The Cannonball's Spooktacular

We had a pretty fun Halloween. The day started out a little hectic, with a trip to the health department for a vaccine, but immediately following that we got to hit up Alayna's School Parade of Costumes. There happened to be two other monkeys in her classroom, so they put them all together in a crib and we had our three little monkeys. It was quite cute. They got to be pushed down the sidwalk along the outside of the building in front of an impressive line of parents.

Some were a little fussy at sharing a crib with others,

but I'd like to say that Cannonball did extremely well and was even talking.

Tons of compliments followed the parade as I carried her around my classroom and introduced her to the parents of the kids I teach.

All in all, I'd say it was a 'cute' time.

But, our day didn't end there. We headed straight to SeaWorld's Spooktacular. Brian had to work, so it was just mom and daughter. We watched Shamu and did a little walking around, but she started fussing from all the activity so I decided to

wait for Brian before doing all the Halloween activities. So we headed home for snack and a nap and then back to SeaWorld when Brian got home. It starting cooling down so we dressed her back up in her costume and went to see the Sesame Street Count Down to Halloween Musical and then the closing show of Shamu Rocks.

Of course we squeezed in one little trick or treat.

-Kristina

The Importation of Grandfolk

the hough family is quickly becoming aware of the fact that grandbabies are, in fact, powerful, powerful bargaining chips.

before we had alayna, guys, we saw our folks about once (maybe twice) a year. now that a granddaughter has surfaced in central florida, the importation of grandparents has risen dramatically.

the most recent example was a visit with my dad over the weekend. he had a medical conference up in jacksonville that he had to attend for his work anyway, so he just rented a car and commuted from orlando instead so that he could hang out at our place and dote upon his grandkid. he flew in friday morning and got to spend the day around the house, and then left saturday morning for his conference.

while he was in jacksonville, kris and i took the cannonball out to pick up her first pumpkin (conveniently located at the church we occassionally - and rather infrequently - attend). for whatever reason, they had a couple ponies there. i had no previous inclination that ponies had anything to do with halloween, but... what the hell. who doesn't like ponies, right?

anyway, we brought back a couple pumpkins and, the next day, dad and i showcased our pumkin-knifework while the kid got thrown in a monkey suit.

now, something i apparently forgot over the course of the last fifteen years or so - and i don't see how i managed to do this - was the fact that after a pumpkin is carved, it begins to rot. this makes perfect sense, as it really is, in fact, a vegetable (or is it a fruit? i don't know). and down here in sunny, tropical florida - where i highly doubt pumpkins are indigenous - these vegetables rot pretty damn fast.

and rotten vegetables left out in the florida sun which are occassionally brought inside = mold city. and mold city, dear friends, = allergy city for yours truly. not cool.

anyway, in conclusion, this was a short weekend visit, but still a good time. we officially have the world's largest airmattress, folks, so visitors always have a place to sleep at casa de hough.

a maraaba.

- brian