Dame Chavo no Mani

We celebrated Halloween in Puerto Rico this year. It was odd really because we have been in Indiana for the last 2 Halloweens. The night just didn't seem right without my parents, cool weather and tree lined streets. We had a good time here though. The kids actually got to celebrate twice. Once on Halloween night here in the neighborhood and once the next night at the ward Halloween party. First, however, I had to procure some pumpkins. Sounds like an easy task right? Well here in PR it's not as easy as you might think. Luckily, my friend Heather was willing to take me to the commisary on the local Army base to get one. My original plan was to buy 3 pumpkins. Well that plan was shot when I saw that the pumpkins were $6 each and ginormous. So we decided to go with just one pumpkin. The kids decided that they wanted to paint the pumpkin so we divided it in half and they went to it. Poor Carter was napping and missed out this year.

For some reason I didn't get an after picture.

After the pumpkin painting project we moved on to decorating cupcakes for the ward Halloween party that was happening on Saturday. The kids had a good time designing and eating their creations.

Friday night it was time to trick or treat. We met up with friends around 6:15. Daddy made it home with 5 minutes to spare, and we took off with a gaggle of kids and parents to take over the neighborhood. Most houses weren't participating yet. 6:30 is so early here. The Puerto Ricans didn't get going until around 9:00. It was pure pandemonium but the kids had a great time. Carter caught on quickly and did a great job staying close to use and saying "Gracias" after getting his candy. Our Puerto Rican neighbors were very generous handing out handfulls of candy at a time. We had to unload the kids' pumpkins twice before we got home as they were getting "too heavy".

We got home just shy of 8:00 and the candy inspection began. First we removed all of the nut products so Allison wouldn't get one accidently, and then dumped it all into one big pile on the center of the table. The kids each ate a few pieces and that was pretty much it. They just don't get that excited about the candy. They were whipped so they got to bed by 8:30. Everyone fell asleep quickly and missed out on the party brewing outside. Around 9:00 we heard a chant that became quite familiar as the night went on. Here in PR they clap outside the door and sing this phrase:

Halloween Trick or Treat
Halloween Trick or Treat
Dame chavo, no mani
No te escondas, ya te vi
En la casa del coqui

We ran out of candy in a nano-second and had to turn out the light. The nieghborhood had a little party for the kids but I don't think it started until after my kids were in bed so we missed that. It was really a great night and good experience for all of us.

And it Begins...

As I was picking up Allison from school yesterday a boy approached me. He was fairly tall and obviously older than Allison. As he followed us back to our car, he told me that he wanted Allison to come trick or treating with him, but that she had said she couldn't. He proceeded to beg me to please let her come with him to the mall on Friday night so they could trick or treat together. He was actually very sweet. I told him that we had already made other plans and sent him on his way. I was wondering who this boy was as I hadn't seen him before. When I got in the car, I asked Allison who he was. The conversation went as follows.

Me: So, who is that little boy?
Allison: He's my friend. He wants me to meet him at the mall on Halloween night.
Me: What is his name?
Allison: I don't know, but he's my friend.
Me: What grade is he in?
Allison: I don't know, but he's my friend. Can I meet him at the mall?
Me: Well, we have other plans remember.....
Allison: Oh yeah. Okay.

She reminds me so much of my sister. She always had a million no-named "friends". People who knew her, but whom she had no clue existed. (She probably still does!) Allison is such the same way. I think a lot of it stems from her being so unique in her Puerto Rican school, but a lot of it is just her personality. Everyone is her friend. I hope she can maintain a bit of that as she gets older and eventually learn at least some of her friends' names.

There She Is.....

Miss Universe!!

