Reflections

The other day, as I was browsing through my picture files, I came across some photos of Zachary as an infant. Enter Zachary:

Me: "Look, Zachary! That's you when you were a little baby!"
Zachary: (sadly) "Oh, I miss him!"

Cookin' Up Some Fun!

Our ward "Trunk or Treat" was held tonight up at the church building. Zachary really enjoyed the activity last year, so we'd been planning to dress the kids up for a preview of the Halloween fun that's yet to come. Check them out in their sweet costumes!



I was inspired to turn Zachary into a darling little chef for Halloween only about 24 hours prior to this event, after he insisted on wearing his chef's hat on our shopping trip with Grandma. Since he had been non-committal (as far as Halloween costumes go) up to that point, I thought, "Why not?" After driving all around town last night and today to find a child's apron, we finally found one at Hobby Lobby and completed his costume just minutes before the Trunk or Treat started. I thought he turned out so cute, and (even better!) we already had the rest of his costume hanging in his closet. Chef's apron: $2.99 (+ tax). Halloween memories: Priceless.



Ashley, of course, wore the adorable Tigger suit that was lovingly worn and passed down by Zachary. She fit into it nicely, and I'm sure it kept her nice and cozy in somewhat of an autumn chill. She was the soft and cuddly creature that Chris and I got to carry around all night long.

Zachary enjoyed playing a few games that had been set up in the Primary room. There was the Cupcake Walk that he went to right away. After about 3 rounds, Zachary's number was called, so he got to choose from a large assortment of yummy-looking cupcakes. He picked a pretty orange one with a pumpkin candy on top. Later, he went back to play the Ring Toss game, landing metal rings around the stems of pumpkins for spider rings and other creepy little prizes. Last of all, there was the Bean Bag Toss, where the kids threw ghost-shaped bean bags through the cut-out windows of a painted wooden haunted house. Zachary thought it was fun to run around to the back side of the house and throw the bean bags BACK to the kids on the other side.











In the kitchen, we dished up some tasty dinner. Several people submitted entries into this year's chili cook-off, and topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, pico de gallo and a cornbread muffin, the one I sampled was a winner in my book. For the less adventurous, hot dogs were also being served.

Following dinner, we all went out to the parking lot for some trunk-or-treating. Chris and I took Zachary and Ashley around to see the decorated trunks and collect treats in their little pumpkin pails. After about the third trunk, Ashley couldn't resist the temptation, and so I unwrapped a lollipop for her just to keep her quiet. She lost all interest after that, but we made the rounds while she dribbled sticky redness down the front of her costume. I'm not sure what lucky treat was Zachary's first choice, but both kids had plenty of candy to eat last night and a warm bath to come home to.

False Alarm

This morning, I was in the bathroom curling my hair when, all of a sudden, I heard the ear-splitting smoke detector go off. Then, I realized it was just my daughter, "Screech".

Being Prepared

I am so proud of myself! Just the other day, a little bird told me that our storage closet at home could be turned into a really great place for our food storage and emergency-preparedness supplies, which had been cluttering up a section of our bedroom floor. That closet, to make the plan even more ingenius, had been a haven for unnecessary items such as mismatched bed linens, old magazines, etc., that I really needed to set aside for Goodwill or the garbage. Yesterday, I put my little plan into action and now I'm feeling so motivated to build on what I've started and keep rolling on this preparedness issue like I never have before. I'm pumped!

Sorry, I can't share pictures at this time, because I broke my digital camera about a week ago, but as soon as I can, I'll get a photo in.

Tribute to Bob Barker

Yesterday, CBS aired its final episode of The Price Is Right starring Bob Barker. Indeed, it is hard for me to imagine how my life will go on without Bob. I have been a faithful and devoted fan of his show from the time I was just a kid. I never minded being sick, because I knew that staying home from school meant getting to watch game shows all day long, The Price Is Right always being one of my favorites. During the summers, I'd watch it just about everyday. Of course, as I grew older, I had to say goodbye temporarily as I went off to college and, later, worked full-time. However, when my little Zachary was born, he was immediately introduced to The Price Is Right and we have been watching together ever since. When Ashley came along, she, too, joined our little cheering section as I spent many a morning walking off baby weight while we got our fix of games like Let 'em Roll, Spelling Bee, Now and Then, Pick a Pair, The Clock Game, Half Off, Cliffhanger, and many, many, many others. I don't think there's a game on the show that I don't know like the back of my hand.

It has been fun to watch both of my kids clap and cheer right along with the audience and those on Contestant Row and get SO excited over a "neeeeeeeeeeeew caaaaar!" I'll never forget when Zachary was 2 and I found him "playing Plinko" by dropping his puzzle pieces and watching them slide down the slanted edge of a broken down computer monitor. (From then on, anything flat became a "Plinko chip.") And, in my mind, I will forever hear Zachary yelling, "Spin da wheel!!!" Though I never got my chance to "come on down" or step up to the big wheel in the Showcase Showdown, these precious moments I will cherish forever.

Bob, you are a legend, and I will never forget the fun times we have shared for most of my 31 years. The Price Is Right will never be the same without you, but you will always have a place in my heart. Goodbye, my friend, goodbye.

The Long Haul -- Truckin' Through Temple, TX!

I loved this snapshot of my first pit stop along my route from Austin to Boston. How much more Texas can you get than a Ford Truck, a barn painted with the likeness of the Lone Star flag, and a pasture full of bluebonnets?! The only thing I can think of is that the photographer forgot to include a half-gallon of Blue Bell ice cream in the picture. It would have looked rather nice sitting right there on the hood of that truck, and only then would it have been a more accurate representation of Texas pride at its best. At least I can enjoy a big bowl full of Blue Bell ice cream while I'm sitting here typing about it. My flavors of the day are Chocolate Brownie Overload and Banana Pudding. Yummy!



Facts about Temple, TX:

Population: approx. 120,000

History: Began as a railroad town. Temple Junction was created on 6/29/1881. Temple was named after Bernard Moore Temple, the chief engineer of the Santa Fe Railway, who never actually lived in the town that bore his name.

Nicknames from the History Book: Mudville, Tanglefoot, Ratsville (ewwww!), Progressive Temple, Prairie Queen, City of Trees

Temple Today: Temple is one of the leading medical centers in the Southwest. The city has grown steadily because of its diverse economy--agriculture, transportation, manufacturing, and medicine. The historic downtown neighborhood is a collection of fine mansions and middle-class bungalows.

Attractions:

Railroad & Heritage Museum
Czech Heritage Museum
Miller Springs Nature Center
Mother Neff State Park

Temple, on the shores of Lake Belton, is home to many city parks that would be great for picnicking, camping, and water recreation.

If I'm not mistaken, Temple, TX is also the birthplace of my very own dad. Yay, Dad!

This month I walked a total of 70 miles, so I am actually halfway between Temple and Waco, TX. By this time next month, I'll be well beyond Waco, so stay tuned to see where I end up next. It will be as much a surprise to me as it will be to you!

Only 1,877 more miles to go...