This year I wanted to go to a regular pumpkin patch where we could take pictures with lots of stacked up pumpkins. But it was hot. And we left. Very quickly. So quickly that I felt bad we didn’t let Isabelle play in the maze or ride the generic little “train”.

So, to make up for it, we brought the kids to a generic little amusement park. Where the little train wasn’t even working.

And the crappy teacup didn’t turn. Sigh.

But all was not lost. A couple of days later we went to a different pumpkin patch with our homeschool group. A real pumpkin patch where they actually grow their own pumpkins. An honest to goodness farm.

Sadly the corn maze was closed. Too muddy from the rain the day prior.

But, happily, to make up for it they let the kids pick tomatoes. Tomatoes and jalapenos. And you know how much Isabelle loves picking food off trees or bushes, in this case, just to not eat them.

Then more Halloween fun was to be had at my friend Veronica’s pumpkin carving party.

Which all culminated in Halloween!! We met Alan’s family at the mall for some trick or treating. It was our first time trick or treating at a mall. It was crowded. And you know how I feel about malls right?

Yeah. Never again. It was ok to try one time but…nope, not for me. It wasn’t absolutely horrendous but the hoards of people did not help. Nor did the woman, who pushed me in her rush to get her child or something, help the situation. I say something because after she bowled into me and continued on her way, that way was not to a child. She was just pushy.

I went all road rage on her in my head. And it’s so funny, I’m generally a mellow driver but obviously I’m not good with people impinging on my personal space. But anyhoo…off topic. After the mall we went trick or treating at real houses. Well, Isabelle did at least. Nathan mostly stayed in Alan’s arms except for this one time.

Wish the picture wasn’t blurry. And that was all our Halloween fun. Four days of it. Halloween, Halloween, Halloween, and Halloween!

Why is it that…

when I finally get Nathan to sleep.

When I am creeping out.

And I am victorious in my quietude (is that a word?).

I trip on some loud obnoxious plastic toy.

Or some telemarketer decides to call. I am usually pleasant to them but tonight…I said, “I’m not interested in calling the Philippines and my baby is sleeping. GOODBYE!” And I hung up without letting her get a word in edgewise. And wouldn’t you know it. My great plan to have Nathan sleep through the night without his usual nap was foiled. Hello midnight. It’s like Murphy’s Law except it’s Sleeping Baby’s Law. Sigh.

For Halloween I sewed Isabelle’s Alice in Wonderland costume. I didn’t plan very well this year. I figured Nathan was too young to want a costume or to really go trick or treating. I was right about one thing, the trick or treating part. But I was wrong about wanting the costume part.

I found that out quite quickly when I was measuring Isabelle for her costume. As I was measuring, Nathan wanted to be measured too. Every single time I tied some string around Isabelle to measure her, he wanted a piece of string tied in exactly the same way. And if Isabelle tried on the muslin, Nathan wanted to try it on too. Oops. I felt so bad. I should have started costumes early and made one for him too. But there was no time. We ended up going to Target to buy his costume.

There was no way I could have made his costume too. That is because, this year, I thought I wouldn’t go with a pattern for Isabelle’s. I wanted to try making it straight out of my head. I knew I could do the bottom, I was planning on a circle skirt, but the bodice would be the challenge.

I have a drafting book for sewing but have come to the conclusion I suck at drafting (or caved under the pressure of getting it done by Halloween). My front piece looked ok but the back piece looked crazy. So, me making a bodice went out the window. I went and dug up a bodice pattern from one of my Japanese craft books. I used the sleeves from there as well made up a collar and I then added a circle skirt. And I winged it with the apron.

I think it looks a little large but it isn’t all bad. My favorite part of the dress is the underskirt thingy, that’s what I’m calling it. I love how the trim peeks out on it. That trim costs just about as much as Nathan’s costume.

I was hoping the dress would poof out more. But it’s only a little poofy. I even made a petticoat trying to give it some more poof. But my material choice didn’t cut it. I didn’t want to use crinoline or tulle because of the scratchiness factor. I used yards and yards of muslin instead and well…no poof.

But look how happy she is.

She said, “thank you mommy! I love you!” and gave me a big hug.

I haven’t mentioned our garden lately. That plant is looking a little sad isn’t it. But I think it’s supposed to look sad and dead. That meant it was time to dig it up.

See…

POTATOES! Alan watched some video on youtube and grew us some potatoes. I wasn’t expecting big grand potatoes like you can get at the grocery store because I watched those youtube videos too.

They’re tiny little things.

But how awesome is that? Alan GREW them!

Also this basil is going strong.

He’s been experimenting with growing things in buckets.

Or tiny cups.

Not everything is making it and I don’t know what will happen when it gets really cold. But hopefully they’ll make it like our roses. They just will not die. We don’t even water them.

Let’s hope.

I can’t believe it! It’s November, a week away from when we should be taking our monthly family photos, and I just remembered I didn’t even share last month’s.

Oh well…here they are now. See, this one right above, we took as the sun was going down. We were traveling on the road, had been for a few hours when we pulled over in the middle of nowhere. I clambered up on our car and propped the camera up on top of the roof. We should have taken the picture before we left the house to avoid the clambering and placing the camera in a precarious position but ummm….oh well, again.