Much better than the kids-in-costume pictures are the kids-at-corn-maize pictures. T-man and I did not actually go in said corn maize. I guess when you're about 3 feet tall the world is one big corn maize so what was the big deal? Beside, there was a sand box and a truck. T-man was happy. Woodman and Ed did do the corn maize. It took them all of about 5 minutes but as Ed pointed out, they had a map. Then Woodman took a whirl on the cow train.

Obligatory kids-in-costume Halloween picture. It was rainy and dark so the pictures did not come out all that well but the kids seemed to have a good time. I was surprised by how quickly T-man caught on to the whole trick-or-treat thing, but then again, he did have big brother to show him the ropes. Happy All Saints Day to All!

I originally had this whole nauseating explanation to go with this song. But really, it speaks for itself.

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I love Nutella. I've loved it ever since I discovered it in Belgium at the age of 15. And while it has lost some of the mystique it had when one could only find it in Europe, I still love it. (Sidebar - Does anyone remember when they first started carrying it in this country? The grocery stores just couldn't figure out what to do with it. Is it an ice cream topping? Is it a nut butter? It is a foreign food? What is this stuff?)

But now that it is widely available, I noticed the good ole U.S. marketing machine has kicked in. I know this because I actually saw a commercial the other day suggesting that moms feed it to their kids to get them to eat healthy bread or something. Are you kidding me?

Is it any wonder that we have an obesity problem in this country?

October 20, 2005 a woman gave birth to a child.

She named him Tedla.

Today this child is our T-man.

Words cannot express the gratitude that I have for this woman and the love I have for this child.

Happy Birthday, T-man.

(And no, we didn't use Gladney for our adoptions, but orphans and need are not bound by such trivial matters.)

A conversation with the Woodman after CCD this morning -

Me - What did you learn at church school this morning?

Wood - I don't remember.

Me - Well, you must have learned something. You'll have to tell me one thing you learned before you can watch television.

Wood - Oh, I know. We learned that we are having a Halloween party on Thursday and we can wear our costumes!

Me - Mmmmm. Perhaps I should elaborate. You have to tell me one thing you learned about the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit before you can watch television.

Wood - (brow furrowed - thinking really hard) - We learned that you shouldn't do things you aren't supposed to do.

Me - Ok. That's good. And what are those things called? There is a name for those things and I'm guessing you learned that name (I was going for sin here).

Wood - I don't know.

Me - I'll give you a hint. It's a three letter word.

Wood - Don't do it?


I give up.

P.S. The pic is from the Woodmans angelic phase sometime in Pre-K at St. Catherines. He had to dress up as a saint. Sigh. I miss those days.

Interracial couple in Louisiana denied marriage license

Apparently, Keith Bardwell - a justice of the peace in Eastern Louisiana - denied this interracial couple a marriage license but he's not racist. He just doesn't believe interracial marriages last and he's concerned for any children that might result from that marriage.

Seriously?

This stupidity of this speaks for itself.

Dear Dogs,

I love you more than chocolate. You were my first babies and I can't imagine my life without you. However, you are dang expensive. Worth it, but expensive.

Love,

Mom

P.S. Can you tell that I just got back from taking one of them for their annual check-up? $216 later - and that's with the three dog discount - Maverick was pronounced healthy as a horse. Thank goodness our three have somehow gotten their annual shots off schedule and I don't have to bring them all in at once. Forget needing a health care plan for my kids - I need one for my dogs!

We finished paying off the Durango last month. You know how I know?

Because this month we had to spend almost $1,000 new brakes.