Sunday, November 1, 2009

Oh, October

Oh, October, where did you go? You have always been one of my favorite months of the year and this year you were no where to be found.

We waited patiently for you to come. Dreams of sunlight streaming through the trees, pumpkin farms, and Halloween night filled our heads. Instead you brought us temps in the 40s, dark, dreary days, howling winds, and torrential rains. We rarely saw the sun, and trips to the pumpkin farm were cancelled over and over again. Our annual leaf pile photos were impossible with the high winds that shook the leaves off the trees before they could turn their true brilliant colors. Not to mention the fact that any leaf piles we could muster were soaking wet.

But we tried. We tried to resume our normal activities though they were much later than we would have liked.

We did make it to the pumpkin farm. The day before Halloween. And all of the pumpkins they had left were rotten. And the pumpkin patch was muddy. And it was 40 degrees, windy, and dreary. But we got there. And somehow we still managed to have fun.

We took plenty of goofy pictures like this: And this:

We managed to get a decent family picture. Everyone was even looking at the camera!
Gracie got her very first pumpkin.
Ben saw some super cute bunnies.
And the boys got a big kick out of all the baby goats.
It was a short trip to the pumpkin farm, and we couldn't do half of the activities there that we normally enjoy, but we still had fun.
I was hoping that you, October, were saving the most beautiful day of the month for the very last day. Halloween. But, you didn't. We woke up to a rainy, cold morning, with 30 mile/hr wind gusts yet again. The boys were nervous that trick or treating would be cancelled, but I reassured them that we would have fun no matter what.
We got all decked out in our fabulous costumes, with 10 layers of clothes underneath.
Grace was a mouse for her very first Halloween. I think she liked it.
Ben was a dalmatian again this year because the costume still fit. And besides, he makes an adorable puppy.
Joey was a vampire. Secretly I wondered if my Twilight obsession was to blame.
And Tommy was once again saving the world as Spiderman.
They made a handsome crew.
It was very cold outside but running from door to door helped to keep us warm. That and the four layers of clothes we had on underneath our costumes. We meet some of our neighbors for the first time and discovered that this neighborhood is very generous at Halloween, which pleased the boys immensely.
After the first few blocks I decided Grace would be warmer next to me so I put her in the sling and hid her inside my jacket. Much better.
The kids were super troopers walking for two hours in the cold and Grace was very patient. But she was clearly relieved when we finally got back home and she was able to eat. She was a hungry and tired little mouse. Though she hid it well.
Yes, we managed to have some fun, no thanks to you, October. Next year I would greatly appreciate it if you could kindly remember that you are supposed to average 65 degrees with no more than 5 or 6 days of rain. I'm just sayin.
And if you could tell November to take it easy on us, that'd be great. Thanks.

32 comments:

Chrissy said...

They all look so darling in their costumes!

Too bad about the leaf photos. Our weather here was rainy and cold for almost the whole month...not a good thing when winter is coming.

Happy November!

Kristen said...

Oh I am so glad you at least got to get a couple of traditions in! And what a great night to meet some of your neighbors too!

And the family picture is awesome! How in the world did you manage everyone looking at the camera??

Cute cute cute!!

Kellie said...

Lol you are too funny. I love this post and I've never seen such beautiful kids :) I love your family, and I can't believe how much Grace's little face has changed in just two short months. She is gorgeous and will only get more and more as she grows. I can't wait to see you all when I can make it home next. I'm really praying for Christmas!

Miss and love you!

Robyn said...

The weather did stink in Oct. Rain or cold and overcast. Grace made a very cute mouse and the boys all looked great. A successful Halloween.

Kelly said...

You and I had the same October. It really did stink compared to how it usually is. And the rain was never ending I swear! We did luck out today with sun and a high of 60. If only that could stay.

GREAT family picture. And I could eat that little Gracie up, what a beauty!

Emily said...

Fall is my favorite season and always seems to go too fast for my taste! Grace is the sweetest little mouse. And yeah for the vampire! (Not that I'm obsessed w/ Twilight or anything either). All the boys looked great. Seems like y'all managed to have a good times despite the freezing weather. Happy November!

painted maypole said...

but they are so cute! people here in louisiana laughed at me when I told them I used to wear my snowsuit under my Halloween costume growing up in MI. But I did!

