Quoth the raven, "Nevermore!"

I mentioned the no costume rule for today. But a certain teacher dresses up each year for a poetry lesson she does on Halloween.
And another teacher hassled her a bit about it and said, "I thought we weren't supposed to wear costumes today."

So this certain teacher said, "I don't know about any of that. I'm a sub. My name is Mr. Poe."

Any guesses?

Halloweens of Yore

Sometimes I just scroll through my photo archives - doesn't that sound impressive?? - and just light on a photo that brings back memories.

The students at my school were warned all week that if they didn't keep the campus cleaner at lunch and snack, that they wouldn't be allowed to dress up for Halloween.

Well, they must have thought the principal was kidding - and they were not very clean - so there is no dressing up today. (Not that I am upset - kids in costumes make for not much learning happening.)

So I think I will wear my "This is my costume" tee shirt.

Or not.

I'm certainly not wearing a toga.

And irony of all ironies - after weeks of 90+ days of heat, it might rain tonight!!

"Best Cousins"

Eliza posted about "Best Cousins" - which is what she and Hester used to call each other.

This photo is from 1998 I think - because Ara is a toddler in the other photos from this set of pics.

And tonight Bonny is telling me how she was sad that she missed Ara's volleyball game at middle school!!

I won't go much farther - since I will need these shots if I ever get back to the anniversary posts!!

(You know, every year on Christmas Eve, I think of all the unfinished projects and think, "I will just get going on those the day after Christmas." You feel like you have been going a mile a minute and wow, won't you tear through your chores now. But if you don't finish something on time, you - at least I - don't seem to get back to it and get it done!)

But I'm not giving up - it just may not get done by the end of year 41!! Maybe instead of 40 Year Anniversary Posts they can be called The 40+ Years Anniversary Posts.

After all, I'm still typing up Dad's mission letters - the project I started for his 60th birthday.

My retirement is pretty well planned out already!

I'll just close with a "Best Sisters" shot - we miss you Joan and Leslie!!

Halloween Happenings!

Halloween in Monrovia - a happening place to be! For once, Dad was willing to go with a theme. Not that anyone got our theme, even with the signs we wore, but we had fun getting dressed anyway!!

Karan Davies joined us at home and we put together our "outfits" - although she had been sewing since 10 a.m. on hers - she still was a real contributor to ours - bouncing ideas off - and wrapping my head in a scarf as I'm sure Calpurnia always wore her headgear.

The Gutierrez clan was Michael Jackon's Thriller - and looked great. They never stood altogether, so I only have random shots.

And the Cornwalls were Little Red Riding Hood - I've always wanted a red cape myself.

Michelle Orozco outdid herself as Marie Antoinette - but said she hadn't had time to bake a cake. So the masses ate chili instead.

Emily Ogilvie was Medusa - how very creative - she got a prize for most original too.

Some more Thriller shots.

Dawn was a pumpkin - but it's kind of hard to tell. And the kids were cowboys and a cowgirl - don't you love Eve's pink cowboy hat? And you should see her cute boots.

Los Dos Harry's!!

Smiling for the camera.

After chili fixings, we had pumpkin pie - and games for the kids - and a costume parade - and of course, Trunk or Treating.

A fine time was had by all.

And it's not even Friday yet!

And it was about 80 degrees tonight!!

Sunday Night Wrap-up!

So, another generation is loving the Star Wars' videos - Porter is enamored of them.

We are babysitting while Harry and Dawn are at a Young Marrieds' Fireside - and Porter is enthralled!

We worked at the temple this weekend - and also were able to attend Sister German's wedding and sealing and a dinner that night in LA - near the Disney Center and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion - so the bride and groom opted to leave in a flourish - by running through the fountains - without getting wet!

It's not a good photo but you can visualize it I'm sure - a way to go and make a "big splash!!"

Not such a good shot of the bride and groom either - but they are a handsome couple!

Altogether it was a great weekend - now back to the grind!!

Watch for photos from the Ward Halloween Party tomorrow night!

Happy Birthday Calvin!!

Where do the years go?? Those pillows and that duvet cover are still on my bed.

But the little guy sitting there is now 4 - which means it won't be long before he starts school, gets baptized, joins the Boy Scouts - as little orphan Annie says, "oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness." (Come to think of it, it's not Annie, but one of the other orhpans.)