Allison had Career Day at her school today. At first, she wanted to be an astronaut but then decided that a helmet and jumpsuit might be a tad hot for all day long. Next she concluded that she didn't care what she was, as long as she could wear her church shoes and be "sparkly". This is what we came up with. She originally wanted to be Miss Puerto Rico, but apparently when she told the teacher of her intentions the teacher told her that her skin was too light for that. (Hmph.) So...we decided to trump that and be Miss Universe instead. HA! I'm sure the school is proud of my parenting skills in encouraging my daughter to rely on looks and poise as a career. Not that there is anything wrong with that. ;) It was fun and she was happy to be in the costume that no one else had.

I'm an Easy Target

I've beeen tagged so many times this month I have lost track. So, I'm going to do what I can remember. If I leave your tag out let me know.

Jeanne tagged me with the 8 things meme.

Favorite TV Shows
(I'm not sure if this means now or of all time so I'm going to go with of all time)

1. Survivor
2. Knight Rider (The original with David Hasselhoff)
3. The Waltons
4. American Idol
5. Game Shows (love just about all of the old school ones)
6. The Biggest Loser
7. CSI
8. Just about anything on HGTV

Favorite Restaurants

1. Don Pablos
2. Panda Express
3. Fogo De Chao
4. Sonic
5. Twin Mountain Steak House (San Angelo, TX)
6. Texas Roadhouse
7. Benihana
8. Johnny Carinos

Things That Happened Yesterday

1. Set off the metal detector at the post office
2. Went to Sam's club the day before a hurricane (Can you say crowded?)
3. Ran over Carter's foot with my loaded down shopping cart. (He didn't care)
4. Stayed up until 2am chatting with my sister online.
5. Reconnected with an old friend from 5th grade on Facebook.
6. Made a Puerto Rican flag out of pipe cleaners and craft sticks for Allison's school project.
7. Successfully ordered a pizza for dinner (hey that's a big deal here)
8. Paid my Puerto Rican taxes.

Things I Am Looking Forward To

1. Air Conditioning
2. Carpet
3. Cool weather
4. Not sweating while exherting zero energy
5. Public school in the states
6. Carter being potty trained
7. Christmas with my family
8. My sister's future

Things on My Wishlist

1. A new house and job in the states.
2. A maid
3. A personal chef
4. A nanny
5. A good hairdresser
6. A good manicurist
7. Independent Wealth
8. Health and happiness for everyone I love

People I Am Tagging

I don't think I know 8 people so if you are reading this...conider yourself tagged.




Next April tagged me to do things you may or may not know about me. So here goes...

7 Random Facts about Ashley

1. I have a Masters degree in Education from Purdue University and taught 9th grade Algebra and World Geography in Texas prior to moving to Puerto Rico.

2. I didn't get my drivers license until I was 17 years old and I really don't like to drive now unless I absolutely have to. Although, Puerto Rico has seasoned me a bit now. I also don't drive in the dark if it's raining.

3. I have horrible eyesight due to a high fever as a child. This being the reason why I don't drive at night in the rain. My husband wonders how I function and is always testing my eyes by asking me to read things he thinks should be obvious but that I can't see at all.

4. I moved around a lot as a child. (8 states before I was 18) I went to 2nd grade in three states and to three high schools. I actually loved doing it and met a lot of wonderful people. I think I learned from it as well. I learned that no matter where you go, it's always going to work out. You'll find new friends and new places. It just takes time and a bit of effort.

5. When I was a kid I had a horse named Peppermint Patty. She lived at my grandparents' farm in Indiana. She was brown with a white stripe down here nose. We never really rode her because she never was successfully "broken", but it was fun to feed her apples and pet her mane.

6. I love soda. My drink of choice is Diet Coke, but I really just like carbonation. Pretty much any soda will do. Oh..except for Grape....Ick...I hate Grape soda.

7. Bill and I lived in student housing at Purdue when we frst got married. 461 glorious square feet of metal walls and concrete blocks and we loved every second of it.

And again I'm supposed to tag 7 people but I don't have the energy..so TAG you're it!

Phew...I'm exhausted. This tag stuff is hard work. I better go watch one of my favorite shows and drink a Diet Coke!