Anonymous said...

What an adorable bunch of Trick-or-Treaters! :-)

Jenera said...

looks like everyone had a blast!

Molly's Mom said...

I agree!! My area had the second rainiest October ever. At least Halloween ended up being okay here - although frigidly cold!

Cynthia said...

Those are just the sweetest pictures! LOVE Gracie and the first pumpkin...she's a little pumpkin herself;)

Jeni said...

So true about this past October being a really yucky month this year. Thankfully, we didn't get rained on last night though and the two little grandkids had a fabulous time out trick or treating -even the little guy who normally tends to be afraid of his shadow! Loved the pics of your four -especially little Grace -just beautiful as a little mouse! (And the boys -well, they're as handsome as ever!) Hope your desires for a nice November come through for all of us now!

Unknown said...

Everyone looked great for Halloween. And Gracie is so cute with her big eyes and smiles - precious!!

Y'all are such a beautiful family... : ) Hope November is better (however I'm not gonna hold my breath!)

Hilary said...

Geesh those kidlets of yours are GORGEOUS!

tweetey30 said...

Awsome costumes Mommy of four.. Glad to hear the first Halloween for Grace went well. the boys will eat her share of the candy though for this year.. LOL... BTW we were in Sheboygan on Saturday picking up a friend of mine from a Church that had a craft sale..

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

Cutest fall pictures EVER! Your family is just beautiful. =)

Tam said...

Great Costumes. Sounds like fun. We were sweating it out here in the South. Kids even trick or treated BAREFOOT! I kid you not they came barefoot to my door! Only in the South I tell ya.

Happy Novemember!

Tammy said...

I agree with you 100%. October was yucky and cold. We didn't do hardly anything fun outside. Your pictures are adorable.

Kess said...

Adorable costumes! I love the photos :) Sounds like you all had a lot of fun despite the weather!

Mom24 said...

Sorry for the crummy weather...hope November's better. You certainly seemed to make the most of things though.

Great pictures!

Karen MEG said...

Awww, what an adorable crew! Good for you for trying to keep up the spirit with all the crappy weather.

Keeping my fingers crossed that November is better too.

Anonymous said...

Amen to that--I felt really ripped off by October, too. And that storm on Friday stripped all the leaves and color away:(

imbeingheldhostage said...

Look at you with your FOUR children all in with you for a family photo, isn't that wonderful?! You all look fabulous. I still can't get over her adorable little expressions.
Happy Halloween to your family Kat-- what do you mean October's gone? What's today?

Jennifer said...

They are all so cute!!!!! Love the family photo, too!

dawn klinge said...

Oh my goodness...your kids look so cute in their costumes! Here's hoping November takes it easy on you.

Stephanie said...

I love those costumes - esp your little mousy! :) Adorable! Glad you had a good Halloween despite your crazy weather lately. I hope it eases up on you guys in November.

lime said...

they are a cute bunch for sure. glad they all had fun trick or treating in the new neighborhood.

Momisodes said...

Oh they are so darling. I love Gracie's first costume and her face paint! She looks very excited :)

I hear you on the bizarre October. We had some wonky weather this year too. We trick or treated in 50 mph wind gusts! Strange.

Tonya said...

I love October too and now it is over! The kids look so cute in their costumes :)

tweetey30 said...

I keep coming back to look at those beautiful children of yours.. I love that little mouse. And the other three of course.. They are wonderful..

Anonymous said...

I'm giving you an award today, because you ARE over the top.

Karen Deborah said...

This is where I come to get a dose of adorable-ness and *sigh* and ooh, and ahhhh and how cute....you guys make my grand ma heart get the warm fuzzies.

That's the cutest mouse I ever saw, and the puppy well, I need a new dog is he house broke yet? All of you look wonderful.

You know what I can't help thinking with all this premature winter everywhere is when are the folks in Washington going to quit talking about global warming? Hellllooooooo
it's cold!!!

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson