Halloween - Part One

We went to the daycare carnival Friday night and then the pumpkin patch Saturday. By Sunday...I was tired. Friday was a trial run for the pirate costume that I pieced together. I have to say she was pretty stinking cute.

On Saturday we met Amy & Jules again to visit Hall Farms Pumpkin Patch. We went last year with them and had a great time. Unfortunately, Miss K had not had a nap and things went steadily down hill to the point the cupcake making event back at our place was canceled. A fun time was had by all. I loved seeing Baby Ella, & Jules Grammy & Aunt Meredith as well.

As Halloween approaches this weekend, there will be a school party with costume pictures, hoot n howl on Saturday, carving the pumpkin, and of course.....Trick or Treating!

Committed

I have been reading a lot laely and a theme seems to be appearing. Committed is the theme. One about marriage and the other about mental instituions. Now I am not saying that marriage and a mental institution for the criminally insane have anything to do with each other, although some might argue the fact.

I read Shutter Island for my work bookclub. I found it to be exciting and suspenseful. It was the first book I have read by Dennis Lehane. I have seen Mystic River and as of last night have seen Shutter Island. I refuse to see or read Gone Baby Gone. Don't want to see anything about a child disappearing.

I liked the book better than the movie because much of the back story was sterilized for the big screen. The last 40 pages of the book were going so fast my heart was racing and I could not read fast enough. DOn't miss a page or you will miss the whole twist unraveling coming to an end that leaves one guessing about their own sanity. If you are looking for a suspenseful read...give this one a try.

The second book I have read recently was Committed by Elizabet Gilbert. This is the follow up to Eat, Pray, Love. Being forced to marry Felipe in order of him to stay in the US she has to reconcile marriage with herself. She loves her man, but not the idea of a legal marriage. She does extensive research into marriage both in the US and in other cultures. I found the book to be educational and thought provoking. My copy is underlined and tagged on multiple pages.

I recommend this book for anyone married, about to be married, or divorced. I enjoyed the "What happened ?"aspect that you were left with after EPL finished. I look forward to her next book, which she is currently working on.

Both good books for very different reasons. The one common thing is that I found time to be committed to reading two books in a very short period of time. Of course it might have to do with the Fall season still weeks away on TV.

Fun-filled Saturdays

Kenyon has discovered the library to the pleasure of her Nana, whose profession just happens to be college librarian. We go to the library every Saturday morning to turn in the pile of books only to check out an even bigger pile. We don't have to go weekly, but I can only read some of those books 10 times then I start to make stuff up when we read...or better yet skip pages.

The two books of choice are Clifford the Big Red dog and Arthur. Kenyon fell in love with Arthur's Underwear in which he keeps dreaming he has forgotten his pants. I was glad to see that one go into the library drop box.

These are also popular on our Netflix watch instantly. I guess it could be worse.

After our playdate with Ryan fell through today we decided to swim anyway. After dinner alfresco poolside we used our BnR coupon. Kenyon got pink bubble gum ice cream on a cone dipped in chocolate with sprinkles. It looked very cute with her twirly skirt outfit she had on today.

She wore this to the library with her Dora purse and Dora ball cap. She was just adorable. Even the librarian did. She tried to give the librarian money for her books. I tried to tell her they were free, but we had to return them I guess she confused it with the bookstore.

Nana & PaPa are coming tomorrow and hopefully Ryan will be able to come over next weekend. Have a great weekend...we are!

How in the world did it get to be September

I can't believe it has been almost 10 months since my last post. It has been a crazy year in the Johnson household. First and foremost the Johnson's relocated, not to a deluxe apartment in the sky but to a bigger house in a neighborhood one block form K's daycare.

Many firsts have happened to us this year....

• Kenyon's first "real Christmas"


• Sara's first room that she got to decorate all herself


• Our first major snowfall in the DFW area


• The first Johnson 4th of July party coupled with K's third bday party...in the same day


• The first year without Finn....sadly he was sick, but made his time with us so special. We still miss him


• Hank's first year at the NE campus


• Our first year with Nana & PaPa living close by


• Our first year with lots of new playdates and friends for the girls

Perhaps the best thing this year has been our swimming pool! We have spent hours and hours playing and teaching K to swim. Don't worry we have been using sunblock 50!

Well, I am glad to be back in the blogging world. Stay tuned!