Ahhh...

That, my friends, is the sound of relief: midterm exams over (yes, I passed them all), research papers written, Parent-Teacher conferences attended, now I can rest--right after I start working on my next paper, create a PowerPoint presentation, read and evaluate two dozen research papers, proofread Chapter 2 of the textbook my professor is writing; read, grade, and record a bunch of generally mind-numbing discussion board posts for the online class, catch up on my reading assignment for New Testament, and attack the Everest-sized mountain which is my laundry. Thank goodness it's Hayden's night to cook!

The boys have been busy as well. Cameron got braces on Monday and is adjusting to that reality. Parker started night school--not because he's falling behind: he's taking U.S. Government and Economics so he will only have to go half day come January. Can you think what his motivation might be? I'll give you a hint:

Jacob wanted me to watch his Halloween program at school today, which was scheduled for the same time I had hoped to go running. Ever the creative problem-solver, I killed three birds with one stone: I ran to his school, watched the performance, then ran home. Exercise, check. Therapy, check. Demonstrate parental support, check. It snowed about an inch last night, but the sidewalks and roads were mostly clear. Though it was foggy, it wasn't too cold, and best of all, there was no wind. I meant to take a picture of the temple as I ran past--it looked so pretty in the fog--but I was running late, literally. Jacob's school is further from our home than I realized. Fortunately, they were also running late. I got there just as they were starting, my supermom status preserved once again. (Just don't ask Parker how many school programs I attended when he was in elementary school.)

Double, double toil and trouble

On Saturday afternoon, Cameron and I went to buy supplies for our pumpkin-carving family night activity on Monday. We found four really great pumpkins (no, not the Great Pumpkin! What kind of monsters do you take us for?!) By the time we got home, we had decided we couldn't wait to begin our masterpieces (when it comes to art, self-restraint is overrated). Jacob saw what we were up to and joined in.
We chose our designs, then started the messy job of gutting the gourds.
Ever wonder why pumpkin innards are so incredibly slimy? Maybe it's some kind of preservation-of-the-species defense mechanism. It sort of works, too. I would carve ten pumpkins each year if I could bypass that one task--yuck! So you see, there are nine pumpkins out there who owe their lives to my reluctance to get my hands dirty. You're welcome, little pumpkins, but remember: Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Can you say pie?

Two broken saw blades and twenty pounds of pumpkin slime later, we were finished. Jacob opted for a Star Wars theme. The pattern was a little more intricate, and required more time than he wanted to invest, so Darth Vader became a group project: a little Jacob, a little Parker, a little Mom. Voila! The finished product:



















Cameron chose a more traditional Halloween design,


















complete with personalized message:
















Mine, of course, is the one below, thus cementing my standing as the biggest Brit Lit nerd in the free world, a title I proudly lay claim to. Long live the bookworm!

Do as I bid you; shut doors after you ~William Shakespeare

You know those rocks in Death Valley that mysteriously move by themselves? I think the doors on my dish cupboard are related to them. It seems every time I walk through the kitchen, they're open, so I close them. The next time I come through, the doors are open again, so I close them again. I come back, they're open again. I close them again. Open. Close. Open. Close. The only logical explanation I can come up with is the Moving Rock Theory. It has something to do with magnetic fields and reverse polarities and things. So I'm pretty sure that's what's been going on in my kitchen. Unless I'm an unwitting participant in a secret Pavlovian experiment, but if that's the case, shouldn't I be getting some type of reward for shutting the cupboards? Chocolate, perhaps? Or maybe I'm the victim of an elaborate hidden camera practical joke. If so, I require a 70% share of the prize money if your video wins, whoever you are: I know a lawyer-in-training (Hi Matt). The final possibility is that my boys are purposely trying to drive me INSANE! But they would never do that: who would close the cupboard doors when I'm gone?

~o~

The last few weeks have been busy with Parent/Teacher conferences, midterm exams and research papers, Tyler's and Hayden's birthdays, the end of Potato Harvest, the beginning of night school (for Parker), a few sick kids here and there (thankfully no Swine flu, just bronchitis, 48 hour bug, tonsillitis/sore throat/cough/low grade fever) and all the other things that demand our attention. Today was my last fencing class. It turned out to be a whole lot of fun, and great exercise, as well. I'll miss it, but it will be good to have classes just two days a week. And I can get back on my normal running schedule, too. My instructor asked me if I'd like to teach her class for two weeks during Spring semester. I laughed and said, "Wouldn't that require some level of proficiency?" She assured me that I wouldn't have to teach any skills, just supervise the TAs and students. I told her I'd think about it.

Remember about a month when I told you about getting Lois Lowry's business card? Well, I put it to good use: I sent her two e-mails, both of which she responded to, sharing information that I used in my research paper. Sometimes it pays to be forward and presumptuous. :o)