(43-96) Happy Halloween!

I think that fall just may be my favorite season.  The weather in Phoenix is perfect in Autumn. I've forever been a big fan of Halloween.  And as someone who is always willing to express gratitude and give thanks; having an entire day to celebrate being thankful has my name ALL OVER IT; not to mention the Thanksgiving meal!

Growing up in the condos, Halloween was a treasure trove for trick or treaters because there were so many homes there.  I remember my mom having to buy copious amounts of candy, so that she would be fully stocked for all the kids that would stop by; (even those who didn't actually live in the condos.)  Trick or Treating in the condos could have been an Olympic event because it was one that required great strength and endurance.  There were 3 sections and 2 different sides of the condos.  The first section, you would just walk right up to the door; but the second section had stairs that you would have to climb in order to get to the person's door; so yes, given the number of homes in the condo, you needed great endurance to climb up and back down each time you wanted a piece of candy.  My favorite home in the second section belonged to a compassionate and innovative individual who used card board alongside of his banister to make a candy shoot.  This kind man would sit at the top of his stairs and instead of having to walk up the stairs, all you'd have to do was put your open bag at the end of the banister, and he'd shoot a piece of candy down to you.  AAHHH, what relief!  If this was one of those crazy Budweiser commercials; I'd actually salute this guy. (Announcer's voice)   "Here's to you considerate, innovative candy giver!"  "Mr. considerate, innovative candy giverrrrr"  "Sits at the top of the stairs so kids don't have to exhaust themselves for candyyyy."  "Mr. considerate, innovative candy give - errrrr..."

I've covered the endurance portion of the Olympics; so let me explain the strength.  Imagine, if you will; how strong a young child would have to be in order to lug the stash from a 500 home development.  Thinking back, I remember the bags getting so heavy; but I suppose it was the promise of what was in them that helped us make it home, bag in tact. 

I have some fantastic memories of growing up in the condos; and many of them were from Halloweens gone by; so I always strive to make Halloween memorable for my kids as well.  Since our development isn't a Hot bed of
Halloween activity; we went out to Surprise, so that the kids could trick or treat with Jenny and David's family.  We've trick or treated with them a number of times before and the kids always have a terrific time; so we decided to take them up on the offer to come out for Halloween.

Kelsie was the first of my kids to get her costume.  She decided to be a fairy; and I must say that I'm very proud of her because at school the Kindergartners and first graders were told that they could dress up, but only if they were a character form a book and they did a book report on it.  Kelsie has been reading these chapter books about fairies, and had one from the library that worked perfectly with her costume.  I volunteered in Kelsie's classroom twice on Friday and I was truly impressed with how many children had done the book report and matched their costumes.

After much deliberation; Nicky decided to be Luigi (from Super Mario Bros.) which by the way, they pronounce Mario bros (exactly how it's written; and not Mario Brothers;) and this cracks me up.  Lyndzi had originally wanted to be a pirate, but once Nicky decided to be Luigi; she chose to go as Mario.  Despite the uncomfortable, over sized mustaches, (which they didn't keep on long;) they loved they're costumes and they got quite a nice reception. People seemed especially tickled to see Lyndzi dressed as Mario; and I think they both looked like SUPER, Mario Bros.

It was an Amazing, Autumn, Arizona, night.  It wasn't too warm and it certainly wasn't too cold.  The kids got an ample amount of candy, BUT they will be giving most of it to my dentist; who will give them gift certificates for a free meal at Red Robin in exchange; and send the candy off to our troops.

I love the excitement of Halloween and the time that we spend together as a family.  I want to remember each and every minute and savor the sweetness. 

Till next time...

Queen of EVERYTHING

(43-71) Santa And The Fairies

I don't post a status on Facebook every day; but this morning I couldn't resist and I shared: This morning Kelsie asked if the actors who play Kurt and Sue on "Glee" believe in God, even though Kurt and Sue don't. We discussed the fact that different people have different beliefs and different religions and Kelsie said; "I don't believe in Santa; but I still believe in fairies."


