Advent - Day 1...A plague on both your houses!!

 Today is the day! 

The advent begins and it's finally Everly's turn to pick out first. This secures her rights to pick out on Christmas day. I have kept meticulous records of which child has been bestowed this honor each year. I can say for certain that Everly hasn't had a turn in the last 4 years. I'm confident it would hold up in court...you know, in case one of the kids decides to sue. 

She read the little slip of paper (she can read this year!!) and it said that she got to open her special gift. She's been really hoping to get some makeup to play with and so she unwrapped a little lipstick and mascara. She was looking pretty fabulous all day. 

I cannot say the same for myself. 

I was reminded in a big way that I'm allergic to pine sap. So I kicked off the year with a full blown rash on my face, neck and arms. I tell you what, I'm pretty sure a plague of boils was the only box left to fill in the psycho game of cosmic bingo that this nightmare year has been. 

CHECK ✔

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm pretty thrilled that I get to wear a mask today. 

Halloween 2020

 Here's what was so weird about Halloween this year. 

We only dressed up ONCE. 

No Ward Halloween Party. 

No school parades or classroom celbrations. 

No Trunk or Treat.

It was AMAZING!!!

Talk about a Covid silver lining......

We just....went trick or treating. Just....went! It was a revelation.

Everly was a dead bride:

Anna was a bubble gum machine:

Laney was a dragon (with movable wings!):

Megan was Unus. I don't know who that is. Because I'm old.

Mathew firmly refused to wear the leiderhosen I scored at Savers last week. I couldn't believe it. Who doesn't want to walk around the neighborhood in suspendered shorts when their 17 years old?

Ah well...at least there is someone to hand out the candy. 

Ethan got off of work and went straight over to the Peterson's.  We love him, so we try not to get our feelings hurt. 

I went for a Rosie the Riveter look. It didn't last. I am not used to being stabbed by 35 bobby pins straight to the head....or blinding red lips and eyelashes that I can see flapping in the breeze. 

Maybe it was the universe's way of throwing us a little bit of love today....but the weather was the picture of perfection. People were out in record numbers, firepits roaring and groups of neighbors sitting out together, laughing and letting the kids take handfuls of treats from their collaborative tables. The leaves were falling and the smoke in the air made me feel perfectly happy. 

We went twice as far as we've ever gone before! The girls were having a hard time holding their buckets!

But alas....we didn't escape without a good dose of the weirdness that only 2020 can deliver:

But it's all worth the loot!

Happy Halloween!