October 2015

My goodness it has been a long time since I updated this blog.  I better get to work!!  I'll start with October and see how well I do going backwards...

As usual, things have been bustling around the Remmers house.

Lyn continues to attend early morning Seminary--the religious education class for high schoolers.  This year it's a little later, though, 6:45am, rather than last year's 6am, because school is now an hour later.  Lyn has enjoyed walking to Seminary, but as it got darker, Margie started to worry, and so she has been driving her these last few weeks.  We'll see what happens with the time change, but I expect that with winter weather fast approaching, they might continue the arrangement.

On October 2, our long-awaited furniture arrived.  Finally!  We ordered it this summer, before Dan's birthday in August.  It's for the room off the kitchen that we previously referred to has "the red couch room."

The room is starting to come together, but still pretty bare...

On October 3, Dan and Margie attended the annual awards ceremony for The Little Theatre of Alexandria (LTA).  Dan was up for two awards--both set design and set construction for The Rocky Horror Show.  He won for construction. Yay, Dan!  Also, this year, Margie was honored to have been asked to perform a solo in the show.  She sang "On a Clear Day," and it was a big hit.  It gave her a taste of being on stage again!  Unfortunately, she wasn't cast in either of the shows she auditioned for this month.

Also on Awards Night, John helped cater the reception.  This is the first time he has done it without Mom and Dad!  This year, part of his Civics grade includes serving in the community.  He was supposed to help out at a food bank, but the event was canceled to due a hurricane that was headed our way.  We were grateful this other opportunity came up!  He worked hard and did a great job.

Dan continues to build and design sets.  His latest work is for Tale of the Allergist's Wife, now showing at LTA.

And speaking of plays, we are happy to announce that Lyn got cast in Edison High School's production of Inherit the Wind.  She plays Melinda Loomis and has the very first word of the play!  Come see her November 12, 13, or 14.  You'll also be able to see some of Dan's handiwork, as he has been helping out with the set.

John has been busy after school with News Crew.  He enjoys editing videos and coming up with fun skits for the morning news show at school.

On October 7, Margie had a chance to work at Finance Park, her favorite place to be in all the world.  You will remember that this is like a life-size game of Life for all 8th graders in the county.  She is excited to be working with John's class in November!

On Columbus Day, October 12, we enjoyed an AMAZING treat.   The week previous, we had gone to our favorite Indian/Pakistani restaurant.  Let me just say that this is one of those authentic restaurants where, since we were the only white people there, you know it has to be good.  Anyway, Margie said, "I wish I knew someone who was native and could teach us all about this food."  A few days later her wish came true when a Pakistani woman from church came up to her and said, "I saw you at Niralla!"  She then proceeded to tell Margie how Niralla has really great brunch.  Margie practically begged her to go with us and show us the ropes.  She did, and it was fantastic!!!  She ordered it all in Urdu--things not on the menu that you just have to know to get.  She got a kick out of seeing us so excited about it.  Ha ha!

On the menu were Chana (chick peas) with Halwa (sweet pudding made with farina), mango pickle, and Puri (puffy bread, kind of like a large sopapilla), as well as fried eggs with Paratha (flat bread, kind of like a thick tortilla).  Thank you Rabia Abbas!  Yum!!

On October 14, Lyn took the PSAT.  (Not sure when she'll get her results.) Ack!  We can't believe that college is just around the corner!!

On October 17, we held our semi-annual Pumpkin Party.  This party, which Margie has been hosting for about 20 years, is an opportunity for her to show off her love of all things pumpkin.  On the menu this year were Pumpkin Crackers with Cream Cheese and Pumpkin Marmalade, Pumpkin Oranges,
Chipotle-Pumpkin Deviled Eggs, Pumpkin Waldorf Salad (with Cranberries and Pumpkin Seeds), Great Harvest bread served with a trio of butters: Pumpkin Butter, Pumpkin Honey Butter, and Plain Butter, "Beefy" Pumpkin Stew, Creamy Pumpkin Collards, Pumpkin Chocolate Eclairs, Chocolate-Dipped Pumpkin Oreos, and Pumpkin-Spiced Cider to drink.  We also prepare cute little bags with a take-home treat.  This year they were filled with Pumpkin Chex Mix.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take any pictures!  Lyn snapped this one of the Orange Pumpkins.  Aren't they cute?

