I had the blahs yesterday. I was so blue that I wrote my mom an email that went something like this:

Uggh
I have the blahs tonight.
I haven’t exercised in months.
My canker wont go away.
I have under-grounders like a teenager.
Cleaned the whole house over the weekend like a mad women and it already looks like a disaster. Having couples book club at my house on Thursday… going to have to clean and scrub everything- AGAIN.
The carpet looks so dingy.
Loosing patients with the kids. Can’t seem to get them in bed on time.
Back hurts. Probably from sitting here so LONG.
Skipping a school meeting tomorrow. Feeling guilty.
Wish I was relaxing and watching HGTV but it’s monday night football.
Sigh.

Don’t you have those sorts of days and all you want to do is tell your mom about it. She sent me back a comforting email full of love and emoticons. How funny. Today I’m doing much better.

In fact, when my friend, Amy picked up Isaac for preschool I asked her what she was going to do today…

“Going hiking with you!” was her reply. How did she know I needed to get out. I guess she needed it too so we dropped off the boys, bundled all up because it was a very blustery day, strapped Leah on, and off we went.

We drove to the closest trail head and headed up. And up. And Up the trail. It was such a steep hike and super windy. My hair was whipping all around. I was huffing and puffing from the steep incline and my legs soon start burning. I kept telling myself I need the exercise and to keep going. Amy is a hiking machine and took Leah on her back for a little bit but then she was huffing and puffing too. Ha. That extra 25 pounds makes a big difference when hiking straight up a mountain.

The wind calmed down at the top and we stopped to look around when we hit a small rock outcrop. It was so pretty up there. The view of the Salt Lake City valley was breathtaking. We climbed high enough to make the houses and cars miniature and to touch the line where the rain from yesterday had fallen as snow. We were far enough away to feel secluded and hadn’t pasted a single soul. Simply wonderful, I tell you.

The sun was shinning through the clouds making poka-dotted spots of bright sunshine all over the deep fall colors of the valley. The sun would occasionally hit our faces like a warm blanket as clouds moved on. We were all alone up there on the great big hill. As I stood there looking around my frustrations melted away. I felt such gratitude for the people who love me… my mom, my good friend who feels more like a sister. What a difference yesterday felt like to today.

This life isn’t so miserable. The feelings from yesterday were shaken off and pounded into the dirt of that great mountain. It left me feeling fresh and thankful. I really shouldn’t complain about my pimples and messy house when I have so many wonderful things around me. Such sweet children who make those messes, a husband who takes such good care of us and this beautiful world all for me to enjoy.

On the hike down it started hailing on us a little bit but none of us cared, including Leah. The white mysterious balls of ice just seemed to add magic to the place. There is something present there that is more grand than us and we were only there on a visit.

Hey, ya’ll. Just a quick note to say that I’m learning how to coupon. Have you tried it yet?

I’m drooling over this coupon binder for organizing all my coupons. My sister is having a give a way and I’m wishing she’d rig the drawing for me but she said I have to win fair and square.

Sheessh.

Why don’t you check it out too…

If I’m going to be completely honest with you, I will admit that Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday. I know, I know, what a party pooper I am! I just can’t love the creepiness of it all. I can’t embrace the dark, rotten celebration of dead things hanging by everyone’s front doors or little children pretending to be nightmarish things. Is it too much to ask that they take off their masks at my door so my toddler doesn’t scream and shake with real terror? Arggh.

My hate of the holiday may stem from the many nightmares I had as a kid. The nightmares weren’t necessarily from Halloween but from the horror films I watched as a 5th or 6th grader when I’d sneak over to my forbidden friend’s house because she was the cool kid of the moment. As a result, I battled that dark dream land way to long and have fought for years to remove those discussing images from my head.

Since, I have never been able to understand why there is such an accepted thrill in getting yourself scared on purpose or dressing up in those horrors. I avoid haunted houses like the plague and they will never earn one penny from me.

But of course, I do acquiesce the darling little witches, fairies and super heroes. I allow my kids to pick out their own Halloween costumes as long as I approve.

I will admit that we had a delightful little Halloween and now that you know that I am such a baby, I will share with you some photos of our little holiday.

My big sista came down from Idaho to trick or treat in our neighborhood because at her Idaho farmland house the neighbors are just too far apart to acquire a good enough stash of candy.

When I look at this picture of her vikings and my geisha and batman, I have the burning question of what in the heck has she been feeding her oldest who is only 1 1/2 years older then Emma? He’s just towering over everyone. The other 4 are apparently eating the exact same things.

We had to battle the rain a little bit but turned out to be not that bad.

The kids could hardly wait to get out and fill their bags. It was so much work getting everyone dressed and out the door. Chaos, I tell you. Isaac would have got barefoot if it wasn’t for Aunt Jessie snagging him and telling him to grab some shoes. We practically melted into the couch after the big kids left.

Now the little ones were not so eager to get dress up.

“Please take this ridiculous flower hat off of me,” says Leah.

“Ah, there we go. I did it myself,” she proclaims with tear filled eyes.

“Here, Aunt Jessie, you can where it,” she declares, anxious to get rid of the offending article.

“Okay, sure, with exquisite pleasure!” says the complying aunt.

Ha ha, revenge is mine!

Overall, great Halloween, but please remember to take down your ghosts and goblins quickly.