OUR GANG

The weather yesterday and today was just gorgeous. When the sun is out everyone takes advantage of it. This picture was taken yesterday at our neighborhood park. Pictured from left to right is Cole (top), his brother Josh, Blake and Mimi. This is the jungle gym where all of their imaginations come alive with re-inactments of Peter Pan or Star Wars.

Mama is just kind of sad that the picture came out fuzzy.

CALIFORNIA FIRES

Mama has been keeping up with the news regarding the California fires. Mimi has been watching it also together with mama This was the conversation this morning:
Mimi: Mama, what's that? Pointing to the tv.
Mama: That's the big fires in California where we used to live. Those are people's homes on fire.
Mimi: Samantha's home is on fire. We have to go and save her. She's saying "Help, come save me!"
Mama:Samantha is ok. She's staying at her grandma's house with her mama and papa.
Mimi: Can I watch the Doodle Bops now?

Oh well, I guess there are more important things in this world other than fires. Sigh.
In the meantime, mama is keeping her eyes glued to the news. We are praying that all of our friends and family are kept safe from harm's way.

ANOTHER WIND STORM

Another windstorm is brewing. According to our new friend Roland, this last windstorm was just a little teaser as to what we are up for next. He says that the next windstorm should be a doozy for us here in western Washington. He also says that the big windstorm should hit us sometime at the end of October or the beginning of November and we can be sure of that. It will then be time to break out the generator again.

With this last windstorm grandma and grandpa was without power for about 7 hours.

I hope that it does not come until November because at the end of this month WE WILL BE IN DISNEYLAND!!! Egads!! I am really hoping that the winds will NOT knock down the tall evergreens in our backyard. Especially when we will be out of town for the weekend.

THE PUMPKIN FAMILY

Introducing the Pumpkin Family, Papa, Mama and Mimi and their finger friends.

SURVIVING THE WINDSTORM

Good news! Our house survived the windstorm yesterday as did all of the neighbors in the neighborhood. The brunt of the storm missed our house completely. Although papa said that on his way home from work, all of the lights were out on the Hwy. for approximately a mile or two.

It was quite worrisome for mama. The area between the elementary school where Mimi will go to next year and our house is a golf course greenbelt. Lots of very tall evergreen trees. It has been raining quite a bit lately and the ground is real soft.

There were quite a few accidents and fires due to falling trees and powerlines in the outline areas. Several people were sent to the hospital. one was quite serious, where trees had fallen on the vehicles while the people were in them.

It then rained all night. As I sit here looking out the window, the clouds are rolling in. No rain or wind, but it is freeze your nunnies off cold outside. Our two cats, Oliver Hardy (right side of pic) and Stan Laurel (left side of pic) aka Ollie and Stanley can't decide to go out or stay in. They want to go out and explore but on the other hand, they want to stay in where it is warm. Hmmm, decisions, decisions.

WINDY

Who's creep'in down the streets of city? Everyone knows it's Windy. The weatherman said that we are in for a wind/rainstorm today and boy was he right! The winds are really starting to kick up already.

This picture was taken about an hour ago when it was just a little windy. The majority of the leaves had just fallen this morning.

The other day, mama was talking to her best friend Auntie Sandra from back home in Calif. She gave mama a good idea for Mimi's upcoming Halloween party that mama and papa are hosting for her and her new friends this year.

Since it is freeze your tuckus off cold up here at night, Auntie Sandra suggested making hot apple cider for the kiddies and having Whiskey (or Brandy in my case)on the side to go along with the hot apple cider for the mama's and the papa's. YUMMY!!!

So before the winds started to kick in, mama and Mimi took a short drive to Enumclaw's Country Farmers Market. It's just a small red barn converted into a small farmers market. There all of the produce, jams and jellies come from the local farms. The produce there are out of this world. This past summer they had corn 4 for $1.00. Mama bought 8 and gave 4 to grandma and grandpa. It was soooooo good!!! Mimi loves corn.

While there, mama was able to purchase the fresh pressed apple cider for the party. I also bought a small bottle to sample before giving it to our new friends. It is Yummmmy!!!

Afterward, we went to the Safeway for the spices. While there, a voice came over the intercom for the shoppers to hurry and get their groceries before the power goes out due to the upcoming windstorm. YIKES!

Mama and Mimi ski-daddled as fast as they could. As soon as we got home, mama hooked up the generator. She hates to get caught with her pants down. Mama likes to be ready for any emergency.

KISSING

Today or yesterday I should say, mama was informed by Mimi that she was not using the proper kissing technique. Therefore Mimi proceeded to demonstrate and instruct mama on the proper way to kiss like Ariel and Eric from "The Little Mermaid".

When mama asked her if she had kissed Blake (her "boy" friend aka the brother that she will never have) that way, she just scrunched up her little face and said NO! Yuck!!! Kids only kiss their mommies and daddies.