We were sad that so many of our regulars were unable to make it, but we enjoyed spending time with new friends!

Prior to the party, we worked with our landscape designer to get the front of the house looking presentable.  We think they did a great job!

Before

After

Also before the Pumpkin Party, the main contractor finally came to install the new stair rail.  This is the last piece of the major inside work.  Now all that's left is some painting touch ups and a final walk through.

No picture of the final product yet, as it's (still) not final!

This month, we also got a coffee table and rug for the former "red couch room."

It's starting to come together!

In addition to the play, Lyn is also busy serving as Mia Maid President.  That's her age group of the Young Women at church (Pronounced "my-uh", MIA stands for "Mutual Improvement Association").  And as if she wasn't busy enough, she signed up to be an Electoral Page for the coming election.  She went to training on October 19 and will be working an EIGHT HOUR shift next Tuesday. Unfortunately, her only pay will be the satisfaction of a job well done. (Though of course there are always bragging rights and something great to put on her resume, as well.)

Both Lyn and John went on hiking trips on October 24.  Lyn went with some of her Girls Camp friends to Lewis Falls in Shenandoah National Park.

Lyn and her friend Rebekah at an overlook.

Girls on the trail.  (That's Lyn in the back with the EFY knapsack.)

John went with his boy scout troop, also to Shenandoah, but to climb "Old Rag."  His trip also included an overnight camping stay nearby.

John only managed to snap one picture before his battery died.  It's a good thing he managed to hold up this tree!

Margie continues to be busy, as well, with all of her various endeavors.

Besides her work as a professional organizer and time management coach, she has been serving as the Inventory Coordinator for LTA's Front of House.  This entails organizing, purchasing, and keeping on top of supplies for intermission, opening night parties, etc.  She really enjoys some aspects of it, but the lugging around of huge cases of bottled water and soda was getting to be too much for her, so she decided to step down.  They were sad to see her go (or they couldn't find anyone else), and as a compromise, she agreed to continue to purchase the light weight items, while her supervisor will do the larger ones.  We'll see how that goes.

She is also serving as the Treasurer of the Drama Parents Booster Club at Lyn's high school.  It's something she enjoys, but at the moment it's more time consuming than she would like.  Once some automation is in place, things should run a bit more smoothly.

She also recently started a Coupon Club.  They meet every Tuesday, and from 9:30am-10am, Margie teaches the fine art of couponing--a skill she learned a few years ago when Dan was victim of the federal furlough.  She managed to slash their grocery bill by $500 each month, and learning this skill is a big reason why they were able to afford all the house renovations.  She is delighted to be able to teach it to others.  From 10-11am, others join us and we just "clip and gab".

Margie is also managing our AirBnB rental.  That started in September, and things have been going remarkable well!

Finally, of course, October would not be complete without Halloween festivities.

First, Lyn attended a Halloween dance.  As usual, she designed and created her own costume.  This year, she was Aranea Serket, a character from her favorite web comic, Homestuck.

The costume.

The original.  I'd say she did a pretty good job!

Then on October 30, there was a chili cook off and trunk or treat in the parking lot of our church.

After many many MANY years as Mario, John finally decided to change direction and go as The Doctor (#11).

There must have been some kind of gap in the fabric of time, because he ran into himself twice:

Another #11.

And with #10.

For actual Halloween, both kids went their separate ways to trick or treat with friends.  They're getting old, though, so it seems it's about time for them to leave the candy for the next generation.  Sniff sniff.

We hope you are enjoying your Fall!