OK, so let's rewind a bit.  I was making the kid's lunches and out of the blue Kelsie asked her question about Kurt and Sue.  See, what did I tell you in "Quality time with Kelsie"... "A mind like a steel trap.
Anyway; just as I reported in my status; I pointed out that people can have varied beliefs and religions and I elucidated that even in our own home we have contrasting religions.  And that is when Kelsie, ever so matter of factly; shared that she doesn't BELIEVE in Santa; but she BELIEVES in Fairies.  Talk about being literal...

So, charmed as I was by her comment; I HAD to post it on Facebook; but I knew that this topic required more investigation; so after dinner I asked Kelsie if we could talk and she was clearly, relieved to find out that I wanted to discuss Santa and the fairies.  She said "THIS is what you wanted to talk about?  I thought that I was going to get in trouble for something."   Which certainly begs the question "what had she done?"  But heck, I had a blog to write, so I ignored the possibility of wrong doing and went on to ask Kelsie to tell me why she doesn't believe in Santa.  Kelsie said "I don't believe in Santa because when you get up, your parents are up and I just have the feeling that they just wake up early to do the stuff for their kids and shop."    She went on to say "Santa doesn't know how to make coffee because the parents know how and when I get up there's coffee and a bite in the cookie but I think either your mom or dad bites the cookie."  So her disbeliefs seemed to be based on the fact that when she gets up on Christmas, Luis and I are already up and everything is done AND there is coffee; and she didn't think that Santa would make the coffee or know where the cups were.  I clarified that I prepare coffee every night for the next morning; by putting it on a timer.  So I asked Kelsie, "If I make the coffee every night; what makes you think that I wouldn't make it on Christmas eve so that I could have it when I wake up on Christmas?"  Kelsie actually had a bewildered look on her face after I presented this information and I could see the wheels turning.  After giving it some consideration; Kelsie went on to say "How does Santa know where the wrapping paper is?"  She asked this, because s few months ago she found the wrapping paper that I had used for "Santa's gifts."  So just as I did at the time; I assured her that I leave the wrapping paper out for him.
Kelsie contemplated this claim and then said "Santa brings the present that the kids want and the gift wrap that he wants you to use and you wrap it up and put the bow on; because the reindeer might be tired; so he can't stay that long at each house.  I just have a feeling that the parents do everything for you. "  And she said it like that verbatim; without taking a breath.  It was immediately followed by "I know how Santa would fly from the North pole to America, but what if he can't make it everywhere on time; or what if his reindeer got sick, then there wouldn't even be a Christmas.  There would be no presents or gifts; just you and your family watching movies and eating food."  Whoosh!  OK, so I still wasn't convinced that she DIDN'T believe in Santa because her comments were contradicting; so I had to probe further and this is what she said, "I believe there's a guy who's dressed up like Santa but there's no flying reindeer.  The guy who drops off the presents is a guy who's dressed up in a Santa suit and he calls himself Santa Claus and he looks like Santa BUT there's no flying reindeer and he takes a plane and he carries a sack around."  Hmm, it seems to me that it's more so the reindeer that she's suspect of (and who shouldn't be?)  So I said "OK, so there's a guy who looks like Santa, but there is no Santa?" And Kelsie giggled and said, "He retired a long time ago."
 
I'm not sure that Kelsie really has a handle on this whole Santa thing.  It seems to that she believes in Santa to some extent; she's just questioning what exactly HE does.  I could tell that trying to explain her Santa theory was exhausting her; so we moved on to the topic of fairies. 
 
I asked Kelsie why she believes in fairies and she said "because if you say that you don't believe in fairies, then they will die.  I believe that if you think hard enough then you might just see the fairies and then you can say, I do believe in fairies.  And sometimes you just can't see them, but I think they are there."  She also tried to relate a story about seeing the Cheshire cat in a crescent moon as we drove to Mexico; and somehow she attributed this to fairies; although she couldn't explain it in a way that I could understand the connection between the two. 
 
Kelsie grew tired and appeared to be confusing even herself, so we concluded our interview for the evening; but something tells me that this is not the last that we'll hear about this subject. 
Truly it matters not to me, if Kelsie believes in Santa or fairies; but I do think that it's beneficial to keep a little wonder and magic in your life, for as long as you can.
Till next time...
Queen of EVERYTHING