Halloween on Spartan Arrow Rd

Happy Halloween!

This week has been so busy that today was the first time our family could sit down and carve pumpkins together.  I cleaned them all out before the kids got home from school . . .

. . . then Daddy came home from work a little early so we could carve them before dinner.  Everyone is old enough to carve their own jack-o-lantern now except Todd (although he did draw his own design for me to carve this year).

Joy meticulously created a pumpkiny homage to Andromeda and her little sister Luna.

As each jack-o-lantern was completed, I lit it and set it out on our porch to welcome . . . 

. . . the dozens of trick-or-treaters who visited our door this evening.  This mob of costumed kids was a new experience for us, since our family is used to living in rental communities where we could count each year's trick-or-treaters on one hand.  Tonight, I tasked Chef Daniel with handing out treats while I put dinner on the table (note to self: eat dinner early on 10/31 next year), then I gave out candy while Daddy took the kids trick-or-treating.  I'll think I'll go with them next year, so I can get to know our neighbors better.

Fun Times at the Hendrickson Homestead

A few fun pictures as October winds down:

Earlier this week, we bought Halloween pumpkins from the farmer down the street from us. #LifeInMass

The weather has turned so chilly that we have to wear our coats every day now, but the kids (and squishmallows) are still having fun on the trampoline.

It rained this week, and a big mushroom popped up through the pine needles.  I don't know why I think mushrooms are cute, but I do.

When we turn one of our induction stove "burners" off, the little screen over the knob says "HE" for a few minutes (it stands for "Hot Element," warning that part of the glass stovetop is still hot).  If you turn two adjacent burners off at the same time, it looks like the stove is chuckling. :)

Our New Caticorn

I took the girls shopping for Halloween costumes this afternoon.

We found some butterfly wings for Joy, and I seriously considered getting this costume for myself.  In retrospect, I kinda wish I had.  Maybe next year.

As we were walking through Target, Joy saw this large caticorn (cat + unicorn) squishmallow.  She recently gave away her cat squishmallow Lilli to a younger friend because Joy found it hard to be creative with a toy based on a real creature (I felt the same way as a child--I preferred My Little Ponies over Barbies because it was easier for me to make up fantasies about toys that weren't based on something real).  This lavender caticorn is exactly what she was looking for.

We brought it home with us, and Joy named her Andromeda (I asked if I could call her Andy or Drama for short, and Joy said absolutely not).  Joy and Andromeda have been inseparable ever since.  They do homework together . . .

. . .  and chores too.

Andromeda has been enthusiastically accepted into our little squishmallow tribe, and Joy has already devised a costume for her. She's going to be an apple, and she looks pretty happy about that.

School Game Night 2019

Daniel and Anna's school hosted a family game night tonight.

We got to eat pizza and try some new games (and get a few ideas for Christmas presents :).

Anna had fun playing with her teacher and a friend from church.

It was REALLY cold when we walked back to our car after the activity, so Joy loaned Anna her coat.  Thanks, Big Sister!

We're Not in Cali Anymore, Toto

Two signs that this California girl is far from the land of her nativity:

1) Beautiful fall colors

2) Road hazard signs that you just don't see in Los Angeles

Apostles in New England

Our family and some friends from Church drove to Worcester (locals pronounce it "whuh-stuh") this afternoon . . .

. . . and packed into a hockey stadium with thousands of other latter-day saints to hear from not one, but two modern apostles.

President Ballard declared that our nation is at a crossroads.  He said, "Our nation was founded on prayer, it was preserved by prayer, and we need prayer again. I plead with you this evening to pray for this country, for our leaders, for our people, and for the families that live in this great nation founded by God."  He urged us to invite our neighbors, colleagues, and friends to do the same.

Elder Christofferson spoke about prayer as well.  He said that "small and simple things" like daily prayer and scripture study can keep us connected to God in our day-to-day affairs.  He taught that if we consistently open those doors to God's love and direction, "He can and will guide us in the small and simple things as well as the things of greater consequence—which, though we may not realize it, are usually one and the same."

(Apostle photos courtesy of Church News.  You can read more about the apostles' three-day visit to New England here.)

Clearing the Garden and Garage

The first time we toured our future home, I noticed a meadow of mint plants growing in the raised garden.  My first thought was, "Cool--free mint!"  My second thought was, "Wait--mint is the herbal equivalent of the Roman Empire!  It's resilient and relentlessly invasive!"

