Our First Halloween

We didn't know what to expect out of Halloween down here, our first time handing out candy from our little house down in Texas. We had four bags of Reese's; you can see an elementary school a street over if you look out our front door, so we figured it would be a pretty highly kid populated area. We also didn't know when trick-or-treating started/finished (we guessed 6-8 or so; it seemed to be about 6:30-8:30). We kept count through the evening and got a total of about 83 kiddos. There were some pretty cute kids, some who didn't say trick-or-treat (to which Kyle prompted with a, "what do you say??"), some who didn't try to pretend to dress up at all, and some whose parents drove along in the car (really?!?). We were not super impressed with the get ups; the best worst were a group of four young teen boys, dressed mainly in black with fake guns of sorts hanging on their shoulders; their reply to our inquiring what they were was: "Uhh...child services?" Oy. I laughed a lot, though (you know, being a social work student), in a #funnybutnotatallfunny sort of way. And then I went out to leave for work this morning, to find candy wrappers strewn about our yard. In particular, wrappers from the candy we gave out. Are you for real, kids of central Texas? I hate to say it, but I gotta say it: kids these days.

(note: if you are new to the blog, I promise husband and I are not super old, uncool folks. That's right- we're only 24, and still mildly cool some of the time. The youths just bring out the old in us.)

- Mrs. M

All Hallows' Eve

via

Have a spooky day!

- Mrs. M

At the Pumpkin Patch

I'd been looking forward to heading to the farm for pumpkins for some weeks now. This weekend was perfect for it, too, as the temperature around here dropped significantly, and Saturday really felt like a pleasantly crisp, fall day. We went to the same place we got our Christmas tree from last year, Silo Tree Farm (and pumpkin patch). It was much busier this time around, and full of festive events like hay rides, pony rides, and a giant mound of hay to jump in should you desire (we only saw a very unhappy baby being photographed in the heap). Neveryoumind that I was the only person in Texas there hip and cool enough to wear a scarf, I had a great time.

such cool pumpkins

this is where I say to Kyle, "if we had our own kids, I wouldn't have to take pictures of random ones." :P ...not that I do that often.

After pumpkin time we went to the motorcycle shop not far away. It's a cool place; the people there are nice and helpful, and they just opened a little food shop, too! They're in the process of getting their license to sell alcohol, so for now they are just giving away free beer! Not a problem for us!

 what a handsome, handsome man

and my giant iced tea

And here are our pumpkins at home!

And of course, what post would be complete without pictures of the cats investigating the pumpkins?

I love our trio of pumpkins! I think they've got really cool stems, and I've never had a crystal star variety before. The farm had great pumpkins to pick from; I was impressed. I guess it's not technically a patch if you're picking them up from well organized bales of hay, but I'll take it! There is a Fall Festival over at a honey farm not far from here on October 20th, so I'm thinking Abigail and I will go check that out, too!

linking up with Syndal and Sar
- Mrs. M

Smells like October

After work today mom and I did a little shopping (it was almost Christmas-time busy at the mall, but without the mall Santa and *NSYNC Christmas album playing in the background) . Look at all the pumpkin spice smells I found! Maybe I went a little overboard,  and I'm not sure candles are very possible with the kittens around (maybe when they sleep), but on this rainy cold day I was very excited to return to the apartment and make it smell wonderful and cozy inside.

And yes, I gave in and got a coffee maker. I'd been thinking about it for a while, due to many hours of work and few hours of sleep, and so I didn't have to drive to get a cup if I wanted one, but I just made the decision on the spot. I feel like becoming a coffee drinker changes a person, but once I found DD Cafe pumpkin spice in the coffee aisle, I knew it was the right decision. I don't think I will become addicted or dependent...famous last words? There was a moment of panic when I wasn't sure if I had any mugs that weren't holding odds and ends or pencils and pens, but then I remembered to look in the other cupboard.

Yum. I'm glad a lot of other people seem to really like October too (data from facebook)! :) 

- From the desk of Mrs. M

October Kittens

 om nom nom

Happy First day of October! Looks like it's going to start off pretty cold. I work 6:30-2:30 both days this weekend, which I am OK with as it leaves me the rest of the afternoon and evening to get some things done, relax a little, and maybe just maybe finally watch The King's Speech which has been sitting next to the TV for about two weeks now. Have a good weekend friends!

- Mrs. M

Ten Things

My birthday plans are nothing exciting to write about (working out, maybe laundry, quick stop at the doctors to check if I have TB or not for work) so instead I'll tell you ten things about me.

1. I hate the part right after you get out of the shower, when you're still dripping wet. And then you think you've dried off but nope there is still water dripping, even after you've put your hair up in a towel. I just do not enjoy the feeling and wish I could be instantly dry.

2. October is my favorite month. Autumn, perfect weather, hockey starting up, fall clothes, pumpkin spice flavored and scented things, also Dexter returns on the 2nd...just lovely. I don't drink coffee, but when I worked at Dunkin' last year I became mildly and briefly obsessed with their pumpkin spice coffee.

3. Of the activities/hobbies I used to do, I miss horseback riding the most.

4. I enjoy making long, thorough study guides and notecards. I do not enjoy reading them over and over afterwards and feel as if the many hours spent making the study guide should be enough studying anyway.

5. I have a collection of something between one and two hundred songs/poems/song ideas that I wrote maybe between the ages 7 and 12. I'm pretty certain they are all terrible.

6. My favorite food is quite possibly cucumber. The long, thin European kind. I do not eat it as frequently as I should, because I usually forget to check for it at the grocery store.

7. I have an odd fascination with the Exxon on Atherton, ever since I moved to State College. I've never been there, but it's one of my favorite spots in town.

8. I wish I had better hair or at least knew what to do with what I've got.

9. Aside from a return trip to Finland, if I could go anywhere I'd like to visit New Zealand, with Kyle of course!

10. I've more than once considered working up a scheme where I dress really terribly for a month and have someone nominate me for What Not To Wear. That would probably help with #8 as well. Any takers?

- From the desk of Mrs. Sarah McPherson