Thanksgiving

   Due to work obligations our Thanksgiving took place on Saturday. At first it sort of bothered me being that it was on Saturday but then I thought you know what..holidays are honestly in your heart not regulated by a calendar day!! We've done Thanksgiving in August and Cmas in Oct due to my brother's military schedule so I thought I'm just going with the flow :) So as tradition our day started off with awesome cinnamon rolls. My mother always fixed these on Thanksgiving morning for us and I continue that tradition with my kiddo :)

  Our meal was awesome. Even though my mother in law (who donated the turkey as her part of the dinner) managed to find a 3 legged turkey!! LOL Only at the Hacienda do you have Steve start carving his awesome Cajun deep fried turkey to see...another leg. We all laughed about it.
  Kaya was a huge help this year. She completely made the pumpkin pies. She's getting so good at breaking eggs and mixing much SLOWER so it doesn't slop out of the bowl. Her pies were beautiful and delicious. 

Kaya also helped this year fix dressing with her Mammaw W. There is NOONE that makes a better dressing than my Mamma lol Bread, sage, chicken broth, boiled meat from the giblets/neck of the turkey all come together to make one of my fave sides! Kaya also helped with the green bean (or as we all call it slimy bean casserole lol) casserole that her grandma's like and with the sweet potatoes. Our meal came out pretty awesome this year.

 We had cajun deep fried turkey, sweet potatoes,baked beans, deviled eggs, green bean casserole, mash potatoes,turkey gravy, mac n cheese, rolls/biscuits, pumpkin pie and cheesecake. Every bit of it homemade :) Everyone at way too much. But the most important thing about the meal wasn't the food on the table, how long it took to fix or if it was homemade...it was the people sitting around the table and the love <3

Cajun, creole butter injected turkey ready for the fryer 

Our feast :) 

Kaya making homemade dressing with her Mammaw

Gotta love croup :(

 Gave Kaya breathing treatments but knew that the cough was hanging on too long, too tight. Yep, time for our yearly round of croup. Interestingly enough adults actually can get croup we just don't realize it. We get a cold, then the cough hangs on and it's tight and we have a form of croup. Which I had been coughing the week prior so that is probably what started Kaya with the cold. 
   Finally nailed an appt from her Dr (not liking this office combined situation...love our dr, love her nursing staff, love the office staff..hate the appt schedule etc) at the after hours clinic and got the diagnosis:
  "Yes Miss Kaya, you have your yearly croup."
   So off to the store to pick up her steroid (yeah..makes her cry one minute, very cranky the next) that she has to take for 3 days. Already have her machine and meds for it. 
  She is feeling better and able to play but it took what feels forever for her cough to lighten up. Nothing is worse than that deep cough in the middle of the night. I think we all crashed last night from simply no sleep!!

Project in the works :)

   We have been simplifying lots of areas of our life and one thing we have been focusing on is better use of our land/gardens and home. This project is going to focus on my utility room.
  It's a nice utility room but the design sort of wasted space. I have been wanting a pantry forever and we debated hard on doing one in the garage simply because of the chance of moisture etc. So the other night Steve was getting something out of the utility room and said 
  "Why don't we make this into our walk in pantry? We can still keep the left side as the utility room...washer, dryer and such. But if we take out the cabinet on the right side I could build you a pantry?"
  The man knows the words to get to my heart lmbo 
  We really don't use the cabinet/counter in the utility room that much. It's got more hodge podge stuff stored in it than useful things and I rarely use the counter to fold clothes etc. I would get alot more use out of a pantry.
  So Steve has designed the plans. We will remove the counter/cabinet and it'll go to the garage to be used for a work bench (which we need). I'll paint where the counter was the same color of cabin red to match that wall. Then he will build a 2ft wide 7ft high, 6ft long shelving box(much like the way we started our box for the seed shelving he built me). Then we will put in five shelves at a certain height to accommodate cans being stacked two rows high (really you can't stack them higher than that anyway or they will fall). The top shelf which is near the ceiling will be where I'll put the rest of my family treasures...old cutting board etc. The shelving will be plywood that sits onto the shelf frame. I may put material or felt on the wood ..not sure. 
  The new pantry will have enough room that I can put my clothes baskets underneath (opening up my floor plan) as well as smaller rubber made totes for what I want. Then I will have a section built with either slant style shelving or with wire racks for extra spices. And I will also have room for extras like shampoo, paper towels you name it. I will also have a shelf for the gadgets I use but not everyday.
  I'm going to paint the wood a primitive cabin red/tan to match the decor and then Steve is going to make an ole fashion sign that says pantry. I'm thinking too about putting peg board on the one side then I can hang my broom there or I could get creative with things to hang there. Lots of ideas.
  I'm about half way through getting the room ready for the cabinet to pull out. Kaya feeling blah this weekend altered plans but that's ok :)
  I'm going to post before and after pics once we are done!!

