October - Thank God It's Over

October was the longest month in the history of my life. I danced a jig when November 1st popped up. For realz, yo.

Among the 5000 other things we did in October, here are some of the highlights:

• We started off the month with pumpkin picking and my SIL's 50th birthday celebration.

• Next, we hit the West Haven Apple Festival where I scored an armful of books for a mere $4. We also went to Delaney's, an Irish pub in West Haven. Their food is kickass. We are definitely going back.
• That first week of October, I also started training sales associates as part of a new training group here in my department. Somewhere in that week, I was also told that I had been promoted! Harry also had jury duty that week, and we pulled off a large health fair here at my office (I'm part of the wellness committee here that orchestrates the whole thing).
• On Sunday, the 9th, Harry and I had a glorious day outside in New Haven on a brand new Culinary Walking Tour of the Westville section. It was phenomenal. We stopped at the farmer's market and sampled lots of local foods, learned about the history of that section of town, noshed of delicious cuisine and drink at various stops, and soaked up the insane 80* weather. It was one of the best dates we've ever had.
• The next week, I went to my first PTA meeting, delivered our first fundraising items for school, decided to co-lead our team for our haunted house room at the office, won a free at-home teeth whitening kit at the health fair which I had to have a mold of my mouth made (gag), and attended movie night at Ellie's school, all the while still training.
• Harry got a new tattoo, Ellie's footprints over his heart. They're beautiful.

• That next weekend was Ellie's birthday party at the zoo, and it was wonderful. I baked cupcakes for it, but everything else was pretty much taken care of at the zoo. The kids had a fantastic time! I have to say it was one of the best kids' parties we've ever been to. 15 children left very happy that day, complete with a little pumpkin to take home as a thank you (I figured it was better than candy!). The hit of the day... Mama giving all the kids temporary tattoos. Totally doing that again next year.

• A few days later, Ellie went on her first kindergarten fieldtrip to a local farm, and I tagged along as a chaperone. It was a lovely morning and a great trip. This day also happened to be the turning point of the month. We found out one of Harry's oldest friends was in the hospital with massive head injuries resulting from a hit and run car vs bicycle (he was on the bike). As we were learning the details of the accident, a knock at our door brought more bad news... there was in incident b/t our Tobi and the neighbor's dog which resulted in an injury. Tobi was to blame. Our neighbor's dog ended up needing emergency surgery, and the rescue we got Tobi from told us we should bring him back. We were heartbroken having to give him up after falling in love with him the few weeks he was with us, but we can't take the chance of him hurting Ellie. That's not a risk I'm about to take.
• The next day, I found out an old friend's mother had passed away, and an hour later, I learned Harry's friend had passed on as well. A few hours after that, we found out one of our neighbors had passed too. It was not a good week.
• In between all of that, there was a flu shot, a dentist visit, an office lunch, a meeting, the haunted house at work, another birthday party, trunk or treat at school, and a wake.



• The next week, I had my first parent teacher conference (Ellie's doing very well!), as well as another dentist appointment. And then, THEN, Harry and I got to relax and have some fun at Chaz and AJ's 1986 Prom being held around the corner from our house. We dressed up totally 80s, listened to some great music, and ate some delicious grub. It was a good night.

• Ellie had ANOTHER Halloween party at dance class the Saturday before. Yet another costume, yet more candy.


(Ellie's the faery on the left)
• The month finally wound down, but not before we got hit with a freak snow storm. In October. We were lucky, but the rest of the state was not. There are STILL people without power here in CT. They're on like day 9 or 10 without power, heat, and water. It's insane. And today it's supposed to be freakin' 70* out. WTF?
• Trick or treating still went on in my town, and El had a fun night ringing neighbors' doorbells and singing "trick or treat, smell my feet". I thought it was cute (I taught it to her), but Harry was all kinds of bent out of shape about it saying it was rude. Eh. I told him he's not allowed to be anal; that's my job:)

• November rolled around, and with it came Ellie's actual birthday. She went to school that day, and I ended up taking a 1/2 day at work to meet up with my sister for some food and conversation. Harry, Ellie, and I celebrated with pizza and doughnuts (her choice) and the opening of presents. It was a nice low-key evening. Oh, and El got a haircut somewhere in there. Look at how damn cute!


• This past weekend we had the family over to celebrate, and that was fun as well. We ate some more good food (so much food this month!), opened more presents, and just enjoyed each other's company.

And now, now I can breathe easy. This month is shaping up to be a whole lotta nothin', and that makes me happy.

Last pic, Miss Ellie's kindergarten photo!