Fall 101...It's a nice, cool, rainy, fall day. Since I knew it was supposed to rain today, I had promised Jacob that we'd carve the jack o'lantern today. Thank goodness I didn't buy the gigantic pumpkin that I originally had in my hands as I had forgotten how much work it is to scrape out all the pulp. Since we were carving the jack o'lantern, Jacob wanted me to make a pumpkin pie. Okey-dokey, one pumpkin pie coming up! Sorry kid...it will have to be Libby's from a can as my industriousness does not reach to making pumpkin from an ACTUAL existing pumpkin. However, I did separate the pumpkin seeds from the pulp and roasted the pumpkin seeds in the oven. Yum! I had all kinds of flashbacks to growing up. We carved jack o'lanterns every year and roasted the seeds. Now it is time for downtime before I start on beef stew and cornbread for dinner. With a little pumpkin pie for dessert...YUM!

Funny things...Jacob had his first phone call today from a kid in his class just to "chat". It was hilarious! It was one big giggle-fest/who has the biggest and baddest toys/and lots of fart/butt/booger bravado conversation. Wow! It was really quite something to witness.

More Fall Festival Pics...

Fall Festival...This weekend was the annual Fall Festival here in Long Beach. And as luck would have it, my mom, grandma, and Aunt Anita were in town following their fall foliage cruise. They had a great time on the cruise and it was really fun to have them with us for a couple of days. Lots of show-n-tell by the kids and chit chat from the grown-ups. It was fun to show them our town, home, and beach. And Jacob has determined that Aunt Anita is VERY funny! We went out to lunch at Sutton Place (where I work) and then on to the festival. We had fun at the festival. Julia and Ma Mere had their faces painted. We picked and pumpkins and road the merry go round. We opted not to participate in the bouncy slide since we had just had a big lunch. I don't think they would have appreciated the barf-o-rama! We really had a great time catching up and just hanging out. Very relaxing! The only down side is that my TMJ was acting up since the middle of last week and by Fri/Sat, I was in pain and could not longer chew AT ALL. Thanks to Grandma for making me homemade potato soup...yum! Went to the doctor yesterday and am now enjoying the benefits of advil, a muscle relaxer, and an all liquid/soft food diet for at least the next 1-2 weeks. The dentist says absolutely NO chewing. With any luck, maybe I'll lose weight...ha...here's hoping!

Baby Max...Our neighbors, John and Brona, had their baby on Tuesday. Here is the first picture we have seen of baby Max. What a cutie! Can't wait to meet him in person when he comes home in a few days.

Another Funny Conversation...After school today, Jacob played chase on the playground with 2 girls and one of their younger sisters. As we were leaving we could hear the sister's dad yelling for them that it was time to go. As we walked off, Jacob turned to me and said:

Jacob: Whew, it must hard for a dad to have all girls.

Mom: Why do you say that?

Jacob: Cause everybody knows girls are much harder to handle than boys.

Mom: Really?

Jacob: Duh, mom. Everyone knows that.

Ha! Observations from a young boys perspective. Not sure it changes as boys because men...

A New Blessing in the World...Just got word that John and Brona had their baby. Little Max weighed in at 5 lb 14 oz. Jacob and Julia cannot wait to meet the baby and help "take care" of the baby. This ought to be interesting. I can't wait to be a fly on the wall once they come home. What a blessing! It is so exciting! The world immediately looks totally different once you have a baby. I never think of things the same way now. Things that always seemed safe before now seem to be a child safety hazard. A little paranoid, aren't I?

Hallelujah...ROTEL has come to New York...FINALLY! This is a major blessing to our family. Last year during football season, our little local grocery had never even heard of ROTEL. Now this year, it is prominently displayed in the mexican food section. Maybe in some way we have added something to the community...ha! First, it was Pace Picante...now ROTEL! What could happen next?!?! Ha! Once again, it is the little things...

