stop, and take a breath...

I am racing all over the place. The kids are off from school, today and tomorrow, and next Wednesday, and too many other days this month as far as I am concerned. I am out of breath and getting nothing done -- probably the same as everyone else. Oh well, it is "the most wonderful time of year..." after all! Wink, wink...

In the meantime, here is a cute little project that Sofia is doing to share with her friends. They found pretty leaves on the playground and decided that they would have a "best friends club". Oh, to be eight years old...

Okay, I am not wishing to be eight years old -- I am only remembering when I was eight years old. Enough said (while jogging in place) -- I'm running again... :-)

be careful what you wish for...

I wished for leaves on my lawn during the fall season, now I have them and I need to go outside and rake them up.



I wished for nice weather, but I made myself busy so I wouldn't mind the dreary weather that this October brought us -- and I missed the changing landscape.





I wished for a different tree on the side of my driveway, and the existing tree died. We planted a new one and now I need to wait for it to grow.



I wished for the dog to be calm enough to stay in the yard by himself -- now he does -- but that only means he is getting old.



Is this what I really wanted?

so, what happened to the real halloween...

Here it is!

The 1950's roller skating waitress costume (minus roller skates).



The annual carved pumpkin, and the artist, in his finest attire...



The candy we gave away (we had almost 120 trick or treaters this year!)



and, the candy we got back...



Sofia's final booty tally was 160 pieces! Way to go Sofia! :-)

now, on with the story...

Click here for previous events in our story...

The Nutcracker is so moved by the tears of Sleeping Beauty that he takes it upon himself to offer her a cool glass of water. He has no idea why he is doing this -- he is only a wooden holiday decoration, and, it is not part of the script. At the moment he hands the glass to her, their fingers touch -- their eyes meet -- and as if by magic (duh!) they fall in love.

The baby is lovingly adopted by The Nutcracker (who cannot have children of his own, but that's another story -- which I won't be telling here, or, for that matter ever!) The three are now united in goodness and off into the sunset they ride on their trusty steed, Donkey.

But wait! What about Jack? He agrees to take a job with a lower salary until the recession improves. He also agrees to pay overdue child support -- and -- most importantly -- he agrees to family counseling.

The evil spell has been broken -- and they all live happily ever after -- or -- until next halloween -- whichever comes first!

~ THE END ~

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Hey,HEY... get that camera off of me -- I am not crying -- I have allergies...

brief interlude...

The blog will have to wait -- the kids went back to school today and I have a million errands to run....




Here's a happy photo to tide you over.

to the rescue...

Click here for the previous events in our story...

Upon hearing the cry of "help, help" from Sleeping Beauty, citizens of movie land gather from far and wide. Familiar celebrities whom we all know and love, such as, "The Nutcracker", Donkey (from Shrek), Buzz & Woody (from Toy Story), and, Dorothy, Scarecrow, Tin Man, and, Cowardly Lion (need I mention their movie?) combine their forces of goodness in order to save this common piece of Halloween paraphernalia, Jack Skeleton, and his son, Baby Jack.

To lead the way, Nick the Pirate, comes out of retirement -- accompanied by his parrot appropriately named "Gossip". As the celebrities ready for a possible confrontation with the evil witch, Gossip suddenly squawks -- "Jack is a deadbeat dad! He owes child support to the witch for all of the monkey children he has sired with her" -- "squawk". The celebrities are surprised by the outburst, but, alas they understand that there is a recession. However, this is not a good enough excuse for them and they learn this guy is known around the neighborhood as "Wise Cracking Jack". Sadly, this is not a situation in which they can be judgemental (remember - they are all fictional characters). They continue on with the mission to save their comrade.



Sleeping Beauty had no idea that Jack -- the man of her dreams -- is such a scoundrel. She is once again, inconsolable...

beware the wrath of a woman scorned...

Ohhhhh nooooo! The witch has begun to work her evil magic! She was outraged when she found out about this romance. She has kidnapped Jack Skeleton and Baby Jack too!



Ohhh, nooo, not my baby...



Oooh, nooo, not my Jack...



Sleeping Beauty is inconsolable...



Will I ever wake up from this nightmare? Sob... sob...