Today, I decided yank all that mint out and plant a cover crop to nourish the soil during winter.  I pulled out dozens of mint plants, leaving a few in the grass next to the garden, where they are welcome to stay as long as they keep their little runners to themselves.  I like having a little mint for smoothies, but I don't need a bushel of it.

By the end of the afternoon, all that was left in the garden was some Italian parsley and green onions I planted weeks ago, and a volunteer cherry tomato plant that has been limping along in the back corner.  I'll plant the cover crop seeds next week because I didn't have enough energy or daylight to do it today, but I'm happy that the garden is prepped and ready for red winter wheat and some hairy vetch (what a creepy name for such a pretty and useful plant!).

I'm also happy that I can finally fit the van into our garage!!!  Since we moved in, I've been slowly but steadily giving away or donating the spare furniture and old appliances in this half of the garage.  This afternoon, Phillip moved a few of the last bulky things into the back of the garage, so at long last I can park the van out of the elements!  And not a day too soon.  We're starting to get frost in the mornings, and it's no fun to scrape a thin layer of ice off all of the van's windows.

Speaking of the garage, I smile every time I see this handprint and name in our garage's floor.  It makes me feel like my dad is waving hi to me, or maybe giving me a high five from heaven.

The Burning Bush

When we moved into our new new home in summer, I didn't pay much attention to the large bush next to our driveway.  Now that autumn is here, it's hard not to stare in wonder at the bush's deep red foliage.

My fondness for it grew even more when I recently learned that it is called a "burning bush," in reference to the time God spoke to Moses, and instructed him to liberate the Israelites from Egypt.  I love that our home has a beautiful reminder that God is aware of our troubles, and can help and guide us through them if we turn to Him.

We've Adopted a Pool Table

A couple weeks ago, we heard that someone was moving, and they wanted to give away their pool table.

We happily volunteered to give the table a happy home in our bonus room.  Some (very strong) friends helped us move it into a U-Haul and then up the stairs, and we've been having a lot of fun with it.

None of us are particularly good at pool yet, but Daniel likes to practice a lot in his spare time.  It wouldn't surprise me if he dominates family pool tournaments in the coming years.

As for me, I need to work on both my aim and the force of my shots.  Yesterday, I landed a ball right on the edge of the pocket not once . . .

. . . but twice in the same game.  Oh well--I guess "close" is a good place to start.

It's Pumpkin Time!

A month ago, I arrived at Trader Joe's and saw this:

Back in Southern California, where it didn't feel like fall until sometime in November or December, I resisted the temptation to buy anything pumpkin related until around September 22, when the calendar said it was officially autumn (even though it was still about 80 degrees and all the leaves were still green).  Here in Massachusetts though, it actually FEELS like autumn in early September, when all the pumpkin stuff starts appearing.  So I caved in and bought a bunch of little decorative pumpkins that day.  And then I hid them until October, because I'm still kind of weird like that.

Now that October is here (and I'm back from my California trip), I got out the little pumpkins on Monday and let each of the kids choose one to find every morning.  Here are two cute little kids with their cute little pumpkins.

And here are two zombie kids with their zombie pumpkins . . .

. . . which their mother will hide in fruit bowls . . . 

. . . and next to clocks, and in dozens of other places around our house after their bedtime this month.

I actually forgot to hide them last night, and when I got up I found this note from Joy.  I stuck it on my bedroom closet to remind me in the future (and to give me a good laugh every time I go upstairs).

Conference with the Girls

It's General Conference weekend again!  During the day, we did our usual routine with the kids filling in Conference bingo sheets and earning prizes.  Saturday evening I attended the women's session with Joy and Anna (who is finally old enough to join us this time).

Joy took notes on her laptop (she said she knows she won't lose them that way) . . .

. . . and Anna slept through most of the session.  The session lasts from 6 to 8pm in Utah where General Conference is held, but it runs from 8 to 10pm here on the East Coast.  That's pretty late for a little girl to try to stay up and listen to grown-ups talk, so I may just let Anna stay home and get some sleep next year.

Christmas Trees in October

I paid a short visit to sunny California this week.

My cousins and aunts got together to turn my grandma's collection of costume jewelry . . .

. . . and into framed Christmas trees (you can see one aunt's sample tree at the bottom of this photo) . . .

. . . or into a Christmas wreath, in my mom's case.

I'm really happy with the way my tree turned out.  It will be a sweet way to remember my dear grandma for many years to come.

I was also happy to fly home today.  I loved spending time with my relatives, but I also missed my little family.  It felt good to be home tonight.