Halloween Hallapalooza

From the costumes to the decorations to the celebrations, Halloween for us was very low-key this year.  Originally, the plan was to drive to Charleston and go trick-or-treating with the cousins.  Other than a small Halloween party with our family here, we did very little as far as decorating and celebrating.  And due to the outhouse fiasco, we didn't even have pumpkins.  I'm sure my neighbors think we are complete Scrooges.  But since we weren't going to be here for the holiday, I didn't want a ton of decorations to take down when we got back home.  Then Ernie surprised us by coming home early (hurray!!!) and all our plans changed.

Halloween morning, I took Lily downtown where she got to go trick-or-treating with some of her friends.  Since this was a "store" trick-or-treating event, I was expecting dum-dums and smarties to be the order of the day.  But no.  Lily got full-sized candy bars and a bucket filled to overflowing with chocolate.  Now that is *my* kind of trick-or-treating.

Lily was literally dragging me along after her.  I can't count how many times I heard, "Mommy, hurry up!"

Of course, it wasn't long before my little Halloween kitten was all tuckered out.

Last year we were in Louisiana and I didn't know anyone, so it was just us and Lily.  This year Lily definitely had more fun playing with Tiger Lily, Bella and the other kids.  So thanks, Sarah, for inviting us.

You probably can't tell, but this is a picture of Lily "grooming' herself.  She picked out her costume all by herself and was so excited about it.  I put it on her at 9 am and she did not take it off until 9 pm.

[ps:  this is my favorite photo of the entire day, but nothing I did would make it post correctly.  I can't very well leave it out, so turn your heads, please]

That night, after a dinner packed with lots of green veggies to make up for the candy free-for-all (or at least, that's what I told myself), Ernie and I took her trick-or-treating again in our neighborhood.

Before we could leave, I was a mean mommy and made Lily stop for a photo op.  She was practically bursting with excitement, which made the simple task ten times more difficult.

Yes, I dressed up too.  Ernie tried to get away with not dressing up, seeing as how he'd just driven sixteen hours to get there and was exhausted.  But Lily was having none of it.  So even he scrounged together a costume.

We discovered that there aren't many trick-or-treaters in our area.  Probably because most people around here are either young or old couples with no children in the house.  It turned out great for Lily, though, since everyone let her take fists full of candy.  By the end of the night, her bag was packed.  I'm really glad this only happens once a year.

Can you find Lily in this picture?  A downside of her costume was that she was almost completely camouflaged at night.  Luckily, her daddy had a reflective vest on to keep her safe.

We had fun.  There was very little preparation involved, and I ended up throwing out half of the candy Lily got throughout the day.  I think the best part of the holiday for both of us was having Ernie there to share it with us.  Even though he did mess up most of my pictures with his reflective construction worker costume.  I didn't get any family pictures, which I am bummed about, but oh well.  We hardly ever get the chance to have family pictures, since either Ernie or I are always *taking* the picture.  But we have two months with him before he has to go back to Texas, so do I have any volunteers to take a family picture for us?

Happy [late] Halloween, everyone.

Compelled by emergency

The week before Halloween a friend invited us to Conners Farm for a harvest celebration with a big group of kids.  I always enjoy opportunities to teach Lily about the importance of agriculture without actually having to *live* on a farm myself, so I jumped at the chance.  I loaded her up bright and early and made the 45 minute drive out to "cow country", as Lily dubbed it.

We started our agricultural adventure out with a corn maze.  We had a choice.  Either the advanced twenty minute maze, or the easy ten minute maze.  Having a group of toddlers and preschoolers with us, we opted for the ten minute maze and excitedly began our journey, confident in our superior navigational skills.

Half an hour later, we were still wandering around a field of corn, struggling vainly to find the exit.  I'm sure we'd still be there if we'd chosen the "advanced" maze.

The people who run the farm were very relaxed.  They let the kids interact with whatever animals they came across.  Lily's favorites were the horses.  When it was time to leave, Lily was being so stubborn that I had to pull out the "Lily Victoria" card and insist that it was time to leave the horses.  To which she responded, "Mommy Elizabeth, I'm not done yet!"

I was laughing too hard to reprimand, so instead I gave her five more minutes.  It's important to reward creativity and independence, right?

After she got her fill of the horses, we went on a hayride.  At first my little Miss Priss was not having anything to do with the dirty bales of hay.  But once she got into the spirit of things, she had a blast.

Especially once these guys came up and started eating the hay.  Lily was absolutely thrilled.  For the rest of the day she kept asking me why those cows were eating our seats.

