The BEST Halloween EVER ! ! !

Just in case you missed the exciting headlines in my life - I'm back! God and modern medicine have come together to release me from the prison of depression I have been suffering from for the past six years, just in time for my favorite holiday - Halloween! Halloween 2010 will always be a date I remember. My crazy dog, Maggie May and I before we took "our walk" together, the first time in many years. Down the dirt road, through the woods, past the marsh, by the harbor to Sunrise Park. Maggie and I have been going to Sunrise Park together since she was just a pup, since 1999. It had been too long old girl, thanks for still being by my side. I have this whole thing about dog being God spelled backwards and a bunch of other theories about the holiness of dogs. I noticed that when I let you lead, we're fine. When I try to be in charge, I pick the route, we do it on my time, my schedule and my way, you pull and fight me and it is more difficult. Why is it so hard to just "Let go, and let God (or dog spelled backwards)?"

The love of my life and then some! Thank you for not giving up on me and staying even when I asked you to leave. I will always be thankful God put us together, we are a match made in heaven!

Oh, how I love pumpkins and my sweet girl. What an incredibly amazing person you are. I love you more!

Maggie May loves Halloween too, nothing like fresh, raw pumpkin.

Even butterflies love Halloween, this one by "Butterfly Girl" herself.

Yikes, a blue-haired vampire, the worst kind! Happy Halloween from the Anderson's, Life really is good. Thank you God for everything! I could not ask for more.

Carving the Punkin

After Alyssa completed her intricate design it was time to carve it. Notice Maggie looking on, Maggie loves fresh pumpkin! I can't believe it took this long for Maggie May to make the Blog - Bad Dog Momma!

All three doing what they do best, Alyssa with her hands absorbed in goop, Dada strategically carving Alyssa's design and Maggie attentively waiting for handouts!

Maggie and I both always feel a little down once the carving is over. Alas, another annual tradition gone by . . .

The finished product - Alyssa says it's her Dada. It really has two faces due to some bad spots on the back side but Alyssa wanted to draw the mouths on and not cut them out - we all said "whew" on that one! And one final photo, one of my all time favorites from Alyssa's 2nd Halloween (2005) 21 months old - a Punkin Carving from the past.

Sweet girl & her Dada

Pickin' Out Punkins

Every year one of our favorite fall & Halloween sightings around town is the "Pumpkin Patch" at John Wesley UMC - it's front lawn is covered in orange. Today is the first time any of us have actually stopped there to buy a pumpkin so it was a special treat. We timed it just right, the 2nd truckload was being unloaded.

What and extra fun day - Alyssa's "Boyfriend" was there too!

Dada looking cute in the Pumpkin Patch.

Alyssa and Dada with hands on our pumpkin. I also had to include a shot of our "Li'l Punkin" on her first Halloween - she was 9 months old - my how time does fly!