Earlier today we watched “The Nightmare Before Christmas” as a family. We figured it was appropriate for the season. During the course of the movie though, Evelyn made a surprising announcement:

Evelyn: I don’t believe there is a Santa Claus

Me: (totally blindsided) What? Why not?

E: Well- first of all, people can’t really go down chimneys because most chimneys are too small for a human. Also, some people don’t even have chimneys. Besides this, a person can’t really live all year in the North Pole- it’s too cold. And a bunch of little people making toys that are delivered to the entire world in one night? Come on! It’s impossible. That many toys couldn’t even fit on a sled. Also, reindeer can’t really fly.

Me: (Mixed feelings of total pride in my daughter’s skepticism/supported arguments and sadness about a childhood illusion being lost) Wow- it seems like you have thought about this a lot. Those are some really good questions.

E: Yeah. Santa Claus can’t be real. I think that instead, he is just a nice person who flies around in an airplane and drops presents out the window for whoever happens to be on the ground.

Me: (Thinking about the negotiation phase of the Kubler-Ross model) Hmm. That could be true- It’s definitely an interesting idea.

E: Well I don’t think he’s real…but I do think it’s a really neat story.

Me: Evelyn, I sure love how you think about things. Let’s keep watching the movie.

Wow-that came out of nowhere! Luckily, our other kids were too engrossed in the film to pay any attention to our conversation. I hope.

This week, besides getting a small glimpse into Evelyn’s amazing mind, we also had a great time celebrating Autumn. Since I didn’t work all week, we had lots of time to do this (I’m in the middle of a big job transition that I’ll write more about next time). Anyway- we took the ample time that was on our hands to decorate for Halloween, enjoy the Autumn air, go on field trips to the pumpkin patch (for the older kids), and PICK APPLES.

For those who have been following this blog for a while, you will recognize apple picking as a distinct Hazard Family tradition. We have done this every year since Rachel was pregnant with Evelyn, and it is now hard to imagine the Fall season without at least one trip to an orchard.

This year did not disappoint. The place where we go always has a fair-like atmosphere, with good music, food booths, and vendors to vie for our attention. We got in line and took the tractor ride out to the orchard, gave a bag to each kid, and gave them instructions about how to pick the best apples. And then the fun began. This year was especially good because the workers only had to tell our kids to get out of the trees one time, and nobody threw any apples at anybody else during the entire time excursion. Our family is growing up!

After we paid for the apples, we went home and enjoyed apple dumplings and sparkling apple cider. Later that day, the kids and I made an Apple Crumble pie that we will eat later this evening for Dessert Night (another Hazard Family tradition that takes place each Sunday). Other apple things we have done are apple pancakes and applesauce. Of course, we also have lots and lots of apples for eating. I think that over the next few weeks we will definitely get our fill of apples.

There is something else I want to mention as well. At the church we go to, there are a few Deaf people who needed an interpreter. Rachel, of course, volunteered for the position. Now, with interpreting there are tons of laws and stuff that make it almost impossible to ever watch Rachel while she does her thing, so I was really excited about this as well. Let me just say- my wife is awesome! It is something special to watch a person who is extremely confident and skilled while they are “in their element.” It is even more special when that person is the love of your life. Church just became a whole lot more fun for me.

Also- I have to say that I am loving Idaho’s Common Core curriculum. Wow. Evelyn is doing math in 1^st grade that I wasn’t doing until I was in 4^th, and the English stuff is challenging her not only to read, and not only to comprehend, but to really think about things and develop “active reading” skills. I guess time will tell whether actual results will be any better or worse than what they were a generation ago, but I can’t help but think that the focus on critical thinking will empower her to apply herself more as she gets older. Anyway- that’s just my two cents about that.

This next week I am looking forward to finishing up with the merger our business is going through and re-establishing a routine. That will be nice. I haven’t gotten a lot of sleep lately. Like I said- I’ll write more about this next time.

Well- have a good week!

Rachel and I just had one of the best weekends of our lives. Before I get into that though, I’ll just say that things have been pretty crazy for us lately. In the midst of all this we happened to go out with some friends who, during the course of our dinner conversation, told us they would like to take our kids for a full weekend to give us some time to relax. Now, people have said things like this before, and it is customary for us to sort of laugh it off knowing that they actually have no idea what they would be getting themselves into. Wanting to keep our friends, we normally thank them for the offer and then move on as if nothing had been said.

This night was different though. Maybe it was because we really needed the time off. Maybe it was because these people were exceptionally good friends who we knew we could trust. Whatever it was, we agreed after a short conversation revolving around one central question- “how serious are you?” They were, and so we set the date for two weeks out. All I can say is that I am glad we did- it has been a harrowing couple of weeks since then, and the chance to ditch the kids and just forget about real life for a while couldn’t come soon enough.

So, what did we do? Everything! But mostly, we just talked. I just want to take this time to say that I LOVE talking with Rachel. On our first date we went dancing, and then we sat at a park and talked for six hours straight. This would pretty much foreshadow the rest of our relationship, and I love it. We do stuff with each other, and we talk with each other. We talk about everything- stuff that matters and stuff that doesn’t. Stuff that’s intellectually challenging, and stuff that just makes us crack up laughing so hard we can’t stop. Rachel once read a book and told me that according to it, talking is my “love language.” Well, I guess I’d have to say that she is right- talking openly about things that are deeply meaningful is just about the most intimate thing I think two people can do, and Rachel is easily the best conversationalist I have ever met.

Obviously, we did other stuff too though. We went out to nice meals each morning for breakfast, and talked. We saw a movie together that we both really liked, even though I can’t remember the name of it. One night we spent three hours in a quaint little café with appetizers and drinks and listened to a local acoustic band playing live music. We went on a hike by a river, and then ate Mexican food while the Seahawks lost a football game. We even took some time to clean the house a little- a surprisingly enjoyable and rewarding activity when you don’t have kids following you around to undo everything you just did. We did all of this together. Just us. It was blissful.

Besides this weekend we have been having fun in other ways as well. On Tuesday, Evelyn had her second x-country race. This time she beat 4 people. Last time she came in last…I don’t think running is her thing, but don’t tell her that I said that ;). More importantly, she had fun and was a great support to her friends who take the event a little more seriously.

Evelyn is in the yellow shirt in the very back

I think that Jackson took the competition the most seriously out of anyone. The whole time we were there, he just wanted to race people. Us, his friends, other random people who he was able to sucker into a competition- it didn't matter. He. Was. Superman.

Also, I just have to post this picture up because we have been infested with gnats! This happens for about 2-3 weeks every fall, and it is really, really gross. From what people have been saying, this year is one of the worst yet. When you go outside you have to close your eyes and shield your face, and then brush the little bugs out of your hair and clothes when you come in. The one silver lining is that with the bugs come lots of little quail-like birds to eat them, and it is fun to watch them hopping around the yard.

Well, I just heard Evelyn’s bus drive by, so I guess she’ll be coming in any minute. Tonight we are doing Family Night and then a movie- it should be fun.

I hope everybody has a good week!