When your {head} Gasket Blows

So our van broke down 9 days ago, it has been at the mechanic since last Thursday and Aaron's little truck is at the plumbing shop because he's driving his work van since he's on call for eternity {as he tells it}. So we aren't able to go anywhere that we can't walk, so we are limited to the post office and school and we could go to the park if it wasn't so cold. We have been at home for a long time and this past weekend was a glorious 3 day weekend for Columbus day. We've tried to stay busy.
I declared Saturday to be "stay in your PJs all day" day.

We dug out our Halloween decorations. The kids love this, of course this makes them think that Halloween is now and they should be getting into their costumes and trick or treating immediately.




My sister left this dresser here last time we went to the flea market. I finally decided to decorate it since I wasn't sure when she was coming back to pick it up. Wouldn't you know, the next day she arranged for my dad to pick it up for her. I really liked it decorated for Halloween. I improvised with another little table.

We made Monster treats with some left over candy from the Labor Day Parade. The kids really loved this. Ethan made two monsters which is unbelieveable because normally he doesn't participate in projects we do at home.



Aaron ended up going out on 2 calls on Saturday so we watched movies and I let them stay up way too late and they began to expire. A good reminder to me that they NEED their regular schedule.

On Sunday, we cleaned and then I dug out the hundred piece puzzles.

They enjoyed these and we tried to teach them the rules of puzzles which I think they sort of understood.

I have some retro puzzles from yard sales that I used in my teaching days. Hulk, Teenage Mutant Ninga Turtles, Ghost Busters. Caden was very impressed by these.

For lunch, I made an awesome tex mex chicken sandwich from Rachael Ray with a few modifications minus the avocado sauce and egg.


On Monday we ate banana pancakes which were more like crepes and not so great. But I had a sous chef to help me out:

Then we decided to go for a walk and collect leaves.

Woody had to accompany us

I guess he had a little trouble walking.
We found some pretty leaves but it was chilly

and the kids were all working on colds so we didn't go too far.

Our trick or treat buckets were great leaf holders.
Addison and I tried to do some projects with the leaves: rubbings and stamping with paint. Nothing seemed to work well but she tried for a while.

Of course in all this craziness I still have to find time to do my LOAD projects. It's way harder to squeeze it in when everyone is home but I kept up.

What's even more impressive is that these are all my own creation, no lifting on any of these.



It was a crazy and LONG weekend but we survived and maybe someday I'll have a van to drive again. It's one way to use up all your food though we have done a lot of eating while we've been stuck at home.