I love my monkeys

It's not Halloween without Lightning McQueen

Things I learnt about Halloween (and life in general, really):

1. Get a head start on candy consumption so that...

a) you can guarantee a chocolatey mess will be on your face all night, even if your parents try to wipe it off

and

b) you can have a sugar crash before you even leave the house to go trick or treating...

2. Whenever possible, go trick or treating with a superhero...

although you'll have to a) watch your back so he doesn't pull any superhero business on you when you're not looking and/or collecting candy...

and b) watch your BAG and make sure you count every. single. piece. of candy between each home you visit, again, to ensure there's no sneaky superhero business going on

 3. There's that whole "listen to your parents and wait for them before you cross the street" business, but that's boring and I'm pretty sure I was already supposed to know that one...

4. Look as sweet and innocent and messy-faced as possible when you reach someone's doorstep and scream, "TICK'O'TEEEEEEEET!!!" (strangers love that)

5. Always ask a parental figure if you can have candy you're being offered and when you're told you can have "one piece", take a huge handful (strangers really think that one is cute, too, and will often encourage such behavior)

6. This isn't a new one, just a reminder: keep an eye on that sneaky superhero...

... and your bag of candy...

7. Try to get to the doorstep first as this will increase your chances of being super duper up close to your candy-giver so you can make sure they a) hear your yelling and b) get a nice look at your messy, adorable face, and c) if you're lucky, you may even get away with inviting yourself in for a visit...

8. Again, when you leave each house, make sure you stop and check your bag... making sure no superhero thieves have taken anything from it...

9. And finally, when you're all tired out (or, let's face it, even if you're not), get a grown up to carry you... this trick or treating business is tiring!

Snow Days

Yes, it snowed recently... a lot. In fact... about this much:

When I first saw it out the window, I decided it was a huge "mess!" and called grandma to tell her about it:

Then, naturally, mom and I made a snow day out of it, complete with snow pants, tractors shoveling snow, popcorn and even warm cocoa...

The next day, we went and had more fun in the snow with friends:

Aunt Kim helped us make a snowman and Aaron tasted a snowball - it was so fun!

Pumpkins vs. tractors - who wins?

Well, I think it's perfectly clear that tractors are FAR superior to little orange things that sit on the ground - I mean, let's face it: can a pumpkin have a steam engine like this...

... and roll around the farm with style like this....

... and pull people in a wagon around the farm like this...?

I didn't think so. So what's so special about pumpkins, I ask you? Huh?

Top answer I've received so far: they make for really cute pictures...

Seriously? That's all you've got??

Like I said, it seems pretty clear that tractors rule and pumpkins, well... are kinda cute. 

Which would you trust to have your back if it came down to it?

I'm just saying'...

Some occasions...

... call for a serious outfit.

Daddy's grandma passed away recently and we went to Ohio for the funeral - I mostly remember the fish in the aquarium and the wonderful visit with my grandma, grandpa and aunt Laura... I'm lucky to have seen them again after such a short time.

On the phone with Daddy

Daddy was away recently for work and on one particular evening we checked in on the phone...

And then I gave him a hug...

... and even a kiss goodnight...

Some kind of misery...

(His new dance these days, of which I have only managed to catch a few seconds on video...)