Revving up....

  The Hacienda started revving up for the holidays last month and we are soon to hit holiday number 2..Thanksgiving. I LOVE the simplicity of this holiday, the simple focus on gratitude, family and abundance of the non materialistic type. This year we will also kick off Hanukkah on the same day (we are not Jewish but Kaya loves the story of the miracle of the oil and we also celebrate by reading the book, doing latkes etc. We do not do a menorah or 8 days of gifts etc as we are not Jewish. I simply like her expanding her culture horizon :) )
  This year I was the lucky gal (insert sarcasm) that drew a shift to work on Thanksgiving day and on Black Friday. I've often worked overnight on Thanksgiving to prepare for Black Friday but this year I work a day shift..which I'm thankful for..but the shift hits square in the day that I can't do dinner here as I've done traditionally since Steve and I married. It bothered me at first...till I remembered when it came to my brother's leave time in the service we've done Thanksgiving in Oct, in Jan and in August lol so truly there is no need to get upset about the date on the calendar..that's not what is important.
  I am upset about how the greed of America has led the way for people to think it's ok to leave their family tables to shop for "Great bargains" or the excuses that are deemed ok that people have to work that day. I realistically know a dr, a nurse, an ambulance driver etc will probably work and while I hate they have to..it's reasonable that the job they do is 24/7. People needing a 2 dollar toaster is NOT a reasonable excuse for a business to be open or people to shop.
  I was told this year from someone that "It is so horrible retail stores are starting the sales at 4pm! Now I have to leave my family dinner hours early to get the bargain. That is not fair to customers." I literally bit my tongue..seriously? Have we become such a nation of materialistic greed that it's ok for one person to miss their family time and meal as long as it's accommodating your family meal and your time to hit a sale? That it's horrible that YOU have to leave your dinner an hour early while my family has NO dinner together? 
  I wish sometimes people would think then open their mouths. I know some people will say it's ok to be open, that we should be happy it's extra money for Christmas. Obviously those people have also lost the true meaning of Cmas! It's NOT materialism, it's not simply gifts and it's not money. I've never shopped Black Friday nor do I ever plan to and I tend to think less harsh of people that do shop that day simply because it's been around forever. Stores forcing sales to Thanksgiving Day is relevantly new and there is one reason it's done....
  BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL SHOP THAT DAY AND MAKE THE STORES MONEY!!!
  If people don't shop, then the next year simple bottom line profit reports will determine if a store is open. 
  So while at first I was upset that our Thanksgiving meal would be on the Saturday after turkey day I reminded myself that it's not the date on the calendar it's the people at the table that makes the meal. Do I hate working that day? Yep, but I also know I have to have a job. Blunt statement...I don't work Thursday I lose my holiday pay and take an unapproved day. Sounds not too terrible for a person like me that never misses..but what if something happens later in the year that I HAVE to be home for..Steve has a relapse, Kaya is sick..whatever..I have to remember that being thankful comes in many forms...So I am thankful to have the ability to put food on my family's table, thankful to have the family that will eat with us on Saturday and thankful to have a job.