But you know what I mean!!

But he just keeps getting better and better - so I guess we can let him grow up!!

Happy Day Calvin - hope it was a good one - we thought of you!!

And the present is in the mail- if not already there!!

Ella and Shamu

Ida's blessing

Sooo...this is really more of an FYI, seeing as we live three thousand miles away (give or take a few hundred), but we are planning to bless Ida on December 7.

You're all invited if you'd like to come. I guess we'll understand if you don't show up.

Also, we are coming to L.A. on Christmas night and will be there until New Year's Eve.

Hooray for the holidays!

pretty in pink

So, here's the new family shot!! If everyone looks a bit tired, except Miss Ida, who is happily getting plenty of rest, it's because they are tired!! (That's how it is with a new baby in the house!!)

It has been great to see Hester!!! She has been my grocery shopping buddy and kitchen helper - and she does a great job with Miss Ida too! (Theo looks a bit worried when he sees her - thinking she's coming to babysit again while his mom leaves!!)

He's willing to be tickled by yours truly - and to take walks to the park and playground!!

You know the old saw about how a new baby makes your toddler look ancient? Well, Eliza saw this shot and said, "He looks like he's 10!"

And of course, the star of the show, Pretty in Pink, Miss Ida Rachel herself

All is going well - I must say, I love being in the house when a new baby comes home!! Like Melanie Wilkes in Gone With the Wind, I would say that "the best days are the days when babies are born!"

Things my grandchildren teach me

Sorry to not have a photo this go round. I have been taking pictures - although funny story, Ida was especially alert and charming so I said, "Let's take a picture" and I grabbed my camera - which had a dead battery!

So Eliza said, "Get my camera." And yes, you guessed it right - that battery was gone too!
So Eliza said, "Get my other camera," and yes, the ominous "charge battery pack" message was flashing back at me!

(We may have missed that moment, but we have captured others just as lovely - but I'm not familiar with the computer here - at least the picture loading features, so you can either look forward to Eliza feeling up to it or my photo spread when I return next week!)

At the moment, everyone is asleep - Theo is napping in his crib - in spite of the mailman's rather incessant pounding to alert us to the package he was delivering - someone, not me, forgot to "post the note" that says "Baby asleep, please do not knock," Eliza is either sleeping in her bed or reading very quietly, Ida is reclining in her bouncer and only needs an occasional assist from me to reposition the bink, and Matt is working at the library.

A perfect blogging moment - especially since I thought of something to share while I was playing with Theo at the park! (and I keep forgetting to take my camera with me when we go on our little outings!)

He slept in this a.m. - we all did in fact - great way to spend a Saturday!! And so he wasn't real sleepy at his usual nap time. He had gone with Matt in the a.m. to visit the ward Boy Scouts at their overniter, but I guess that didn't wear him out!

So I took him to the elementary school playground across the way - I love prowling around schools - they are different but all so alike. This one has great equipment - and we found a stray ball and a Frisbee - and planes flew overhead too. It was a windy, chilly, clear, crisp fall day - the kind we don't have in LA! and I was relishing it. Theo seemed pretty happy too. But then he wanted to get back in his stroller!

So we walked over to the playground equipment that is here at the complex. Theo preferred the swings at this one - maybe because they are the kind that encase your lower body and so you can "fly high" and still feel secure.

And that is where I had one of those "ah ha" moments. I know that "carpe diem" has some great merits - but in the rush of day to day living, I usually suppress them in favor of all I need to be getting done.

But I don't have much of an agenda here - we go moment by moment most of the time - and Theo only wanted to swing. So I pushed him - quite content to see his happy smile, hear his contented chortles, and feel the nip in the air as the breeze sent cascades of leaves drifting to the ground.

And people wonder why I'm willing to spend two weeks getting lesson plans ready so I can be away from school for 5 days!

Ida, day 5.

Good thing Mom came...she's the only one taking pictures around here!

Grannybabs to the rescue!!

I'm sure that there is not really any rescuing that needs doing, but I wanted a snappy, attention getting title!

Maybe I need a cape!

I'm heading East to meet Miss Ida - but I don't have a wonder horn??

Hmmm??

But I will take pictures - and even post them!

