Category Archives: family

The ghost of Halloween Past

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Holy crap, I can’t believe I’m about to share this photo on the interwebs. The ONLY reason I have this photo digitally is because a few months back we were having a slide show at my dad’s house {SLIDE SHOWS, do you remember slides?!} and this photo was so epically embarrassing, I had to take a photo. There were lots more that also involved my sisters, but I figured I’d just stick with my own embarrassment today. {Kristen & Kelli, you’re welcome}

Anyway, when Suzanne & Amy talked about hosting a vintage Halloween link up, this was not the image I had in mind. My mom made me fantastic costumes growing up…I was an orange crayola crayon one year, “Jasmine” in pink, Betty Rubble and the list goes on and on. Oh, I was even a troll doll once…you remember TROLL DOLLS!? Crap, my mom even made my halloween costume this year. She’s pretty much amazing.

This year, 1993 to be exact, my mom didn’t make my costume. She was pregnant with my little brother at the time. I’m pretty sure I had just found out. Which it why, as the youngest of 3 kids, I chose to be a BABY for Halloween. Obviously. It makes perfect sense. And I clearly wasn’t afraid of being knocked off of my “I’m the youngest and can do no wrong” pedestal.

You guys? Did you notice I’m even wearing a REAL diaper!

And that haircut? Yea…you guys remember Francis from Swiss Family Robinson? Welp, the entire time I had this haircut, that’s what my sisters called me.

{Thanks for that mom.}

{And would you believe now my sisters are 2 of my best friends!?}

Have any Vintage Halloween photos to share? You should link up with us!

Insert Witty “Wizard of Oz” Title Here

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Y’all? I’m beat today.

Between a crazy Saturday full of running errands, going OUT{!!!!} to a Halloween Party on Saturday night and staying up until almost midnight {stop laughing}, then getting up a 5 AM on Sunday to go hunting all day and Rylee peeing, yes peeing in our bed last night with subsequent trips into our room every 10 or 15 minutes for the next 2 hours, I am left with overwhelming exhaustion.

Happy Monday?

But, back to the fun. Saturday night we went to a family-friendly halloween party, complete with costumes. This is big people…HUGE in fact, considering in the entire 10 years Andy and I have been together we’ve never once dressed up for a halloween party.

When we got invited I decided I wanted to do some sort of family theme for our costumes. The Flintstones was suggested to me and since I have the cutest little red-head I thought it’d be a great idea! Andy was even on board for it. That is until he remembered…”wait, Fred wears a dress doesn’t he!?” On to plan B.

Since Rylee had already decided she wanted to be a witch for halloween, and Andy already has all sorts of scarecrow-esque farm-wear, I decided we go with Wizard of Oz.

After leaving one St. Vinnie’s store completely overwhelmed and empty handed, I did what any right-minded woman would do…I called my mommy. Then I headed to the fabric store to buy some blue-checked fabric and a pattern and proceeded to drop it all off at my mom’s house. {yep, my mom rocks!}

I made my own ruby-red slippers out of some heels I was about to drop off for donation. Add a little bit of red spray-paint, glue and red glitter and viola! Ruby red slippers.

{That left a trail of glitter behind me the entire night…}

Andy, of course, was totally anti-photo, so this is all you get. It was forced and at the end of the night and Ry had already shed her witch costume. Oh well…

But, we had a blast and as it turns out? My kid is pretty good at pumpkin bowling.

What it’s really about…

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Dear Rylee,

I’m not normally one for writing you letters, but I wanted this to be about me sharing a special memory with you and not just documenting it for the sake of sharing it with others.

Last week, you asked me if you could go hunting with me. You see, ever since I got my deer last year, you have been so curious about it.

So, last Saturday, your grandad and I took you out on your very first hunting trip.  The days leading up to the hunt, we talked about it a lot. You asked me if you could shoot my gun. I told you maybe next summer when you were bigger. Your eyes twinkled. You were shocked to hear that you already had your very own gun. We talked a lot about safety after that. What you can and cannot shoot. Where you always point your gun. What colors we wear when we’re out hunting. Things like that. We want you to be safe, my love.

When the day finally came, you were so excited. You got to drive the gravel roads with Grandad. You glassed clear cuts with binoculars right alongside Grandad and me. You carried your ear protection with you…just in case. For the most part, you were quiet. At one point, as I was walking ahead of you and grandad, all I could hear were your little boots pounding on the gravel road and you whisper-yelling “wait up!, wait up!”. I turned around and squatted down and you ran to me with a big smile. We’ll continue to work on that as you get older. :) After a while, you were ready to be done, but you were such a good sport when we kept going.

We kicked up a few doe that day…but like you said, “no antlyers”. You know what though? That’s ok. As you grow, you’ll learn that going hunting isn’t just about killing something…

It’s about getting outside. It’s about breathing in the crisp fall air after a rain. It’s about seeing the sun rise. It’s about being a responsible hunter and practicing your shots. It’s about respecting nature and all of God’s creations. It’s about respecting your quarry enough to only take a clean shot – no matter how big the antlers are. It’s about keeping as much meat as possible to help provide for your family. It’s about spending time with those you love – even if it is in silence. It’s about passing on traditions and passions. It’s about realizing what a blessing it is to have the ability to enjoy all of these things.

Some of these things you’ve already learned…some of it will come with time. I’m looking forward to teaching you and showing you more. I hope your excitement never fades and that the twinkle in your eyes never dims.

I am so proud of the person you’re becoming.

I love you so much, sweet girl.

Love,

Mom

The reason I needed an extra-big cup of coffee on Saturday.

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We had a family camp-out in our living room on Friday night.

It was Rylee’s idea.

As we were getting everything set, we had this conversation about a half-dozen times…

Ry: I SO essited for our tamp-out! Daddy are you essited!?
A: Yes Ry!
Ry: Mommy, are you so essited for our tamp-out!?
Me: I sure am baby doll!
Ry: Dante, are you essited for our tamp-out!?
Dante: {blank stare}
Ry: Buddy’s essited too!!!!!!

Lather, rinse, repeat.

 

Between a couple of trips to the bathroom, a glass of water, being too hot, then being too cold I think we got a solid 4 hour stretch of sleep in there somewhere.

I love making memories with our girl.

This NEVER Happens…

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Seriously…this has never happened.

Quick back story: on the way to take Ry to school yesterday, she asked if we could go play at a park after I picked her up that night. I told her we’d see how the weather was and then decide.

Now, moving on…

Andy was at a Suicide Training Seminar yesterday which meant two things…he’d be done with “work” at 5 PM and he wouldn’t have a 45 minute commute home.

He called me at 4:45 PM saying he was leaving and he’d pick Rylee up. He never gets the chance to pick her up {especially daycare} because he works so late. I told him about my park date promise to Ry and he said he’d take her to play before they came home. Then he asked if that meant I’d stay late at work.

I thought for a minute…I definitely had work I could be doing if I stayed late…but…crap, this has never happened before! So I said, screw it, I’ll leave at 5 too and meet them at the park!

The weather was perfect.

We laughed. We chased. We climbed. We zip-lined. We played.

This is exactly what my soul needed.