Pumpkins, Playdates, and Parties

*Shannon and I took our four younger kids to the pumpkin patch this week. We packed a picnic lunch, hoping to kill a few hours. After everyone had eaten, the kids ran off toward the hay maze. We cleaned up and followed them, but while we were walking we heard a noise. I thought it was an acorn--awww...how cute! A squirrel is dropping acorns on us!....but I was wrong. Look close:

This is a picture of Shannon's head. With bird poop on it. I laughed so hard I cried, and I've been laughing all week. I should also mention that I cleaned most of it out of her hair with a baby wipe (those things are so useful!)...because I'm a true friend.

*Goliath's school held a mock election this week. It was Shannon's day to drive carpool (BTW, if you're a mom and you don't have a carpool...GET ONE!), and she noticed the kids wearing "I Voted!" stickers, so she asked them who they voted for. Kendal voted for "the brown guy", Kaitlyn voted for Sarah. Why? "Because she's a girl." And Goliath? "I voted for John McCain." Good little Republican boy. "Because I have an uncle named John!" How's that for political depth?

*Two days after the bird poop episode, I took Little Middle and Baby on another playdate--indoors this time. We met all their girlfriends at a new bounce house place. It was very fun! We only saw the kids when they ran by us or stopped to eat some popcorn. When we were driving home I asked them what their favorite part was. Baby liked the kangaroo bounce house, but here's what I got from Little Middle: "I can only tell you what my worstest part was, Mommy. It was the part where we had to LEAVE!"

*Today we are celebrating my grandmother-in-law's 80th birthday. The WHOLE family is coming to DFW for the party. I am looking forward to it--I love her!--except for one thing: having to make nice and hold superficial conversations with people who have made it pretty obvious they don't care about me or my family. That's the part I dread.

*Our church is holding the annual Family Fall Festival this Sunday evening. What I'm grateful for: my friend Heather who has gone far above and beyond the call of duty to help me with this event. What I'm not fond of: spending an entire day at church and disposing of all those hay bales when it's over.

*Our Halloween costume plan:

Goliath=Darth Vader

Little Middle=Batman

Baby=Frog

*I am now working childcare at MOPS every other Tuesday morning. I subbed one time and said I didn't want anything else on my plate...but then Little Middle started asking when we could go back to that fun class. I'm such a sucker.