Friday, October 31, 2008

HALLOWEEN NIGHT

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. We have so much fun dressing up and passing out candy to all the ghosts, goblins, princess's, and super heroes. Tonight we had about 200 kids show up dressed to impress. We had some kids afraid to even walk up our sidewalk. I can't imagine why anyone would be afraid of us. We're just ordinary people have a great time. Check it out for yourself....

Judi putting make-up on Laura Laura's a work in progress
Laura sitting in front of fan, to help makeup dry!


Awww...isn't she just beautiful!!!
Can you guess who's under the mask....I'll give you one hint....Daniel Glenn
Judi playing with her long, silky hair.....I wish!
How pretty is this....

Laura, Dan, & Judi.....we're not the Adams family....we're just the Hartung Bunch
Chris dressed to kill, look at the blood on that knife. Doreen was dressed as a diva witch! We had sooo much fun! I'd have to say, we have one of the spookiest yards in the neighborhood. We had strobe lights flashing, fog billowing from the bushes, torches lit along the sidewalk, not to mention all the candles and pumpkins lining the bricks! Here's our pumpkin creations!
Laura's head-less horseman pumpkin....too cool!

Megan made a black widow spider

Chris's pumpkin said trick or treat, but I think the ants too over!

Dan's evil pumpkin.....

Judi's skull pumpkin

Doreen's pumpkin is named Mr. Egg-head!

What would the end of the witching season be, without a new addition to our holiday fun! We have to welcome our latest find Zelda.....




Zelda had the type of eyes that will follow you when you walk past her. We put a black witches kettle with dry ice, as you can see....gas is escaping! Way cool!!!!
I guess I'll have to hang my broom up until next witching season!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

PET PEEVES

Today is the final straw, I have to say something. I don't know about anyone else, but I have a couple HUGE pet peeves and I need to let it out!!!!

#1. Is there a reason if you tinkle on the toilet seat you can't wipe it off???? I have a huge phobia of public bathrooms and refuse to sit on the seat. BUT if I tinkle on the seat, I sure don't leave it for the next person. I know..I know this is kinda petty; but come on already!

#2. Seeing as I'm talking about bathrooms, lets stay there! Is there a reason people do not know how to put a new roll of toilet paper on the holder? There's nothing worse than going to the bathroom in the middle of the night and then realizing there's no TP. Drip drying does NOT work well for girls & waddling to the hallway closet with your panties around your ankle at 3:00 am isn't an easy task!

#3. Toothpaste....OH MY GOODNESS!!! Why do people feel the need to squeeze the tube in the middle? My daughter Laura is the worst culprit for squeezing in the middle. I think sometimes she does it just to see if she can get under my skin. It works....every time!

#4. Driving in the passing lane. MOVE IT OR LOSE IT! Why is it I always end up behind some old lady or gentlemen going 45 in the passing lane? Patience is not one of my better virtues; but I've really been tested this week!

WHEW....I sure do feel better now! I have more, but I'll save those for another day when I need to let off some steam! Now I'm off to the land of homework!


Saturday, October 25, 2008

JOURNEY TO THE LAND OF PUMPKINS

Today we set out on an adventure looking for the perfect pumpkin! We started out to a new farm that we've never visited; only to find they decided not to open today. Being in an adventurous mood, we headed to the next pumpkin patch. We took the back roads taking us through some little towns that if you blinked; you missed the town. The girls road with Doreen, I'm sure they were asking every couple minutes...."how much longer? are we almost there?" We got to Lewis farms and went on the tractor ride and corn maze; but really didn't like the pumpkins!

The Hartungbunch...Dan, Judi, Laura, & Megan

The Visser's...Chris and Doreen

After spending about a hour at the Lewis farm, we headed back out on our quest for the ultimate pumpkin. Next stop, Heritage Farms Market. WOOHOO.....we found the mother-load of pumpkins! Each of us found what we felt was the best of the best....the Great Pumpkin! Check out the fun...
Laura, Megan, and Chris cleaning the outside of their pumpkins

Grumpy Dan helping Laura



Megan and Laura up to their elbows in pumpkin guts....Doreen helping!

Daniel Glenn....don't you dare!
It was sooo quiet, everyone was too busy to talk.


Busy marking our pumpkins...

Our pumpkins turned out awesome, but it was too windy to keep the candles burning! Hopefully we can get a couple pictures tomorrow night. If not, it will have to wait until Halloween night! We are very lucky to have awesome friends to share our adventures with; we couldn't ask for better friends. Better yet, we couldn't ask for a better extended family!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

BEST FRIENDS....FOREVER!!!!!

