Where I'm still talking about Kristin Lavransdatter and other random things...

I finished Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset and although that was a week ago, I'm still thinking about the characters in the book. I hope no one started reading it and is thinking that I'm crazy for liking a long, LONG, depressing book that makes life seem futile. I truly don't know why this book spoke to me so loudly, but it did. There was so much struggle, and yet I couldn't stop reading even though that is not the type of book I typically like. One of the themes that stood out to me was how little control we have over what our children will grow up to be, how they will turn out, and the choices they will make. That's typically something I don't like to think about, and I think a lot of mothers would agree, because it frightens me. What if these children I've sacrificed so much for, and love more than life itself, turn out to be kind of... crappy? Is that not a fear that all parents have?
Regardless, that is not the main theme in the book but it's one that solidly stuck with me. I think I'm going to start reading it again soon. I need to take a slower stroll through it this time.

On a completely unrelated topic, what are your kids (or you) going to be for Halloween? We're going with a Star Wars theme here and I really think it will be cute! I didn't think we'd have a theme this year but the kids decided on this one themselves. D is going to be Darth Vader, and we just had to buy the mask since we already had a black... thing. It's kind of like a dress but that doesn't seem right. A cape? Anyway.
d wants to be R2D2 which requires us to make his costume. So far I have a red sharpie, blue duct tape and a white trash can with a round lid. I need to start it because Halloween is next week! It sneaked up on me. (Sneaked never sounds right.) O is going to be a "blue trooper." I bought his and L's costumes as they were cheap and, most importantly, it was easier. L is going to be Princess Leia of course. C is going as Luke Skywalker which is very easy to make. It cost me $0 because I used some brown pants we already had, some old boots, scraps of brown fabric, a light saber we already had, and a karate top turned inside out with a brown tie from one of my dresses. The kids insist Piper looks like Chewbacca and think Penny wants to be Yoda (ha.) so I guess it's just me and the cats with no costume this year. (The dogs don't really have a costume. ;) ) I'm fine with "just" being the wagon puller and standing at the end of driveways while they ring the bell. Chewbacca and Yoda can stay at home and guard the house i.e. going nuts every time the doorbell rings.

On one more unrelated topic, my parents are coming to visit after Halloween! They haven't been down to see us in over a year so I could not be happier that they're finally coming! D's going to be out of town most of the time they're here, so it will be nice to have some adults here while he's gone!

Oh, and it's really cold here for Alabama in October! It got down to freezing. Brrr! We're having chicken cacciatore, baked acorn squash and hot apple cider for dinner because I can't seem to warm up! I can't even believe that I grew up in an actual cold climate. All these years in the south have severely thinned my blood. It's supposed to warm back up next week though, so I can't complain too much.

Reading and Listening

I've recently been reading Kristin Lavransdatter and I'd like to know why I've never heard of it before! It's really kind of ridiculously long as the ebook version I have is all 3 (?) books in one.
I know it's one I will re-read over and over like I have with Pride and Prejudice, and I'm sure I will find lots of new things each time. The first time I read a book I tend to gobble it up and with a book like this that definitely means I will have missed some things. I'm about 90% done now, and I will be sad when it's over.
It's a love story, I suppose, but really quite sad in many parts. Yet, I find myself thinking about the characters and their situations all day when I don't have a chance to read about them. This one may take me a while to get over.

The kids and I have been checking out books on CD a lot lately. Last week we listened to several of the Bunnicula books and I found myself chuckling along and enjoying them as I did when I was a kid.

Then we started Island of the Blue Dolphins, which was one of my favorites when I was younger. I found myself tearing up several times. That one has inspired lots of conversations about many different things; most of all we've speculated about what happened after she left the island.

Today we picked up Around the World in 80 Days, which I admit I tried to read aloud to the kids last year but had a terrible time slogging through. Hopefully we'll actually finish it this way!

Next on the read aloud list for the kids is probably the next one in the Little House series, which would be On The Banks of Plum Creek. Next on my list is either I Am Malala or The Rosie Project. What else should we add to our list?

Here we are, already in October! I can't believe September flew by so fast. October is one of my favorite months so I'm thrilled! It's FALL!
My beach trip a few weeks ago was fantastic, although far too short.

Highlights:
Reading/sitting/drinking/laying on the beach.
Dueling piano bar - what fun!
Not taking care of kids for several days.

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The rest of the month hasn't been nearly as exciting. It's been filled with soccer and baseball, school, preschool, doctor appointments, and regular boring stuff. On Sunday, D had his company picnic and it was at the pumpkin patch! It was beautiful weather and we had a great time.

Posing with our pumpkins after we got home.

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I wish I had something witty or interesting to write, but I don't at the moment. Hopefully I won't neglect this blog so much in the future but I'm not making any promises!