Happy Halloween from...



...Mr. Mayhem (a.k.a John-Heath) and all the rest of us here at Tire Swings and Fireflies.  Have a wonderfully FUN and HAPPY night!!!  It looks like those of us in Middle Tennessee are in for some stormy weather, so be safe, too!



P.S.  Yikes!  Why didn't you tell me I spelled a word wrong on my last post?  Some kind of friends you are!  lol  I would blame it on auto-correct if I could.  Sadly, it was just a brain malfunction on my part.

Happy All Hallows' Eve Eve

Ahhh...the night before the biggest day of the fall season for kids and kids-at-heart is upon us. 

Here's a little Night-Before-Halloween survey.

Tonight, you are...

A.  trying to find the last of some accessories for a costume

B.  furiously stuffing treat bags for the class party

C.  contemplating which kind of face to carve on the pumpkin & pleading with the husband to go ahead and do the carving tonight

D.  making sure you're stocked up on extra-strength Tylenol to combat the headache sure to follow living with and working among sugar-crazed children

E.  all of the above

A Favorite Halloween Poem

This is a somewhat recycled post and I almost feel like a "re-gifter" in rehashing an already used topic, but I couldn't not share this poem again.  It's my favorite to read this time of the year.  I first heard it, read it and recited it more than a few years ago as a fourth grade student.  We did a lot of things that year I remember with fondness, but this poem and all the other Halloween activities are among some of my favorites.  So, thank you, Ms. Ann, for a wonderful fourth grade year and for introducing me to an orphan named Annie.

LITTLE ORPHANT ANNIE

by: James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916)

INSCRIBED WITH ALL FAITH AND AFFECTION

 

To all the little children: -- The happy ones; and sad ones;
The sober and the silent ones; the boisterous and glad ones;
The good ones -- Yes, the good ones, too; and all the lovely bad ones.

 

ITTLE Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,

An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,

An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,

An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;

An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,

We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun

A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,

An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--

An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,

His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,

An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!

An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,

An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;

But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,

An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;

An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,

She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!

An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,

They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,

An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!

An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,

An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!

An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,

An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--

You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,

An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,

An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,

Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you

Ef you

Don't

Watch

Out!

 

I read this to my own lovely bad one tonight, and I hope you'll be able to share it with your children, too.  Simply a classic.

My Halloween Table

I don't do a huge amount of decorating for Halloween, but I do like a few signs of the season here and there...usually my mantel, the dining room, kitchen and a guest bath.  Below is how our table in the dining room ended up this year. 

 

Lest you think I've put away my faith and upbringing to practice witchcraft, I have not.  However, I couldn't resist the  ceramic pumpkin (Home Goods), the ravens (Hobby Lobby) or donning up an old broom, which was a handmade craft given to me by my Pa Frazier and even more special because the hands that made it were his. 

 

 

 

I don't guess Pa ever intended on me using it as a table decoration, but I doubt very seriously he would mind.  And for the rest of this month, I will think of him every time I walk by my dining room - as if I even need a reason to think of that wonderful man.

 

Halloween Mantel 2013

Where have I seen this mantel before???  Oh, yeahhh...it's practically the same one I did last year. 

It's true.  I wasn't very creative.  But at least I got this one up early enough to get a little enjoyment out of it (during our awesome fall break).

 

 

I still love my "tombstone" bookends.  They are a tad on the creepy side but just perfect for Halloween.  They're also very heavy, too.  Toes beware!



 

The only "new" addition to the collection is this 88-year-old signal lantern from the railroad that once upon a time ran through my hometown.  If you'll look closely, you'll see the name of the railroad, L&NRR, etched in the glass.  It's been on a shelf in our garage these past seven years, so it was due a little recognition. 

 

In years past, when my husband would tell ghost stories to Ren's friends, etc., he would tell the story of Jake Vance, who fell to his death -via his horse- from the top of a tunnel in our hometown onto this very same railroad. 

Sweet dreams!

A Boy in the House: Vol. 1

When you have a little boy, anything is possible.

...like guns in the fruit bowl and faces drawn on the bananas.  We called him Bob the Banana...until he started to rot.  It was a slow, sad, fruit-fly-yielding death. 

"w w w w we loved him so much!"



P.S.  That last sentence was compliments of John-Heath - he came up with that one and typed it all on his own.  He said it's meant to show someone who is all choked up. 

P.S.S.  The gun is not real.  It is a toy gun that was bought for my husband John when he was little, so it's old.  Very old.  Like older than me.

P.S.S.S.  In other news…can you believe my almost favorite month has nearly come and gone and I have blogged a whopping 4 times!?!  I really have no excuses; except for ten of the days which were spent on fall break…they were glorious…the weather was beautiful…I almost decided to retire nine years early and just stay home each and every day.  But then I remembered that if I quit my job I wouldn’t be able to pay my mortgage and staying home every day wouldn’t be nearly as fun. 

82

To be this man's daughter, I am forever blessed and grateful.  He is my earthly rock and moral compass.  And at times in my life when I just couldn't pray for myself, he has been my prayer warrior.  He is my daddy.  