Have you ever watched the movie Romy & Michele?? It's one of my favorite sappy chick flick type movies! It's about 2 girls that are best friend throughout high school and remained best friends into adult life. They had a big class reunion coming up and were scared to death to go; they didn't feel they had accomplished anything in their lives.

Last night was my 25th class reunion, like Romy and Michele; I had the great pleasure of going with my BFF! My BFF is Kim Kuck-Jones, we've been the bestest of friends since 10th grade. Although there's times we don't speak or keep in touch for a while; we both know we're just a phone call away if needed! Kim and I were alot like Romy and Michele, only I could care less if I was one of the "popular" girls; I was more like Cindy Lauper....I just wanted to have fun! If there was a party, I was at it! Kim on the other hand, wanted so badly to be one of the "in-crowd". So last night we got all dressed up and went to the big reunion, not really sure what it would be like; but we knew as long as we were there together....it would be ok! Not only did we go together, but we had the best looking husbands in the joint! WOOOHOOO....our men were hot!!!

Dan, Judi, Kim, Tim....the litle guy on the bottom of the screen is Kim & Tim's grandson!

Well after 25 years, you would think that things would be a little bit different; but it was sooo much like high-school it was scary. The only difference was people were 25 years older in chronological age, but mentally some stuck back in 1983! I am very glad that we went, I got to see some friends from the past; Doug, Karen, Barb, Lucy and a few more. But best of all, I got to spend time with my BFF....Kim!

Maybe more of our "in-crowd" will show up at the next reunion! Most of the people we hung out with in school were MIA from this reunion!



Sunday, October 12, 2008

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN!

We had an amazing Sunday afternoon. We spent the day at Grandpa & Grandma Witzke's house. They live out in the woods and there's a great trail for the girls to ride on. The weather was great and the girls were ready to ride! I've come to terms along time ago, that I would not have "girly" girls. The days of frilly dresses are long gone and it's been replaced with helmets, driving gloves, and goggles.
Laura would ride all day long if you'd let her!

Megan has turned into a speed demon; she loves to go fast!
Laura cruising down the trails!

Megan....heading for Dan!

Both girls had a great day and no one was hurt; so that's a major blessing! Well except for the blisters on their thumbs from riding too long!

Monday, October 6, 2008

EVEN FROM THE GRAVE

Even from the grave, my mother still plays a major role in my birthday. My birthday was always a special day between my mother and I. Each year, she would call me at the time she went into labor and another call came at the time of my birth. We had a bond sooo strong, that words really can not begin to explain. The summer of 1997, my mom was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer; they gave her 6 months to live. Those doctors are very good at what they do, because they hit that mark within 10 days. During that six months, I watch the woman I love and look up to slowly fade away. She told me at that time, she would make sure she would be there for the important times in my life. I thought yeah right, whatever....how could she..

Well, during her chemo/radiation treatments my mom befriended a lady; her name is Deanna. Deanna made a promise to my mom, to be her helper on earth. So every year on my birthday, I get a card from Deanna. I never knew who Deanna was, I just got the card. This year I told myself, I'd call this woman; I needed to know how and why.

Now I know the rest of the story, my mom made sure I'd know she's still with me! I wonder how many other "Angels" on earth my mom has working for her! There's not a day that goes by when I don't wish I could pick up the phone and call her, hug her, or just tell her how much I love her! I guess I'll just have to wait until that day when we're together again!


My mom would scream if she knew I put this picture out there, but it's one of the last ones I have of her. It's her last Christmas, we spent it just the 3 of us. It was one of the best Christmas days I can remember!


Thursday, October 2, 2008

I DON'T EVEN KNOW HER NAME!

Monday night is still haunting me, as I heard the sirens and saw the flashing lights. While in the comfort of my house, I heard the sirens thinking I sure hope it's no one I know. I was getting ready to leave for church to help with a yard sale. When walking out in the driveway, I notice Jennifer standing in her yard; looking down the street. I went across to chat, when I noticed the lights flashing. The sirens were at the house of the little lady that lives on the corner. Jennifer and I stood watching, waiting, wondering what was going on in the little white house on the corner. At the same time, we both said...
OH MY GOODNESS....I don't even know here name.
OH MY GOODNESS....is she all alone?
OH MY GOODNESS...does she have any family?

I have lived in my house for 10 years and I do not even know my neighbors. What happened to the days when people knew their neighbors? What happened to the days when people had neighborhood cook-outs? Are those days gone forever?

Dear Lord...
Please give me the courage to come out of my box, out of my comfort zone. Please let me reach out to my neighbors and be more aware of the people in my community.
Amen