It’s hard to believe we have been living in St. Louis with my parents for 5 months. So many things have happened in that time and yet it feels like just yesterday we were sitting on our stoop in Brooklyn. As much as I miss the people and places of NYC, for now, being close to family surpasses all my longing. To see my parents enjoying my children on a daily basis is priceless.
Celebrating Halloween in the suburbs had its high points (thank you Ken and Megan!). Both Sophia and Ira could not believe people were willing to just hand them candy. In Brooklyn, we didn’t really trick or treat. We just let the kids hand out candy from the stoop. So, on our way out on Saturday, Sophia grabbed a bag of Snickers and said, “I’m going to sell these.” That was her way of saying she was going to hand the candy out. She had no idea what she was in for. And Ira LOVED the St. Louis tradition of telling a joke before you get handed the candy. I gotta say, I REALLY missed this tradition. Seriously. I could never get over kids getting something for nothing. Ira’s joke?
“Why the chicken cross the river?”
“Because for to get the other siiiiide.”
Duh. Yes, he made this up.
Other weekend highlights – my dad celebrated his 66th birthday. Following tradition, Sophia insisted on decorating with balloons. It is not a birthday without them. On Friday, Sophia did not have school so I took the kids up to visit Joe’s class. I can not tell you how impressed I was. We walked in and every kid was in his/her seat and on task. The room was quiet and yet there was a sense of pride on every face. They had so much fun asking Sophia and Ira any question they wanted about Mr. Hays.
We spent Saturday morning raking leaves. It was a gorgeous morning, especially after a week (or month, really) of rainy days. Joe commented that this was his first time to rake leaves. I was shocked. I have many fun memories of spending autumn days in the yard with my family raking leaves. Or maybe that was just my parents raking and my brothers and I goofing off. Not sure about that:)
Thanksgiving, here we come!
3 responses so far ↓
jonathan // November 4, 2009 at 3:18 am |
Hmm, I dont remember having so much fun raking leaves. I remember Dad telling me to fill up the barrels, and then me taking so long to do this that finally he would take pity on me come help. We would of course then finish in about ten minutes. Oh, and I called you on halloween because I couldn’t believe that no one here knew anything about telling a joke for candy. Unbelievable.
greeneyes // November 4, 2009 at 10:13 pm |
you all look amazing ,and you sound happy , wonderful! The children are such a treasure to see , God Bless
Kaley Ihfe // November 10, 2009 at 12:53 am |
I’m late to see this – but I love it! All the kids look so cute! I am one of those who has never heard of the tradition of telling a joke – what a great idea! I was glad the kids were old enough that I didn’t have to go up with them to the door while they are kind of asking for candy…:-)