Interesting article on simplified living

 http://www.viralnova.com/tiny-house/
 
  I thought this was a really interesting article on simplified living. Granted I couldn't live in that tight of a space  but it's a very nice article on young couples starting out as well as how to simplify what you have. 
  We of course do not live in a McMansion lol but we do not live in a house this small. I've often wondered though why so many people are amazed by small house living when back in the day most people had small houses and many raised large families in them.
  I think if a person likes a big house and wants all the "bling" lol it's fine. I don't think they should be judged as long as they are happy. But I often wonder how many people desire the big home to impress friends/family and neighbors more than they need/want the space.
  I do like how the article hits on living a more deliberate lifestyle..knowing that we DO leave a foot print on this Earth no matter what some choose to think. I've often said we do not own the Earth we are simply borrowing it ..and we will choose what is left to our children, to our grandchildren. I'd much rather they have some beautiful scenery, clean air and drinkable water than I would tract housing, huge mansions, and industrial parks. 
  I try to remember it this way: Kaya is my most prized possession and I want to start her out well in life mentally/physically and spiritually and I also want to leave her a world that she can enjoy.
  So interesting article..and the view they have from their property is priceless!!

Crazy weather!!

   First it turned off cold, then warmed up with a chance of rain. By the time I got off work Sunday you could "feel" the storm coming. The humidity at work was so high that the paper would barely go through the printers. By 4pm Sunday evening the storms started popping up.
  Our sky went completely black, tornado alarms went off and Kaya grabbed her Ipad, Bella and a blanket and we headed to the closet. Steve checked on the weather while we stayed in the closet in case.
  Round one was completely freaky. The skys went completely black, the wind howled and it rained. Then suddenly it stopped, the clouds parted to let the sun out and then it was like the black clouds gobbled up the sun!! We knew when it did that and got completely still it was bad! A tornado touched down just a few miles from us. Thankfully no one was hurt.
  Round two for us was mainly rain and wind but did put a tree through a woman's house the next town over. 
  Eth and Em called to check on us after it hit them and we called to check on them after it hit us!! Very thankful that even though the tornado hit just the town over from them that they were ok!
  Interestingly enough when the storm hit here the barometric pressure was so high that it actually popped canning lids on sealed jars!!! That is some scary stuff when you put it all together.
  Very thankful we were safe, our thoughts go out to those in IL that were not so lucky and to the family of the person that died in Washington IN. 
  Mother Nature sure does what she pleases when she pleases...and lately the weather has been insane!

Whatta week!

  My seven day week is always a long one by Sunday. By Saturday morning I find myself wishing I could hit the snooze..and by Saturday night I'm thinking I should have taken a vacation day for Sunday LOL I'm thankful I only have to do them basically once a month.
  This has been a busy interesting week but the lovely cold bug has hit. Gotta love weather that goes from rain, to spitting snow, to 18 degrees at night back to the mid 60's with chance for severe storms and tornados!! Perfect weather to assist the cold bug. I'm thinking tomorrow after work it's going to be an early pj type of evening, maybe some hot chocolate (if I can bat my eyes enough at Steve LOL),cuddling in bed...and covering myself in Vicks!!! 
  Kaya made her first pan of homemade sausage gravy this week and the girl rocked it!! I started the roux for her but she told me how much flour. I added the milk but she did all the stirring and the gravy came out..perfect!! My Dad was up for supper (no sane person turns down biscuits, sausage patties, sausage gravy, and scrambled eggs!! lol) and told her that she made good gravy. She looked at him and said "I know something about making gravy!" LOL I absolutely love every moment I have with her!! She was singing while doing the gravy and her song had the line "I love cooking with my Mamma. She knows how to fix everything and she's totally rock and roll". Never been called rock n roll in my life lmbo so I'm not questioning it :)
  Steve's weight loss has been a good thing for him..but his wedding band being the spinner type you can't resize it..not a good thing. We've searched for the last two nights for his wedding band and it's really driving him nuts he cannot find it. He's taken our bed completely apart, even the slats because he was afraid when he put the blankets on the bed it might have slipped between the slats. No such luck. I've looked under the bed, against the walls, under the edge of the bookcases, you name it. It can't have grown feet and walked off so I guess tomorrow evening or Monday I'm going to have to pull everything away from the wall and see if by some fluke it's standing upright against the wood trim. That happened once before and eagle eye Kaya found it. 
  At least Kaya tried to make Steve feel better about the wedding band. "You are still the same man, the same daddy and the same husband even if you don't have a ring on. You could wear Mommy's!!" LOL
  Can say Kaya made me laugh tonight when she came trekking through the frontroom in her sports bra, underwear and Finn hat, ran into our bedroom, plopped onto the bed and started singing into the fan! LOL I don't know what was better..her song, her attire or her giggles :)
  So typical fun week at the Hacienda. Thankful for the two legged smile I have and for the hubby I have. 
  

