Happy Halloween!

Halloween is always a favorite of mine.  I went to Carbondale to watch Quincy's last official Halloween parade.   It was so cold!  The kids did not seem to notice.  

The Overbrook parade was this afternoon.  I helped Jim at city hall with his candy passing duties.  I love seeing all the kids all excited in their costumes!  Harper (Elsa from Frozen)  wasn't as excited as some of the other kids!  

Clayton the shark was sure happy to see us though!  

Saige was the tooth fairy.  I never got a good photo of her without her coat though.  Dang cold weather and snow flurries ruining my Halloween photos!  

Preston was sad that the jr high doesn't get to play anymore.   He did dress up this evening and went trick or treating with his friends though!  

Cameron handed out candy with the FBLA at trunk or treat.  He dialed down his usual dressing up and went as a ranch hand so he could wear his coat!   

The three youngest girls went out trick or treating for a couple of hours with Landrie and her brother.  Since it was cold the adults followed along in the van.  Being a wimp was my game tonight!  The kids had fun despite freezing!  

Another successful Halloween is in the books.  Best day of the year!   

24th anniversary

Twenty-four years ago I married my best friend.  On that day, I never gave any thought to what would happen when our anniversary fell the day before Halloween.  Every year seems to turn from anniversary stuff into a baking, carving, costume readying marathon of crazy.  Luckily I love chaos and Jim is a good sport.  
The kids and I had a great time carving and baking today!  Preston's left handed skills are coming along nicely!  Or not.

Cameron made up a mess of seasoning and the seed roasting turned out really good.  We will never be able to recreate it however, because he is not exactly sure what he put on there.  

We finished costumes today too.  Mallory's tutu was a source of grand amusement.

Not the best tasting cookies ever made here at our casa, but these finger cookies that are stuffed with raspberry jelly and a pretzel are pretty gruesome.  Should be a hit among 6th graders!

I am very blessed to have a husband who doesn't mind putting off our anniversary dinner for the sake of the kids Halloween needs.  I think he is pretty good like that.  I think we will be sad someday when the kids are grown and we can celebrate our anniversary on the actual date!  

Weekend party time

Cameron had a chance to watch his cousin play some football.  I am happy to say Gavin's team won and is moving on!  

While we would have loved  to have gone and watched Gavin play, we had company.  Preston had 5 friends over for a birthday slumber party.  They had fun eating pizza, and playing video games.  They also played a lot of flashlight tag.  I couldn't help but remember the last time kids were out here playing flashlight tag, we ended up with Colin having a concussion and stitches.   Luckily, no one was hurt!  The boys did not sleep at the slumber party, and the last time I heard them it was 4:20 a.m.   Too late for me.  

Quincy and Landrie wanted to be Teletubbies for Halloween this year.   Landrie bought her costume on amazon, but Quincy never said anything about it to me.  That left us to create a costume from scratch.  I don't think it turned out too bad!  

We got the costume done just in time for the 4-H fall party.  They had a costume parade at Brookside, and followed it with a potluck dinner and games at the fairgrounds.  

Aunt Geraldine was happy to get to see their costumes!  

The teletubbbies.   Not the most amazing idea they ever had, but I do love how they stick together!  

I think the fall party was a success.  We are going to bed early tonight though!  

Pumpkin patch

We are a little behind (as usual) but we made our annual trek to Schaake's Pumpkin Patch today.   It was a little on the chilly side, but it was a bright sunny day and there were plenty of pumpkins left!  Mallory and I took the 4 little kids, and Jim's mom was able to join us as well.  

Only one rule- you can have any pumpkin you want but you have to carry it yourself.  Preston was bound and determined to get a big one despite his hand being in a cast.  We did not bend the rules for his temporary condition.  

It was a good day!  Love the patch! 

No Breaks

Exactly one minute.  That is how long our off season lasted.   Quincy started her Basketball season tonight with a win!  She is excited to have her bff on her team this year!  

They played great!  Quincy is a monster on defense.  She is great at shutting down plays.  

And to this cold hating mom, I say welcome basketball season.  It may smell bad inside a sweaty gym, but I was warm all evening!