Back to Normal...Well, both kids were back to school today. It was nice to be back in our routine. I worked the book fair at Julia's school while she was in class. Jacob was excited after school because he had been so good in class that he got to push some button twice on the class ghost. Apparently it is quite spectacular and makes a really scary sound and sticks it's tongue out at you. Must be some ghost to have him so excited about it! Supposedly, it was so scary that one time Jacob even fell down he was so surprised/scared. Wow! That has got to be amazing to witness...a bunch of 1st graders acting goofy when they push the button on the ghost. Ha! It truly is the little things in life.

Ahhh, Saturday...It is a bluebird, sunny day in Long Beach. Not a cloud in the sky and it is 60 degrees. Beautiful! I have been needing a ski jacket for the last 2 yrs so the kids and I headed to Kohl's this morning to find one. Because it you don't hit the stores at exactly the right time here, you are out of luck. I speak from experience since last year I waited until November (based on my Oklahoma upbringing) and everything was GONE! I got through last winter wearing John's old ski jacket. Quite comical since he is 6'4" compared to my 5'6" stature. A little frumpy, I'm afraid.

Now, John and I are anxiously awaiting some college football this afternoon. Go Pokes!

Sweet Words from a Child...Last night was busy with dinner, breathing treatment for Julia (allergies), books read at bedtime. I lay in Julia's bed snuggling and singing her lullabies while rubbing her back. After one last kiss and hug, I said, "I love you, Julia." Then she replied in the sweetest of voices, "I love you, too, Mommy. You smell like toast." Out of the mouths of babe.

Tornado Warning...Well, who woulda thunk it? But yesterday afternoon, Long Beach, NY was under a tornado warning. John and I didn't know anything about it but about 4pm several of our neighbors started calling to tell us/warn us/or ask advice. When it comes to a tornado, who better to call than the Okies living in NY? Ha! It turned out that a tornado did dip down out of the clouds over the ocean just south of Long Beach but that was it. I think the warning expired about a 1/2 hour after we heard about it. But I can tell you the news channels were very different than it would have been in OK. Other than occasional weather blurb during a commercial or a info band going across the bottom of the screen from time to time, that was all you heard about it. Where is Gary England when you need him?!?! Ha! Of course, one of our neighbors called in a panic saying the mayor had been on channel 7 and the tornado was heading right for us! I'm sure the mayor is the authority...ha! What a funny little afternoon!

Hidden Veggies...For any moms who have trouble getting kids to eat vegetables, check out Jessica Seinfeld's new book "Deceptively Delicious". It hides pureed veggies in foods and you CANNOT tell the difference. It takes 1 hour per week to puree the foods. But this is a great idea for kids and adults who don't like veggies. Love this idea! Go check out the book. If you go to Oprah.com, you can find out about the book. Jessica Seinfeld was on Oprah today. Yea! Some tip to get kids to eat veggies without the battle at the dinner table. Yea!

Funny Stuff...Friday, as Jacob and I were walking home from school, we had a funny conversation:

Jacob: Mom, do you know I am as tall as some 5th graders?

Nikki: I'm not surprised. You are very tall, Jacob. In a couple of years, you will probably be as tall as me.

Jacob: Well, yeah, Mom, you look you are only in high school.

Nikki: I look a little older than that.

Jacob: No, Mom. Dad is the only one who looks like a grown-up in our family.

I laughed so hard. Jacob didn't really understand what I thought was so funny. And upon re-telling the story to John, he was even less amused. Ha! This, for the man who always had the baby face and was the last one of all our friends to get ID'd when we went anywhere. Just goes to show you how kids and work can age you in 8 short years.

Super Cool Dude...Jacob has school pictures this next week so yesterday, he and John went for haircuts. This is the Super Cool Dude end result...talk about looking like some "attitude"...ha!

Halloween Costumes...Jacob and Julia's Halloween costumes arrived this week so we are already in full blown dress-up mode. Needless to say, I have been arrested and jailed several times for various violations...ha! Their imaginations are amazing.

OSU Friends...A couple of weeks ago John went to York, PA to visit his friend from college, Paul. They had a great time hanging out and playing golf. It is always good to catch up with friends.