Halloween

I have been home for 2 days, cleaning, getting laundry caught up, watching Netflix dvd's and working on my svenska lessons.  I am loving Swedish.  Det kanner jag inte ingen.  This know I not again.  I don't recognize this.  I love the way the words are arranged, how they sound, even how close many are to English.  Torstig for thirsty.  That the word for sick is pronounced whook.  A baby is bebis and the word knakebrod is so fun to say.  En sak is 'a thing'.  Daughter is dotter.  Your mother's mother is your mormor.  I know I am only at level 2 and more concepts and alternate words will come into play, but for now, I am really enjoying the simplicity of having often a word-for-word exchange.  I feel good.  Jag mar bra.  Big, green tree.  Stor, gron trad.

Anyway, Monday night we were at Amanda's for Halloween.  Lots of food, a hayride to trick or treat and back at the house, more candy for the kids!  I behaved REALLY well, I am still a little surprised I didn't eat 3000 calories in one night. hahaha!

I did a few photos, the lighting was SO low, they are blurry as heck, but that's mostly my own fault.

What are the odds of two giraffes?  (Whier-raffen)

I caught this guy in a cup!

My van is at the dealership to get recall repairs done, there was a list of about 10 things.  I go pick it up in an hour.  No plans for the rest of this week, but next week looks busy and the week after is Sea Lab!

Mailed in our ballots today, I am SO glad we did their first election from home. It was easier to answer questions and look up info and even show Jake how to fill in a bubble!

There was an option to vote straight Democrat, but there were only 2 democratic options on the ballot.  So it just saved filling in a single bubble.  FYI, voting straight for one party or the other on the AL ballot does NOT cover the presidential vote.  That is a separate thing.

Looking forward to the end of this election mess, this is the most fucked up election in the history of the country and I, honest to God, can not understand how ANYONE with a modicum of intelligence or self respect can see their way clear to voting for Trump.  It's the equivalent of voting for hate.

That's it for the week.  I wish I could say Ben has been hard at work to graduate early, but he's actually been doing CrossFit and can't move his arms.  So we've been doing ice and heating pads and he's been eating vast amounts of beans and rice because somewhere he has read that will help.  hahaha

 

October, All Over

On the 30th, we did the cave hike at South Cumberland and took a few of the kids with us.

Matt and I learned quick to wear knee pads.  Mine came in handy!

There's so much climbing up and down in the cave, I forget how physical it is.
Park writes it up as strenuous, but it's still harder than I think it will be.  haha

Since it was close to Halloween, we stopped to tell ghost stories, the first was at the end of this tunnel!

Katie and Nate were looking for salamanders

I was SO dirty, the kids were not even dusty...

There's a 5 mile RT hike to and from the cave.

We stopped at the overlook for snacks and water.

Matt took the kids back to Katy's, Andrea and I went on to the Natural Bridge

Then we headed for Rock Island, since she wanted to see it and it's only another hour or so away

Matt wanted to know if he needed to meet us, I was sending a message to let him know Andrea was driving me home.  The auto suggestions were pretty darn funny.

It was an active weekend!  26 miles of hiking plus lots of milling around.

I am spending this morning playing catch up on my house work and this afternoon, I am headed to pick up the kids from Amanda's-they migrated.  She's doing a little Halloween party and I am excited about the hay ride part.  hahaha!!

I am looking forward to a couple of days at home to cocoon. I need to recharge!