Proof life is always fun at the Hacienda lol Found this lovely item this evening on my memory bench...Uncle Si with a beautiful bow. Kaya loves Duck Dynasty and especially Si. I guess he needed a little sprucing up! LOL :)

Love Sundays :)

  Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week and has been since I was a kid. Sunday was always total relax day (unless something pressing was at hand). Dinner was at one set of grandparents (and as that Grandpa would say "Sunday is NOT for salads only" LMBO) and then supper was at the other set. As I got older it meant reading the Sunday paper after dinner and listening to Grandpa grumble at the political show he was watching (and listening to Granny grumble at Grandpa for grumbling!! LOL) and then usually an evening visit to my other grandparents.
  Now that I'm older I'm pretty partial to any day I do not have to clock into work (haha) but I love Sundays. I no longer have grandparents to go visit and I wish I did. But we have made our own traditions here. We have been having what we jokingly call "The poor man's paradise" LMBO
  Every Sunday evening, weather permitting, we start the fire pit and fix homemade hot chocolate. It's so nice to just sit around the fire, chat and relax. Kaya chats our ears off and even the cat likes to curl up on the benches and enjoy the fire. It's a nice way to wind down and relax before Monday rolls around! 

     How could anyone I be any less than relaxed with a fire, hot chocolate (Kaya did the marshmallows) and my two lovelies :)

Thankful lists

     Month of November facebook always does daily thankful lists. I love them. I love to remind myself daily what all I do truly have in my life. And I try hard to remember that every month of the year. I also love reading others simply because it's nice to see what makes someone else smile and happy and sometimes you read someone's post and think "That is so right. I should be thankful for that".
  I thought at first about doing a daily one on here but I was afraid I'd do it on facebook, get busy and neglect it here.
 So I thought I'd do a nutshell main one here :)
 I'm thankful for the man that stands beside me every day. The man that put a ring on my finger almost 7 yrs ago but has had my heart for 10 yrs. The man that has seen the beauty in me when I see none, that has confidence I can do everything and anything. And that loves me every single day and loves me even more on my hard days.
  I'm thankful for the blessing of being called "Mommy" or Mamma. Kaya is my world. She's my curly headed proof that humans are allowed to have miracles. She's smart, funny, strong headed and keeps me grounded. She teaches me to slow down, enjoy life and see the beauty in small things. Without her I don't know what I would do and I'm thankful for being on her journey. She's my princess jumping in the mud, my tomboy wearing a tiara :)
  I'm thankful for my parents, my grandparents and my extended family. They have taught me to be strong,to make due and to enjoy life. They showed me and still show me what love is, what family means and that life is short so enjoy it.
  I'm thankful for the family I married into..all sides of it. It's not always been super easy as we are two distinct groups of people and they do not live life how I live life but they bring another dimension to my life and I truly do love them. I'm thankful that I have them and that I am lucky enough to not just love but like the family I married into.
 I'm thankful everyday for a job, for food, for shelter and for the important things in life. I'm also thankful that even though times get rough in America ..that I can say I'm an American. Our men and women died so we could have the liberties we do, so we can have our freedoms and I hope more people wake up and realize how precious that is. 
  I'm thankful for Steve's diagnosis of MS. It's not an easy road but at least we have a name on the disease that is our lives and a way to fight it. I'm thankful too to have a husband that is a fighter. That puts being a Daddy and a husband first, being a son, brother etc on the list THEN list MS fighter. It's in our life but it's not OUR life :)
  So many wonderful things to be thankful for. Thankful for the seasons, the snow, the sun, the wind. Thankful for our gardens and the bounty they provide. Thankful for the meat in our freezer, the flour in the tin..and thankful for the knowledge on how to make it on lean times :)
  Never stop counting your blessings. Know your roots, know your history and make your present worth living. Keep your future bright and always remember who you are and exactly how blessed you are :)