 

Happy 82nd birthday to the greatest man I know!!!

31 of My Most Favorite Days of the Year

Oh, October, how I love thee!
Seriously, what’s not to love about this month?

cool, crisp weather

beautiful foliage

falling leaves

leaf piles

(who hasn't jumped in one?)

mums

all things apple...butter, cider...

fall festivals

jeans 

hoodies

sweaters

hayrides

hot chocolate

pumpkin patches

campfires

weenie roasts

smores

ghost stories

scary movie marathons

haunted houses

fall break

Halloween

candy corn

(I don't particularly like to eat it, but it looks pretty in my pumpkin-shaped glass bowl)

carving the jack-o-lantern

kids in costumes

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown

harvest moons

the glow and smell of candles filling the house

soup for supper

scenic drives

football in full swing

time with family and friends

the kickoff to Thanksgiving and Christmas

There.  31 one glorious reasons why I love the 31 days of October.

John-Heath on the Migration of Birds, Aliens and Rolling Yards

This, I'm sure, will be of no interest to anyone but me and, perhaps years in the future, my son.  John-Heath, like any small child, is often a sundry of thoughts, comments and questions.  I wish a thousand times over I had kept a written record of all of them. 

 

I remember once a friend telling me that her English teacher, our town's beloved Ms. Marguerite Law, had told her students to keep a pencil and paper bedside in case they were to ever have a dream or thought in the middle of the night which might provide a useful idea for a story.  She said that if one waited until the morning the idea may well be forgotten. 

 

This is certainly the case with cute things our kids say.  How many times do they cay something adorable or hilarious and we think we'll always remember it, only to be like now what was that he said the other day?

 

So, before I forget...here are some things that have recently been on the mind of John-Heath, age 8...

*

In a conversation with his father after noticing a flock of birds he asked, "Dad, how do the birds know when it's time to come back?"

*

When I went in to wake him up this past Saturday, arms stretched behind his head and face turned toward his window he says to me, "It's a beautiful Saturday morning, isn't it, mom?  Was dad just kidding about aliens destroying the earth?"

*

 

This morning, he comes in the house while I am brushing my teeth and informs me, "I didn't get any dirt on me when I went outside just now.  I rolled our bushes with toilet paper.  That way, other people will see it and think we've already been rolled and they won't do it.  (a pause)  You're welcome."

P.S.  John swears he never told John-Heath that aliens would destroy the earth, so we're thinking this must have been left over from a dream.

My Renny Turns 18

My dearest, darling daughter,

     I really have no words today (rare, I know) to tell you just how unbelievable it seems for you to be 18.  You are the last of all your friends to turn this age, so one would think my mind would have somehow, over the past year, settled on the fact that you would soon be an adult.  Nevertheless, it didn't.  Neither my brain nor my heart was prepared.  And now a tall, beautiful woman has invaded our home.  Of course, you have always been tall and beautiful.  It's the woman part with which I am having issues.

     Ren, I am so very blessed that you came into my life and heart that Monday afternoon all those years ago, and I cannot thank God enough for allowing me to be your mom.  Happy birthday, Renny!  I hope your 18th is one of the best.  Just remember, though...age is only a number and you will always, always be my little girl.

Love,

Mom

The Untitled Post

I have thought and thought and thought of a title for this post.  No luck.  Well, a couple came to mind but I scrapped them.  What does one title a post about a tampon?  Allow me to explain.

Jibber-Jabber

This evening's post will be randomness at its best.  Hang on and try to keep up.

Apparently, there is some sex-ed course being taught among the third-graders at my son's school.  According to him, some in the class were recently caught looking up the word "weiner" at school.  He promptly informed us that it was not the kind you eat, either.  Thankfully, he was not among the guilty party.  This time. 

He goes on to inform us that when he gets married he will not be having any of that S.E.X.  No, siree bob.  This little convo took place in the car on the way to lunch after church yesterday.  When I told him that he shouldn't say words he does not know the meanings of (like s.e.x.) he told me that he did, in fact, know the meaning of that word.  "And just what does that word mean, John-Heath," I asked him.  I'm not sure if I should have felt relief or sadness when he told me it had something to do with French kissing when you stick your tongue in their mouth.  I guess I'll go with relief.   It's the little victories that count sometimes.

My daughter has recently begun attending another church which she seems to really enjoy.  Even though we have always attended church as a family and I miss her sitting beside me (and not just because she would scratch my arm for me anytime I asked), we realize this is another way she is seeking independence, and we are fine with this decision.  I do wish she had been with us this past Sunday, though.  Our Sunday School lesson was over the importance of companionship (Adam and Eve) and, if you know my daughter, you'll know this is not too high on her list.  A "people person" she is not.  This is my biggest worry about her.  That she will die alone with forty cats.  Have I ever told you how much I hate cats???

I'm off from school tomorrow.  I get to have my first iron infusion.  Yippee.  I would rather spend the day shopping for new fall decor.
Have a wonderful night, friends, and an even better tomorrow!

