Halloween 2016 + Ardoin Family Update

November 7, 2016 ~ Crystle ~ 1 Comment

095a6731 095a6738 095a6727 When I got an email today, from google, notifying me that my website had crawl errors, it occurred to me that I am seriously overdue for a blog post. This year has been full of struggles and hardships (which I might feel open to talking about at a later time) that have taken me places that I never wanted to go. I’m here today, with a new understanding of the reservoir of strength we all have within us. Hopefully life will remain on the upswing, despite a delay in our Alaska departure and an uncertainty for where and when we’ll land in the lower 48.
095a6758

095a6747 095a6743 095a6772 It’s now November, and in the last few months, Isaac has returned from Officer Candidate School where he graduated with honors and I ran my first official Half Marathon at the inaugural HooDoo Half Marathon here in Fairbanks. We’re trying to remember what it’s like to work as a team, after our three months apart this summer. The kids are happy to have their Ukulele player back, and I’m relieved to have the help around the house, especially since the snow is already flying and the dark days are again upon us for a fourth time. I really thought that we’d be out of Alaska by September, but I keep forgetting that God’s plan is just that: his plan. So here I am, waiting on the Army to tell us what to do, wondering if I’ll have a chance to XC ski this year, or be rushed off to Arizona before the solstice. I’m done worrying about it, and I’m just going to presume that everything will work out in the way it’s supposed to. Stealing the Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter cups out of my kids’ halloween basket has certainly helped me to feel relaxed, but I can probably attribute that to my go-to glass of Yellow Tail. Man alive, their Cab Sav is the best! 095a6783 095a6777 Surely you’ll hear from me/us again – most likely when our moving plans have solidified. I’m rather looking forward to traveling the Alcan again, even if it’s a cold, dark drive. I’m more so looking forward to re-entering civilization via Vancouver (a top 10 favorite city of mine, for sure), Seattle, Portland and good ole California. The west coast really is the best coast.

095a6787

Cheers!

Halloween Twenty Fourteen

November 1, 2014 ~ Crystle ~ 1 Comment

Margot will likely leave Alaska thinking Halloween is always spent with loads of winter clothes layered underneath an oversized costume, and that the sugary yield is always to be forfeited over to her greedy, salivating parents. Alaskan toddlers; they have it rough!

Nevertheless, Margot headed out the door for her first participatory Halloween celebration dressed head to toe in Patagonia gear, and a giraffe suit. I almost cried when I saw her waddle down the driveway, shuffling through the snow in her clunky snow boots, while holding her daddy’s hand. She’s just growing so fast, I really wanted to treasure the moment.

I stayed behind to hand out candy, and hang out with Woody. It was about 12F out, and I was feeling pretty partial to my comfortably heated sitting room downstairs. Woody can’t speak, but I’m sure he’d agree with me.

We were later joined by the Smith family. Their son Gavyn, just two months younger than Margot, is the apple of her eye. She’s been having a blast at play dates with him since the spring, and we mothers joke that they’re young betrothed sweethearts. They hug, and they share contagious giggles that echo off the walls of our cozy homes. Very few things bring more delight than watching them play together.

After this Halloween, I’m convinced I need to keep a big box of costumes on hand for regular play time. Kids in costumes are the greatest!

We (mostly Isaac and I) binged on candy tonight, and will likely feel a gnarly sugar hangover for the next few days (as we continue the Halloween binge – Ha!) since we have lots of leftover candy this year. I’m still trying to figure out if that’s a problem.

A Halloween Movie Playlist

October 10, 2012December 9, 2012 ~ Crystle ~ 4 Comments

Fall is finally here! Here in the Evergreen State we don’t much evidence of that except for the early morning fog and tilted sunlight. What excites me most about this time of year is the Halloween Flicks that go largely unwatched during the rest of the year.

This year, I’m posting on my favorite Halloween-spirited Films. Nearly all of these selections are incredibly dated, and kind of terrible to watch if you weren’t exposed to them around their release, or you’re not a firm believer in the existence of ghosts or Killer Klowns from Outer Space (guilty plea here). They really do vary from warm and enjoyable, to campy and occasionally creepy.

Enjoy!

1. Killer Klowns from Outer Space (1988) – Available on Netflix instant watch

Tagline: In Space, No One Can Eat Ice Cream

Follow a couple of teenage (or college-age, it’s hard to tell) kids as they chase after a meteor and stumble upon a circus tent in the middle of the woods in this true cult classic. Spoiler alert: these Klowns will shoot you with their ray guns, wrap you in a cotton candy cocoon and suck your blood out of a crazy straw.

2. Child’s Play and it’s sequels (1988)

Tagline: You’ll Wish it was Only Make-Believe

This is one of many flicks I should not have seen before age 12, or possibly ever. The terror I felt after watching this movie and it’s sequels lasted for years. The long-ago habit of me leaping from the doorway to my bunk bed was a direct result of this flick. Chucky was under the bed slicing ankles, and I was going to have none of that, friends. No way.

Really, though. The soul of a murderer possessing your ‘best friend’ doll? A total terror for kids, and for the adults–enjoy murderous doll catchphrases and silly special effects.

3. Candyman (1992) – Available on Netflix Instant Watch

Tagline: We Dare You To Say His Name Five Times

Any of you ladies suffering from a childhood of younger sister syndrome may know what it’s like to watch a scary movie with your older brother. In this film, if you recite ‘Candyman’ in the mirror, you will summon a hook-handed serial killer hell-bent on revenge for his own unjust execution many years prior. It was so scary I couldn’t even cope. It may have left psychological scars when my older brother locked me in the bathroom after ‘summoning’ the Candyman in the bathroom. I don’t ever remember screaming that loud.

After watching this as an adult, it’s far less terrifying and a bit dated. It’s still a decent story and a creepy film if you dim the lights and buy into the legend.

4. A Haunting Seasons 1-4 (2005)

Tagline: In This World There Are Doors, and When They Are Opened, Nightmares Become Reality.

Each of my endlessly patient ex-boyfriends and closest friends will confirm that I absolutely love this TV series from Discovery. They know, because I’ve subjected each of them to it on many a lazy Sunday. I have owned all of these DVDs for many years and I’ve watched them repeatedly. I repeat, I’ve watched them repeatedly. They don’t even have a spot in the DVD cabinet, they just stay out in the open, loose from their tattered box on the top of my bedroom dresser. I have zero shame about it because some of these stories are seriously compelling.

The home I grew up in was pretty scary at times, and I do believe it was haunted to some degree. I’d be happy to share those experiences on another post around Halloween if any of you are interested.

Anyways, the re-enactments are pretty over-the-top at times, and a few stories I flat out don’t believe. There are plenty of really great stories in this series to keep me watching both the good and the bad.

5. Hocus Pocus (1993)

Tagline: It’s just a bunch of Hocus Pocus!

Who could forget this classic made-for-TV movie? Three witches are resurrected to 1990s New England where they continue their reign of terror. It’s up to our friends, ~~Thora Birch, Vinessa Shaw, and Omri Katz~~ Dani, Allison and Max to save the day with their immortal cat Binx. I love every bit of this film, which is why you’ll see me running to the mailbox everyday anticipating it’s arrival. C’mon postman, bring me my order!