Thanksgiving Dinner...

  This year we did an early Thanksgiving dinner/bday dinner with Steve's Dad's side. This is our first year that Steve has ever had a family dinner with his Dad's side..all of his brothers and sisters and their families!! To make a long story short..Steve and his brother is by his Dad's first wife, then there is another set by his current wife...trouble went this way and that when Steve was growing up so he never really got to have a Dad growing up. The girls and Steve have been close for a bit and things have been going smooth and this year we decided to do a dinner together and it was awesome! Steve and his Dad have talked about things and Steve feels the past is the past and that the future can be different. His Dad has apologized for things and makes a consistent effort to keep up on Steve and Kaya. So things are moving forward. Steve says you can sit and stew over what could have been and what should have been or you can be a man, accept an apology and the fact that as a kid you didn't always understand the big picture and move ahead with your life. That he won't live life being bitter and angry and cut Kaya out of a chance to see her family on that side. VERY proud of the man Steve is.
  I'm truly lucky that I do like my father in law and step mom in law as well as my brother in laws. And I adore my sister in laws..they are sweet, funny good hearted women :) 
  Sooo we all got together at Steve's Dad's Saturday. With his brother, his sisters and their families, his Dad and StepMom and us...we had 21 of us there!!!! And that was with one brother and his daughter missing!! So nice size turnout and a wonderful meal. I think we all ate too much lol It was nice sitting and talking, watching the kids play and having a good time.
  I'm thankful for the changes that happen in life. That Kaya knows her aunts and uncles on that side, her Grandpa on that side and that they truly care for her and us. And that they are trying to have family time. As you know I'm very pro family time and I think kids and adults crave that kind of time whether they want to admit it or not. 
  So I'm hoping this becomes a new tradition for all of us. It was really a good time and Kaya said "I had the bestest time!!!" :) 

We had our first major scare...

