Candy Binge

Today was the Halloween candy finale at our house. Somewhere I got the idea to choose a day (it's better to do it 2 or 3 days after trick-or-treating) and tell the kids they can eat as much candy as they want in one sitting, but that when they stop I will take whatever is left and throw it away (after picking over it and eating the good stuff myself, of course.) The theory being that if they eat a few pieces every day until it's gone they will eventually eat 50-75 pieces of candy each (!), but if they eat a big handful at once, their net sugar intake will actually be lower. (I also do this on New Year's Day with their gingerbread houses.) For the most part it works like a charm--they rip into it and devour several pieces, enjoy a few more at a reasonable pace, realize they're maxing out and suck on half of one last piece before throwing in the towel.

Well, this year, Nate rose to new levels. He happily and steadily ate candy for 30 solid minutes. Then, with a few pieces left in his pile, he decided he was full and stopped. He washed his hands and went out to play and that was that. No sick groans of regret, no green face, no sugar high. I always knew the boy could hold his sweets, but this was unbelievable. If his smile looks a little weak in this picture it is due to mediocre photography, not a queasy stomach. Trust me. He was barely 10 minutes in at this point.

Here is a shot of the remains. And in case you're curious, I took inventory:

3 snickers

1 m&m fun pack

1 butterfingers

2 starbursts

1 twix

1 take 5

1 pack of sour patch

1 baby ruth

1 3 musketeers

1 pixie stick

1 hershey's kiss

1 mini reeses peanut butter cup

1 nestle crunch

1 tootsie roll

A Girl and Her Worm

Trick-or-Treat

Meg

(Queen of Hearts, costume inherited from her Aunt Bethany)

Nate

(bow hunter)

Kate

(ballerina; switched from bride 20 minutes before departure)

Nella, our friend next door

(cowgirl)

Not Pictured: Caleb

(20 month old baby in pjs whose mother thought he was too young to trick-or-treat)

Desk Upgrade

Some of you may know that Meg is a prolific author and illustrator. She is constantly making books, papers, notes, and drawings. Back in January she took it upon herself to make a desk (see first photo below) but it didn't hold up too well. For months I've been looking in vain for the right desk to put in her room: cute, small, decent storage capacity. A few weeks ago my mom offered this one (second photo) that she had refinished but is not currently using. It perfectly fits the bill and Meg is delighted with it (even though it is not portable).

Good Clean Fun

Oh, to be young again.

Climber

Caleb has been proficient on the swing set ladder and slide for a while now. He is very delighted by his skill. In fact, if I let him he would spend his whole day on here (as well as meandering around the backyard).

Grampy and Grammy Come to Town

Last weekend we enjoyed a fun visit from Erik's parents. We played games and read books. Grampy told LOTS of stories and Grammy helped Meg sew a few early Christmas presents. Here are some photo highlights of little train ride in North Georgia. Thanks for coming G&G! We can't wait for Thanksgiving!

Grammy and Nate ready to roll.

Grampy and Caleb.


Must be something interesting in that other car.

It doesn't show here, but we did see some beautiful Fall color.

A decent family photo...too bad Caleb was asleep on the train.

Or was he...? Stinker.

So here we are all together, but just not that greeting card look we were going for. Don't expect to see this one in your mailbox come December.

Carving.