An 8-Year-Old's Interpretation of Interior Design

Many times when our children were very small, John and I would freely have adult conversations in front of them.  As they grew a bit we began to speak in parent-talk.  If you're a parent you know what parent-talk is...speaking in code by spelling out words or using sophisticated synonyms so

Want To Be Even More Proud of Your Own Daughter? Watch Miley Cyrus at the VMA's.

You know it has to be bad when your 17-year-old daughter describes a musical performance by someone only three years her senior as nasty. 

Ren's New Chapter

Thirteen years ago when Ren started kindergarten I hid in the kitchen of the cafeteria at her school to video her first school lunch. 

Friday Night Lights

Just a few random, football-related thoughts tonight...

John-Heath Gets Court-Martialed

Three of the things I love most about my son are his tenacity, strong-willed personality and adventurous spirit.  Three things about my son that drive me absolutely loony bin nuts which cause me grief are his tenacity, strong-willed personality and adventurous spirit. 

If you've followed along with me on this blogging experiment very long you'll recall that my husband, children and I live on my husband's small family farm (I get amused when I see 5 acre tracts of land for sale advertised as "plantation-like", "grand estates", "horse ranches", etc.  I'm sure people in Texas find that equally funny).  Anyway, the 150 acres or so on which we live is far from plantation-like or grand but it is a pretty awesome big back yard.  One sister-n-law keeps a few horses on it.  The other sister-n-law's husband keeps a hangar and a few planes on it.  We have no horses or planes but John and the kids love to go for walks (Ophidiophobe me not so much - "ophidiophobe" is the technical term for someone who would pee their/her/my pants should they/she/I see a snake). Of the farm, we are all quite blessed to have been left with such a gift.

My son, aka Captain Winters or Captain Speirs or "Buck" Compton or "Babe" Heffron or any one of the fantastic men of Easy Company from Band of Brothers he may be portraying at the moment, could name few places he'd rather be than somewhere out on this vast playground.  Many times, like yesterday, he is dressed in his medals-adorned camo and boots and is on patrol - no doubt on the lookout for Nazis.

My son's creative, adventurous, role-playing spirit is often at odds with his somewhat helicopter mother.  One hundred fifty acres is not huge by any stretch of the imagination but can seem massive when I am looking for 65 pounds wrapped in camouflage.

 

After making phone calls which went unanswered and searching high and low, we finally found him on the other side of the farm...a mere fifteen feet or so from the old highway.  Decked out in his army green, he was lying flat on his stomach, Nerf rifle in hand shooting down passing vehicles.

 

And so, because he advanced beyond the approved boundaries and failed to follow the orders of his superior officers (aka his dad and I) he has been court-martialed (aka grounded from playing in his uniform until Saturday).

P.S.  I really wish I had had a camera on me when we first spotted him.  Of course, these times I set out to look for my missing son, taking a camera is far from the first thing on my mind.

John-Heath's Room Update

                                                Remember the blue?
Okay, we're not quite ready for a complete room reveal here but I do have a picture (or two) of the new paint job in John-Heath's room.  As you probably guessed from the paint chips I showed you in a previous post, we're going with a camo theme.  Yep.  Another stolen idea.  One day -one day soon I hope - my little boy (a lover of all things military) will have a room very similar to this - my inspiration.  Mind you, our version of this room has only been about two years in the making.

                                                A new camo pattern

                                    with a splash of color on the chair rail

windows in need of some TLC...bring on the fabric

Now, the only thing left is to have his curtains made and pick out some new furniture.  Bless his heart he asks every time we head out to go shopping, "Are we going to get my new furniture?" Patience, grasshopper, patience.   

Lexie's Luncheon

 

 

This past Saturday, Ren, along with another friend Sydney, hosted a surprise baby luncheon for one of her very best gal pals, Lexie.  These girls have all known each other for what seems like forever.  They've spent many a night at my house over the years and have bookoodles of stories to tell between them (Ren will always remember the night she ruined her favorite pair of Buckle jeans falling in a ditch...while running from a dog...while out trying to roll a friend's house with Lexie).  Shortly, they will all go their separate ways as they head off into life. 

 

Ren, Lexie, Sydney, and Alexis

 

 

"Let me apologize beforehand, Lexie, in case

I stick you with the pin"

 

How many monkeys does it take to pin on a corsage?

 

 

Waiting on some yummy food at

 The Chocolate Covered Strawberry.

 

and cupcakes from Gigi's.

 

 

 Present time

 

The soon-to-be mommy with her mommy

 

 

I was really impressed with what a great job the girls did.  I think Ren probably worried the socks off the people at TCCS calling to confirm the reservations she had made, and reconfirming on one or two other occasions, but I am proud of how responsible she was about it all. 

 

This fun weekend was all about Lexie, though, with the luncheon on Saturday and a shower hosted by family on Sunday.  Come late September the real fun begins, and Ren and I can't wait to meet little Miss Adalynn.

Thanks to The Big Bang Theory...

..I knew what today's Google doodle meant and didn't even need to look it up.

Thank you, Sheldon!

image via Google.