Happy Halloweenie!

We had a really nice Halloween today with our Railroad Engineer. After Einar helped me make some pumpkin pancakes for breakfast, he settled down on the couch to catch up on his reading. I took the quiet opportunity to spend some time updating my roster of wives for the upcoming deployment and to make some phone calls. Then we finally got dressed and made a trip to the commissary since we didn't have any candy in the house for the evening on the off chance that we'd see a trick-or-treater.

Einar wore his cowboy suit to go grocery shopping and was one of several costumed kids helping their moms shop. Then it was home for lunch and a nap for the little guy.

I stayed up to make some rolls and start dinner. I'd invited a friend and her two kids over for dinner and to hang out at our house so that she could escape the crazy trick-or-treaters in her neighborhood on base. After dinner, Jared and I took Einar out for trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. We met up with the Cobbs and had a good time. Both Einar and Nathan were ready to head home as we hit the last house. Einar wouldn't say "trick-or-treat" but he did blow his train whistle for people and on occasion said "Happy Halloween!" Our group included a pirate, a witch, a goldfish, a horse, Belle from Beauty and the beast, me as a cowgirl, and Einar the Engineer.

Tomorrow we'll probably binge on candy!

THE SMOKE HAS CLEARED

The smoke has cleared in our area. There are still some fires burning in the Southern California area, but we are well away from them. With the air quality, not so good, there was a lot of couch potato time.
The sky was smoky for a couple of days of a red sun from sunrise to sunset. It was like living in Mordor.
Now that it has cleared up, there was an opportunity to rinse off the cars, which got dusty even though they were parked in the garage. Einar got to help and did a great job using the hose, and he didn't spray himself or anybody else.
This entry brought to you by Jared.

VISIT TO SOUTH DAKOTA!

Just kidding, we went to LEGOLAND today. The LEGO sculpture of Mt Rushmore was particularly good. We also rode several rides and had a lot of good walking. Mommy rode the Rescue Helicopter and Mommy and Einar rode the boat. There was some trouble with that because the boats had to be steered like a proper boat and Einar was behind the wheel.

Yesterday was a Moms Club Halloween Party with Einar as a train engineer and Mommy dressed up as a cowgirl.
After nap time, there was an opportunity to share Daddy's jump rope and pushup handles. Exercising in pajamas is okay, as long as it isn't before bedtime.

Making Halloween Cookies with Paige

Tonight, Mary Ann brought her two kids over to have dinner at our house. I had made up some cookie dough so that we could make some Halloween cookies before dinner and the kids got really into the project. Brendan is not quite a year and half so he was just watching, but Einar and Paige wore their aprons proudly and wanted to help with everything. They were exceptionally good at eating the flour/sugar mix that I had on the table for the dough rolling process. Einar however claims that he isn't eating it, only "licking" it. The finished products made a lovely end to our meal with a round of milk for everyone.

We See Jared!

If you look closely at the horizon in this picture, you can kind of make out a ship. I think it's probably Jared's ship the Tarawa hanging out off the coast of California. Einar and I have been waving to him today.

I also got around to decorating a bit for Halloween. Just some small stuff, but it looks more festive. Tomorrow I think we'll make some sugar cookies with some friends who are coming over for dinner.

Tonight it is MOMS club board meeting at our house so that I don't have to hire a babysitter. It's potluck so I just have to make some potatoes. Einar likes a party and is usually on his best behavior during our meetings.

Off to clean the floors before the other Moms get here!

Disneyland Dream Experience

Monday. I contemplated staying home to clean and decorate for Halloween this morning, but I think that I made a much better decision when I chose to pack up a lunch and head off to Disneyland with Einar. We started off at California Adventure riding some of the Bugs' Life rides and then visiting the talking/animated Crush the Sea Turtle. Then Einar wanted to ride the Disneyland train so headed off to the other park. Once there we rode a double decker bus down Mainstreet until it dropped us off at Sleeping Beauty's castle. Then it was a short walk to the train station by Toon Town.

I was pretty excited that we got to ride in the front car and watch the engineers drive the train. After a couple of stops, one of the guys came back and asked if Einar and I would like to ride with them up in the engine around the park!! Boy was that exciting! Einar was a bit in shock I think, but did crack a few smiles for the engineers. They let him ring the bell when we came into a couple of stations. It was hot where we were sitting, but even hotter in the engine house where the engineers sit. They said that it gets to be about 130 degrees in there in the summer! It was Einar's job to wave at all of the people when we came into each of the stations and he was doing a great job. I don't think either of us will forget that train ride anytime soon.

Once they dropped us off at the Mainstreet station again, we looked down and there was Cinderella (Einar's favorite princess) greeting people! We waved to the train as it left and then said hi to Cinderella.

After that much excitement, it was time to leave the park, share a Jamba Juice, and hop a tram back to the parking lot. Einar fell asleep in the car on the way home and I was able to transfer him into his crib once we got home.