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These days it’s all about getting ready for the Harvest Festival this Saturday and celebrating autumn by making miles and miles of paper chains that fill our apartment everywhere you look. Troy and Huck began an ambitious project over the weekend of spelling HAPPY HALLOWEEN with orange and black paper chains. After a lot of hard work they finally completed the first H, and that is how our front door is now decorated. I have high hopes that one day they will get to the A.
One of the only perks of having your mom organize a neighborhood event every year is that you have a say in the prize selection. Weeks ago Huck took the Oriental Trading catalog and spent many minutes carefully circling the things he thought I should order for the festival and putting a large H on the things he felt he should own. All the loot finally arrived and Huck was very happy to come home from school on Monday to a few “soft body parts,” a “neon sticky eyeball,” and some other disgusting objects waiting for him on his desk. Then we served some to Troy for dinner because we are very sneaky Halloween people.
Yesterday I helped out at Huck’s school for lunch. He and his energetic classmates happily entered the cafeteria and took their places at the same kind of tables I used to sit at in the Grace E. Stewart multi-purpose room in Salina, Kansas. I quickly figured out the routine: Huck always sits in the same spot and always between his new best friends Isabella and Oriana. In fact, the three of them sat so closely together it was as if they were attached. They seemed like old friends as they ate together and chatted, and any anxiety I have felt about School Lunch faded away when I realized that there are dozens of parent helpers like me practically begging the children to let them open things. Plus there’s lots of smiles and laughter. In summary, School Lunch is fun.
Over the weekend Huck got to see Troy and me act on stage for the first time as we took part in a children’s play reading called “Boris and the Really Boring Books.” I don’t know what he thinks of his parents secretly being actors since it’s not been a part of his life until recently. He loves his drama teacher Dayna and when I try to tell him that we too are drama people he gives me a slightly skeptical look. I’m not sure what he thinks when I get so excited to do the drama warm-ups and tongue twisters with him. Also over the weekend we had dinner with my high school drama teacher Mrs. Webb and her husband Mike who were visiting New York. Again I got very excited telling Huck that Mrs. Webb was MY drama teacher just like Dayna is HIS drama teacher and again I got that look. On the other hand, he takes great pride in his grandpa being an artist and enjoys sharing his art knowledge with his art teacher Maggie. “The reason I know so much is that my grandpa is an artist,” he apparently told her. Ah well. Maybe someday he’ll accept us for who we are.
Also over the weekend we got to celebrate our old friend John’s birthday with Shana AND we had a good old fashioned river outing with Kadin, Tiffany, Brian and baby Viviana. With all the exciting change going on in our lives (including the beautiful autumn weather), sometimes it’s nice to go back in time for a relaxing evening and afternoon with old friends, birthday cake and hammocks.
He sits between 2 girls!!! What does Olive have to say about that? Aww my boys are so big. Baby Viviana is adorable.
BTW: I got Huck some edible yucky stuff. I’m sure he’ll enjoy it. Only little boys (and me) like that stuff, everyone else think it’s disgusting.
and don’t forget – some of us went for a refreshing swim in the Hudson River. And we CAN read.
Oh yes … Troy went for a swim in the river despite the cold temps and despite the sign that says NO SWIMMING which a very nice couple were happy to point out to me as if it was my responsibility to keep my husband out of the river. Troy, can’t you read?
Delightful autumn tales! I can so imagine Huck at school lunch between his girlfriends talking happily. School lunch does seem to be a big hit.
So much wondeful in one blog post!!
wonderful* Rolling r’s in one comment, skipping them in another. What’s become of me.
I love how the cadaver hand looks to have a nice mani.
I bet Huck misses Kadin. Viviana is just adorable. Tell them Hi from us. Yes it is delightful (see I didn’t say wonderful) to take time out by the river. We did that at East Lake awhile back and it was very refreshing.