Jack-o-Lantern 2010

Just in the nick of time, this year's Jack-o-Lantern is complete!

Our original Florida gator pumpkin was a bit challenging,

I may tinker with it a little more yet.

My son likes the 2009 one best, he says.

That one did come out really great.

Florida Ground Dove

I've been watching this little family of ground doves for a few weeks now. They have taken up residence under my bird feeder. Ground Doves are rarely seen in Florida now due to habitat destruction.

Unlike the more prevalent Mourning Dove, the Ground Dove is much smaller and has a shorter tail. I hope they stay around, they are very cute and seem to stick together in tight knit family groups.

The Book Critic

A funny thing happened when my son started to read independently, he became a critic. Naturally I assumed he would have genres he preferred and authors that would become favorites, but I wasn't expecting him to dissect Dr. Seuss!

According to him, "It just doesn't make any sense!". I tried to explain to him that Dr. Seuss is supposed to be funny and silly but he says it still should make sense. So we have moved on to chapter books and adventure stories.

He also now loves to point out typos and grammatical errors, including my own. Good thing he doesn't read this blog! It's my own fault for teaching him how to write a complete sentence. So sorry Dr. Seuss, your just too silly!

Halloween 2010, a Pirate it Is!

He started with his heart set on being a skeleton for Halloween this year. Then he decided a green ghost ( I don't know why it had to be green?) would be more fun.

However during a trip to the drug store this week, he spotted a pirate costume and had to have it! After a discussion about the fact that if I buy it, you ARE going to be pirate even if you change your mind again, I caved and bought the costume.

The one good thing is that it was half price and could be added to his dress up box for future use, so kind of a good deal really. Photos will be posted as soon as I can get him to stop sword fighting long enough to take them!

Lights are On, But No One's Home

Argggg! My son has landed in the space cadet zone! How do I know?

1. Almost any question is answered with a blank stare.
2. Son gets into car and forgets pants.
3. Son remembers pants, then forgets shoes.
4. Meals are optional.
5. Stories have to have multiple endings (can't decide on just one).
6. Son walks into walls while reading.
7. Mom has to shoot off flares in the house to establish eye contact with child.

8. Son spends a lot of time "thinking", while staring at ceiling.

9. Breakfast takes 1 1/2 hours to finish because, see number 8.

10. The most repeated sentence in our house is, "Are you listening to me?"

He's not even six yet! How on earth am I going to make it through his teens?

Saturday Afternoon

What has lederhosen, bratwurst and flags?
Why, Oktoberfest of course!
What did my son like the best?
The fire engine that came with the ambulance,

to take care of the lady who was overheated.
October in Florida is still very hot!