December Holidays

So, today I was looking at Kwanzaa Candles (Mishumaa Saba) online so I was ready when, and if, students asked about them. And I found this menorah.com website. Now, I don't participate in the celebration of Hanukkah, and so I found it odd that they had so many different styles. I found it almost mocking when I saw that there were animal ones and different sport ones. I don't get it. I mean I thought it was supposed to be a sacred thing. We don't wrap baby Jesus in a Blue's Clues blanket in the manger scene. You know? It just seemed really weird to me.

First Time Bidders

So, last night, Sonny and I put our first bid in on a house. We don't know if it will go over or not. But we did it. With the uncertainty with both of our jobs, we don't know if we hope they will say yes or no. We will wait and see.

Less Soprano, please.

So this weekend, I joined my mother-in-law, and my two aunts-in-law and went to a Mother-Daughter luncheon at church. The hour before the luncheon, we were entertained by this vocal group (and I don't remember the name) which consisted of 3 women and 3 men. They sang several songs, songs from the 50s, some disco, some religious, some patriotic, but throughout them all, all I could think was how heavily weighted the group was by the soprano one (a reference to when I sang in college, referring to the topmost soprano part). Now, I realize that this is somewhat hypocritical of me, seeing as I was a soprano one in high school. But I kind of think that perhaps that teacher didn't really know how to "read" voices, because just a short summer later, I was singing in college choir and I was an alto one. But I will confess that I am far more comfortable as an alto than I ever was as a soprano. Who knew?

But what I really wanted to hear was the men's voices. When I was in college, the best part of the concerts was not our female choir part, but the men's choir part. I loved listening to them sing the UND school fight song. It never got old. Neither did the "Little Lamb" song. I can still see the big guy named Grant singing when I think of that song. It's funny what memories we have, isn't it?

Edmund Fitzgerald

Did anyone have the Gordon Lightfoot song in their head yesterday? It was the 35th anniversary of the sinking. I heard the tail end of it on the way to work. I didn't know it was the anniversary at the time.

Trick or Treat

This picture was taken shortly before we left to go trick or treating. We took Thomas the Tank Engine and a little Lion out. They did a good job. But I think it would be fun if all of us dressed up, Mommy and Daddy included.

Wait, wait, wait.

All there is to do tonight is wait, wait, wait. There is a lot riding on this election, like, "is any reason to hold out hope for a job for next year?" Also, to see where would be the best place to put Lukin in kindergarten. I hate the way the referendum questions were worded on the ballot, but hopefully there was enough people who had gotten the information to have the explanation to know what they were voting for and to make the educated decision. Just say my prayers and wait.

Halloween Success

It's amazing what a difference a year makes. Last year we went around one block and when we turned the corner, Lukin got too tired to continue. This year, he didn't ask until the last couple houses and only because he could see Mimi's house and wanted to go there. It was pretty fun.

I have to confess that I never knew the rule about the house lights. I grew up in the country and we went into town and went to the same houses every year. I didn't know that if the lights were on you could go there, and if they weren't, you couldn't. Good to know though.

We had fun though. Lukin did great saying trick-or-treat, and thank you at each house. Parker would only say his version of trick-or-treat if prompted. And you couldn't distinctly hear "trick or treat" but you heard three syllables ending in "ee". And he would say something that sounded like "thank you" too. But he was cute to watch as he just sat back in his stroller wondering why we were going from house to house in the dark saying the same thing and getting stuff in a bag. I think he didn't mind though as he looked pretty comfy in his little lion outfit and winter coat. He looked like he was going to fall asleep.

When we got back to Mimi's, I guess it was like Halloween in years past. Lukin had all the candy dumped all over the floor in moments. And he had four pieces before you could tell him how many he could have: 1 starburst, 1 piece of bubble gum, 1 box of milk duds and a kit kat. Parker got to have a little candy too (only because it was Halloween and he dressed up for it.) He got to have one little bag of M&Ms and suck on a sucker until the stick got too bendy, then Mommy took it away.

All in all it was fun night. I will try to get a pic up here eventually. Like hopefully before the kids go off to college.