October

Sometimes we get stuff that comes into the thrift store that just makes me smile because it's a little blast into the past.  Like these...

I remember filling these out all the time when I worked a real job.  :) 

You all know how much I love decorating for Halloween in October.  I didn't put up "Spooky Woods" this year but Holly did help me get the inside of my house all spookified.

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I really, really want to get some more posable skeletons so I can do this.

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or this.

Someone please tell John I want him for Christmas!

If I ever have a Halloween party, I am totally doing this.

And buying John this costume.

Moving on to other things...

Katie has really been enjoying cross country this year.  Actually, she kind of hates the running part but she likes being part of the team, challenging herself to get better, the accomplishment of finishing a race, and being in such good shape.  She has gotten way more flexible.  She has been trying to do the splits since musical ended last year and she is now SO close!

At the LC race, a bunch of her friends came to cheer her on.

These pictures are from her Lake Padden race.  It was a beautiful day.  John, Holly and I were all there!

And these are from her race at Civic Field in Bellingham. It was not such a nice day.

Holly left for her next assignment in Salem, Oregon on October 13.  We were all sad to see her go but she was ready.  It's so nice to have her home.  

I can't even get mad at her when she brings Margene inside.

She helped Katie paint her room. Katie picked out some wallpaper for one wall.  Unfortunately, they didn't get that job done so now I get to hang wallpaper.  I never thought I'd be doing that again.

My girlfriends and I had a much-needed girl's dinner out in Bellingham one night.  Thanks for the picture Julie!

I don't think I remember ever having so many mushrooms growing in my yard!  I LOVE the variety.  I don't like to eat them and I'm not sure they are a good thing to have growing in your yard but I still think they are so cool.

This one really was that yellow.

Teeny, tiny guys.

Big guys.

It's that time of the year where we have both dahlias and pumpkins happening.

This popped up on my sister's memories the other day.  That time that Holly was in a show and Chase came to see her.  I can't believe it was five years ago.

We celebrated John's 53rd birthday.

 My present was late but it finally got here a couple days ago.  It's for his new game room out in the shop.

September Stuff

September started off with a solo trip to South Dakota.  I love seeing all those corn fields from the air!

 

This was a sort of working vacation.  As a result of multiple moves to smaller dwellings and my sweet mom who is very sentimental, the Haan garage was getting a little tough to maneuver in.  As in, you could get the van in there, but you really couldn't get out of it!  So, we got to work sorting, organizing, throwing, and donating treasures.   

So, so proud of this lady.  She worked hard - both physically and emotionally.  It's not easy for a "saver" to not save things.  We had a lot of fun going through stuff, some of it was just stuff but a lot of it had memories or stories attached to it.  I must admit, there is a "DeAnn box" now up in the guest room closet for me to take home.  I am not a saver but some things I couldn't part with either!

This guy was my favorite find.

In case you don't recognize him without his purple jumpsuit, it's DONNY OSMOND!  Forget Ken, Donny was always Barbie's boyfriend when I was growing up.  I'm pretty sure I had Marie too but she must have gotten lost along the way...along with Donny's jumpsuit.  This is what he looked like brand new.  Just in case you're curious, he's selling for about $80 on e-bay.

We found lots of old school papers.

And this head scarf from my grandma also went in my box.  My grandma always wore a head scarf outside (or inside if she was under a ceiling fan) because otherwise her ears hurt.

Despite what this picture depicts, my Dad worked hard too!

He even parted with his stoplight.  It now resides in Sam's dorm room.  Bonus part of my trip, getting to see my college boy (and his gal).  

While I was there, we also did a little landscaping project in the back yard and spruced up the back deck a little.

Of course, when you are working that hard, you must stay nourished (and motivated) so there was a fair amount of going out for breakfast.  Perkins has a new dad joke every day.  This was my favorite.

John and Katie did not miss me.  It has become a tradition that they have a food theme while I am away.  This time it was "potato".  

potato skins

Aunt Cindy's mashed potatoes recipe

french fries

Katie had her first cross country race while I was gone.  Thankfully it was on Saturday so John could go and cheer her on.

I also missed Lynden's first ever "Whiskey Walk" but it appears John had a good time without me!

He was apparently too busy to empty the mailbox while I was gone.

Holly finished off her three-month traveling assignment in Salt Lake City and came home for a little break.  

A HUGE thank you to Jalyn and Aiden for letting her live with them and taking such good care of her!  

Holly came home just in time to join me at our church's women's retreat.  It was lovely having her there.

Youngest and oldest at the retreat.  These two are such good friends.

Katie had homecoming week at school.  I didn't get a picture of all her spirit day outfits but here she is as one of the Jonas brothers (the theme was Taylor Swift or one of her ex's).

And a rapper (the theme was rhyme without reason, her friend was a napper).

Progress in the game room is coming along slowly but surely.  It got framed and insulated and the dry wall is just about done.

Thankful for good friends to come over to help!

Started another project where some heavy lifting was required.  Katie thought John needed one of these of his own.

And because every blog post is just a little better with a picture of Margene.