   It's taken me a week to write this post. Maybe it's because I hate when I feel out of control or maybe it's fear of things..or maybe honestly it's a combination of worry, fear, and a bit of anger tossed in. 
   Sunday night Steve took his MS shot. He had to miss 3 wks of shots due to being under the weather..having cold symptoms or flu symptoms makes his shot unbearable. He's never had a problem in over a year of skipping one when sick or even any reactions in a year.
  Sunday night kept us on our feet and reminded us just what we could have to deal with. First his temperature shot up. Then shot up further. Then further till it was in the 104ish range. He was literally hot to stand next to! He was under 3 blankets when I felt the bed shaking like crazy..and he was shaking so violently it made me jump out of bed. He could talk etc so it wasn't a seizure. He was shaking from feeling so cold and with the cold and shaking..his muscles were tensing up causing more reaction.
  He put on a hoodie  and under another layer of blankets. 4 doses of 800 mg ibuprofen later and his fever finally broke. Exhausted, achy and with tense muscles he hobbled around till finally getting comfortable enough on the couch to catch some sleep. I took a vacation day to watch Kaya and to keep an eye on him.
  Finally about 4 or 5 that Monday evening he began to feel better. Severely tired and his knee killing him he pretty much rested on Tuesday but I was thankful to have my Mom off work to help out so I could return to work.
  I think the fear hangs in there because when he gets severely tired and achy..a relapse could be around the corner. We've made it over a year with NO relapse and we are always thinking in the back of our minds when will the bomb go off?? I can't stand not being in control of myself and situations and when Steve was so miserable I couldn't "fix it"...it was hard. I couldn't break down and cry or act as if I was scared because it doesn't solve anything and isn't useful in a time like that. But it's not easy. I was going on barely 2 hrs sleep and when I'm tired the tears come easy..so it was a double whammy lol 
  I don't think sometimes people truly understand MS. If you do not have it or you are not the support/spouse/caregiver to someone that has it..you don't always fully grasp it. Watching Steve battle those side effects that he had beat so many months ago sickened my heart. And it makes you think what if his MS relapses or he moves to the next stage? I love him no matter what and I'm always going to be right beside him but I know it's not easy on him. And it plants that seed of what will happen this week. He's moving his shot to Sat night so if he has bad symptoms I won't be off work etc. and my Mom is available to help out on Monday and Tuesday. It killed him I had to use a vacation day and go all day on little sleep..but I told him it's not the end of the world. And it wasn't. It's a small sacrifice for someone I love and needed me.
  I think the fear and worry feeling mixed with anger on Monday when I realized just how people honestly react to MS and how they will not be there for us when we need them. I've always had issues with how others react to MS and how they do...but I always held in my heart that those that SHOULD be there for us even if just in asking about Steve etc would be there when we needed them. That theory is pretty much shattered. Maybe they just don't know how to react, don't know how to handle things. To be honest I can't think for others and I can't figure out others so I just have to let them bear the situation how they feel. And I have to be thankful for my Mom and the ones that offered to watch Kaya, that checked on us and that covered for me at work. Honestly the good things might as well stick with me and the bad things wash away. Otherwise anger takes over and I have to remind myself "Mamma raised a lady, Mamma raised a lady" LMBO ;)

Family Hog Roast

  Saturday was the family hog roast. We try to do one every year in last Oct, first part of Nov to celebrate the fall/winter bdays, so the kids can be together for treats (Halloween) and to just be together. This years was wonderful.
   My uncle ordered a pig this year since he didn't raise one. 210 lbs of fresh pork hit the cooker at 5am.
  

 My uncle and cousin did an awesome job! We had ham that was done in the smoker, ribs, tenderloin, chunked pork and we had my fave...bbq pulled pork cooked in a cast iron pot over the fire pit! Oh my ..it was awesome lol

It was a great day of family fun. Most of my cousin's made it. Funny how it doesn't seem that long ago it was us playing in the yard being silly and now we are watching our kids play together! Kaya loved being with her cousins and having fun. They played every game imaginable, chased each other, went on hikes and she was in heaven when Lynn let her ride on the trailer while she drove the 4wheeler to the barn ;) She saw the horses and got to feed them.

I love to hear my Mom chatting with her sisters..all my aunties in the kitchen talking or sitting on the porch laughing. I love seeing my uncles relaxing and having fun. And I love catching up with all my cousins. We all live different lives, have branched out in different ways, do things differently but in the end we are all family :) 

 Treat bags with wayyy too much candy was made up for the kiddos (which they loved) and with 4 tables of food (yes we have a big clan..lol) we had plenty of leftovers for everyone to take home. I always enjoy sitting on the porch swing eating my Aunt's swedish nut cake...it reminds me so much of the cakes my Grandma use to make.

 Even though a few couldn't make it yesterday and a few were greatly missed, but celebrating in Heaven..it was a good time. I know Grandma and Grandpa are proud of how we still come together to have meals etc. And I know Uncle Ronnie was watching his young grandsons play and smiling :) I miss them all alot. It seems like those chairs will never be filled at the table.

