Son of a Hershey's Bar!

It's been a long time comin'. But here it is. I'm back.

Hmmm...(tapping nails obnoxiously on keyboard)...should I just move forward or bore everyone with a detailed account of my last two weeks....Hmmmm.....

How's about we settle for a recap. And no, I'm not doing bullets because I'm bringing them back (though, you know that's what will naturally happen because of the sheer awesomeness of my blog -I'm a trend-setter, what can I say?).

• A couple weeks ago I started doing some work from home to make some extra bucks. It's not exciting, but having more money is! Yay! So that's what's been keeping me busy.
• Also, too, we had Chase's 10th High School Reunion on the 18th of last month. My husband, being the stud he is, was class VP. So that means he was in charge of planning the reunion. I know, technically the class president is in charge. But in our specific case the VP had to take over. I think there are people from TCHS who read this, so I will just, uh, leave it at that:) Chase was happy to help:) Seriously. I mean that. So yeah, after lots and lots and lots of work and hours creating elaborate spreadsheets to track the alumni information, the reunion was planned and under control. And we ended up having a BLAST. Luckily I've gotten to know a couple people Chase went to HS with and they're great people. So it was fun seeing them again and chatting them up.
• The arboretum and pumpkin patch were must-sees for the fall. The arboretum was a special experience because Miles needed to use the facilities, like, 85 times in the short 30 minutes we were there. Then the skies opened up and rained so much I wished I had an ark. And the arboretum is not exactly cheap. And it takes forever to get to. But these are the breaks with kids, right? The pumpkin patch was a better experience even if Miles did get lost and had to be found by a PP employee. I'm getting a leash for that kid. A short one. And then my life will be one big SNL episode.
• Also, too, the Office and 30 Rock are back on the air. That's important. I should have mentioned that first.
• On the 28th Kathleen and Eric had their first baby and I got another gorgeous niece. You can see she has a well-accessorized mom. I've never seen a baby look that stylish in a hospital. Or outside of a hospital. It's been decided that Sophie will be the tomboy. I'm okay with that. Being stylish looks like A LOT of work. Avree Melody came home from the hospital on Halloween, which, coincidentally, happens to be Kathleen's most favoritest holiday ever. So Avree was prepared. HOW CUTE IS THAT!?!?!?!
• The 29th was Trunk or Treat. This is a phenomenon that will eventually sweep the country. Get ready because at some point it will be coming to the church parking lot near you. And I love trunk or treat. All my best friends and favorite people and it's SO MUCH LESS WORK walking around a parking lot.
• The 31st was Trick or treat. Yes, I know we already had a lot of candy from two nights ago, but we decided to go anyway. We had Natalie with us and the kids did awesome! At Trunk or treat both boys were Darth Vadar and Sophie was Yoda. On Halloween Cameron decided to put on Sophie's yoda robe (that he had been wearing for two solid days...including to the store and park) and go as a Jedi master. It was pretty convincing. Miles just had on a black outfit because he didn't want to wear a mask. I was glad when the night was over because my feet hurt and I just knew we were facing the "I WANNA EAT ALL MY CANDY RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE RIGHT NOW IMMEDIATELY" meltdown. Oh, and it happened. And it was lovely. I love my children, I love my children, I love my children.  
• Cam finished up the term for preschool and I decided not to send him again until after Christmas. Mostly because he's way past the stuff they're teaching him. I ALSO decided to put Cam on the waiting list for one of our local charter schools. I'm super un-impressed with our local elementary school. If he doesn't get in right away next year I'll be homeschooling him until he does.
• The kids all got sick. Yay.
• Somewhere in there I snuck off to do early voting. I love voting. I stand in line watching all of the happy, elderly poll workers and dream of the day my kids are old enough to fend for themselves while I go volunteer at the polls. Little known fact: After I realized that I had little hope of becoming the next Katie Couric, and after I got over my crush on Stone Phillips (I was going to win him over with my ridiculously amazing reporting skills and we were going to bond at the company picnic - and he was going to somehow be unmarried and Mormon...so it was a lost cause from the start), I realized that my dream job was/is a campaign manager. I have a degree in Media Communications with a focus in Political Science and I was working for an up-and-coming Pittsburgh City Councilman during my senior year of college. I had planned to go work at the state capital after graduating with thoughts of law school. I was going to parlay all of this into a fabulous career as a tough-as-nails, yet sweet and endearing campaign manager...
• (BACK TO REAL LIFE) After my washing machine kept leaking water all over the floor during the spin cycle I had to put in a call to Johnnie the plumber. After giving him an exorbitant amount of money I have clean, hydra-jetted pipes. And it took all of 20 minutes for good ole' Johnnie-boy and then he was off to rob someone else. I think it was Amy Poehler who pointed out that plumbers are going to be just fine during this recession. And she's right.
• Finally, last night Rack-a-Bama (his official title in my house, bequeathed to him by my niece, Gaby) proved he really is the wind beneath my wings. Well, him and Chase. And Cameron and Miles and Sophia. You get my drift. I love that guy. Okay, not everything about him. But most things. Just the important stuff. AND, I thought McRage did a good job last night, too. So to prove that I'm really ready to put all of that nastiness behind us I'll be referring to him as McClassy from now on.