Halloween 2021: The Addams Family

When the calendar struck October 1, we started decorating the house, watching scary movies together (Monster house! Muppets Haunted Mansion! The Addams Family!) We carved pumpkins and maybe ate a bit too much candy. 

And after all that fun build-up, Halloween 2021 turned out to be one of the best Halloweens ever! But don't take my word for it, take yours! We trick-or-treated with the Hanrihans, Longs, Larsens, and Rainey-Ellises in a new neighborhood and after the panedmic, everyone was so excited to have a regular-ish Halloween that they were super generous and gave out so much candy!

Julia, you got a full-size snickers and ran down the road with it high in the sky like a victory trophy! "I GOT A FULL SIZE SNICKERS!"

Aidan, your basket was so full that it was almost too heavy for you to carry!

You guys got candy and play-do and crayons and more candy! And more candy!

And when we got home, we were able to GIVE candy to neighbors and trick-or-treaters!

And we got to do it as a family... one creepy, kooky, mysterious and spooky family!

And for me, that is what Halloween is all about-- being together with friends and family and divulging in a LOT of sweetness together.

Trick or Treat!

Beavers Bend 2021

Before the pandemic you didn't get a fall break, but I'm so glad you do now!

It's a vacation week without any holidays in it; nothing we have to do. Just relaxation.

And this year, we decided to take our relaxation on the road to Oklahoma and visit a place we hadn't been to in many years: Beavers Bend State Park!

We rented a cabin, played Monopoly during the rain, had camp fires, s'mores, hot dogs, told silly disgusting jokes, kayaked down the river, skipped stones, went into town for mini-golf and wax hands and 'mining,' rode horses, rode the train (twice...and julia you won the cotton candy raffle the second time!), hiked...and hiked more...and got lost...and hiked more to get unlost, and went on nightly walks with our headlamps. 

We saw deer at night, deer during the day; creepy glowy eyes at night (deer and one opossum); a lot of cool frogs and one bigfoot (just kidding).

You two set up a trading post and system to trade precious gems. 

It was a time of togetherness -and waters rose and fell- and I am so thankful we were able to do it as a family.

I can't wait to be in the woods with the four of us again...no cell signal...smell of campfire...and sore legs with fully bellies and hearts. 

Julia turns 9!

 Julia,

You are thoughtful, and silly, and impish, and earnest, and capable. You are loving and crazy, you are strong and smart. You are adventurous and friendly and always, always, you have a plan...and a way to execute it.

This year you really got into Roblox, and making your own videos about Roblox. Before that, you made and edited your own videos about your dolls and other toys in your room and made your own Youtube channel: Julia's Sweet Things.

And we made lots of silly movies together- you, me and Aidan-under your clever direction:

You've been working very hard on learning piano, and this year you had your first recital!

Also, you fell in love with Drama this year, thanks to 2 acting camps over the summer! You were a princess, an old lady, a lemur, a monkey, and you had SO much fun!

You excel at school, and give your schoolwork- and your friends- your all. Your teacher told us you were an inspiration. Your're grateful and you get along with everyone. You're not a complainer, but you will advocate for yourself. You are precocious and a rule-follower. 

One time this year, you got in a little bit of trouble at school. You decorated your body with a Sharpie beauty mark. Your friends followed suit and weren't as restrained as just putting a beauty mark. The Sharpies were taken away, and your teacher let you know that she wanted to talk to you the next day. You were so upset at yourself; you confided in us that you felt you had let your teacher down and your friends down. You were worried that the Sharpies would be taken away permanently, and that really upset you. Because you love to use them in your art. You made a plan. The next day at school you would talk to your teacher and apologize and promise to never do it again. You were so worried she'd be mad at you. Well, you executed your plan, and the teacher was not mad at you at all; in fact, she appreciated you coming to her and being honest.

And that is just a snap-shot of who you are at 9. We can't wait to see what comes next, and will be by your side as you continue to learn and grow!

You are Creative, silly, serious, strong, amazing, wonderful, loving. And I'm so proud to be your Dad! And I love you forever! Wave riders forever! Survivor Forever! Tootsie Rolls forever! Beavers Bend forever! Ka-kaw Ka-kaw!