 Families that break bread together stay together. It strengthens the bonds, it passes on family information and it makes our children realize what family is. I use to feel like I had to be apologetic because my family spent time together and threw big dinners together because others didn't have that/don't try to have that...but now I've realized that is their loss and I'm thankful for every minute I have with my family.

  It's almost like it reenergizes you for the week, the month! Down home we can be ourselves,do our thing and it was a day spent with lots of love,laughter and food :)

Marriage..

 A friend at work once told me "what is marriage to you" I said "it's 50/50 both people have to work on it". Then he smiled and said "Nope it's 100/100..you both have to give it all you got." That has always stuck with me and when I saw this poster I thought it was fitting. Marriage isn't easy. Far from it. But if only one person gives 100% it doesn't work. If only one person gives 50%  it doesn't work. If both give only 50 your half way there but you'll have 50% missing. Both people have to realize it's a heart investment..an investment of time, of emotions and of being actively involved and aware. No,men are most likely not going to react or be like us..but in honesty we probably don't want them to or need them to be. A good marriage is balanced on the fact that not only do both partners give 100% but you also realize that your husband balances you out and you balance him out. I know our marriage is that way.Steve is the laid back, roll with the flow and let very little get to him type. Issues come up and if they are outside this home then he may listen but that's it. Me I'm more of a worrier about things and have had to learn that I can't fix the world. He says I'm a hippy (lol I'm faaaarrr from that) but I know he means that I'm loving and I try to see things how people SHOULD be..and at times it's hard to see how some really are. I've called him hard before but I hope he knows that I mean it in the sense that his loyalty lays 100% with me and Kaya and nothing sways that. So sometimes to me he comes off hard and unemotional over outside issues but I've come to learn that he loves many but he doesn't allow himself to take on others drama or issues. He's not "hard" he's centered in how he does things.

Halloween

    

Another Halloween has come and gone. That magical time of year when scary is ok,bats could be vampires ;),carving pumpkins and enjoying all the fun Halloween entails.

 This year the weather was a little less than desirable but the town decided to still have trick or treat on Halloween evening. Thankfully the rain gave way to a decent time of trick or treating, the local kid's club did an indoor trick or treat and we went to one of our fave relatives so Kaya could get treats and have fun. Kaya had a ball so that is all that matters. And that we made it in before the rain cut loose like crazy!

 Our sweet little vampire nurse visited her Mimi last weekend in costume (sans face makeup lol) at the nursing home and Mimi and the staff loved it. As did all the residents. She did Tuesday night at our cousin's nursing home party. The residents hand out candy and see all the trick or treaters, it's totally safe and the nursing home staff provides the kids with a mini party...cookies, cider, hot chocolate, chocolate milk, popcorn and coloring pages. Kaya loved it and loved going with her little cousin. I like it too because Kaya learns that not everyone gets to celebrate the way she does and sometimes it's not always about getting the "treat" it's also about treating someone else to a smile.

 I think Kaya has learned that lesson because trick or treat night she asked to stop by the local gas station where our friend works and give her a piece of candy.."because she can't trick or treat so she needs to be thought of too! It'll make her happy" And it did :)

 Daddy enjoys the holiday too and made his own zombie makeup (even though the rain put a damper on him getting to wear it...it would fall apart/run) and Kaya loved how his hand came out lol

Not bad for school glue, toilet paper, homemade "blood" (hairgel mixed with food coloring). He did a good job lol

The Hacienda loves Halloween and we really have had a great October. Since we didn't get to make them last night we did Mummy dogs for supper and Kaya was amazed. Simple twist on pigs in a blanket. We put a blanket down on the front room floor and instant awesome picnic :)

We rationalized today is Los dias de los muertos  and that leads into All Souls Day so we were having Mummies LOL

All in all a great holiday and a good month. Hoping November is full of fun, laughter, love and blessings as well :)