for the picking.  The work had already been done by Bruce Jackson and his family and some neighbor friends, but Mom said she still needed help getting them off of the trailer.  So we all headed over to Lyle's stand and unloaded the pumpkins.  It was fun to see everyone helping.  Lyle entertained the kids with his "pumpkin" mask and I took some pictures to commemorate the event.  Here are just a few of the many.

Pumpkin carving was once again a smashing good time. It was a warmish, yet rainy day on the Saturday before Halloween. We all met at Mom and Dad's for the annual pumpkin carving. We had our pumpkins ready for the event. We met under the bowery/barn because of the rain. Dad came out and watched us for the first little while, but then he got cold and tired and thought he had better get back to the warmth and comfort of the house. The rest of us finished gutting, drawing, and carving our pumpkins. I got an idea from "This Old House" magazine to drill holes in the pumpkin and insert Christmas lights in the holes. So Dale and I used the idea. It was a big hit. We learned a few things about what to do and what not to do so next year we should have it down pat and they will be spectacular. This year I think they turned out neat. We went inside for yummy hot soup and roles and good company. After it turned dark, and before everyone left for home, we had the family pictures taken next to the pumpkins.

Halloween this year was much like the pumpkin carving.  It wasn't really cold, but it was rainy.  We met as a family at Lesa's house for food and a showing of "Young Frankenstein."  The kids were able to do their trick-or-treating earlier and now it was time for the parents to have fun too, at least that was the plan, but my girls were just getting started when it was time to be at Lesa's.  Marie had come home late from Jessica's apartment and still wanted a chance to trick-or-treat around our neighborhood so Dale took her while Jordan and I left for Lesa's.  Valerie had already decided she wasn't going to Lesa's house because she had plans with her friend Jaymie, too bad for her.  We had tons of food at Lesa's.  We all brough something for the party.  I brought soup and little smokies for the event.  MJ and Todd brought "potty jello" (yellow jellow with Baby Ruths in it) and these great sandwiches that looked like snakes.  Not only were they fun for Halloween, they were delicious too (I didn't try the potty jello). We ate and ate until we could eat no more, except maybe a few more candy bars from the trick-or-treat dish. Dad and the boys stayed down stairs and watched some of the Series, but they soon tired of the game and started in with the playful bantering that always occurs at these shindigs.  Later we all got together, including Dale but no Marie (she wanted to stay home with Val) and watched the video.  It's always a classic, silly movie, and it's always fun to watch those kind of movies with Todd and his family, because they laugh at everything.  What can I say, but the evening was a big success.  I had a great time.