After the hayride, we went to the petting zoo where Lily got to feed the animals.  Now, let me stop here to explain something rather...um...delicate about the set up at Conners Farm.  You see, being a farm and all, they did not have normal toilets.  Outhouses were set up around the farm, though.  Lily, who had to use the restroom after the hayride, took one look at the inside of the outhouse and insisted she could wait until we left.  But after thirty minutes in the petting zoo, she was dancing from one foot to the other.  I asked her if she wanted to leave and find a bathroom somewhere else, but she said no, she could wait.  Then I tried to "force" her to use the outhouse, thinking if she just did it she would see it wasn't so bad.  But as soon as I opened the door she started arching her back and screaming and pulling away from me.  Deciding I didn't want to traumatize her, I gave up and we went on to the portion of our trip she was most excited for.  The pumpkin patch.

Unfortunately, by the time we got there the situation was so dire that she couldn't stand still long enough to pick out her pumpkin.  So I made an executive decision and we left the farm to find a normal toilet.  Sans pumpkin.  Fortunately, she was so preoccupied with her *need*, as it were, that she didn't offer a single complaint.

I found a McDonalds just down the road and when Lily walked into the bathroom stall her entire face lit up into a  relieved smile.  Then she said, "Thank soooooo much, Mommy, for finding me a clean toilet."

Next time we go (and we will be back, since they have all sorts of things going on there from strawberry picking to farmers markets to farm tours), I will stop at that McDonalds and make her use the restroom before we get there.  But bathroom emergency aside, we still had a great morning.

And now she is four...

ETA: I actually started this post on September 23rd.  I've also started about three other posts that haven't reached completion.  I just haven't been feeling the blog vibe lately, I guess.  I need to get with it, though.  The alternative is journaling, and I *know* I'm hopeless at that.

Whew!  What a week.  My mom came to visit Lily and me for the week and we packed a lot into a short amount of time.  We went to Savannah, St. Augustine, had a tea party at a swanky Victorian B&B with the birthday girl, and just generally  had a great time.  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera for most of Lily's birthday celebrations.  I'm super bummed that I missed all the cuteness of the day.  But I still got a few shots of our small party that evening and the fun times we had with Grandma. 

[Hey, don't judge.  You try saying no to a four-year-old girl when she sees a room full of fancy dresses and a camera]

I can't believe my baby is four-years-old.  It seems like just yesterday I found out I was pregnant.  It was a terrifying and exhilarating time for me.  I could never have imagined at the time the countless blessings Lily has brought to my life.  A mother's love is something you can never fully understand or appreciate until you've experienced it.  There are no big, showy rewards for what mothers deal with everyday.  But to a mother, it isn't the big rewards that are important.  It is the many small ones.  Like when Lily runs up to me and gives me a big, squishy hug and tells me she loves me.  Or when she cuddles up next to me at night for her bedtime story and song.  Or when she is playing on the beach and runs up to me with such a look of joy and wonder on her face to show me her latest treasure.  Or a million other wonderful and crazy things she does each and every day that make my heart swell with love.

I have wiped bottoms and noses, I have comforted inconsolable tears, I have watched helplessly as a temper tantrums have taken control of my sweet child.  There have been many times when I have struggled with motherhood.  Honestly?  I don't remember those times.  But I remember every kiss and ever cuddle.  I remember every giggle and silly face.  I keep them inside and take them out whenever I am feeling overwhelmed.  They remind me of the infinite joy and reward of motherhood.  And they remind me why what I am doing is probably the most important and rewarding job I will ever have.

A Little More

Yesterday was a very busy day.  So busy, we didn't have time to go to the beach until late.  I know, poor us, right?  You should feel very sorry for us.  Anyhow, it was the first time we'd seen a sunset at the beach since moving here.  I guess I was a kind of a west coast snob.  I always loved watching the sun set over the water, turning everything gold and warm.  But I'll tell you, I've been missing out on a lot.

It was a warm, humid evening after a week of killer thunderstorms.  There was a sweet, salty breeze coming off the water and instead of warm and gold, everything was cool and silver.  The clouds were huge, fluffy balls of blue and purple and the sky wasn't blazing, but subdued.  Soon, we'll have to replace our sundresses with sweaters.  But for now we are enjoying the sultry warmth of our sleepy beach town before the next (likely permanent) cold front comes through.  I'm excited for the sweaters, down comforters, fires and hot cocoa.  But on nights like last night, I'm content to let winter take her time in getting here.

A very...unique method of expression

For those of you who did NOT see when I posted this on facebook...

I am so very proud.

Musings

I know, I know, I'm on a roll with this whole blogging business.  I go weeks without a post, then BAM! You get three posts in a week.  What can I say?  I guess I had a lot to say this week.

