Happy Halloween...already?!

Trick-or-treating friends

Ballerina Iris with "the Queen"

 All Hallows' Eve is the old name for this activity where children learn to say "Trick or Treat" because candy is involved.  Well, Iris has learned well.  This year, she decided to be a ballerina, although she looks more like a princess.  Anyway, this is one of her favorite dress-up dresses.  She missed her preschool's parade, but she definitely made up for it with an afternoon of being with friends in costume and walking around two neighborhoods to collect her Halloween treats.  A classic moment was when she said, "I'm tired of walking", but as soon as mom said, "There's candy up those stairs", she ran to get some.  We lit our jack o' lantern that we carved with Aunt Ruth over the weekend, but no one came to the door.  That means leftover candy can be used for some other party time.

September and October happenings are a bit blurry now, but here are some highlights:

• Attending the Harvest Fair to see pumpkin weighing and sheepdog herding.
• Going to the Pumpkin patch.
• Mom has finally joined the YMCA, so that a regular exercise program can be followed.  Iris enjoys the swimming time and is getting used to the child care room.
• Mom's birthday was celebrated with a surprise potluck in her ESL class (Thurs.), a date night with Dad (on Friday), a homemade cake at home and visit to a winery (Saturday), birthday party for a five-year-old boy that shares the date (not near) with me.

At home, she is starting to have jobs-e.g. setting the table with napkins and utensils, as well as putting away her dishes after the meal.   This means that she can reach the counter when standing tall on tiptoes.  Iris no longer needs the toilet seat cover and prefers a regular dining chair to her step stool that she sits on.  She's getting to be such a big girl!  She's looking forward to her 4th birthday and party. 

Dad and Mom continue to work hard at their jobs.  Dad has had new responsibilities put on him recently.  More travel to headquarters are in the future.  I (Mom) tries to squeeze in time to prep for meetings and teaching.  I am trying to exercise more, especially as I still have knee pain from a fall that happened over three months ago.  Doctor visits for me and Iris are in the near future.  Now that Halloween is over, we're looking to time with family out of state for Thanksgiving.  Please pray for a real spirit of Thanksgiving and forgiving one another as we gather together in late November.