I'm halloween-ed out but Hannah and her buddy, the princess witch, could go all night. They had a blast and I even scored a few pieces of the goods from the candy bucket. Yes, there is one child missing from the photo...he decided he was just too old to trick or treat. He came along anyway and got some candy from a good friend who always makes up a special bag just for the kids. He loved that bag. No matter how big a kid gets, he always looks forward to that special treat bag. Happy Halloween 2008.

I've had this paint for over two months now, waiting for me to redo my daughter's bedroom. It took me so long to go through with it because I was scared about colors. I am not good at this picking out paint color from a 2x2 paper swatch. It seems like it never looks like the same color once it's on the wall. Anyway, I really wanted to make my girls' room look a little more grown up. They were ready to give up the pastel yellow walls and go for more of a big girl look. I am hooked on brown. I love the color on walls. And for girls, I am in love with the brown/pink combo. So that's what I decided to do to their walls. Now usually I have hired a professional lady who comes over and tells me the color and I do what she says and I usually love it. But for this one, I wanted to pick on my own. So last Sunday when the wind was blowing 100 miles an hour and all of my photo appts. had to reschedule because of it, I decided it was the right time. I dove in. I painted one wall pink and 3 walls chocolate brown. I painted their lamp stand pink and left the shelves and dresser off-white.

Their room was transformed to a girls' room that we all love. The room turned out fabulously. I totally love the colors. I just sat in it and soaked it in after it was done. Wow. And to think I was scared I was going to make the wrong color choice. My decorator lady would be so proud. I must take a photo when I get a chance and see what you all think.

Now i'm so pumped, I'm ready to find another wall to paint. Which one will be next?!

So this morning I'm driving my son to drop him off for school. I picked up my cell phone to check for a call and he says,

"Who are you calling...your peeps?"

He just grinned like this was normal everyday language. Oh yeah, I forgot. This is middle school language, completely different than ours.

Did you know that "peeps" means friends? Now you do. Welcome to the world of 11-12 year olds.

They're changing by the day. Sometimes it takes looking at a picture to realize how fast they are growing. Thank god for pictures.

My first hunting weekend with the boys and all I can say is...it was awesome. I never, ever thought I would enjoy the outdoors as much as I did. We chased turkeys through some really rough terrain which doubled as a great workout for my butt muscles. The land we were on was so cool. So my hubby trekked us through trees, hills and draws before coming up on 15 toms (and I thought they were all just called turkeys!) My son got a shot and ended up with his first turkey. He was so excited he could hardly speak. Way to go!

So then it was my turn to sit in a treestand and see if I could get a deer. On our way to the stand we spotted 13 huge doe wandering around. We watched them until it was safe to get in the tree. This is where I became one with the tree. I tell you what, climbing a cedar tree 14 feet up is a little scary. And I didn't realize there isn't anything really holding you in. I just decided to not look down. My hubby left me reminding me not to fall out of the tree. Easy for him to say, he wasn't sitting on a wooden treestand no bigger than my butt. So after the vertigo went away, I started seeing deer. They were coming my way, then they would turn off. Everytime they came towards my stand, my heart started pounding. Literally. It was truly the most exciting thing I have ever experienced. I sat and just watched. I found myself talking to them..."come this way...don't go that way..." After awhile of just watching them, one doe started coming closer and closer to me. I didn't move and my hubby's instructions roamed through my head. "find the spot, draw back, anchor, shoot.." The deer kept coming closer. After a half hour of waiting, she came in right under my stand. She was a mere 10 yards away. I could see her eyelashes. It was amazing. I held my breath and slowly, slowly drew back. Hubby said no sudden movements. I anchored the arrow, lined up my sight and was ready. But the deer kept walking. She was going to be out of my sight pretty soon. So i made a quick decision...I had to get her to stop. I grunted. Just like the grunts they make on all those hunting shows. It worked. She stopped and looked up. But she was stopped right behind a branch of a tree. I could make the shot...she was so close. But the dumb branch was right in front of where I needed to shoot. I couldn't do it. I couldn't let go and risk wounding her. So we stared at each other for a minute and she kept going on her trail. I relaxed my bow. I was so close to getting it but it just wasn't meant to be. I started breathing again.

My hubby came in after dark to get me which by the way, sitting in a treestand in the dark is an eery feeling. I was glad to see him coming down the hill for me. Even though I didn't get a shot this time, it was truly awesome. The whole experience was so much more than I ever imagined. So i'm going back again in a few weeks to try again and I can't wait. I loved being with my hubby and son and learning how hunting is so much fun. I now understand why all these years, he wished he could quit work and just hunt all the time. It's a sport and my sore legs are proof of it. It's not easy let me tell ya, but seeing how beautiful nature is humbled me. It made me appreciate it in a different way. And it was all because of a wonderful hubby who introduced me to it.

So thanks, honey, for the weekend and for not forgetting to come back and get me from that treestand in the dark. (Yes, I was a litte worried about that!)

Last flag football game of the year for my son. Season went fast and I'll miss going to the practices and games. I'll mostly miss the "flag" part of the game. Next year it's tackle. Normally it wouldn't bother me but sure enough last weekend at church, a 7th grader walks in with a cast on his arm. My sons whispers he broke it in the football game. Sheesh. Just what a mother needs to see right when the "safe" game of flag football comes to an end. He did an awesome job at quarterbacking. Now we have a small break before basketball begins.

So it's been a busy month at the studio. With Nutcracker practices in full swing, my clientele building and sporting events, fall is definitely the busy season. But it's also my favorite time of year.

This weekend, I planned to have "off" and with all the busy-ness we've had, I'm anxious for some down time. So I had a choice...half-marathon in Sioux City or hunting with the hubby. Run...hunt....run...hunt...I decided I've already made the long 13 miler twice this year. Maybe I'll give this hunting gig a try. My hubby is already stratigizing our outing. I'm actually quite excited about the whole thing. My shooting is good, my patience is good, don't know about climbing a tree stand but how hard can it be?! So that's the plan. I'm putting away my Asics for a day and donning camouflage. Hunting with my husband. I hope I don't scare him off. My husband that is, not the deer. I sure hope I at least see something. He tells me my odds are good. So grandma is coming to spend some time with the kiddos and I'm going to spend some time in the trees.

Wish me luck. I don't think the wilderness knows what's it's in for. Or my husband.

Hannah Montana came to visit us! Isn't she cute?!?

Hunting season has begun...beginning with my son's first doe he brought home last night. He was pretty excited and so were we! We gave the deer to a local locker that processes the meat and then gives it to needy families. Our son did good. Real good.