I've been thinking a lot today about the attack ten years ago.  If you're friends with me on facebook then you know that I am a facebook junkie.  But a couple weeks ago I read something a friend posted there that left a bad taste in my mouth.  I decided to deactivate my account (I have since reactivated it at Ernie's request, since he's so far away and wants to stay updated with pictures and stuff).  This anonymous friend said something along the lines of, "Why do people keep telling me to remember 9/11?  It happened, get over it.  I wish they'd all f-off."

We are incredibly lucky to live near Ernie's family (this is related, so please bear with me).  He has cousins who live about 30 minutes away from us.  I love them.  They are kind and accepting and pull Lily and me into their family as if we've always been there.  They are really amazing.  Well, a couple of weeks ago they threw me a little birthday party, which was especially thoughtful since Ernie wasn't here and I was feeling a little sorry for myself.  At the party, Loyda was telling me about a trip she took with her daughter's class to D.C.  They visited the Holocaust museum and the kids didn't even know what the Holocaust was all about.  Being slightly history-obsessed, I realize that I know and care more about history that the average joe, but I don't think I was unjustified in being horrified.  I mean, not knowing the details of the Revolutionary War, or the War of 1812 or the Civil War or the Spanish-American War is understandable.  Still horrifying to me, but understandable.  But there are still people alive today who experienced the Holocaust.  That there are people who don't know about it today is astonishing and - really - quite sad.

Ernie - and I'm certain many others - doesn't understand my obsession with history.  He sees all my books as more of a nuisance than anything else.  For me, I don't understand how anyone can NOT be interested in history.  By analyzing the social, political, and economic threads of the past, the study of history gives us the skills to analyze those threads in the present.  More importantly, when we as a people don't know where we've been - don't understand what was sacrificed to get us to where we are - we become complacent and apathetic.  Then we become vulnerable.  Vulnerable to demagogues like Hitler, who was really quite charming and persuasive.  We are the sum of our history - good and bad - and those who don't understand that are doomed to repeat the mistakes of history. 

We can't truly move forward and progress as a society without an understanding of our history.  Knowing the trials and sacrifices of the past pushes me to do better - *be* better.  The difference between success and failure has nothing to do with money or privilege.  It has to do with motivation.  When we become complacent, we lose our motivation.  Our drive.  As individuals, this is scary enough, but as a country it is terrifying.  Because then we are on the verge of losing the freedoms that millions have fought and died for.  The freedoms we so cavalierly take for granted.  Talk about dishonoring their memory.

Anyhow, the point of my rambling post is that I will continue to remember and talk about September 11th, just as I will continue to remember and discuss the other terrible and awesome events of the past.  I don't care who that annoys or makes uncomfortable.  And it has nothing to do with perpetuating a cycle of fear, or any other such drivel people spout about September 11th.  And it has NOTHING to do with politics.  It has to do with reminding myself and others that freedom doesn't come free.  That isn't just a platitude, so think about it for a moment.  We cannot sit idly by and expect to retain our freedom without effort and understanding.  Because there will come a time when we have to stop relying on others to do the heavy lifting.  A time when we will have to save ourselves.  I hope that we are up to the task.

The year's last, loveliest smile

Mmmm....Do you smell that?  This morning I woke up filled with excitement.  The smell of fall was everywhere, filing my senses and giving me cozy dreams of sweaters, pretty scarves and warm colors.  Fall has always been my favorite time of year.  As an Arizona girl, I looked forward to bidding adieu to the blistering heat.  In California I waited with anticipation for the world to blaze with golds, reds and oranges.  In the south, I can't wait for our walks in the crisp, soft morning air, steaming cups of hot cocoa and woolly, oversized sweaters.  Everywhere I go, the result is still the same.  I love Fall.

It's funny, really, that I've always associated Fall with warmth, considering it is the time of year when the temperatures begin to drop.  But something about this season just *feels* warm.  It's like comfort food. 

So to commemorate the changing off the seasons, Lily and I took a trip to Fort Clinch State Park.  It was the first day since we got here that wasn't too hot to go traipsing around the place for longer than five minutes.  What better way to kick of the season than a day spent enjoying its beauty.

And of course, seeing as how we live in Florida, we couldn't have a day out without a jaunt down to the beach for a little sea shell collecting

It was a wonderful day.  The kind that makes you wonder why you don't take the time to enjoy the beautiful world we live in more often.  The kind that makes you grateful to be alive and experiencing the wonder of this world.  It was, in short, the perfect Fall day.

(PS: yes, I know it isn't actually Fall yet.  But it *feels* Fall-y.  Ya dig?)