With running commentary.

I'm excited to go!!

We have a winner

Details on my blog.

Porter's Pirate Party!!

While we are waiting for a name - and Matt told me they were "sleeping on it" because Eliza checks out tomorrow a.m. - here's the weekend wrap up on the festivities for Porter.

Dad and I were late arrivals for Porter's Pirate Party - say that 5 times in a row fast!! - because we worked at the temple this weekend - but Dad got right into the spirit of things!

And Eve went right to work fixing up Porter's bed with the quilt and pillow case I had made for him - and the great Pirate Bear from Grandma Mary!!

Here's the celebrating crew!! It's a tough job - someone has to do it!

Baby Harry and Dad enjoyed the event - in spite of the look on Harry W.'s face!

Susanne and Dawn - rapidly becoming the Party Lady in our town!! The kids enjoyed a treasure hunt, walking the plank and decorating their own treasure chests.

If you look at Susanne in profile, you can see an image of Pop - they are definitely related - must be the Porter in them!

Porter's main interest was in playing with his gifts!! But he was a gracious host too - giving hugs and thank yous as we departed!!

Happy Year to You, Hootie!!

While we're waiting on a name, thought I'd post a link about Monrovia I found in the Times.

Remember - shop locally!

The Kid Arrived...

Just a quick post with some photos, while Eliza watches football highlights on ESPN and breast feeds. Her usual night. Enjoy. Btw, I broke several traffic laws on the crazy drive to the hospital. Don't tell Harry.

Getting the rub down.

Eliza and baby, moments after birth. They're beautiful.



We posed for this photo a week ago, there is no actual baby in the picture, just some blankets. But we wanted a nice photo for the blogs.



Later, Hester and Theo visited. Theo didn't quite know what to think. But he did point and say "Beby" a few times.

See pictures here

Go to Eliza's blog for the latest update - and pics!!

Late-breaking news flash!!

Harry F. got me out of Sunday School and showed me a text message from Matt:

"7 lbs. 3 oz. vbac 12:35 EST"

No mention of gender!!

So Harry texted back, "Congrats. Boy or girl?"

And Matt texted back, "Girl"

Anywhere else but just outside the R.S. room and I might have whooped and hollered!!

We are looking forward to details, pics, the name - but there is a tradition here to consider - names don't just come in flash with the Terrills!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!

Hey Phoebe -

Happy Birthday!

We love you!

and Porter!

hope your party was super fun!

"When the family gets together. . "

You will pardon the crop job on this - Jesse is going to make it an 8 by 12 since it started out slanted, but it was the only one where Agnes' bow wasn't totally blocking David's face!
Once again, I figure I need to post these family photos before the newest family member gets here!!

And we are certainly excited for he/she to come!!

Grandma's Sleepover with Miss Eve

I don't have a free weekend until mid-November - not sure how that happened - you'd think we led an exciting life or something!! But I did want to get in Eve's Grandma's Sleepover, so I picked her up after school on Monday - she had the day off, I had an inservice - and we headed off to the nail salon for the requisite manicure. She certainly charmed the people in the shop - the manicurist kept saying, "You are so cute!"


After a shopping trip for dinner fixings, Eve helped me fill the candy jars for the favors for my stake leadership meeting on Saturday. She did a great job - like her mom, she is a real detail person!

We had a fun Family Home Evening - and enjoyed playing Memory - with the same Memory cards her dad used to play with too!

After baths and hair washing, we had story time - Eve read to me - and I read to her - our book of choice was Mouse Tales - also one her dad used to read. She also enjoyed A is For AnnaBelle. Of course Grandpa Bob had chocolate milk, Pepperidge Farm cookies, and a special story for Eve too!

I meant to take a photo of the cozy room we set up for her in the Family room - but we were too busy reading and I forgot! I wanted everyone to see the special Grandma's Sleepover Pillowcase she brought with her!

Her dad came by to have me do an emergency sewing task for him, so she got to say goodnight to him too!!

Early a.m. found Eve slowly waking up!!

But pretty soon she was bright and chipper!! I took her to school and that was the end of our fun overniter. She kept saying, "I don't want time to go by, because then it will be over!"

But there will be more - Grannybabs is a fan of the Grandma Sleepovers!! Grandpa Bob is too!