Apparently I did not parenthetical quietly enough! Sarah’s trouble falling asleep, calling out for us, and getting out of bed many times per night was back in full force. Next time things get better I may need to keep it to myself for longer!
Sarah’s newest love is the computer mouse. One day in school, her class went to the library and she wanted to play on a computer with a mouse but was not allowed to. She was very sad about that and has been processing the feelings ever since, sometimes with sadness but often with sparkly play. She talks about computer mice, calls herself Computer Mouse, draws computer mice, and carved a computer mouse in her pumpkin. If she hadn’t already been planning on being a PNC bank with a closed drive-thru lane for Halloween, she probably would have wanted to be a computer mouse. This morning Sarah was talking to Carl about football since they are going to a Steeler’s game later today. She said, “Computer Mouse played for the Green Bay Mice but then got traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers.” Earlier in the week, she told us that she was sad she couldn’t play with the computer mouse in the library. When asked what she did instead she said, “Read a book.” Amy asked, “What was the book about?” Sarah replied, “A computer mouse.” Carl, Amy, and I burst out laughing. I love how Sarah can routinely bring the house down with how she merges her loves with whatever else she is thinking about.
This week was spirit week at Amy’s school, meaning different themes for each day. Monday was Decora v. Goth day, and Amy chose the Decora theme. She wore many layers of brightly colored skirts, row upon row of brightly colored hair clips, and an array of sparkly gems on her face. Tuesday was twin day so she and her bestie both wore their “I’ve got your back, Amy” shirts that I had made for a scoliosis fundraiser a couple of years ago. Wednesday was Vampire or Werewolf day, and Amy dressed as a vampire with a black cloak, a black bat drawn on her cheek by her red-shaded eyes, and a dribble of makeup blood by her mouth. Thursday was fancy day so Amy wore a nice dress and makeup, with no dribble of fake blood. At dinner one night she was talking about her plans for getting to school early on Friday to help a friend with her makeup. I said, “Remind me what the theme is for Friday?” She looked at me incredulously and said, “Halloween.” I asked her to please pretend I had never asked and to rewind that moment of history.
Halloween is the most eagerly anticipated and planned for holiday in our household. Amy is probably already planning her costume for next year, in part to alleviate the sadness she feels on November first when all of the Halloween things are over. In contrast, Carl usually waits until the day of Halloween to decide on a costume. This year he didn’t even let us know what he was doing until he got home from work on Halloween! He decided to go as Groucho Marx. I wore my shark blanket with large pink slippers that look like sneakers on my foot-flippers. Amy was a robot princess to make use of her Whisper brace and how robotic it looks. She did elaborate face makeup that extended to her hand. After we took family photos, she went trick or treating with a group of friends. As mentioned, Sarah was a PNC bank with a closed drive-thru. She had an elaborately decorated cardboard box bank (thanks to Anna) to go on her head, complete with small cardboard cars with unhappy drivers. She herself was dressed as the stereotypical bank robber in black and white stripes and with an eye mask. Anna and their partner were also dressed as bank robbers to aid and abet Sarah, who was, of course, on the inside of the bank already. As they headed out for trick or treating we heard Sarah singing, “Here comes Sarah the PNC bank robber, hoppin’ down the Halloween Trail.” The bank received many candy deposits throughout the night, and Sarah was even interviewed by a news crew that was in the neighborhood. They only used one tiny clip but if you watch to the end you will hear her say, “Happy Halloween!” Despite the pouring rain on Halloween-Eve, Halloween itself was a beautiful sunny day, and it wasn’t even too cold. A good time was had by all.
You may find it inconceivable to follow such a wonderful Halloween with something equally exciting, but we did it! Carl and I went to a special showing of The Princess Bride including a meet-and-greet with Cary Elwes and a question-and-answer session after the movie. I think I was smiling for the entirety of the film. It was incredible to be in a huge group of people who all loved the movie as much as we do. We all cheered and clapped at the same moments. Cary Elwes is an excellent storyteller and can do the voices of just about anyone, so his stories were quite dynamic and engaging.
The only thing we were remiss about this Halloween season was watching It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, which perhaps indicates that the kids are growing up or that we were busy, but we will remedy this omission later today. Maybe next year, if we are very sincere, The Great Computer Mouse will visit our computer patch.
I hope your dreams turn out as you wish.
Leave a Reply